"We Have No Idea How This Will Be Used" - AI Gun Detection Gaining Popularity In US AI Scanners may become the norm in the United States as Governments, and private companies look to beef up their surveillance options in the wake of rising gun violence. According to a report from the Washington Post, systems like Evolv Technology are becoming increasingly popular. Evolv’s machines are similar to metal detectors but instead use AI and light-emission to detect firearms concealed on a person.  Evolv claims that this system can detect weapons without the need for the traditional “airport” style system. Those looking to enter through a security checkpoint must empty their pockets and then pass through a metal detector. The system is gaining traction throughout the US. Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, suggested using Evolv Technology’s AI weapons detection system on the NYC Subway in the weeks after the Brooklyn subway shooting that saw 23 people injured. Speaking to WaPo about the Evolv system, Jamais Cascio, founder of Open the Future, had this to say: “My concern is what happens when it moves beyond looking for weapons at a concert — when someone decides to add all kinds of inputs on the person being scanned, or if we enter a protest and a government agency can now use the system to track and log us. We know what a metal detector can and can’t tell us. We have no idea how this can be used.” The idea behind AI detecting and logging firearms is not a new one. Omnilert, another company specializing in AI threat detection, has been integrating its technologies into existing security camera systems since 2020. Tech Giants like Google and Facebook also have their versions of AI weapons detection with their Optical Character Recognition system. This system logs and indexes firearm serial numbers, making them easily accessible by google image search.  With 2020 & 2021 seeing record numbers of gun-buying and concealed carry permit applications, it seems that governments and corporate entities are seeking to beef up their surveillance and security in response. Could the upcoming verdict of the Supreme Court’s newest 2nd Amendment case affect the proliferation of AI firearms detection as well? Tyler Durden Sun, 05/22/2022 - 17:35.....»»

The pilot involves Amazon Flex drivers making deliveries from retail stores in Las Vegas; Chandler, Arizona; and Tysons Corner, Virginia, per reports. An Amazon Flex signPhoto by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Amazon is testing a program that involves Flex drivers making deliveries from mall retailers, Bloomberg and CNBC reported Friday. The trail is expected to run in Chandler, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tysons Corner, Virginia. A spokesperson told CNBC participating retailers include a handful of "existing Amazon sellers." Amazon is experimenting with expanding its driver services to make deliveries from mall retailers, according to Bloomberg.The outlet was first to report the news Friday that the e-commerce giant is testing a program that allows retailers to tap Amazon's massive logistics network to get products into customer homes quicker. The trial involves using Amazon Flex drivers, gig workers who make deliveries in their own cars, picking up packages from retail locations instead of Amazon delivery stations.The pilot has been running since at least last year. Participating retailers are located in at least three cities, according to communications with drivers viewed by Bloomberg: Chandler, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tysons Corner, Virginia.In Las Vegas, Amazon sent a notice about the program to drivers, CNBC later reported Friday. "Amazon Flex is testing a new offer type near you," the memo to staffers said, according to CNBC. "Retail delivery offers will allow you to pick up and deliver pre-packaged orders directly from non-Amazon retail stores in participating local shopping centers."Amazon spokesperson Kate Kudrna told CNBC participating retailers include a handful of "existing Amazon sellers.""We have been delivering from third-party stores for years," Kudrna told the outlet. "This is another way we are able to connect Amazon sellers with customers via convenient delivery options."Amazon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Goldman Trader: After A Brutal Week, Here Is The "Cat And Mouse" Question That Needs To Be Answered From Tony Pasquariello, Goldman head of hedge fund coverage Cat and Mouse A brutal week in the markets, with no shortage of blame to go around: the persistence of global central bank hawkishness, gathering recession concerns, ongoing retail liquidation (and, an element of reflexivity). Here’s the central question that I’m trying to work out: if the interest rate market is correct, and terminal Fed Funds rate is going to be somewhere around 3%, at what point is that fully priced into the broader markets? On one hand, there’s already been a very significant tightening of US financial conditions, so you could argue that we’re getting close.   Said another way: you know that financial markets live in the future ... so, when the day comes where everyone can clearly see the end of the tightening cycle, the trading community will be ahead of it and assets will already be on the move. On the other hand, the target rate is still south of 1% and core PCE is still north of 5%, so you could also argue that we’re still much closer to the start of this tightening cycle than to the end of it [for a more detailed discussion, see "The Fed Has Crossed The "Hard Landing" Rubicon So How High Will It Hike? One Bank Crunches The Numbers"]. Said yet another way: as long as inflation is running hot and the labor market is too tight ... again, the inconvenient truth is the Fed has more wood to chop and the markets have more risk to sort out. In a related vein: at what point does the FOMC view an easing of financial conditions and decide that they DON’T need to beat it back? In that spirit, cue Bill Dudley (link): “the Fed has to be happy with the fact that financial conditions have tightened ... they’re getting traction ... they still have to do what they said they’re going to do.” With apologies for thinking out loud here, it’s these type of cat-and-mouse questions that illustrate the difficulty of assessing the current interplay between the Fed and the asset markets.   To be sure, the task of culling jobs is hugely unenviable, but the Fed is still so far off the inflation mark; at the very least, they need to demonstrate the trajectory of core inflation is clearly headed lower, even if they ultimately lose their nerve before reaching 2.0% [maybe the Fed is not so far off: see "Fed Mission Accomplished: Real-Time Indicators Show The Labor Market Just Cratered"]. On that last point, as Joe Briggs in GIR pointed out to me, the FOMC actually sent a similar signal with their March SEP dots, which showed 3½ hikes in 2023 and 0 hikes in 2024 ... despite median inflation forecasts of 2.6% in 2023 and 2.3% in 2024. Here’s where I’m going with all of this: even though financial conditions have tightened considerably ... and, even though this Fed will likely back off once the jobs losses begin to mount (they’re the same folks who ran the AIT play, after all) ... the fact is there’s still a lot of ground to cover before they can declare victory over inflation ... which should keep some pressure on risk assets a bit longer. To add another layer of complexity: as Dominic Wilson in GIR pointed out to me, the stock market usually bottoms when the Fed flinches (see early ’16, early ’19) ... or, if there’s a real growth problem, when the second derivative of economic activity turns (see Mar ’09, Apr ’20).    In that context, again my instinct is we’re just not there yet -- not only does the Fed put feel both smaller and farther out of the money than we’ve been accustomed to for a long time (arguably since the post-1994 era began), but the longer the tightening cycle rolls along, and the higher the unemployment rate goes, the more the markets will rightly worry about a recession (even if you believe, as I do, that the US economy is durable with plenty of nominal GDP still sloshing around). I’ll conclude this narrative with a chart, to followed by quick points and more charts ... I can find no better illustration of what’s currently challenging the stock market than this (link): 1-a. on the positioning front, the glaring wedge between hedge funds and households persists: i. GS Prime Brokerage data reflects some of the largest reduction of leverage on record (link).  n/b: I suspect the huge underperformance of implied volatility traces back to this point (which, for those watching, has been an immense oddity -- over the past 15 years, there have been 36 daily selloffs of 4% or more, and the VIX was never as low as it was on Wednesday). ii. that said, I continue to worry about the impact of US households de-risking.   here’s one way to frame it: total fund inflows from November of 2020 through March of 2022 were $1.34tr ... since the tide turned seven weeks ago, we’ve only unwound $47bn.   iii. given immense ownership differentials -- see chart 11 below for an illustration of how huge households are -- to my eye this nets out in favor of the bears.   now, if there’s a group who can help diffuse the supply/demand problem, it’s US corporates (yes, buyback activity through our franchise has picked up meaningfully over recent weeks).  1-b. A related point: as detailed by the WSJ (link) and our own team (link), the retail investor is quickly exiting the call option party.  to make the point: in the pre-COVID era, average daily notional in call options on US single stocks was around $100bn. At the peak in November of 2021 -- which is when a number of high velocity stocks put in their highs -- it was around $500bn. Fast forward to today, and we’re back down to $185bn/day. 2. The recent period has been a textbook illustration of the stark difference between volume and liquidity: volume in cash equities has never been higher (e.g. an average of 12.7bn shares per day in 2021, which is nearly 2x the run rate of 2019) ... yet, top-of-book liquidity in S&P futures registers in just the 3rd percentile of the past six years.   3. despite the ongoing selloff, the past few weeks have also brought moments that illustrate the difficulty of trading stocks from the short side, even if this is a bear market.  see chart 12 below, or witness daily price action in a custom basket of popular shorts, ticker GSCBMSAL. For the most short-term macro traders amongst you, if you want to play S&P from the short side, my sincere advice is to go home flat each night and reassess tomorrow morning -- this is a market to be traded, aggressively, but with extreme discipline. An alternative to this ultra-tactical approach is to utilize put spreads or 1-day gamma (ideas available). 4. I’m no expert in crude oil, but I’ve probably spent 10,000 hours with those who are, so here’s a bullish take: despite a record SPR release, a very strong dollar, shutdowns in the second largest economy on the planet and a break lower in most all risky assets, crude oil has largely stood its ground ... you can probably see where I’m going with this.  For the take of an expert, this note is worth a glance, the (surprising) punch line as I read it: “own commodities as financial conditions tighten.  in the past, spot and roll returns performed well when real rates rose, and particularly when financial conditions additionally tightened” (link). 5. US consumption: again, I worry a lot about building pressures on the low end consumer. While parts of this week’s data set were encouraging -- namely HD and government retail sales data -- what we heard from WMT and TGT was brutally clear: in addition to shipping and inventory issues, the cost of food and fuel is impinging on the US consumer.  This, as much as anything, was THE story of the week. On the other end of the spectrum, high end consumption is still off the charts (witness recent news stories on Manhattan real estate, art or fine wines).  I continue to think the medium-term reckoning of this wedge takes the form of ... higher taxes. 6. on US housing, I admit that a profoundly positive story has gotten a lot more complicated. On one hand, supply/demand favors ongoing strength. On the other hand, affordability seems to be a serious issue, and the move in mortgage rates is very significant.  Where do we come out? As Jan Hatzius in GIR put it to me, informally, there’s not necessarily a clear conclusion: “We cut our forecasts on homebuilding activity and house prices modestly, but the shortage of houses and overall tightness of the market should substantially dampen pressure on the sector.” If you’re interested, we have some interesting charts on this topic.  7. China: the data is so bad, it’s simply eye-popping (witness the worst IP print on record). In fact, GIR has cut our expectation of 2022 Chinese GDP growth to just 4%, which ex-2020 would be the slowest growth rate since ... 1990 (link).  for the sake of balance, Shanghai is set to reopen on June 1st and I suspect foreign trading length is approaching rock bottom.  For a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the regional economic outlook, this is worth a glance: link.   8. This is, if nothing else, some interesting brain food.  I asked Daniel Chavez in GIR to mark the moves in the COVID era in some popular assets. There are a lot of ways to approach this choose-your-own-adventure; the way we cut it was total returns from the lows of March 2020 to the highs (in NDX) of November of 2021 ... then from the November highs to today ... and then from the pre-COVID highs to today. A few things stick out to me, here’s one: point-to-point across the full COVID era, US energy stocks have far outperformed the stay-at-home stocks: 9. In a related spirit, and with credit to sales & trading colleague Brian Friedman, if you look the overlay of NDX P/E (white) with inverted 30-year US real yields (yellow), equities are doing what the move in real rates would suggest they should be doing: 10. With credit to David Kostin in GIR, here’s a bigger picture on tech.  For all of the recent troubles, you still have to marvel at the sustained growth of US mega cap names.  now I suppose the mega question is ... would you be willing to fade the broad pattern of this chart: 11. Another level set from GIR ... which, again, illustrates the size of households vs hedge funds (** 2% **) in the domestic equity market:  12. with credit to a client, an analog from the aftermath of the immediate aftermath in the LEH period, which again illustrates the difficulty of being short in the middle or late stages of a bear market: 13. Finally, and to continue the recent thread, this is a powerful chart of de-globalization ... If this were a chart of a security, I’d be inclined to sell it (link) Tyler Durden Sun, 05/22/2022 - 13:50.....»»

