Pelican Press

ETF flows on track to hit record above $1 trillion by year-end, VettaFi data shows ETF flows on track to hit record above $1 trillion by year-end, VettaFi data shows Investors poured more than $915 billion into exchange traded funds in 2024 as of Wednesday, hitting a fresh record, according to VettaFi. Inflows are on track to hit the $1 trillion milestone by year-end, as the election acts as a new catalyst, the firm found. “We’ve seen an acceleration in the demand for ETFs and the use of ETFs in the past week,” said Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi. “The majority of flows continued to be index based,” he added. “ETFs are becoming a preferred way to get exposure to the stock market. You can get diversification benefits as opposed to buying a single stock.” Indeed, the past week has been a strong one for stocks, with the broad market S & P 500 up nearly 1% over the last five trading days through Wednesday. Investors’ enthusiasm over President-elect Donald Trump’s win last week powered the three major averages to fresh highs on Monday. However, the rally has been losing some steam in recent days. Investors have been eager to partake in stocks’ recent run higher. ETFs have seen inflows of more than $58 billion since Election Day, according to State Street Global Advisors. Of that sum, more than $48 billion went toward U.S. equities. State Street’s popular SPDR S & P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) has seen more than $12 billion of new money, since the Nov. 5 election. The Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) , which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index, has picked up more than $8 billion of inflows since Election Day. “The type of user in the world of ETFs has really expanded,” said Ryan McCormack, senior factor and core equity strategist for Invesco’s exchange traded funds. “You have, of course, your institutional investors, financial advisors, [registered investment advisors] down to the individual investor. We just see a wider base of people using the instrument.” ETF flavors garnering notable flows The ETFs that track indexes have seen the biggest dollar inflows. However, McCormack said there is growing interest in “factor ETFs” that use fund specific rules or strategies to try and improve portfolio performance. The Invesco S & P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) is made up of 100 stocks the firm rates as having the highest “momentum score” in the S & P 500, its inflows have jumped 25% post election and more than 1100% year to date. The Invesco S & P 500 Equal Weight ETF that mirrors the stocks of the market cap weighted S & P 500 has seen inflows increase more than 24% year to date “This sort of alternatively weighted strategy is an easy way to pick up some level of small size exposure from the factor perspective and naturally diversify,” said McCormack. Investors are also turning to ETFs to capitalize on so-called Trump Trades such as bitcoin. “Large flows into Bitcoin ETFs reflects the sizeable optimism towards the industry, as the crypto industry prepares for a more crypto-friendly administration and easing regulatory headwinds,” said Anna Paglia, chief business officer of State Street Global Advisors. “But that optimism will extend to the entire ecosystem, as this sentiment shift goes beyond spot.” State Street said its SPDR Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO) has seen inflows increase by 26% since Election Day. Top holdings in the DECO ETF include bitcoin-related stocks Cipher Mining, Riot Platforms and Terawulf. Overall, Rosenbluth believes the post-election surge and likely crossing of the $1 trillion milestone is a long term tailwind for the ETF industry. “I think demand could further accelerate if we cross that key milestone and as asset managers see that adoption they are likely to continue to bring new products to market.” Specialist traders work inside a post on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 23, 2024. Brendan McDermid | Reuters Investors poured more than $915 billion into exchange traded funds in 2024 as of Wednesday, hitting a fresh record, according to VettaFi. Inflows are on track to hit the $1 trillion milestone by year-end, as the election acts as a new catalyst, the firm found. “We’ve seen an acceleration in the demand for ETFs and the use of ETFs in the past week,” said Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi. “The majority of flows continued to be index based,” he added. “ETFs are becoming a preferred way to get exposure to the stock market. You can get diversification benefits as opposed to buying a single stock.” Indeed, the past week has been a strong one for stocks, with the broad market S&P 500 up nearly 1% over the last five trading days through Wednesday. Investors’ enthusiasm over President-elect Donald Trump’s win last week powered the three major averages to fresh highs on Monday. However, the rally has been losing some steam in recent days. Investors have been eager to partake in stocks’ recent run higher. ETFs have seen inflows of more than $58 billion since Election Day, according to State Street Global Advisors. Of that sum, more than $48 billion went toward U.S. equities. State Street’s popular SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) has seen more than $12 billion of new money, since the Nov. 5 election. The Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ), which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index, has picked up more than $8 billion of inflows since Election Day. “The type of user in the world of ETFs has really expanded,” said Ryan McCormack, senior factor and core equity strategist for Invesco’s exchange traded funds. “You have, of course, your institutional investors, financial advisors, [registered investment advisors] down to the individual investor. We just see a wider base of people using the instrument.” ETF flavors garnering notable flows The ETFs that track indexes have seen the biggest dollar inflows. However, McCormack said there is growing interest in “factor ETFs” that use fund specific rules or strategies to try and improve portfolio performance. The Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (SPMO) is made up of 100 stocks the firm rates as having the highest “momentum score” in the S&P 500, its inflows have jumped 25% post election and more than 1100% year to date. The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF that mirrors the stocks of the market cap weighted S&P 500 has seen inflows increase more than 24% year to date “This sort of alternatively weighted strategy is an easy way to pick up some level of small size exposure from the factor perspective and naturally diversify,” said McCormack. Investors are also turning to ETFs to capitalize on so-called Trump Trades such as bitcoin. “Large flows into Bitcoin ETFs reflects the sizeable optimism towards the industry, as the crypto industry prepares for a more crypto-friendly administration and easing regulatory headwinds,” said Anna Paglia, chief business officer of State Street Global Advisors. “But that optimism will extend to the entire ecosystem, as this sentiment shift goes beyond spot.” State Street said its SPDR Galaxy Digital Asset Ecosystem ETF (DECO) has seen inflows increase by 26% since Election Day. Top holdings in the DECO ETF include bitcoin-related stocks Cipher Mining, Riot Platforms and Terawulf. Overall, Rosenbluth believes the post-election surge and likely crossing of the $1 trillion milestone is a long term tailwind for the ETF industry. “I think demand could further accelerate if we cross that key milestone and as asset managers see that adoption they are likely to continue to bring new products to market.” Source link #ETF #flows #track #hit #record #trillion #yearend #VettaFi #data #shows Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon launches Temu and Shein rival with ‘crazy low’ prices Amazon launches Temu and Shein rival with ‘crazy low’ prices Amazon has launched a new outlet called Haul which caps the price of products on ***** at $20 (£15.79), in an effort to take on low-cost retailers Temu and Shein. The online shopping giant unveiled Haul as a mobile-only experience available in its Shopping app for US customers on Wednesday. It says shoppers can expect “crazy low prices” on Haul products that are “worth the wait” of up to two weeks for delivery. It marks the platform’s long-awaited foray into the ***** cheaper goods with lengthier shipping times – a business model which has spurred the rise of ********-owned e-commerce apps. Bloomberg journalist Amanda Mull told the BBC in July that positioning itself as a competitor to the likes of Temu would be a near-term priority for Amazon. She said Amazon has “created the spending habits” of western consumers by acting as a trustworthy middleman between them and manufacturers. But shifting away from its speedy delivery and returns options to echo the practices of increasingly popular Temu and Shein apps would allow them to follow in their footsteps by cutting prices, she said. Amazon has said most of the products on Haul will cost less than $10 (£7.90). It cited examples such as a three-piece razor set and an “elegant necklace, bracelet, and earring set” available at just under three dollars each in a press release about the launch. Free delivery will also be available for orders of $25 or over with one to two week delivery. But the mass production of cheap products has come under criticism due to concerns about the impact of their shipping and disposal on the environment. “Finding great products at very low prices is important to customers, and we continue to explore ways that we can work with our selling partners so they can offer products at ultra-low prices,” said Dharmesh Mehta, Amazon’s vice president of worldwide selling partner services. The company says the “beta” Haul shopping experience will see all products sold backed by its product guarantees to provide confidence about their safety. Mr Mehta said it was still “early days” for its new shopping vertical, and customer feedback would be listened to in order to “refine and expand it in the weeks and months to come”. The BBC has asked Amazon if, and when, the service will be launched in the ***. Source link #Amazon #launches #Temu #Shein #rival #crazy #prices Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

