WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.Swiss National Bank trimmed its position in shares of Meritage Homes Co. ( NYSE:MTH – Free Report ) by 0.4% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 70,900 shares of the construction company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in Meritage Homes were worth $14,539,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MTH. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 734.4% during the third quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 272,122 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $55,804,000 after purchasing an additional 239,511 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB bought a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the first quarter worth about $25,495,000. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC bought a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the second quarter worth about $22,887,000. Boston Partners bought a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the first quarter worth about $23,106,000. Finally, Blackstone Inc. raised its position in shares of Meritage Homes by 216.7% during the first quarter. Blackstone Inc. now owns 190,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $33,337,000 after acquiring an additional 130,000 shares during the last quarter. 98.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Meritage Homes Trading Up 3.8 % Shares of MTH stock opened at $184.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a current ratio of 1.75. Meritage Homes Co. has a fifty-two week low of $137.70 and a fifty-two week high of $213.98. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $192.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $184.26. The company has a market cap of $6.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.35 and a beta of 1.82. Meritage Homes Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th will be paid a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 17th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.63%. Meritage Homes’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.58%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MTH has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Meritage Homes from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $205.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Wolfe Research upgraded Meritage Homes from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $230.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Wedbush upgraded Meritage Homes from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $160.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on Meritage Homes from $210.00 to $198.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Raymond James downgraded Meritage Homes from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Meritage Homes currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $218.17. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Meritage Homes Meritage Homes Company Profile ( Free Report ) Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for entry-level and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Meritage Homes Co. ( NYSE:MTH – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Meritage Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meritage Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
The managing director of Jaguar has said he was disappointed by the "vile hatred and intolerance" in responses to a clip of the car company's new advert. The luxury car brand posted a 30-second video on X, formerly Twitter , on Tuesday which featured models posing in bright clothes but no vehicles. The clip prompted a backlash online among some 120,000 comments, with the social media site's chief executive Elon Musk responding: "Do you sell cars?" Rawdon Glover, Jaguar managing director, told the Financial Times: "If we play in the same way that everybody else does we'll just get drowned out." "So we shouldn't turn up like an auto brand. We need to re-establish our brand and at a completely different price point so we need to act differently." Mr Glover added: "We don't want to necessarily leave all of our customers behind. But we do need to attract a new customer base." He denied that the video was meant to be "woke", and said he was disappointed by the "vile hatred and intolerance" in comments about individuals in the clip. In response to Mr Musk's comment on X, Jaguar said: "Yes. We'd love to show you. Join us for a cuppa in Miami on 2nd December?" Replying to another user who questioned where the cars were, the company said: "The story is unfolding. Stay tuned."PITTSBURGH (AP) — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it's not that the Steelers are reliving the same day (or in their case, season) over and over exactly. It's that no matter what plan they come up with in a frantic effort to get to the other side, they seem to end up right back where they started. Competitive sure. But a contender? Ehhhh. Despite a series of aggressive moves — particularly on offense — that was considerably “unSteeler-like" in the offseason, Pittsburgh finds itself in familiar territory following a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday: likely heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps as a considerable underdog. While there is still time for Pittsburgh (10-6) to turn it around before a first-round playoff game on the second weekend in January, it's running out quickly. So too is the patience of those weary of being stuck on the treadmill of “good but hardly great” for far too long. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith — who is 0-3 in the postseason since being drafted in 2020 — wondered aloud afterward if there's enough “want to” on the roster. Safety DeShon Elliott bemoaned communication issues that have cropped up, the kind of thing that is tolerable in Week 2, not so much in Week 17. Coach Mike Tomlin described a performance against the Chiefs in which his team was outclassed at seemingly every turn “junior varsity.” That may be being charitable. And while the offense certainly has its issues (see below), the reality is the NFL's highest-paid defense has lost its way during a three-game slide that has dimmed the considerable optimism that surrounded the club after Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 402 yards during the skid and while the Chiefs seemed to have plenty of juice at the end of the same three games in 11 days stretch the Steelers endured, their opponents appeared to be gassed. Patrick Mahomes did whatever he wanted as usual and Pittsburgh failed to get a single sack or produce a turnover. There were opportunities. Linebacker Mark Robinson forced a fumble on a punt return only to see someone in red-and-white fall on the loose ball. Linebacker Patrick Queen let a tipped pass in Kansas City territory fall through his arms for an incompletion. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh was making those plays. Though it should be noted, the competition then wasn't on the scale of what it has faced against Philadelphia, Baltimore and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The road has gotten considerably harder, just as the Steelers knew it would when the schedule was released in May. Like Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day,” however, knowing what's coming and being able to navigate it are two different things. It took Connors a while to figure things out — anywhere from a few months to 25 or more years depending on who you ask — Pittsburgh doesn't have eternity to get it right if it wants to avoid a quick first-round playoff exit for the fourth time in five years. It has just over two weeks. And the clock is ticking. Maybe all the way back to 6 a.m. Because it sure looks like it's Groundhog Day. Again. What's working Not much. One of the few bright spots on a difficult day was the 36-year-old Russell Wilson's ability to make plays with his feet. He ran for a season-high 55 yards, his best single-game total since September 2023. What needs help One of the reasons Wilson had to run is because on some plays, he had no choice while playing behind a youth-laden offensive line that looks as if it is wearing down late in the season. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times — some of which, to be clear, were because of Wilson's indecisiveness — even with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones out while nursing a calf injury. Pittsburgh wants to be a team that imposes itself physically on the opponent. That has simply not happened during the current slide. The opponents have dictated the terms, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Turning that around this deep into a season may be a difficult ask. Stock up Jaylen Warren is becoming the more dynamic option at running back. Warren has 37 touches for 212 yards during the three-game slide, while Najee Harris has 31 touches for 144 yards. Harris could become a free agent in March after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. While Harris — who has topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four seasons — certainly has a future in the NFL, it seems increasingly likely that it will be elsewhere. Stock down Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His egalitarian approach to play-calling allows everyone to get involved. That's not a bad thing during the dog days in the middle of the season. It keeps players at all levels of the depth chart engaged and adds wrinkles opponents need to account for. Yet in the final weeks, the ball should be finding its way to the established difference-makers more frequently. Calling a run for Cordarrelle Patterson — the league's oldest running back — on third-and-3 near midfield as Smith did late in the first half makes little sense. Injuries Perhaps the most jarring thing about Pittsburgh's swoon is that the Steelers are generally healthy. Sure, they missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) against Kansas City, but the rest of the 21 starters on offense and defense were in the lineup. Key number 0. The number of opening-drive touchdowns scored by the Steelers this season. For a group that has trouble “warming up to the game” as Tomlin likes to say, consistently being put in a position to play from behind against quality teams such as the ones Pittsburgh will see in the playoffs is inadvisable. Next steps Rest up, heal up and try to find a way to restore some of its swagger ahead of a meeting with AFC North rival Cincinnati on the first weekend in January. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Will Graves, The Associated Press
Ravens' running game was crucial in a big win over the Chargers, especially on 4th downIn an exciting Saturday night matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers will aim to bounce back as they host the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers faced a tough 119-118 defeat against the Orlando Magic, marked by Franz Wagner's last-second three-pointer that ended Los Angeles's six-game winning streak. Despite the loss, Anthony Davis led the Lakers with an impressive 39 points and nine rebounds, while LeBron James added 31 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. The Nuggets ended their two-game losing streak with a 122-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, but the success was short-lived. On Friday night, they hosted the Dallas Mavericks, who extended their winning streak to four games with a 123-120 win against the Nuggets in an NBA Cup matchup. Despite the loss, Nikola Jokic had an impressive performance, leading the Nuggets with 33 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists. Get ready to watch the Lakers face off against the Nuggets in a game that's a must-watch for all basketball fans. It's a Saturday night game you won't want to miss! More: LeBron James is taking a break from social media. Why? Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers predictions ESPN : Lakers have a 63% chance to win According to ESPN's Matchup Predictor, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 63.5% chance to beat the Denver Nuggets. Action Network : Denver Nuggets Michael Arinze writes: "I have a lean toward the Nuggets as my model projects Denver closer to a 4-point underdog. The total is a complete pass for me after getting steamed from 229.5 up to as high as 233. I project a total of 232.9 points, so there's little value at the current number." Winners and Whiners : Los Angeles Lakers Staff writes: "The Lakers must be fired up to beat the Nuggets. Denver has been bullying Los Angeles lately, and I expect the Lakers to win this game. Should Nikola Jokic return, he will have to deal with Anthony Davis, who’s been unstoppable so far this season. Davis is tallying 31.3 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. LeBron James is playing well, too, and the Lakers’ offense has been outstanding thus far. With both teams struggling to defend, I expect the Lakers’ offense to make a difference. The Nuggets will have to deal with fatigue, coming off a tough home matchup against the Mavericks." Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers odds As of Nov. 23, according to BetMGM the Los Angeles Lakers are favorite to beat the Denver Nuggets. How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Stream the game: Catch Nuggets vs. Lakers with a Fubo subscription We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.NoneGOP Senators React To Matt Gaetz’s Withdrawal As Trump’s Nominee
New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Markets regulator Sebi on Friday proposed diversifying and widening the ownership of the clearing corporations, which are at present wholly-owned subsidiaries of stock exchanges. Sebi rules prohibit clearing corporations (CCs) from listing publicly but allow stock exchanges (their parent entities) to list, indirectly exposing CCs to market pressures. "While looking to broad base and diversify the ownership of CCs, it is important to ensure that such a transition is fair to all stakeholders (including to the current shareholders of the parent exchange) and causes minimal disruption to the capital markets ecosystem," Sebi said in its consultation paper. Considering this, one approach could be a pro-rata distribution of 49 per cent of shareholding of a CC to the existing shareholders of the parent exchange and the balance 51 per cent of shareholding would remain with the parent exchange to start with. The parent exchange could then be given 5 years to bring down this holding to 15 per cent or lower, by selling down their stake to other exchanges. This approach would mean that CCs would remain majority-owned by exchanges in line with the SECC norms. "Alternatively, the entire shareholding of a CC could be allotted to the existing shareholders of exchanges, who would then be free to trade their shares in the CC. This would allow for a clean break of the CC from its parent exchange, in a manner that is fair to the existing shareholders of the parent exchange," Sebi has proposed. Further, it has been suggested that CCs will continue to be prohibited from listing. Jyoti Prakash Gadia - Managing Director at Resurgent India, a Sebi-registered merchant bank, said the discussion paper correctly highlights the fact that with the widening and steep growth of the capital markets, the role of clearing corporations should be to function independently without any conflict of interest or bias in favour of the parent stock exchange. Two divergent propositions have been proposed to spread and widen the shareholding of the CCs. Additionally, the regulator has suggested CCs should operate as profit-making public utilities, reinvesting in technology, infrastructure, and risk management. Besides, fee structures should remain reasonable without increasing costs for investors. The regulator has suggested encouraging multi-asset CCs while maintaining multiple CCs to reduce reliance on a single entity and enhance systemic resilience. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has sought public comments on these proposals by December 13. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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