NPR Has Corporate-Snitching Platform To Rat Out Anti-Mask Coworkers Taxpayer-funded NPR hasn't dropped a strict mask mandate at its corporate offices - and has been maintaining an anonymous tip-line for employees to snitch on their co-workers who ignore the rules, according to the Washington Free Beacon. "We have asked on-site supervisors to remind staff of the masking requirements when needed," reads the internal memorandum. "Masking is still required, unless recording alone in a studio, working alone in an office with the doors closed, or actively eating or drinking. (And ‘actively' does not mean occasionally drinking from a water bottle)." Employees at NPR's headquarters in Washington, D.C., built in 2013 for a total cost of $200 million, were advised as to how to peacefully confront a delinquent colleague in the workplace. "If you notice someone has forgotten their mask, you might tell them, ‘Hey, you forgot your mask.' It's actually helping the person to be reminded," the memo reads. "Nobody is intentionally trying to evade the rule. And if you are reminded to wear your mask, say, ‘Thank you!'" Other options for ratting out maskless coworkers include telling human resources supervisors who will confront the offender themselves or sharing "an anonymous concern via the EthicsPoint system," a not-at-all-totalitarian-sounding name for a workplace snitching platform. -Free Beacon NPR's corporate 'culture' last made headlines in 2021 when they conducted a reading of the Declaration of Independence which pointed out the "flaws" and racist elements of one of America's most cherished documents. Tyler Durden Sun, 05/22/2022 - 14:15.....»»

Ray Dalio: Gold Reduces Risks, Enhances Returns, Belongs In Your Savings Authored by Peter Reagan via Birch Gold Group, Ray Dalio looks at 500 years of economic history to make the case for gold... “Stop talking about gold, Ray,” Christine Lagarde demanded just before the ‘Ending the Experiment’ session at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 22, 2015. Image CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 courtesy of World Economic Forum In his latest book, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio looked at 500 years of economic history to give investors an idea of the cycle we now find ourselves in. The last such cycle, says Dalio, occurred between 1930-1945 and caused a shift in global influence, as it is doing now. In order to make sense of the following, you have to understand the premise of Dalio’s book Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order (Why Nations Succeed and Fail). Here’s that book, in a nutshell: The times ahead will likely be radically different from those we’ve experienced in our lifetimes—but similar to those that have happened many times before. Studying history lets us find recurring patterns that determine likely future developments. In other words, history repeats itself in ways the knowledgeable can recognize. Dalio makes an extremely compelling case in his book, which is a must-read. For those of us who don’t have the time to digest all data-packed 576 pages, Dalio recently gave a sort of back-of-the-envelope sketch to The Economic Times. “We have five different kinds of wars happening now – a trade war, a technology war, a geopolitical influence war, a capital war and a military war. That kind of confluence produces these difficult periods, the last one was 1930 to 1945 and that is what we are in the midst of. ” Where are we today? All of the hallmarks of the end of a global reserve currency regime are here. They are as follows: #1: Governments run out of money First, when governments run out of money, they need more money than they can get. They create a lot of debt and they print a lot of money. Sound familiar? “We have had the largest debt increases and money creations particularly in the leading world reserve currency, the dollar, although that has been true in the case of euro and it has been true in the yen too and that has a big effect,” Dalio said. By itself, this doesn’t spell the end of a global reserve currency… #2: Conflict between left-wing and right-wing populists Dalio offers us a handy definition of “populism:” Populism consists of people who are representatives who will fight for their way of doing things, rather than compromise. He goes on to describe the current U.S. political situation as, “almost a civil war.” He points out that open conflict in the U.S. could be as near as “an election in which neither side accepts losing.” Obviously, an internal conflict would be incredibly disruptive far beyond our nation’s borders. But that’s not all… #3: The rise of new economic superpowers Back when our current monetary system was designed, in 1945, the U.S. was the wealthiest nation on earth. We owned 80% of the world’s gold reserves (back when gold was money), and half the entire world’s economic and military strength. Dalio believes that the U.S. is experiencing a “relative” decline on the global stage, with countries like China waiting in the wings to steal the spotlight. As Dalio points out, these power struggles have historically been solved through conflict of one kind or another – and he believes the U.S. is facing 5 different wars right now: a trade war, a technology war, a geopolitical war, a capital war and a military war. (We’ll gloss over the details of all these battles.) Dalio sees a stagflationary period as a given, considering both historical precedent and our present reality. For the ordinary investor, certainly one dealing in U.S. dollars, Dalio says that the options are few and far between. During periods of stagflation, physical gold and other commodities break out while most other asset classes (especially risk-on investments) underperform. Much of Dalio’s practical advice in his book reiterates the importance of savings diversification, with the renowned investor emphasizing that a lack of correlation between assets should be paramount. To be fair, Dalio has long recommended diversification with gold. For example, in 2019 he told the International Business Times: I believe that it would be both risk-reducing and return-enhancing to consider adding gold to one’s portfolio. If we’d followed Dalio’s advice and bought told on 17 July 2019, we’d be up 30% on that investment today. The man’s the founder of the world’s largest and arguably most successful hedge fund. Maybe his words are worth heeding. *  *  * With global tensions spiking, thousands of Americans are moving their IRA or 401(k) into an IRA backed by physical gold. Now, thanks to a little-known IRS Tax Law, you can too. Learn how with a free info kit on gold from Birch Gold Group. It reveals how physical precious metals can protect your savings, and how to open a Gold IRA. Click here to get your free Info Kit on Gold. Tyler Durden Sun, 05/22/2022 - 15:30.....»»

