The U.S. retirement system is a powerhouse, offering unparalleled opportunities for individuals to take control of their financial destinies through defined contribution plans like 401(k)s and IRAs. These aren’t just mere savings tools; they are dynamic pathways to financial independence, loaded with tax benefits, employer contributions and the incredible potential of compounding growth. Recent innovations like auto-enrollment and target-date funds have boosted participation rates, enabling millions of Americans to build formidable retirement savings. But let’s be clear: The responsibility for effective retirement planning lies squarely on individuals — and that is no easy task! To navigate the complexities of retirement, it’s essential to equip people with strategies that can lead to financial security and help everyone benefit from our retirement system. The strength of defined contribution plans The U.S. retirement system has its imperfections, but the advantages of defined contribution plans, like 401(k)s and IRAs , cannot be overstated. Many of these plans offer tax benefits, employer matching and compounding growth, creating a sustainable path for millions of Americans to build their financial future. Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Over the years, advancements like auto-enrollment and target-date funds have helped improve participation and outcomes. A 2023 survey by the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA) found that automatic enrollment can boost participation rates by at least 15 percentage points , with the impact varying based on the size of the plan. Vanguard’s How America Saves report highlighted the success of auto-enrollment, showing that plans with automatic enrollment had a 93% participation rate, compared with 70% for plans with voluntary enrollment. Having more Americans contributing to their financial futures is the best way forward. Portfolio strategies have also evolved, becoming more age-appropriate and balanced. Research from MIT Sloan shows that the average American now invests significantly more in the stock market than in past decades, a trend driven by the rising popularity of target-date funds. Retirement savings have grown tremendously and represent 32% of all household financial holdings in the United States, reaching a total of $40 trillion in June 2024, according to the Investment Company Institute (ICI) . Earlier this year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 73% of civilian workers had access to retirement benefits, with 56% participating. The percentage of eligible workers who opted into these plans was 77%. Employer contributions have been a significant driver. Matching programs offer a crucial boost to savings, providing even more value to defined contribution plans because of the compounding effect, especially when made early. For example, a $1,000 contribution at age 30 grows significantly more than the same contribution at age 50. Contributions also: Increase participation. Matching contributions encourage higher enrollment and participation in retirement plans. Improve diversification. Extra contributions allow employees to better balance and diversify their portfolios , managing risk for improved outcomes. Close savings gaps. Employer contributions help reduce retirement savings gaps, particularly for lower-income workers who might otherwise struggle to save. Empowering individual responsibility The most effective retirement strategies are built on personal responsibility. Being engaged in your retirement planning leads to better outcomes. Something as simple as being sure to roll over your old 401(k) account when you change jobs can be make-or-break. It seems like common sense but, unfortunately, it’s not. A Harvard Business Review article from March 2023 states, "41.4% of employees cashed out 401(k) savings on the way out the door." Of those people, nearly 85% emptied their accounts. This is not a forward-thinking strategy, and we need to help people understand how to plan better. As a retirement savings professional, I cannot understate the importance of empowering individual responsibility. I have five simple guidelines to help everyone enjoy a happy retirement : 1. Start saving early The sooner you save, the more your money can grow through compounding returns. No matter what the amount is, save it. At my company, PensionBee , you can easily track your retirement account. 2. Maximize employer and government contributions Take full advantage of employer 401(k) matches and tax breaks on traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. This way, your savings grow faster with less out of pocket. 3. Grow your savings through good investments Size matters. Access global assets. There are many solutions that offer customers exposure to large global ETFs . Diversify. Spread investments across multiple stocks and asset classes globally to minimize the risk of negative events in one sector or region. Keep it simple. If you can’t dedicate time to managing your portfolio, consider set-and-forget investments that grow without constant oversight, such as target-date funds. Consider investing with your values. If you care about climate or ethical investing, check what options your provider offers. There are climate-focused investment options that don’t compromise returns. 4. Watch out for hidden fees Do you know what you are paying in fees on your retirement accounts right now? Very few of us do. It’s important to keep your fees low — ideally under 1%. All-inclusive fees are best so you know exactly what you’re paying without any surprises. 5. Take out only what you need Withdrawing too much reduces long-term growth. Too many people withdraw their retirement accounts to move their cash into bank accounts. But banks offer lower, taxable returns compared to retirement investments. Choose a provider with flexible withdrawals to access funds when necessary while keeping the rest invested for better growth and tax advantages. A call to confidence As we look toward the future, our retirement plans must evolve to serve everyone — from Gen Z workers just starting their careers to retirees enjoying their golden years. Flexibility is crucial for younger generations, while stability will remain key for those nearing retirement . Public perception is a critical measure of success. According to a PensionBee Retirement Confidence study, only 40% of Americans under 50 feel positive about their retirement outlook. The U.S. retirement system has the strength and flexibility to meet the challenges ahead, and with the right approach, we can ensure it works for everyone. The future is bright — let’s keep pushing forward. Related Content Seven Habits for a Happy Retirement How to Have a Happy Retirement Avoid Retirement Regrets: Five Facts to Learn Now, Not Later Key to a Happy Retirement? Finding Yourself How to Stop Boredom From Ruining Your Happy Retirement This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA .
