Calgary MP George Chahal has advised the Liberal caucus to set in motion an expedited leadership race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In his letter to the caucus, he said time is of the essence and that the party has “lost the luxury of time or needless reflection.” The MP said it was unfortunate that the message Canadians were sending the party with three byelection losses this year was not resonating. He added that various people had been speaking up about the need for change in leadership, including Sen. Percy Downe and Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald. Chahal noted that there were also more than two dozen caucus members who have called for Trudeau’s resignation. “Any rational individual in a position of leadership would resign. Any group of individuals providing advice based on data and logic would reach the same conclusion,” he said in the letter. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau no longer has the support of caucus and to maintain some dignity he should immediately tender his resignation.” Chahal recommended caucus push for an expedited leadership process, saying it would be an opportunity to create new energy, introduce new ideas, and test political candidates. ”I and other caucus members do not support a secret conclave where caucus chooses the new leader,” he wrote. He said an interim leader should be picked to guide the party through the next 60–75 days. He addressed Trudeau directly in the closing of the letter. “Prime Minister, thank you for your service and I wish the very best in your future endeavors. Unfortunately, it has come to this.” In his letter to the LPC’s president, Sachit Mehra, Chahal said the board needs to create a strategy for a change in leadership. ”It seems clear that the LPC board has the authority, subject to a significant majority of the LPC board being in favour, to vary the governing rules if political circumstances warrant,” he wrote. Chahal said given the situation the party is facing—a minority government, with all other parties indicating they will vote no confidence, and an election that must be held in 2025—the board needs to create a plan for leadership regardless of Trudeau’s formal resignation. He wrote it would be politically negligent not to plan for the race, saying Trudeau has lost the confidence of Parliament and the majority of Canadians. In her resignation letter to Trudeau, Freeland accused him of using “costly political gimmicks” at a time when Canada needs to be fiscally responsible. She also said that, prior to her resignation, Trudeau had indicated he would be removing her from the finance ministry.999 slot machine 。

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordI'm A Celeb's GK Barry reveals the incredibly expensive impulse purchase she made after achieving overnight success with her social mediaDemocrat Jamie Raskin Is Running for Top Judiciary Post in Bid to Counter Trump

Proposed west Ottawa HART hub touted as way to divert patients from hospitalsClueless! John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen show that not all Americans follow our beautiful game as she confuses 'underdog' Chelsea with Ipswich on Arsenal trip

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow recordWingstop Announces Additional $500 Million Share Repurchase AuthorizationABUJA – The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on Thursday harped on the critical role of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) in the promotion of national security and national interest. General Musa stated this in his keynote address at the Roundtable Discussion On Nigeria’s Security and the National interest. The event was organized by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) with DECAN. The CDS who described the event as a “great feat”, however commended the the NCTC for its “efforts towards ensuring our dear country Nigeria is safe and secure.” He said, “Today’s occasion presents me the rare opportunity to make a statement on the critical role of the media in fostering Nigeria’s national security and defence matters thus necessitating collaboration to further Nigeria’s national security interest. “The theme for the discussion, ‘National Security and National Interest, A Development Journalism Approach for the Defence Beat’ is apt considering the propensity of development and sits at the intersection of national pride, global responsibility as well as the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. “In a world fraught with echoes of conflict, uncertainty, security dilemmas, ambiguous and complex geopolitical challenges, the narrative surrounding national security often emerges from a narrow lens. It is easy to find that the focus on national security is often skewed and confined to discussions of military strength as well as the immediate threats posed by hostile state and non-state actors.” Although these views are essential, General Musa noted that “it is important our understanding of national security is expanded to incorporate broader social, economic, and environmental elements which are hallmarks of what is termed ‘development journalism’. “It is also necessary to note that the actions of the military in ensuring Nigeria’s national security accounts for only 30 percent of the