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Donald Trump nominates investment banker Warren Stephens to be US ambassador to UKA contestant on ITV's Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special was accused of cheating during Sunday's (December 29) episode after they called a star of quiz show The Chase for an answer. Host Jeremy Clarkson was back at the helm for a star-studded edition of the popular game show, with celebs vying to win a cool £1 million for their chosen charities. Jools Holland kicked things off, playing for Prince's Trust and Caring Hands, before passing the baton to comedian Nina Wadia and ex-Rugby Union ace Ugo Monye. But it was Nina's choice of phone-a-friend that raised eyebrows she opted to call none other than Paul Sinha, a familiar face from ITV's own quiz battleground, The Chase, reports the Express . Nina, previously seen on Strictly Come Dancing , found herself stumped by a question about the demolition of a prison in 1987 where Rudolf Hess had been the sole inmate. Without hesitation, she reached out to Chaser and comic Paul Sinha for help. Even host Jeremy Clarkson couldn't hide his surprise, exclaiming: "From The Chase? Let me get this straight, you're actually contemplating, shall I ask the audience or should I ask someone from The Chase?" Paul didn't disappoint, confidently identifying option B, Spandau, as the correct answer. Social media buzzed with reactions, with one viewer jesting on X: "You can't ring Paul Sinha, that's cheating." Another chimed in with disapproval: "Phoning a chaser on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire that shouldn't be allowed." Some fans were more forgiving, with one commenting: "No wonder she's laughing with a phone a friend called Paul Sinha." Nina ultimately pocketed £32,000 for her chosen charity JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), after being tripped up by a question about the Shakespearean origin of the contemporary phrase 'there's method in my madness'. The comedian, recognised for her parts in Goodness Gracious Me and EastEnders , was torn between Hamlet and Macbeth. She decided to Ask The Audience, who were equally divided over the two choices. She locked in Macbeth as her final answer, but alas, it was Hamlet, marking the end of her stint on the show. Viewers are keeping their fingers crossed for more celebrity editions of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire from ITV , given the stellar roster of celebs that have previously graced the show, all eager to scoop up a hefty sum for charity. Prior to airing, there were whispers that this special would be "the best season yet". This comes hot on the heels of news that the host of Clarkson's Farm had a recent health scare, undergoing emergency heart surgery following a severe illness while on holiday. In his column for the Sunday Times, Jeremy Clarkson shared his harrowing ordeal, describing how he suddenly found himself unable to rise from the breakfast table, questioning whether his "limbs were working properly". However, it wasn't just the Covid saga that hit Jeremy; he found everyday activities like swimming and walking a challenge. After experiencing a worrying "tightening in his chest" upon his return to the UK, Jeremy was swiftly whisked off to hospital by ambulance. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Celebrity Special is streaming on ITVX.Have $5,000? These 2 Stocks Could Be Bargain Buys for 2025 and Beyond.
The Hindu Future India Club (TH-FIC), in collaboration with Krishna Pradeep’s 21st Century IAS Academy, is organising career guidance seminars, titled ‘Unlock Your Future’, in colleges across Hyderabad. The next seminar in the series will take place at Keshav Memorial Institute of Technology (KMIT-Narayanguda) in Hyderabad on Monday (December 23) at 3 p.m. These seminars are designed to spread awareness among undergraduate students about the diverse career opportunities available after graduation. Students will receive guidance on career paths such as government examinations, defence, law, research and more, with advice on how to select the right path and tips for preparation. Director of KP’s 21st Century IAS Academy Bhavani Shankar, along with his team, will lead these sessions at colleges and universities. Colleges interested in hosting these seminars for their students are encouraged to contact Madhu Mohan Chakravarthy at 9182974964. Published - December 21, 2024 08:28 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
