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Cardinals are average through 12 games and the frustration is it feels as if they could be better
DALLAS (AP) — The Washington Nationals will have the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft next summer after winning the lottery in a drawing of ping-pong balls at the winter meetings Tuesday. Unlike last year, when the Nationals were ineligible after initially coming out with the top spot, they will get to make the first pick in July in Atlanta, the site of the All-Star Game. Washington was ineligible for a top-six pick last year because the collective bargaining agreement states a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan cannot have a lottery selection in back-to-back years. The Nationals chose outfielder Dylan Crews with the No. 2 pick in 2023. The Los Angeles Angels have the second pick for next summer. Seattle, Colorado, St. Louis and Pittsburgh round out the top six. A weighted lottery among the 18 teams that failed to make the playoffs this season determined the order of picks for the third year in a row. The Nationals went in with a 10.2% chance, the fourth-best odds, for getting the No. 1 pick. Colorado and Miami, both 100-loss teams, had the best odds at 22.45%, ahead of the Angels at 17.96%. Miami instead ended up with the seventh pick. Seattle got the No. 3 overall pick after having a 0.53% chance to get the No. 1 pick, the second-worst odds among 16 eligible teams. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox, who had the most losses of any major league club since 1900, were not eligible for the draft lottery since they had one of the top six picks last year (No. 5) and is a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan. The CBA also doesn’t allow teams that receive money in revenue sharing to have lottery picks three years in a row. That made the Athletics (69-93) ineligible for the lottery — they picked fourth last year after having the No. 6 selection in 2023. Chicago instead got the 10th pick, one spot ahead of Oakland — the highest possible positions for those two teams because of their recent lottery picks. ___ AP MLB:While it’s nice to have a competitive football team in our nation’s capital again, even “feel-good” teams like the Washington Commanders have their share of naughty moments. Naughty: Washington trolls After committing five turnovers against Philadelphia on Sunday, Washington entered the fourth quarter down 13 points, only to score 22 points in the final frame, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to WR Jamison Crowder with six seconds left to win the game. Ordinarily, a 36-33 upset victory over the Eagles team would have landed the Commanders on the “Nice List” if not for Washington’s postgame social media activity . e-a-g-L-e-s pic.twitter.com/9P78c8bLSQ Nice: Sunday’s game Poor sportsmanship aside, Washington’s improbable win over Philadelphia was a game that Commanders fans will remember for years. It was the team’s third consecutive win and officially eliminated the rival Dallas Cowboys from playoff contention. Meanwhile, Washington all but assured a spot in the playoffs where they’re likely to face the Eagles once again, according to ESPN’s “Playoff Machine” feature . Naughty: Marshon Lattimore The Commanders traded third, fourth and sixth-round picks to get Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints, but a hamstring injury kept the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback on the sidelines, and Washington lost three of its next four games. Lattimore debuted against his old team in Week 15 and looked good against Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown on Sunday. However, he had two costly pass interference penalties in the third quarter before leaving the game with another hamstring injury. The team can release Lattimore in the offseason with no dead money on its salary cap but that’s highly unlikely for a team that gave up a league-worst 262.2 passing yards per game last season. Nice: The Hail Mary Trailing the Bears 15-12 with 25 seconds left in Week 8, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed a trio of short passes before sending a 52-yard prayer toward the end zone as time expired. JAYDEN DANIELS WITH A HAIL MARY TO BEAT THE BEARS AS TIME EXPIRES WHAT HAVE WE JUST WITNESSED?!?!?! (via @NFL ) pic.twitter.com/xuSQsWlODR While the ball didn’t quite reach the goal line, it bounced off the outstretched hands of Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and into the arms of Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown, giving Washington an 18-15 victory. Ironically, Daniels never saw the catch. “I just heard people screaming and our sideline rushing the field. That’s how I knew,” said Daniels . “That’s kind of like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not too many people get to experience stuff like that.” Naughty: Emmanuel Forbes The Commanders had high hopes for Forbes when they selected him 16th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but less than two years later, in Week 13, Washington cut ties with the 23-year-old cornerback. Washington took Forbes one spot ahead of Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez, playing at a Pro Bowl level despite missing his rookie season with a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, Forbes had seven starts in 20 appearances as a Commander. Nice: The RFK site Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill allowing the federal government to lease more than 170 acres of land to the district at the site where RFK Stadium resides and where Commanders' ownership would like to build a new stadium. The NFL called the surprise vote "an important breakthrough" in a statement : "Washington, D.C., will now have a long-overdue seat at the table when it comes to the location of a new Commanders stadium." While nothing is guaranteed, the move dramatically increases the chances of the Commanders building a new stadium on the site.
