wow888
wow888
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he speaks with reporters after meeting with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks with reporters after meeting with Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, arrives for a meeting with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be defense secretary, is joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet as he speaks with reporters after meeting with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.
Value stocks are having a rough go in 2024, at least compared to broader stock indexes. The benchmark S&P Value Index is up 10.46% on a year-to-date basis. That's well below the S&P 500, which has generated 23.8% returns over the same time period. The index is also well below the year-to-date performance of the S&P Growth Index, which stands at 35.11% as of December 20. Yet as the calendar flips to 2025, value stocks seem to be in a decent position. Here’s three reasons why value stocks may be a good bet for 2025. "Inflation is moderating, and the economy seems to be steadying," says Jason Hishmeh, co-founder at Varyence, a technology firm that works with startup companies to grow their business. "That's great news for sectors like manufacturing, financials, and energy, which tend to perform well in this environment. Companies with strong fundamentals—low price-to-earnings ratios and steady earnings growth—look particularly attractive." Other market experts say Main Street investors need to get a good grip on what value stocks really represent. "Value stocks are a group of underappreciated and ignored stocks that are worth more than their fundamentals would suggest," says Stephen Callahan, trading behavior analyst at Firstrade. "This is a market driven by momentum. As a value investor, valuations are never a reason to own something. Fundamentals are the reason why you own something. We need to match those two things up." What's more, not all cheap stocks are value stocks. "Some stocks are cheap for quantifiable reasons, such as poor earnings," Callahan says. "Value stocks are good companies at low prices. They are financially stable, have high-profit margins, low debt-to-income ratio, strong earnings, and while not mandatory, a good sign is that they pay dividends." Value stocks have several trends pointing upward heading into a new year. Market experts point to these largest 2025 impactors. [65% Off Benzinga Edge – Sale Ends December 31!] Back in business under Trump . President-elect Donald Trump said he'd prioritize a business-friendly agenda in his campaign stump speeches, which would be good news for value stocks. "Trump spoke frequently about reducing the government deficit, lowering energy costs through increased domestic drilling, and implementing potentially looser regulations," says Ronen Cojocaru, CEO at San Francisco-based 8081.io, a fintech company that simplifies and automates digital asset trading. "Additionally, the prospect of corporate-friendly tax reforms could enhance profitability, making value stocks more attractive to investors." Key expectations coming from the Trump camp include reduced regulations in sectors such as energy, financials, crypto, and industrials, which could lower compliance costs and increase profitability. "Additionally, corporate-friendly tax reforms may enhance earnings, while a focus on domestic production and energy independence could create new opportunities for growth in the energy and manufacturing sectors," Cojocaru says. "But we should all look carefully at how Trump administration tariffs will take place, which can play a significant role in that space." Large-cap value stocks to shine . In early December, BofA analysts projected the U.S. gross domestic product would rise by 2.4%, well ahead of other analyst projections that landed in the 2.0% range. Economists say that any GDP above 2% is good news for well-run, long-established companies that turn a profit. So-called "GDP-sensitive" companies should benefit from a growing U.S. economy. “We see more opportunities in stocks than the index,” notes BofA head of U.S. equity and quantitative strategy Savita Subramanian in a recent research note, which pegged the S&P 500 at a 6,666 target price for 2025. “In particular, we like companies with healthy cash return prospects and a tether to the US economy: large-cap value stocks.” Cojocaru says large-cap value stocks are well-positioned to perform strongly in 2025, especially if the trends highlighted by BofA analysts continue to shape the market. "Companies in this sector demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2024, navigating a high-inflation environment by adopting strict cost controls, improving operational efficiency, and managing capital strategically," he notes. "These actions now yield significant benefits as inflation moderates and interest rates show signs of stabilizing or potentially declining." An upward trending economy . With analysts calling for a healthy US economy, a strong labor market, moderating inflation, and the resulting potential for further interest rate cuts, value stocks should rise accordingly. "The economy is looking pretty solid right now, with strong jobs, inflation starting to settle, and maybe even some interest rate cuts on the horizon," says Nick Scibilia, CEO of Orbit, a social media platform geared toward younger investors. That scenario represents "awesome news" for value stocks, Scibilia notes. "People are spending more, businesses are booming, and that means more cash for those established companies," he says. "Plus, if interest rates drop, those steady dividend-paying value stocks will look even better." Watch out for risks. Even with a generally rosy outlook on the sector, value investors should know various possible risks. "Firstly, if inflation persists and interest rates continue to increase, value stocks could underperform," Scibilia says. "Secondly, a recession is still possible, and value stocks are not immune to economic downturns. Lastly, geopolitical uncertainty and global events could disrupt market conditions