Commanders get by Falcons in OT for long-awaited playoff berthThe US Department of Energy (DOE) has released its draft Energy Storage Strategy and Roadmap (SRM), a plan providing strategic direction and opportunities to optimise DOE’s energy storage investments ahead of the incoming Trump administration. The president-elect has selected oil industry executive Chris Wright to replace Jennifer Granholm as the US energy secretary. Wright has no political experience and famously said there is no climate crisis or an energy transition. This would come as a surprise to the DOE and its Loan Programs Office (LPO), which has announced over US$70 billion in conditional commitment and closed loans for projects supporting innovative energy and supply chain technology for clean energy, financing for the deployment of clean energy technologies, and reinvestment in existing energy infrastructure. That said, despite those perhaps worrying signs, the DOE’s current programme to guide the accelerated ‘development, commercialisation, and utilisation of next-generation energy storage technologies,’ the Energy Storage Grand Challenge roadmap, was released during the tail-end of the previous Trump presidency. Some sources has spoken to have said that they expect energy storage to be a continued focus of political support, not least of all because it’s good business and many investments in battery manufacturing in particular are in traditionally Republican states. Earlier this month, . Since then, conditional commitments have been announced for , as well as utilities in , and Puerto Rico, totalling over US$73 billion. The builds on the , outlining actions for what the SRM calls a strategic, beneficial and timely storage deployment. The SRM cites the underlying motivation for investment in energy storage as ensuring “that the American people will have the resources needed, when needed.” The DOE will use three strategic objectives to guide its storage activities: “1. To facilitate safe, beneficial, and timely deployment of energy storage technologies and accelerate the development of new technologies that address current and emerging consumer needs. 2. To empower decision-makers by providing unbiased and fact-based information and analysis to enhance their energy storage-related investments, policies, and goals. 3. To leverage DOE’s global leadership in the energy storage community and accelerate the path from innovation to commercialisation that benefits all Americans by effective and durable engagement throughout the innovation ecosystem.” The SRM continues, laying out eight strategies to support these objectives: “1. Make long-term investments in fundamental and responsible energy storage technology research. 2. Target strategic, high-impact use cases for energy storage technologies. 3. Improve energy storage implementation cost assessments. 4. Inform the value proposition through development of valuation assessments and compensation mechanisms. 5. Enhance safety and reliability of energy storage technologies. 6. Advance equitable access to energy storage technologies to meet existing and emerging community needs. 7. Strengthen and enable reliable, resilient, affordable, diverse, sustainable, and secure domestic energy storage supply chains, including critical minerals and materials and a circular economy, that helps expand American manufacturing and jobs. 8. Collaborate across DOE programs, mission areas, and external to DOE.” These strategies are a part of what the DOE calls “the ecosystem around energy storage.” The provided figure illustrates this “ecosystem.” The LPO director, Jigar Shah, spoke previously on the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, . Wright’s appointment is not confirmed, but it would almost certainly lead to changes in activity from the LPO. While the future of the DOE’s LPO remains uncertain, the SRM shows that the department is placing a heavy focus on energy storage research and innovation and providing facts about the technology that could inform its future in the energy market. The DOE is asking for comment from stakeholders to inform its energy storage SRM through a formal .Is PepsiCo Stock Underperforming the Nasdaq?Changing the narrative about athlete mothers’ comeback stories
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After ending the week 5% higher amid optimism surrounding the impact of RBI's CRR cut, the Nifty PSU Bank index could rally by 5-6% in the near term, says Anand James , Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services . "A red candle on Thursday, followed by a long-legged Doji on Friday on the PSU Bank index, points to buyer exhaustion, especially with all constituents having already moved above their respective 50-day SMA. A consolidation is favored, but the index does appear to have room for another 5-6% rise in the near term," he says. Edited excerpts from a chat: Nifty ended the week over 2% higher, but Thursday's unpredictable movements in the index trapped many traders. Will expiry day trading remain as challenging even after the rationalization of the F&O segment by Sebi? Among the various measures introduced by SEBI lately, only the one regarding weekly options has taken effect so far. More importantly, after being in a "sell on rallies" mode for most of November, the December series has embraced a "buy on dips" strategy, which has encouraged more risk-on trades as the series progressed. This partly explains the large jumps seen on expiry day. It’s also natural for mean reversion moves to occur after the market made an unexpected leap ahead of the RBI rate decision. While it may be tempting to label all sudden moves as irrational, trading remains inherently challenging, especially for those trying to capitalize on every fluctuation. December is usually a bullish month, and keeping that in mind, what would be your target for Nifty in the week ahead? Do you think the buying momentum can take the index to its previous peak in the next 2-3 weeks? Shortly after the departure from the lower low-lower high pattern in late November, we had set an upside target of 25,262. Now that we’ve had two consecutive closes above 24,500, which is also the neckline of the inverted H&S pattern, we are encouraged to raise the upside target to 25,600-700. That said, it’s important to note the performance of both the broader market and Nifty on Thursday, which has set the tone for further moves in December. The unusually large upmoves and the subsequent volatility are significant. 