Stocks shook off a choppy start to finish higher Monday, as Wall Street kicked off a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 ended 0.7% higher after having been down 0.5% in the early going. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also recovered from an early slide to eke out a 0.2% gain. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Gains in technology and communications stocks accounted for much of the gains, outweighing losses in consumer goods companies and elsewhere in the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, rose 3.7%. Broadcom climbed 5.5% to also help support the broader market. Walmart fell 2% and PepsiCo slid 1%. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan said they are talking about combining in a deal that might also include Mitsubishi Motors. U.S.-listed shares in Honda jumped 12.7%, while Nissan ended flat. Eli Lilly rose 3.7% after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first and only prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Department store Nordstrom fell 1.5% after it agreed to be taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. All told, the S&P 500 rose 43.22 points to 5,974.07. The Dow gained 66.69 points to 42,906.95. The Nasdaq rose 192.29 points to 19,764.89. Traders got a look at a new snapshot of U.S. consumer confidence Monday. The Conference Board said that consumer confidence slipped in December. Its consumer confidence index fell back to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Wall Street was expecting a reading of 113.8. The unexpectedly weak consumer confidence update follows several generally strong economic reports last week. One report showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The latest report on unemployment benefit applications showed that the job market remains solid. A report on Friday said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than economists expected. Worries about inflation edging higher again had been weighing on Wall Street and the Fed. The central bank just delivered its third cut to interest rates this year, but inflation has been hovering stubbornly above its target of 2%. It has signaled that it could deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than it earlier anticipated because of concerns over inflation. Expectations for more interest rate cuts have helped drive a roughly 25% gain for the S&P 500 in 2024. That drive included 57 all-time highs this year. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market's path ahead and shifting economic policies under an incoming President Donald Trump. "Put simply, much of the strong market performance prior to last week was driven by expectations that a best-case scenario was the base case for 2025," said Brent Schutte, chief investment officer at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59% from 4.53% late Friday. European markets closed mostly lower, while markets in Asia gained ground. Wall Street has several other economic reports to look forward to this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. will release its November report for sales of newly constructed homes. A weekly update on unemployment benefits is expected on Thursday. Markets in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday for Christmas Eve and will remain closed on Wednesday for Christmas.
The Kano State Government has unveiled a five-year multi-sectoral investment strategic plan toward wooing local and foreign investors into the state. The objective, according to a statement on Sunday issued by the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature, is to woo investors to invest heavily in key economic sectors toward boosting the state’s economy and provide revenue for the government to facilitate the execution of developmental projects. The Director-General of Kano State Investment Promotion Agency (Kan-Invest), Muhammad Naziru Halliru, made the disclosure while addressing newsmen in Kano. According to Halliru, the plans are to invite investors to invest in the areas of energy, agriculture, health, education, transportation, and other areas of the economy. He said that with the approval of the state governor, Abba Yusuf, there would be an elaborate ceremony to unveil the plans, which would create an enabling business environment for investments to thrive in the state, which is the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria. He also disclosed that the agency, under the leadership of Yusuf, would unveil an enlightenment campaign for local investors to invest in the state. “This is very important because, in Kano state alone, we can have an individual that would invest in power that the whole state could depend on. “We have wealthy people in Kano that could invest heavily in many areas of the economy. Sometimes, we may only need foreign investors for advanced technology. “The reason why we do not see them is that the immediate past government did not provide an enabling environment for the investments. The legal framework to project their investments was unavailable. They did not see the government giving them necessary attention and providing an enabling business environment for them to invest; that is why they are reluctant to invest,” he said. Related News Govt votes N350m to upgrade five Kano cattle markets Wudil cattle market hits N50bn weekly transactions– Official Kano uncovers roots of thuggery, brings rival groups together for peace Halliru restated the commitment of the agency to create awareness for local investors to see areas to invest in, “beyond building plazas and corner shops.” He said the state government, through the agency, is working assiduously to provide enabling business environments in accordance with global standards, adding that the plans would be launched in a few months’ time. The DG also disclosed that the governor’s investment agenda is yielding fruits, adding that several investment proposals from companies to invest in Kano are underway. According to him, the majority of them had submitted proposals to invest in solar energy, disclosing that some had even proposed over $500 million in investment. He added that discussions are also ongoing with some foreign investors from the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and India, among others to come to Kano. “Some of them told us that they attempted to invest in Kano during the immediate past government, but there were no incentives for their investments. “But the current administration has provided the enabling environment for investments. Not only those who have indicated an interest in investing but our commitment and plans are to woo foreign and local investments into our state. “I am happy our governor is giving us maximum cooperation and support. Very soon, people of Kano State would witness a boom in our economy, courtesy of investments that would be coming into the state from domestic and foreign investors,” he added.Mahrez, a player known for his skill, vision, and goal-scoring ability, has been in scintillating form for Chelsea this season. His performances have been a joy to watch, as he effortlessly glides past defenders, creates chances for his teammates, and finds the back of the net with remarkable consistency. His partnership with fellow attacking talents like Romelu Lukaku and Mason Mount has been a delight to behold, with the trio striking fear into the hearts of opposing defenders.