Beginning New Year’s Day, Illinois workers making minimum wage will see wages rise by $1 and tipped workers will see their paychecks bump to $9 an hour. Youth workers under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours a year will have a $13 minimum wage. The final increase, ending a six-year ramp which began with the minimum wage rising from $8.25 to $9.25 on Jan. 1, 2020, puts a bow on Gov. JB Pritzker’s first major legislative victory. He signed the wage increase in February 2019 about a month after being sworn in for his first term, checking off a top campaign promise. “Since day one of my administration, I’ve made it my mission to build an economy that works for everyone and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour fulfills that promise to our working families,” Pritzker said in a statement. “This increase honors the workers who power our state and ensures they can better support their families, bringing us closer to a stronger, more equitable economy for all.” Illinois will be one of 10 states with a minimum wage of $15 or greater, according to the National Employment Law Project. Twenty-two other states are also increasing their wages on Jan. 1. The minimum wage increase is one of many economic changes that have happened since 2019, including effects of the pandemic, Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Lou Sandoval told Capitol News Illinois. He said those have caused businesses to adjust their operations in a variety of ways, such as increasing automation. “I think you’re starting to see businesses pivot in terms of how they’re adjusting,” Sandoval said. “You’re seeing this at the national chains.” Some restaurants, for example, are “moving away from larger sit-down areas into grab-and-go.” Illinois job growth has been slow since October 2019, according to a November report by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. The state has seen a net increase of 28,700 jobs from October 2019 through October 2024. That’s a growth rate of 0.5%, compared to the national rate of 4.9%. The rate of new job postings by businesses at the beginning of the year will shed some light on how the jump to $15 on Jan. 1 is impacting business operations, Sandoval said. To help small businesses with the change, the state provides a tax credit through 2027 to businesses with 50 or fewer employees for wages paid to minimum-wage workers. The 2019 minimum wage law marked the first increase since the wage hit $8.25 in 2010. Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Westchester, introduced a bill to raise it to $15 an hour in 2017 that was passed by the General Assembly and vetoed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. Lightford sponsored the initiative again in 2019. “As a state, we have helped countless workers make ends meet, reduce financial stress, and provide a more solid foundation for their futures,” Lightford said in a statement. “The $15 minimum wage is a testament to our commitment to economic justice and our belief that everyone who works full time deserves a living wage.” The value of a $15 minimum wage, however, has changed since lawmakers acted in 2019. A person making $8.25 in February 2019 would need to earn $10.30 today to have the same buying power after inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index. A $15 hourly wage today has the buying power that $12.02 had in February 2019. A person would need to make an $18.72 wage today to have the same buying power that $15 had in February 2019. Top Democrats didn’t say if they will push for new increases. “As a Senator of 25 years, history has shown my commitment of fighting to ensure workers are paid a living wage. That commitment still holds strong today,” Lightford said in an email statement. Pritzker said he supports ideas that will help workers make more money, but didn’t commit to supporting any plan to raise the minimum wage further when pressed about it at a news conference Dec. 11. “We always are thinking about how do you balance the need for higher wages with the needs that businesses have to hire people and do it affordably. But I think we did it the right way when we did it back in 2019,” Pritzker said. The new $15 wage equates to a 40-hour-per-week annual salary of $31,200 before taxes. That equals the federal government’s poverty level for a four-person household. The poverty level is $15,060 in a single-person household. But according to calculations in a national project by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $15 hourly still doesn’t equate to a “living” wage in Illinois, based on U.S. Census Bureau cost of living and other cost estimates provided by federal agencies adjusted for inflation. A single adult with no children needs a $22.86 hourly salary to make a living wage in Illinois, while a two-parent household with two working adults and three children would each need to earn $31.69. In a two-parent household with one working adult and one child, the worker needs $36.49 to make a living wage, according to the MIT project. Inflation is making it hard for workers to benefit from wage increases, Sandoval said, adding rising wages also cause businesses to raise prices. “They might get the wage increase on one side, but their cost of living goes up accordingly,” Sandoval said.