With the new year coming in, there is also something else inching closer, and that is the shortfall of Social Security. As a fear that has been building up for decades, the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees confirmed it this year when they released a report detailing the current and projected financial status of the two programs each year, and the outlook is not great. Considering this, it is not surprising that according to a Nationwide survey 84% of Americans aged 60 to 65 fear that their benefits will be cut. Another paralyzing fear this group of surveyed individuals have is inflation, which is a natural response to the impact it has had on their finances in the last few years. This is compounded by the fact that many seniors are dependent at least in some way on Social Security benefits, as for most it is a large part of their income, and for many the sole income they have. This dependence on assistance makes reports like the one that came out this year even scarier, as they do not paint a pretty picture. The shortfall of Social Security, a sure thing? Nothing is a sure thing in life, but the current state of the system is not promising. Social Security’s primary source of revenue is the money it collects in payroll taxes, which are supplemented by the money stored in the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund to pay out the full extent of the benefits that the program sustains today. Since payroll taxes will keep coming in for the foreseeable future, a part of the program will be active for as long as this happens. The problem is that there are a lot more beneficiaries coming into the program than workers replacing them, especially at the contribution level of those leaving the workforce. This is where the Trust Funds come into play. For years now the Trust Funds have been making up the difference between the payroll taxes and the benefits paid out, but these are also running out of money and there is no plan in place to replenish them, with the consequence that program may have to cut benefits if no solutions are put in place. According to the report “The OASI Trust Fund will be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033, unchanged from last year’s report. At that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 79 percent of scheduled benefits. The DI Trust Fund is projected to be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits through at least 2098, the last year of this report’s projection period. Last year’s report projected that the DI Trust Fund would be able to pay scheduled benefits through at least 2097, the last year of that report’s projection period. If the OASI Trust Fund and the DI Trust Fund projections are combined, the resulting projected fund (designated OASDI) would be able to pay 100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2035, one year later than reported last year. At that time, the projected fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing total fund income will be sufficient to pay 83 percent of scheduled benefits .” These numbers explain the panic that many Americans are going through, but this is not the first time the program has been under peril. Lawmakers have the power to change some of the funding strategies and policies that would shore up the program for generations to come, but no agreement has been reached yet, as both sides of the political aisle seem to be in conflict about how to save the program. While waiting for a solution may be tempting, the best course of action for future retirees is to make their retirement savings a priority by maxing out retirement plans, including catch-up contributions and squirreling away as much as possible in savings.
TEHRAN- The underground city of Samen in Malayer, Hamedan province, is poised for tourism enhancement, the provincial tourism chief has said. The Samen underground city holds significant tourism potential for both Malayer and the surrounding region, Mohsen Masoum Alizadeh said on Saturday, CHTN reported. With government support and its growing popularity during Nowruz celebrations in recent years, this unique destination has sparked a renaissance in Hamadan's tourism sector, ranking it among the five most-visited attractions in the province, he added. He also highlighted that this remarkable underground site attracts over 200,000 domestic and international tourists each year. Samen subterranean settlement has 25 rock-carved rooms, interlinked tunnels, and corridors. The subterranean complex appears to have been first used for religious purposes, then as a cemetery, and finally as a shelter during emergencies. The underground complex, located 400 km west of Tehran, is believed to be built sometime between the fall of the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BC) and the early Parthian era (247 BC-224 CE). Excavations at the site began in 2005 and are still going on. So far tens of well-preserved skeletons have been retrieved from its interconnected chambers. Iran is a haven for ancient troglodytic architecture which is somewhat forgotten though they are filled with life and creativity. The northwest Kandovan village is one of the most famous examples of troglodytic architecture in the country; its ice-cream cone-shaped homes resemble that of Turkey’s Cappadocia. In October 2018, the country hosted the 3rd International Troglodytic Architecture Conference in which tens of experts, researchers, and academia discussed troglodyte-associated architecture, culture, and technology. Known in classical times as Ecbatana, Hamedan was one of the ancient world’s greatest cities. Pitifully little remains from antiquity, but significant parts of the city center are given over to excavations. Ecbatana was the capital of Media and subsequently a summer residence of the Achaemenian kings who ruled Persia from 553 to 330 BC. Hamadan has had many names: it was possibly the Bit Daiukki of the Assyrians, Hangmatana, or Agbatana, to the Medes, and Ecbatana to the Greeks. One of the Median capitals, under Cyrus II (the Great; died 529 BC) and later Achaemenian rulers, it was the site of a royal summer palace. About 1220, Hamedan was destroyed by the Mongols. In 1386 it was sacked by Timur (Tamerlane), a Turkic conqueror, and the inhabitants were massacred. It was partly restored in the 17th century and subsequently changed hands often between Iranian ruling houses and the Ottomans. Sitting on a high plain, Hamedan is graciously cool in August but snow prone and freezing from December to March. In summer the air is often hazy. Ali Sadr cave, Ganjnameh inscriptions, Avicenna Mausoleum, Hegmataneh hill, Alaviyan dome, Jameh mosque, and St. Stephanos Gregorian Church are amongst Hamedan’s attractions to name a few. SAB/TEHRAN – Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, held a meeting with Cong Peiwu, the Chinese Ambassador to Iran. According to Iranian media, the two officials reiterated the enduring relationship between Iran and China and discussed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations. This high-profile dialogue underscores the growing significance of Tehran-Beijing relations in an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape. The meeting followed a noteworthy discussion three days earlier between Ambassador Cong and Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, where the two officials explored various aspects of Tehran-Beijing relations, including cooperation on international issues and strategic interactions. Larijani, a seasoned politician and former Speaker of the Parliament, has played a prominent role in shaping Iran's relationship with China. In 2019, he visited China to discuss the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations, emphasizing Iran's role in China's Belt and Road Initiative along with political, security, and economic cooperation. Larijani was subsequently tasked by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, to negotiate and manage the 25-year strategic agreement with China, concluding his role in this capacity in 2021 when the pact was signed. The agreement aims to strengthen economic ties, particularly in the energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors, with China committing to substantial investments in Iran's development projects.( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE, DE, UNITED STATES, December 24, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- According to a recent report published by Allied market Research, titled,“Veterinary Software Market by Product Type, Deployment, Type, Practice Type, and End User: Opportunity Analysis and industry Forecast, 2020-2027,” The global veterinary software market size was valued at $1.31 billion in 2019, and is projected to reach $2.08 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020 to 2027. Get Research Report Sample Pages : Veterinary software is mainly used to manage and streamline the operations in veterinary and equine practices, clinics, hospitals, and laboratories. They provide functionalities such as automated billing, appointment scheduling, reminders, patient records management, inventory management, and more. Factors such as rise in companion animal ownership, increase in awareness regarding animal healthcare, rise in spending on animal welfare initiatives, growing adoption of advanced technologies in veterinary industry across the world are driving the demand of global veterinary software market. The exclusive small animal practices segment is anticipated to hold the majority of the veterinary software market share in 2027 due to large number of companion animal owners, increasing popularity of pet keeping, rise in awareness of pet health, and large number of small animal practice clinics/hospitals across the world. The veterinary practice management software accounted for the highest share among product type segment in veterinary software industry in 2019. This is attributed to the increasing need for streamlining the day-to-day operations in the veterinary clinic or hospitals. Further, requirement for automating appointment scheduling, online payment integration, invoicing, inventory management, imagery records management are also influencing the need for this software. As per region, the global veterinary software market size was dominated by North America in 2019 and is expected to maintain this trend during the forecast period. Factors such as presence of leading companies designing veterinary software in North America and majority of digitalization adoption in animal healthcare sector in this region are the major drivers for the veterinary software market growth in this region. In addition, rise in demand for veterinary practice management solutions is propelling the growth in this region. Procure Complete Research Report Now : /purchase-options Although lockdown has been enforced in majority of the countries around the world, the healthcare industry is expected to remain operational, as it is considered under essential services. With alarming increase in cases of coronavirus in 2020, many players have adopted various business and marketing strategies. For instance, in March 2020, IDEXX launched the series of webinars featuring practice managers and owners discussing strategies and real-world tactics to help veterinarians respond and deliver continued care during COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the key vendors in the veterinary software market are witnessing increased revenue due to spike in demand for veterinary practice management solutions. Key Findings Of The Study : By product type, the veterinary practice management segment accounted for highest share in 2019. On the basis of veterinary software deployment, the cloud segment is expected to witness highest CAGR during the forecast period. Depending on type, the integrated software segment accounted for the highest veterinary software market size in 2019. As per practice type, the exclusive small animal practices segment is anticipated to exhibit highest growth during the forecast period. In terms of end