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Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsInside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useWhile computer memory specialist Micron Technology MU fundamentally benefits from the surge in artificial intelligence — largely because of its high-performance memory and storage solutions — MU stock suffered a rude awakening recently. Last week, shares tumbled almost 15% following the company's rather disappointing earnings report . Still, astute risk-takers may find upside opportunity in the carnage. After the market closed last Wednesday, Micron released its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted earnings per share landed at $1.79, beating the consensus view of $1.76. However, the market didn't take too kindly to the tech giant generating sales of $8.71 billion, thus missing the expected tally of $8.72 billion. However, it was likely guidance that sent investors rushing for the exits. Management anticipates that in the current quarter, revenue might land at only $7.9 billion, give or take $200 million. Either way, that's short of analysts' estimate of $9 billion. Adding to the woes, Micron expects Q2 adjusted EPS to reach $1.43, plus or minus 10 cents. This figure pales in comparison to the prior estimate of $1.92. With this trade, MU stock has now fallen back into the clutches of a horizontal consolidation pattern that began in late July of this year. Because of the rarity of one-week drops exceeding 10%, investors have reason to be cautious. Nevertheless, data-driven traders may view Micron stock as a compelling comeback opportunity. Leveraging the Power of Probabilistic Analysis In physics, aircraft engineers primarily rely on Newtonian mechanics to design stable airplanes. Essentially, flight dynamics of objects near the earth's surface can be reliably predicted with classical physics. However, satellites require an Einsteinian model or general and special relativity, in part to account for weaker gravitational fields and other unique dynamics in space. The financial markets work in a similar manner. Many, if not most, technical analysis indicators are derived through linear, deterministic (i.e., Newtonian) frameworks. They monitor the frequencies of a given event over a defined period of time. For example, under a frequentist approach, it's straightforward to calculate the probability that, on any given Monday, the market will deliver a positive return by Friday's close. In this case, the trader divides the number of positive weeks in a given dataset by the total number of weeks in that dataset. The success ratio for MU stock over the past five years is 49.4%. However, what happened last week is a rare event. Over the same five-year period, there were only nine weeks (not including last week) where MU stock lost 10% or more. Of this figure, six of the following weeks ended in positive territory (or a success ratio of 66.67%), with an average return of 6.22%. These figures can be attained via a probabilistic analysis called Bayesian inference. At its core, the character of speculation in MU stock changes dramatically following a deep loss of weekly value. Much like Einstein's theory of relativity accounts for large objects' disruption of the space-time continuum, Bayesian inferences help capture the sentiment shift of extreme greed that occurs following a period of extreme fear. Bull Call Spreads of MU Stock to Target To put it simply, determining the success ratio of any given week is basically a coin toss. However, this week is special because it follows a week where MU stock lost almost 15% of value. Such events are quite rare and when they occur, they tend to shift the fear-greed continuum decisively in favor of the bulls. Of course, that doesn't guarantee success. However, a trader would be betting with the wind at their back. Understanding this framework, there are two approaches to consider, both involving bull call spreads that expire this coming Friday (Dec. 27). One idea is to buy the 88/90 call spread or buying the $88 call and simultaneously selling the $90 call. Here, the credit received from the short call helps partially offset the debit paid for the long call. The net debit paid comes out to $149 (as of Monday's close), which is the most that can be lost in the trade. Further, the payout is the difference between the strike prices minus the net debit paid, which is $51 or 34.23%. However, as stated earlier, the Bayesian calculation revealed that when a positive week follows a 10% or greater loss in the prior week, the average return is 6.22%. Applying this figure to Monday's close reveals an upside target price of $95.30. By logical deduction, an aggressive bull call spread could feature a short call strike of $95. For instance, an intrepid speculator could buy an 88/95 call spread. That puts $252 at risk for the chance to earn $448 should MU stock hit or exceed $95 by Friday, or a payout of 177.78%. Again, it's an aggressive bet and the market makers — who are likely using deterministic math — have calculated very low odds of success, hence the big payout. In contrast, probabilistic math based on special circumstances (such as the current week) yields a completely different framework. This is the inside edge that investors should consider when assessing MU stock amid the earnings aftermath. Read Next: Tesla’s Valuation Could Exceed All Transport Companies But SpaceX, Says CEO Elon Musk, But Notes It Will Take A ‘Lot Of Work And Good Ideas’ Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation . The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 123.19 