
What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing . But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin , gold and other investments also drove higher. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that defined the year. All are as of Dec. 20. 1998 Remember when President Bill Clinton got impeached or when baseball’s Mark McGwire hit his 70th home run against the Montreal Expos? That was the last time the U.S. stock market closed out a second straight year with a leap of at least 20%, something the S&P 500 is on track to do again this year. The index has climbed 24.3% so far this year, not including dividends, following last year’s spurt of 24.2%. 57 The number of all-time highs the S&P 500 has set so far this year. The first came early, on Jan. 19, when the index capped a two-year comeback from the swoon caused by high inflation and worries that high interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to combat it would create a recession. But the index was methodical through the rest of the year, setting a record in every month outside of April and August, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. The latest came on Dec. 6. 3 The number of times the Federal Reserve has cut its main interest rate this year from a two-decade high, offering some relief to the economy. Expectations for those cuts, along with hopes for more in 2025, were a big reason the U.S. stock market has been so successful this year. The 1 percentage point of cuts, though, is still short of the 1.5 percentage points that many traders were forecasting for 2024 at the start of the year. The Fed disappointed investors in December when it said it may cut rates just two more times in 2025, fewer than it had earlier expected. 1,508 That’s how many points the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by the day after Election Day, as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world . The more widely followed S&P 500 soared 2.5% for its best day in nearly two years. Aside from bitcoin, stocks of banks and smaller winners were also perceived to be big winners. The bump has since diminished amid worries that Trump’s policies could also send inflation higher. $100,000 The level that bitcoin topped to set a record above $108,000 this past month. It’s been climbing as interest rates come down, and it got a particularly big boost following Trump’s election. He’s turned around and become a fan of crypto, and he’s named a former regulator who’s seen as friendly to digital currencies as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, replacing someone who critics said was overly aggressive in his oversight. Bitcoin was below $17,000 just two years ago following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. 26.7% Gold’s rise for the year, as it also hit records and had as strong a run as U.S. stocks. Wars around the world have helped drive demand for investments seen as safe, such as gold. It’s also benefited from the Fed’s cut to interest rates. When bonds are paying less in interest, they pull away fewer potential buyers from gold, which pays investors nothing. $420 It’s a favorite number of Elon Musk, and it’s also a threshold that Tesla’s stock price passed in December as it set a record. The number has a long history among marijuana devotees, and Musk famously said in 2018 that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share . Tesla soared this year, up from less than $250 at the start, in part because of expectations that Musk’s close relationship with Trump could benefit the company. $91.2 billion That’s how much revenue Nvidia made in the nine months through Oct. 27, showing how the artificial-intelligence frenzy is creating mountains of cash. Nvidia’s chips are driving much of the move into AI, and its revenue through the last nine months catapulted from less than $39 billion the year before. Such growth has boosted Nvidia’s worth to more than $3 trillion in total. 74% GameStop’s gain on May 13 after Keith Gill, better known as “Roaring Kitty,” appeared online for the first time in three years to support the video game retailer’s stock, which he helped rocket to unimaginable heights during the “ meme stock craze ” in 2021. Several other meme stocks also jumped following his post in May on the social platform X, including AMC Entertainment. Gill later disclosed a sizeable stake in the online pet products retailer Chewy, but he sold all of his holdings by late October . 1.6%, 3.0% and 3.1% That’s how much the U.S. economy grew, at annualized seasonally adjusted rates, in each of the three first quarters of this year. Such growth blew past what many pessimists were expecting when inflation was topping 9% in the summer of 2022. The fear was that the medicine prescribed by the Fed to beat high inflation — high interest rates — would create a recession. Households at the lower end of the income spectrum in particular are feeling pain now, as they contend with still-high prices. But the overall economy has remained remarkably resilient. 20.1% This is the vacancy rate for U.S. office buildings — an all-time high — through the first three quarters of 2024, according to data from Moody’s. The fact the rate held steady for most of the year was something of a win for office building owners, given that it had marched up steadily from 16.8% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Demand for office space weakened as the pandemic led to the popularization of remote work. 3.73 million That’s the total number of previously occupied homes sold nationally through the first 11 months of 2024. Sales would have to surge 20% year-over-year in December for 2024’s home sales to match the 4.09 million existing homes sold in 2023, a nearly 30-year low. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale and elevated mortgage rates have discouraged many would-be homebuyers. -- The Associated PressAll of Jamaal Williams’ stats can be found below. Entering Week 13, Williams has 32 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown. 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Wärtsilä Gas Solutions service agreement will optimise liquefaction operations for five GasLog LNG CarriersWith five fewer days during the official holiday shopping season, Saturday already felt like crunch time for some Lincoln shoppers and businesses. Daniel Schmidt, who owns HobbyTown, 4107 Pioneer Woods Drive, said the toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year. He also reported shoppers had been buying gifts earlier. Dahlia Brandon of Lincoln tickles her 15-month-old daughter, Gema, with a stuffed animal while shopping at HobbyTown on Saturday. The toy and game store nearly doubled its sales on Black Friday from last year. “The reason folks are coming in and shopping at the volume that they're shopping at is that compressed shopping schedule,” Schmidt said. “There are less days, and it feels like there's less time to do things.” Ron Romero, owner Schafer's, also reported strong Black Friday sales at the appliance and electronics store, mirroring nationwide projections from the National Retail Federation . The group predicted a record 183.4 million people would shop in-person and online between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday. People are also reading... Romero echoed Schmidt's sentiment on the pressure shoppers felt. “If anything, it's just going to increase the urgency to not procrastinate,” he added. A later Thanksgiving shortened what is typically considered the official shopping season. Last year, Thanksgiving was on Nov. 23, which left 31 days for shoppers to find that perfect gift. This year, shoppers had just 26 days beginning on Black Friday to buy gifts before Christmas. The National Retail Federation doesn't believe the shortened timeline will hurt retailers. Its consumer study predicts $902 will be spent on average per person on gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items this winter. “Despite the shorter window of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, retailers are prepared to meet the needs of consumers by providing holiday shoppers with earlier deals and sales and by ensuring inventory is available for the most in-demand items this year," said Katherine Cullen, the group's vice president of industry and consumer insights, in a press release . Schmidt said he prepared for the holiday rush at his store by stocking up on products earlier than normal to avoid ongoing supply chain issues. “I can’t necessarily rely on taking a refill during the season,” he said. Shoppers, too, are feeling the crunch. Cindy Jacobson started her holiday shopping Saturday at HobbyTown, looking at "Gundam" figures for her nephew Shawn Phillips. Jacobson hopes planning ahead keeps her on track. “I'm not one to wait to the last minute, so we're getting a jump on it,” she said. Phillips urged Jacobson to purchase the anime figures from “Gundam” on Saturday instead of waiting since he was worried HobbyTown might sell out. “I'm trying to warn her, don't hold back if you see it,” he said. Emily Bals started her Christmas shopping on Black Friday because she was nervous about the fast-approaching holiday. She typically starts gift shopping at the end of the first week of December. “I'm a little nervous just because of the shopping piece, and it's just less time that we have to get to prepare for Christmas,” Bals said Saturday while shopping at Habitat, a kitchen and gift store in the Pioneer Woods shopping center. Bals said she’s more excited than nervous with the “crunch time” since the Christmas season won’t drag on as long. Jeff Hajny, a shopper at the SouthPointe Pavilions Barnes & Noble, agreed. Hajny said he likes having Thanksgiving and Christmas closer together. “Because after a while, you're super excited for it, and then you kind of burn out,” he said. Megan Hundt, another shopper at Barnes & Noble, said she feels the pressure but isn’t concerned she won’t get her gifts in time. “I'm a last-minute procrastinator shopper anyways, and things always end up getting done,” she said. A few shoppers the Journal Star spoke to said missing the five days didn’t change their shopping habits much this season, including Logan Koenig, who was shopping at Painted Tree Boutiques at SouthPointe on Saturday. “I usually wait till around Thanksgiving anyway, so plus or minus five days didn't really make a difference in my mind.” Top Journal Star photos for November 2024 Rachel Mulcahy of Lincoln unveils a roll of about 300 signatures supporting the group Justice in Action during a rally in front of the Hall of Justice on Thursday. The scroll was later delivered to the office of Lancaster County Attorney Pat Condon. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola "bowls" the football after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Norfolk Catholic head coach Jeff Bellar is doused with water byhis players as the clock hits zero as the Knights celebrate their win over the Bishop Neumann Cavilers in the Class C-2 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. Taylor Woods looks through 3D glasses held by her cousin, Jalyn Wurm, during a sensory night for the annual Zoo Lights event on Monday at Lincoln Children's Zoo. Nebraska players carry the Freedom Trophy after defeating Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Millard South's Daxton Williams (0) smiles as he hugs his youth football coach Eric Kuhl after winning the Class A state football championship game against Omaha Westside on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Millard South won 27-10. Wahoo's Kip Brigham (32) is lifted up by Jake Scanlon (53) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of the Class C-1 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. The sun sets as the lights come on at the Nebraska Christmas Lights Show at Star City Shores on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. Nebraska's Rebekah Allick (5) celebrates a kill during the second set of the match against Wisconsin on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Justice Jeffrey J. Funke (right) is sworn into office by retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Hon. Michael Heavican during a Supreme Court investiture ceremony in the Capitol rotunda on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at the Capitol. Wahoo players try to douse head coach Chad Fox with Gatorade after winning the Class C-1 championship game Tuesday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Brice Turner celebrates on the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with Dylan Raiola during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Bennington's Aidan Smith (17) recovers a fumble by Omaha Skutt's Dylan VanDyke (12) during the third quarter of the Class B state football championship on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Lincoln firefighter Andrew Brenner sprays water from the top of a ladder truck on to the roof of a former Village Inn at 29th and O streets Wednesday morning. Sandy Creek's Jacob Petr (top) and Sandy Creek's Wes Biltoft (bottom) attempt to stop Stanton's Becker Pohlman as he dives toward the pylon for a two point conversion in the second quarter of the Class D-1 championship game Monday at Memorial Stadium. Creighton's Steven Ashworth (1) attempts to save a ball from going out of bounds against Nebraska on Friday at CHI Health Center Omaha. Luca Gustafson, 6, rides to school Tuesday with the bike bus at Riley Elementary School. Each Tuesday, students can bike to school with adult chaperones along a specific route. Lincoln Fire Fighters Association member Andy Evans works to assemble a headboard during a bed-building day hosted by Sleep in Heavenly Peace on Saturday at Hampton Enterprises. Volunteers helped build 20 beds for children in need. Wahoo's Braylon Iversen celebrates with Warrior players after they defeated Auburn in a Class C-1 state semifinal game Friday in Wahoo. Second-time mother giraffe Allie nuzzles her new calf in the giraffe experience enclosure on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. Nebraska celebrates during the first set of the match against Minnesota on Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center. Covered by a canopy of changing leaves, a car cruises along A street in a neighborhood north of Downtown Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Mild temperatures continue into the mid weeks of November. Wednesday calls for a chance of rain showers before noon with gusty winds. Most days this week are expected to be accompanied by mostly sunny skies and consistent breezes. Iris Gonnerman, 8 (from right), her brother Oliver, 6, and cousin Noreen Milana, 9, wave flags while watching Veterans Parade outside the state Capitol on Sunday. Nebraska's Connor Essegian scores against Bethune-Cookma on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Norris' Anna Jelinek (left) lifts the the Class B championship trophy alongside Rya Borer on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Lincoln Lutheran players embrace one another as threy celebrate defeating Thayer Central in four sets to win the Class C-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Superior players celebrate their three set win over EMF during the Class D-1 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Reflected in a ceiling beam, Leyton takes on Shelton in the first set of the Class D-2 championship match Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Omaha Skutt's Nicole Ott (left) and Addison West react after a point in the second set during a Class B semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Hasan Khalil, owner of Golden Scissors, trims the beard of Vitaliy Martynyuk on Friday at his barbershop in Lincoln. Southwest fans Kylea Stritt (from left), Peg Rice, and Stacey Wilson cheer on their team as the "horsemen" during a Class D-1 first-round match Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Millard West players dogpile on the floor after defeating Lincoln Southwest in five set match during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln Southwest's Shelby Harding dives to save the ball from hitting the ground in the first set during a Class A first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Second graders Eli Gonzalez (left) and Shrutoshome Datta look at drawings that first and second grade students made at the Monster Jam Art Show on Wednesday at Elliott Elementary School. The elementary school students made drawings of monsters to be turned into different types of art by Lincoln High School students. Norris players celebrate a point against Lincoln Pius X in a Class B state volleyball tournament match, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (right) talks with supporters, including Darlene Starman of Lincoln, at her campaign office on Tuesday in Lincoln. A cutout of Jesus watches over voters on Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Abigail Webb votes on Tuesday at F Street Community Center. Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) shoots a layup while defended by Texas Rio Grande Valley's Marshal Destremau (left) and Trey Miller (right) on Nov. 4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) autographs a poster for Freeman Public Schools student Godwil Muthiani, 12 (center), after the game against UNO on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Muthiani's sign says, "#3 Allison Weinder is the GOAT! Sorry I'm only 12." Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule speaks to an official after a targeting call on Nebraska during the first quarter of the game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. The call was overturned after review. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell scores against UCLA in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Cadet Elena Burgwald (left) and Cadet Mason Beck look up as a B-1B Lancer flies over Memorial Stadium before the UCLA game against Nebraska on Saturday. UCLA's K.J. Wallace (7) defends Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) as he makes a diving 40-yard catch in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Lincoln Southeast quarterback Tre Bollen (left) and Tate Sandman react after losing a Class A football playoff game against Millard North on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Seacrest Field. Millard North won 10-3. After the field clears, Norris' Jarrett Behrends (17) kicks his helmet after the Titans fell to Waverly 16-17 in a Class B football playoff game on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Waverly High School. A line of people waiting to vote has been normal at the Lancaster County Election Commission Office at 601 N. 46th St., as it was Friday afternoon. The office will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to allow voters to cast an early ballot. If they wait until Election Day, they will need to go to their precinct or drop off their ballots at one of five drop boxes across the city. For more stories about about Tuesday's election, go to Journalstar.com . Reach the writer at 402-473-7326 or jdiep@journalstar.com . On Twitter @Justin_Diep_ Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.None
A top-secret family recipe, that VERY amorous kiss under the mistletoe - and a dead guest. So who's...Washington: Leaders from various Indian-American communities have applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to "inclusive growth" in India. At the half-day Global Equity Alliance Summit, hosted at Washington Adventist University on Friday, the leaders said the minority communities in India has remained safe and secure under Modi's governance. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results The summit, held in association with the Indian Minorities Foundation and Chandigarh University, also saw the launch of the Association of American Indian Minorities. The initiative was launched against the backdrop of a series of attacks on Hindu temples in the US and Canada this year. In recognition of Modi's efforts towards inclusive development and minority welfare, the Washington Adventist University and the Association of American Indian Minorities honoured the Prime Minister with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment. Chandigarh University Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu received the award on Modi's behalf in his absence. The association's goal is to unite minorities in the country and work for the safety and security of Indian American minorities, according to the organisers here. 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This organisation is not going to be limited to the US, this is going to expand. We are going to expand Modi's vision of minority upliftment, and minority security throughout the world," said Jasdip Singh Jasse, founder and chairman of the Association of American Indian Minorities. "We thank Modi for inspiring us through his secular and democratic values that Bharat is spreading throughout the world," he said. The goal is to unite all minorities in the US and work for their security, Singh added. Dr Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, Provost at Washington Adventist University, said, "I see in Prime Minister Modi and I see in Martin Luther King Jr parallels in that they recognise the power of a dream. A dream where all people are esteemed and have value and access. They are mindful in order for those dreams to be realised that a structure, a legal structure is required." Elisha B Pulivarti, Chief Executive Officer at US India SME Council, said Modi is doing a lot of things for Christians as well as other minorities. "Today (under Prime Minister Modi) Christians are safe (in India). We endorse him for his leadership. As a Christian I know a lot of Bishops and work with them in India...We thank him for what he's doing for the Christian community and other minority communities," Pulivarti said. In addition to Singh and Pulvarti, other board members of the organisation are Baljinder Singh, Dr Sukhpal Dhanoa, Pawan Bezwada, Dipak Thakker, Juned Qazi, and Nissim Reuben. "We are very grateful to our Motherland India, to Prime Minister Modi, and the Indian leadership across the political spectrum for the safety and wellbeing of the Jewish minority in India," Reuben said. David Byrd, former National Director of the US Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), said India is the new Switzerland of the world. "India is the new Switzerland: Strategic neutral, but yet helping other countries solve the problems between themselves," he said. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024 (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )India's 'Reluctant king' Manmohan Singh is dead. Check achievements of architect of reforms that saved country's economy