CIO interview: Steve O’Connor, Aston Martin CIO interview: Steve O’Connor, Aston Martin For a spy, James Bond’s choice of an Aston Martin is anything but subtle, yet the car and the fictional spook have become synonymous with each other. Since the 1960s, Aston Martin has upheld an image of style and exclusivity, bolstered by its association with the Bond franchise. But as the automotive industry races towards a new era, Aston Martin has had to evolve, much like Bond, and embrace change. Today, the company is responding to broader industry shifts. Rising trade barriers hindering supply chains and keeping EV prices high, as well as growing competition and volatile trade in markets such as China. In September, Aston Martin and a number of other large car brands issued profit warnings. But it’s not all ***** and gloom. Global new-vehicle sales are expected to reach a record 97.2 million units by 2025, with electric vehicles (EVs) leading at a 16% growth rate to 19.4 million units, according to a recent Economist Intelligence Unit report. It’s much-needed positive news for the industry. For Aston Martin, which appointed former Bentley Motors chairman Adrian Hallmark as CEO earlier this year, this will only be of some comfort. It operates in a highly personalised, high-end bit of the market where costs can easily spiral out of control and where increasingly, its technology choices can have a determining role. Speaking at Infor’s recent ********* conference in Amsterdam, CIO Steve O’Connor talks about the completion of an IT transformation and the need for efficiency (unsurprisingly), but it was envisioning a “software-defined car of the future” that he says has shaped the company’s current thinking, especially when it came data, parts and asset management. Aston Martin has been working with enterprise resource planning (ERP) provider Infor for about four years now, but unlike many vendors who approach transformation, Aston Martin went for more of a rip and replace approach – usually the stuff of IT consultant nightmares. Much of this was down to its own Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) platform that the company had built about 20 years ago. O’Connor says that “trying to maintain it and keep the thing alive just became way more complex”, and it didn’t adhere to industry best practice. In short, it was due an overhaul, but what made it even more pressing was the pressure building on meeting changing needs within the industry. “The big driver is obviously the future of automotive,” he says, talking about the need to embrace EVs and how technology is now part and parcel of making cars and in-car experiences. Aston Martin’s electrification strategy was recently awarded £9m of government funding through the Advanced Propulsion Centre *** (APC), so it’s well on the road to developing its own EV platform, but that’s not what O’Conner is concerned about. It is the customisations or personalisation of each purchase that creates some of the biggest challenges for Aston Martin’s supply chain, logistics and product managers. O’Connor talks about this complexity of handling parts at Aston Martin, noting, for example, that a sun visor alone could have almost 3,000 different permutations. This, says O’Connor, adds significant complexity into the manufacturing and supply chain process. “No two Aston Martins are truly alike,” he says, “even among dealer-spec cars.” Customisation extends down to specific details such as stitching colour, leather options and carpet choices, making the planning, processes and management of parts a real headache and open to error. The same can sometimes be said of highly customised legacy ERP installations. So, how does Aston Martin work with Infor? O’Connor talks about “extensibility” and “modular customisations” being key to the company’s ongoing plans and why it decided to transform its entire system and processes. Aston Martin is using Infor’s LN software, the core ERP system for manufacturing in Infor’s CloudSuite Automotive. It’s also using a range of other Infor tools including Warehouse Management, Supply Chain Planning and Inform CPQ (configure, price, quote). “We now have a fully connected ecosystem, starting with the configurator on the website and integrating with Salesforce and CPQ,” says O’Connor, adding that the IT team can do ERP customisations without affecting the core processes of the business, thanks to the modular approach of the software. “We’ve yet to see anything break through that extensibility, which in my experience is actually quite phenomenal.” The ERP system handles SKU-level (stock taking unit) detail and tracks attributes down to specifics like stitching colour and leather type, says O’Connor, enabling a level of granular tracking that will have to be the norm for the business if it is to continue to compete, while at the same time streamlining its supply chain and becoming more resilient in the face of new challenges such as skills gaps. Shifting gears This is where O’Connor sees automation as a big draw. He admits that moving from the old bespoke system to Infor was “a real eye opener” when it came to skills challenges. “There was a huge skills gap to start off with,” he says, “it was a scary prospect.” This underscores the daunting transition from a customised legacy system to a modern, cloud-based ERP. The company had to rely heavily on Infor’s partners and implementation teams to bridge this gap. Automation, however, offers a potential solution to some of these skills challenges, with O’Connor describing the ERP as “open for the automation potential”. By reducing the manual workload involved in tracking and processing customised parts, for example, O’Connor sees automation allowing Aston Martin to manage its extensive customisation options more efficiently, hopefully saving time and money but also importantly ensuring customers get what they want. But it may not be that easy. According to Deloitte’s The future of the automotive value chain 2025 and beyond: “Up to 1,300 IT specialists and mobility managers may be required for the future car company to play a significant role in the market.” The automotive industry, like many industries, will still need significant skills in technology (data and AI) and increasingly mobility and Edge expertise – and that’s where it gets really competitive for talent. Managing resources is becoming increasingly essential if these sorts of businesses want to keep seeing the margins to which they have been accustomed in recent years. “The big driver [of electric vehicles] is obviously the future of automotive” Steve O’Connor, Aston Martin O’Connor seems fully aware that skills will be an ongoing challenge for the whole organisation, and he has learnt a lot from undergoing an IT transformation. He talks up the value of change management, saying it should “not be underestimated” in bringing the business along with you. “We threw all of our core business systems out and went for the three [Infor] platforms,” says O’Connor. “That was huge and in a short ******* of time as well. So, you’ve got to win the hearts and minds and you’ve got to keep your eye on the value. You’ve got to keep telling the story.” The shift has required a careful approach to both process alignment and training, ensuring the team not only understands the technical aspects of the system, but also embraces the new ways of working. This focus on automation and change management reflects the growing role of digital tools in mitigating skills gaps at Aston Martin, but as O’Connor suggests, at the intersection of legacy craftsmanship and high-tech innovation, you can never really take your eye off the ball. Automation will no doubt have an increasing role here. Focus on workflow is already ongoing, but it’s also proving valuable for Aston Martin’s approach to order management. O’Connor explains that while there’s a 12-week “frozen *******” before production, customers can make changes up until that point, sometimes even after. Last-minute changes can be managed more cost-effectively, enabling the business to maintain its customer experience and commitment to individuality. Managing resources efficiently is fundamental and sustainability is now accelerating to the forefront of Aston Martin’s strategy, with the luxury carmaker aiming to meet the rising environmental expectations of its customers and regulators alike. The company’s Racing Green initiative sets ambitious targets to reduce its environmental footprint across every stage of production, from supply chain logistics to vehicle manufacturing. So, will Infor help? “That’s the intention,” says O’Connor, adding that having just finished the Infor implementation, he can now turn his attention to sustainability measures to track resource use, emissions and efficiencies. He was keen to point out that sustainability for Aston Martin is not just about ticking regulatory boxes but reshaping the brand’s future to appeal to environmentally conscious buyers who expect luxury without compromising on sustainability. The inference from O’Connor was that previously the systems were in no position to help with tracking that sort of data. In many respects, Infor has opened up a new world for Aston Martin, giving it oversight of its operations and an ability to manage products, parts and processes in fine detail. It’s a new world for such an iconic, traditional sports car brand, and Aston Martin has certainly been brave in firmly planting its IT transformation flag early. As O’Connor says, it can now focus more confidently on its core abilities of building and marketing luxury cars. It’s less shaken, but definitely more stirred. Source link #CIO #interview #Steve #OConnor #Aston #Martin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bank of America says buy this little-known nuclear energy stock Bank of America says buy this little-known nuclear energy stock Nuclear fuel company BWX Technologies is “the nuclear pick [for] yesterday, today and tomorrow,” according to Bank of America. Analyst Ronald Epstein reiterated his buy rating on the stock while increasing his price target to $160 from $115. The new price target indicates more than 20% upside from where shares closed on Wednesday. BWX’s primary business is providing U.S. submarines and carriers with naval nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel and other components. Shares have surged 72.1% in 2024 due to the scarcity premium in the small modular reactor (SMR) market. Although the market for SMRs is still in the beginning phases, BWX is still a key supplier in the market, per Epstein. “Additionally, BWXT is uniquely positioned to the US Navy build up as the sole-source supplier of nuclear power plants for submarines and aircraft carriers,” Epstein wrote in a research note on Thursday. The company’s “monopolistic position” also shields it from any tailwinds from sluggish shipbuilders and shipyards performance, the analyst added. “We view BWXT as a pure-play beneficiary of ***-partisan support for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Indo-Pacific strategy,” Epstein said. Shares climbed 4% Thursday before the bell. Analysts are generally bullish on the stock. Of the 11 covering BWX Technologies, eight rate it as buy or strong buy, LSEG data shows. Source link #Bank #America #buy #littleknown #nuclear #energy #stock Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU deforestation law: Parliament wants to give companies one more year to comply | News EU deforestation law: Parliament wants to give companies one more year to comply | News In response to concerns raised by EU member states, non-EU countries, traders and operators that they would not be able to fully comply with the rules if applied as of end of 2024, the Commission proposed postponing the application date of the deforestation regulation by one year. Plenary agreed in October 2024 to deal with the proposal under the urgency procedure – Rule 170(6). Today, it approved the postponement with 371 votes to 240 and 30 abstentions. Large operators and traders would have to respect the obligations stemming from this regulation as of 30 December 2025, whereas micro- and small enterprises would have until 30 June 2026. This additional time would help operators around the world to implement the rules smoothly from the start without undermining the objectives of the law. Parliament also adopted other amendments proposed by the political groups, including the creation of a new category of countries posing “no risk” on deforestation in addition to the existing three categories of “low”, “standard” and “high” risk. Countries classified as “no risk”, defined as countries with stable or increasing forest area development, would face significantly less stringent requirements as there is a negligible or non-existent risk of deforestation. The Commission will have to finalise a country benchmarking system by 30 June 2025. Next steps Parliament decided to refer this file back to committee for interinstitutional negotiations. In order for these changes to enter into force, the agreed text will have to be endorsed by both Council and Parliament and published in the EU Official Journal. Background The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation. Palm oil and soya account for more than two-thirds of this. The deforestation regulation, adopted by Parliament on 19 April 2023, aims to ****** climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing the deforestation related to EU consumption of products from cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm-oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper. Already in force since 29 June 2023, its provisions were to be applied by companies from 30 December 2024. Source link #deforestation #law #Parliament #give #companies #year #comply #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