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8% to set its own record. The quiet trading came after the latest jobs report came in mixed enough to strengthen traders’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its next meeting in two weeks. The report showed U.S. employers hired more workers than expected last month, but it also said the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%. “This print doesn’t kill the holiday spirit and the Fed remains on track to deliver a cut in December,” according to Lindsay Rosner, head of multi-sector investing within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to offer more help for the slowing job market, after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, but they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts from the Fed have been a major reason the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year. And the Fed is part of a global surge: 62 central banks have lowered rates in the past three months, the most since 2020, according to Michael Hartnett and other strategists at Bank of America. Still, the jobs report may have included some notes of caution for Fed officials underneath the surface. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, pointed to average wages for workers last month, which were a touch stronger than economists expected. While that’s good news for workers who would always like to make more, it could keep upward pressure on inflation. “This report tells the Fed that they still need to be careful as sticky housing/shelter/wage data shows that it won’t be easy to engineer meaningfully lower inflation from here in the nearer term,” Wren said. So, while traders are betting on an 85% probability the Fed will ease its main rate in two weeks, they’re much less certain about how many more cuts it will deliver next year, according to data from CME Group. For now, the hope is that the job market can help U.S. shoppers continue to spend and keep the U.S. economy out of a recession that had earlier seemed inevitable after the Fed began hiking interest rates swiftly to crush inflation. Several retailers offered encouragement after delivering better-than-expected results for the latest quarter. Ulta Beauty rallied 9% after topping expectations for both profit and revenue. The opening of new stores helped boost its revenue, and it raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for sales over this full year. Lululemon stretched 15.9% higher following its own profit report. It said stronger sales outside the United States helped it in particular, and its earnings topped analysts’ expectations. Retailers overall have been offering mixed signals on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain amid the slowing job market and still-high prices. Target gave a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season, for example, while Walmart gave a much more encouraging outlook. A report on Friday suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers may be improving more than economists expected. The preliminary reading from the University of Michigan’s survey hit its highest level in seven months. The survey found a surge in buying for some products as consumers tried to get ahead of possible increases in price due to higher tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened. In tech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped 10.6% for one of the S&P 500’s larger gains after reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected. Tech stocks were some of the market’s strongest this week, as Salesforce and other big companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. All told, the S&P 500 rose 15.16 points to 6,090.27. The Dow dipped 123.19 to 44,642.52, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 159.05 to 19,859.77. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15% from 4.18% late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 1.3% after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to stay in office until the end of his term and to name a new prime minister within days. Earlier this week, far-right and left-wing lawmakers approved a no-confidence motion due to budget disputes, forcing Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet to resign. In Asia, stock indexes were mixed. They rallied 1.6% in Hong Kong and 1% in Shanghai ahead of an annual economic policy meeting scheduled for next week. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.6% as South Korea’s ruling party chief showed support for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law and then revoked that earlier this week. Yoon is facing calls to resign and may be impeached. Bitcoin was sitting near $101,500 after briefly bursting above $103,000 to a record the day before. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.
Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Cornerback Riley Moss is “good to go” for the Denver Broncos' crucial game at Cincinnati on Saturday. “He's doing good,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “He'll be ready to go.” The Broncos (9-6), who would end their eight-year playoff drought with a win or a tie against the Bengals (7-8), have sorely missed the second-year pro from Iowa since he sprained an MCL against Las Vegas in Week 12. The Broncos allowed 26.3 points per game during his absence. With Moss in the lineup opposite superstar Patrick Surtain II, Denver gave up just 16.8 points per game. Aside from allowing defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to go back to employing more man coverage, Riley's return is expected to give the Broncos defense back its bite. “I think he's got an awfully competitive juice, yeah, I would say you definitely felt his absence, not just physically as a player but also his presence," Payton said. Earlier this week, Surtain said, “it’s great to have him back” at practice. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. Moss wasn't available for comment Thursday as he was receiving treatment during the locker room access period. Moss has been the perfect complement to Surtain because of the physical play, bravado and the production he provides as opposing offenses shy away from Surtain. “It's going to be really good” having him back on the field, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said. “I mean, I know the work that he's been putting in to get back and just knowing the type of season that he's had I'm just happy that he's going to be able to come back against an opponent like this.” Denver's defense hasn't been the same without Moss. The Broncos allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards. Jonathan Taylor’s unforced fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. And Denver couldn’t stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Belfast city centre in the evening (Image: Belfast Live) A local councillor has said she is “frustrated” that Belfast initiatives on women’s safety continue to put the “onus on women protecting themselves” rather than men changing their behaviour. At a Belfast City Council committee meeting, Alliance Councillor Jenna Maghie made the comments after a council official’s update on work relating to violence against women and girls and possible interventions to improve women’s safety in the city. Attention has been slowly focusing on what has been described as a growing “epidemic” of violence against women in recent years in Northern Ireland. Aside from domestic incidents, a particular area of concern has become women and girl’s safety in the city centre, particularly at night. READ MORE: Belfast councillor slates pension body for “investing as much in Israel as in Northern Ireland” READ MORE: Belfast Council calls on Trust to scrap plan to remove out of hours GP service Since January 2020, 23 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland. There were more than 33,000 domestic abuse incidents in NI in 2023, and in the last year there were more than 4,000 sexual violence and abuse reports. Two weeks ago a city centre “multi-agency operational taskforce” met on the issue, with representatives from the council, Stormont , the police, the Belfast Business Improvement Districts, Retail NI, and the Belfast Chamber. Councillors learned that activity in the run-up to Christmas includes the distribution of personal safety alarms to members of the Linen Quarter Business Improvement District, and University of Ulster and Queens University Belfast hosting a number of pop-up safety events and supplying a number of personal safety alarms to students. Belfast Council Safe Neighbourhood Officers are planning additional programming over the December period, which will see an increased visibility of police officers and SNO officers throughout the day and evening. At the November meeting of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Maghie said despite these actions little was being done towards structural change. She said: “I obviously give massive thanks to everyone who has been involved in pulling this together, and all those who contributed across all of the committees this has come to recently. It is really sad we have to shine a light on this again, but it is really important work that the council is doing. “I want to restate that I am really grateful for the list of things that are in here, the suggestions that are here, and all the work that lots of organisations are doing. “But I have said I am going to do this every time it comes up, and I am doing it again today. I am so frustrated that when we bring any paper on this, the onus is always on women to protect themselves. You have to carry an alarm, you have to carry your own anti-spike kits, because a lot of hospitality places don’t want to stock them, and you have to take a self-defence class. “These are immediate things that we can do, and they are important, and we should do them. But systemic change is the bit we always have to talk about.” She added: “Even in reports like this, we have to talk about the fact that the responsibility for women in our city to be safe is not just on them to take steps to protect themselves. “It is men who have to do this, who have to change their attitudes, and it is only through continuing to say it, that we will see the message get across. Unfortunately when men say it, it is heard more than when I say it. “It is a real source of frustration for me, that while we cannot fix this before Christmas, it is not there in the report. That is the piece of work that has to happen.” DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: “If someone comes to us and says 'what can you do to help protect women in our community' we need to know where to signpost with confidence. We need the ability to do it there and then. “An inter-agency meeting, which could be set up for all councillors to attend, with key stakeholders such as the PSNI and the SOS Bus, would be really important. And (designed) so it is not the same few people that show up.” Green Councillor Áine Groogan said: “The worst we could do is not mobilise the energy around this at the moment. We should pull together some sort of civic meeting on this and try to map a way forward, that would be really useful, because we know there is money coming down the line from the Executive Office. But we need to act strategically