Bombardier's Global 5000 private jet features meeting space, a dining area, and seats that can be converted into beds. Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider I flew on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet complete with meeting areas, a dining room, and sleeping space. We were served delicious food and drinks onboard, like bruschetta, charcuterie, and specialty wines. While I'll never afford to fly private regularly, I see how the perks and convenience make chartering worth every penny. VistaJet is the largest private charter company in the world, operating a fleet of Bombardier Global and Challenger aircraft.A VistaJet Bombardier Global 7500 at the Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/InsiderThe company recently took delivery of its 10th Bombardier Global 7500 private plane at a ceremony in Montreal, Canada. It was the planemaker's 100th Global 7500 delivered to a customer.VistaJet's 10th Bombardier Global 7500 at the delivery ceremony in Montreal.Taylor Rains/InsiderInsider joined VistaJet at the official delivery and was able to tour the giant plane, which features several living areas and a private bedroom.Taylor Rains/InsiderBombardier just delivered its 100th Global 7500 business jet built for the ultra-wealthy that features a private bedroom — see inside the 'Ferrari of the Skies'After the ceremony, media hopped onboard one of VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 aircraft and flew to Teterboro, New Jersey.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderThe Global 5000 has a range of 9,630 kilometers (5,984 miles) and can connect cities like New York and London and Seattle and Tokyo, according to VistaJet.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: VistaJetWhile VistaJet does not publish its price list for charters, one-way rates are thought to be between $12,000 and $20,000 per hour, according to Forbes.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderSource: ForbesThis was my first time flying in a large business plane, and although it is likely something I'll never be able to afford on my own, it was a treat to see how the wealthy travel.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderMy journey started at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport where we were driven directly from Bombardier's headquarters to the airplane.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderOur driver entered the ramp via a gate, and none of us were required to go through security before boarding the jet. I was impressed at how easy and quick the transfer was.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderAfter showing my passport to the captain, I was eager to explore the jet and meet the cabin hostesses, which is what VistaJet calls flight attendants. Both were former Emirates crew members and went through specialized training before working private flights.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderOnboard, the plane is divided into three sections, including one living space in the front of the jet…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…a dining room in the middle…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…and a second conference or meeting space in the back, which can be closed off with a curtain. In total, the jet can carry 13 passengers and sleep seven.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderThe front living space has four large leather armchairs that were easily more comfortable than domestic business class on commercial airliners. The seats have a leg rest, an adjustable headrest, and feature a deep recline.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderThe dining section also features four armchairs, while the aft living space has two armchairs and a couch.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderBetween each set of seats are wood tables that can deploy from the wall, creating a space to work, eat, or play games if traveling for leisure or with kids.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderAccording to VistaJet, the seats and couch can be converted into beds for passengers to sleep.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderIn addition to the main three sections, there is also a spacious lavatory and cargo space for luggage in the back of the plane…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…a galley in the front where the cabin hostesses prepare food and drinks…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…and a long counter along the fuselage that has a printer and plenty of work space.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderOther amenities include a handheld iPod that can control things like lighting and sound…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…adjustable window shades…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…power ports…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…and cupholders.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderI was impressed with the size and roominess of the cabin. I could stand fully upright and was easily able to maneuver to the seats and between sections without feeling cramped.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderMoreover, although the front living space and dining area are connected, there was no sound overlap when I was sitting at the dining table. I could easily hear the person across from me without background noise drowning out the conversation.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderHowever, the engines, which are mounted on the back of the fuselage, were quite loud. It was hard to ignore the sound when seated in the aft section or when in the lavatory.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderThe flight from Montreal to Teterboro was about an hour and a half, and we were able to enjoy VistaJet's onboard dining.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderShortly after takeoff, the cabin hostess set up our table with a table cloth, plates, napkins, and utensils. She also placed butter, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper on the table.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderBefore takeoff, we were given a menu with several options for platters, appetizers, and entrees. I was eager to try the food and drinks available.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderUnfortunately, we were unable to try the entrees due to time, but we did try almost everything on the list otherwise, including charcuterie…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…Caprese skewers…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…brushetta…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…fruit…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…rolls…Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/Insider…and sweets.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderBecause I'm on a charcuterie kick these days, I ate as much cheese and meat as I could. Even though chefs say passengers lose 33% of their ability to taste in the air, I found the flavors to be bold and delicious.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderWhile the cheese was my favorite, the other options were also tasty, especially the bruschetta, which was nicely presented on the plate.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderWith our meal, we were served bottomless wine and champagne. However, VistaJet also has regular drinks like soda, water, and coffee.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderI favored the white wine, which, according to VistaJet, is specially made to enhance taste when cruising at high altitudes.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderAfter indulging for over an hour, the cabin hostesses started preparing the plane for landing. They cleared the table and stored our belongings.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderWe were on the ground the Teterboro around 8 p.m. and taxied to Atlantic Aviation which handles general aviation aircraft.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderBecause we were flying internationally, we had to go through customs, which was quick and painless. We simply entered a dedicated Customs and Border Protection office, showed our passports, and were off within a few minutes.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderOverall, VistaJet's Global 5000 private jet experience exceeded expectations, as I knew it would. The food was delicious and I appreciated the highly attentive cabin hostesses who went above and beyond for their passengers.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderWhile flying private is a luxury that I will likely never be able to do on the regular, I can see how it's worth every penny for those that can afford it.Flying on VistaJet's Bombardier Global 5000 private jet.Taylor Rains/InsiderRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

On Thursday, May 19th, Onyx Equities was joined by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other Newark elected and civic leaders to unveil the new two-story “Jewel Box” entryway into Gateway Center, downtown Newark’s cornerstone redevelopment project that links three newly reimagined Class A office towers through a massive 100,000 square... The post Onyx Equities Debuts Head-Turning Renovation at Gateway Center’s Grand Opening in Downtown Newark appeared first on Real Estate Weekly. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka joined John Saraceno and Jon Schultz, Co-Founders and Managing Partners for Onyx Equities to reveal the Jewel Box entrance to Gateway Center.  The new two-story, glass enclosed entrance is part of a $60 million renovation that will change the way that commuters, visitors and residents interact with the building and the surrounding neighborhood.From Left to Right: John Saraceno, Mayor Ras Baraka, Jon Schultz. On Thursday, May 19th, Onyx Equities was joined by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other Newark elected and civic leaders to unveil the new two-story “Jewel Box” entryway into Gateway Center, downtown Newark’s cornerstone redevelopment project that links three newly reimagined Class A office towers through a massive 100,000 square foot retail/dining concourse known as The Junction, opening later this year. The event celebrates a pinnacle moment in Gateway’s transformation – one of the largest in New Jersey’s history, and Newark’s revitalization as an international center for commerce, culture and cuisine. “The new Jewel Box entryway and the larger Gateway redevelopment project are a testament to what New Jerseyans have always known: there is no better place in the world to live, work, and play,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Visitors, employees, and families will all benefit from this game-changing development, which showcases some of the best dining options and recreational activities the Garden State has to offer. Now more than ever, Newark remains an internationally renowned commercial and cultural hub.” Located along Raymond Plaza West across from Newark Penn Station, the “Jewel Box” was designed as a welcoming beacon for all Newark visitors, employees, and residents, and will soon serve as the main entrance into The Junction, which will deliver an exciting combination of food options from Newark’s local culinary talent and well-known restauranteurs from across the Hudson River in late 2022. Recently announced restaurant tenants include Serafina, Mökbar, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, Fresh & Co, Greek from Greece Bakery & Café, Farinella, 375˚ Chicken & Fries, Chip City Cookies, The Brookdale, among other notables – many of which were highlighted as part of the Grand Opening celebration. Additional fitness, educational, and wellness retailers will round out a total lifestyle program. “The Jewel Box is a state-of-the-art entrance to the Gateway Center, one of our city’s signature complexes,” Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said. “Adjoined with The Junction that opens later this year, it will showcase our excellence, hospitality, and diverse array of food to Newark residents, workforce, and visitors. “We are thankful to Onyx Equities for transforming such an important center in the heart of our downtown.” “We are opening The Jewel Box at a really exciting time when people are coming back to the office,” said Jonathan Schultz, Co-Founder and Principal at Onyx Equities. “This was not just about improving the pedestrian and employee experience within the complex; it is part of a larger overall reinterpretation of what Newark can be for businesses and residents looking for a thriving urban community.” “Our design intent was to activate the streetscape and create a welcoming connection to the community. Designed in the 1970s, Gateway was deliberately inward-facing with little connection to the life of the city, but Onyx’s new vision re-engages the community,” said Roger Smith, Design Director. “With street level local retailers, a landscaped public plaza and the two-story entrance hall across from Newark Penn Station, Gateway will become Newark’s new front door.” Comprised of some of the tallest buildings in the city, the transformation of the 2.3 million square foot, four-building Gateway Center complex is nothing short of spectacular. Inside and out, over $50 Million in capital improvements bring the vision of world-renowned architect Gensler to life, introducing a new exterior façade, modernized lobbies and common areas, tech-forward collaborative spaces, generous and flexible office build-out configurations, state-of-the-art post-COVID sanitation systems, a newly renovated parking garage, and a best-in-class retail experience that anticipates over 75,000 daily visitors once complete thanks to direct skybridge connectivity to Newark Penn Station, a Doubletree by Hilton, One Riverfront Center, Panasonic’s Corporate Headquarters, and several new residential developments under construction. “Gateway is on course to be New Jersey’s premier office and dining destination – the first of its kind in our state,” said Matthew P. Flath, vice president of asset management at Onyx Equities. “We know we’re hitting the right note because we’re attracting world-renowned restaurants like Serafina and celebrity chefs like Esther Choi of Mökbar, as well our top-tier regional and local culinary talent.” Appealing to a wide audience, the development also plays a major day-to-day role in the immediate area where there is a growing population of 300,000, a daytime workforce population of 200,000 and 58,000 riders who board at Newark Penn Station daily. In addition, more than 60,000 vehicles pass The Junction at Gateway Center along McCarter Highway each day. Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils and Seton Hall Pirates Basketball, is directly across the street and four major universities with over 50,000 students are nearby. To learn more about Gateway Center, visit GatewayNJ.com. For retail leasing inquiries at The Junction, contact Jason Pierson and Ryan Starkman of Pierson Commercial Real Estate at (927) 823-4800. For information about Class A office opportunities within 1, 2 & 4 Gateway Center, contact Tim Greiner and Blake Goodman of JLL at (732) 707-6900 x5. The post Onyx Equities Debuts Head-Turning Renovation at Gateway Center’s Grand Opening in Downtown Newark appeared first on Real Estate Weekly......»»

Japan Nuclear Regulator Greenlights Radiactive Water Release From Fukushima Authored by Irina Slav via OilPrice.com, The Japanese Nuclear Regulator Authority has given its initial approval to Tepco to start releasing irradiated water from the Fukushima plant that collapsed during a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Plans were revealed last year to pour the water from Fukushima into the sea after an assessment that would check whether there were any safety issues with such a plan. According to the Nuclear Regulator Authority, there are none. Final approval will be granted in a month after the public has had the opportunity to comment on the issue. The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency will also carry out safety reviews of the water release. There are about a million tons of contaminated water from Fukushima that Tepco, the operator of the nuclear plant, has been looking for ways to dispose of for several years now. Releasing the water into the ocean has emerged as the most viable solution to the problem despite opposition both from inside Japan and its neighbors. Despite the absence of viable options, environmental groups and fishing industry organizations are against the release of the liquid into the sea, even with assurances from scientists that the risk of contamination is low. The water will be first filtered and then diluted to reduce the concentration of radioactive material 40 times, according to some of the reports from last year that were confirmed this year as well. The release is scheduled to begin this year if the Nuclear Regulator Authority gives its final go-ahead to Tepco. Back in 2018, official calculations by the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corp pegged the cost of decommissioning the Fukushima nuclear power plant at some $75 billion, which was a sum four times larger than the initial estimate of how much it would cost to put Fukushima out of commission. Tyler Durden Sat, 05/21/2022 - 15:30.....»»

