Shares of iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF ( BATS:CEMB – Get Free Report ) were down 0.1% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $44.37 and last traded at $44.45. Approximately 18,661 shares changed hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at $44.51. iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF Price Performance The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $44.97 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.04. Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CEMB. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF by 38.7% in the third quarter. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. now owns 9,294 shares of the company’s stock valued at $428,000 after purchasing an additional 2,593 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF by 3,375.0% during the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 2,085 shares of the company’s stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 2,025 shares in the last quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. grew its stake in iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 5,569 shares of the company’s stock valued at $256,000 after acquiring an additional 319 shares during the period. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its holdings in iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF by 30.7% in the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 179,024 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,235,000 after acquiring an additional 42,036 shares in the last quarter. iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile The iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF (CEMB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the JP Morgan CEMBI Broad Diversified index. The fund tracks an index of US-dollar-denominated bonds issued by corporations based in emerging markets. CEMB was launched on Apr 17, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares J.P. Morgan EM Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Rogers Provides Update on Its Acquisition of Bell’s 37.5% Stake in MLSEThe Bold Environmental Vision of President Jimmy Carter
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BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.
BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CHN) (the "Fund") announced today that the Fund's annual stockholder meeting (the "Meeting") will be scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025 , via a virtual forum at 11:00 a.m. ET . Stockholders of record as of January 15, 2025 will be entitled to notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting. The notice for the Meeting will be mailed to shareholders on or about February 10, 2025 . The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. Shares of the Fund are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN". The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For further information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call (888)-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-announces-date-of-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302331705.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.
Kysre Gondrezick is entering her pickleball era and merging the worlds of sports and fashion while doing so. The basketball star was recently seen in the Windy City with Smirnoff for their SMASH Vodka Soda’s Smirnoff SMASH Series, where fans got the opportunity to play alongside her on the Smirnoff SMASH Pickleball Court. In addition to the competition, fans and pickleball players had the opportunity to play alongside Gondrezick on the Smirnoff SMASH Pickleball Court, where they were able to enjoy complimentary bites from food trucks, DJ entertainment, a bar stocked with the four bold and unexpected flavors of Smirnoff SMASH Vodka Soda and some SMASH-ing merch. We got an opportunity to chat with Gondrezick ahead of the event. Smirnoff Kysre Gondrezick on her pickleball journey “I’m really excited,” she said, noting that while she is still in the early phases of learning about the sport, she had been training and learning as much as she could. If you’ve watched Gondrezick over the course of her career, then you’re already more than aware of her fiery nature as a competitor, which was precisely my next question to her. Kysre Gondrezick on whether or not her competitive nature will take over “Oh absolutely,” she agreed. “Knowing me, it might start out as fun, but once things get going they are going to definitely see the competitor in me come out!” Gondrezick is also becoming recognized as quite the fashionista, commanding attention for her outfit at last month’s Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. While pickleball is very much an active sport, it’s also a chance to showcase some fun, fashionable fits, which she definitely did. Kysre Gondrezick on her pickleball fashion At the time of our interview, the rising star was still in the process of choosing her outfits, but now we see she kept it sporty and fashionable, teaming her tropical-themed Smirnoff shirt with a pair of black leggings and green sneakers. More than anything, however, Gondrezick stated that she just wanted “everybody to enjoy themselves, learn more about the sport and just have a good time.” Stay tuned for more initiatives from the superstar athlete.None
BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.
TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rogers Communications (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) (NYSE: RCI) today announced it has received clearance from the Competition Bureau to proceed with the acquisition of Bell’s 37.5% stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. Rogers and Bell received a “no-action letter” on December 12, 2024, from the Bureau, indicating that the Commissioner of Competition does not intend to challenge Rogers acquisition of Bell’s interest in MLSE. The deal is subject to league approvals and approval from the CRTC. “This reflects an important step in securing approvals and expanding our ownership of MLSE, one of the most prestigious sports and entertainment organizations in the world,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. “As Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company, live sports and entertainment are a critical part of our core business strategy.” In September, Rogers announced a deal to acquire Bell’s stake in MLSE for C$4.7 billion to become majority owner of MLSE. Rogers is Canada’s leading communications and entertainment company and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit or . Media Relations 1-844-226-1338 Investor Relations 1-844-801-4792Australia news LIVE: Climate projections put Australia almost on target; Netanyahu backs ceasefire deal with Hezbollah
Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and botsIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli airstrikes and evacuation warnings were in a sign that Netanyahu aims to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. Hezbollah, meanwhile, had resumed its rocket fire into Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country's north. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, in support of the Palestinian militant group. That has set off more than a year of fighting escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon and an Israeli ground invasion of the country’s south. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli military bases, cities and towns, including some 250 projectiles on Sunday. It’s not clear how the ceasefire will affect the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, where more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. ——— Here's the Latest: JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he would recommend his Cabinet adopt a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as Israeli warplanes struck across Lebanon, killing at least 23 people. The Israeli military also issued a flurry of evacuation warnings — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah down to the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. For the first time in the conflict, Israeli ground troops reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River, a focal point of the emerging deal. In a televised statement, Netanyahu said he would present the ceasefire to Cabinet ministers later on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Netanyahu said the vote was expected later Tuesday. It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal does not affect Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, which shows no signs of ending. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least 10 people in Baalbek province the country’s east. At least three people were killed in the southern city of Tyre when Israel bombed a Palestinian refugee camp, said Mohammed Bikai, a representative of the Fatah group in the area. He said several more people were missing and at least three children were among the wounded. He said the sites struck inside the camp were “completely civilian places” and included a kitchen that was being used to cook food for displaced people. JERUSALEM — Dozens of Israeli protesters took to a major highway in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening to call for the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as the country awaited news of a potential ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Protesters chanted “We are all hostages,” and “Deal now!” waving signs with faces of some of the roughly 100 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are thought to be dead. Most of the other hostages Hamas captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack were released during a ceasefire last year. The prospect of a ceasefire deal in Lebanon has raised desperation among the relatives of captives still held in Gaza, who once hoped that the release of hostages from Gaza would be included. Instead of a comprehensive deal, the ceasefire on the table is instead narrowly confined to Lebanon. Dozens of Israelis were also demonstrating against the expected cease-fire, gathering outside Israel’s military headquarters in central Tel Aviv. One of the protesters, Yair Ansbacher, says the deal is merely a return to the failed 2006 U.N. resolution that was meant to uproot Hezbollah from the area. “Of course that didn’t happen,” he says. “This agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.” FIUGGI, Italy — Foreign ministers from the world’s industrialized countries said Tuesday they strongly supported an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and insisted that Israel comply with international law in its ongoing military operations in the region. At the end of their two-day summit, the ministers didn’t refer directly to the International Criminal Court and its recent arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over crimes against humanity . Italy had put the ICC warrants on the official meeting agenda, even though the G7 was split on the issue. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, isn’t a signatory to the court and has called the warrants “outrageous.” However, the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell said all the other G7 countries were signatories and therefore obliged to respect the warrants. In the end, the final statement adopted by the ministers said Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, “must fully comply with its obligations under international law in all circumstances, including international humanitarian law.” And it said all G7 members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – “reiterate our commitment to international humanitarian law and will comply with our respective obligations.” It stressed that “there can be no equivalence between the terrorist group Hamas and the State of Israel.” The ICC warrants say there's reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. BEIRUT — An Israeli strike on Tuesday levelled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded in Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. It was not immediately clear if anyone in particular was targeted, though Israel says its airstrikes target Hezbollah officials and assets. The Israeli military spokesman issued a flurry of evacuation warnings for many areas, including areas in Beirut that have not been targeted throughout the war, like the capital’s commercial Hamra district, where many people displaced by the war have been staying. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks in Lebanon during the final hours before a ceasefire is reached, sparked panic and sent residents fleeing in their cars to safer areas. In areas close to Hamra, families including women and children were seen running away toward the Mediterranean Sea’s beaches carrying their belongings. Traffic was completely gridlocked as people tried to get away, honking their car horns as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. The Israeli military also issued warnings for 20 more buildings in Beirut’s suburbs to evacuate before they too were struck — a sign it was aiming to inflict punishment on Hezbollah in the final moments before any ceasefire takes hold. TEL AVIV, Israel — The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services. The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe. The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.” It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues. The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means. On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking. The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack. Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over. JERUSALEM -- The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire. In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces. Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border. The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation. The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces. The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting. BEIRUT — Israeli jets Tuesday struck at least six buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs Tuesday, including one that slammed near the country’s only airport. Large plumes of smoke could be seen around the airport near the Mediterranean coast, which has continued to function despite its location beside the densely populated suburbs where many of Hezbollah’s operations are based. The strikes come hours before Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet to discuss a proposal to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Tuesday’s airstrikes. FIUGGI, Italy — EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. Borrell, whose term ends Dec. 1, said he proposed to the G7 and Arab ministers who joined in talks on Monday that the U.N. Security Council take up a resolution specifically demanding humanitarian assistance reach Palestinians in Gaza, saying deliveries have been completely impeded. “The two-state solution will come later. Everything will come later. But we are talking about weeks or days,” for desperate Palestinians, he said. “Hunger has been used as an arm against people who are completely abandoned.” It was a reference to the main accusation levelled by the International Criminal Court in its arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. Borrell said the signatories to the court, including six of the seven G7 members, are obliged under international law to respect and implement the court’s decisions. Host Italy put the ICC warrants on the G7 agenda at the last minute, but there was no consensus on the wording of how the G7 would respond given the U.S., Israel’s closest ally, has called the warrants “outrageous.” Italy, too, has said it respects the court but expressed concern that the warrants were politically motivated and ill-advised given Netanyahu is necessary for any deal to end the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. “Like it or not, the International Criminal Court is a court as powerful as any national court,” Borrell said. “And if the Europeans don’t support International Criminal Court then there would not be any hope for justice,” he said. (edited)Wall Street stocks finished a lackluster week on a muted note Friday as concerns about rising Treasury bond yields competed with enthusiasm over artificial intelligence equities. Of the major indices, only the Nasdaq mustered a gain in Friday's session. The tech-rich index was also the only of the three leading US benchmarks to conclude the week higher. "Equities are kind of treading water," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "A negative influence to some extent is the rise in bond yields." The latest US consumer price index data released this week showed prices ticked higher in November and the wholesale data also showed stubborn inflationary pressures. "Yields rose to their highest levels in over two weeks as markets brace for the Federal Reserve's final meeting of the year, reflecting concerns over sticky inflation," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG. There is also growing concern over the inflationary pressures from President-elect Donald Trump's pledges to cut taxes and impose tariffs, as inflation still stands above the Fed's target. "While the markets still anticipate a rate cut from the Federal Reserve next week, the likelihood of a move in January has dropped," said Patrick Munnelly, partner at broker Tickmill Group. The CME FedWatch tool shows the market sees a more than 75 percent chance that the Fed will hold rates steady in January. In Europe, the