overall efforts required while the remaining 70 percent for maintaining Nigeria’s peace and security rest on the socio-economic elements of the country.” In a nutshell, the CDS revealed that national security entails the protection of our nation’s core values, institutions as well as citizens from both external and internal threats while national interest involves the broad goals and objectives guiding our nation’s actions and decisions. “These are critical concerns of our nation particularly in the face of numerous security challenges which tends to undermine the very fabric of our country and threatens the safety as well as security of our citizens. Military efforts to safeguard our nation’s sovereignty could be enhanced through development journalism which is a specialized form of journalism that focuses on the social, economic, and political development of a nation. “In the area of defence beats, development journalism seeks to promote public awareness and understanding of defence as well as security issues, while holding governments, the defence sector and other stakeholders accountable for their actions as well as informing decision-making by policymakers and defence officials.” The adoption of a development journalism approach the CDS said allows for a more active collaboration with journalists and media organizations, enabling them to play a more effective role in promoting national cohesion and stability thereby advancing Nigeria’s national interest. According to General Musa, “Our national security cannot and should not solely be reliant on the strength of the Armed Forces of Nigeria rather it should be strengthened by Nigeria’s educated, healthy and socially cohesive population underpinned by development journalism. “More so, the development journalism approach will not only require collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders, it will also focus on people centrism in the accomplishment of Nigeria’s national interest. “This approach thus resonates with my leadership concept which is, “to Nurture a Professional Armed Forces of Nigeria that is People-Centric, Capable of Meeting its Constitutional Responsibilities in a Joint and Collaborative Environment.” Also speaking, the National Coordinator (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka said, “We are gathered here today, though from various professional backgrounds, but as athletic Nigerians, jointly committed to understanding the role of the media in relation to national security and interests. “As we are rightly aware, the role of the media, especially journalists, as signed defence and security beats is pivotal in shaping public perception and policy on critical issues of national security and interests. “Through reporting, analysis and storytelling, journalists inform members of the public and have the power to influence strategies, people’s actions and reactions. Having been in this military career for a while, I must attest to the fact that our defence and security correspondents have been an immense wealth of expertise and experience. “Most of you have reported on the frontlines, analysed trends and followed the intricate network that sustained these threats to our national security and interests. You have confronted not just the facts, but also the responsibility to report with accuracy, fairness and sensitivity in an environment that is often fraught with misinformation and heightened emotions.” General Laka, however assured that the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Advisor, will continue to collaborate with you and other critical stakeholders to achieve and sustain the destruction of terrorist propaganda.” The objective of theroundtable discussion with the media, according to Laka is to “foster an open and insightful exchange of ideas. “By sharing your experiences, observations and challenges, together we aim to enhance collective understanding of the dynamics of terrorism and its evolving tactics, discover the ethical considerations of reporting on such sensitive issues, identify opportunities for collaboration between journalists, security experts and policy makers, and have best thoughts on the development of a national strategic communication plan and protocol for the gathering and distribution of news on terrorism and violent extremism with the hope of stemming threats to our national security and interests. “Additionally, we thought it prudent to invite commissioners and special assistants to governors of states affected by terrorism and violent extremism, as your insights and experience are integral to this discourse. “Your contributions today will help shape practical strategies for addressing these challenges. Please engage openly, freely and consultatively. At this juncture, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Chief of Defence Staff for honouring our invitation. “Your guidance and steadfast support have been pivotal to the Centre’s ongoing efforts for Nigeria’s safety and security. I also wish to express sincere appreciation to all those here present, the Chairman and Special Advisor to the President of Media and Publicity for your support to this Centre. Finally, I thank all our distinguished guests and members of the Defence Correspondence Association of Nigeria for making time to be with us today.”