Delta's new Airbus A321neo includes a sleek new first-class cabin with more privacy and better storage. It lived up to all of my expectations. Jennifer Franklin The Airbus A321neo is a new, more comfortable and sustainable airplane joining Delta's fleet. Not only is the plane new, but it has a completely redesigned first-class seating area. I flew on the A321neo before it debuted to the public. Its storage and comfort impressed me. Delta's adding a new, more comfortable and sustainable airplane in its fleet: The Airbus A321neo, which has 194 seats and 20% better fuel efficiency than Delta's current A321ceos.DeltaSources: Delta, American Airlines"Neo" stands for "new engine option," and Delta plans to purchase a total of 155 Airbus 321neos through 2027.DeltaThe new planes include markedly upgraded domestic first-class seats, featuring memory-foam cushioning, winged seat backs for more privacy, and a smart new storage configuration.DeltaDelta representatives told Insider the sleek new seats were designed over five years of testing and customer input.DeltaA321neo flights began departing from Delta's hub at Boston Logan International, bound for San Francisco, on May 20. They'll debut on existing flights to Seattle on August 11. Other planned transcontinental routes include Boston to San Diego and Denver.DeltaI flew on Delta's new state-of-the-art A321neo in the upgraded first-class cabin before it launched to the general public. Here's what it was like.Jennifer FranklinI checked in for my flight on the Fly Delta app. I wasn't checking a bag for my quick trip from Atlanta to Boston, but the Delta counter usually makes the bag-drop process quick.Jennifer FranklinI used my Fly Delta app to get through security, but printing a physical boarding pass is simple at Delta's automated kiosks. On the Wednesday I flew, the area was practically empty.Jennifer FranklinHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — known as ATL — is the world's busiest airport. The Plane Train is the simplest way to navigate between its seven concourses.Jennifer FranklinSource: WSBTV, iFlyAfter breezing through security thanks to TSA PreCheck, I boarded the Plane Train to take me to the “T” gates, where Delta’s new Airbus 321neo would depart.Jennifer FranklinHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is increasingly busy as passengers ramp up their travel schedules. However, on this Wednesday at noon, the T gates were uncrowded.Jennifer FranklinI had a voucher for access to the Delta Sky Club near my gate. With a few minutes to spare before boarding the plane, I stopped in for a snack.Jennifer FranklinThe Delta Sky Club on Atlanta's T gates featured a variety of original art installations to add to the visual interest.Jennifer FranklinThe day I visited, the Delta Sky Club featured a station with a chef preparing a refreshing smoothie with frozen acai berries, fresh pineapple, orange juice, and cantaloupe.Jennifer FranklinThe Sky Club has multiple self-serve Eversys espresso machines, which I used to make myself a pre-flight cappuccino.Jennifer FranklinI picked up a few complimentary magazines from the Sky Club to read on my journey. The flight I joined was to reposition Delta's new A321neo plane from Atlanta, where Delta's headquarters is, to Boston, where it would depart on its first public flight on Friday.Jennifer FranklinFriendly Delta flight attendants, outfitted in their signature uniforms designed by Zac Posen, welcomed me to the flight.Jennifer FranklinI had 3A and B all to myself for this flight, and the upgrades to the first-class seats were apparent immediately. The roomy seats feature "wings" on the seat back to provide additional privacy from your first-class neighbor.Jennifer FranklinThe bookshelf-style overhead bins are 25% larger, so they had no problem accommodating the luggage I brought onboard.Jennifer FranklinThe smartly designed personal storage for first class accommodates everything you'd want to have at your fingertips for a lengthy domestic flight: laptop, notebook, e-reader, and more.Jennifer FranklinEarlier this year, Delta announced its partnership with Mexico-based company Someone Somewhere, which employs artisans (75% of whom are women) in Oaxaca and Michoacán, to create their first-class amenity kits.Jennifer FranklinSource: DeltaThis one included a Someone Somewhere eye mask, Humble Co. bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste, and Grown Alchemist lip balm and lotion. (These kits aren't available for domestic first class, but they were given to us as samples of what's available for Delta One passengers on international flights.)Jennifer FranklinThe ambient ceiling lighting adds elegance and visual interest to the cabin interior.Jennifer FranklinEach first-class seat back has a 13-inch high-definition monitor for on-demand inflight entertainment.Jennifer FranklinThough the flight from Atlanta to Boston was only approximately two hours and 20 minutes, I had fun perusing Delta Studio's selection of more than 500 movies, as well as live TV, television series episodes, podcasts, and more.Jennifer FranklinWhile I couldn't see it, I learned that all A321s (along with many other Delta aircraft) are equipped with state-of-the-art air-circulation systems.Jennifer FranklinAccording to Delta, they blend "outside air sterilized with a high-temperature compressor and ozone purifier with existing cabin air that has been recirculated through an industrial-grade HEPA filter."DeltaIt's nice for peace of mind for anyone who's nervous about staying healthy while in the air.Jennifer FranklinThe quilted seat backs and headrests in first class are outfitted with memory foam, and I noticed the upgrade immediately. It's firm and plush at the same time. The new first-class seats are 21 inches wide and feature 37 inches of pitch.Jennifer FranklinNo matter how organized I intend to be, it seems I'm always misplacing my phone on a flight. The smart new storage and charging plugs are positioned right beside the first-class seats in the A321neo, so losing track of your device or charging cables won't be an issue.Jennifer FranklinThe new Airbus A321neo is powered by a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine that's noticeably quieter than the A321ceo, making it even easier to hear crew announcements.Jennifer FranklinThe new A321neo also features Delta's fastest wifi connection, ideal for getting some work done in the air.Jennifer FranklinThough the seats in the rest of the plane didn't get the same major overhaul the A321neo's first class did, all of the new plane's seats now feature memory foam.Jennifer FranklinFirst class has a 22- by 10-inch bi-fold tray to comfortably hold my computer. Plus, high-speed wifi is $5 for the entire flight.Jennifer FranklinI managed to knock out some work during the short flight from Atlanta to Boston. The bi-fold tray was big enough to hold my 13-inch MacBook Pro, a drink, and a snack at the same time.Jennifer FranklinThe miniature drink tray in between seats and the seat-adjacent water bottle holder made me feel like I had plenty of room to spread out and create a true workspace.Jennifer FranklinThe seat backs have a small ledge (covered in leather, for extra grip) that's perfect for setting a phone or other item. I was struck by how it seemed no space, no matter how small, was wasted in the new first class design.Jennifer FranklinFlight attendants offered a selection of snacks before meal service.Jennifer FranklinSnack offerings included Italian Cubetti dark-chocolate wafer cookies, Albanese gourmet gummy bears, Miss Vickie's kettle chips, and honey-roasted pistachios by Wonderful.Jennifer FranklinFor in-flight snack and meal service, a cloth napkin covered the bi-fold tray table.Jennifer FranklinFor lunch, I chose an Impossible burger topped with manchego cheese and caramelized onions, served with a spiced butternut squash salad and lemon-blueberry cheesecake. The meal was one of three options available.Jennifer FranklinThe plant-based burger turned out to be just the right blend of somewhat healthy and decadent. The airline brought back food service, much of which was paused during the pandemic, to first class two months ago.Jennifer FranklinSource: DeltaRather than focusing on celebrity-chef partnerships, Managing Director of Brand Experience Mauricio Parise told me that the airline is working with local caterers in their markets who have a high attention to detail for ingredients and finished dishes.Jennifer FranklinDelta serves canned cocktails, such as margaritas, by Atlanta-based Tip Top Proper. Each can is just 100 milliliters, but they pack a powerful punch thanks to 26% ABV.Jennifer FranklinThe new first-class recliners have 5 inches of recline and a height-adjustable headrest that folds in to cradle your head. I managed to close my eyes for a few minutes.Jennifer FranklinThe one disappointing thing is that the footrest doesn't move, so for a transcontinental flight such as the six-hour one from Boston to San Francisco, it might be hard to truly sleep.Jennifer FranklinI appreciated the conveniently positioned ports — right next to my seat — so I never had to fumble to charge my phone. The charging stations have both plugs and USB ports.Jennifer FranklinThe oversize monitors also angle so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can still comfortably view your show or movie.Jennifer FranklinThe flight passed quickly. Before I knew it, we were descending into Boston's Logan International Airport. Overall, I was impressed with the thoughtful upgrades to first class on Delta's new A321neo planes.DeltaThough it’s initially intended for longer flights than the one I took, I can envision being quite comfortable in one of these roomy seats flying across the United States.Jennifer FranklinRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

As the greenback has been rising due to the super-hawkish monetary policies in the United States, many foreign currencies are slumping. But international stocks are cheaper than the U.S. ones. Hence, currency-hedged ETFs appear good bets. The policy differential across the globe led investors in the ETF world to see the impact of currencies on their foreign holdings. This is truer in the light of heightened rising rates fears in the United States and rock-bottom rates in the Euro zone as well as in Japan. Some emerging economies too continue easy-money policies.The Fed has enacted a 25-bp rate hike in March and a 50-bp rate hike in May. Markets are pricing in another 190-basis-point rate hike in 2022. Hence, the greenback has been gaining strength.Many currencies are slumping against the U.S. dollar, which is having an adverse impact on stock prices when U.S. investors repatriate returns earned from foreign shores. Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish ETF UUP is up 8.3% this year.YenYen has been trading at a two-decade low against the greenback. Devaluation in currency is always boon to the export-oriented nation like Japan. A weaker yen makes Japanese products more competitive on the global market, boosting the profit margins for their key businesses.In recent months, Japan has been receiving what it wanted for long, though fast-rising food and energy costs have been bothering the economy amid a scenario of moderate inflation. Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust FXY is off 10% in the past six months.Euro Invesco CurrencyShares Euro Currency Trust FXE is down 7.3% this year.Though the euro is close to the parity with the greenback, FXE is still off 2% past month. If the Fed maintains its aggressive rate hike momentum in the near term, the greenback may gain further.Emerging MarketsWisdomTree Emerging Currency Strategy Fund CEW is off 3% past month. Most emerging market currencies will likely fall over the medium term. Notably, emerging markets are commodity-rich and hence benefited to a large extent due to the latest commodity rally.But a Reuters article published in early April revealed that even currencies that have gained from the ongoing commodity rally and their respective central banks' policy tightening, like the Brazilian real and the South African rand are forecast (by economists) to lose about half of those gains in a year. That article indicated that the Mexican peso - a classic emerging market foreign exchange hedge — is expected to give up more than three times its gains for this year in 12 months.International Stocks Cheaper Than U.S. OnesPer an article published on Wall Street Journal, U.S. stocks appear pricey relative to their international counterparts. Even though it has declined 16% to start 2022, the S&P 500 trades at 16.8 times its projected earnings over the next 12 months, which is still above the average multiple of 15.7 over the past 20 years, according to FactSet, as quoted on Wall Street Journal.By comparison, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng trades at 9.5 times its projected earnings, Japan’s Nikkei 225 trades at 14.3 times earnings and Germany’s DAX trades at 11.4 times, per the WSJ article. Only the benchmarks in Belgium, Portugal and Saudi Arabia, as well as the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, have higher valuations based on future earnings than the S&P 500, according to data available on FactSet (read: Are International ETFs Cheaper Than U.S. ETFs?).Morgan Stanley strategists are also overweight on the FTSE 100, as quoted on a Bloomberg article. Notably, the FTSE 100 represents more than 80% of the London Stock Exchange's market capitalization.Currency Hedged ETFs to RuleThanks to this currency issue, investors need to be vigilant while picking up foreign assets and consider the dollar’s possibility of gaining more strength following further hikes in interest rates. There isn’t anything more unfortunate than seeing one’s substantial portfolio additions fail because of soft foreign currency.The above discussion has made the importance of hedging clear to many investors who may not have realized that a bet on a foreign market is not only to do with purchasing stocks or bonds in the country but a lot to do with currency translation.This is because the ongoing and potential dollar strength may eat up the returns earned from the countries marked with immense bourse potential but weak currencies.  Hence, to ride out this currency concerns, it is better to opt for currency hedged ETFs in the near term.For investors intrigued by this strategy, there are a few options currently on the market. Below, we briefly highlight some of the currency-hedged ETFs that have beaten down the S&P 500 (down 0.8%) past week.Winning ETFs of Past WeekWisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity Fund DXGE – Up 3.73%WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity Fund EUSC – Up 2.9%WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund HEDJ – Up 2.6%Xtrackers MSCI Eurozone Hedged Equity ETF DBEZ – Up 2.5%Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF FLEH – Up 2.5%iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF HEZU – Up 2.5% Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY): ETF Research Reports Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish ETF (UUP): ETF Research Reports Invesco CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE): ETF Research Reports WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity ETF (HEDJ): ETF Research Reports WisdomTree Europe Hedged SmallCap Equity ETF (EUSC): ETF Research Reports iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Eurozone ETF (HEZU): ETF Research Reports Xtrackers MSCI Eurozone Hedged Equity ETF (DBEZ): ETF Research Reports WisdomTree Emerging Currency Strategy ETF (CEW): ETF Research Reports WisdomTree Germany Hedged Equity ETF (DXGE): ETF Research Reports Franklin FTSE Europe Hedged ETF (FLEH): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here......»»

Mirati (MRTX) seeks a nod for its lung cancer candidate adagrasib in the European Union. A regulatory filing in the United States is currently under the FDA review with decision pending this year-end. Mirati Therapeutics MRTX announced that it has filed a marketing authorization application (MAA) in the European Union (EU) for its KRAS-G12C inhibitor adagrasib for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The MAA filed with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeks approval for adagrasib as a potential treatment for patients with KRAS-G12C-mutated NSCLC. The patients must have received at least one prior systemic therapy.MRTX already submitted a new drug application (NDA) with the FDA seeking approval under the accelerated pathway for adagrasib for the above-mentioned indication. In February, Mirati announced that the FDA accepted the NDA and set a PDUFA action date of Dec 14, 2022, for the same.Shares of Mirati have plunged 59.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s 24.1% decline.Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe filings in both the United States and the EU are based on positive top-line data from the phase II potentially registration-enabling monotherapy-cohort of the KRYSTAL-1 study, evaluating adagrasib for the above-mentioned indication. Data from the study was announced last Sepetmber. In the study, treatment with adagrasib led to an objective response rate of 43% and a disease control rate of 80% as of Jun 15, 2021.Currently, there are very limited options available to patients suffering KRAS-G12C mutated NSCLC. A potential approval of adagrasib will provide Mirati with its first marketed drug and the patients with a new therapeutic option.Mirati’s adagrasib, if approved, will face stiff competition from Lumakras, a KRAS-G12C inhibitor, marketed by Amgen AMGN. AMGN received accelerated approval for Lumakras as a second-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC from the FDA last May. Earlier in January this year, Amgen also gained approval for the drug in Europe for a similar indication. The drug has shown robust launch uptake since its approval, with Amgen recording revenues worth $62 million from its sales in first-quarter 2022.The KRYSTAL-1 study is also evaluating adagrasib in multiple cohorts in combination with other therapies. These include a combo therapy of adagrasib with Merck’s MRK Keytruda for first-line NSCLC, a combination of adagrasib plus Boehringer Ingelheim’s Gilotrif (afatinib) for advanced NSCLC and adagrasib combined with Bristol-Myers’ BMY Erbitux for second-line colorectal cancer (CRC).Preliminary data from the adagrasib plus Merck’s Keytruda cohort demonstrated that the combination achieved a 100% disease control rate, with all seven patients exhibiting tumor regression ranging from 37% to 92% as of Oct 21, 2021.Mirati is also pursuing a broad combination development program for adagrasib beyond the combinations with Merck’s Keytruda and Bristol-Myers’ Erbitux. These include combinations with SHP2, SOS1 or CDK 4/6 inhibitors.Both Opdivo and Keutruda are key drivers for Bristol Myers and Merck’s top lines, respectively. During the first quarter of 2022, Bristol Myers recorded $1.9 billion from Opdivo sales while Merck recorded $4.8 billion from Keytruda sales.Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. Price Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. price | Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. QuoteZacks RankMirati currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time. This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMY): Free Stock Analysis Report Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK): Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN): Free Stock Analysis Report Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (MRTX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Low-volatility products can be fascinating picks for those seeking steady investment in equities amid the current market volatility. Wall Street is continuously struggling with various external challenges. Investors stay cautious as they are worried about the Federal Reserve’s aggressive stance on interest rate hikes amid persistently high inflation levels.Looking at the volatile market conditions, Greg Bassuk, CEO at AXS Investments, asked investors to expect more turmoil in the markets. He said that “the main takeaway for investors is to brace for extended volatility. We believe that volatility is going to be the investor narrative for the balance of Q2, and frankly, you know, for the balance of 2022,” per a CNBC article.Investors willing to sail through the current market turbulences, stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict can consider iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV), Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV), iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV) and Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD).The American retailers are also feeling the heat of macroeconomic headwinds like persistently high inflation levels, aggressive stance of the Federal Reserve on interest rate hikes, resurging COVID-19 cases in China causing full/partial regional lockdowns and uncertainty surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war crisis, which are hurting market sentiments. Also, the renewed concerns that the COVID-19 and the ongoing war woes might cause further disturbances to the supply-chain distribution are adding to the market rout.Two major retailers, namely Target (TGT) and Walmart (WMT), recently declined 24.9% and 6.8%, respectively, on May 18 as their financials were affected by rising labor, transportation and fuel costs. Wall Street also bled profusely as these concerns ignited sell-offs in the market.Commenting on the current market conditions, Glenview Trust CIO Bill Stone  said that “while many cross-currents are causing the current sell-off, the proximate cause of the recent acceleration in the stock declines revolves around fears about the U.S. consumer. For the first time in the post-Covid period, retailers have been stuck with some excess inventories. Costs due to inflation are also taking their toll on their earnings. Lastly, there is evidence that the lower-end consumer is feeling the pinch from the increase in prices,” according to a CNBC article.The world’s largest economy continues to struggle with the persistently high-inflation levels. Per the latest Labor Department report, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 8.3% year over year in April, surpassing the already high Dow Jones estimate of an 8.1% rise.To control hot inflation readings, the Fed hiked rates twice by 0.25% and 0.50% in 2022. The central bank plans to start reducing its balance sheet in June this year.Low-Volatility ETFs to the RescueLow-volatility products could be intriguing choices for those who want to continue investing in equities amid market mayhem. Consider the following exciting options:iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF USMViShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF offers exposure to 173 U.S. stocks with lower volatility characteristics than the broader U.S. equity market by tracking the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility (USD) Index. With an AUM of $27.15 billion, iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF charges 0.15% as its expense ratio (read: 5 Safe Investing Zones &Their ETFs to Escape Market Rout).Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF SPLVInvesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF provides exposure to stocks with the lowest realized volatility over the past 12 months. The fund is based on the S&P 500 Low Volatility Index and holds 103 securities in its basket. Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF has an AUM of $10.43 billion and charges an expense ratio of 25 basis points (bps), as stated in the prospectus (read: These Q1 ETF Winners Have More Upside Left).iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF ACWViShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF provides exposure to global stocks with potentially fewer risks. ACWV tracks the MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index and holds 401 securities. iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF has an AUM of $4.59 billion and charges 20 bps of annual fees.Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF SPHDInvesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF seeks investment results that generally correspond (before fees and expenses) to the price and yield of the S&P 500 Low Volatility High Dividend Index. It holds 51 securities. Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF has an AUM of $4 billion and charges 30 bps as annual fees (read: 5 Dividend ETFs Crushing the Market This Year). Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV): ETF Research Reports Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD): ETF Research Reports Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV): ETF Research Reports iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Ford's new electric truck is comfortable, spacious, and capable, making it perfect for road trips. But there's one major way it falls short. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.Tim Levin/Insider I drove Ford's new electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning.  I think it's perfect for road trips.  It's comfortable, quiet, spacious, and off-road worthy. But charging could pose an issue.  Driving Ford's new F-150 Lightning through the Texas countryside earlier this month proved that the hyped-up electric truck truly is all it's cracked up to be. Moreover, testing the Lightning showed me that it's the ultimate road-tripping vehicle. Here are five reasons why:1. It's comfortable and whisper quietThe Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.Tim Levin/InsiderOne of the first things that jumped out at me when I started driving the Lightning was just how quiet it was.Pull away in a lumbering truck, and your brain is wired to expect the drone of a gas engine. But get going in a Lightning and all you hear is a bit of wind noise and the faint sound of the tires hitting the pavement. You need to get up past 75 mph or so for the wind noise to really kick in.Moreover, the Lightning offers plenty of room to stretch out. I drove an $80,000 Lightning Lariat for hours at a time and never felt cramped or uncomfortable. The back seats have tons of legroom and headroom too, even for tall people. 2. That frunkThe 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning.Tim Levin/InsiderStorage space is a nice thing to have on any road trip. And the Lighting has plenty of it. There's the bed, of course, which is 5.5-feet long and can haul not only luggage but bulkier items like bikes, kayaks, and tents. But the Lightning's not-so-secret weapon is its frunk. The Lightning's hood doesn't conceal an engine, but rather a cavernous cargo area. It opens wide and can easily fit a few decently sized backpacks. It could come in especially handy as a spot for things you want easily accessible, rather than buried deep in the bed. 3. Hands-free driving capabilityThe Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat.Tim Levin/InsiderBlue Cruise, Ford's hands-free driving system, is available on some of the pricier Lightning models. The system works like this: Turn on cruise control and arrive at a stretch of highway that Ford has pre-approved (a Blue Zone), and the Lightning will invite you to take your hands off the wheel. The truck then uses cameras and sensors to automatically steer, accelerate, brake, and monitor surrounding traffic. In my experience, it all works pretty well. The Lightning confidently stays in its lane and I could sometimes go long stretches without having to intervene. When traffic isn't too hectic, Blue Cruise could make long-distance drives a bit less tiring. That being said, it doesn't work perfectly all the time and requires constant babysitting. I opted to keep my hands close to the steering wheel at all times.4. It's a generator on wheelsThe F-150 Lightning LariatFordThe Lightning doesn't just suck in electricity to charge up, it can also give energy away. The truck offers household outlets spread throughout its bed, cab, and frunk, so it can share power with cooking appliances, TVs, laptops, and other electronics. Want to take your espresso machine and Instant Pot on a cross-country camping trip? Go right ahead. 5. Go-anywhere capabilityThe 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT.Tim Levin/InsiderSometimes road trips are also about going off-road, whether it's a dirt trail to a secluded campsite or a bonafide overlanding adventure. And the Lightning has no problem going off the beaten path.All trucks come with two motors and all-wheel drive. Plus, they deliver tons of torque immediately, making light work of big rocks, water crossings, and loose terrain. I'm far from an off-roading expert, and even I could switch the truck into off-road mode, point it at a boulder, and climb over it with relative ease. OK, but…The Ford F-150 Lightning.Tim Levin/InsiderThe elephant in the room here is range and charging.Depending on the battery pack you choose, the Lightning can travel between 230 and 320 miles at once, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. So on the highway, you'll be stopping to charge every few hours. The thing is, most people stop every few hours anyway. The bigger issue, potentially, is finding places to fill up. Charging infrastructure is getting better all the time, but stations aren't so common that one can spontaneously venture out and stumble across one. And there aren't as many options in the middle of the country as there are by the coasts. Still, I'm convinced that the F-150 Lightning is the ultimate road-tripping solution.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway more than quadrupled its stake in Chevron, while Burry's Scion Asset Management placed a bet against Apple stock. Warren Buffett.Reuters Warren Buffett, Michael Burry of "The Big Short," and others shared portfolio updates this week. Ray Dalio, Jim Simons, and Stanley Druckenmiller also disclosed their stock holdings as of March 31. Key trades included a big bet on Chevron, a wager against Apple, and several meme-stock purchases. Warren Buffett, Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame, and other top-flight investors made significant changes to their stock portfolios in the first quarter of this year, ranging from a huge wager on Chevron to a bet against Apple.Ray Dalio, Jim Simons, and Stanley Druckenmiller's funds all made notable tweaks to their holdings. The first two bought or sold two of the best-known meme stocks, GameStop and AMC, while the third bet big on energy stocks and made a surprising wager against the S&P 500.Read more: Goldman Sachs lays out the case for investing more of your money in real assets — and reveals which ones it’s most bullish on as the stock market crashesHere are 5 of the most striking trades in the first quarter:Warren Buffett piled into ChevronWarren Buffett.REUTERS/Marc CardwellWarren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway more than quadrupled its Chevron stake last quarter. The energy company's stock price also rose 39% last quarter, helping to boost the value of Berkshire's position from $4.5 billion to almost $26 billion.The famed investor's conglomerate also disclosed new positions in Citigroup and Paramount Global, worth $2.9 billion and $2.6 billion respectively as of March 31.On the other hand, Berkshire virtually eliminated its Verizon stake, which was valued at north of $8 billion three months earlier. Michael Burry bet against AppleMichael Burry.Jim Spellman/Getty ImagesBurry's Scion Asset Management, which sold most of its US stocks last year, piled back into the market in the first quarter.The hedge fund added the likes of Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Discovery to its holdings, helping to boost its US stock portfolio's value (excluding options) by 122% to $165 million.Burry and his team also disclosed bearish put options against 206,000 Apple shares. The iPhone maker's stock has tumbled 23% this year as investors — facing the prospect of higher interest rate, stubborn inflation, and a possible recession — have dumped technology stocks.Ray Dalio's Bridgewater fund got out of Tesla and invested in AMCRay Dalio.Hollis JohnsonRay Dalio's Bridgewater Associates disposed of its Tesla stock, and built new stakes  in GameStop and AMC Entertainment, in the first quarter of this year.Bridgewater exited Elon Musk's electric-vehicle company after holding about $27 million of its stock at the end of December. In contrast, it bought GameStop shares worth $689,000 as of March 31; it last reported owning the meme stock at the end of 2018.Moreover, Dalio's fund disclosed AMC as a holding for the first time. It owned $667,000 of the cinema-chain's stock at the end of March.Jim Simons' RenTech fund boosted its Tesla and GameStop betsJim Simons.AP Images / Jason DecrowRenaissance Technologies doubled down on Tesla, ramped up its GameStop wager, and slashed its AMC Entertainment stake in the first quarter.RenTech, founded by a Cold War codebreaker and former MIT math professor named Jim Simons, boosted its Tesla stake by 109% to 1.6 million shares — worth $1.7 billion at the end of March.Simons' quantitative hedge fund also grew its GameStop position 118-fold to 307,000 shares, valued at $51 million as of March 31.Moreover, RenTech cut its AMC holdings by 61%, and the cinema-chain's stock price slid 9% in the period. As a result, the position's value tumbled by almost two-thirds to $45 million.Stanley Druckenmiller made a wager against the S&P 500Stanley Druckenmiller.Reuters / Brendan McDermidStanley Druckenmiller placed a bet against the S&P 500 index, and snapped up a bunch of energy and mining stocks, in the first quarter.Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office held puts against 239,600 shares of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, which tracks the benchmark index, as of March 31.The billionaire investor and his team also boosted their Chevron stake, and added Teck Resources, Coterra Energy, and several other commodity stocks to their portfolio.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The wife of Justice Clarence Thomas sent emails to Speaker of the Arizona House Russell Bowers and Rep. Shawnna Bolick to "fight back against fraud." Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife and conservative activist Virginia Thomas while he waits to speak at the Heritage Foundation on October 21, 2021 in Washington, DC.Drew Angerer/Getty Images Emails show Ginni Thomas urged Arizona lawmakers to choose new electors in a bid to challenge the 2020 election. She sent emails to Arizona House Speaker Russell Bowers and state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, The Washington Post reported. Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence, wrote it was necessary to "fight back against fraud." Leaked emails show that Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, urged Arizona lawmakers to select a "clean slate" of state electors in a bid to challenge the 2020 election, The Washington Post reported Friday.On Nov. 9, 2020, six days after the election, Thomas, a staunch Trump ally who has been under scrutiny over her efforts to overturn the election, sent separate emails to the Arizona House Speaker Russell Bowers and state Rep. Shawnna Bolick — both Republican members of the House selections committee — to "fight back against fraud and ensure our elections are free, fair and honest.""Article II of the United States Constitution gives you an awesome responsibility: to choose our state's Electors," Thomas wrote in the email. She went on to ask that they "take action to ensure that a clean slate of Electors is chosen" and requested a meeting to discuss the topic further, according to the emails obtained by The Post.Bolick responded in an email the next day on Nov. 10, 2020, advising Thomas to file a complaint about voter fraud or election interference, according to screenshots of the emails tweeted by Bolick on Friday."Right now, that is the most productive thing we can do as the lawsuits work their way through the courts, too. From there, we will see our best options moving forward to protect the integrity of the election," Bolick wrote in the response email, per the screenshots shared on her Twitter.Bowers did not appear to respond to Thomas' emails, according to the records obtained by The Post. Weeks later, on Dec. 4, 2020, he released a statement addressing attempts to reverse Biden's election win in the state, saying "the rule of law forbids us to do that.""This week, Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, and others representing President Donald Trump came to Arizona with a breathtaking request: that the Arizona Legislature overturn the certified results of last month's election and deliver the state's electoral college votes to President Trump," he wrote."As a conservative Republican, I don't like the results of the presidential election. I voted for President Trump and worked hard to reelect him," Bowers added. "But I cannot and will not entertain a suggestion that we violate current law to change the outcome of a certified election."Bowers' spokesman Andrew Wilder told The Post that the speaker had overlooked Thomas' email as well as hundreds of thousands of others sent to him following the election.In mid-December, Thomas sent another email to Bolick, saying "as state lawmakers, you have the Constitutional power and authority to protect the integrity of our elections — and we need you to exercise that power now!""Never before in our nation's history have our elections been so threatened by fraud and unconstitutional procedures," the email read.She also told the state lawmakers to "consider what will happen to the nation we all love if you don't stand up and lead."Thomas, Bowers, and Bolick did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.The emails sent by Thomas, an outspoken conservative activist, further suggest she may have had a deeper involvement in the Republican effort to challenge President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. According to a Washington Post report published earlier this year, she sent text messages on several occasions to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows pressing him to challenge the 2020 election.In late March, multiple news outlets reported that the January 6 House Select Committee planned to look into Thomas in connection to their probe into the Capitol riot.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