and have a cohesive voice moving forward." Join our Belfast Live breaking news service on WhatsApp Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Belfast Council has a commitment to Belfast being recognised a 'Safe City' by signing the White Ribbon Charter, and has signed the Onus Workplace Charter on Domestic Violence. The council also has its Gender Action Plan 2024-27, in which it works with the Stormont Executive Office to deliver the £3 million strategic framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls, released this year. It is also in a partnership project with Queen's University to improve the design of public spaces for interventions to end such violence. The council also works with the police on the Policing and Community Safety Partnership plan. For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Belfast City Council DUP PSNI Queen's University University of Ulster Stormont Women Crime Alliance Party Green Party
89bio to Participate in the 7th Annual Evercore HealthCONx ConferenceNFTs Are Back: Illuvium Launches New Collection with G-SHOCK after Wave 3 Alpha's sell out in 1 hour 12-02-2024 11:02 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Ed Cal Media Agency Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/e31510cee1ac00ced93ac9669407e32d.jpg DUBAI, UAE - December 2, 2024 - The resurgence of NFTs continues as Illuvium, a leader in blockchain-based gaming, announces its collaboration with the iconic G-SHOCK brand. Following the US election, the Web3 market has experienced renewed momentum, with a notable rise in NFT transactions and an increase in the overall NFT market cap. In this bullish environment, Illuvium is making waves with its latest release. Launching on December 9, 2024, Illuvium Beyond x G-SHOCK Wave 3 Collection features six fan-favourite Illuvitars reimagined in G-SHOCK style, blending digital collectibles with real-world allure. The lineup includes Aapon , the mystic monkey; Earth Doka , a fierce fighter; Pho , a powerful brawler; Flare , a resilient protector; Archos , a healing turtle; and Lynx , a sleek hunter. Each Illuvitar wears unique G-SHOCK gear with three distinct collectible backgrounds, adding depth and variety for collectors. As a special bonus, collectors who purchase 20 or more D1SKs will receive an exclusive Illuvium x G-SHOCK watch, a limited-edition physical collectible that celebrates this exciting partnership and bridges the digital and physical worlds. Since its debut in 2022, Illuvium Beyond has solidified its place in the NFT gaming space, generating over $12.1 million in revenue and partnering with major brands like GameStop and Team Liquid. The G-SHOCK collaboration represents the next step in elevating the Illuvium brand and community. "The G-SHOCK x Illuvium collab isn't just a drop; it's about bringing something fresh and exciting to the community," said Kieran Warwick, Co-Founder of Illuvium. "With the market turning up and new energy in the Web3 space, this is the perfect moment to release a collection that combines nostalgia, innovation, and unparalleled craftsmanship." And Takahashi Oh, Senior General Manager of Timepieces at Casio said "Partnering with Illuvium allows us to start a new approach where the G-SHOCK brand integrates into the world of gaming. We are excited to provide a new user experience while utilizing the toughness design and brand colors that are a symbol of G-SHOCK." Collectors can purchase D1SKs, containing Illuvitars adorned in G-SHOCK gear, during the limited sale window from December 9th to December 22nd, 2024. Mark your calendars to collect, customise, and claim a piece of this historic collaboration. Don't miss the chance to own digital Illuvitars and the exclusive Illuvium x G-SHOCK watch. Project Overview Dates of sale December 9 - December 22 (UTC) Sales price $35 Blockchain Ethereum Sales place Illuvium Official website: https://beyond.illuvium.io/ About Illuvium Illuvium is a blockchain-based gaming studio that combines the thrill of collecting, battling, and exploring with the benefits of decentralised finance and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Its suite of games allows players to discover and collect Illuvials, engage in strategic battles, and participate in a thriving community. For more information, visit illuvium.io [ https://www.illuvium.io/ ]. About G-SHOCK Casio's shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe's dream of 'creating a watch that never breaks.' Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan. The watch is packed with Casio's innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. Since its launch, G-SHOCK has continued to evolve, continuing to support Mr. Ibe's mantra "never, never give up." Media Contact Company Name: Illuvium Labs FZCO Contact Person: Kieran Warwick Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=nfts-are-back-illuvium-launches-new-collection-with-gshock-after-wave-3-alphas-sell-out-in-1-hour ] Country: United Arab Emirates Website: https://illuvium.io/ This release was published on openPR.