Paris CAC 40 index ended the day down 0.2 percent after French President Emmanuel Macron named his centrist ally Francois Bayrou as prime minister, ending days of deadlock over finding a replacement for Michel Barnier. Frankfurt also dipped, with Germany's central bank sharply downgrading its growth forecasts on Friday for 2025 and 2026. It predicted a prolonged period of weakness for Europe's biggest economy. London stocks were also lower after official data showed that the UK economy unexpectedly shrank for the second consecutive month in October. The euro recovered after flirting with two-year lows against the dollar following a warning Thursday by ECB president Christine Lagarde that the eurozone economy was "losing momentum", cautioning that "the risk of greater friction in global trade could weigh on euro area growth". In Asia, Hong Kong and Shanghai both tumbled as investors were unimpressed with Beijing's pledge to introduce measures aimed at "lifting consumption vigorously" as part of a drive to reignite growth in the world's number two economy. President Xi Jinping and other key leaders said at the annual Central Economic Work Conference they would implement a "moderately loose" monetary policy, increase social financing and reducing interest rates "at the right time". The gathering came after Beijing in September began unveiling a raft of policies to reverse a growth slump that has gripped the economy for almost two years. "We're still not convinced that policy support will prevent the economy from slowing further next year", said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at research group Capital Economics. Among individual equities, chip company Broadcom surged nearly 25 percent after reporting a 51 percent jump in quarterly revenues to $14.1 billion behind massive growth in AI-linked business. More from this section New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 43,828.06 (close) New York - S&P 500: FLAT at 6,051.09 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 19,926.72 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 percent at 8,300.33 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,409.57 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,405.92 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0 percent at 39,470.44 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.1 percent at 19,971.24 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 2.0 percent at 3,391.88 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0504 from $1.0467 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2622 from $1.2673 Dollar/yen: UP at 153.60 yen from 152.63 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 82.59 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.5 percent at $74.49 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.8 percent at $71.29 per barrel burs-jmb/stThe NFL Network is reportedly considering whether to continue featuring ads on RedZone, a decision that has sparked significant backlash from viewers online. During Week 15 of the NFL season, fans were surprised by the presence of commercials on RedZone, particularly as NFL Network's Scott Hanson began the show with his well-known phrase: "Seven hours of commercial-free football starts now." According to Front Office Sports , the NFL Network is "undecided" about future RedZone commercials, although one source suggests the league may experiment with double-box ads in the final two weeks of the season. Terry Bradshaw secured Fox NFL role after simple gesture won over producer Andy Reid leaves Michael Vick reeling with FOX NFL Sunday message The insider also speculated that the NFL might delay until the 2025 regular season, at which point it would introduce RedZone advertisements more extensively. The introduction of ads to NFL's RedZone has left many fans disgruntled and considering abandoning the show, which was previously commercial-free. A fan on social media protested, "It's official, redzone has sold out. The commercial free era is over. what a shame,". Another voiced indignation by saying: "Not to be dramatic but red zone doing commercials now is such an indictment on the current state of things. They are choosing to ruin their reputation with their fans just so they can run a couple ads. Absolutely pathetic.." In response, a third individual lamented: "Redzone commercials the latest example of companies making a product worse for a few bucks just because they can and the consumer being completely impotent to do anything about it. sucks. your brand loyalty is just money for some company.". In light of the significant pushback from viewers, host Hanson extended an apology, "Hey everyone, as we kick off a great football weekend, I just wanted to take a quick second and apologize for using the commercial-free catchphrase at the top of the last show," he confessed. "I was conflicted about it beforehand. I had a tough decision to make, and I made the wrong decision, and I'm sorry. I try to be the best host I can possibly be. DON'T MISS: Robert Griffin III sends message to Netflix team after NFL Christmas broadcast Andy Reid confirms unwanted blow for Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs Bryce Underwood turns heads at first Michigan practice after alarming NIL deal "What we have shared together for 16 seasons on NFL RedZone is unlike anything else. I love it. I hope to do it for 16 more years. But being a great host means being accurate, being truthful, and having integrity. And so I hope you consider accepting this apology." In a notable deviation, Hanson refrained from using "commercial-free" in his usual introduction. Just one week after his broadcast blunder, he started Sunday's show by saying: "And you know what? You love RedZone football, we love RedZone football. So from now on it's... seven hours of RedZone football starts now." Despite the concerning change in his slogan, the most recent RedZone broadcast surprisingly went ahead without commercials. According to Sportico , the previous Week 15 commercials were actually just "tests", and a source has claimed that the NFL "does not currently have plans to test the ads again."
