super bowl game 2024 2024’s most costly climate disasters killed 2,000 people and caused $229bn in damages, data shows

A broad coalition of civil liberties and activist organizations is calling on lawmakers across the U.S. to oppose bans on wearing masks in public before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Dozens of mask bans, which are typically presented as “anti-crime” bills, have been proposed at the local, state and federal level s in what critics say is a direct response to protests against the mass killing and displacement of Palestinians by Israel. Police in some states are reviving once-defunct mask bans dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, when masked members of the Ku Klux Klan violently terrorized Black people and immigrants. During the height of the COVID pandemic, politicians put out statements to ensure the public that archaic anti-mask laws still on the books in 16 states would not be enforced. Now, members of both parties are reversing course after months of mass protests in solidarity with Palestine that pro-Israel pundits conflate with violence and mischaracterize as antisemitism, despite the fact that pro-peace Jewish groups are integral to the movement. For example, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently expressed support for proposals to criminalize mask-wearing in public for reasons besides health protection. Similar proposals to restrict or ban masks have received bipartisan support in North Carolina , Los Angeles , St. Louis , Louisville , and beyond. “It’s no surprise that fascists and science-deniers want to ban masks from protests. But it’s alarming that supposedly progressive lawmakers are helping them do it,” said Evan Greer, director of the digital rights group Fight for the Future, in a statement . Greer said bans on masking in public have massive implications for social movements and personal autonomy. Masking is now the norm at many political protests — as well as at abortion and reproductive health clinics — to protect against both COVID and doxxing by far right extremists who seek to attack the privacy of people they disagree with and harass them online. “There are many reasons to cover your face at a protest or in public, from defending yourself from harassment and doxxing to protecting your community from COVID during an ongoing public health crisis,” Greer said. For people living with disabilities or compromised immune systems, masking to prevent illness is necessary for participating in public forums in the first place. Face masks also defend against rapidly advancing digital surveillance and facial recognition technology, which is providing both law enforcement and internet trolls with new tools to target individuals as Trump pledges to take “retribution” against Democrats and leftists. While new and proposed masking laws typically contain exceptions for masks worn for religious or health reasons, it’s virtually impossible for police to tell the difference at a large event without confronting people directly. Everyone has a health reason to mask in public with COVID still floating around, and that ambiguity creates space for “discretionary and selective enforcement,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union. A newly instated mask ban on Long Island, New York, has already been weaponized against a peaceful demonstrator wearing a keffiyeh, the iconic scarf symbolizing solidarity with Palestine. A video shows activist Xavier Roa being handcuffed with a keffiyeh around his neck during a protest in September outside a synagogue that was reportedly promoting the sale of stolen Palestinian land to buyers in the United States. Roa faced up to a year in jail or a $1,000 fine under a law approved by Nassau County Republicans one month earlier in response to anti-genocide protests. The law has exceptions for masking in public for health or religious purposes, but police said Roa was concealing his identity and claimed to be wearing the keffiyeh in solidarity with Palestine, so they arrested him. Mayor Adams has pushed for a similar ban in New York City. In an early test of their ability to enforce anti-mask laws against protesters, prosecutors dropped the charges against Roa on November 22 after determining that they did not have enough evidence to convince a jury. The Nassau County mask ban also faces lawsuits filed by disabled residents who wear masks for health protection. However, even if violations of anti-mask laws may be difficult to prove in court, civil rights groups argue the laws provide police with enormous power to harass and arrest protesters as well as people who are disabled, immunocompromised, or suffering from Long COVID. “Like other anti-protest laws, these draconian measures will be selectively enforced, and used as an excuse by law enforcement to crack down on marginalized communities and protesters who they don’t like,” Greer said. In an open letter to policymakers, more than 40 organizations fighting for COVID justice, reproductive rights, organized labor and civil liberties, argues that criminalizing masking is a “serious threat” to public health, privacy and free speech, making “everyone less safe” while putting marginalized and disabled people already targeted by police at further risk. “As we continue to see sustained death and disablement due to COVID and Long COVID, the public health and disability justice implications of criminalizing mask-wearing are disastrous alone,” the letter states. “But to make matters worse, these bans violate our most fundamental civil liberties.” The letter points to North Carolina, where people who wear masks for health reasons reported an escalation in harassment as Republicans overrode the Democratic governor’s veto and put a harsh mask ban into effect . In June, a woman being treated for cancer was accosted and coughed on for wearing a mask. The North Carolina law allows police and property or business owners to demand that people unmask to be identified, which the groups argue could expose people not just to insults but also facial recognition software and “bad actors and their cameras.” Due to right-wing attacks on abortion rights and gender-affirming care, people may also choose to wear masks to avoid harassment and doxing when accessing reproductive health care, according to Jenna Sherman, a campaign director at the gender justice group UltraViolet. “Particularly in an era of increased surveillance and facial recognition, people are living in fear of being targeted for what should be routine, protected parts of our lives, like accessing reproductive healthcare,” Sherman recently wrote. “Everyone must have the right to choose to wear a mask regardless of whether it’s to protect their health or safeguard their privacy.” Sean O’Brien, founder of the Yale Privacy Lab, said masks provide people with “vital protection” not only from harassment but the “pervasive and growing tendrils of surveillance in our society.” “Mask bans create a chilling effect on speech and allow for biased and predictive policing, making it possible for facial recognition technology to follow individuals from protests and rallies all the way to their homes,” O’Brien wrote in a statement.City Council gets earful from public as hearings on 76ers arena plan resumeThe Great Danes (5-1) improved to 2-0 in the tournament. After Babacar Diallo made a layup with 10 seconds left to help the Roos tie the score at 65, the Great Danes drove down the court. Langford grabbed his own miss shot before the buzzer to give the Great Danes their fifth straight win. "I thought we showed a lot of basketball character today,” UAlbany head coach Dwayne Killings said in a postgame interview. “Finding ways to win. It'll make us stronger, and we'll refer to this when we get in another one- or two-point game with a minute left. We've already been there. We got the experience, we got the poise that we need, and we know what to do." Amar’e Marshall led the Great Danes with 18 points. Langford added 16 points, and Justin Neely had 10. Anderson Kop had 20 points for Kansas City (3-4), Jayson Petty scored 18 and Kasheem Grady II added 16. UAlbany plays American in the tournament finale at noon Sunday.