Local health authorities have launched an investigation into the incident at the Multi-Person Fainting Bathhouse. Inspections of the facility's hygiene standards, water quality, ventilation systems, and overall safety measures are currently underway. The results of the investigation are expected to shed light on the root cause of the incident and guide future regulatory actions.
Chiefs radio play-by-play caller Mitch Holthus expects the Chiefs to face another test Friday against the Raiders as part of the Chiefs’ quest for the top overall seed in the AFC.
I would like to comment on John Peeler’s letter to The Daily Item, Diverse Points of View, published on Nov. 19. First, I wish to express my support for John Peeler, whose letters I have always found very interesting, well-reasoned, and informative. I am sorry that he was the recipient of hate mail and harassment from an anonymous writer for simply expressing his point of view. John’s letter reminded me of an experience I had during the midterm election of 2018. I was standing outside my polling place holding information cards for a Democrat running for office. I was minding my own business when an older gentleman wearing a veteran’s cap approached me and began to scream at me. One of the things he said was, “she belongs in jail!” I assumed he was referring to Hillary Clinton, who was not charged with a crime after an extensive investigation. I thought to myself, “Gee he is so angry even though the Republican party currently controls the White House, both houses of Congress, and the Supreme Court even tilts to the conservative side.” It just made me feel he really didn’t like people with viewpoints different from his to have a voice. Maybe he thought we should have only one-party rule if it is his political party. We cannot have a healthy democracy and society if we do not have the freedom to express a variety of thoughts and opinions in a civilized manner. I would also like to thank The Daily Item for publishing a broad diversity of viewpoints. Rosalyn Richards, Lewisburg
The long sports-filled Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many Americans enjoy gathering with friends and family for good food, good company and hopefully not too much political conversation. Also on the menu — all the NFL and college sports you can handle. Here's a roadmap to one of the biggest sports weekends of the year, with a look at marquee games over the holiday and how to watch. All times are in EST. All odds are by BetMGM Sportsbook. —NFL: There is a triple-header lined up for pro football fans. Chicago at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., CBS: Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears go against the Lions, who are one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl in February. Lions favored by 10. New York at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., Fox: The Giants and Cowboys are both suffering through miserable seasons and are now using backup quarterbacks for different reasons. But if Dallas can figure out a way to win , it will still be on the fringe of the playoff race. Cowboys favored by 3 1/2. Miami at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m., NBC/Peacock: The Packers stumbled slightly out of the gate but have won six of their past seven games . They'll need a win against Miami to try to keep pace in the NFC North. Packers favored by 3. —College Football: Memphis at No. 18 Tulane, 7:30 p.m., ESPN. If college football is your jam, this is a good warmup for a big weekend. The Tigers try to ruin the Green Wave’s perfect record in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane is favored by 14. —NFL: A rare Friday showdown features the league-leading Chiefs. Las Vegas at Kansas City, 3 p.m. Prime Video: The Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are 12-point favorites over the Raiders. —College Basketball: Some of the top programs meet in holiday tournaments around the country. Battle 4 Atlantis championship, 5:30 p.m., ESPN: One of the premier early season tournaments, the eight-team field includes No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana and No. 24 Arizona. Rady Children's Invitational, 6 p.m., Fox: It's the championship game for a four-team field that includes No. 13 