National Care Service plan ‘delayed not scrapped’ National Care Service plan ‘delayed not scrapped’ Getty Images The Scottish government is again delaying its flagship plans for a National Care Service – but denies reports that the policy has been dropped. Health Secretary Neil Gray said he was “absolutely committed” to the scheme, which aims to transfer responsibility for social care away from councils to a new national body. Opposition parties are opposed to the plans, which have already been delayed by three years due to financial pressures and uncertainty over costs. The Scottish government said that it needed time to consider views and a new timetable would be worked out in the new year. MSPs were due to consider potential amendments to the bill later this month. The health secretary said that the government was “considering all options”. Gray said there had been no decisions yet as to how the final bill would be formulated as he sought support to pass the legislation. It comes after the Scottish Greens voted to withdraw their backing last month, meaning there was not enough support for the plans at Holyrood. The plan was first announced following the Covid pandemic The legislation aims to centralise ****** social care currently delivered by local authorities into a single body accountable to the Scottish government. Councils and trade unions previously withdrew support, while health boards and care organisations also expressed concerns. PA Media Scottish Greens co-leaders Partick Harvie and Lorna Slater *************, Labour and ******** Democrat MSPs stood in opposition to the scheme. They were joined by Greens MSPs last month. The SNP is in power as a ********* administration after a power-sharing agreement with the Greens collapsed in April. They must now rely on the support of other parties to pass legislation at Holyrood. But at the Greens’ party conference in Greenock members voted to withdraw support saying the scheme was “not fit for purpose” in its current form. Scottish Green health and social care spokeswoman Gillian Mackay said the bill was “contrary to Green values” and a “power grab” on local authorities. Source link #National #Care #Service #plan #delayed #scrapped Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Launch AI Agents That Can Control Tasks on Computer OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Launch AI Agents That Can Control Tasks on Computer OpenAI is reportedly planning to release artificial intelligence (AI) agents that can operate tasks on computer systems. As per a report, the company has been working on several agent-related research projects, one of which is dubbed “Operator” which can ******** multi-step actions on computers. The AI agents are said to be released in January 2025 as a research preview for developers. The company is reportedly planning to access its AI agents via a native application programming interface (API) which developers can use to build software and apps. OpenAI’s AI Agents AI Agents have become a recent trend in the AI space. These are smaller AI models that have a limited but specialised knowledge base and can use specific software to ******** actions such as mimicking keystrokes, button clicks, and more. Due to the specialised nature of the models, they can complete tasks with accuracy and speed. According to a Bloomberg report, OpenAI has developed a new AI agent dubbed Operator that can complete tasks on computers. Citing people familiar with the matter, the publication claimed that users will be able to command the AI agent complicated tasks such as writing code or booking tickets, and it would be able to perform them. On Wednesday, OpenAI executives reportedly revealed plans to release the tool in January 2025 as a research preview. The company is said to create a new API for developers through which developers will have access to it. Notably, OpenAI is reportedly working on several agent-related research projects, which are near completion. One such agent is said to be capable of executing tasks in a web browser. Details about the other projects are currently not known. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman mentioned AI agents as the company’s focus earlier this month during a question and answer session on Reddit. Replying to a user, he said, “We will have better and better models. But I think the thing that will feel like the next giant breakthrough will be agents.” Anthropic, OpenAI’s competitor, released native AI agents last month. Dubbed Computer Use, these agents can understand and interact with computers, essentially allowing them to control and complete tasks on PCs. These agents are built on an upgraded version of Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Source link #OpenAI #Reportedly #Planning #Launch #Agents #Control #Tasks #Computer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is the S&P 500 Due for a Cooldown? Key Technical Levels Could Signal a Pullback Is the S&P 500 Due for a Cooldown? Key Technical Levels Could Signal a Pullback S&P 500’s post-election rally faces resistance as overbought conditions mount. PPI data and Powell’s speech could be pivotal in shaping market direction today. Watch key support zones around 5990 and 595.00 for potential pullbacks in SPY. Get ready for massive savings on InvestingPro this ****** Friday! Access premium market data and supercharge your research at a discount. Don’t miss out – click here to save 55%! Following last week’s Trump victory in the US presidential election, the has rallied and stayed up, while the rest of the global indices have been quite volatile due to worries about tariffs and the potential for US monetary policy to remain quite restrictive in 2025 than would have otherwise been the case. Index futures were flattish ahead of the release of PPI inflation data, even if APAC stocks had another bearish session overnight, following the indecisive lead from Wall Street and the drop in ********* markets the day before. Right now, there is a lack of fresh major catalysts, with investors having factored potentially most of the Trump-related impact on stocks. So far, US stock investors have ignored the weakness in global markets outside of the US as well as the drop in major commodity and bond prices. With the US yield approaching 4.5% amid the hawkish repricing of US rates in 2025, this is something that may ultimately hold the markets back, especially as the major US indices are now at technically overbought levels. What to watch out for today Today’s numbers could be a key driver for bond yields, as they closely relate to the , the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. Analysts are expecting a slight uptick in headline from 0.0% to 0.2% month-over-month, while the core measure is forecast to stay steady at 0.2%. Adding to the day’s significance, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is set to speak in Dallas, with a focus on the economic outlook. During the Q&A, Powell will likely face questions about the latest inflation trends and the potential effects of protectionist policies under Trump, on monetary policy. For the stock market, downside risks remain given high positioning levels. However, if Powell avoids directly linking potential policy shifts to the Fed’s decisions, this could dampen stock sell-offs and potentially lower US rate expectations. Currently, the market is cautiously pricing in just 50 basis points of easing by mid-2025. S&P 5000 futures: Technical analysis and trade ideas The S&P 500 has managed to maintain most of its post-election gains, reflecting US investors’ trust in Trump delivering his promised tax cuts and spending plans, which should be good news for Corporate America. The 2024 bullish trend thus still ******** quite strong. Every dip, little or big, has been bought so far. Until the time we see the markets make lower lows and lower highs, there is little point in fighting the trend. That said, at current levels, even the most bullish traders would be looking for a dip to buy, as the market is looking quite overbought. I haven’t included the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicator on this chart, but you don’t need that to tell you how overbought the SPX is right now – just look at price action from the left to the right. The RSI is at or near 70.00 on all major long-term charts, such as the daily, weekly and monthly. These overbought conditions will need to be worked off at some point, either through a sell-off or consolidation, before the bulls look for fresh buy-the-dip trades. Therefore, we could see a pullback in the days ahead, although we are still awaiting a clear reversal sign on the S&P for the trigger. For me, a potential break below 5990 on the S&P futures would be the trigger to look for short-term bearish trades until those RSI overbought conditions are worked off. A decisive break below this level would put into focus the area between 5893 to 5927 as the next potential support area to look for a bounce. This zone was resistance for much of October, before the index surged through it last week. Within this zone, we also have the 21-day exponential moving average coming into play, making it a key support area. Below this area, the next potential support zone to watch would be around 5805, where the bullish trend line going back to August comes into play. This trend would need to hold, else it could pave the way for a long-overdue correction. So, there are lots of support levels that would need to break down before the bears regain any sort of control. I am merely expecting to see some short-term weakness from these overbought levels, but for a full-on sell-off to take place, the bears will need to break several support levels. Until that happens, I am only expecting a modest pullback as things. Key levels to watch on SPY One of the ways to gain access to the S&P 500 is through the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust or more commonly known as SPY. This is an exchange-traded fund that trades on the NYSE Arca, and it is designed to track the S&P 500 index by holding a portfolio comprising all 500 companies on the index. Transferring the abovementioned levels onto SPY, the trigger for a short-term pullback to watch is the potential breakdown of near-term support at 595.00. If this happens, then the SPY may drop to the next support levels such as 586.12 (October higher) and 576.74 (the pre-election breakout area). I would look for a bounce around these two latter levels, if we get there. *** Disclaimer: This article is written for informational purposes only; it does not constitute a solicitation, offer, advice, counsel or recommendation to invest as such it is not intended to incentivize the purchase of assets in any way. I would like to remind you that any type of asset, is evaluated from multiple perspectives and is highly risky and therefore, any investment decision and the associated risk ******** with the investor. Read my articles at City Index Source link #Due #Cooldown #Key #Technical #Levels #Signal #Pullback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