Capitol rioter who tried to join Russian army is sentenced to prison for probation violationOrono quarterback Brewer among Fitzpatrick Award semifinalistsLender Learn More APR Loan Amount Term Min. Credit Score Why trust U.S. News Your trust is important to us. To earn it, we conduct a rigorous, unbiased analysis with a transparent methodology, and our raters maintain strict editorial standards and independence. APRs for auto loan refinancing ranged from 1.25% to 29.99% in March 2022. The better your credit score, the lower the rate you may get. From start to finish, the auto loan refinance process may take a few days, Owens says. Here are the basic steps: 1. Review your current loan. Check your loan documents to figure out the interest you pay each month and the total cost of the loan if you finish the entire term. You'll use these figures later to determine whether refinancing makes sense. 2. Check your credit. This can help you figure out whether you'll be eligible for an auto loan refinance. If your credit has improved since you took out the original loan, you may qualify for a lower interest rate to help you save money. Strong credit can also help you leverage one lender's offer against another to get a better deal. Each of the three major credit bureaus allows you to check your credit report weekly for free through the end of 2022. Free credit scores may be available from your credit card issuer or bank, or you can try free credit score apps . 3. Gather your documents. You will need to share personal, vehicle and loan information with your lender to refinance. Personal information might include your government-issued photo ID, employer's contact information, proof of income and Social Security number. The lender will also ask for your vehicle identification number, registration and mileage, plus your loan payoff amount and term. 4. Prequalify with several lenders. A prequalification uses a soft credit pull, which helps you shop for offers without hurting your credit. You might be able to get prequalified with your current lender along with a mix of online lenders, credit unions, and local and national banks. Once you have a few offers in hand, compare the annual percentage rates, loan terms, monthly payments, fees, prepayment penalties and total interest you'll pay over the life of each loan. "Compare what you're paying today by what you could potentially pay by refinancing," Owens says. 5. Check your budget. Go through your monthly expenses and make sure you can comfortably manage the new car payment. Loans with longer repayment terms generally come with lower monthly payments and higher interest rates, which means you'll pay more interest overall. A shorter term comes with higher monthly payments and less interest over the life of the loan. If you're not sure you can afford higher payments, consider taking out a loan with a longer term and paying more toward the principal when you can. 6. Apply for the loan. The lender will likely run a hard credit pull , which can temporarily lower your credit score. Also, the lender will verify your income and employment status and may separately appraise your car. Always read the contract before you sign for a loan, and ask questions if something is unclear. 7. Start payments on the new loan. You can begin to pay the new lender when the old loan is paid off. The new lender should pay off the loan balance from the previous lender once your loan is approved and you sign the paperwork. Contact the previous lender to make sure this happens correctly, and ask for a payoff document. You may want to refinance your auto loan when it helps you financially, including when: Your original loan doesn't have a prepayment penalty. This means you could pay off the loan early without being charged a fee. Check your contract to verify whether the loan comes with a prepayment penalty . If you can't find the contract, call the lender's customer service department. You'll save on interest. When you refinance an auto loan with a lower interest rate, you can save on the monthly payment and the total interest. For instance, dropping the interest rate from 14% to 7% on a $15,000 car loan can save you $52 a month and $3,120 over five years. Your savings partly depends on how much interest you've already paid toward the original loan. You want to remove a co-signer or co-borrower. If you signed for the original auto loan with someone else, you can remove that person from the loan by refinancing into a new one. You want to lower your monthly payment. You can also refinance an auto loan to a longer term, which lowers your monthly payments. This can make room in your budget, although you may pay more interest over the life of the loan. But auto loan refinances aren't right for everyone, says Paris Chevalier, president and CEO of South Bay Credit Union. She cautions against refinancing if you owe more than your car is worth or your original loan has high prepayment penalties. The best auto loan refinance lender is one that offers low interest rates, charges few or no fees, and accepts the type of vehicle you have. Note that lenders may place age, mileage or make constraints on refinancing. Here are some factors to evaluate as you compare auto loan refinancing lenders: Type of institution. Every lender sets its own terms and interest rates on auto loan refinances, so it's a good idea to shop with a mix of banks, credit unions and online lenders. Credit unions own most of today's auto refinance market, according to the credit bureau TransUnion. These financial institutions generally charge lower rates than banks do on loan products. Credit score requirement. The average credit score of auto refinance borrowers was 670 in 2021, according to the RateGenius report. Because every lender sets its own credit score requirement, you can make sure that you will likely qualify. If your credit hasn't improved much since you took out the original loan, you may have trouble finding a lender willing to refinance to a lower rate. However, some lenders work with borrowers who have lower credit scores. Restrictions. Check that you meet all requirements to refinance with the lender. You may only be able to refinance your auto loan with a different lender, for instance. Lenders may also have minimum and maximum loan amounts, offer rates based on a car's model year and mileage, and restrict loans to personal-use cars. Fees. Even if lenders offer attractive interest