The much-hyped Mike Tyson fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul showed the potential power of Netflix to create live, global sports events on streaming video. For many people though, it also demonstrated the limitations of the technology. Thousands of Netflix users reported technical difficulties while trying to watch the fight. Frustrated viewers contended with buffering and blurry video, a result of tens of millions of households trying to watch the bout at once. It’s the kind of thing that, if the event were aired on a traditional network, would have provoked angry calls to cable companies. Live sports is considered one of the great opportunities for streamers, including Netflix, which need mass audiences tuning in to please advertisers. Companies including Amazon and Apple are spending big, driving up the price of live sports rights and encroaching further on the turf of legacy network rivals. But sports are also a challenge for tech firms. Even without buffering or grainy feeds, live streams are typically delayed compared with cable and satellite broadcasts, which means streaming audiences risk seeing spoilers on social media if the events are simulcast. For Netflix, the stakes are high. The company will host its first live NFL games on Christmas, including one featuring a halftime show from Beyoncé. Netflix is also preparing to air WWE’s “Raw” pro-wrestling franchise starting next year. Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said he has “full faith” in the company’s engineering team, which learned much from the Paul vs. Tyson live match and will adjust before the NFL games. Netflix said it worked quickly to stabilize the viewing for a majority of its subscribers during the boxing event, in which the 27-year-old Paul defeated the 58-year-old Tyson. “We were overwhelmed in the sense of the expectation — it far exceeded our expectations in terms of how many people came to the fight,” Riegg told The Los Angeles Times. “It’s as simple as that. As much as we forecast how many people would come, many, many more people came. It’s impossible for our engineering team to test that magnitude of traffic and viewership unless they have a real, live thing, which is what happened.” On the bright side, Netflix showed that it can be a big draw for sports fans, with an average audience of 108 million live viewers globally tuning in for the fight. Netflix said there were 65 million live concurrent streams, calling it the “most-streamed global sporting event ever.” Industry observers say the day is coming when streamers could place their own bid to host the Super Bowl on their platforms, as long as they can handle the traffic. “Once they prove that they’re capable of delivering a consistent, robust, top-of-the-line, premium experience for these events that consumers have grown to expect, then I have no doubt that we’re going to get there,” said Rob Rosenberg, a former Showtime Networks executive and founder of New York-based Telluride Legal Strategies. The technological challenges aren’t unique to Netflix. Glitches have arisen during other live events streamed on competitors’ platforms, including on YouTube during an NFL game last year and on Amazon’s Prime Video during a Thursday Night Football game in 2022. There are various reasons why buffering occurs, particularly with a highly-anticipated program. When a sporting event is being live streamed, the captured video is released in smaller segments of a few seconds in length that are then transmitted to streaming subscribers and decoded by the users’ devices. If too many devices are seeking those video segments at the same time, it can cause a backlog. Streamers can try to solve the problem by rerouting traffic, but even that sometimes isn’t enough. Streaming services can try to prepare ahead of time by buying more bandwidth capacity from the internet service providers, but it can be difficult to guess how many people will watch, especially if the streamer is new to a particular type of content. There may be limits on how much bandwidth companies can buy. For example, Australia has much less available bandwidth compared with the United States, said Simon Wistow, a co-founder and vice president of strategic initiatives at cloud computing company Fastly. Wistow added that if streamers buy too much capacity and it isn’t used, that’s wasted money. “There’s a lot of complexities, a lot of things go on,” Wistow said. “The scale of internet traffic just gets bigger and bigger every year.” Netflix said it will improve its systems to better handle live events at unprecedented scale and work with ISPS to continue increasing its capacity. The company has been steadily putting on more live events, such as a hot dog eating competition, Screen Actors Guild Awards and a tennis exhibition match. The company’s first live event was a Chris Rock comedy special last year, which has drawn 23.5 million views. An early effort at live streaming, a “Love Is Blind” reunion special, encountered technical trouble due to a bug that went unnoticed until people tried to watch the program. The Paul vs. Tyson event was a new milestone for Netflix’s live streaming efforts. For some viewers, like Florida resident Malcolm Scott, the streamer’s issues were unacceptable. Scott even sued Netflix for breach of contract last week, alleging that Netflix viewers missed large portions of the fight. Netflix declined to comment on the lawsuit. Brian Comiskey, a futurist at the trade group Consumer Technology Assn., chalked Netflix’s problems up to technological growing pains. “At the end of the day this is content being delivered from thousands of miles away via files,” said Comiskey, calling himself a millennial who remembers what it was like pre-smartphone. “This is a tremendous step in technology, but it only gets better from there.” Brian Rolapp, the NFL’s chief media and business officer said he believes Netflix will be ready to stream its games. “I think it shows the power of their global platform, their international reach, which is one reason why we did this deal,” Rolapp said during the Sports Business Journal Media Innovators Conference. “So, I think what they did was pretty extraordinary.