The Australian sharemarket is tipped to open stronger after a quiet post-holiday session on Wall Street, where the latest data on jobless claims did little to change the minds of investors on where interest rates are headed next. The ASX 200 futures were up 0.2 per cent to 8,217 points as of 7.50 AEDT, while the Australian dollar was down 0.3 per cent to 62.19 US cents. Overnight, US stocks struggled to gain traction after a rally that sent the S&P 500 to its best Christmas Eve performance since 1974, according to data compiled by Bespoke Investment Group. With major European markets closed, volume in the US equity gauge was well below the average of the past month. US stocks are upbeat going into the new year, but volatility could be just around the corner. Credit: Bloomberg The S&P 500 hovered near 6,043 points, while the Nasdaq edged up 0.1 per cent to 20,055 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed. Most megacaps fell, though Apple outperformed after a bullish note from Wedbush. GameStop rallied after an X post from Keith Gill, the online persona known as Roaring Kitty. Wall Street took the latest economic data in its stride. Recurring applications for US unemployment benefits rose to the highest in more than three years, adding to signs that it is taking longer for out-of-work people to find a job. Initial claims, meanwhile, ticked down to 219,000 in the week ended December 21. “Eco data is a non-event until we move into the new year,” said Kenny Polcari at SlateStone Wealth. “Christmas is behind us, but the New Year is ahead of us. Volumes will remain muted.” To Jonathan Krinsky at BTIG, the market can continue to make upside progress into year-end, hitting a fresh all-time high for the S&P 500 above 6,100. Looking ahead to January, however, he thinks volatility will re-emerge. “If the S&P 500 does make new highs, there are going to be massive divergences in breadth and momentum, which is another red flag as we get into January,” he noted. The yield on 10-year Treasuries dropped one basis point to 4.58 per cent. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1 per cent. Bitcoin sank as traders reduced their risk exposure after a record-breaking run. Spot gold was up 0.8 per cent to $US2,634/ounce on thin trade. The precious metal has jumped 28 per cent this year, supported by monetary easing in the US, safe-haven demand and sustained buying by the world’s central banks. Meanwhile, Brent crude price slipped 0.6 per cent to $US73.12/barrel on news that US crude exports to China had slipped by almost half this year as shifts in the nation’s economy weighed on demand, and it bought more barrels from other countries, including Russia and Iran. With assistance from Omar El Chmouri and Aya Wagatsuma. Bloomberg L.P. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Markets Live Wall Street SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Fund Most Viewed in Business LoadingHow Proofpoint Is Redefining Cyber Threat Defense
DENVER (AP) — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's “America’s Got Talent” meets “American Idol,” with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it’s never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at “Dream Team” status given the men’s side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023 . The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. “We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport,” said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. “We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world.” Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores . “Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That’s something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok , the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado’s two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. “If a receiver is running around, I’m thinking, ‘OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,’” Daniels explained. “They’re like, ‘No, you can’t.’ I’m just like, ‘So I’m supposed to let this guy just run?!’ I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn.” The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. “I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. “I’m not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, ‘I played NFL football for five years. I’m popular. I have a huge name.’ I’m still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise.” Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It’s his way of working on avoiding a “defender” trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. “You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the ‘Redeem Team’ led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, ‘That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. “Everybody thinks, ‘Yeah, the U.S. just wins,’” Daniels said. “But we work hard all the time. We don’t just walk in. We don’t just get off the bus thinking, ‘We’re going to beat people.’” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.By Stephen Culp and Alden Bentley NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street closed mixed on Thursday and the U.S. benchmark Treasury yield eased after scaling the highest level since May in light, directionless post-Christmas trading. The dollar was flat, crude oil fell, and gold rose. The three U.S. stock indexes were all nearly unchanged, paring mild early declines and interrupting what looked early this week like a nascent “Santa Claus rally,” in which shares get a seasonal boost from low liquidity, tax-loss harvesting and investment of year-end bonuses. With only a handful of trading days remaining in the year, the Nasdaq, S&P 500 and the Dow have scored respective gains of 33%, 26% and 14% in 2024. The major concerns for 2025 are the extent of the Fed’s monetary easing, Trump’s tariffs and other policies, and various geopolitical tensions. New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits dipped to the lowest in a month last week, consistent with a cooling but still-healthy U.S. labor market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.07% to 43,325.80, the S&P 500 fell 0.04% to 6,037.59 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.05% to 20,020.357. “It’s light volume and now we are recovering some earlier losses due to some profit taking from Tuesday’s rally,” said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York. “I think we’re in the Santa Claus rally, with a little bit of a bump in the road here today, and it’s probably safe to say the year-end rally will continue.” MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe rose 0.06%, appearing on course to wrap up the year with a second consecutive annual gain of more than 17%, unfazed by escalating geopolitical tensions and economic headwinds. Japan’s Nikkei rose 1.12%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 0.14% lower but remained on track for a weekly gain. European markets were closed for a second straight day on Thursday while London traders got Boxing Day off. The Federal Reserve’s less dovish messaging about lowering rates further next year, weighed on Treasuries and helped elevate the 10-year yield to its highest since early May. It peaked at 4.641, gaining steadily from around 4.10% early this month. “We’re probably on the way to 4.75% to 5.0% on the 10-year note and the reason for that is that the bond market is full of uncertainties, while the stock market is full of enthusiasm,” Cardillo said. “The bond market is projecting a hawkish Fed going into probably the first half of the year.” Strong interest in a Treasury auction of seven-year notes spilled over in the afternoon, nudging the benchmark yield back down to 4.581%, down 0.6 basis point from late Tuesday. The 2-year note yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, was flat at 4.33%. Likewise the dollar index, a basket of six currencies heavily weighted by the euro and yen, loosely tracked bond yields to stand unchanged late Thursday. The euro went up 0.15% to $1.042 and dollar/yen was up 0.38% at 158.00, having hit the highest since mid July at 158.08. Oil gave up earlier gains due to China stimulus hopes and an industry report showing lower U.S. inventories. U.S. crude fell 0.7% to $69.61 a barrel and Brent fell to $73.22 per barrel, down 0.49% on the day. Gold advanced on safe-haven demand as investors awaited further signals on the U.S. economy’s health. Spot gold rose 0.79% to $2,633.77 an ounce. U.S. gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,627.90 an ounce. In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin fell 3.14% to $95,334.00. Ethereum declined 4.42% to $3,311.70. (Reporting by Stephen Culp; Additional reporting by Alden Bentley; Editing by Richard Chang and Chris Reese) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. 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Membership of Britain's upstart anti-immigration Reform UK party has overtaken that of the centre-right Conservative Party for the first time, the party said Thursday, as Tories disputed the numbers. Party leader and Brexit figurehead Nigel Farage hailed the figure as a "historic moment". Immigration was a major issue at the ballot box at the UK's July general election which saw the Conservatives ousted after 14 years in power. The digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the main opposition Conservatives during its leadership election earlier this year. "The youngest political party in British politics has just overtaken the oldest political party in the world," wrote Farage on X. "Reform UK are now the real opposition." Party chairman Zia Yusuf said the milestone showed the long "stranglehold on the centre-right of British politics by the Tories has finally been broken". The last declared Conservative Party tally was the lowest on record and a drop on 2022, when there were around 172,000 members. New Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, however, questioned the figures, accusing Farage of "fakery". She said Reform's counter was "coded to tick up automatically". Farage responded by saying he would "gladly invite" a firm to "audit our membership numbers" if the Tories did the same. Reform won five seats in the 650-seat UK parliament in July, though it received roughly 14 percent of total votes cast. Reform maximised