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen reflected on Buffalo’s many offseason critics and doubters when asked about the Bills achieving their latest milestones while sewing up the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the unraveling and undisciplined New York Jets on Sunday. It was a the Bills quarterback’s “I told you so moment,” even though Allen elected not to use those exact words. “It speaks to the staff that we’ve got here, the guys that we’ve got in this locker room, how this team is put together and the culture that we have,” Allen said. “We didn’t really pay attention to the preseason notions, but we heard them and we saw them and we knew what people were saying. "But it had no effect on us.” Well, that might be a stretch when it comes to motivation. What’s unquestioned is how Allen and the Bills (13-3) overcame a young, patchwork roster following the offseason departure of six of eight team captains — including Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston — to run away with their fifth consecutive AFC East title and win a franchise-best 13 games for the fifth time in team history, and third since 2020. Coach Sean McDermott didn’t leave much doubt as to who deserves the most credit for leading the Bills to their sixth consecutive playoff berth, and helping them set the single-season franchise records for points (509) and touchdowns (63). “I think Josh Allen continues to show why he should be the MVP,” McDermott said. “I’ve been around this league long enough to know to see MVP every year for many years. And what he has done on this team and this organization in this community — and no offense to anybody else — but I’ve got a hard time believing that someone’s done more.” Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to become the NFL’s first player to score 40 touchdowns in five consecutive seasons. He did so in an outing Buffalo blew the game open by capitalizing on two Jets turnovers and scoring three touchdowns over a 5:01 span in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways overall and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, including a 2-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. Nothing went right in what became a comedy of errors for Rodgers and the Jets (4-12). New York will finish with five or fewer wins for the seventh time over a 14-season playoff drought — the NFL’s longest active streak. “It’s kind of like the season, it just got away from us. Too many games got away from us,” said Rodgers, who finished 12 of 18 for 112 yards and two interceptions before being pulled in favor of Tyrod Taylor with Buffalo leading 40-0. “We were moving the ball well and then just hit a wall. And that’s kind of been the season.” Rodgers, who entered the game with 499 career TD passes and looking to become just the fifth player to reach 500, was instead shut out and became the NFL’s most sacked quarterback. The 41-year-old has now been sacked 568 times , moving ahead of Tom Brady (565) and into first place on the career list. Taylor accounted for all of New York’s points, with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson and a 20-yarder to Tyler Conklin. Discipline was an issue for a Jets team that fell to 2-9 since Jeff Ulbrich took over as interim coach. New York finished with 16 accepted penalties for 120 yards. “It’s frustrating, it’s embarrassing, it’s maddening. It’s all of that,” Ulbrich said. Allen had a short and efficient outing, finishing 16 of 27 for 182 yards with a 30-yard TD pass to Amari Cooper and a 14-yarder to Keon Coleman before giving way to backup Mitchell Trubisky with Buffalo leading 33-0 through three quarters. And Trubisky piled on by completing a 69-yard touchdown pass to practice squad call-up Tyrell Shavers 2:23 into the fourth quarter. Shavers became the 13th Bills player to catch a touchdown pass, matching the single-season NFL record, to validate the “everybody eats” mantra Allen and the offense used to approach this season. The Bills defense enjoyed a dominating performance to snap a shaky three-game stretch in which it combined to allow 1,357 yards, 86 first downs and 107 points. “I wouldn’t say need ... and I don’t want to say reassurance, either,” said A.J. Epenesa, who sacked Rodgers for the safety. “But it just shows that this is what we can do and this is the standard that needs to be upheld.” Milestones Allen’s 1-yard score was the 65th rushing TD of his career, matching the team record held by Thurman Thomas. ... James Cook scored on a 4-yard run for his 15th TD rushing of the season, one short of the Bills' single-season record set by O.J. Simpson in a 14-game season in 1975. Cook matched Allen, who scored 15 last year. ... Wilson reached 1,000 yards receiving for the third straight year to start his career, the first Jets player to do so and the 10th player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. Up next Jets: Close the season by hosting the Miami Dolphins. Bills: Play their regular-season finale at the New England Patriots. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl John Wawrow, The Associated Press