Pathstone Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in monday.com Ltd. ( NASDAQ:MNDY – Free Report ) by 22.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 18,249 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,332 shares during the quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC’s holdings in monday.com were worth $5,069,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in monday.com by 431.7% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 385,843 shares of the company’s stock worth $107,176,000 after purchasing an additional 313,279 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of monday.com by 20.2% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,122,690 shares of the company’s stock worth $270,299,000 after buying an additional 188,800 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of monday.com by 171.3% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 273,877 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,938,000 after buying an additional 172,919 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of monday.com by 34.4% during the 2nd quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 667,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $160,707,000 after buying an additional 170,800 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new position in monday.com during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,747,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.70% of the company’s stock. monday.com Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ MNDY opened at $284.59 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.74 billion, a PE ratio of 694.12, a P/E/G ratio of 7.16 and a beta of 1.31. monday.com Ltd. has a 1-year low of $170.00 and a 1-year high of $324.99. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $282.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $250.83. Analyst Ratings Changes MNDY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Capital One Financial began coverage on shares of monday.com in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $325.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of monday.com from $300.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of monday.com from $296.00 to $327.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on monday.com from $315.00 to $330.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on monday.com from $270.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 13th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $310.81. View Our Latest Analysis on monday.com monday.com Profile ( Free Report ) monday.com Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops software applications in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company provides Work OS, a cloud-based visual work operating system that consists of modular building blocks used and assembled to create software applications and work management tools. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MNDY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for monday.com Ltd. ( NASDAQ:MNDY – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for monday.com Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for monday.com and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

ENTRUSTED with our readers’ deep secrets, the Dear Deidre team really have a unique insight into what dilemmas the nation is grappling with. Of course, there are some constants — cheating, differing sex drives, low self-esteem and loneliness. But some issues loom larger in certain years as new problems come to the fore. As 2024 nears an end, we take a look at what exactly our readers have been writing in about. Every year, we help thousands of people by answering every single dilemma with a personalised answer, and we’ve kept a record of the issues we’ve tackled. Relationship issues consistently come out on top, with 23 per cent of the emails Dear Deidre receives focused on romantic problems. Sex came a close second, with 19 per cent of readers writing in with a sexual dilemma. Interestingly, half of every single relationship message addressed cheating. Sometimes, the unfaithful party would be writing in, otherwise a suspicious or heartbroken partner worried about their relationship. Among the emails about cheating on partners, home surveillance and doorbell cameras featured more prominently, with some partners forgetting to turn off cameras before inviting flings to come back to their homes. A growing number of readers also wrote in because, although they were separated, financial constraints meant they could not move out of the marital home. The reluctant house sharers were frustrated at being unable to move on — a trend that reflects economic uncertainty in the UK. Notable developments this year have been new requests for support with quitting vaping. Another new issue came in the form of pensioners worrying about losing their winter fuel allowance. Social media has been a common theme in all the categories. It is impossible to quantify but has had a huge impact. So many of the relationship problems relate to partners ogling scantily clad influencers or flirting with others they have met online. Plenty don’t see this as cheating but the feeling of betrayal is real for those on the receiving end. And it’s not just cheating that worries people. Time spent watching endless videos encourages weird infatuations, with one woman complaining her husband had become obsessed with the French election. He insisted they spend their family holiday in France watching speeches — and had previously had no interest in politics. The issue of phone addiction came up, particularly for parents fretting about not only what their children were being exposed to, but also how their mobile activity was affecting their own behaviour. They asked our team for help on how to manage this. And a huge number of adults wrote in fed up with their partner, who had little interest in them but spent all hours playing online games or scrolling through their socials. It’s clear that while technology enables us to do far more and do it efficiently, left unchecked it threatens our real-world connections and provides more opportunity for temptation. Next year, I will be recording when social media, phone usage and the internet are mentioned as part of the problem, and I predict this will be a huge growth area. Below is a reader’s letter about ogling, followed by one about winter fuel allowance. I also break down what percentages of our mail different types of letter make up. DEAR DEIDRE: MY ex saw me having sex with a one-night stand using the camera security system he’d installed as a favour to me. I was completely unaware that he was watching this, until he turned up the next morning and got very upset with me. Originally, I was grateful for his help setting up the system, but now I feel really uncomfortable. He said he’d received an alert on his phone and checked it by chance, but I can’t help worrying he’s keeping an eye on me. He insists he hasn’t been watching and that was a one-off, but the whole experience has really unsettled me. I’m 36, my ex is 39, and we were together for eight years before we broke up five months ago. Our split was both mutually agreed, and amicable, and we decided to remain friends. We still met up and sometimes even had sex, but as we didn’t discuss what this meant I thought we were simply friends with benefits. I really appreciated still having him in my life. When I was moving house, he offered to help, knowing how useless I am at DIY. He helped put up shelves, and installed security cameras which he set up online so I could view them through an app. I knew he had access to it all while he set it up but assumed he’d log out. So when I brought a man home, I didn’t think twice. Now I feel mortified. He says he didn’t mean to breach my privacy, but I feel so conflicted. DEIDRE SAYS: Watching you have sex with another man was a huge breach of your privacy, and you shouldn’t take it lightly. As a priority, please ensure that you are the only one with access to your security system. Make sure you’re the primary account holder and change your password so that he doesn’t have access. It’s completely understandable that this experience has made you question the sort of person he is. Unless you decide you can trust him completely, you would be wise to stay away. At the very least, it’s clear that the lines are blurred between you and your ex and some boundaries need to be re-established. As for your relationship with him, you need to decide if there’s any hope of a future together. If you decide there’s not, it would be best to step away so you can both move on. My support pack Moving On will help. DEAR DEIDRE : SINCE the Government cut my Winter Fuel Payment, I’ve been struggling to afford my bills. Now I’m forced to choose between putting my heating on or buying food, and the stress is making me unwell. I’m a 76-year-old pensioner, and live alone. Until this year, I was receiving £200 payments to cover the cost of my heating bills, and I heavily relied on it. So when the Government announced the change, I went into a complete panic. My pension is already low as it is, so without the extra payments I knew it was going to be a hard couple of months. When I contacted the council for help, they told me that, while I was eligible to apply, I had missed the deadline so now I’d have to go without. Ever since, my life has been an absolute nightmare. Now I wake up every morning to a freezing house – and no matter what I do, I can’t keep warm. The constant dread is getting me down, and I’m now struggling to cope. DEIDRE SAYS: I can only imagine how distressing this must be for you. While the qualifying week for this year’s Fuel Payment has now passed, you may still be eligible if you successfully apply for Pension Credit by December 21. Please note that you only have two days to do this, so please take action today. You may also be eligible for a £150 Warm Home Discount. You can find out more about this on the government website ( gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme ). TOP TOPICS: Relationships 23% Sex 19% Family 8% Parenting 7% Friendships 4% Workplace issues 5% Mental health 11% Health 5% Addictions 8% Bereavement 5% Sexuality 4% Other 1% SEX WOES Sex drive 43% Fetishes 16% Threesomes 12% Erection problems 11% Fantasies 7% Climaxing 4% Menopause 3% Other 4% LOVE Cheating 49% Domestic abuse 12% Addictive love 10% Broken heart 14% Online romance 6% Age gaps 5% Other 4% ADDICTION Alcohol 42% Porn 22% Drugs 13% Smoking 8% Vaping 5% Gambling 9% Shopping and spending 1%

Romad Dean scores 16 to lead Fordham over Maine 87-72For just one more day, Best Buy is slashing $100 off the new Asus ROG Ally X gaming handheld PC. Best Buy was the only vendor that discounted the Ally X for all of Black Friday and Cyber Monday and according to the product page, this deal is going to expire in one day. If you're shopping for the absolute best gaming handheld PC on the market , this is your last chance to pick one up below market price for the rest of the year. $100 Off the New Asus ROG Ally X In our Asus ROG Ally X review , gaming guru Jacqueline Thomas wrote that "the Asus ROG Ally X is simply the best handheld gaming PC on the market right now (knocking the Legion Go off its throne). With more and faster memory and double the battery as the original Ally, the Ally X will run any modern game without dying in an hour and a half." Like the Ally, the Ally X runs off the Windows 11 operating system. The benefit of this OS compared to the Steam Deck's proprietary Steam OS client is that you can install pretty much any Windows-based game launcher, including Battle.net, Xbox Games Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and of course Steam itself. That makes it more attractive to gamers who like to play games that aren't normally available on Steam and are harder to load onto the Steam Deck, like Fortnite, Genshin Impact, Minecraft, and more. Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.Mayor Ken Sim says abolition of elected park board will mean $70M in savings

(Bloomberg) — Business activity in the euro area unexpectedly shrank this month, fueling concerns about the prospects for Europe’s economy and suggesting the European Central Bank will need to be more aggressive with interest-rate cuts. The euro fell to its lowest level since 2022 against the dollar after the purchasing managers gauge of service providers and manufacturers weakened. Political crises in Germany and France, as well as the threat of tariffs from a Donald Trump presidency in the US, also weighed on the currency. Here are some of the charts that appeared on Bloomberg this week on the latest developments in the global economy, markets and geopolitics: Europe Euro-area business activity unexpectedly shrank in November, a sign of the damage being wrought by political chaos and heightened discord over trade. The euro fell to its weakest levels since 2022 against the dollar as traders priced in more interest-rate cuts from the European Central Bank. The chance of a 50 basis-point reduction in December rose to 50%, from about 15% at Thursday’s close. UK inflation accelerated more than forecast in October to well above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Consumer-price inflation rose 2.3% from a year earlier after a jump in energy bills. Services inflation — which is being monitored closely by rate-setters for signs of domestic pressures — remained elevated at 5%. A key gauge of euro-zone wages jumped by the most since the common currency was introduced in 1999 — complicating the ECB’s plans for interest-rate cuts as inflation eases. Third-quarter negotiated pay rose 5.4% from a year ago. That’s up from 3.5% in the previous three months and was largely driven by Germany. A dormant stock market, brittle currency, crisis-ridden political system, stagnant economy — so was the landscape in Europe even before Donald Trump won election in the US. Now, the continent faces new trade tariffs against its biggest companies and investment outflows as Trump’s plans to cut taxes and gut regulation make US stocks more attractive. Add to that the growing angst around Germany’s upcoming snap election and escalating Russia tensions and even the most optimistic investors are struggling to stay upbeat. Asia Japanese firms in China are becoming more pessimistic about the world’s second-biggest economy, with about two-thirds saying it’s getting worse and almost half scaling back or halting their investments. About 64% of Japanese companies said the Chinese economy is faring worse than last year, according to the latest survey from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China. South Korea’s household debt grew the most in three years last quarter, highlighting a development that kept the central bank from pivoting on policy until last month. Mortgage loans, a major component of the credit, also rose by the most since the third quarter of 2021. US & Canada Housing starts declined in October to the slowest pace in three months as hurricanes exacerbated an easing in construction activity more generally. Residential construction has struggled to gain traction this year against a backdrop of a growing number of new homes for sale and mortgage rates near 7%. Trump’s vows to “frack, frack, frack” are about to collide with a global crude glut that’s set to, finally, temper record shale production. Inflation in Canada rose by more than forecast and underlying price pressures reaccelerated, hiccups that may dissuade policymakers from a second straight 50 basis-point cut to interest rates next month. The first acceleration of headline inflation in five months may bolster a case for the Bank of Canada to reduce borrowing costs gradually, after officials stepped up the pace of easing in October. Emerging Markets Years of runaway inflation are testing the physical limits of Turkey’s cash-centric economy as its biggest banknotes become increasingly inadequate to cover even daily spending. The highest-denominated bill, for 200 liras ($5.80), now represents more than 80% of all cash in circulation, up from 16% in 2010, according to central bank data. After losing almost all its purchasing power, each note is worth enough to buy two filter coffees at Starbucks. Mexico’s inflation decelerated in early November while the economy continues to lose momentum, giving the central bank room to cut interest rates for a fourth straight meeting next month. World Ukrainian forces earlier this week carried out their first strike on a border region in Russia using Western-supplied missiles as President Vladimir Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine expanding the conditions for using atomic weapons. The news sent investors scrambling into some of the world’s safest assets. Iceland’s central bank accelerated its easing campaign, while South Africa also cut rates. Bank Indonesia warned there is less scope to lower them. Hungary, Angola, Paraguay and Egypt kept borrowing costs steady. Turkey also held while implying a cut could soon be justified due to slowing inflation. —With assistance from Irina Anghel, Alice Atkins, Maya Averbuch, Taylan Bilgic, Kevin Crowley, Robert Jameson, Lucia Kassai, Sam Kim, Aliaksandr Kudrytski, James Mayger, Henry Meyer, Michael Msika, Tom Rees, Michael Sasso, Zoe Schneeweiss, Mark Schroers, Patrick Sykes, Randy Thanthong-Knight, Alex Vasquez and David Wethe.

Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection' and ‘Scrabble,' dies at 83B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in Block, Inc. ( NYSE:SQ – Free Report ) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 22,477 shares of the technology company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,509,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Yoder Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Block by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Yoder Wealth Management Inc. now owns 39,688 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $2,664,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its stake in shares of Block by 1.9% in the third quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 7,744 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $520,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Moser Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Block by 2.5% in the third quarter. Moser Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,265 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $421,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the last quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC lifted its stake in Block by 6.3% in the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,592 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $174,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. boosted its position in shares of Block by 13.8% during the third quarter. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. now owns 1,351 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $91,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the period. 70.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CAO Ajmere Dale sold 500 shares of Block stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.00, for a total transaction of $33,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 90,460 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,060,820. This trade represents a 0.55 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 1,884 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.41, for a total value of $123,232.44. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 574,914 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $37,605,124.74. This trade represents a 0.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 12,283 shares of company stock valued at $862,773 in the last 90 days. 10.49% of the stock is owned by insiders. Block Stock Performance Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Macquarie reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $100.00 target price on shares of Block in a research note on Friday, July 26th. BNP Paribas cut Block from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $88.00 target price for the company. in a report on Wednesday. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and set a $83.00 price target on shares of Block in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their price target on shares of Block from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Oppenheimer started coverage on Block in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. They set a “market perform” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twenty-four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $91.18. Read Our Latest Stock Report on SQ Block Company Profile ( Free Report ) Square, Inc provides payment and point-of-sale solutions in the United States and internationally. The company's commerce ecosystem includes point-of-sale software and hardware that enables sellers to turn mobile and computing devices into payment and point-of-sale solutions. It offers hardware products, including Magstripe reader, which enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Contactless and chip reader that accepts EMV® chip cards and Near Field Communication payments; Chip card reader, which accepts EMV® chip cards and enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Square Stand, which enables an iPad to be used as a payment terminal or full point of sale solution; and Square Register that combines its hardware, point-of-sale software, and payments technology, as well as managed payments solutions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SQ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Block, Inc. ( NYSE:SQ – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Block Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Block and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level Media

As the cost of living crisis persists, there are a number schemes to help you live more comfortably in 2025. These payments, freebies and discounts are designed to help your money go further and are worth considering as we go into the new year. The new year will usher in a new energy price cap, with customers of British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus facing bills exceeding £1,700 for the first quarter of the year. However, schemes are available to assist with balancing the books. Cash-strapped households can optimise their finances and ensure their budgets stretch further thanks to several Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) initiatives. Some of these are accessible even to those not claiming benefits. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Here are seven strategies to increase your income and ensure you have more cash on hand to navigate whatever the new year brings: Household Support Fund - up to £500 The Household Support Fund (HSF) offers financial assistance to households in difficulty and has been extended multiple times since its introduction by the previous Conservative Party government in 2021. The funds, totalling £421 million, are allocated to local councils for distribution to those most in need within their communities, reports Birmingham Live . Depending on your location, assistance could come in the form of direct cash transfers, shopping vouchers or other means to aid with bills and other expenses. You can find out what your local council is offering by visiting their website. However, be aware that it's somewhat of a postcode lottery. The highest payments recorded in some local authority areas reach up to £500. Energy hardship schemes - up to £2,000 Several energy companies offer grants to customers facing financial difficulties to help cover their bill costs, including British Gas, Scottish Power and EDF. The British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) provides support to families and individuals experiencing hardship who are struggling with energy debts. The British Gas Energy Trust, which includes the Scottish Gas Energy Trust, is an independent charitable Trust funded solely by donations from British Gas. The Trust's mission is to assist those in financial difficulty, particularly focusing on energy debt. The trust awards grants to clear gas and electricity debts for families and individuals experiencing hardship. This significantly impacts thousands of people each year, helping them regain their footing and maintain a debt-free life moving forward. Additionally, the trust funds organisations across England, Wales and Scotland to provide fuel debt and money advice services within communities. Help with water bills - up to £1,000 If you're living on a tight budget, exploring social tariffs with your water supplier is definitely worth the effort. These special rates can slash your water bill by hundreds of pounds annually. Depending on the company, you might qualify for either a percentage-based discount or a fixed rate. Additionally, if you're already receiving a council tax reduction, you could be eligible for an even lower water rate. While savings vary, one individual received a refund exceeding £1,000 through this initiative. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water offers a social tariff called HelpU to help low-income households with their water bills. Assistance with phone and broadband - up to £227 Low-income families might be surprised to learn that they're eligible for affordable broadband and mobile phone plans. Several providers offer these "social tariffs" to households receiving specific benefits, which can lead to substantial savings. Generally, these tariffs are available to those on qualifying benefits, such as Universal Credit, and are significantly cheaper than standard broadband packages. Prices start at £12 for mobile contracts and £12.50 for broadband plans. Take BT's Home Essentials package, for instance. This social tariff starts at £15 per month, whereas their standard tariffs begin at £33.99. By opting for the social tariff, you could pocket a £227.88 annual saving. Warm Home Discount - £150 The Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a one-time £150 reduction on your electricity bill. If you qualify, the discount will be applied directly to your bill by your electricity provider. The money is not given to you directly. Typically, if you're eligible, the discount is applied automatically. However, if you're on a low income in Scotland, you'll need to apply through your energy supplier. If you receive both gas and electricity from your supplier and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply the discount to your gas bill instead. Contact your supplier for more information. Winter Fuel Payment - £300 If you were born before September 23 1958, you could be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment of either £200 or £300 to help cover your heating costs for winter 2024 to 2025. Eligibility may depend on whether you or your partner receive certain benefits. Please note that the additional Pensioner Cost of Living Payment - provided in 2022 and 2023 - stopped in winter 2023. Eligible individuals will receive a letter in October or November detailing the amount they will receive. If you don't receive a letter but believe you're eligible, check if you need to make a claim. Payments are typically made in November or December for most eligible people. Cold Weather Payments - £25 You may be entitled to Cold Weather Payments if you're receiving certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. These payments are made automatically if you're eligible, so there's no need to apply. However, you may need to inform Jobcentre Plus if you have a newborn or if a child under five comes to live with you. The payments do not affect your other benefits. You'll receive a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You'll receive £25 for each seven day period of very cold weather between November 1 2024 and March 31 2025.News24 | 'Be vigilant and loyal': Malema's 20 commandments for EFF's leadership election

Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag’s assistant in the summer and had a four-game interim spell in charge following his compatriot’s sacking in October. He left the club in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s appointment but was only out of work for two weeks after being appointed Leicester’s new manager on a deal until 2027. The 48-year-old had a glittering playing career with United and was disappointed his return had to end so soon. “The moment I took over the interim job what I said was I’m here to help United and to stay to help United, and I meant it,” he said. “So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. “The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. “But in the end I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. I’m in football long enough, and I’ve managed myself, that you can think of a situation, me being there, I understand. “I spoke to Ruben about it, fair enough to him, the conversation was grateful, man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities which of course lifted my spirits.” The Dutchman takes on a difficult job at the King Power Stadium as he is tasked with keeping Leicester in the Premier League. He inherits an influential dressing room, which has seen a number of managers come and go over the last few years. Ruud's here for his first press conference as our Manager 😃 pic.twitter.com/A4Juixvorb — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 2, 2024 Van Nistelrooy revealed he has done his due diligence and also let the players know as well. “It’s the only way you can work. It’s mutual respect. I also mentioned to the players yesterday that I looked at the squad and started to make phone calls about players, because in football everyone knows everyone,” he said. “With two or three phone calls you hear stories about 20 players and for me it was important that you hear there are good characters there. That’s important, that there are good people there. “I look at the players how they play. I obviously don’t know them but I got general information and the individuals that they are a good bunch of people. That was important for me to get in.”No. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15GREELEY, Colo. , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ALLO Fiber is pleased to announce its fiber broadband network build of the City of Boulder, CO. ALLO anticipates construction to begin in the spring of 2025 in city rights-of-way and easements. This fiber connection will enable world-class internet, broadband, cybersecurity, managed services, telephone, and video services for residents and businesses. City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said, "We are thrilled to work with ALLO to bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet to every corner of Boulder. This partnership will provide significant benefits to our community. From empowering students and small businesses, to supporting remote work and ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital age." ALLO was founded in 2003, and over the last 21 years has expanded its fiber footprint to reach over one million in population, with a goal to end the digital divide. ALLO maintains a commitment to offering local, hassle-free products and services to the 48 communities it serves. ALLO Colorado General Manager Bob Beiersdorf stated, "We are extremely pleased to be building a world-class fiber to the premises (FTTP) network in Boulder . The opportunity to offer multi-gig, symmetrical speeds to residents, businesses, government, and the education community with consistent network reliability opens the door to immense possibilities for the city. Partnering with the City of Boulder is paramount in providing equitable services to its residents and that spirit of partnership has been exceptional to date." The fiber network will feature up to 10 Gigabit speeds for residents and up to 100 Gigabit speeds for businesses, providing equal upload and download speeds optimized by ALLO's world-class Wi-Fi 7 routers. Boulder residents, businesses of all sizes, and governmental entities will be supported by ALLO's fiber-rich network, which delivers active and passive solutions without installation fees or restrictive contracts. Internet, data transport, cloud connectivity, video, voice, next-generation firewalls, cybersecurity, and phone systems are included in ALLO's comprehensive communications, entertainment, and business products and services. Boulder is ALLO's eleventh market in Colorado . ALLO currently has customers in Breckenridge , Brighton , Brush , Eaton , Erie , Evans , Fort Morgan , Greeley , Hudson , and Kersey . Visit AlloFiber.com/ Boulder and AlloFiber.com/careers for more information. About ALLO Communications ALLO Communications, a leader in providing fiber-optic services, has been dedicated to delivering world-class communications and entertainment services since 2003. With a commitment to building Gigabit communities, ALLO serves over 50 communities across Nebraska , Colorado , Arizona , Missouri , Iowa , and Kansas . ALLO is known for reliable fiber networks and customized technology solutions that support businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit AlloFiber.com . Tanna Hanna Vice President of Marketing Tanna.Hanna@allofiber.com 308-633-7815 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-power-of-allos-all-fiber-network-coming-to-boulder-colorado-302338556.html SOURCE ALLO Communications

When Colorado voters were asked in 2022 to allow grocery stores to sell wine — lifting a 107-year restriction the industry repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to beat back legislatively for decades — proponents billed it as a win for consumers’ pocketbooks and the leveling of the playing field for alcohol sales statewide. With far less money in their campaign war chest against Proposition 125, independent liquor store owners fought back with claims that their businesses would be ravaged by an already-competitive market that ultimately favored the larger retailers. The days of the local family-owned liquor store, they said, would be numbered. For many of those stores, the predictions were right. In the two years since 50.6% of state voters passed the measure, dozens of independently owned liquor stores have closed, a Denver Gazette analysis found. The way they described it, with Proposition 125 in place, they were to the edges of fiscal solvency by grocery store chains that sustained penny profits until their competition was emaciated. And the likelihood that scores more are expected to shutter in the coming year — a handful of industry watchers estimate that as many as 400 additional liquor stores will be forced to close by 2026 — appears by some to be a conservative guess. The trade group of grocers in Colorado countered that the change is ultimately benefitting consumers. The reasons are varied, the owners and industry insiders told the Denver Gazette. In some cases, it was a liquor industry that couldn’t compete with chain-owned grocers that drew in and kept the clientele that would normally have stopped only for dinner items and then elsewhere for wine or beer. In other cases, it was savvy big-box retailers that also dispensed prescriptions — Costco and Sam’s Club among them — that tapped into a little-used decades-old liquor license that was originally designed for local pharmacies. And in still others, it was grocery chains that saw they could simply outlast any nearby independent liquor store owner long enough to make the latter’s license virtually worthless for any resale consideration. What voters ultimately approved was a cutthroat industry that in a short timeframe has turned into a bloody and apparently one-sided brawl. What’s more, the state’s craft brewers say they are equally feeling the pinch — dozens have already closed or have diminished their output — because demand for their product lines has also dropped, largely the combined result of fewer local-friendly liquor stores and grocers with little appetite to offer prime shelf space to unproven brands. “The number of stores closing or near closing is a train wreck that is happening and we can see it getting worse,” said Bruce Dierking, co-founder of Hazel’s Beverage World in Boulder and longtime