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However, this was not evident in the index, as 82% of Nifty’s constituents recorded a pullback of under 1% from Thursday's high. This cautions us from chasing rallies immediately on Monday, as we see the potential for downswings, prompting us to keep the downside markers at 24,530 or 24,380. Now that all weekly expiries are behind us, with the exceptions of those for Sensex and Nifty, interest in Sensex options is increasing. How would you go about riding the wave in Sensex in the week ahead? Both being broad market benchmarks, there is a similarity there that could work against Sensex becoming an automatic choice for the erstwhile bank nifty weekly traders. However, the volatility profile and lot size of Sensex are similar to that of Bank Nifty. That said, what could really tilt the scales is how volumes develop over the week on Sensex contracts. Usually, they are the most liquid on the expiry day and the participation is not so encouraging at the start of the week. With Jan 2025 seeing a change in expiry days across both exchanges, there would again be a period of adjustment. However, the sharp rise in risk appetite that has swept the market post-21st November, after a prolonged downtrend, could help. Sensex is presently set up for an upmove aiming at 84,700 but may hit some air pockets in the week ahead, during which we recommend the downside markers to be either at 80,500 or 79,500. Given the way smallcaps and midcaps are rallying with participation from all sectors, what is the overall outlook on the strength of this bull run amid FII buying? Despite a lacklustre close on Friday, Thursday’s almighty push succeeded in pushing 50 and 56% respectively of the mid and small-caps constituents above their 50-day SMA. In comparison, these figures were 15.3 and 18.8 % on the 21st of November when Nifty hit the lowest point since the downturn began on the 27th of September. This is suggestive of broad-based strength returning to the market, with signals of more legs to the uptrend. That FIIs have broken off the streak of consecutive selling sprees is also a booster, though DIIs appear to have slowed down lately, keeping the net institutional buying humble. How has your outlook on bank stocks changed after the RBI policy outcome? Do you think there could be some more steam left in PSU bank stocks in particular? A red candle on Thursday, when there was a mad rush across the board, coupled with a long-legged Doji on Friday, on the PSU bank index, points to buyer exhaustion especially with all constituents having pushed above their respective 50-day SMA already. A consolidation is favoured, but the index does appear to have room for another 5-6% rise in the near term. HEG was among the biggest gainers in the Nifty 500 pack during the week amid positive news flow. Do you suggest profit booking? The long-legged doji on Thursday, followed by a deep red candle on Friday, completes an evening star candlestick pattern. The overall signal suggests a reversal. However, given the short duration of the prevailing uptrend, we are inclined to disregard the reversal signal and instead view this as a consolidation phase before the uptrend resumes. Downside markers can be placed below 539 or 504, depending on the risk appetite. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Finding the time to exercise with my busy work schedule seems impossible. How much exercise do I need to benefit my heart, and what kind? If I like to play pickleball, is that a better form of exercise than say, weightlifting? ANSWER: Finding time within busy schedules can feel difficult, but if you dedicate at least 30 minutes of exercise on a daily basis, that can be enough. And any type of exercise is good for your body, even if you're just climbing the stairs for five minutes. Any type of physical activity that you perform on a daily basis will benefit your body. Even doing everyday housekeeping such as gardening is a good way to get in some physical activity. We recommend that you exercise for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week, such as walking at a brisk pace (that's around 30 minutes five times a week or 50 minutes three times a week) or 75 minutes per week of more of intense activity such as running or jogging. If you run or jog, 75 minutes can be enough. Sometimes, we dedicate that time to other things like checking social media or watching TV. It's a matter of finding the right time for you to exercise, such as catching up on Instagram or the news while on the treadmill. Trying to remain active is the key. Remaining active as much as possible has been shown to be one of the best ways to control stress. Another one of the biggest benefits of exercise is how it positively affects our sleep. After daily physical activity, you tire, and it's easier for you to fall asleep. Getting enough sleep is important in preventing chronic conditions in the future, such as heart attacks, diabetes