Trigger-happy or justified? How a cop ended 95yo's lifeIndia’s 2024 Space and Nuclear Milestones Drive Global Power Status: ExpertCobalt's robots patrol areas and report their findings to a human-staffed call center. Have you ever had your turkey sandwich vanish mysteriously from the office fridge or found your bag of almonds missing from the breakroom cabinet? If so, you’re no stranger to the antics of the elusive office food thief . It happens almost every holiday season and is now becoming a routine thing at the workplace. This culprit, lurking in workplaces everywhere, has a knack for sending employees into a fury of frustration. It’s a universal dilemma. Many of us have silently wished for karma to strike these food pilferers with a lifetime of stomach troubles. What kind of person, we wonder, would stoop so low as to steal a coworker’s meal ? While the occasional leftover dessert may tempt even the most principled among us, most would never cross that line without asking permission or leaving compensation. What kind of person, we wonder, would stoop so low as to steal a coworker’s meal? (iStock) But who exactly is the office refrigerator bandit? Could it be: A financially strapped recent graduate struggling to make ends meet? The boss with an "everything here belongs to me" mentality? A busy parent dodging dinner duty for their kids? A thrill-seeking salesperson who thrives on risk? All of the above? WOMAN'S SANDWICH SABOTAGE OF HER HUSBAND GOES VIRAL ON REDDIT: 'GRAPES OF PETTY' Regardless of their motives, combating office food theft requires creative strategies. Below are five practical – and sometimes playful – ways to protect your cherished casserole or frozen meal from falling victim to workplace larceny. 1. Label Your Food Writing your name on your food may not be a foolproof deterrent, but it can ward off less experienced thieves. However, beware – if someone in the office harbors a grudge against you, your name might become an invitation rather than a warning. Even so, labeling your food adds a layer of risk for the perpetrator, which could make them think twice before taking what isn’t theirs. Office food thieves often gravitate toward indulgent, calorie-laden snacks and meals. (iStock) 2. Choose Healthier Options Office food thieves often gravitate toward indulgent, calorie-laden snacks and meals. Items like leftover desserts, Lean Cuisines and Hot Pockets are prime targets. In contrast, healthier options such as turkey sausages, hard-boiled egg whites or a plate of Brussels sprouts are far less enticing. By sticking to nutritious, less appealing fare, you might just save yourself the trouble of becoming a victim. 3. Install a Camera System Modern technology makes it easier than ever to catch food thieves in the act. Affordable and discreet cameras can be hidden in the office kitchen, on bulletin boards or even inside the refrigerator itself. With many systems accessible via smartphone, you can monitor the situation from virtually anywhere. For less than $10, you can take the first step toward solving the mystery of your missing meals. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION 4. Set a Playful Trap Take a page from crime dramas and set a clever trap – without breaking any workplace rules. For instance, add an extra-hot dose of spicy sauce to your food or attach a humorous note claiming the contents to be something unusual (like baby formula or magical brownies). While harmless, such tactics can make would-be thieves think twice before risking embarrassment or discomfort. Just be sure to avoid anything that could land you in trouble with HR! Fridge theft in the workplace is more than just an inconvenience – it’s a growing phenomenon. (iStock) 5. Opt for "Assembly Required" Meals Convenience is a thief’s best friend. Pre-packaged or ready-to-eat foods, like sandwiches or snack bags, are easy pickings. In contrast, meals that require preparation – such as those stored in multiple containers or needing assembly – can be a deterrent. A thief is less likely to go through the trouble of preparing your meal when there are easier targets available. The Bigger Picture Fridge theft in the workplace is more than just an inconvenience – it’s a growing phenomenon, particularly in offices with shared or open workspaces. But what drives someone to steal food from their colleagues? Is it pure hunger? Apathy toward getting caught? Or perhaps a bizarre sense of adventure akin to a sequel movie called – "Smoked Turkey and the Bandit"? CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Whatever the motivation, it’s clear that office food thieves are here to stay. As workplaces become more collaborative and personal refrigerators become a luxury, employees must remain vigilant. By employing these strategies, you can safeguard your meals and avoid the frustration of opening an empty lunchbox. Remember: the next time you prepare your famous casserole, consider these tips to ensure it doesn’t mysteriously disappear before lunchtime. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE BY TED JENKIN Ted Jenkin is CEO and co-founder of Oxygen Financial and president of Exit Stage Left Advisors.
