SBA Communications Corp. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors
Republicans lash out at Democrats' claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is 'compromised'
Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent is a credible, safe choice for US Treasury secretary -- and one that is likely positive for markets -- observers said Saturday following President-elect Donald Trump's highly anticipated nomination. His selection came after competition for the top economic job spilled into the open last weekend, with the world's richest man Elon Musk throwing his support instead behind Trump's transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick. Lutnick has since been named commerce secretary to lead Trump's tariff and trade agenda, and Bessent's nomination days later appears to be uncontroversial for now. "Scott Bessent is a credible, mainstream pick for Treasury Secretary," said Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard University and former top White House economic adviser. "I could see previous administrations as having chosen him," Furman, a former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, told AFP. But a key difference is that Bessent, 62, has had to adopt and defend views on topics like tariffs, in a way "he never would have in pursuit of the job for a previous Republican administration." Tariffs are a key part of Trump's economic agenda, with the Republican president-elect vowing sweeping duties on allies and adversaries alike. In an opinion piece published earlier this month on Fox News, Bessent defended the potential use of tariffs as a means to raise revenue for the government, protect strategic US industries and negotiate with trading partners. He would be one of the first openly gay Cabinet officials if confirmed by the Senate, and the first at the helm of the Treasury Department. Jens Nordvig, chief executive of data and analytics firm Exante Data who has worked with Bessent, drew a contrast between his demeanor and that of other Trump supporters. While some Trump allies have a tendency towards "general sweeping statements," Bessent is an "analytical thinker, and he communicates accordingly," Nordvig told AFP. He counts Bessent among his early clients. "I would expect his messaging to be very focused, to get his key points across, without any unnecessary flamboyance or gusto," Nordvig added of the Wall Street veteran. Calling Bessent a "safe choice," Brookings senior fellow in economic studies David Wessel told AFP: "He will be an adult in the room for the Trump administration." Besides Bessent, others seen as top contenders for Treasury chief in recent days included former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh, Apollo Global Management chief executive Marc Rowan, and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty. It remains to be seen if Bessent will be a big influence "moderating some of the administration's more aggressive trade policy" or simply be a spokesman, Wessel said. He does not have much experience in dealing with Congress either, and this would be important next year as the Trump administration works to raise the debt ceiling and effort a tax bill to deliver on his economic promises. Bessent would also have to grapple with the country's debt burden, with debt borrowed at much lower interest rates previously and Trump's plans estimated to add trillions over time. In an open letter published Saturday, Nordvig called for "thoughtful leadership" at the Treasury, saying a realistic approach to tax cuts and bond issuance was needed. He also sounded a hopeful note, saying Bessent would work to reduce extreme risks for markets. Krishna Guha, vice chairman of Evercore ISI, believes Bessent's nomination "will be well received by financial markets," given his deep understanding of markets and macro conditions. Guha also warned of the risk of bond yields spiking and "pushing up mortgage rates and tanking the housing market, while also causing stocks to sell off." In his past administration, Trump has viewed the stock market as a gauge of his success. bys/md
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
NoneChicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus dropped to 14-31 overall with the team following Sunday’s 30-27 loss to the Minnows Vikings at Soldier Field. There was hope at one point that at least Eberflus could go 14-30-1, but that was squashed when his defense took the field in overtime to play soft coverage. The Bears have now lost five games in a row, including three straight at home. The Bears had plenty of opportunities to defeat their NFC North rival, but mistakes, especially by the coaching staff, continue to haunt the team. More confusion for the Chicago Bears Trailing 17-10 in the third quarterback with the ball at the Minnesota 27-yard line, the Bears chose to go for it on a fourth-and-four. There appeared to be confusion before the play, as kicker Cairo Santos ran onto the field thinking he was about to try a field goal attempt. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams appeared flustered by the uncertainty. Williams appeared rushed to get the snap off, and his rhythm was affected in a play that resulted in an overthrown pass that bounced off Keenan Allen ’s fingertips. (Allen ran a route short of the first down marker.) Vikings ball. Matt Eberflus takes responsibility for the botched play Following the game, reporters asked Eberflus about the apparent confusion. The third-year head coach took responsibility for poor communication on the pay. “We felt good about going for it there, we really did,” Eberflus said. “That was a green light for us. I gotta do a better job of communicating to the field goal team.” Eberflus said Williams received the offensive play call late from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. “It’s just to the point where I have to do a better job of communicating everything to everybody, and if [Williams] was late then I might have been late, and then he was maybe late getting the call,” Eberflus said. He said the Bears coaching staff was planning on third down to go for it on fourth and short, but Eberflus didn’t make that clearly known to his coaching staff. “We were planning ahead it was important that they do that,” Eberflus said. “I gotta do a better job of communicating that. I wasn’t as clear as I usually am.” How the Bears coaching staff were planning to go for it but didn’t know is beyond me. What it sounds like Eberflus is saying is that he didn’t tell his offensive coordinator or special teams coordinator what his plan was before the fourth down. Eberflus had a similar blunder during the Bears’ Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Eberflus put up one finger to signal for an extra point attempt before choosing to go for two. Amid the confusion, he burned a much-needed time out. This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.Maverick McNealy birdies the last hole at Sea Island to finally become PGA Tour winner