and strokes. For optimal heart health, sleeping at least seven to eight hours per night is usually recommended. This allows enough time for your body to recover and be ready for the next day. Fewer hours than this can lead to side effects that can negatively affect your heart and your overall health. One of the tips I always recommend to my patients is to try to get into a schedule in which you're going to sleep at the same time and waking up at the same time. Consistency is very important for sleep and building exercise habits. In addition to getting daily physical activity not too close to bedtime, we recommend that you turn off any type of electronic device at least an hour and a half to two hours before bed to set up an environment that is easier for your body to fall asleep. Sometimes it starts little by little, just by taking baby steps. It's always better to take baby steps and remain constant than take huge leaps you're not able to handle later on. When you start little by little, maybe with 5-10 minutes of physical activity on a daily basis with a progressive increase in the time to achieve your physical activity goals, this is going to become a habit. Don't let it go. Keep trying. If you want to remain healthy for your kids and see them grow and thrive in life, the best time to start is now.— Juan Cardenas Rosales, M.D., Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Newton will get first accessible commuter rail stop with rebuild of Newtonville Station
A woman was fatally burnt while she was sleeping on a New York City subway train on December 22. After the incident, the police arrested 33-year-old suspect Sabastian Zapeta-Calil. New York: In a horrifying incident, a woman was fatally burnt while she was sleeping on a New York City subway train on December 22. After the incident, the police arrested 33-year-old suspect Sabastian Zapeta-Calil, who is now facing murder charges. Even as the police is yet to confirm her identity, a post on X has claimed that the victim was Amelia Carter. Since the post went live it garnered over 2.4 million views till now. Soon after the incident, the woman was declared dead. Calil was listed as suspect and was arrested shortly after. Importantly, Zapeta, who is a citizen of Guatemala, entered the the US in 2018 illegally. However he was deported by the Trump administration. It is also being probed on how tha ccused managed to re-enter the country. He has been charged with first and second degree murder . Who is Amelia Carter? “This is Amelia Carter,” A post on X that misidentified the victim. The post while more photos of a woman added, “She was burned alive on the subway yesterday. This is Joe bidens America.” The community note of X. However. clarified, “This is a hoax. This photo is AI. No verified news sources as of 23/12/2024 have given a victim name or statement.” ‘Amelia Carter is a fabricated identity’ “Amelia Carter is a fabricated identity; the photo was generated with artificial intelligence to create a cryptocurrency scam. The police have not disclosed the woman’s identity,” another X community note added An website also published an article on Amelia Carter, which also gave imaginary character a biography. It further added that she was a nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and also used to worked as an intern on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, a report by Newsweek said. Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Subhajit Sankar Dasgupta has nearly 18 years of experience. Currently, he is serving as Associate Editor with news9live.com, a part of Associated Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd. He started his career with The Pioneer and went on to work in a number of media organisations, including IANS, Financial Express Online, The Political and Business Daily, among others. Apart from online media, he has also worked in print media. Among the beats he covers include politics, sports and infrastructure. He has a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambeshwar University. During his free time, he likes to read books and play table tennis.Crosby breaks Lemieux's Penguins career assists record in 3-2 victory over the Islanders
Bitcoin, Dogecoin Trail These 2024 Crypto Champions: Here Are The Top Performers Of The YearCNX Resources ( NYSE:CNX – Get Free Report ) had its price objective raised by Truist Financial from $34.00 to $35.00 in a report released on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a “hold” rating on the oil and gas producer’s stock. Truist Financial’s price target indicates a potential downside of 4.94% from the company’s previous close. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. lowered CNX Resources from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of CNX Resources from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday, October 4th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of CNX Resources from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a “sector underperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of CNX Resources from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Tudor Pickering upgraded CNX Resources to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $30.00. View Our Latest Report on CNX Resources CNX Resources Stock Performance CNX Resources ( NYSE:CNX – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.09. CNX Resources had a net margin of 27.79% and a return on equity of 7.54%. The company had revenue of $424.21 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $398.33 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.35 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that CNX Resources will post 1.53 earnings per share for the current year. Insider Activity In related news, Director Bernard Lanigan, Jr. bought 75,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 9th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $26.81 per share, for a total transaction of $2,010,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 401,820 shares in the company, valued at $10,772,794.20. The trade was a 22.95 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . 3.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On CNX Resources Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in CNX Resources by 54.1% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,896 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 666 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in CNX Resources by 135.4% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,966 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 1,131 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its holdings in CNX Resources by 77.0% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,149 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 935 shares in the last quarter. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new position in CNX Resources in the second quarter valued at approximately $131,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of CNX Resources during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $202,000. Institutional investors own 95.16% of the company’s stock. CNX Resources Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) CNX Resources Corporation, an independent natural gas and midstream company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas properties in the Appalachian Basin. The company operates in two segments, Shale and Coalbed Methane (CBM). It produces and sells pipeline quality natural gas primarily for gas wholesalers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CNX Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CNX Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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US stocks rose Monday, with the Dow finishing at a fresh record as markets greeted Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, while oil prices retreated on hopes for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The Dow climbed one percent to a second straight all-time closing high on news of the selection of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the critical economic policy position. A widely respected figure on Wall Street, Bessent is seen as being in favor of growth and deficit reduction policies and not known overly fond of trade tariffs. The market "breathed a sigh of relief" at Bessent's selection, said Art Hogan from B. Riley Wealth Management. But after an initial surge Monday, the gains in US equities moderated somewhat. While investors are enthusiastic about the possibility of tax cuts and regulatory relief under Trump, "we do have to face the potential for tariffs being a negative as well as a very tight market around immigration, which is not positive for the economy," Hogan said. Earlier, equity gains were limited in Europe as growth concerns returned to the fore with Germany's Thyssenkrupp announcing plans to cut or outsource 11,000 jobs in its languishing steel division. Currently around 27,000 people are employed in the steel division, which has been battered by high production costs and fierce competition from Asian rivals. Elsewhere, crude oil prices fell decisively as Israel's security cabinet prepared to decide whether to accept a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah, an official said Monday. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations have all pushed in recent days for a truce in the long-running hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which flared into all-out war in late September. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an Israeli official told AFP the security cabinet "will decide on Tuesday evening on the ceasefire deal." And bitcoin's push toward $100,000 ran out of steam after coming within a whisker of the mark last week, on hopes that Trump would enact policies to bring the cryptocurrency more into the mainstream. Bitcoin was recently trading under $96,000, having set a record high of $99,728.34 Friday -- the digital currency has soared about 50 percent in value since Trump's election. This week's data includes a reading of consumer confidence and an update of personal consumption prices, a key inflation indicator. Those reporting earnings include Best Buy, Dell and Dick's Sporting Goods. New York - Dow: UP 1.0 percent at 44,736.57 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3 percent at 5,987.37 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.3 percent at 19,054.84 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.4 percent at 8,291.68 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,257.47 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.4 percent at 19,405.20 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.3 percent at 38,780.14 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.4 percent at 19,150.99 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,263.76 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0495 from $1.0418 on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2564 from $1.2530 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.23 yen from 154.78 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.51 pence from 83.14 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 3.2 percent at $68.94 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.9 percent at $73.01 per barrel bur-jmb/dwIndia's Smartphone Surge: A 5G and Chipset Revolution