the damage to the Conservatives by splitting the right-wing vote and picking up former Tory supporters in key constituencies. The Labour Party won by a landslide although Prime Minister Keir Starmer has had a bumpy first five months in power. An Ipsos opinion poll this month found that 53 percent of Britons said they were "disappointed" in what the Labour government had achieved so far. British politics has been dominated by the two main parties -- Labour and the Conservatives -- for decades but commentators have warned that major parties have seen irreversible downturns in their popularity in the past. In the years after World War I, a divided Liberal Party found itself supplanted by the Labour Party as the main opposition. The party of 19th-century political giant William Gladstone and World War I leader David Lloyd George never again regained its status as a party of government. Farage, a supporter of US President-elect Donald Trump, said earlier this month that he was in talks with tech billionaire Elon Musk about donating to his hard-right party. har/jsMotion Control Software In Robotics Market in 2024: Intelligent Automation Platforms In Enhancing Robotic PerformanceCowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown could miss 2025 season after latest knee injury, coach says
In 2010, which was the last time the Washington Nationals had the No. 1 overall draft pick, they took Bryce Harper . In 2025, the Nationals are now heading toward the top pick again after winning baseball’s Draft Lottery on Tuesday. With a 71-91 record last season, the Nationals came into the lottery with a 10.2-percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick, the fourth-best odds in the league. They will pick No. 1 overall for the first time since they took Harper with their second of consecutive No. 1 picks (they also picked No. 1 overall in 2009 and took Stephen Strasburg). #1 PICK BABY LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!! — Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 10, 2024 The Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals were the other big winners of the draft lottery. The Mariners had the 15th-best record in baseball last season and the Cardinals the 13th best, but they will pick No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, in next year’s draft. The Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies each had a 22.45-percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick — the best odds in the lottery — but each fell outside of the top three. The Rockies will pick fourth and the Marlins seventh. Advertisement The draft is seven months away, and there is currently no standout, consensus top prospect in the class according to The Athletic’s scouting expert Keith Law. “The top of the 2025 draft looks extremely weak right now,” Law wrote. “Not only is there no runaway 1-1 candidate like a Bryce Harper or a Stephen Strasburg, the guys who might be at the top of a ranking or a pref list currently are all flawed in some way that in most years would eliminate them from 1-1 contention.” Texas A&M outfielder Jace Laviolette, Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold, and Oklahoma high school third baseman Ethan Holliday — the brother of Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday — are among the most notable names, but none has a set of can’t-miss tools. Laviolette strikes out a lot, Arnold is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, and Holliday doesn’t have elite defensive value. Ethan Holliday (25 OK) doing what No. 1 players in the class do: hitting a 🚀 grand slam into the night. Ball was still soaring when it went out; excellent hitting tools & explodes onto this one. #GoPokes commit. #WWBA @PGMidwestBB pic.twitter.com/wdfbj5pkoc — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 23, 2024 “That could mean there’s an opportunity for someone who comes out strongly this spring,” Law wrote. He noted Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella, Indiana outfielder Devin Taylor, and UC-Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner as players who could rise to the top of draft boards with strong performances next year. Here is the complete first-round draft order for 2025: (Top photo: Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
If you're shopping for a new TV, chances are high that you'll be split between OLED and QLED models . That's because both panel display types offer noticeable differences and distinct qualities, as we'll break down below. In a snapshot, QLED (Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode) TVs present brighter images than standard LCD TVs. This is because QLED TVs build on LED technology by integrating proprietary software with LED backlighting. The layered nature of a QLED-built TV also eliminates the risk of burn-in, or lingering/permanent visible images. The way QLED TVs are constructed is fundamentally closer to that of LCD TVs, which are the most common type on the market. Because their main advantage is enhanced brightness, QLEDs are ideal in living rooms and well-lit environments. Generally speaking, QLEDs are cheaper and come in a broader