proponent of independent liquor store rights. “I’d say broadly that I knew it would be bad (if Proposition 125 passed), but it’s been worse. For every independent it’s been at least a gut punch if not more devastating.” What stung all the more was only 15 of 64 counties passed the measure, carried mostly by the largest Front Range counties, although it did lose in Jefferson, Boulder, Pueblo and Larimer counties. Another, Proposition 126, which sought to allow third-party deliveries of booze was narrowly defeated. When Prop 125 went into effect in March 2023, the number of stores competing to sell beer and wine literally doubled, as 1,934 outlets that sold 3.2 beer were converted. At the time, there were 1,603 licensed retail liquor stores in Colorado, state records show. By September 2024, the number of independent liquor store licenses had dropped to 1,572, a number experts say is deceptive since licensees are not required to report whether they’ve closed their shop or intend to sell. “I hear of so many others who say they can hold on another year or two until their lease is up,” Dierking said. “Remember, if they close they still have to pay that lease.” The biggest hit hasn’t been in overall sales — state sales tax figures suggest the consumption of alcohol has actually dropped the past few years — but rather foot traffic through the front door. Some store owners have said it’s been a one-third drop; others said their customer traffic has decreased by more than half. “The people through the door has fallen so precipitously,” Dierking said. “We knew it would hurt wine sales, but it’s been much more than expected.” In 2016, independent liquor store owners witnessed a renewed effort by retail grocers to land the right to sell full-strength alcohol. It had been nearly 35 years since the last time voters were asked to allow wine into grocery stores and it failed. To shortcut what might be a more successful process, though, liquor licensees came up with a grand compromise in the Colorado Senate that looked to preserve some of the old ways of selling booze while allowing for newer phased-in rules to apply. It would set up a 20-year phase out of the state’s post-prohibition ban on grocery store alcohol sales. Grocers with drugstore components were allowed to sell beer in a single location, but could add additional stores over time with an eventual unlimited number of licenses allowed by 2037. Put simply, grocers and convenience stores could sell full-strength beer by 2019 and if grocers wanted to sell anything harder or add locations, they’d have to first acquire the liquor license of an existing store if it was within a 1,500-foot radius or 3,000 feet for towns of fewer than 10,000 people. “I was part of that compromise and I regret it,” Dierking said. “It was like a compromise with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. A few short years later, they came back to break the deal.” A key restriction was that drug-store liquor licensees would not be limited in the number of locations they could operate, while independent liquor store owners were. “A retail liquor store ... could never have more than four stores selling beer and wine and spirits in competition with grocery chains and their hundreds of stores selling everything from food to tires to dog food — something independent liquor stores cannot do,” Jim Shpall of Applejack Wine & Spirits told legislators in July 2023 during unsuccessful efforts to change the laws. Prop 125 “blew open the doors” and the industry has tried to grapple with the outcome, Shpall said. Worst, one store owner said, was its passage came just after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID years must be asterisked as most liquor store owners saw a large boost in sales that eroded as soon as the world started re-opening,” said Peter Cook, owner of ACME Liquor Store in Crested Butte. “Since then, the addition of wine to the chain stores has been devastating. Immediately, we saw sales drop 35%. Last fall, off-season sales were down 40%. This year has trended 10-15% down from those numbers.” Struggling to keep up, shop owners chose not to fill employee vacancies as they occurred rather than strip their ranks. Others pared down the amount they bought from wholesalers, with some even stopping altogether. “At the end of the day, I didn’t have a business that could hold water anymore,” said Joe Brunner, owner of Lukas Liquors in Highlands Ranch. The shop closed after 27 years and auctioned its inventory this summer. “Bigger pockets than me blocked me out. Colorado is a horrible state for small business and a great state for corporations.” Brunner predicted as many as 800 additional liquor stores will close over the next two years. “I thought I could survive but at the end of the day the consumers simply didn’t want it anymore,” he said. “We voted for this and I was on the other side of the vote and I lost. That’s how it works. It sucks that it happened to me and I wish it was them instead.” Retail grocers were supported by the Colorado Retail Council in all its battles, a trade association that argued consumers would ultimately win. “Go into any grocery store and see the wine and the variety and see if people are buying and that’s a pretty good way to tell,” CRC president Christopher Howes said. “Yeah, it’s been wildly popular. As we said for at least a decade, the customer ultimately wins and the prices are really appealing and the convenience is there.” During the Prop 125 campaign, proponents said selling alcohol in grocery stores was a safer prospect than those in corner liquor shops. But state law enforcement records show it’s a draw. Ninety retail liquor licensees were cited for selling alcohol to a minor in 2022, while 92 grocery locations were similarly cited, records obtained by The Denver Gazette show. In 2023, after Prop 125 took effect, the state cited 112 retail liquor stores for selling to minors and 113 grocery and convenience stores. The numbers are nearly identical for 2024, with 83 licensees cited in each category through October. In 2024, liquor store owners made an effort with House Bill 24-1373 to lessen the sting of Prop 125 by eliminating the liquor-licensed drugstore license and convert them to malt beverage and wine retailer licenses — in essence, protecting liquor stores’ right to sell spirits by allowing only a single store in a grocery chain to do so. It also would prevent “large national grocery store chains from mandating they receive free labor from alcohol distributors, which currently occurs daily,” according to a letter United Food & Commercial Workers Local 7 president Kim Cordova sent to legislators in April 2024. In essence, liquor stores provide the labor to stock their shelves, while grocers have demanded the distributors do it. "We don't require the sales reps to unload or stock," said Trent Olson, owner of Riverwalk Wine & Spirits in Edwards. "Grocery stores have been demanding it without any increase in sales. What folks didn't realize is that wine into grocery stores added about 1,500 new stops to those locations for distributors, increasing costs we have to cover." Most didn’t see HB 24-1373 as a panacea, but did hope, as Dierking said, “that it slowed down the nails being driven into our coffins.” HB 24-1373 made it through a trio of committees at the House of Representatives before the full House approved it, 42-19. But it survived only three more days in the Colorado Senate before it died in that branch’s Finance Committee on a 4-3 vote, in which Rep. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat, sided with the Republican minority. The impact of Prop 125 has magnified ever since, several liquor store owners said. “Our beer sales are down so much more than we expected,” Dierking said. “And we didn’t think the impact would be so large and that the foot traffic shift would be such an issue.” By extension, craft brewers — there are more in Colorado than any other state — have been impacted as well, Dierking said. “It’s just a token to them,” he said of large grocery stores. “They’re not really committed and over time they cut the independent and stock the larger brewers. And those whose product is given shelf space, it’s only their most popular and not the whole lineup, which is what independents offered.” The Colorado Brewers Guild, which represents the bulk of independent craft brewers in the state, said its members are either scaling back, consolidating or, at the worst, closing. “We’ve had about 30 close already this year and last year was 35,” CBG executive director Shawnee Adelson said. “It hurts the smaller guys when you don’t have access to the market like the small independents.” By picking and choosing what they’ll put on a shelf, larger grocery stores have a stronger say over which small businesses survive, Adelson said. “Losing retail liquor stores does impact our smaller crafts that can’t get into the grocery stores; they don’t have the volume,” she said. “The margins are awfully small.” For the grocers, however, a competitive marketplace is ultimately a survival of the fittest. “We said over and again that we didn’t believe the apocalyptic forecast that they’ll all go out of business,” Howes at the Colorado Retail Council said. “And if you keep an eye on those stores around town, they’re not out of business, and the larger ones are doing well. There’s enough room to compete.” He added: “They’re still in business because the smart business owners craft a strategy successfully.”