Every year is a great year for books, but 2025 is looking particularly exciting. Fans of YA dystopia and fantasy will be excited to see new additions to beloved book series like "The Hunger Games" and "The Empyrean." Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez, famous for their romance novels, will be dropping some of the most anticipated books of 2025 in the summer beach read category. And lastly, 2025 will bring long-awaited books from authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Taylor Jenkins Reid , who have been on hiatuses recently. Whether you're looking to fill a prompt for the PS Reading Challenge or add a new book to your TBR list, there's something for everyone in this roundup. From thrillers and dark academic to historical fiction and more, scroll down to see which books are making your TBR list. (No shade if it's all of them.) 48 of the Best Books by Women Authors to Read in Your Lifetime “Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney "Beautiful Ugly" by Alice Feeney ($26, originally $29) Feeney is ready to deliver another bestselling thriller with "Beautiful Ugly." Grady Green's wife goes missing after her car is found by the edge of a cliff. He's the last person to speak with her, during a phone call in which the last thing he hears is her getting out of the car. One year later, still desperate with grief, he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track, only to encounter the impossible: a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife. Available Jan. 14, 2025 “Onyx Storm” by Rebecca Yarros " Onyx Storm " by Rebecca Yarros ($20, originally $33) The highly-anticipated third book in Yarros's "The Empyrean" series "Onyx Storm" will continue Violet Sorrengail's adventures at Basgiath War College. This book picks up with Violet's journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies who will stand with Navarre when the time comes –but she's keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. Available Jan. 21, 2025 “Good Dirt” by Charmaine Wilkerson " Good Dirt " by Charmaine Wilkerson ($21, originally $30) Wilkerson, the bestselling author of "Black Cake," is back with another multi-generational family novel. "Good Dirt" is the story of Ebby Freeman, a member of one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England. The high-profile, unsolved murder of Ebby's brother when she was just 10-years-old vaulted her family into the headlines. When adult Ebby suffers a high-profile breakup, she flees to France to avoid another media frenzy . . . only for her past to follow her there. Available Jan. 28, 2025 “Harlem Rhapsody” by Victoria Christopher Murray " Harlem Rhapsody " by Victoria Christopher Murray ($20, originally $30) "Harlem Rhapsody" is a work of historical fiction inspired by the true story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, a high school teacher who moves to Harlem to become the literary editor of a prominent African-American magazine. W. E. B. Du Bois, the magazine's founder, is not only her boss but her lover, and despite rumors of their tumultuous affair, Jessie is determined to prove herself. As she strives to preserve her legacy, she'll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success. Available Feb. 4, 2025 “We All Live Here” by Jojo Moyes " We All Live Here " by Jojo Moyes ($21, originally 30) Jojo Moyes, the bestselling author of "Me Before You," is back with another heartwarming story about the meaning of love and family. Lila Kennedy is facing a broken marriage, two troublesome daughters, a flailing career, and an elderly stepfather, all crammed into a house that is both literally and metaphorically falling apart. So when her real father reappears in her life after abandoning his family for Hollywood 35 years ago, it feels like her last straw, but it ultimately turns out to be a new beginning. Available Feb. 11, 2025 “Dream Count” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie " Dream Count " by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ($30, originally $32) "Dream Count" marks the end of a 12-year hiatus for Adichie, the bestselling author of "Americanah" and "We Should All Be Feminists." Her new novel tells the story of four Nigerian women, two living in America, and explores the nature and meaning of love and motherhood. Available March 4, 2025 “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins " Sunrise on the Reaping " by Suzanne Collins ($20, originally $28) After the success of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," "Sunrise on the Reaping" is anticipated to be one of the biggest books of the year. The fifth book in "The Hunger Games" series tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy, the second District 12 competitor to win the eponymous Hunger Games after Lucy Gray. Since the story is a prequel, we know how Haymitch's story ends, but getting the