rates, they may add fees and penalties that increase the cost of borrowing. When comparing offers, look for origination fees and prepayment penalties, and ask whether the lender can raise the interest rate during the loan term. Discounts. "If you have a relationship with a bank or credit union, start there," Owens says, "because they may offer discounts for being a client." But check other financial institutions, too, because they may offer incentives when you enroll in autopay or open a checking account. Reputation. Make sure you're working with a trustworthy lender. Ask friends and family members which lenders they've used, or look up a company using the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Consumer Complaint Database . Your car loan payment may have seemed manageable when you took it on, but if it "no longer works due to changes in your financial situation, there are options available that don't require taking out a new loan," Chevalier says. Contact your loan servicer and ask about loan modifications. Your servicer may be willing to lower your interest rate or extend the loan term to reduce your monthly payment, Chevalier says. Lenders usually want to help you afford payments because "repossessions are costly and time-consuming," she adds. Your lender may also let you defer payments for a few months until you're on solid financial ground. Make sure you get any loan modification or payment deferral agreements in writing, and ask the lender how your account will be reported to the credit bureaus. Another option is trading in your car for a less expensive one if you don't owe more than what your car is worth. "The difference between the trade-in value and what is owed on your current loan will lower the new loan amount," Chevalier says. Auto loan refinance rates typically range from about 3% to 10%. The average rate is 6.8%, the highest recorded in eight years, according to a 2022 report from RateGenius, a refinancing platform. However, most borrowers in the report said they saved at least $50 a month by refinancing. Generally, a good interest rate is lower than what you're paying now, says Tim Owens, Bank of America's consumer vehicle lending executive. The rate you receive depends on your lender, loan term and credit score, with lower rates largely going to customers with good credit scores and shorter terms. Refinancing an auto loan can affect your credit in a few ways. The first change may happen after you apply for the new loan because this creates a hard credit pull. The hard inquiry may stay on your credit report for up to two years and may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. If you submit multiple loan applications within a short time frame, generally between 14 and 45 days, depending on the credit score model, they will typically only count as one inquiry. This lessens the impact on your credit. Refinancing can also lower the average age of your credit accounts because you close the old loan and start a new one. Shortening your average credit history may hurt your credit score. However, the potential hit to your credit score is "a small price to pay if the new loan saves you money or helps you avoid car payments you can no longer afford," Chevalier says. The effect may be temporary. Over time, your credit can rebound if you make on-time payments on all of your accounts each month. To answer this question, you will need to figure out what you qualify for and how much you would pay in interest on both the original loan and the new loan. You'll also need to look over both contracts to check whether you lose services and pay fees on the new loan. Benefits: Drawbacks:
NonePCJCCI proposes national computing hubs to boost digital economy LAHORE: The Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has called for transforming the country’s industrial economy into a digital economy, following the Chinese model, which has proven to be highly effective in fostering economic growth. During a discussion on the digitalisation of the national economy at the PCJCCI meeting on Friday, PCJCCI President Nazir Hussain stressed the need to establish integrated computing network hubs across Pakistan to stimulate the digital economy and provide momentum for its development. “Data centre computing equipment will serve as key accelerators for the development of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain, driving digital transformation and fostering high-quality growth,” Hussain said. Highlighting China’s approach, he explained that national computing hubs are being developed in strategic regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and other key clusters. He suggested replicating this model in Pakistan’s major business cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad and Gilgit-Baltistan, to revolutionise the country’s digital landscape. Hussain noted that the big data industry would be instrumental in the transition from an industrial economy to a digital economy. “Accelerating the development of 5G networks and 1,000M fibre optic networks will be vital for creating a new intelligent ecosystem,” he added. Senior Vice President PCJCCI Mansoor Saeed elaborated on the benefits of a national computing network, stating that it would enhance the free flow of data and streamline economic processes. “These hubs will become key drivers of economic growth while supporting the national big data strategy,” he said. Saeed also highlighted China’s initiatives in building national integrated computing networks as part of its efforts to promote “new infrastructure” construction and environmentally sustainable, high-quality digital development. He suggested that Pakistan could adopt similar techniques to develop super-large and large-scale data centres, creating data clusters in key regions. These clusters could support industries such as industrial internet, financial services, disaster management, telemedicine, and video communications. Vice President PCJCCI Zafar Iqbal underscored the potential impact of such a move, stating, “Establishing a structural balance between data centres in different regions will boost innovation in big data applications, improve computing resource efficiency, and promote green, high-quality development.” The PCJCCI leaders added that the digital transformation of Pakistan’s economy is critical to meeting global economic challenges, fostering innovation and ensuring sustainable development.