NBC and Peacock will broadcast the 2022 Preakness Stakes live from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore starting at 4 p.m. ET on May 21. Prices are accurate at the time of publication.When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Preakness entrant Epicenter walks back to the barn following a training session for the 147th Running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland.Rob Carr/Getty Images The Preakness Stakes, the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, is set for May 21 at 7:01 p.m. ET. NBC, NBCSports.com, and Peacock Premium will broadcast coverage starting at 4 p.m. ET. CNBC will feature undercard coverage from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Peacock Premium (Monthly Plan)$4.99 FROM PEACOCK TVThe 2022 Preakness Stakes will be held May 21 with main event coverage set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock Premium, and NBCSports.com. Pre-event coverage and undercard races will air on CNBC starting at 2 p.m. ET.This year's race will be the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes, which is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown, a series of America's three most prestigious horse races that also includes the Kentucky Derby and the upcoming Belmont Stakes.Nine horses will compete for a prize purse of $1.65 million at the 2022 Preakness Stakes, but Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike won't race this weekend after his training staff expressed concerns with the short recovery period between races. NBC and Peacock are the broadcast partners for all three Triple Crown Races. The Belmont Stakes, the final race in the series, will air on on June 11.What time does the Preakness Stakes start?Undercard coverage for the Preakness Stakes begins at 2 p.m. ET on May 21, and the main event race is expected to start at 7:01 p.m. ET.How to watch the Preakness StakesYou can watch the Preakness Stakes on NBC, and you can also stream it through NBCSports.com, Peacock Premium, or via live TV streaming service like Sling TV.Peacock Premium will stream live coverage of the Preakness Stakes at 4 p.m. ET on May 21. Peacock Premium costs $5 a month for ad-supported streaming. Check out our full Peacock guide for more details about the service.Peacock Premium (Monthly Plan)$4.99 FROM PEACOCK TVNBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will also stream Preakness Stakes coverage at 4 p.m. ET. NBCSports streaming requires an existing pay-TV subscription, so you need to have an authenticated cable or satellite service with NBC to use the platform.If you don't have cable or Peacock, you can also use a live TV streaming service with NBC to watch the Preakness Stakes. Services with NBC include Sling TV, YouTubeTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo TV. Of those options, Sling's Blue plan is the most affordable at $35 a month. New subscribers can get their first month for 50% off.It should be noted, however, that Sling only offers NBC in select areas. Check the Sling website to make sure your city is supported before signing up. For more Sling TV details, check out our guide to all of Sling's channels and add-on packages.Sling TV$35.00 FROM SLINGPreakness Stakes scheduleEventDay and timeChannel or serviceBlack-Eyed Susan StakesMay 20, 5 to 6 p.m. ETUSA NetworkPreakness Stakes undercardMay 21, 2 to 4 p.m. ETCNBCPreakness StakesMay 21, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ETNBC, Peacock Premium, NBCSports.comHorses running the Preakness StakesNumberHorse NameOdds to win1Simplification6-12Creative Minister10-13Fenwick50-14Secret Oath9-25Early Voting7-26Happy Jack30-17Armagnac12-18Epicenter6-59Skippylongstocking20-1Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Painful decisions are coming for business leaders due to a public market downturn and narrowing exit options for startups, but eventually the best businesses will emerge from the current market stronger. That seemed to be the consensus from a panel discussion hosted on Thursday by Forge Global, a private securities marketplace based in San Francisco. Forge Global CEO Kelly Rodriques moderated a panel featuring Motive Partners founding partner Blythe Masters, The Private Shares Fund chief investment….....»»

The U.S. median rental price hit a new high—$1,827—for the 14th month in a row, according to the latest Monthly Rental Report from realtor.com® released this week. And higher rents are increasingly cutting into households’ budgets for regular expenses and savings, according the portal’s Avail Quarterly Landlord and Renter Survey, also released this week, which… The post National Rents Hit Their 14th Straight Month of Record-Highs appeared first on RISMedia. The U.S. median rental price hit a new high—$1,827—for the 14th month in a row, according to the latest Monthly Rental Report from realtor.com® released this week. And higher rents are increasingly cutting into households’ budgets for regular expenses and savings, according the portal’s Avail Quarterly Landlord and Renter Survey, also released this week, which further puts a spotlight on the affordability struggles reported by renters. “April data illustrates the perfect storm of supply and demand dynamics behind the continued rent surge, from a low number of available rentals to higher for-sale housing costs forcing many would-be buyers to rent for longer than planned,” said realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. “Renters are being left with few options but to meet higher rents and, in some cases, even offer above asking—whether they can afford to or not. “Avail’s new survey shows rents are not only maxing out renters’ housing budgets but are the biggest strain on their overall finances, even as inflation drives up expenses across the board. For renters trying to stay on budget, making a list of must-have features is key. This will be especially important as, if recent trends continue, we expect the typical U.S. asking rent to eclipse $2,000 by August.” April 2022 Rental Metrics – National Unit Size Median Rent Change over April 2021 Change over April 2020 Overall $1,827 16.7% 21.0% Studio $1,500 17.2% 15.2% 1-bed $1,679 15.7% 19.9% 2-bed $2,062 16.0% 23.8% April rents maintain record-breaking run, despite annual growth cooling slightly realtor.com®’s April data showed national rents maintained their record-breaking run that began in January 2021, despite posting a slightly smaller year-over-year gain than in March, according to the report. The continued rent surge is attributed to the mismatch between rental supply and rising demand, largely from would-be homebuyers. Some of these aspiring homeowners are staying in the rental market for longer than they may have intended, due to intensifying cost pressures driven by both the longstanding housing supply shortage and more recent inflationary economy. If these trends continue, national asking rents will likely surpass 2022’s forecasted year-over-year growth projections (+7.1%) by end of year. Additional key findings: The U.S. median rental price hit a new high of $1,827 in April, while the annual growth rate (+16.7%) moderated slightly from the March pace (+17.0%). Still, rents continued to rise at a double-digit annual pace, reaching 21.0% higher than in April 2020 right after the onset of COVID. Studio rents grew at a faster year-over-year pace (+17.2%) than one-bedrooms (+15.6%) and two-bedrooms (+15.9%). This is largely due to the ongoing rental market comeback in major downtowns where smaller living spaces are common, with studio rents up double-digits over April 2021 in all 10 of the biggest tech hubs, led by: New York City (29.1%), Boston (+27.4%) and Austin, Texas (+25.0%). In a potential reflection of shifting migration patterns during the pandemic, the five large markets that posted April’s biggest overall rental price gains year-over-year were in the Sun Belt: Miami (+51.6%), Orlando, Fla. (32.9%), Tampa, Fla. (27.8%), San Diego (25.6%) and Las Vegas (24.8%). Avail survey finds renters are struggling to keep up with rising costs  With rental demand on the rise, landlords with limited available units are able to adjust asking rents on both new and renewing leases to reflect the increasingly competitive market. In fact, the majority of landlords surveyed by realtor.com®’s Avail reported plans to increase rental prices within the next 12 months. This could mean further rental affordability challenges, with many surveyed renters already feeling the squeeze on their finances and savings, as inflation drives up the cost of everything from rent to regular household expenses. Among renters surveyed in April, 66.1% said higher rents and related household costs are their top cause of financial strain—ahead of other expenses like food and groceries (57.3%) and auto and transportation (50.8%). Higher rents are also limiting renters’ ability to save, with more than three-quarters of renters (76.1%) saving less each month than at the same time last year. The typical household surveyed reported being able to save just $50 each month. Of respondents whose rents have gone up on their current unit, 72.9% are considering a move to a more affordable rental. However, lower-cost options are dwindling, with renters who moved in the past year typically paying higher rents ($350) than they did previously. Those who are staying put are trying to cut costs, most commonly on entertainment (67.1%) and food and groceries (62.3%). Additionally, trends among surveyed landlords indicate that renters aren’t likely to see relief any time soon. Nearly three-quarters of landlords (72.1%) plan to raise the rent of at least one property this year, up from 65.1% in the January survey. “Our survey data underscores how renters and landlords alike are feeling the squeeze of inflation and higher costs. For renters in particular, many may understandably feel caught between a rock and a hard place, but remember that there are resources that can help. Doing your research can go a long way in helping you prepare to navigate rent increases and their impact on your family’s finances,” said Ryan Coon, Avail co-founder and VP of Rentals at realtor.com®. Renters grappling with higher costs can access free financial counseling through the Renter Advantage program, a collaboration between realtor.com®’s Avail, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the Housing Partnership Network, and Wells Fargo. Learn more here. The post National Rents Hit Their 14th Straight Month of Record-Highs appeared first on RISMedia......»»

Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT) is an American specialty retailer of furniture and accessories. The company was founded in Atlanta in 1885 and now has over 100 locations across 16 states. On Tuesday, Haverty Furniture increased its quarterly dividend by 12% to 28 cents per share, from 25 cents prior. The new annualized dividend yield […] Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT) is an American specialty retailer of furniture and accessories. The company was founded in Atlanta in 1885 and now has over 100 locations across 16 states. On Tuesday, Haverty Furniture increased its quarterly dividend by 12% to 28 cents per share, from 25 cents prior. The new annualized dividend yield will be 3.90% on the stock. The dividend yield has significantly risen over the past year as the stock has fallen -by 37%. This year alone, HVT’s share price has lost -6.4%, but we think it is starting to look cheap on a PE ratio of 5.8x. if (typeof jQuery == 'undefined') { document.write(''); } .first{clear:both;margin-left:0}.one-third{width:31.034482758621%;float:left;margin-left:3.448275862069%}.two-thirds{width:65.51724137931%;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element input{border:0;border-radius:0;padding:8px}form.ebook-styles .af-element{width:220px;float:left}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer{width:115px;float:left;margin-left: 6px;}form.ebook-styles .af-element.buttonContainer input.submit{width:115px;padding:10px 6px 8px;text-transform:uppercase;border-radius:0;border:0;font-size:15px}form.ebook-styles .af-body.af-standards input.submit{width:115px}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy{width:100%;font-size:12px;margin:10px auto 0}form.ebook-styles .af-element.privacyPolicy p{font-size:11px;margin-bottom:0}form.ebook-styles .af-body input.text{height:40px;padding:2px 10px !important} form.ebook-styles .error, form.ebook-styles #error { color:#d00; } form.ebook-styles .formfields h1, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-logo, form.ebook-styles .formfields #mg-footer { display: none; } form.ebook-styles .formfields { font-size: 12px; } form.ebook-styles .formfields p { margin: 4px 0; } Get The Full Walter Schloss Series in PDF Get the entire 10-part series on Walter Schloss in PDF. Save it to your desktop, read it on your tablet, or email to your colleagues. (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Q1 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more We first noticed this stock on the United States Dividend leaderboard, where Haverty Furniture holds the 4th highest dividend score with 97.29. HVT has a two-year Fintel dividend growth rate of 2.75%. The Dividend Yield and Quality Leaderboard for the United States uses an advanced quantitative model to determine companies with the best income-generating opportunities across our database of global securities. We use a combination of current dividend yield and dividend growth to generate a score that ranks companies from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most desirable. HVT has also paid a few special dividends over the last few years, including a $2.00 dividend in November 2020 and another $2.00 in November 2021. Could we see more special dividends in the future? Ha < UNK> recently reported first-quarter results on the 2nd of May with an EPS growth of 6.7% over the year to $1.11 per share. Group revenue grew by $2.4 million over the year to $238.9 million, with same-store sales growing by 0.2%. Chairman and CEO Clarence Smith provided commentary on the result that highlighted a return of increased demand around special shopping holiday events but saw declines in in-store traffic in March. Smith noted on the result, "We believe discretionary consumer spending has been adversely impacted by rising inflation, including fuel costs, market volatility, and geopolitical concerns." Looking ahead, Smith remains confident in meeting near-term challenges and progressing on the company's long-term goals. Haverty has been a beneficiary of increased spend over the pandemic as a function of lower interest rates and higher government stimulus measures. When researching further on the Fintel platform, we noticed HVT has a Short Squeeze Score of 84.28, which places it in the top 8% of 5,500 included companies. The Short Squeeze Score results from a sophisticated, multi-factor quantitative model that identifies companies with the highest risk of experiencing a short squeeze. The scoring model uses a combination of short interest, float, short borrow fee rates, and other metrics. The number ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating a higher risk of a short squeeze relative to its peers and 50 being the average. Analyst Commentary We note coverage from Sidoti & Co that currently has a 'buy' rating on the stock with a bullish target price of $25.75. Analyst Anthony Lebiedzinski expects the firm's free cash flow to remain in great shape but marginally reduced 2022/23 estimates on the back of the inflationary commentary. Lebiedzinski expects a significant free cash flow step-up in 2023 that could be used to increase regular dividends, pay more special dividends or for more share buybacks. We had a look at the put/call ratio for HVT to determine market sentiment from options data at these levels. The stock has a score of 0.62, indicating there is underlying bullish sentiment for the stock in the options market. The Put/Call Ratio shows the total number of disclosed open put option positions divided by the number of open call options. Since puts are generally a bearish bet and calls are a bullish bet, put/call ratios greater than 1 indicate a bearish sentiment, and ratios less than one indicate a bullish sentiment. We a chart of this ratio and how it has behaved over the last three months: More On Dividend Leaderboard The primary ranking factors are dividend yield and dividend growth. Since dividends are paid out of incoming cash, we provide the Cash from Operations (CFOP) Payout Ratio, simply the portion of cash from operations used to pay the dividends ( dividends paid / cash from operations). Companies with a negative CFOP Payout Ratio or a CFOP Payout Ratio greater than one did not make enough cash from their operations in the trailing twelve months to pay the declared dividend, which could indicate that the company's ability to pay future dividends is at risk, so we filter these companies from this list. Article by Ben Ward, Fintel Updated on May 20, 2022, 5:21 pm (function() { var sc = document.createElement("script"); sc.type = "text/javascript"; sc.async = true;sc.src = "//mixi.media/data/js/95481.js"; sc.charset = "utf-8";var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sc, s); }()); window._F20 = window._F20 || []; _F20.push({container: 'F20WidgetContainer', placement: '', count: 3}); _F20.push({finish: true});.....»»

As some companies slow hiring, it could get harder to get a new job. And some companies are taking longer to fill open roles than in past years. Changing jobs could get trickier as some companies slow hiring and as the process takes longer.Robert Daly/OJO Images Switching jobs is harder as some employers slow hiring and as the process itself is taking longer. Talent Works' Jody Robie said hiring techniques that worked before the pandemic no longer do. She said employers must be flexible and job seekers should be ready for fewer roles being available. Job hoppers beware: Making the leap to a new gig is becoming harder as companies rethink whether to fill some roles and as the hiring process can take longer.Some companies that had only recently been eager to snap up workers are slowing or even halting hiring amid signs that rising prices and other headwinds are sapping consumer spending, a key driver of the US economy. Stocks have been sliding as investors worry that growth will stall.All of this means that some people looking to change jobs — and companies that had been hoping to hire — could have a tougher time. Talent Works, which provides recruiting tools, found in an April survey of 500 HR managers in the US and the UK that a majority said bringing on new people has been taking two to three times as long as it did in 2019. Among the reasons was a lack of quality candidates. The sluggish pace of hiring can hurt companies' performance because roles are going unfilled for too long, the survey found. The problem could ease, of course, if the economy slows and companies trim their job listings. Yet for now, unemployment is low, and many open roles remain unfilled, so some employers have been having to rethink their hiring processes. Jody Robie, Talent Works' senior vice president and cofounder, said many of the HR procedures that worked before the pandemic, such as numerous in-person interviews, were no longer viable. Today, more of the process involves remote interviews. And communication and increased flexibility are more important than ever, especially as the economy shows signs it's shifting."Hiring freezes and pauses will happen, but it is how this is communicated internally to employees and externally to candidates that really makes the difference as far as causing a future recruitment challenge," Robie said. She added that the changing landscape means companies need to be flexible with their recruiting strategy to quickly and efficiently hire, and job seekers should be aware that even though they still have many options in today's job market, there could be fewer roles available as companies reassess their needs.In recent years spent navigating the pandemic, both big and small companies have realized how important it is to have a flexible recruiting process that can best match the demand for growth and slow when needed, Robie said. "You have to be able to have some agility to your hiring process," she added.Some of the recent hiring challenges reflect stepped-up recruiting that started in 2021. There were so many open roles to fill that some HR departments got bogged down. That meant it often took longer to bring people aboard. The slowdowns in hiring can be bad for business if companies can't meet their customers' demands. "Even worse is the threat of losing business due to attrition and overworked, stretched employees who don't have the motivation to continue to put in the extra hours," Robie said."The speed and agility of the process, and being able to be flexible in the new world of recruiting, are the keys to success right now," she said. "You can't hold on to what worked in the past, because it isn't working now."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»