details will be worth the read. Available March 18, 2025 48 of the Best Books by Women Authors to Read in Your Lifetime “Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez " Say You'll Remember Me " by Abby Jimenez ($25, originally $28) Jimenez is known for writing romance novels in which the characters heal themselves as much as they do each other, and "Say You'll Remember Me" looks like another hit. Although Samantha and Xavier have one perfect, seemingly endless first date, she is forced to admit that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. She begs Xavier to forget her, but naturally, that doesn't work out too well. Available April 1, 2025 “The Matchmaker” by Aisha Saeed " The Matchmaker " by Aisha Saeed ($14) "The Matchmaker" is the perfect blend of romance and thrill. Nura Khan, a third-generation matchmaker with an impeccable record, is blindsided when one of her couple's wedding implodes. It's the first in a cascading chain of suspicious and increasingly terrifying events that affect her work. With the help of her friend Azar, she tries to get to the bottom of who's out to get her. Available April 8, 2025 “Happy Land” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez " Happy Land " by Dolen Perkins-Valdez ($15, originally $29) "Happy Land" begins when Nikki's grandmother reaches out to her after years of silence imposed by Nikki's mother. Nikki eagerly answers her call to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, hoping to learn more about her family. But instead of answers about the recent past, Nikki learns the incredible story of a past kingdom on that very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen. While it sounds like a fairy tale, the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family's secrets are wrapped up in the mysterious hills. Available April 8, 2025 “The Perfect Divorce” by Jeneva Rose " The Perfect Divorce " by Jeneva Rose ($27, originally $30) Yes. the sequel to "The Perfect Marriage" is here. "The Perfect Divorce" picks up 11 years after the first book ends. Former powerhouse attorney Sarah Morgan has moved on to a happy new marriage and a career change, until she discovers her new husband's infidelity and files for divorce. Not only are the divorce proceedings ugly, but they uncover new DNA evidence against Sarah's ex-husband Adam, which reopens the murder investigation that she previously defended him in. When Bob's new mistress goes missing, the stakes for Sarah only get higher. Available April 15, 2025 “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry " Great Big Beautiful Life " by Emily Henry ($20, originally $29) The queen of summer beach reads is back. "Great Big Beautiful Life" is the story of two writers who are stuck in the same vacation town for a month, competing to write the memoir of a famous heiress and former tabloid princess. Fans who love grumpy/sunshine romance tropes will love this one. Available April 22, 2025 “Atmosphere: A Love Story” by Taylor Jenkins Reid " Atmosphere: A Love Story " by Taylor Jenkins Reid ($27, originally $30) After a two-year hiatus, Reid is back with a stunning novel about space exploration that's written outside the universe shared by most of her former books. "Atmosphere: A Love Story" follows Joan Goodwin, a physics and astronomy professor who joins NASA's space shuttle program. As she prepares for their mission with her fellow selected astronauts, she falls in love, and begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, one mission makes everything change in an instant. Available June 3, 2025 "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by Victoria E. Schwab "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil" by Victoria E. Schwab ($27, originally $30) The author of "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" returns with "Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil," a thrilling sapphic tale of vampires. It's described as a story about hunger, rage, and the ways in which women are told to be satiated even when they aren't. Available June 10, 2025 26 Fantasy Books Like "A Court of Thorns and Roses" “Katabasis” by R.F. Kuang " Katabasis " by R.F. Kuang ($30, originally $35) The title of Kuang's new book "Katabasis" is a bit of a spoiler alert: it translates in ancient Greek to the story of a hero's descent into the underworld. This dark academia novel follows two student magicians who have to journey into hell to rescue their advisor. Armed with nothing but stories and spells, rivals Alice and Peter have something in their past that could either save them or doom them. Available Aug. 26, 2025 24 Gifts For the Bookworm Who Doesn't Need Another Book Kaley Rohlinger is a freelance writer for PS who focuses on health, fitness, food, and lifestyle content. She has a background in the marketing and communications industry and has written for PS for over four years.