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – Singapore’s manufacturing sector continued its upward trajectory in November, recording a fifth straight month of growth, driven by a surge in the electronics industry. Analysts attribute the expansion to robust global demand and possible front-loading activities ahead of potential United States (US) tariff hikes. Data from the Economic Development Board released yesterday showed total factory output rising 8.5 per cent year-on-year. However, this fell short of the 9.7 per cent growth forecast by economists polled by Bloomberg. Excluding the more volatile biomedical sector, manufacturing output saw a stronger increase of 13 per cent. “Export demand for electronics remains robust, with the global semiconductor industry still in an upcycle,” noted senior country risk analyst at BMI Yen Nee Lee. She highlighted that Chinese exporters are likely accelerating shipments to the US ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, boosting demand for intermediate goods from Singapore. Despite the positive figures, analysts caution against over-optimism for 2025. Concerns about the Trump administration’s protectionist policies and rising geopolitical tensions could pose challenges for the manufacturing sector moving forward. Associate economist at UOB Jester Koh also noted the ongoing upturn in the electronics cycle, with tailwinds from “some front-loading of exports and attendant ramp up in production ahead of Trump’s proposed tariffs on US imports”. This could help support growth momentum in trade-related sectors, including manufacturing, into early 2025, he said. The electronics industry, which accounts for nearly half of Singapore’s manufacturing output, saw an increase of 26.2 per cent year-on-year, higher than the 4.3 per cent rise in October. Within the cluster, semiconductor output surged 28.8 per cent, while computer peripherals and data storage expanded 23.6 per cent, and infocomms and consumer electronics added 8.7 per cent. Other electronic modules and components fell 6.5 per cent. Precision engineering output inched 0.6 per cent higher year-on-year. Within the cluster, the machinery and systems segment expanded 4.3 per cent, driven by increased production in front-end semiconductor equipment. However, the precision modules and components segment fell 5.2 per cent, mostly led by lower output of optical instruments and metal precision components. Koh said the manufacturing outlook remains cloudy beyond early 2025. “Downside risks could emanate from further protectionist measures under Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, elevated geopolitical tensions, possible peak in the electronics cycle and uncertainty over the pace of monetary easing by major central banks,” he said. Barclays economist Brian Tan also sees a possible slowdown ahead in chip manufacturing. “We are seeing around Asia – not just in Singapore – signs of fatigue in the semiconductor cycle. If this falters, gross domestic product growth in 2025 could easily disappoint,” Tan said. He added, “We expect the uncertainty over US trade policy to start weighing on economic activity regardless of when tariffs are announced. Should US tariffs materialise, their impact on ultra-open Singapore is likely to be significant.” Beyond electronics and the related precision engineering cluster, Singapore’s other manufacturing industries fared worse in November. Biomedical manufacturing output fell 21.2 per cent from a year ago. Within the cluster, the pharmaceuticals segment declined 37.1 per cent on account of a different mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients being produced, compared with a year ago. The medical technology segment grew 5.8 per cent thanks to continued export demand for medical devices. General manufacturing output dropped 2.6 per cent, with all segments reporting declines.If you're not already a Denton Record-Chronicle subscriber, you can subscribe now for just $1 a month over the next six months and read all of our stories throughout high school football season. Basketball season has been underway for a month or more on both the boys and girls sides as Denton-area teams continue finding their footing before district play. See some of the local players who stood out during last week's games. Guyer's Peyton Underwood gets a shot off during a game against Flower Mound last season. Underwood continued her strong start to the season with a team-high 12 points for the Lady Wildcats in their 49-42 win over former district foe Prosper. The sophomore's performance helped Guyer, which is now ranked No. 9 in Class 6A by the TABC, improve to 11-1 on the year. Green delivered some strong performances of her own for the Lady Eagles as they split a pair of games last week against Frisco Panther Creek and Arkansas squad Conway. The sophomore notched 15 points in a win over Panther Creek alongside 10 points during a narrow loss to Conway, making multiple 3-point shots in both contests to continue her impressive start to the season. Cagle poured in a team-leading 18 points for the Lady Chaps as they took their first win of the season under first-year coach Nicole Black with a 47-35 triumph over Cooper. The junior averaged nearly 10 points per game across Aubrey's four contests at the Texoma Showcase as she continues stepping into a feature role for the program this fall. Gilliam continued her strong start to the season with a high-scoring performance to help the Lady Falcons take a 44-25 win over Frisco Centennial. The senior guard notched a team-high 14 points on the day as Lake Dallas built a 20-8 lead by halftime and never looked back. Criss notched a team-high 10 points for the Lady Cats to help them take a