How to live stream Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins: time, channelsMILAN, Italy (AP) — Atalanta went to the top of Serie A when Ademola Lookman scored with three minutes remaining to beat AC Milan 2-1 on Friday. Atalanta’s ninth win in a row was a fitting gift to coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who was awarded the coach of the month award earlier in the day for guiding his team to a perfect record in November. Charles De Ketelaere put the home side ahead with a towering header after 11 minutes only for Milan to level 11 minutes later. Theo Hernández released Rafael Leão on the right wing and his inviting cross was converted by Álvaro Morata. Milan, which lost Christian Pulišić to a knock before halftime, looked set to end Atalanta’s impressive run but Lookman nipped in at the back post to nod home a corner in the dying moments. Atalanta has 34 points, two more than Napoli, which has a game in hand against Lazio on Sunday. Milan was in seventh place. Serie A champion Inter defeated Parma 3-1 and extended the Milan club’s unbeaten run to 13 games. Federico Dimarco put the home side ahead five minutes before halftime when he worked a neat one-two with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and fired a low shot past Zion Suzuki. Nicolò Barella made it two eight minutes into the second half when he finished a fast counterattack with aplomb. Marcos Thuram's 10th goal of the season made it 3-0 in the 66th. A Matteo Darmian own goal gave some late consolation for Parma. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerAfter Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers
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MTVA stock touches 52-week low at $2.04 amid market challengesIt’s almost that time of year: Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Wrapped, personalized recaps of users' listening habits and year in audio. Spotify has been giving its listeners breakdowns of their data since 2016. And each year, it’s become a bigger production — and internet sensation. Spotify said its 2023 Wrapped was the “biggest ever created,” in terms of audience reach and the kind of data it provided. So, what will 2024 have in store? Here’s a look at what to know ahead of this year’s Spotify Wrapped. What exactly is Spotify Wrapped? It’s the streaming service's annual overview of individual listening trends, as well as trends around the world. Users learn their top artists, songs, genres, albums and podcasts, all wrapped into one interactive presentation. The campaign has become a social media sensation, as people share and compare their Wrapped data with their friends and followers online. Past iterations have provided users with all kinds of breakdowns and facts, including whether they’re among an artist’s top listeners, as well as a personalized playlist of their top 100 songs of that year to save, share and listen to whenever they’re feeling nostalgic. Spotify also creates a series of playlists that reflect national and global listening trends, featuring the top streamed artists and songs. In 2023, Taylor Swift was Spotify's most streamed artist, unseating Bad Bunny who had held the title for three years in a row. Each year has something new in store. In 2019, Wrapped included a summary of users’ streaming trends for the entire decade. Last year, Spotify matched listeners to a Sound Town based on their artist affinities and how it lined up with those in other parts of the world. When is the expected release date? So far, the streaming platform has kept the highly anticipated release date of Wrapped under ... er, wraps. In past years, it’s been released after Thanksgiving, between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. Each year, rumors tend to swell on social media around when Spotify stops collecting data in order to prepare their Wrapped results, and this year was no exception. Spotify quickly squashed those presumptions, assuring on social media that “Spotify Wrapped doesn’t stop counting on October 31st.” A representative for Spotify did not respond to a request for comment on when the company stops tracking data for Wrapped. Where can I find my Spotify Wrapped? When Wrapped is released, each user's Spotify account will prompt them to view their interactive data roundup. It can be accessed through the Spotify smartphone app, or by logging on to the Spotify website. Wrapped is available to users with and without Premium subscriptions. What else can I learn with my Spotify data? There are a handful of third-party sites that you can connect your Spotify account to that will analyze your Wrapped data. How Bad is Your Spotify is an AI bot that judges your music taste. Receiptify gives you your top songs on a sharable graphic that looks like, yes, a receipt. Instafest gives you your own personal music festival-style lineup based on your top artists. How NPRCore Are You assesses how similar your music taste is to NPR Music's. What if I don’t have Spotify? Other major streaming platforms such as Apple Music and YouTube Music have developed their own versions of Wrapped in recent years. Apple Music’s Replay not only gives its subscribers a year-end digest of their listening habits but monthly summaries as well — a feature that helps differentiate itself from the one-time Spotify recap. That's released at the end of the calendar year. YouTube Music, meanwhile, has a similar end-of-the-year release for its listeners, as well as periodic seasonal releases throughout the year. It released its annual Recap for users earlier this month.