user segment, hospitals/clinics held the largest share in veterinary software market in 2019. Region wise, North America accounted for the highest revenue in 2019; however, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit highest growth during the veterinary software market forecast period. Inquire Before Buying : The global veterinary software market analysis includes some of the key market players such as Animal Intelligence Software, Inc., ClienTrax, Covetrus, Inc., Hippo Manager Software Inc., IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., MWI Animal Health, Patterson Companies Inc., Petabyte Technology, Three Plus Group, Timeless Veterinary Systems, Vetspire, Inc., Vetter Software, Inc., VetZ GmbH, and VIA Information Systems. Read More Reports : Revenue Management Market Mobile Content Market E-passport Market Cricket Analysis Software Market Business Process Management Market Influencer Marketing Market About us : Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Wilmington, Delaware. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. David Correa Allied Market Research +1 800-792-5285 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN23122024003118003196ID1109025461 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Tipu Sultan a "very complex figure in history," says EAM S JaishankarArkansas visits skidding Miami in battle of veteran coaches
gilaxia/E+ via Getty Images The financial markets were sent into turmoil this past week when the Federal Reserve announced that it was cutting interest rates by 25 basis points, yet adjusting its dot plot to signal that they would likely If you want access to our Portfolios that have crushed the market since inception and all our current Top Picks, join us for a 2-week free trial at High Yield Investor. We are the fastest growing high yield-seeking investment service on Seeking Alpha with a perfect 5/5 rating from 180 reviews. Our members are profiting from our high-yielding strategies, and you can join them today at our lowest rate ever offered. You won't be charged a penny during the free trial, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Samuel Smith has a diverse background that includes being lead analyst and Vice President at several highly regarded dividend stock research firms and running his own dividend investing YouTube channel. He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering & Mathematics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has a Masters in Engineering from Texas A&M with a focus on applied mathematics and machine learning. Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group. Samuel teams up with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake where they focus on finding the right balance between safety, growth, yield, and value. High Yield Investor offers real-money core, retirement, and international portfolios. The service also features regular trade alerts, educational content, and an active chat room of like-minded investors. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of WPC, BEP, BIP, EPD, MPLX, GBDC, MSDL either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Aaron Rodgers celebrated his 41st birthday with the news he’s still the New York Jets’ starting quarterback. That’s hardly a surprise gift, but it ends some of the speculation that has been growing in recent days from some fans and media who were clamoring for change. “We have great belief in Aaron, we really do,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday. “And we think he gives us the best opportunity to win.” That’s why the Jets aren’t turning to Tyrod Taylor at this point. Or perhaps even giving practice squad QB Adrian Martinez, the UFL’s MVP last season, a long look. The locker room, from all indications, has remained positive despite the firings of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas a month later. And there’s still belief from his teammates that Rodgers can help them pull out some victories as the season hits the home stretch. “Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers,” linebacker Jamien Sherwood said. “At the end of the day, he’s still a Hall of Famer to all of us.” But victories have been few and far between for the struggling Jets, who fell to 3-9 on Sunday with a . It was New York’s third straight defeat and eighth in nine games. And it put the Jets perilously closer to the seemingly inevitable reality that they’ll miss the postseason for the 14th straight year, the NFL’s longest active drought. Not exactly the results the Jets and their frustrated fans expected when New York acquired Rodgers from Green Bay last year. “There are 11 guys on the field,” Rodgers said after the game. “Sometimes it’s my fault. Definitely multiple times today. And then the details aren’t there in some other spots, too.” The four-time NFL MVP has dealt with a few injuries to his left leg after coming off the torn Achilles tendon that limited him to four snaps in his Jets debut last year. That, Ulbrich said, has contributed to the struggles of Rodgers and the offense. But Rodgers headed into the game Sunday off the injury report for the first time since Week 4. Some of his scrambles provided proof he was feeling much better. But his overall play was still hurting. Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards with two touchdown passes and had an interception returned 92 yards for a score by Leonard Williams. Rodgers also failed to get the Jets in position for a winning score in the closing minutes, something he has been unable to do regularly this season. Despite all that, Ulbrich insists he doesn’t have any questions about whether Rodgers can still do the job. “I don’t,” he said, “because I see enough evidence on tape of him still being capable of playing high level football for us.” What’s working Special teams. The Jets got a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Kene Nwangwu, who was elevated from the practice squad before the game, and he also forced a fumble on a kickoff. New York signed him to the active roster Monday. The Seahawks fumbled three times on kickoffs, with the Jets recovering two, including one by kicker Anders Carlson. Quinnen Williams also blocked an extra point. About the only thing that didn’t go right for the Jets’ special teams unit was Carlson having an extra point of his own blocked. What needs help Everything else. The offense finally had a fast start with three touchdowns in New York’s first four drives, but the Jets didn’t score again after that. The defense had some stops but was called for penalties in some big spots, helping extend drives for Seattle. Stock up LT Olu Fashanu. In his second start in place of the injured Tyron Smith, Fashanu excelled by allowing no pressures in 42 pass blocking snaps, according to Next Gen Stats. The first-rounder out of Penn State is likely to start at left tackle the rest of the season. “The more ops to play, the better he gets,” Ulbrich said. “He just builds on each performance and in both phases, both in the run game and pass protection, so, just so excited about the future this guy has.” Stock down Rodgers. He has thrown for 2,627 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions, but his 6.3 yards-per-pass attempt is the lowest of his career as a starter. Rodgers also has had the ball five times with a chance to lead the Jets to a victory in their final possession. They’re 0-5 in those situations. Injuries CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) and RT Morgan Moses (shoulder) left the game with injuries and Ulbrich had no immediate updates on either. ... LB C.J. Mosley is getting closer to returning from the herniated disk in his neck that has sidelined him for five games. Key number 12 — That’s how many accepted penalties the Jets had against the Seahawks, with four coming on Seattle’s go-ahead touchdown drive. They actually had a fifth after the score for unsportsmanlike conduct, but it was offset by the same call on Seattle. What’s next Rodgers and the Jets look to end their three-game skid when they travel to Miami to face the AFC East rival Dolphins next Sunday. ___ AP NFL:Bargain hunting may boost stock market
Riding a 3-game win streak, the Bengals cling to playoff hopes with the Broncos next
Riding a 3-game win streak, the Bengals cling to playoff hopes with the Broncos next
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.Sixers' Jared McCain partners with Instagram in campaign to combat sextortionMajor U.S. stock indices closed mostly higher on Monday, primarily driven by a surge in technology stocks. The tech-centric Nasdaq Composite gained 0.9%, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.4%. The Dow Jones remained near its starting point after recovering earlier losses. Investors are closely monitoring the Federal Reserve’s hints at keeping interest rates elevated longer than anticipated, creating a cautious market atmosphere. Technology stocks stole the spotlight as semiconductor giants such as Nvidia and Broadcom saw their stock prices climb over 3% and 5%, respectively. The momentum was bolstered by significant rallies from Meta Platforms and Tesla, contributing to the positive market sentiment despite a turbulent prior week. The Federal Reserve’s recent indications of a slower pace in rate cuts in the upcoming year have injected uncertainty into the markets. This shift in monetary policy contributed to one of the most challenging trading days earlier in the week. However, the Friday release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index pointed to moderating inflation, sparking some optimism. In the economic landscape, December saw a notable slump in U.S. Consumer Confidence, with a sharp monthly drop not witnessed since November 2020. This reflects growing concerns among Americans regarding the economic forecast, just before the year’s end. With a lighter economic schedule this week, Wall Street now has the opportunity to digest recent events and reassess before entering 2025. In anticipation of the holiday season, markets will observe an early close on Tuesday. Tech Stocks Surge Amid Federal Reserve’s Monetary Caution In recent market developments, U.S. stock indices showed promising gains, majorly influenced by a robust performance in the technology sector. The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 experienced notable increases of 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively, as investor optimism was fueled by strong showings from leading tech companies. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones held steady after recovering from earlier setbacks. Semiconductor Giants Lead Market Rally Tech companies, especially in the semiconductor industry, were pivotal in driving market growth. Notable among them were Nvidia and Broadcom, which saw their stocks rise by over 3% and 5%, respectively. These gains were further supported by substantial rallies from major players like Meta Platforms and Tesla, marking a decisive shift after a previously volatile week. Federal Reserve’s Influence on Market Sentiment The Federal Reserve’s recent communication regarding a slower pace of rate cuts has introduced a layer of uncertainty in the market. While this news contributed to challenging trading conditions earlier, a modicum of optimism was restored following the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which suggested inflation might be moderating. Economic Indicators and Consumer Confidence December witnessed a significant decline in U.S. Consumer Confidence, marking one of the sharpest monthly decreases since November 2020. This decline underscores growing public apprehension about the economic outlook as the year draws to a close. Market Outlook: Reflection and Reappraisal With a significantly lighter economic calendar this week, Wall Street gets a breather to analyze recent market dynamics. This pause provides an opportunity to reassess strategies before entering the new year. For more information on the U.S. stock market and economic trends, visit The Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg .