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SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Tronic Corporation KTCC , a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced that it entered into a new financing arrangement with the Bank of Montreal and Callodine Commercial Finance which extends and increases its access to working capital through December 2029. The combined financing agreement provides up to $143 million in availability, subject to the Company's borrowing base and other limitations. The new credit agreements replace Key Tronic's asset-based line of credit with Bank of America, which was set to expire in December 2025. In connection with these agreements, the Company expects to write off approximately $0.9 million in unamortized capitalized loan fees. "We are excited to update our financing arrangements as we prepare for growth in coming years," said Tony Voorhees, Chief Financial Officer. "We believe the new financing significantly enhances our access to working capital over the next five years and address liquidity to support our long-term growth plans. Additionally, we anticipate these new facilities will lower our interest expense and provide greater financial flexibility moving forward." About Key Tronic Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers with full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: www.keytronic.com . Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those including such words as anticipates, believes, expects, will, and similar verbs, or nouns corresponding to such verbs, which may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are relevant to expected future events, performances, and actions or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Company's statements regarding its expectations with respect to anticipated growth and the availability of financing, reduced interest expense, and financial flexibility under the new financing arrangements. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the future of the global economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers; the availability of components from the supply chain; the availability of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers' and customers' forecasts; development and success of customers' programs and products; timing and effectiveness of ramping of new programs; success of new-product introductions; the risk of legal proceedings or governmental investigations relating to the previously reported financial statement restatements and related material weaknesses, the May 2024 cybersecurity incident, and the subject of the internal investigation by the Company's Audit Committee and related or other unrelated matters; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; impact of new governmental legislation and regulation, including tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such trade negotiations and other risks; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC filings. CONTACTS: Tony Voorhees Michael Newman Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations Key Tronic Corporation StreetConnect (509)-927-5345 (206) 729-3625 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Monitoring Tools Market Future Scope, Opportunities, Business Growth, Size, Share, Segmentation, Dynamics and Forecast to 2028 12-16-2024 10:22 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), I Monitoring Tools Market by Offering (Software (by Deployment) & Services), Type (Infrastructure Monitoring, Application Performance Monitoring, Security Monitoring and End User Experience Monitoring), Vertical and Region - Global Forecast to 2028. The Monitoring Tools market [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/monitoring-tools-market-156908970.html?utm_campaign=monitoringtoolsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] is projected to expand from USD 24.5 billion in 2023 to USD 63.7 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 21.1% during the forecast period. Monitoring tools, also referred to as network or performance monitoring solutions, are software systems designed to track the performance, health, and availability of various components across networks, systems, and applications. These tools gather data from multiple sources, including servers, network devices, applications, and databases, offering real-time insights and analysis to ensure seamless and efficient operations. Download PDF Brochure@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=156908970 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=156908970&utm_campaign=monitoringtoolsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Healthcare & Lifesciences to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The monitoring tools market in the Healthcare & Life Sciences vertical has witnessed significant growth and innovation in recent years. With the increasing complexity and demands of the healthcare industry, monitoring tools have become invaluable in ensuring the efficient delivery of patient care, optimizing processes, and enhancing overall operational effectiveness. Monitoring tools in this sector encompass a wide range of technologies and solutions designed to monitor various aspects of healthcare and life sciences, including patient health, medical devices, drug development, and clinical trials. In the healthcare industry, monitoring tools are used to track vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation, providing healthcare professionals with real-time data for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions. These tools enable remote monitoring, allowing patients to be monitored from their homes, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits, and improving patient convenience. These tools play a vital role in improving healthcare outcomes, enhancing patient care, and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and treatments. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and regulatory authorities will be crucial to address challenges and drive further innovation in monitoring tools for the healthcare and life sciences sector. Services Segment to account for higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for Monitoring tools is bifurcated based on offering into software and services. The CAGR of services is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Professional and managed services have a significant impact on the monitoring tools market by offering a range of valuable services to businesses. Professional services providers assist with the implementation, configuration, and customization of monitoring tools, ensuring optimal functionality and alignment with specific business requirements. They provide consulting and advisory services, guiding organizations in selecting the right monitoring tools and developing effective monitoring strategies. These providers also offer training and educational programs, equipping businesses with the necessary knowledge and skills to utilize monitoring tools effectively. Managed services providers, on the other hand, offer ongoing monitoring and management of infrastructure and applications, relieving businesses of the burden of maintaining and optimizing their monitoring environment. They provide proactive monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization, ensuring efficient operations and minimizing downtime. These services enhance the effectiveness of monitoring solutions, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities while ensuring their monitoring needs are met by skilled providers. Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. Monitoring tools is rapidly growing in Asia Pacific, which includes China, India, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, and ANZ (Australia and New Zealand). Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for monitoring tools. In this region, monitoring tools technologies are utilized for rural and agricultural development. The region encompasses a diverse range of countries, including but not limited to China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations. The increasing adoption of digitalization and the growing importance of data-driven decision-making across various industries, such as IT, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, have been key drivers of the monitoring tools market in the region. Several factors have contributed to the rise in demand for monitoring tools in Asia Pacific. The surging number of internet users, mobile phone subscribers, and connected devices has created a vast pool of data that requires efficient monitoring and analysis. The escalating cybersecurity threats have prompted organizations to invest in advanced monitoring solutions to safeguard their networks, infrastructure, and sensitive information. The Asia Pacific region is witnessing a dynamic vendor landscape, with both local and international monitoring tool providers vying for market share. To gain a competitive edge, vendors are investing in product innovation, scalability, and ease of integration with existing systems. Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=156908970 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=156908970&utm_campaign=monitoringtoolsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Unique Features in the Monitoring Tools Market Monitoring tools offer end-to-end tracking across diverse IT environments, including networks, servers, applications, and databases. This holistic approach ensures visibility into every critical component, enabling organizations to identify and address performance bottlenecks effectively. A standout feature of modern monitoring tools is their ability to provide real-time performance analytics. These tools collect and process data continuously, delivering instant insights into system health and alerting users to anomalies or potential issues before they escalate. Many monitoring tools now incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict potential failures and optimize system performance. These capabilities help organizations take proactive measures to prevent downtime and enhance operational efficiency. With businesses increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures, monitoring tools are designed to integrate seamlessly across various environments. This feature ensures unified visibility and control, regardless of where the systems or applications are hosted. Modern monitoring solutions offer highly customizable dashboards and reporting capabilities, allowing users to tailor visualizations and metrics to their specific needs. This flexibility enables IT teams to focus on the most relevant data for decision-making. Monitoring tools are built to scale alongside an organization's growth. Whether managing a small network or a global enterprise infrastructure, these solutions can adapt to increasing data volumes and complexity without compromising performance. Major Highlights of the Monitoring Tools Market As organizations shift to multi-cloud and hybrid environments, monitoring tools are becoming essential to ensure seamless integration, unified visibility, and efficient management across diverse platforms. This trend is a key driver of market growth. Businesses are prioritizing proactive system management to minimize downtime and optimize performance. Monitoring tools equipped with real-time analytics and predictive capabilities are gaining traction for their ability to identify and mitigate issues before they impact operations. The incorporation of AI and ML technologies in monitoring tools is revolutionizing the market. These features enhance anomaly detection, predict potential failures, and enable automated incident management, making systems more resilient and efficient. The growing frequency of cyber threats has expanded the scope of monitoring tools to include security features. Organizations are increasingly leveraging these tools to detect vulnerabilities, monitor suspicious activities, and ensure compliance with regulations. Monitoring tools are witnessing widespread adoption in industries such as IT, healthcare, BFSI, and manufacturing. These sectors rely on these solutions to ensure the reliability and performance of critical systems, applications, and networks. The market's tools are designed to scale with organizational needs, accommodating everything from small networks to large, global infrastructures. This scalability is a significant factor driving their adoption in enterprises of all sizes. Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=156908970 [ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=156908970&utm_campaign=monitoringtoolsmarket&utm_source=abnewswire.com&utm_medium=paidpr ] Top Companies in the Monitoring Tools Market Major vendors in the global Monitoring tools market are Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Dynatrace (US), Splunk (US), Solarwinds (US), Netscout (US), New Relic (US), Logic Monitor (US), Paessler AG (Germany), Netreo (US), ManageEngine (US), Idera (US), Sematext (US), Datadog (US), Icinga (Germany), Nagios (US), Zabbix (Latvia), Sentry (US), UptimeRobot (Malta), Atera (Israel), Better Stack (Czech Republic), Sumo Logic (US), Checkmk (Germany), Exporise (US), ITRS (UK), Riverbed Technology (US), Nlyte Software (US). Microsoft (US) Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology firm that provides consumers and organizations all over the world with a vast array of software, hardware, and services. Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing are the three primary business segments through which the corporation conducts its operations. Microsoft operates in over 190 countries worldwide, with its headquarters located in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft is a leading player in the Monitoring Tools market, offering a diverse range of solutions to cater to the evolving needs of businesses. One of Microsoft's flagship offerings in this space is Azure Monitor. Azure Monitor is a cloud-native monitoring and observability solution specifically designed for Azure resources and applications. Additionally, Microsoft offers System Center Operations Manager (SCOM), another prominent monitoring tool. SCOM provides businesses with a holistic view of their on-premises and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Microsoft's presence in the Monitoring Tools market extends beyond these specific offerings, as the company continues to invest in research and development to deliver innovative solutions. With a strong focus on cloud-native technologies and a commitment to meeting customer needs, Microsoft remains a trusted partner for businesses seeking robust monitoring tools to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and deliver exceptional user experiences. Cisco (US) Cisco was founded in 1984 in San Francisco, US, by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Cisco provides a wide range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. The company provides its technical products in routing and switching, home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. The company caters to industries, such as cities and communities, education, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, retail, sports and entertainment, transportation, and utilities. The company operates in 115+ countries and has global reach in the Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific. Cisco's flagship monitoring tool, Cisco DNA Center, offers businesses a centralized platform for managing and monitoring their network infrastructure. With its intuitive interface and advanced analytics capabilities, Cisco DNA Center enables organizations to monitor network performance, track devices, detect anomalies, and troubleshoot issues efficiently. In addition to network monitoring, Cisco provides robust security monitoring solutions to protect against evolving threats. Cisco SecureX integrates with Cisco's security products, enabling businesses to consolidate security alerts, monitor security events, and respond to incidents effectively. Furthermore, Cisco offers network monitoring solutions for specific industries and use cases. Such as Cisco Meraki provides cloud-managed monitoring tools for networking and security in retail, healthcare, education, and other sectors. Media Contact Company Name: MarketsandMarkets Trademark Research Private Ltd. Contact Person: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=monitoring-tools-market-future-scope-opportunities-business-growth-size-share-segmentation-dynamics-and-forecast-to-2028 ] Phone: 18886006441 Address:1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 City: Florida State: Florida Country: United States Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/monitoring-tools-market-156908970.html This release was published on openPR.
Schieffelin has 18 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists as Clemson hands Penn State first loss 75-67Georgetown is set to play its first road game of the season while West Virginia attempts to build off its successful 2-1 trip to the Bahamas when the former conference rivals meet on Friday in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. Picked 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, West Virginia (5-2) has been riding the hot shooting of Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Small averages a team-high 19 points and shoots 41.3 percent on 3-pointers while DeVries adds 14.9 points per game and hits on 46.9 percent of his threes. Every basket was needed last week as the Mountaineers upset then-No. 3 Gonzaga and then-No. 24 Arizona with a loss to Louisville sandwiched in between. All three contests went into overtime, believed to be a first in program history. First-year coach Darian DeVries, who led Drake to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four seasons, had never seen anything like it. "I've never been a part of three games like that, especially with the quality of opponents that we went up these last three days," he said after the Arizona win. "Just incredible resolve and grit and toughness from our group all three nights." Georgetown has started 7-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season and has done so with a completely revamped roster that includes 14 freshmen or sophomores. As a result of an inexperienced squad, coach Ed Cooley specifically delayed the Hoyas' first trip out of the nation's capital. "Obviously, the competition is going to change," Cooley said after the Hoyas defeated UMBC 86-62 on Monday. "We systematically scheduled this way to build confidence, continuity and chemistry and let our players feel what it is to win, and that's something hopefully that will have some carryover as we now get ready to head out on the road for the first time." Since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, Georgetown has won five straight games by an average of 25.2 points. Thomas Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring at 15.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.9 per game. Sorber was named as the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Georgetown holds the narrowest of leads in the all-time series at 27-26. The two schools met 27 times between 1995 and 2012 as league foes. The Mountaineers captured their lone Big East Championship in 2010 by defeating the Hoyas 60-58 at Madison Square Garden. --Field Level Media
Earlier in 2024 a joint advisory was issued in the U.S. by the joint agencies responsible for security – FBI, CISA, and HHS. This was a warning the healthcare sector of BlackCat ransomware , following the group’s association with the Change Healthcare cyberattack. BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, is a ransomware code written in Rust. It first appeared in November 2021. The same name is applied to the threat actor who exploit it. How safe is healthcare now? To review the situation, Digital Journal heard from Andrew Costis, Chapter Lead of the Adversary Research Team at AttackIQ . To begin with Costis presents a reminder as to the key elements of the U.S. government security statement: “This advisory contains updates to the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with BlackCat from a December advisory and the FBI’s FLASH alert from April 2022.” As to the actual threat agent, Costis summarises the risk as: “BlackCat, a Rust-based ransomware family first identified in November 2021, operates under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. The group was disrupted by FBI operations last December. After this takedown, BlackCat administrators urged affiliates to target hospitals and critical infrastructure.” BlackCat operates on a ransomware as a service (RaaS) model, with developers offering the malware for use by affiliates and taking a percentage of ransom payments. Threat actors who work with BlackCat seek to gain initial access to IT environments and user accounts. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as remote desktop protocols, compromised credentials, and exchange server vulnerabilities. Of the different risk areas, healthcare is the most vulnerable according to Costis: The healthcare sector has been the most commonly victimized out of the nearly 70 leaked victims. The cyberattack on Change Healthcare, the largest healthcare payment exchange platform, has significantly impacted pharmacies nationwide, prompting the adoption of electronic workarounds” The best options are for the healthcare sector to prioritize cybersecurity measures. Costis recommends: “The vast amount of sensitive patient data stored within healthcare systems makes these organizations a dangerous target for ransomware groups, with the potential for far-reaching consequences. These attacks can cripple organizational operations and, more importantly, compromise patient health and safety.” Furthermore, Costis advises: “Healthcare organizations must now prioritize validating their security controls against BlackCat’s TTPs as outlined in the joint advisory leveraging the MITRE ATT&CK framework. By emulating the behaviors exhibited by BlackCat, organizations can assess their security postures and pinpoint any vulnerabilities. This proactive approach is essential to mitigate the risk of future attacks.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining. "After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," the senior posted on social media. "... Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!" Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State. Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. --Field Level Media
Elon Musk’s apparent power flex to block The Onion’s purchase of Infowars follows a long history of the billionaire’s own personal vendetta against the satirical publication. On Nov. 25, Musk’s attorneys filed a narrow objection that would block The Onion from taking over the social media accounts of what was once conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ controversial platform. The filing claimed that X owns all its social media profiles and added that it “merely grants its users a non-exclusive license to use their accounts.” “While X Corp. takes no position as to the sale of any Content posted on the X Accounts, X Corp. is the sole owner of the Services being sold as part of the sale of the X Accounts,” attorneys argued. Emphasizing that “neither Jones nor his bankruptcy estate” own the X profiles, attorneys added that Jones’ accounts “may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred as part of the Sale nor can any X account, including any maintained personally by Jones, including the Jones X Account, be sold to any third party.” Nearly two weeks before X’s legal temper tantrum, The Onion—a recent purchase of Global Tetrahedron— bought the bankrupt platform . While X’s declaration of social media account ownership raises its own questions, Musk’s involvement in The Onion’s dealings brings up old quarrels the SpaceX exec previously had with the satire site. In a time long, long ago when X was called Twitter and wasn’t controlled by Musk, the eccentric billionaire sang the praises of The Onion. Retweeting and @’ing across the Twittersphere, Musk would compliment the writers and editors for their quips and jabs—even emailing the staffers personally. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone , Musk said, “In order to understand the essential truth of things, I think you can find it in The Onion and occasionally on Reddit.” A source told Daily Beast that Musk had even considered buying The Onion in 2014—before he poached staffers from the site to launch his own (failed) satirical publication, Thud. However, tides shifted years later when The Onion came for Musk’s lore. Poking at the source of Musk’s wealth, The Onion published the satirical piece , “The Richest Person In Every State And How They Made Their Money.” “Elon Musk, Texas: Apartheid,” the satire site tweeted alongside the article. The Onion’s joke directly challenged Musk’s rag-to-riches claims, pointing out the popularized rumors that Musk’s father, Errol, once owned shares in a Zambian emerald mine. In the same 2017 Rolling Stone report, the outlet wrote that “Errol was, by his own account, making money in the often dangerous worlds of construction and emerald mining—at times so much that he claims he couldn’t close his safe.” However, The Onion’s apartheid comment hit a sore spot for Musk, who replied to the tweet : “Shame on you, Onion. This is why people are switching to @TheBabylonBee!” The Onion still posts satirical content of Musk today, with headlines like: “Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can’t Follow Him In.” While Musk has drawn a line in the sand with The Onion, he has also recently forged an alliance with Jones. Following his purchase of X, Musk used his power not solely to reinstate Jones’ banned platform. The memester also hopped on a livestream with Jones —as well as accused human trafficker Andrew Tate and other controversial figures—urging social media users to follow Infowars again. Daily Kos reached out to X and The Onion for comment but did not immediately hear back. Controversy still surrounds the platform purchase, with Jones contesting the validity of the auction results. Approval of the purchase is currently awaiting a federal judge’s orders sometime this month.
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As a credit card expert who travels constantly, I'm always looking for ways to make travel more affordable , and Southwest hits the nail on the head with its companion pass. The unlimited Southwest Companion Pass may be the most valuable elite status perk offered by any airline. Every fall, my friends, family and clients reach out to me to learn how they can earn their own Companion Pass. What is the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? Southwest is the only major airline that offers a companion pass with an unlimited number of uses. Southwest's Companion Pass essentially offers a free plane ticket for whoever you choose to bring with you. You simply pay for your own ticket and any taxes and fees for your designated companion. (It's typically just the $5.60 TSA fee per flight, plus any taxes or fees imposed by foreign countries for international flights). You can add your companion to flights that you paid for, or to flights that were paid for by someone else. You can even add your companion to your award flights booked with your Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards points or booked with someone else's points. As long as your name and Rapid Rewards number are attached to the reservation, you can add your companion, and you won't have to pay more than the taxes and fees for their ticket. The Southwest Airlines Companion Pass is valid for the remainder of the year in which you earn it, plus the following year. So if you earn the pass in December 2024, it will only be valid until the end of 2025, which isn't a good idea. Instead, I recommend earning your pass in early 2025, so that it's valid until the end of 2026. How do you qualify for the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? There are several ways that you can qualify for the Southwest Airlines Companion Pass. You could fly 100 one-way qualifying (paid) flights, but that would be the equivalent of taking a round-trip flight nearly every week of the year. And it would take you most or all of the year to earn it. Or, you could earn 135,000 Companion Pass qualifying points through any combination of paid flights, partner hotel stays, partner car rentals or through their Rapid Rewards credit cards. Earning the points through flights, partner hotels and partner car rentals is possible for frequent business travelers, but you'll most likely earn the pass later in the calendar year. If you're not a frequent traveler on paid tickets, and you don't book your rental cars and hotel stays through Southwest, then your best option to earn the Companion Pass is by earning welcome bonuses with the Southwest Rapid Rewards credit cards . By applying for two Rapid Rewards credit cards, and earning their welcome bonuses , it's possible to earn the 135,000 points very quickly. In fact, Southwest gives you 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points just for having one of these cards. The Southwest Companion Pass is a high-value perk, but it's not worth going into debt over. If you're earning the pass via the card's welcome bonus, only spend what you're able to pay off. How much could you save with a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass? With 135,000 Rapid Rewards points, you'll earn about $1,890 of award travel, as these points are worth about 1.4 cents each, according to The Points Guy . But when you add your companion to those award flights, the reward value essentially doubles to $3,780. And since you can add your companion to an unlimited number of flights, not just the ones you paid for with these points, the value of this pass is potentially limitless. The best Southwest credit cards for earning a Companion Pass To earn your Companion Pass, you have to apply for and be approved for two credit cards that have a total welcome bonus of 125,000 points or more. A good place to start is with one of their personal cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card*, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card* or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card*. All three of these cards are currently offering new applicants 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first three months of card membership. They offer different benefits, with annual fees of $69, $99 and $149 respectively. Chase's rules say that you can only get the welcome bonus for one personal card every 24 months, so your second card needs to be a small business card. Luckily, you can qualify for a small business card based on any income you earn outside of your employer, even if you're just an unincorporated sole proprietor. For example, if you walk dogs, deliver food, babysit or sell stuff online, or are about to start one of these types of businesses, then you can qualify for a small business credit card. If you aren't incorporated, you can apply as an unincorporated sole proprietor, using your Social Security number instead of an Employer Identification Number. Currently, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card* offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of account opening, and has an annual fee of $99. The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card offers new cardholders 80,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. As their top-of-the-line card, it comes with numerous benefits that help justify its $199 annual fee. With one personal card, and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business card, you'll earn 130,000 bonus points, and a total of at least 136,000 points once you've met the minimum spending requirements of $1,000 and $5,000. Alternatively, you could apply for two small business credit cards. Earning both these bonuses will give you more than enough points to qualify for the Companion Pass. Make sure you earn your bonuses in a 2025 statement period to receive a companion pass that's valid until the end of 2026. Since you receive your points when your monthly statement closes, it's possible to precisely time your Companion Pass. What I like to do is to set my payment due date to the 26th of the month, which means that my statement closes on the first of the month. This way, I can meet my minimum spending requirements in December, and have my Companion Pass in hand at the beginning of January. My wife and I have done this numerous times, and it always works like a charm! Is earning the Companion Pass worth it? Putting $6,000 on your credit cards in three months isn't advisable for everyone. Again, you should only charge to your card what you can pay off by your next statement balance to avoid interest. But if you travel enough to support that kind of spending, earning the companion pass could save you and your travel partner plenty of money in the long run. *All information about the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card, the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Consumers wonder how Trump's tariff proposal could impact Massachusetts
Post offices and postal outlets should be bustling in the days leading up to Christmas, but a Vancouver small business owner says that his location is the slowest he has ever seen due to the Canada Post strike. And though the federal government has ordered an end to the strike that began nearly a month ago, small business owner Azm Jamiul Haque says that the news comes “weeks too late” for him and his family. Haque and his wife, Farhana Tasmin, run the Centre Point Postal Outlet, a Canada Post-authorized dealer on Main Street and East 13th in Vancouver. They woke up to the news of Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon announcing his decision to invoke his authority to on Friday morning. “It feels good to receive the news, but we had hoped that the strike would have ended earlier,” Haque told Daily Hive. “It’s happening weeks too late, but at least we have a chance to work on the holiday rush. “We have had lots of people come in daily to ask for updates. Many customers have been frustrated, though our store has had lots of support, too.” Over 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) on November 15. Earlier this week, MacKinnon advised the postal service and the CUPW to reach a deal after weeks of failed negotiations. “We hope to hear from Canada Post soon and return to regular hours on Monday, December 16,” Haque added. “We have lots of backlog to go through and appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience. The backroom is completely full of 200 to 300 parcels and lots of letters that haven’t been picked up since mid-November.” “There has been about a $200,000 loss of my business during this ongoing strike due to the impact of low to no traffic to my front store, Print Express, which is interdependent of the postal outlet.” Centre Point offers a variety of services to the community in addition to being a Canada Post outlet, including printing, key cutting, engraving, postal boxes, Moneygram, and passport photos. They had to cut their store hours during the strike but will return to regular hours now that the strike is over. “We bought this store last year because we wanted to own a family-run business. We were looking for something stable, especially with an 11-month-old baby boy. “This strike has impacted us mentally and financially through the loss of foot traffic, sales and inventory and the financial burden. Between 75 to 85% of our income comes from solely operating Canada Post Outlet services.” Haque explained that authorized dealers pay for all Canada Post supplies up front, including stamps, coins, boxes, and packaging. Due to the strike, those items have been sitting in his outlet without Christmas presents and greeting cards to fill them. “We were told to be all stocked up for the holiday rush, but the strike put a stop to that.” The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) estimates that the postal strike has cost billions. It has also , with many taking to social media in either support of or against the union. “We talked to a few other postal outlets and they are in a similar situation as us,” Haque said. “I hope Canada Post will compensate Independent Authorized dealers (postal outlets) for the strike. “We understand the postal workers’ rights to strike and frustration too. It just needs to be resolved so that we can operate our outlet and move forward now. It dragged on far too long, and we were worried we may have to close down.” As postal service resumes early next week, Haque hopes that Canadians return to using Canada Post and authorized dealers such as his. “When you use Canada Post and outlets like ours, the money stays in the community. The Mount Pleasant community has been very supportive through this hard time, dropping by to check in on me and my wife and our baby. They buy snacks and print items to help us survive during this strike, and we look forward to helping them with all of their postal needs soon.”For travelers, Puerto Rico is a floating island of desirability
In his first wide-ranging news conference since the election, President-elect Donald Trump cited debunked data linking vaccines and autism, vowed to slash taxes and resume construction of his border wall, and accused the Biden administration of hiding the truth about recent drone sightings. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump announced a $100 billion investment from SoftBank, a Japanese technology company. But he used the appearance in front of reporters to jump from one topic to another in an hourlong performance that recalled the lengthy exchanges he often had during his first term. “The government knows what is happening,” the president-elect said of the drone sightings over many states, though he declined to say if he had been briefed by government officials. “Look, our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage. They can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went. And for some reason, they don’t want to comment.” He added: “I mean, they happen to be over Bedminster,” he said, referring to the home he owns in New Jersey. “They’re very close to Bedminster. I think maybe I won’t spend the weekend in Bedminster. I decided to cancel my trip.” The news conference was in many ways a return to the past, when Trump relished seizing the world’s attention with long Q&A sessions that rambled from topic to topic. But in a rare moment of self-reflection, the president-elect suggested that he is being treated better as he enters his second term, this time with more of the Republican Party firmly under his dominance. He said many CEOs have rushed to court him this time. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” he said. “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend. I don’t know — my personality changed or something.” As he returns to power, Trump remains one of the most divisive figures in American political life, having been elected for a second time by a narrow margin. He once again vows to shatter norms, impose tariffs, bring legal charges against journalists and slash government spending. Trump praised Pete Hegseth, his nominee to be secretary of defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his nominee to be secretary of health and human services. He then skipped through a series of topics before taking questions from reporters. He said that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida would “make the right decision” about whether to appoint Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate if Rubio is confirmed as secretary of state. He declined to say whether he has spoken to President Vladimir Putin of Russia since the election but repeated his claim that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine on his watch. In fact, Russia had already invaded Ukraine’s eastern sections in 2014, and Trump did nothing to stop the war, which then expanded with the full-scale invasion in 2022. He said that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine should be ready to make a deal with Russia in order to stop the war in his country. He did not say what Zelenskyy should give up in a deal but emphasized that a deal must be made because too many people were dying. The president-elect said it would be unwise to say whether he supports a preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel about the conflicts in the region. He also said that he would consider issuing a pardon for Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, who has been indicted in a federal corruption investigation. “I think that he was treated pretty unfairly,” he said. Speaking directly to the reporters, he called the press “very corrupt” and promised to continue pursuing legal action against news organizations that he believes have not quoted him correctly. He said he planned to sue the Des Moines Register for having a poll before the election that turned out to be wrong. And he said he was pursuing legal action against “60 Minutes” for what he said was a misquote. “We have to straighten out the press,” he said. “The press is very corrupt. Almost as corrupt as our elections.” Trump also said that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will cut $2 trillion out of the $6.8 trillion annual federal budget and “it’ll have no impact on people.” In fact, if you rule out cuts to Social Security, Medicare and defense, as Trump has, cutting $2 trillion would require shutting down almost the entire federal government. Eliminating all nondefense discretionary spending would get about halfway to the $2 trillion goal. This article originally appeared in The New York Times . © 2024 The New York Times Company
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