The 2025 CES in the United States is about to unveil a brand-new chapter in the future intelligent home gardening LAS VEGAS , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UBHOME, a sub-brand of UBTECH Robotics, announced an intelligent service robot in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The Robotic Mower M10 is a revolutionary smart lawn mower announced at the 2025 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States . This product is powered by the Qualcomm® RB1 Robotics Platform, showcases UBHOME's rich experience in robot research and development, and focuses on solving the pain points of traditional lawn-mowing equipment, providing users with a worry-free and labor-saving smart gardening experience, and creates a new model of gardening intelligence. User-Oriented: The All-New Convenience Brought by the Smart Lawn Mower to Life The Robotic Mower M10 is not only a high performance tool but also an upgrade of the smart lifestyle. In response to the pain points of users when using traditional lawn-mowing equipment, this product offers a series of practical functions, bringing brand-new convenience to home gardening: Wireless and Borderless Mowing : There is no need for cumbersome boundary wire installation anymore. The device relies on accurate environmental perception and navigation technology to independently plan the work area, allowing users to use it right out of the box, saving installation time and energy. Automatic Mowing, Saving Time and Effort : The device can automatically complete the lawn mowing work according to the preset schedule or real-time instructions, enabling users to manage the lawn care through delegation to the mower. Wide Coverage and Stable Signal : It supports a large-scale signal connection of up to 130,000 square meters. Even for extremely large courtyards , stable operation can be ensured, and there is no need to worry about signal loss. Real-time Online, in-control Anytime : Through APP remote control and real-time monitoring, users can adjust the mowing plan or check the device status at any time, managing the courtyard work as they like. The combination of these functions not only greatly simplifies the complexity of mowing work but also liberates users from repetitive physical labor, allowing them to focus on enjoying the wonderful moments of life. UBHOME: In-depth Layout in Smart Home UBHOME is a brand under UBTECH Robotics that focuses on providing smart solutions for families. As a world-leading robot enterprise, UBTECH, with its strong R&D strength and technological accumulation, has successfully launched Walker, China's first commercial bipedal human-sized humanoid robot. The launch of the Robotic Mower M10 by UBHOME this time is an important step in its layout in the smart home field. Relying on UBTECH's technological accumulation in robots and its in-depth understanding of user needs, the Robotic Mower M10 achieves the best mowing effect through environmental recognition and dynamic adjustment. Whether it is complex terrain, steep slopes, or high requirements for fine mowing, it can perform perfectly, demonstrating its excellent technical capabilities and brand commitment. Powered by Qualcomm Technologies, Facilitating Intelligent Upgrading As a global leader in wireless technology and edge intelligence, Qualcomm Technologies provides cutting-edge technical support for the Robotic Mower M10, including intelligent edge computing platforms, dynamic path planning, and environmental perception technologies. These technologies ensure that the device can operate efficiently in various environments, providing users with a precise and efficient smart experience. The Robotic Mower M10 utilizes the Qualcomm RB1 Robotics Platform to ensure the superior operation of the Robotic Mower M10 in large-scale courtyards, laying a solid foundation for realizing smart life. Industry Significance and Trend: Promoting the Development of Gardening Intelligence With the continuous increase in the demand for home intelligence, the market for smart gardening equipment is in a period of rapid development. As a typical representative of this trend, the smart lawn mower not only meets consumers' pursuit of a convenient lifestyle but also provides a direction for the transformation of the gardening industry from tool manufacturing to smart services. The product released by UBHOME not only fills the gap in the high-performance lawn-mowing equipment market but also sets a new industry benchmark. Through the multiple advantages of wireless , real-time connection, and fully automated operation, it endows home gardening with new value, making users no longer regard mowing as a burden but feel the convenience and fun brought by technology. Innovation Hand in Hand, Co-creating Smart Life The collaboration between UBHOME and Qualcomm Technologies showcases a strong collaboration of technology and innovation. Both parties are committed to bringing more convenient and efficient life experiences to consumers through technological innovation. At the 2025 CES, UBHOME and Qualcomm Technologies will showcase the innovative functions and application scenarios of this Robotic Mower M10. About UBHOME UBHOME is a brand under UBTECH Robotics, focusing on providing smart solutions for families. UBTECH is a world-leading robot enterprise dedicated to the research and development and application of artificial intelligence and robot technology and has successfully served more than 900 enterprise-level customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Media Contact Information For more information, please contact: UBHOME Brand Team: mbu-sales@ubtrobot.com Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ubhome-collaborates-with-qualcomm-to-release-the-smart-lawn-mower-co-creating-a-new-era-of-smart-life-302339211.html