COP29: MEPs want all countries to contribute financially to climate action | News COP29: MEPs want all countries to contribute financially to climate action | News The resolution, prepared by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and approved on Thursday with 429 votes in favour, 183 against and 24 abstentions, calls on all countries to agree on a post-2025 new collective goal on climate finance that is socially fair, aligned with the polluter-pays principle, and based on a variety of public, private and innovative sources of finance. MEPs want all major and emerging economies with high emissions and high GDP to contribute financially to global climate action. They call on the EU to step up its green diplomacy to help create an international level playing field, avoid carbon leakage, and increase public support for climate action. The EU should encourage and support other countries to introduce or improve carbon pricing mechanisms, such as its emissions trading system and carbon border adjustment mechanism. COP29 must send an “unambiguous signal” as a follow-up to the COP28 commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, MEPs add, including the phase-out of all direct and indirect fossil fuels subsidies as soon as possible and the reallocation of these resources towards climate action. Background COP29 takes place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku (Azerbaijan). A Parliament delegation will attend the gathering between 18 and 22 November. COP29 aims to provide an overview of current progress on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and reach an agreement on new financial resources to support global climate action. Source link #COP29 #MEPs #countries #contribute #financially #climate #action #News Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fremantle Dockers CEO Simon Garlick praises ‘better balance’ in 2025 AFL fixture Fremantle Dockers CEO Simon Garlick praises ‘better balance’ in 2025 AFL fixture Fremantle will embrace a 2025 fixture that gives it three blocks of travel respite it has been lobbying the AFL for in recent seasons, according to chief executive Simon Garlick. Source link #Fremantle #Dockers #CEO #Simon #Garlick #praises #balance #AFL #fixture Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelda designer’s new ‘coziest open-world game’ has a release date Zelda designer’s new ‘coziest open-world game’ has a release date Infinity Nikki, the self-proclaimed ‘coziest open-world game’ helmed by a former Legend of Zelda designer, has announced a release date of December 5 on PC, iOS, Android, and PlayStation 5. Developed by Singapore-based Infold Games, Infinity Nikki sees players explore an Unreal Engine 5-powered world, performing activities such as fishing, **** grooming and fashion contests. Over 30 million players have pre-registered for the game, according to its developer. The game is being helmed by Kentaro Tominaga, who was previously sub-director for Zelda games The Wind Waker, A Link Between Worlds, and Twilight Princess. The designer most recently worked on Switch titles Breath of the World and Tears of the Kingdom. In a new trailer published on Thursday, fans can hear the full Infinity Nikki theme song Together Till Infinity for the first time, performed by pop star Jessie J. Infold said: “After the wildly successful Closed Beta last month, players worldwide will soon be able to float, glide and plunge their way around the world again, tackling cleverly designed puzzles while exploring the possibilities offered by the coziest open-world imaginable, with soaring paper cranes, speeding wine cellar minecarts, mysterious ghost trains, many other hidden secrets to be discovered in an ever-expanding and evolving world.” Source link #Zelda #designers #coziest #openworld #game #release #date Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Latest Meta Quest 3 YouTube app update finally adds an essential VR social feature Latest Meta Quest 3 YouTube app update finally adds an essential VR social feature Watch parties are now available in YouTube VR You’ll all need to own paid content to watch it together You can’t watch 360 video together yet VR gaming, like gaming in general, is always more fun with friends. Hopping into Just Dance VR is fine, but taking it on in a multiplayer session – either online or for couch co-op – is a much more enjoyable experience. The same is true for Walkabout Mini Golf and Beat Saber – and now you can also enjoy shared experiences when watching movies or other content in the YouTube VR app. Whether it’s watching a 4K movie or your favorite YouTube Short, it’s now possible to host a YouTube watch party with up to seven other guests at the push of a button – no matter where you all happen to be (though it will need to be somewhere with an internet connection). You’ll want to boot up the free YouTube app on your Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S (after installing it if you haven’t already), then look above the screen to see the co-watch icon (it looks like a person-shaped outline flanked by two silhouettes), and click it to start your watch party. YouTube Co-Watching | Watch Your Favorite YouTube Content Together in VR – YouTube Watch On From there you can invite people from your followers list – provided you follow each other – by sending them a notification. Once they accept they’ll join your virtual group, and then you can decide what you all want to watch. There are a few restrictions to note, however. As mentioned you’ll have to be following each other, and it’s important to note that you want to watch paid-for YouTube content everyone in the party will have to pay for it separately – so you can’t get away with splitting a single rental fee. Additionally, full-360-degree immersive video is not yet supported, which is a shame as these 3D experiences are among my favorite ways to use the YouTube VR app. You might also like Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable ****** Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. Source link #Latest #Meta #Quest #YouTube #app #update #finally #adds #essential #social #feature Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

What the Trump Election Win Means for Our CEFs (Including This 11%-Payer) What the Trump Election Win Means for Our CEFs (Including This 11%-Payer) Immediately after President-Elect Donald Trump won his second term last week, the surged, while US Treasuries fell: Election Sends Dollar Up, Treasuries Down in Early Trading Both moves are opposite sides of the same coin: Investors believe Trump’s policies will be inflationary. The theory suggests this would happen for a couple of reasons: The US government will spend more, and interest rates will rise higher than rates elsewhere in the world in response. That will attract foreign capital to America while making it less attractive for capital to leave the US. All of that extra capital in America will boost economic activity and demand for the dollar. But it will also boost consumer prices. Now let me explain why both of these theories are incorrect. (And let me be clear we always take a non-political, data-driven approach here at Contrarian Outlook). Further on, we’ll look at a group of high-income closed-end funds (CEFs) that are set to profit, including a specific one to put on your buy list: It yields a rich 11% today. The best way to ***** in here is to look at how the trend of foreign investment in America affected bond rates and the dollar long before Trump became president the first time. America Is a Capital Magnet Whether the red or blue party is in power, America attracts a lot of money from abroad for a simple reason: It’s a great place to do business. As the head of Norway’s $1.6-trillion sovereign wealth fund recently said, “Americans just work *******” and have a higher “general level of ambition,” which is why a lot of Europeans love investing in America. This has been going on for a long time, which is why foreign direct investment in the US has risen strongly since 2000, when the divergence between ********* and ********* growth grew especially wide. America ******** a Magnet for Investment More investment in the US has helped America’s stock markets grow to become 60% of the planet’s stocks by market cap—even as the US accounts for just 20% of global economic activity. This, of course, is a big reason why our CEF Insider portfolio is heavily skewed toward ********* companies. But all economic success comes with a price, of course. In the case of the US, that price has been an inequality in wealth distribution. This trend grew quickly in the 1980s and early 1990s, and things have leveled off a bit since, as you can tell by looking at the GINI index (a metric of how wealth is distributed in a country). Here’s where the data tells us something else surprising: That inequality has actually helped lower inflation. You can see this seemingly odd correlation by plotting the rate of consumer price inflation (CPI), in red below, from the 1980s to today alongside the GINI index (in blue). This makes sense if you stop to think about it; if a lot of wealth is equally dispersed, more people will bid for the same goods and services, boosting prices. If wealth isn’t equally dispersed, fewer people can bid on many goods and services, and more people struggle to make ends meet. To be sure, this isn’t a recipe for a happy society, but it does point to one with lower inflation. And for the most part, that’s what America has seen in the last 50 or so years. Let’s be honest, no president from either party is going to change this, at least in any rapid way. As a result, we’re probably going to see less inflation than the market expects in the next four years. After all, if we compare inflation in Trump’s first term to Obama’s two terms, we see that they’re almost identical: Trump’s ******* saw 1.9% annualized inflation on average, while Obama saw 1.8% annualized. In other words, Trump’s presidency likely won’t see inflation soar because income inequality isn’t likely to change anytime soon. So in my view, the market is overpricing the odds of a sharp inflation increase. How to Position Your Stocks and Bonds This overpricing is an opportunity for us clear-eyed contrarians, who always set politics aside and look at things like this from a clear, investment-focused perspective. The obvious play is to buy US bonds, which