The Nasdaq ( ^IXIC ) and S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) closed at record highs on Monday as stocks kicked off the final month of a banner 2024 on a high note. The S&P 500 edged up 0.2% to extend its recent record , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) slipped almost 0.3% from its recent all-time closing high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite popped almost 1%, with Apple ( AAPL ) shares also touching a record. Other tech stocks gained including Tesla ( TSLA ) and Meta ( META ), both up more than 3%. The S&P 500 and Dow are entering December on a roll, having ended November with their best monthly gains in a year. The rally got a boost last month thanks to optimism around President-elect Donald Trump's victory. Year to date, the benchmark S&P is up over 25%, while the Dow has gained nearly 20%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq has gained nearly 30%. In individual stocks, shares in Jeep maker Stellantis ( STLA ) sank after CEO Carlos Tavares suddenly resigned . Meanwhile, Intel ( INTC ) stock ended lower after the company said its CEO, Pat Gelsinger, had retired from the struggling chipmaker. Investors are starting to count down to the November jobs report on Friday, a key input for the Federal Reserve's policy making, as well as to job openings and private payrolls readings. A surprise monthly jobs print could reset the expectations for rate cuts that have supported stocks' stellar performance this year. That said, bets on a slower path of Fed easing haven't made a significant dent in the recent appetite for stocks. Meanwhile, the dollar ( DX=F ) climbed as investors assessed Trump's latest tariff threat. The incoming president warned BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) not to create a rival to the US currency , saying on Saturday that they will face 100% tariffs if they move away from it. Trump has already put markets on alert with promises to hit Canada , Mexico , and China with big new tariffs . By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy The Nasdaq and S&P 500 closed at record highs on Monday as investors looked ahead towards a crucial jobs report later this week. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.2% to notch a new all-time closing high while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) slipped almost 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) popped nearly 1% with tech stocks leading the gains. The "Magnificent Seven" stocks gained, with Apple ( AAPL ) touching new highs. Tesla ( TSLA ) shares also gained on the heels of bullish calls. Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares closed just above the flat line. On Friday, investors will receive crucial labor market data, which could give the Federal Reserve more clues on whether it should hold rates steady or continue its cutting cycle. The Federal Open Market Committee will meet later this month. Fed governor Christopher Waller said on Monday he's leaning toward supporting another rate cut, but he may change his mind if inflation data surprises to the upside. Federal Reserve governor Christopher Waller said on Monday he leans toward supporting another rate cut when the Federal Open Market Committee meets this month, but he may change his mind if inflation data surprises to the upside. "Based on the economic data in hand today and forecasts that show that inflation will continue on its downward path to 2% over the medium term, at present I lean toward supporting a cut to the policy rate at our December meeting," Waller said during prepared remarks at a conference in D.C. on Monday. He went on to say, "But that decision will depend on whether data that we will receive before then surprises to the upside and alters my forecast for the path of inflation." “I will be watching the incoming data closely over the next couple weeks to help me make my decision as to what path to take,” added Waller. The FOMC is expected to meet on Dec 17 and 18. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Donald Trump's latest tariff threat appears to have stemmed at least in part from a nascent blockchain-based entrant into the influential world of global financial messaging. The president-elect's move came in a Saturday afternoon post where he promised 100% tariffs on countries looking to move away from the dollar. "[A]ny Country that tries should wave goodbye to America," he wrote . The target was an organization called BRICS, which currently boasts 10 nations and is led by the Western adversaries of China and Russia. One new product offering appears to be a key stumbling block. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban reports; The end of the holiday weekend added two fresh examples of a historic shift on Wall Street: More CEOs than ever are heading for the exits. Over the past 24 hours, the leaders of chipmaker Intel ( INTC ) and auto giant Stellantis ( STLA ) have both announced their departures, bolstering the CEO turnover tally. The leadership changes highlight the idiosyncrasies and challenges of each company — from a struggling auto lineup to a too-late computer chip turnaround. But they also reflect a broader trend across corporate America. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: The Stellantis ( STLA ) 2024 roller coaster hit a new low with CEO Carlos Tavares’s abrupt resignation on Sunday. Stellantis’ senior independent director Henri de Castries said in a statement that “in recent weeks different views have emerged,” which have resulted in the board and Tavares parting ways. “Speculation is likely to be rife as to what has happened, but it was already known that Tavares would resign in 2026 at the end of his contract and a search for his successor was underway. That leaves the main question — why now?” HSBC analyst Mike Tyndall wrote in a short note Monday morning. Read more here. Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) stock jumped to a session high by mid-day trading on Monday, gaining more than 30% after the server maker announced that the final findings from an independent review of its business found no evidence of fraud or misconduct. The company, which partners with Nvidia ( NVDA ) to provide high-tech servers with its AI chips, also said it will look for a new chief financial officer based on recommendations of the special committee conducting the review. Its current financial chief, David Weigand, will continue to serve in that position until his successor is appointed. The S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary ( XLY ) sector hit an all-time high on Monday. XLY, which houses names like Amazon ( AMZN ) and Tesla ( TSLA ), was up roughly 1% during the session. Year to date, the sector has gained more than 25%. US manufacturing activity may be slowly climbing out of its slump. On Monday, the ISM Manufacturing PMI showed a reading of 48.4 in November, an increase from the 46.5 seen last month and above economists' expectations for a reading of 47.5. This marked the highest reading for the index since June 2024, though notably the reading coming in under 50 indicates overall contraction in the sector. The sector has been above the 50 mark just once since October 2022, but Monday's reading could be an early sign that "better days lie ahead," according to Jefferies US economist Thomas Simons. "Looking ahead, we see significantly more positive signs for the U.S. manufacturing outlook than negative ones," Simons wrote in a note to clients on Monday. "Rate cuts will slow into next year, but more are coming. The Trump administration is focused on doing things that (it thinks) will improve U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing, including deregulation, a more accommodative tax environment, and protectionist tariffs. The jury is still out on the net benefit of the tariffs, but the other positive forces are unambiguous." Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports: BlackRock ( BLK ) is close to making a $12 billion bet that would take it deeper into the hottest trade on Wall Street : private credit. The world’s largest money manager is discussing a deal to buy HPS Investment Partners, a firm run by three ex-employees of Goldman Sachs ( GS ) and JPMorgan Chase ( JPM ) that specializes in lending money to riskier companies. The transaction of $12 billion or more could be announced as soon as this week, according to reports in the Financial Times and Bloomberg . The deal could also still fall apart. Rad more there. Yahoo Finance's Yasmin Khorram reports: Tesla ( TSLA ) investors have good reason to watch the bromance between billionaire CEO Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump very closely. If the close relationship continues, it could eventually prove quite lucrative for the electric vehicle maker. Trump's transition team is looking for policymakers for the Department of Transportation and one of its agencies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to spearhead self-driving regulation, likely easing the rules to enable faster development, according to a report by Bloomberg. However, experts interviewed by Yahoo Finance say changing the rules of the road may be a lot more complicated. Currently, self-driving is regulated on a state-by-state basis, and Tesla likely does not have the technology nailed down for total autonomous driving. Read more here. Tech stocks helped lift the Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) to record intraday highs on Monday morning. Shares of Apple ( AAPL ) rose 1% to touch a new record. All of the "Magnificent Seven" stocks gained in early trading, including Nvidia ( NVDA ) and Tesla ( TSLA ) Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) shares jumped as much as 12% in early trading after the server maker said an independent review of its business by a special committee found no evidence of fraud or misconduct. "The evidence reviewed by the Special Committee does not give rise to any substantial concerns about the integrity of the Company’s senior management or Audit Committee, or their commitment to ensuring that the Company’s financial statements are materially accurate," the company said in a filing to the SEC. Super Micro also said it is searching for a new CFO. Its current financial chief, David Weigand, will continue to serve in that position until his successor is appointed. Shares of the server maker have been on a roller coaster ride after an August report by short seller firm Hindenburg Research claimed accounting malpractice. Last month, Super Micro hired a new auditor, BDO, after its accountant, EY, resigned in late October. Tesla stock ( TSLA ) rose more than 3% in early trading amid bullish analyst commentary. The gains in the stock helped lift the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ). Roth MKM upgraded shares of the electric vehicle giant to Buy from Hold, while Stifel raised its price target on the stock from $287 to $411 per share. Tesla's shares have surged amid optimism surrounding CEO Elon Musk's close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump. The stock is up more than 40% since the presidential election on Nov. 5. US stocks were little changed on Monday, holding near record highs, as investors awaited an important monthly jobs report at the end of the week. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) was relatively flat, coming off a record close , while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) was little changed on the heels of the index's own all-time high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) was up 0.2%. Consumer Discretionary ( XLY ) stocks gained in early trading, while Utilities ( XLU ) and Industrials ( XLI ) slipped. On Monday, Intel ( INTC ) shares gained after the struggling semiconductor maker said CEO Pat Gelsinger had stepped down as of Dec. 1. Intel ( INTC ) CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board of directors, effective Dec. 1, according to the company. Intel shares were up more than 4% in premarket trading following the announcement . In a statement, Intel said it has named David Zinsner and Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus as interim co-CEOs while the board of directors conducts a search for a new CEO. The semiconductor giant has struggled to keep up with peers or implement an effective turnaround plan amid a series of quarters of declining revenue. The stock is down over 50% year to-date. In November, Intel was removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^ DJI ) and replaced by rival Nvidia ( NVDA ). Economic data: S&P Global US manufacturing PMI (November final); Construction spending (October); ISM Manufacturing & prices paid (November) Earnings: Zscaler ( ZS ) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed over the weekend and early this morning: Jobs report to test stock rally's staying power: The week ahead Stellantis stock sinks as CEO's early exit leaves void Bezos backs AI chipmaker vying with Nvidia at $2.6B value Trump's pick to run FCC is an ominous sign for Big Tech New Biden strike on China's chips to hit toolmakers President Biden pardons his son Hunter despite promise Dollar faces treacherous December as Trump, rate risks boil over Trump’s Plans Risk Inflating Bullish Stock Market Into a Bubble It may be the holiday season on Wall Street, but that doesn't mean analysts aren't out and about making calls into year-end. Here are three notes that caught my attention before 6 a.m. ET. After a recent management meeting, JPMorgan's longtime retail analyst Matt Boss is upgrading his rating on Gap ( GAP ) to Overweight (Buy equivalent). His price target went to $30 from $28. "With the foundation set under CEO Richard Dickson to support a consistent playbook of improved merchandising & marketing across all four brands, we see Gap at an inflection point to support low-to-mid-single-digit sales growth, annual operating margin expansion targeting historical levels of profitability," Boss said. A recent chat I had with Dickson helps to shed light on Boss's call. There is more going on here besides me shopping more at Banana Republic Factory, and additional insight on the analyst vibe on Gap can be found via Yahoo Finance's analyst recommendation tool . Ahead of Lululemon's ( LULU ) earnings on Dec. 5, Citi analyst Paul Lejuez is sticking with a Neutral rating (Hold equivalent) on the stock. But it's this call out on the stock from Lejuez that caught my eye: "Short interest currently sits at 6% of the float, above the 4% level three months ago and the highest short interest level in two years. Based on our conversations with investors, sentiment on Lulemon remains negative on the trajectory of Lululemon's US business, although most expect a sales/EPS beat in 3Q (driven by stronger international sales) and do not see another 2024 EPS guide down this quarter. Most bearish investors believe it will be difficult for Lululemon to grow EPS in 2025." Here is more on Lululemon's short interest and other stats from the Yahoo Finance platform . Veteran tech analyst Mark Mahaney at Evercore ISI is hiking his price target on Netflix ( NFLX ) to $950 from $775 per share. Netflix stock currently trades at $886. Mahaney called Netflix shares a "small buy" and reiterated an Outperform rating. "At a high level, what our survey results and recent events (e.g., Q3 EPS and the massive success of the Tyson-Paul fight) suggest is that Netflix is in the strongest position financially, fundamentally and competitively that we have ever seen," Mahaney wrote. "Its overall streaming leadership — in terms of both market share and content quality — is commanding. And the clearly positive churn intent and price sensitivity results across all three of this quarter’s surveys are material positives for a subscription business. We also see four notable near-term catalysts — Christmas Day NFL games, the 12/26 release of Squid Games II, WWE Raw in January, and pending price increases," he added.