SOURCE UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTDOne day before Texas and Georgia face off in the Southeastern Conference championship game, the Longhorns earned a surprising victory over the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail. Justus Terry, a defensive lineman from Manchester, Georgia, announced Friday he would be leaving his home state to play for Texas next year. Terry, who also was considering Georgia and Auburn, had been the nation’s top remaining uncommitted 2025 prospect. The addition of Terry gives Texas the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. “We’re super pumped about this recruiting class,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday, before Terry had announced his decision. “This is a very talented group of players that I think not only fit the physical characteristics of what we’re looking for by position in our program, but I think meet the character and are going to fit nicely into our culture.” Although there will be an additional signing period in February, 247Sports officials said Texas should maintain its No. 1 standing. The overwhelming majority of Power Four recruits already finalized their college plans this week. The top 11 classes as of Friday afternoon include eight Southeastern Conference schools and three Big Ten programs. Alabama is second, with Georgia third, Oregon fourth and Ohio State fifth. Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Michigan and Tennessee round out the top 10. Florida is 11th. The highest-rated recruiting classes outside the SEC and Big Ten are Notre Dame at No. 12 and Miami at No. 14. Terry is the nation’s No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 10 overall prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite. His decision gives Texas nine of the 247Sports Composite’s top 66 prospects. Texas’ other recruits rated 66th or better include safety Jonah Williams (No. 8), wide receivers Kaliq Lockett (No. 22) and Jamie Ffrench (No. 32), defensive lineman Lance Jackson (No. 25), all-purpose athlete Michael Terry III (No. 43), cornerbacks Kade Phillips (No. 54) and Graceson Littleton (No. 65), and linebacker Elijah Barnes (No. 66). “I think it’s a really versatile class with a variety of positions, highlighted by high-level players,” Sarkisian said. “As always, we really pride ourselves on recruiting the high school ranks. We think when we can get players in here young, then immerse them into our culture, into our off-season conditioning program, develop them as we go throughout their career, that’s when we really reap the benefits of having these guys in our program. This class is no different.” With the early signing period concluding Friday, the focus on college roster construction now turns to transfers. The transfer portal window officially opens Monday, though numerous college players already went to social media this week to announce their intentions to transfer. The early signing period was moved up a few weeks this year so that high school seniors could get their decisions out of the way before the opening of the transfer portal window. This marked the first signing period since the demise of the national letters of intent that prospects had sent in the past after signing with their respective schools. Athletes now are signing their names to a financial aid agreement that can include name, image and likeness agreements along with the standard tuition and room and board details. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

By Lawrence Delevingne, Dhara Ranasinghe BOSTON/LONDON (Reuters) -Bitcoin traded near $100,000 on Thursday as investors bet on a friendly U.S. regulatory shift, while world stocks pulled back slightly but held near record highs ahead of a key U.S. jobs report. France’s government lost a confidence vote late on Wednesday for the first time since 1962, with far-right and leftist lawmakers joining forces to topple Michel Barnier’s government. The move had been widely anticipated by investors, so the euro, French stocks and bonds were largely steady on Thursday as Barnier officially resigned. U.S. stocks dipped, a day after all three major U.S. stock indexes scored record closing highs, helped by the comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.55%, to 44,765, the S&P 500 dropped 0.19%, to 6,075 and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.18%, to 19,700. Powell said on Wednesday the U.S. economy was stronger than it had appeared in September when the central bank began cutting interest rates, allowing policymakers to potentially be a little more cautious in reducing rates further. “Already elevated consumer optimism towards the stock market has moved even higher since the start of the Fed’s easing cycle and the U.S. election, partly on hopes of lower taxes, deregulation and strong corporate profits,” Jeff Buchbinder, chief equity strategist for LPL Financial, wrote in a note on Thursday. “However, this support for stocks is offset by stretched valuations, excessively bullish sentiment, and the potential for the economy to cool in 2025.” BITCOIN IN THE SUN It was bitcoin’s day to shine, as the cryptocurrency hit the $100,000 mark for the first time. It was last trading around 1.5% higher on the day, near $99,400. Its latest surge followed Trump saying he would nominate Paul Atkins, who is pro-crypto and pro-deregulation, to run the Securities and Exchange Commission. “At the end of the day, it’s just a number,” said Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered. “But the reality is we’ve been able to get to this level because the industry has become institutionalised this year particularly – and that’s mostly the ETF inflows,” Kendrick said, referring to exchange traded funds approved earlier this year. U.S. rate-cut optimism supported sentiment across broader markets. Over the past week and a half, markets have all but priced in an extra U.S. rate cut for 2025, and the implied chance of a cut in December has lifted from even to around 70%. Earlier this week, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he was leaning toward a cut in December. The closely watched U.S. ISM survey showed services sector activity slowed in November after posting big gains in recent months. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields were little changed as investors digested slightly higher jobless claims data. With eyes on monthly U.S. employment data on Friday, new data on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased moderately last week, suggesting that the labor market continued to steadily cool. The dollar weakened against major currencies, down about 0.4%, leaving the euro up 0.7% at $1.058. The risk premium investors demand to hold French debt over German Bunds dropped further away from its highest levels in more than 12 years on Thursday after the widely expected government collapse. European stocks closed at a more than one-month high on Thursday, aided by bank stocks as investors hoped a new budget could be passed in France after Barnier’s government was toppled. The pan-European STOXX 600 finished 0.4% higher, logging its sixth-straight session of advances. France’s CAC 40 came off a three-week high and ended 0.3% higher. “A lot of bad news was priced in, it was obvious that we were heading towards the fall of the government,” said Francois Savary, chief investment officer at Genvil Wealth Management. Financial markets in South Korea were broadly steady after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed attempt to impose martial law late on Tuesday triggered volatility and a political crisis. [.KS] Oil prices were steady on Thursday as investors weighed an ample supply outlook for next year against OPEC+ delaying its planned output increase by three months to April 2025. (Reporting by Lawrence Delevingne in Boston, Dhara Ranasinghe in London and Tom Westbrook in Singapore, Editing by Gareth Jones, Keith Weir, Chizu Nomiyama, Will Dunham and Deepa Babington) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );Clark County Business Briefing, Dec. 28, 2024By Chibuike Oguh NEW YORK -Global stocks registered a strong weekly gain on Friday while U.S. Treasury yields slipped as markets eyed President-elect Donald Trump's likely policies and their impact on the U.S. economy, even as bitcoin traded near the $100,000 threshold. Traders are bracing for Trump's agenda after he takes office in January, which is expected to include tariffs, tax cuts and deregulation. Trump has been nominating senior officials in his administration, and markets are awaiting his pick for Treasury secretary. All three Wall Street indexes finished higher and each notched a weekly gain. Industrials, consumer discretionary, financials and consumer staples drove gains while communication services, utilities and technology equities were the biggest losers. Nvidia, the world's most valuable company, ended down 3.2% after the artificial intelligence chipmaker reported strong quarterly results but issued lacklustre sales forecasts. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.97% to 44,296.51, the S&P 500 rose 0.35% to 5,969.34 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.16% to 19,003.65. Europe's Stoxx 600 share index ended the week 1% higher, snapping four straight weeks of losses. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe rose 0.33% to 854.22 and gained about 1.4% for the week. "The earnings of Nvidia were really solid and the market traded off a little bit but I don't think it was a major event that it could have been," said Mark Malek, chief investment officer at SiebertNXT in New York. "So we put that behind us and when we look at what else might be driving the market this week ... People are starting to think about what has happened to the market since Trump was elected and some of the appointments he's been making." The yield on benchmark U.S. 10-year notes fell 1.4 basis points to 4.418%, as markets reassess future rate cuts from the Federal Reserve given expectations that some of Trump's policies could be inflationary. The market is now pricing in a 53% probability the Fed will cut rates by 25 basis points in December. Bets that Trump's administration will take a lighter-touch approach to regulation also propelled bitcoin to the brink of $100,000 for the first time. The world's largest cryptocurrency gained 1.33% to $99,384.00. Ethereum declined 1.59% to $3,295.40. The euro fell to a two-year low while the dollar gained after gauges of business activity were released in each region. A gauge of the U.S. manufacturing sector compiled by S&P Global increased to 55.3 this month, the highest level since April 2022. A similar gauge for the euro zone sank to a 10-month low of 48.1 in November. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, rose 0.43% to 107.52, with the euro down 0.56% at $1.0414 after falling to $1.0333, its lowest since Nov. 30, 2022. Oil prices climbed about 1%, settling at a two-week high, driven by the intensifying Russia-Ukraine conflict. Brent futures rose 1.3% to settle at $75.17 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.6% to settle at $71.24. Gold prices breached the $2,700 threshold for the first time in two weeks, on track for their biggest weekly gain in over a year. Spot gold rose 1.37% to $2,706.39 an ounce. U.S. gold futures settled 1.4% higher at $2,712.20. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

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