have been oversold after the Trump victory, and sell US dollars, although selling USD is a bit complex for Americans living in the US. That leads us to stocks. But of course, stocks have surged since Election Day. Fortunately, we can easily get into oversold bonds and invest in high-quality US companies that are now well set up to attract foreign capital. The key is to buy oversold corporate bonds issued by US firms. The bond market is a bit complicated, so I wouldn’t suggest buying bonds individually, especially since the best bonds typically aren’t issued on the open market for anyone to buy, like a stock. However, we can “partner” with talented bond-fund managers who are already playing this longer-term trend of America attracting capital. Take, for instance, a CEF called the PIMCO Corporate & Income Opportunity (NYSE:), which is closing in on a 1,000% return over its 20-year history. Smartly Run PTY Has Delivered Big Gains (and Dividends) However, PTY currently trades at a pretty pricey 25.6% premium to net asset value (NAV, or the value of its underlying portfolio). Which is why I recommend PTY’s “sister” fund, the PIMCO Access Income Fund (NYSE:). PAXS, a holding of my CEF Insider service that we’ve reviewed in a couple of recent Contrarian Outlook articles (including our Monday piece), has just a 5% premium to NAV. That’s smaller than the typical markups on PAXS’s siblings in the PIMCO family. PIMCO funds tend to trade at high premiums for good reason: They deliver strong returns (see the chart above) and have great assets. (PAXS, like PTY, holds a range of US corporate bonds and bond derivatives that now yield more due to higher interest rates and America’s strong economic growth). Hence PAXS’s big returns so far in 2024. PAXS Jumps on US Economic Strength Here’s the best part of all this: PAXS yields 11% today. And it has actually increased its distributions in its short history: 11%-Yielding PAXS Boosts Its Dividends, Drops Special Divs, Too Source: Income Calendar This isn’t too surprising: Most of PIMCO’s bond funds raise their payouts over time, in addition to kicking out big current yields. Plus I see more special dividends as likely here. So if you buy PAXS now, you probably won’t get an 11% yield on your initial investment over time. You’ll likely get more. My Top 5 Monthly Dividend Funds Are Perfect Plays on the “Trump Trade” Bond funds are, of course, not our only play here. Other sectors, like real estate investment trusts (REITs) and even a select few tech stocks, are primed to soar as the whole “Trump will cause inflation” narrative gets a serious rethink. The best way to get in? CEFs, of course! PAXS, which we just discussed, is a great fund, and you can build on it with my 5-CEF “Monthly Dividend Portfolio.” These 5 CEFs hold REITs, bonds, blue chips, techs and more, and they’re all perfectly positioned to profit from the current moment. And as I said, they pay 10.5% annually and, yes, they pay dividends monthly, too. I can’t wait to share them with you, so you can kickstart your own monthly income stream (at a 10.5% annualized yield) NOW. And at a bargain price, too. Disclosure: Brett Owens and Michael Foster are contrarian income investors who look for undervalued stocks/funds across the U.S. markets. Click here to learn how to profit from their strategies in the latest report, “7 Great Dividend Growth Stocks for a Secure Retirement.” Source link #Trump #Election #Win #Means #CEFs #Including #11Payer Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Miami Valley residents voice opinions after Ohio lawmakers pass transgender bathroom bill Miami Valley residents voice opinions after Ohio lawmakers pass transgender bathroom bill Ohio lawmakers have put a bill on the governor’s desk that would ban transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, the Ohio Senate voted 24-7 in favor of the bill. TRENDING STORIES: Governor Mike DeWine has 10 days to decide if Senate Bill 104 will become law. If DeWine signs off on the bill, students at public schools and universities will be required to use the restroom that aligns with their **** at birth. The ********* Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Ohio believes the bill will harm the rights and privacy of LGBTQ+ students and condemns its passage. “We are incredibly disheartened by the Ohio General Assembly’s continuous attacks against transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across Ohio. Senate Bill 104 is a cruel invasion of students’ rights to privacy, which will result in unwarranted governmental disclosures of private, personal information. If allowed to go into effect, SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non-confirming individuals of all ages. This bill ignores the material reality that transgender people endure higher rates of ******* ********* and assaults, particularly while using public restrooms, than people who are not transgender. All Ohioans deserve to access the facilities they need, in alignment with their gender identity, without ***** of harassment or bullying. The ACLU of Ohio ******** steadfast in our commitment to standing with trans Ohioans and is closely considering next steps.” ACLU Ohio Policy director Jocelyn Rosnick said in a statement Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) released a statement on why he voted for the bill. “Today, I voted to protect our school children across Ohio by ensuring biological males do not use the same restroom with ******. This is common sense policy that will ensure the safety and security of our school children. No young girl should be forced to go into the same restroom with a biological male. I was proud to support this legislation.” Antani said in a statement If the legislation passes, it will not apply to school employees, emergencies, or people helping young children or those with disabilities. Schools will still be able to provide single-use and family bathrooms. News Center 7 talked to people in the Miami Valley about the bill on Wednesday. “I would feel a little something about it, but I mean, if he wanted to be a girl then he’s a girl. If it’s real, then it’s real. If he makes a move then we’ll go that route, but gotta let everyone live,” Riverside resident Joshua said. “As long as they’re not harming anyone, mind your own business. They’re not doing anything to people. I don’t know, people don’t mind their own business. At this point, do what you’re gonna do, just don’t harm anyone,” Kettering resident Dulaney Sargent said. If the bill passes, it will go into effect 90 days later. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Source link #Miami #Valley #residents #voice #opinions #Ohio #lawmakers #pass #transgender #bathroom #bill Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Piper Sandler upgrades Campbell Soup to buy, highlights sauces brand Rao’s Piper Sandler upgrades Campbell Soup to buy, highlights sauces brand Rao’s Campbell Soup has a promising long-term growth outlook thanks to Rao’s, its popular sauces brand, according to Piper Sandler. Analyst Michael Lavery upgraded shares to overweight from neutral. He also raised his price target to $56 from $47, indicating 26.6% upside potential from Wednesday’s close. The company completed its acquisition of Rao’s parent company Sovos Brands earlier this year for approximately $2.7 billion. Although Rao’s retail sales growth slowed slightly to 18.7% in the fiscal first quarter from 23.9% in the prior quarter, Lavery said further gains lie ahead as the brand enters new markets and expands its white sauce offerings. The stock is also down more than 10% over the past three months, indicating a good entry point for investors, the analyst added. “We consider CPB one of the better-positioned large cap food names,” Lavery wrote in a Tuesday note. “Continued strong growth [is] expected” for the Rao’s brand, he added. To be sure, Lavery added that potential steel tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump’s second administration could present headwinds to Campbell Soup, which uses steel for its soup cans. Steel accounts for around 4% of the company’s costs of goods and services, per Lavery. However, the company has already secured its 2025 annual steel contract and steel prices remain depressed. “Further, roughly 75% of steel used in the US is produced in the US, which obviously would have no tariffs applied to it, helping mitigate any potential tariff risk from steel,” said Lavery. “While Rao’s tomato sauces are imported from Italy, we continue to expect tariff risk on food to be low,” the analyst continued. Analyst sentiment is mixed, with 12 of 21 covering the stock rating it as a hold, LSEG data shows. The average analyst price target signals a gain of 16%. Source link #Piper #Sandler #upgrades #Campbell #Soup #buy #highlights #sauces #brand #Raos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Humza Yousaf accuses Elon Musk of ‘scouring’ private messages Humza Yousaf accuses Elon Musk of ‘scouring’ private messages Scotland’s former first minister, Humza Yousaf, has accused tech entrepreneur Elon Musk of accessing his private messages as part of a bid to “besmirch” his reputation. The ex-SNP leader claimed in a Tortoise Media podcast that the X owner “scours” the communications of people he views as a “threat”. He said he was “certain” the billionaire had access to his private communications on the platform. The podcast said it understood Musk had denied ever accessing private messages on X. That escalated over the summer during far-right riots in England and Northern Ireland. The former first minister described Musk as a “race baiter” and “one of the most dangerous men on the planet”. The X owner replied by calling Yousaf a ******* “scumbag”, posting: “I dare that scumbag to sue me.” He added: “Legal discovery will show that however big a ******* he’s been in public communications, he is vastly worse in private communications.” Speaking to the Elon’s Spies podcast, Yousaf described the comment as an attempt to “threaten and intimidate” him. “I’m certain he has a whole team of people who are now looking at any information they can gather on me and try to use it to besmirch my reputation,” he said. “And they’ll use any nefarious tactics in order to do that.” The former first minister said he interpreted Musk’s post as a “pointed accusation”, noting that people commented underneath urging the X owner to “release” private messages. Yousaf told the podcast: “I’m thinking, I’ve been on Twitter for a long time, have I made an off-colour joke? Have I said something in a private communication? “So, I thought I better do the belt and braces thing, and as I say there was nothing there, and unsurprisingly so. “But here is somebody who is basically saying to me by the way ‘you better watch out; I’m going to release stuff on you and it’s going to make your life *****’.” Yousaf repeated claims that the Trump-supporting tech entrepreneur was a *******, with “far-right, white supremacist tendencies”. He added: “Elon Musk could have trillions let alone billions and he wouldn’t have enough to shut me up.” Source link #Humza #Yousaf #accuses #Elon #Musk #scouring #private #messages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Microsoft ramps up small language model effort Microsoft ramps up small language model effort In a bid to make artificial intelligence (AI) more applicable, Microsoft has worked with a number of industry platforms