array of sizes, both larger and smaller, than OLEDs. Also: Neo QLED vs OLED: Which technology is right for you? OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) TVs, on the other hand, do not use backlighting systems. Instead, millions of individual self-illuminating pixels create a virtually blur-free picture, no matter your viewing angle. Each pixel has its own LED bulb that can dim for enhanced contrast or shut off completely to create a true black. This also translates to high fidelity and uniformity across the screen, even if you're sitting to the far left or right in relation to it. OLED technology is considered "emissive," meaning each pixel emits its own light (vs. "transmissive" QLEDs, which rely on an LED backlight). This means each unused subpixel can turn off completely. Combined with no need for backlighting, this makes OLEDs more energy-efficient than QLEDs. Based on the OLED TVs we've tested , they offer better picture quality, including higher contrast, truer color accuracy, and deeper blacks than QLEDs. However, what works best for you might depend on your viewing environment and user needs. Following are some thoughts to consider before buying an OLED TV over a QLED TV -- and vice versa! Also: LG's G4 OLED TV is my pick for best picture quality, and it's $800 off for the holiday season You should buy an OLED TV if... Samsung S95D OLED TV at CES No matter where you're sitting in relation to an OLED TV screen, you'll most likely be able to see what's happening. An OLED TV, like the Samsung S95D (our 55-inch pick of the best OLED TVs ), has wide viewing angles and enhanced color contrast. Also: The best OLED TVs (and why they're so expensive) The Samsung S95D OLED, for example, has about 8.3 million self-illuminating pixels that can dim or switch off completely, creating deep colors and cinematic contrast. The latest OLED models also feature AI-powered processors that set the stage for enhanced audio-visual performance, pixel by pixel, beat by beat. Forget the expensive monitor -- the LG C4 65-inch OLED TV and other OLED TVs like it are multifunctional and can help with your gaming needs too . The LG C4, in particular, has a game optimizer mode with Nvidia G-Sync, which has a high refresh rate, FreeSync Premium, for tear- and stutter-free gaming, and a Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), a refresh rate that automatically delivers video frames as quickly as possible. Loaded with ports, it has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium VRR, three USB ports, and an Ethernet port, so you can connect it to whatever you need. OLED TVs are at their best in darker rooms to show off their rich contrast capabilities. If you're looking for a TV for a home theater or for primarily nighttime viewing, OLED is the way to go. You'll be able to better see content with darker backgrounds and have better picture quality overall. Also: Samsung's S90C OLED TV is one of my top TV picks for the holidays and it's 22% off The only problem to consider with OLED picture quality is image retention or burn-in. That's when the TV has an afterimage on it that lingers or is permanent because its pixels are in constant use. To enjoy the OLED contrast and picture quality without burn-in, turn off your TV periodically. Remember that manufacturers have incorporated preventative measures into recent OLED TVs like the LG evo C4 and that leading companies are committed to reliability . Make sure to choose a recent OLED TV if you decide to purchase one. You should buy a QLED TV if... Samsung 85-inch Class QN800 Neo QLED 8K TV OLED TVs look good in dark rooms or home theaters, so the contrast pops, while QLED TVs look especially good in sunlit rooms or near windows. A QLED TV like the $500 TCL Q7 Q-Class QLED TV has high brightness levels so you can view your show of choice no matter what time of day it is. Also: The best QLED TVs of 2024 TVs aren't as important to some people as they are to others. You could be in the market for a less expensive TV due to budgetary constraints or because you won't use it constantly -- in that case, a QLED TV will work better for your needs than an OLED TV. OLED models can come with a hefty price tag, like the LG M4 Wireless (our best big-screen OLED TV pick ), which costs $4,500. By contrast, the comparably sized 65-inch Samsung QN90C Smart Tizen QLED TV is $1,400. If the look of a typical TV doesn't fit well with your decor, consider this: a QLED TV that blends well with the rest of your room and looks like a picture frame. When you turn it off, it displays pictures of your family or friends or works of art on rotation. Samsung's popular The Frame QLED TV does just that, and for some of us, that's enough reason to get a QLED TV over an OLED TV. Alternatives to consider Open to other QLED or OLED prospects? Consider these ZDNET-recommended TVs: Why I pick this ultraportable Lenovo tablet over the iPad Air for multimedia consumption I tested the new Kindle Scribe for two weeks, and it beat my ReMarkable in several ways One of the best QLED TVs I've tested isn't made by Samsung or Hisense These Beyerdynamic earbuds delivered glorious sound for any kind of music I playedNone