dominant 43-16 victory over Irving Nimitz. The senior has established herself as one of Krum's go-to scorers this season as it works to replace some key senior losses from last year's squad. Galbreath remains a crucial part of the Lady Indians’ success this season and helped lead the way with a pair of strong performance in their two wins last week. The senior notched 14 points in a 68-17 win over Sadler S&S Consolidated before a 21-point performance during a 66-38 win over Era, helping Sanger improve to 8-5 on the year in the process. Simon has helped fuel Ponder's successes since beginning girls basketball season following her contributions to the school's state semifinal run in volleyball. The junior scored 14 points in a 48-42 win over Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, helping Ponder get out to a 7-1 start and No. 15 ranking in Class 3A. Hubbard had an impressive week for the Bengals after returning from injury, helping them post a 4-1 record across their five games on the slate and improve to 8-5 on the year. The senior averaged 12.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 60% from the field. Coleman was one of three players who scored in double figures with 12 points during Guyer's narrow 53-52 win over Arkansas team Springdale at Duncanville's Thanksgiving Hoopfest. The senior has helped the Wildcats get out to a 6-4 start and earn a No. 17 ranking in Class 6A despite being shorthanded for much of the slate thus far. Ryan's Nate Freeman prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against Lake Dallas last season. Freeman scored a team-high 15 points for the Raiders in their narrow 56-48 loss to Cedar Hill and tied for the team lead with 12 points during a defeat against Mansfield Summit. The senior has stepped up as a key contributor this year for Ryan, which is working to replace a sizable senior class that graduated from last year's playoff team. Loliwa posted a pair of solid outings in two tough losses for the Broncos last week with 10 points against Mount Pleasant and nine points against Frisco Liberty. The junior has stepped up as a solid contributor for Denton High this season and will look to continue making strides moving forward. McMoore has emerged as an impact player at times for the Chaps early this season and delivered a big-time performance to help fuel their bounce-back win over Anna last week. The senior poured in a team-high 30 points on the day as Aubrey beat Anna 71-59, rebounding from suffering its first loss of the year against Frisco Centennial and improving to 5-1 on the young season. Nelms has picked up where he left off from a stellar junior season with continued impressive performances thus far in 2024-25. The senior notched 21 points, six rebounds and three assists during a 58-52 win over Red River, helping Sanger continue its strong start to the season in improving to 6-0. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the scoop on all the thrilling victories, nail-biting games and standout performances — straight from the sidelines of Denton-area high schools. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.
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A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and actor Gwyneth Paltrow appeared to be in good spirits as they jointly celebrated their 20-year-old daughter, Apple Martin, this weekend. The famous exes attended Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, where Apple Martin made her society debut in a Valentino Haute Couture gown. Also in attendance at the fête were Martin and Paltrow’s 18-year-old son, Moses Martin, and Paltrow’s mother, actor Blythe Danner . Founded in 1994, Le Bal des Débutantes is a modernized take on the 18th century debutante ball tradition. Each year, the invitation-only event introduces about 20 young women, between the ages of 16 and 22, from about 12 countries into society. Though organizers acknowledge that the notion of a society debut may seem dated in the era of social media, Le Bal des Débutantes is meant to support the “empowerment of young women and young men as well as the harmony of nations,” according to its website. Still, Apple Martin didn’t forgo tradition entirely. Footage captured by the French outlet Paris Match shows her sharing a waltz with her beaming dad. A post shared by Paris Match (@parismatch) Of course, much of the buzz following the event was focused on Apple Martin’s sky blue gown. According to Vogue , the dress was designed by Valentino’s creative director, Alessandro Michele , and took about 750 hours to make. Michele also created custom tuxedos for both Chris and Moses Martin, while Paltrow selected a gown from Valentino’s spring 2025 collection . In addition to Apple Martin, other 2024 debutantes reportedly included Sophia Loren’s granddaughter, Lucia Ponte, and Sophie Tei Naaki Lee Kodjoe, the daughter of “Empire” and “And Just Like That” actor Nicole Ari Parker. Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Though Saturday’s event might have marked the start of a new personal chapter, Apple Martin is not exactly a stranger to the spotlight. In 2023, she made her Paris Fashion Week debut when she joined “Stranger Things” actor Sadie Sink at Chanel’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer show. Only time will tell, however, if Apple Martin follows in her parents’ footsteps by pursuing a career in show business. In 2022, Paltrow confirmed that her daughter had enrolled in college that fall, but did not specify which school she’s attending or her field of study. Watch an “Entertainment Tonight” report on Chris and Apple Martin below. Related From Our Partner