to deliver small language models (SLM) to its Azure AI catalogue. The industry-specific models, built on Microsoft’s Phi family of SLMs, represents an expansion of the company’s industry-tuned AI capabilities, which it said targets the specific needs and challenges in sectors ranging from healthcare to finance and manufacturing. In a blog post discussing the new models, Satish Thomas, corporate vice-president of business and industry solutions at Microsoft, said: “By integrating the Microsoft Cloud with our industry-specific capabilities and a robust ecosystem of partners, we provide a secure approach to advancing innovation across industries. “This collaboration allows us to create extensive scenarios for customers globally, with embedded AI capabilities – from industry data solutions in Microsoft Fabric to AI agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio to AI models in Azure AI Studio – that enable industries to realise their full potential.” He said the models will be available either through the Azure AI model catalogue, which offers a range of AI models to build custom AI applications in Azure AI Studio, or directly from Microsoft partners, adding that those available in the Azure AI model catalogue can also be used to configure agents in Copilot Studio, Microsoft’s platform for creating and deploying customised AI-powered agents. These include ELY Crop Protection from healthcare and agriculture life sciences firm Bayer. According to Bayer, this specialised SLM is designed to enhance crop protection, sustainable use, application, compliance and knowledge in the agriculture sector. Other big names include Siemens Digital Industries Software, which has developed a new copilot for its NX X software. Siemens said this uses an adapted AI model that enables users to ask natural language questions, access detailed technical insights, and streamline complex design tasks for faster and smarter product development. The copilot aims to provide CAD designers with AI-driven recommendations and best practices to optimise the design process within the NX X experience. In the financial sector, regulatory compliance tech firm Safir, backed by Fidelity Investments’ innovation incubator, Fidelity Labs, is planning to introduce four new models in the Azure AI model catalogue. Aimed at financial institutes, Safir said the retail marketing compliance model is focused on compliance in text, while the image detection model looks at compliance in images. There is also a risk interpretation model, which tries to explain why something was flagged, and a language suggestion model, which suggests alternative language that might be more compliant. Rockwell Automation is offering the FT Optix Food & Beverage model, which it claims brings the benefits of industry-specific capabilities to frontline workers in manufacturing, supporting asset troubleshooting in the food and beverage domain. Rockwell Automation said the model provides recommendations, explanations and knowledge about specific manufacturing processes, machines and inputs to factory floor workers and engineers. Other models include fine-tuned SLMs from in-car software developer Cerence, which run within a vehicle’s hardware and Factory Namespace Manager from SightManager, which analyses existing factory data, learns the patterns and rules behind the naming conventions and then automatically translates these data field names into a standardised corporate format. Source link #Microsoft #ramps #small #language #model #effort Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Iran will talk about nuclear, but not under pressure Iran will talk about nuclear, but not under pressure Iran is willing to resolve disputes with the ******* Nations nuclear agency over its compliance with safeguards on its atomic program but will not do so under pressure, Iran’s foreign minister says after meeting the IAEA head. ********* powers were pushing for a new resolution against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board next week to pressure Tehran over what they view as its poor co-operation, diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has for months sought progress with Iran on issues including a push for more monitoring co-operation at its nuclear sites and an explanation of uranium traces found at undeclared sites. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, writing on X after talks with Grossi in Tehran, said: “The ball is in the EU/E3 court. Willing to negotiate based on our national interest and inalienable rights, but not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation.” He was referring to the three main ********* powers, France, Germany, and Britain. The talks took place with Donald Trump due to take office again as US president in January. During his previous tenure, the ******* States pulled out of the 2015 accord between Iran and several world powers aimed at curbing its suspected nuclear missile program. Araqchi said the talks with Grossi were “important and straightforward”, while the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation Mohammad Eslami said they were “constructive”. “As a committed member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, we continue our full co-operation with the IAEA. Differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue,” Araqchi said. Source link #Iran #talk #nuclear #pressure Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Vivo S20 Pro Specifications Leaked; Said to Get Dimensity 9300+ SoC, 50-Megapixel Front Camera Vivo S20 Pro Specifications Leaked; Said to Get Dimensity 9300+ SoC, 50-Megapixel Front Camera Vivo is expected to launch the mid-range S20 series in China soon. The upcoming lineup is thought to include base Vivo S20 and Vivo S20 Pro models, as a follow-up to the Vivo S19 and Vivo S19 Pro, respectively. A new ***** has now surfaced online suggesting key details about the Vivo S20 Pro. It could come with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ SoC under the hood. The Pro model in the Vivo S19 series is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC. The Vivo S20 Pro is likely to feature three 50-megapixel cameras at the rear. Vivo S20 Pro Specifications (Leaked) Popular tipster Digital Chat Station has shared the alleged specifications of the Vivo S20 Pro on Weibo. As per the *****, the upcoming phone will feature a 6.67-inch display with a 1.5K (1,260×2,800 pixels) resolution. It is tipped to run on a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ SoC. The Vivo S20 Pro could boast a 50-megapixel selfie camera and a triple rear camera unit, which is said to include a 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle sensor, and a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. Vivo is expected to pack a 5,500mAh battery on the device with 90W charging support. It is said to sport an optical fingerprint scanner as well. Vivo S20 series is speculated to launch in China at the end of this month. Vivo usually rebrands its S series smartphones as the V series for the global market. Therefore we can expect the Vivo S20 and S20 Pro to launch as the Vivo V50 and V50 Pro in markets outside China. The Vivo S19 Pro was launched in China in May with an initial price tag of CNY 3,299 (roughly Rs. 38,000) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage option. It sports a 6.78-inch 1.5K OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and has a triple rear camera setup led by a 50-megapixel 1/1.56-inch Sony IMX921 primary sensor. It carries a 50-megapixel front camera and has a 5,500mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging. Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Spotify for Podcasters Evolves Into a New Platform for Creators With Monetisation, Analytics and More YouTube Said to Be Testing New Vertical Scroll Gestures for Mobile App, Leaving Users Disgruntled Source link #Vivo #S20 #Pro #Specifications #Leaked #Dimensity #SoC #50Megapixel #Front #Camera Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******* says 15 trucks carrying aid have been allowed into northern Gaza ******* says 15 trucks carrying aid have been allowed into northern Gaza ******* says 15 trucks carrying aid have been allowed into northern Gaza, where aid groups have warned that a monthlong ******** offensive could cause a famine. The trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday with aid from the ******* ***** Emirates, said the military body handling aid deliveries into the territory, COGAT. It said the aid consisted of food and water as well as hygiene, shelter and medical supplies. U.N. agencies did not immediately confirm the delivery of the aid. ******** forces have encircled the Gaza Strip’s northernmost areas for the past month, saying ****** militants have regrouped there. Experts say the ******** military campaign has caused a new wave of displaced civilians and warn that famine is imminent or may already be happening there. Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday that ******* has committed war ******* and ******* against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including massive forced displacements that amount to ******* cleansing. It said people have been ******* while evacuating under ******** orders and in ********-designated humanitarian zones, where hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps. ******* has also been striking deeper inside Lebanon since September as it escalates the war against Hezbollah. *******’s war against ****** in Gaza has ******* more than 43,000 people, more than half of them women and children, ************ health officials say. The officials do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The *******-****** war began after ************ militants stormed into ******* on Oct. 7, 2023, ******** some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducting 250 others. Lebanon’s Hezbollah group began ******* into ******* on Oct. 8, 2023, in solidarity with ****** in Gaza. Since then, more than 3,200 people have been ******* in Lebanon and more than 14,200 wounded, the country’s Health Ministry reported. In *******, 76 people have been *******, including 31 soldiers. ___ Here’s the latest: Syrian state media report explosions near Damascus and Homs DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian state media are reporting explosions near the capital, Damascus, and the central city of Homs in what appeared to be ******** airstrikes. State news agency SANA said the country’s air defenses were activated against a “hostile target” south of Homs on Thursday. It gave no further details. The agency later reported an ********** near Damascus, adding that the cause of the blasts was not immediately clear. ******* has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria targeting members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah and officials from Iranian-backed groups. ******* says it has allowed 15 trucks carrying aid into northern Gaza JERUSALEM — ******* says 15 trucks loaded with aid have been allowed into northern Gaza, where aid groups have warned that a monthlong offensive could cause a famine. The military body handling aid deliveries into the territory, COGAT, said the 15 trucks entered Gaza on Wednesday with aid shipped in by sea by the ******* ***** Emirates. It said the aid consists of food and water, as well as hygiene, shelter and medical supplies. U.N. agencies did not