777 gcash
777 gcash

IonQ Stock Swings Amid Bullish Analyst Calls As Retail Investors Eye Quantum Computing’s Short-Term Challenges
December 19, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Suzi Morales, University of Texas at Austin Stock investments by politicians have long drawn public scrutiny. Under a 2012 law , members of the U.S. Congress must disclose transactions over a $1,000 threshold. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle were criticized for trading in everything from remote work technologies to telemedicine. But less attention has been paid to what companies might gain from having politicians as shareholders. New research from Texas McCombs finds one indirect benefit: It might insulate companies from activist investors such as Carl Icahn or Nelson Peltz, who press for changes in their operations to drive up stock prices. Timothy Werner, professor of business, government, and society, found that having shareholders who are Democratic members of Congress tends to discourage such investors. Typically, he says, "An activist investor 's main strategy is to come into a firm, cut costs, and effect changes in the hopes of quickly driving up shareholder value or stock price. Then, they sell and exit the firm." Often, their cuts include corporate social responsibility (CSR) or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs. Democratic politicians are more likely to be concerned about such initiatives, whether because of their own ideological bents or because they want to appear associated with companies that support such causes. Activist investors can find out whether Democratic politicos are shareholders from public investment disclosures, as well as websites and social media feeds that track politicians' investments. They'll tend to steer away from such companies, Werner theorized, to avoid public battles with Democrats, who are more likely to fight cuts to CSR and ESG. "If you look nationwide, if you look at the most recent presidential campaign, there's been a real emergence of a partisan divide around corporate social responsibility and ESG," Werner says. To test his theory, with co-authors Mark DesJardine of Dartmouth College and Wei Shi of the University of Miami, Werner looked at data on politicians' investments in S&P 1500 companies from 2004 to 2018. He correlated them with challenges to those companies by activist investors. " Shareholder Activism and the Deterrence Effect of Democratic Politician Shareholders " is published in Organization Science . The researchers found: Having even one Democratic politician as a shareholder decreased the likelihood of an activist challenge 10%. The presence of a highly prominent Democrat reduced these chances further. So did the presence of a more Democratic-leaning board of directors. The research did not find an effect from having Republican politicians as shareholders, Werner says, because they tend to be less interested in regulating businesses and less likely to scare off financial activists. His findings don't mean that companies should court individual lawmakers to invest, he says. That would invite ethical concerns and public scrutiny. It's safer to stick with traditional relationship-building efforts, such as lobbying. Is the Democratic deterrence effect helpful for average investors? Werner says it depends on their financial and ideological goals. Some don't want to dissuade activist investors, because they can encourage fiscal discipline and boost stock prices in the short run. But an investor who cares about CSR and ESG may welcome the effect, he says. "If someone's thinking about the social and environmental performance as well, and they're willing to make a trade-off in terms of financial gain, they might be happy to see these folks deterred." More information: Mark R. DesJardine et al, Shareholder Activism and the Deterrence Effect of Democratic Politician Shareholders, Organization Science (2024). DOI: 10.1287/orsc.2023.17495 Journal information: Organization Science Provided by University of Texas at AustinJosh Allen’s Bills offensive line gifted him an ‘MVP’ chain — even though he hasn’t won award yetFox News Sports Huddle Newsletter: A look back at how transgenderism in women's sports impacted the election
Published 3:36 pm Saturday, December 28, 2024 By Staff Reports At U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 29, the Minnesota Vikings face the Green Bay Packers, beginning at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Vikings should win, based on our computer model — continue scrolling to discover more tips about the point spread, over/under and even the final score. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. The Vikings rank 12th in total offense (346.3 yards per game) and 16th in total defense (335.8 yards allowed per game) this year. The Packers’ offense has been excelling, compiling 377.7 total yards per game (fourth-best) this season. On defense, they rank sixth by surrendering 312.1 total yards per game. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website. The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, about 150 miles north of Sacramento. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. Ishar Gill, a son of the store owner, said the winning ticket was “a blessing” for the small rural town of roughly 6,000 people. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known. “We don’t have the slightest clue of who may have won it or who may have sold it,” Gill told The Associated Press. “But congratulations to the winner.” The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million. Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grew. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was Sept. 10. The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery have been larger. Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico. Mega Millions ticket prices are set to rise from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.