Poland Introduces Mandatory Firearms Training for Children
Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attemptGoogle is criticizing what it called a “radical” proposal to remedy government antitrust claims. The tech giant made the argument in a blog post Thursday (Nov. 21), one day after the U.S. Department of Justice called for Google to divest its Chrome browser to answer a ruling that the company has a search market monopoly. “DOJ had a chance to propose remedies related to the issue in this case: search distribution agreements with Apple , Mozilla , smartphone OEMs and wireless carriers,” the post said. “Instead, DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and America’s global technology leadership. DOJ’s wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the court’s decision. It would break a range of Google products — even beyond Search — that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives.” In a court filing Wednesday (Nov. 20), the government said forcing Google to sell Chrome would make for a more equitable search engine market. Selling, the filing said, “will permanently stop Google’s control of this critical search access point and allow rival search engines the ability to access the browser that for many users is a gateway to the internet.” Google argued in the blog post that the proposal would undermine the quality of its products and bring about “government micromanagement of Google Search” by appointing a “Technical Committee.” “As just one example, DOJ’s proposal would literally require us to install not one but two separate choice screens before you could access Google Search on a Pixel phone you bought,” the post said. “And the design of those choice screens would have to be approved by the Technical Committee. And that’s just a small part of it. We wish we were making this up.” A federal court ruled in August that Google has a monopoly on the search market, following a 2020 antitrust suit by the DOJ. The department said in October it was weighing a breakup of Google’s businesses that could include splitting off its Chrome, Play or Android units. In an Oct. 8 court filing , the DOJ floated limits to default agreements and “other revenue-sharing arrangements related to search and search-related products,” which would cover Google’s multibillion-dollar search arrangements with Apple and Samsung .Joe Biden led US presidents and other world leaders in paying tribute Sunday to Jimmy Carter who died aged 100. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Biden said in a statement released by the White House. “He saved, lifted and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” To President-elect Donald Trump, Americans owe Carter “a debt of gratitude.” “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” he said on social media. Former president Bill Clinton, a Southern Democrat like Carter, said his predecessor had “worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world.” He added, in a joint statement with his wife and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, that Carter “lived to serve others — until the very end.” To former president George W. Bush, Carter “dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency.” And for former president Barack Obama, Carter “taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service.” Among other US politicians sharing their condolences, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Carter “taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others.” – ‘Lover of democracy’ – Carter “was early to recognize that protecting our shared planet and promoting global public health were vital to national security interests,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. In one of the first reactions from abroad, French President Emmanuel Macron said Carter had “been a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace. “France sends its heartfelt thoughts to his family and to the American people,” he said. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted Carter’s post-presidency work with the nonprofit Carter Center “saved countless lives and helped bring many neglected tropical diseases close to elimination.” Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hailed Carter as “a lover of democracy and defender of peace,” noting his pressuring of Brazil’s dictatorship to release political prisoners. “He criticized unilateral military action by superpowers and the use of killer drones,” Lula said. “He worked with Brazil to mediate conflicts in Venezuela and to help Haiti.” “He will be remembered forever as a name that defends the idea that peace is the most important condition for development.” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.Have $5,000? These 2 Stocks Could Be Bargain Buys for 2025 and Beyond.
Readers Write: Abortion debate, Gaetz report, Dean Phillips, headlines, media literacyJapan foreign minister planning China visit in late December
Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing and moves within 100 of Dickerson's record PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season, reaching the milestone with a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys. That rush gave Barkley 2,005 yards with one game left and left him exactly 100 yards from Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley could potentially top the record in next week’s finale against the New York Giants. However, that game will be mostly meaningless for the Eagles, who could opt to rest Barkley to protect him from injury ahead of the playoffs. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekIt's no secret the New York Giants have been bad at winning games this season, but on Sunday, they were bad at losing. The Giants came into Sunday's contest with the Indianapolis Colts in position to earn the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft in April. All they had to do was lose to the Colts and drop their final game of the season against the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, New York had its best offensive display of the season as it downed Indianapolis 45-33. Quarterback Drew Lock completed 17 of his 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Lock also scored on the ground. Star rookie Malik Nabers was his favorite target as he hauled in seven receptions for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton also found the endzone through the air. After he scored, Slayton had an emphatic message for those wanting the team to tank for the top pick. With the Giants' loss, the New England Patriots can now claim the top pick with a loss to the Buffalo Bills next week. The win is impressive and likely would have made fans very happy earlier this season, but with nothing to play for, the Giants cost themselves the top pick in the draft and were met with trolling on social media. There might not be a No. 1 pick for the Giants this year, but at least they avoided being the first team in NFL history to go 0-9 at home.Stocks drifted higher on Wall Street in midday trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped boost the market. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:32 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Intel was up 0.7% and Apple gained 0.4%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.9%, Amazon was down 0.5%, and Netflix gave up 1.4%. Health care stocks also helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.9% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.9%, Best Buy was up 2.1% and Dollar Tree gained 2.2%. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.
How China's Antitrust Tactics Undermine U.S. Tech LeadershipBig Update: Apple's budget iPhone to be upgraded next year; here's all about the new phone that is packed with featuresStocks drifted higher on Wall Street in midday trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped boost the market. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1%. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 19 points, or 0.1%, as of 12:32 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up less than 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.9%, Intel was up 0.7% and Apple gained 0.4%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.9%, Amazon was down 0.5%, and Netflix gave up 1.4%. Health care stocks also helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.9% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 2.9%, Best Buy was up 2.1% and Dollar Tree gained 2.2%. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 15.8%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.