and negatively impact value stocks." Still, Scibilia sees several sectors looking pretty hot right now. "Energy has been a bit wild lately with prices bouncing around, but things are looking good long term," he notes. "Also, when the economy is humming, industrials are in high demand. Think infrastructure, manufacturing, transportation – they’re all key players in keeping things moving." Additionally, robust economic fundamentals should help stocks across the board next year. “A stronger economy is good for all solid companies, even ones that aren't considered value stocks right now," says Paul Gabrail, founder and host of the Everything Money YouTube channel. "The goal is to increase revenue and profit; over time, the stock price and value of the company will converge.” Find the market's fastest-moving stocks and access real-time alerts, expert trade setups, and insider stock picks with Benzinga Edge. Click here to take advantage of our End-of-Year Sale which ends December 31! Image via Pixabay © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Transcontinental Inc. Announces Results for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024Where to buy Oregon Ducks Big Ten victory shirts, more fan gear
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with rising cases of bird flu virus being detected in raw milk in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday announced it would mandate testing for the virus in milk nationwide. The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) "builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024," the agency said in a statement . Any entity that handles pre-pasteurized raw milk -- milk processors and transporters, for example -- must hand over samples for testing to USDA staff upon request. According to the USDA, this could be an efficient way to identify herds infected with H5N1. As of Thursday, 718 cattle herds nationwide are known to be infected with the avian flu virus. The new testing initiative "will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the USDA statement. The move comes only a few days after a California dairy farm said it was expanding its recall of raw milk and cream after state health officials discovered bird flu virus in more milk samples. In a notice posted Tuesday, Fresno-based Raw Farm LLC said it has now recalled all whole milk and cream products with "use by" dates of Nov. 27 to Dec. 13. Meanwhile, California health officials took additional steps to keep consumers safe, including quarantining the farm. "While this voluntary recall only applies to raw whole milk and cream, due to multiple bird flu detections in the company's operation, the California Department of Public Health [CDPH] urges consumers to avoid consuming any Raw Farm products for human consumption including raw milk, cream, cheese,and kefir, as well as raw milk pet food topper and pet food kefir marketed to pet owners," the CDPH said in a health alert posted Tuesday. "In addition to the statewide voluntary recall, CDFA [California Department of Agriculture] has placed the farm under quarantine, suspending any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after November 27," the agency added. No human bird flu cases linked to the consumption of raw milk products have been confirmed at this point, the CDPH noted. Unlike raw milk, pasteurized milk is heat-treated to kill off any viruses and remains safe to drink. The latest actions follow recalls of two lots of Raw Farm products after bird flu was first reported in raw milk samples on Nov. 24. Bird flu first surfaced in U.S. dairy cows in March. Since then, the virus has been spreading across the country, particularly in California, where nearly 500 of the more than 700 infected herds nationwide have been detected, the Associated Press reported. So far this year, the virus has infected 58 people in the United States, including 31 in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Mild illnesses have been seen in dairy and poultry workers who had close contact with infected animals. No cases of bird flu spreading between people have been detected so far, the agency added. In a statement posted to its website, Raw Farm officials said they were working to restore raw milk supply quickly. “There are no illnesses associated with H5N1 in our products. But rather this is a political issue,” the post stated. “There are no food safety issues with our products or consumer safety. We are working towards resolving this political issue while being cooperative with our government regulatory agencies.” Any move to restrict public access to raw milk could be challenged by the incoming Trump administration, however. Robert Kennedy Jr., who has long criticized crackdowns on raw milk, has been nominated to run the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has vowed to push for greater distribution of raw milk products. More information The CDC has more on bird flu . SOURCE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, news release, Dec. 6, 2024; California Department of Public Health, news release, Dec. 4, 2024; Associated Press A California dairy farm has issued a full recall of its raw milk and cream after bird flu was discovered in more milk samples.Shoppers go wild for Primark’s brand new stocking fillers at as little as £1 – with candles, wine charms & fluffy PJs
Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares ( NASDAQ:AAPU – Get Free Report ) saw a significant drop in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 285,300 shares, a drop of 25.8% from the November 30th total of 384,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 500,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.6 days. Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares Stock Performance AAPU opened at $39.30 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $37.67 and a 200-day moving average of $36.33. Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares has a 52-week low of $20.48 and a 52-week high of $43.10. The company has a market cap of $109.25 million, a PE ratio of 23.89 and a beta of -1.95. Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares Cuts Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.2953 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 23rd. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares About Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares ( Get Free Report ) The Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 1.5X Shares (AAPU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Apple Inc index. The fund provides 1.5x leveraged exposure, less fees and expenses, to the daily price movement for shares of Apple stock. AAPU was launched on Aug 9, 2022 and is managed by Direxion. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .TOUCHING tributes for the late Jimmy Carter have started to flood in for the "extraordinary leader" who has died aged 100. Joe Biden and Donald Trump have led the heartfelt messages to the beloved former president whose death was confirmed by his family earlier today. Carter, the oldest president in history , and the only one to become a centenarian, has been survived by five other American commander-in-chiefs who have all left touching homages to the great man. President-elect Donald Trump remembered Carter for his leadership and urged Americans to keep the late president's loved ones in their " hearts and prayers". Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Read more on jimmy carter "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time." He later posted a second statement which acknowledged the pair's political and philosophical differences but praised Carter's clear love for America. "He truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for," Trump added. "He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. Most read in The US Sun "He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office." The man Trump is set to replace in the White House in just a few weeks time in Joe Biden described Carter as an "extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian". The fellow Democrat and close friend posted the loving tribute alongside his wife Jill. They said: "Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend." "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together." Joe, 82, has now taken on the title as the oldest living president following the passing of Carter. Barack Obama - the youngest living American leader - commended the late humanitarian with his wife Michelle. They said: "Maranatha Baptist Church will be a little quieter on Sundays, but President Carter will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels. "Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man." Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary also praised Carter's commitment to service. They praised him for his "long and good life" and applauded his belief in faith and selflessness. The final remaining president, George W. Bush, joined his wife Laura to call Carter “a man of deeply held convictions” who “dignified the office ". International tributes Tributes to the statesman even came from overseas as the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lauded Carter's service. The British PM said he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad”. King Charles III also described the former US president as a “committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace”. Sir Tony Blair soon followed with a powerful statement. It read: "Jimmy Carter's life was a testament to public service; from his time in office, and the Camp David Accords, to his remarkable commitment to the cause of people and peace round the world over the past 40 years. "I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. "He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need." PRESIDENT CARTER Carter , the 39th president of the United States , has died after nearly two years in hospice care. His son Chip Carter confirmed the former president died at his Georgia home on Sunday around 3:45 pm ET. Carter peacefully passed away surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader. His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and a state funeral will be held, The Carter Center confirmed. The former president decided to live out the remainder of his days at his home in Plains, Georgia . Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old. Carter's death came over a year after the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter , who died on November 19, 2023, at age 96. Two days before her death, Rosalynn joined her husband in hospice care at their home in Georgia. The former first lady and fierce advocate for mental health was diagnosed with dementia in early 2023. READ MORE SUN STORIES Before his death, Jimmy Carter was the first to pay tribute to his wife of 77 years, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me."First dog-friendly cruise scheduled for 2025. Organizers hope it turns into a recurring event.Lighting Control System Market Size, Share Projections 2031 by Key Manufacturer- Signify Holding, Legrand S.A., Eaton Corporation, General Electric Company, Acuity Brands, Inc
Friendly reminder |
The authenticity of this information has not been verified by this website and is for your reference only. Please do not reprint without permission. If authorized by this website, it should be used within the scope of authorization and marked with "Source: this website". |
Special attention |
Some articles on this website are reprinted from other media. The purpose of reprinting is to convey more industry information, which does not mean that this website agrees with their views and is responsible for their authenticity. Those who make comments on this website forum are responsible for their own content. This website has the right to reprint or quote on the website. The comments on the forum do not represent the views of this website. If you need to use the information provided by this website, please contact the original author. The copyright belongs to the original author. If you need to contact this website regarding copyright, please do so within 15 days. |