immediately confirm that the aid was delivered to its destination inside northern Gaza. Over the past week, the U.N. says aid trucks have entered the north but have not reached their final destinations due to ******** movement restrictions and hungry crowds taking items from the trucks. ******* has scrambled to ramp up aid to Gaza after a monthlong stretch during which aid plunged to its lowest levels this year. The U.S. Biden administration warned ******* to increase the aid last month, saying a ******** to do so could lead to a reduction in military support. The White House backed down this week, citing some improvements and ruling out any reduction in arms supplies, even after international aid groups said ******* had fallen far short of the ********* demands. Human Rights Watch accuses ******* of war *******, ******* against humanity in the Gaza Strip JERUSALEM — Human Rights Watch says ******* has committed war ******* and ******* against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including massive forced displacements that amount to ******* cleansing. A report released by the New York-based rights group on Thursday says ******** evacuation orders have often caused “grave harm” to civilians. People have been ******* while evacuating and in ********-designated humanitarian zones, where hundreds of thousands are crammed into squalid tent camps. “The ******** government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it ****** them along escape routes, ****** so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation,” said Nadia Hardman, ******** and migrant rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. The report said the widespread, deliberate demolition of homes and civilian infrastructure in Gaza -– some of them to carve a new road bisecting the territory and establish a buffer zone along *******’s border -– was likely to “permanently displace” many Palestinians. “Such actions of the ******** authorities amount to ******* cleansing,” Human Rights Watch said. The ******** military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Human Rights Watch called on governments to stop supplying weapons to ******* and to comply with a July opinion by the International Court of Justice saying *******’s presence in the ************ territories is unlawful and must end. The group says its researchers interviewed 39 displaced Palestinians in Gaza, reviewed evacuation orders ******* has released throughout the war and analyzed satellite imagery and video of attacks along evacuation routes and in “safe zones.” *******’s blistering campaign in Gaza has ******* over 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Around 90% of the territory’s population has fled their homes, with many displaced multiple times. The ******** offensive has also damaged or destroyed around two-thirds of homes and other buildings in Gaza, according to U.N. assessments. ******* says it does not deliberately target civilians and blames ****** for their deaths, saying the militants hide among civilians and operate in residential areas. US military says it conducted strikes against Houthi rebels DUBAI, ******* ***** Emirates — The U.S. military says it has conducted several days of strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The strikes included U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft, including the Navy’s F-35C stealth fighter jet, it said Thursday. The military also released video showing a strike by an MQ-9 Reaper drone on a mobile missile launcher placed on the back of what appeared to be a truck. A person standing next to the launcher is seen running away after the strike. “This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as U.S., coalition and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden,” the U.S. military’s Central Command said. “It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.” The strikes happened Saturday and Sunday. The Houthis launched an ******* this week targeted two U.S. Navy destroyers entering the Red Sea. The Americans said they “engaged and defeated” eight *****-carrying drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles that the Houthis used to target the vessels. ___ For more Middle East news: Source link #******* #trucks #carrying #aid #allowed #northern #Gaza Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Saudi Arabia’s Neom replaces its CEO amid reports of delays, cutbacks Saudi Arabia’s Neom replaces its CEO amid reports of delays, cutbacks Digital render of NEOM’s The Line project in Saudi Arabia The Line, NEOM Saudi Arabia’s massive Neom megaproject, a multi-trillion dollar plan to develop a swathe of land the size of Massachusetts, has replaced its CEO in a significant reshuffling as the kingdom faces questions over the economic viability of its ambitions. Neom’s board of directors announced Tuesday the appointment of Aiman Al-Mudaifer as acting CEO of the company following the unexpected departure of Nadhmi Al-Nasr, who was put in charge of the project in 2018. “As NEOM enters a new phase of delivery, this new leadership will ensure operational continuity, agility and efficiency to match the overall vision and objectives of the project,” a Neom statement said. It did not disclose the reason for the departure of Al-Nasr. The region, as envisioned by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is set to host hyper-futuristic cityscapes and structures including The Line — two parallel skyscrapers measuring at more than 100 miles long — and Trojena, a mountain ski resort capable of hosting the 2029 ****** Winter Games. The projects have faced skepticism and criticism from environmentalists and engineers in other parts of the world. Neom’s leadership reshuffle comes at a ******* of changing financial pressures on the kingdom, as oil prices and demand forecasts remain subdued, and Saudi Arabia’s budget deficit widens. Budgets are facing cutbacks and projects are seeing delays, three people with knowledge of the matter told CNBC, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to speak to the press. NEOM map of the 500 billion dollar megacity project in Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coast. Peterhermesfurian | Istock | Getty Images The Line, for instance, has been reportedly scaled back from an initial planned length of 106 miles to just 1.5 miles — which would still make it the world’s longest building. Neom executives have vocally denied these reports, calling them “false” and saying that work was continuing as planned. “NEOM is a fundamental pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 and progress continues on all operations as planned, as we deliver the next phase of our vast portfolio of projects including THE LINE, Oxagon, Trojena, Magna and The Islands of NEOM,” the Tuesday statement from the organization said. Saudi real GDP is expected to grow 0.8% this year, in a dramatic drop from a previous estimate of 4.4%, according to an October pre-budget report published by the Ministry of Finance. Saudi authorities also expect that the budget will remain in deficit for the next several years, as the kingdom prioritizes spending to achieve the targets of the Vision 2030 economic diversification program. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s fiscal breakeven oil price — what it needs a barrel of crude to cost in order to balance its government budget — was estimated by the International Monetary Fund to be $96.20 for 2024; a roughly 19% increase on the year before. It’s also 33% higher than the current price of a barrel of Brent crude, which was trading at around $72 as of Wednesday afternoon. Source link #Saudi #Arabias #Neom #replaces #CEO #reports #delays #cutbacks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

GenAI apps boost interest in differentiated 5G connectivity GenAI apps boost interest in differentiated 5G connectivity One of the key advantages of standalone 5G networks (5G SA) is the potential to offer dedicated spectrum and connectivity services to select users, and in a further development, Ericsson ConsumerLab research has found that global 5G smartphone users are willing to pay extra for high-end differentiated connectivity services, typically driven by artificial intelligence (AI). For its Elevating 5G with differentiated connectivity report, Ericsson surveyed 23,000 smartphone users between the ages of 15 and 69, more than 17,000 of whom were 5G smartphone users from 16 key markets with a global spread, namely Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, France, Hong Kong, India, KSA, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, the *** and the US. Ericsson researchers assured that the sample was representative of 1.1 billion people, including 750 million 5G smartphone users. Ericsson noted that the number of smartphone owners who use generative AI (GenAI) apps on at least a weekly basis is expected to increase 2.5-fold in the next five years. A key finding of the study was that GenAI applications are driving interest in differentiated connectivity to guarantee uninterrupted high-end connectivity when users need it most. The rapidly growing category joins existing differentiated connectivity use cases such as video calling, streaming and online payments, which smartphone users say they are willing to pay a premium for. Specifically, almost one in four GenAI users say they are willing to pay up to 35% more for guaranteed fast and secure connectivity for such high-capacity applications. The research also showed that 35% of 5G smartphone users would be interested in paying for differentiated connectivity for essential applications. In what is said to contradict received wisdom that users will not pay extra for connectivity, the survey found 20% of users, known as “assurance seekers”, were actively seeking elevated connectivity for critical applications and were willing to pay for it. “As AI-powered applications become more prevalent, users’ expectations for enhanced connectivity are rising. This reflects consumers’ expectations for AI apps’ future capabilities – perhaps relating to image, audio or video generation – and their willingness to pay for those capabilities to perform in a speedy and high-quality way,” said Jasmeet Sethi, head of ConsumerLab at Ericsson. “This signals an opportunity for communications services providers (CSPs) globally to meet this demand through tailored connectivity experiences.” Differentiated connectivity revenue generation potential for CSPs could increase as they transition to performance-based business models, offering tailored subscriptions and plans with assured performance for different consumer segments in the market. “This shift could drive a 5% to 12% uplift in 5G ARPU [average revenue per user] as users seek guaranteed reliable performance for specific applications,” Sethi added. “Additionally, there is an opportunity to unlock new revenue pools from the significant demand among 5G users for high-performance apps, with one in three 5G smartphone users willing to reallocate 10% of their current mobile app spend to purchase apps with in-built elevated connectivity. By exposing quality on-demand network APIs [application programming interfaces] to developers, CSPs can tap into this demand, enabling developers to offer premium, high-performance experiences, and unlocking new revenue streams in the process.” Source link #GenAI #apps #boost #interest #differentiated #connectivity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Investors to monitor economic data, Fed speeches Investors to monitor economic data, Fed speeches Treasury yields rose on Thursday as investors monitored a fresh batch of economic data and a flurry of speeches from Federal Reserve policymakers. The 10-year Treasury yield traded nearly 2 basis points higher at 4.469%, while the yield on the 2-year Treasury rose around 2 basis points to 4.301%. Yields and prices move in opposite directions. One basis point equals 0.01%. It comes as investors await the release of the latest weekly initial jobless claims and the producer price index for October. The PPI figure, which measures what producers get for goods and services, is expected to show a 0.2% increase from the month prior, according to a Dow Jones consensus estimate. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to discuss the U.S. economic outlook in Dallas, Texas on Thursday. Fed Governor Adriana Kugler, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin and New York Fed President John Williams are also expected to deliver remarks later in the day. The speeches come as investors and economists scrutinize what President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House could mean for U.S. interest rates. The U.S. central bank delivered its second consecutive interest rate cut earlier in the month, in line with expectations, and traders see a decent chance of another trim in December. — CNBC’s Sarah Min contributed to this report. Source link #Investors #monitor #economic #data #Fed #speeches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Indian Scientists Create Genetically Modified Bacteria Capable of Mathematical Computation Indian Scientists Create Genetically Modified Bacteria Capable of Mathematical Computation Genetic engineering efforts at the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP) in Kolkata have recently produced a type of bacteria that can perform mathematical operations. This breakthrough demonstrates that bacterial cells, when modified, can conduct addition, subtraction and even identify prime numbers between 0 and 9. The work by Indian researchers suggests a possible foundation for creating biocomputers—devices that utilise living cells for computation. This research could drive forward the integration of biological systems within computational science. Biocomputing’s Evolution and Emerging Capabilities The study was published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. The use of living cells for computing has seen two decades of incremental progress. Initially, synthetic biology allowed scientists to develop cellular logic gates for fundamental operations like “AND,” “OR,” and “NOT,” mimicking the functions of silicon processors but on a much simpler level. By adjusting genetic networks in organisms like E. coli and yeast, researchers were able to prompt cells to perform addition and subtraction. However, the operations achieved in these early studies remained basic in scope, not yet matching the complexity of modern digital processors. Advances in Bacterial Computation through Neural Network Principles In their current work, SINP scientists applied artificial neural network models to the genetic framework of E. coli bacteria, integrating 14 unique genetic circuits to form distinct bacterial types. These bacteria were placed in controlled liquid environments, where they could ******** computations including determining whether numbers are prime. For example, when subjected to specific chemical stimuli, the bacteria signalled their responses by secreting proteins that indicated “yes” in green and “no” in red. This application of bacteria to solve more abstract problems, such as identifying prime numbers, marks a first in biological computing. Implications for Future Research According to Mohit Kumar Jolly, an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, the study could provide insights into the decision-making abilities of cells, a process that yet to be fully understood. The findings open up new avenues in the study of biological information processing and reveal untapped potential for living cells in computational applications. This work by SINP researchers may well redefine the scope of computation, revealing bacteria’s potential as a biological computing medium. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Apple Reportedly Working on ‘AI Wall Tablet’ With Smart Home Controls and Apple Intelligence BSNL Direct-to-Device Satellite Connectivity Launch Announced by DoT Source link #Indian #Scientists #Create #Genetically #Modified #Bacteria #Capable #Mathematical #Computation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Maori haka in NZ parliament to protest at bill to reinterpret founding treaty Maori haka in NZ parliament to protest at bill to reinterpret founding treaty Watch: Moment MP leads haka to disrupt New Zealand parliament New Zealand’s parliament was brought to a temporary halt by MPs performing a haka, amid anger over a controversial bill seeking to reinterpret the country’s founding treaty with Māori people. Opposition party MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke began the traditional ceremonial group dance after being asked whether her party supported the bill, which faced its first vote on Thursday. At the same time, a hīkoi – or peaceful protest march – organised by a Māori rights group is continuing to make its way towards the capital, Wellington. Thousands have already joined the 10-day march against the bill, which reached Auckland on Wednesday, having begun at the top of New Zealand on Monday. The country is often considered a leader in indigenous rights, but opponents of the bill ***** those same rights are being put at risk by this bill. Act, the political party that introduced the bill, argues there is a need to legally define the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, which has been fundamental to race relations in New Zealand. The core values of the treaty have, over time, been woven into New Zealand’s laws in an effort to redress the wrong done to Māori during colonisation. Danielle Moreau The protest march against the bill made its way through Auckland on Wednesday But Act – a minor party in the ruling centre-right coalition – say this has resulted in the country being divided by race, and the bill will allow the treaty to be interpreted more fairly through parliament, rather than the courts. The party’s leader, David Seymour, has dismissed opponents as wanting to “stir up” ***** and division. Critics, however, say the legislation will divide the country and lead to the unravelling of much-needed support for many Māori. The first reading passed on Thursday after a 30-minute break, backed by all parties from the ruling coalition. Maipi-Clarke was suspended from the house. It is unlikely to pass a second reading, as Act’s coalition partners have indicated they will not support it. But this has not placated those worried about the bill, and its impact, with the hikoi still making progress along its 1,000km (621-mile) route. Danielle Moreau Danielle Moreau (centre) took part in the march as it passed through Auckland with her sons Bobby and Teddy In Auckland, it took an estimated 5,000 marchers two hours to cross the harbour bridge. Officials had closed two lanes, the New Zealand Herald reported, to allow them to continue along the route. Danielle Moreau, who is Māori, walked over the Harbour Bridge with her two sons, Bobby and Teddy, and told the BBC she “was hoping it [the hīkoi] would be big but it was much more epic than I expected”. “I marched to make the point that Te Tiriti [the Treaty of Waitangi] is very important to our national identity,” said Winston Pond, who also took part in the march on Wednesday. “We are a multi-cultural society built on a bicultural base – something that cannot be altered.” Juliet Tainui-Hernandez Juliet Tainui-Hernandez (left), with her partner Javier Hernández (right) and daughter Paloma (centre) Juliet Tainui-Hernández, from the Māori tribe Ngāi Tahu, and her Puerto Rican partner Javier Hernández, brought their daughter Paloma to the hīkoi. Ms Tainui-Hernández said those who turned out in support did so “for the respectful and inclusive nation we want Aotearoa [New Zealand] to be for our tamariki mokopuna – our children and grandchildren”. Kiriana O’Connell, who is also Māori, said that the current treaty principles were already a compromise for her people, and she would not support a “rewrite”. Under the proposed legislation, the treaty principles that would be defined in law are: that the government has a right to govern and that parliament has the full right to make lawsthat the rights of Māori are respected by the Crown that everyone is equal before the law and is entitled to equal protection under it. Act leader Seymour – who is also New Zealand’s associate justice minister – argues that because the principles have never been properly defined legally, the courts “have been able to develop principles that have been used to justify actions that are contrary to the principle of equal rights”. He says these include “******* quotas in public institutions” that go against the spirit of fairness for all New Zealanders. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, however, has called the bill “divisive” – despite being part of the same coalition. EPA Act Party leader David Seymour will become deputy prime minister next year under a role-sharing agreement Meanwhile, the Waitangi Tribunal, which was set up in 1975 to investigate alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi, notes the bill “purposefully excluded any consultation with Māori, breaching the principle of partnership, the Crown’s good-****** obligations, and the Crown’s duty to actively protect Māori rights and interests”. It also said that the principles of the bill misinterpreted the Treaty of Waitangi and that this “caused significant prejudice to Māori”. The tabling of the Treaty Principles Bill comes following a series of measures introduced by the government that have affected Māori. They include the closure of the Māori Health Authority, which was set up under Jacinda Ardern’s Labour government to help create health equity, and reprioritising English over Māori when it comes to the official naming of government organisations, for example. While roughly 18% of New Zealand’s population consider themselves to be Māori, according to the most recent census, many remain disadvantaged compared with the general population when assessed through markers such as health outcomes, household income, education levels and incarceration and mortality rates. There ******** a seven-year gap in life expectancy. The Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement between the British and many, but not all, Māori tribes, which was signed in 1840. It is contentious as it was written in both English and Māori – which had only been a spoken language until colonisation – and the two versions contain fundamental differences when it comes to issues such as land ownership. While the treaty itself is not enshrined in law, its principles have been adopted over time into various pieces of legislation. The bill will now be sent to a select committee for a six-month public hearing process. Source link #Maori #haka #parliament #protest #bill #reinterpret #founding #treaty Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]