Predictive Safety Announces Partnership with DISA Global Solutions
The year 2025 will see a new era in home entertainment, with more advanced Hi-Fi and home cinema systems redefining how we enjoy music and movies. Cutting-edge technology has created immersive audio-visual experiences boasting breathtaking visuals and profound soundscapes. As the next generation of home entertainment equipment emerges, get ready to elevate your leisure time to unprecedented heights. Smarter audio systems for added sound technology will focus more on integrity and intelligence in 2025. Higher-fidelity audio systems will use AI to balance sound quality and room acoustics. Driven by consumer demand for smarter, more immersive systems, the latest market data shows that global Hi-Fi audio market growth is expected to accelerate at 11.2% annually. Promising to immerse listeners in a 360-degree soundscape, companies such as Sony and Bang & Olufsen are developing sound systems that offer spatial audio. This blurs the lines between home listening and live events, making every song or soundtrack lifelike. Visual technology will also make a more-than-notable step in the home theatre space in 2025. Noteworthy improvements will be led by higher resolution and unparalleled color richness, spearheaded by OLED and micro-LED display technologies. The "Crystal Vision" 8K from LG, which boasts AI-enhanced images and cinema experiences without a match with its ultra-thin form, is among the most anticipated devices. Market analysts claim that mostly thanks to advancements of this sort, consumer interest in 8K home entertainment systems will grow by about 20% over three years. The company is also rumored to introduce a home theatre product based on Quantum Dot for better and more vibrant color representation. This will depict rising requirements for visually immersive solutions, turning homes into personal theaters. One of the trends in 2025 would be the interaction of smart home gadgets and Hi-Fi. Many coming Hi-Fi devices are compatible with virtual assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant , allowing easy control over audio-visual configurations. Also promising improved accessibility are smart technologies, which let users run systems hands-free using voice-activated tools. Experts say more than forty percent of homes will invest in home entertainment by 2025 in items that offer immersive audio-visual experiences. It's a break-out year for Hi-Fi and home cinema , as leading businesses focus on bringing together modern technology with user-friendly design. From lifelike soundscapes to theatre-grade images, the impending releases will immensely interest readers who demand quality and imagination. It is the era when home entertainment competition, if not surpassing, definitely overtakes traditional provisions.
Marsh & McLennan Cos. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors
Excerpts from Singh’s 1991 budget addressWINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is looking to bring in tougher penalties for people who are convicted of impaired driving offences that cause injury or death. A bill introduced in the legislature Thursday would impose a lifetime licence suspension on a driver convicted of two such offences within a 10-year period. That’s an increase from the current 10-year suspension. The bill would also prohibit people convicted of these offences from driving with any alcohol in their blood for seven years for a first offence. “The consequences of driving impaired are tragic — for the victims for the families and the survivors,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Thursday. “Ten per cent of collisions in Manitoba have impaired driving as a contributing factor, and enough is enough.” The bill was introduced on the last day of the fall legislature sitting and is expected to be debated after politicians reconvene March 5. The bill was welcomed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, known as MADD. “We recognize that there is no one single piece of legislation that will solve impaired driving, and we welcome the government taking steps to deal with those offenders who cause the most serious harm,” said Tanya Hansen Pratt, president of MADD Canada. Pratt’s mother was killed by an impaired driver. The bill was introduced on the last day of a three-week session that frequently saw tensions rise between the governing New Democrats and Opposition Progressive Conservatives. Tom Lindsey, the legislature Speaker, scolded both sides of the house Thursday for over-the-top heckling and other behaviour. On Thursday, just after proceedings recessed for lunch, New Democrat cabinet minister Tracy Schmidt crossed the floor and confronted the Tories. The Tories accused her of aggressively accosting one member, standing over him and pointing her finger down at him while telling him he should not be in the chamber. “The language that was used, from a minister of the Crown, I’ve never seen anything like it. It was awful,” said Grant Jackson, the Tory education critic. He did not provide details or identify which of his colleagues was confronted by Schmidt. Schmidt, the environment minister who is also temporarily filling in as acting education minister, told reporters she went over to the Tory side because she had heard what she considered a racist comment toward the end of the morning debate. “I walked over to the member ... and said to the member that I felt that his comments were racist and I encouraged him sincerely to apologize,” Schmidt told reporters. Schmidt did not say what the comments were or identify the Tory she confronted. “I was immediately surrounded by several male members of their caucus who started shouting at me and telling me to get out of there, and so I got out of there.” Mark Wasyliw, an independent legislature member who was kicked out of the NDP caucus earlier this year, posted on social media that an NDP cabinet minister “lost control” and had a “face-to-face rage-filled direct confrontation” with a Tory. There have been other signs in recent weeks that the Tories and NDP are not getting along. The Tories did not support an attempt by the NDP to quickly set up an all-party committee to examine public support for journalism, saying that the NDP idea has many unanswered questions. The New Democrats have not supported a Tory call for an all-party committee on the issue of trade with the United States and tariff threats by president-elect Donald Trump. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024.How to watch Lions vs. Packers NFL Week 14 game on Prime Video: Time, FREE live stream
Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.
Congress Belagavi meet demands caste census, opposes simultaneous pollsNone