Purdue and No. 23 Mississippi. —College Football: There is a full slate of college games to dig into. Oregon State at No. 11 Boise State, noon, Fox: The Broncos try to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt when they host the Beavers. Boise State favored by 19 1/2. Oklahoma State at No. 23 Colorado, noon, ABC: The Buffaloes and Coach Prime are still in the hunt for the Big 12 championship game when they host the Cowboys. Colorado favored by 16 1/2. Georgia Tech at No. 6 Georgia, 7:30 p.m., ABC: The Bulldogs are on pace for a spot in the CFP but host what could be a tricky game against rival Georgia Tech. Georgia favored by 19 1/2. —NBA. After taking Thanksgiving off, pro basketball returns. Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., ESPN: The Thunder look like one of the best teams in the NBA's Western Conference. They'll host Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers. —College Football. There are more matchups with playoff implications. Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, noon, Fox: The Wolverines are struggling one season after winning the national title. They could make their fan base a whole lot happier with an upset of the Buckeyes . Ohio State favored by 21. No. 7 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, noon, ABC: The Volunteers are a fairly big favorite and have dominated this series, but the Commodores have been a tough team this season and already have achieved a monumental upset over Alabama . Tennessee favored by 11. No. 16 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson, noon, ESPN: The Palmetto State rivals are both hanging on the edge of the CFP playoff race. A win — particularly for Clemson — would go a long way toward clinching its spot in the field. Clemson favored by 2 1/2. No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A & M, 7:30 p.m. ABC: The Aggies host their in-state rival for the first time since 2011 after the Longhorns joined the SEC. Texas favored by 5 1/2. Washington at No. 1 Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC: The top-ranked Ducks have been one of the nation’s best teams all season. They’ll face the Huskies, who would love a marquee win in coach Jedd Fisch’s first season. Oregon favored by 19 1/2. —NBA: A star-studded clash is part of the league's lineup. Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m., NBA TV: Steph Curry and the Warriors are set to face the Suns' Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. —NFL: It's Sunday, that says it all. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 1 p.m., CBS: Joe Burrow is having a great season for the Bengals , who are struggling in other areas. They need a win to stay in the playoff race, hosting a Steelers team that's 8-3 and won five of their past six. Bengals favored by 3. Arizona at Minnesota, 1 p.m., Fox: The Cardinals are tied for the top of the NFC West while the Vikings are 9-2 and have been one of the biggest surprises of the season with journeyman Sam Darnold under center. Vikings favored by 3 1/2. Philadelphia at Baltimore, 4:25 p.m., CBS: Two of the league's most electric players will be on the field when Saquon Barkley and the Eagles travel to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Ravens favored by 3. San Francisco at Buffalo, 8:20 p.m. NBC/Peacock: The 49ers try to get back to .500 against the Bills , who have won six straight. Bills favored by 7. —NBA. The best teams in the Eastern Conference meet in a statement game. Boston at Cleveland, 6 p.m., NBA TV: The defending champion Celtics travel to face the Cavs , who won their first 15 games to start the season. —Premier League: English soccer fans have a marquee matchup. Manchester City at Liverpool, 11 a.m., USA Network/Telemundo. The two top teams meet with Manchester City trying to shake off recent struggles. —Auto Racing: The F1 season nears its conclusion. F1 Qatar Grand Prix, 11 a.m., ESPN2 – It's the penultimate race of the season. Max Verstappen already has clinched his fourth consecutive season championship . ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsContrary to expectations, Zhang did not exploit or harm the young woman. Instead, he welcomed her into his home, treating her as a member of his own family. Despite the language barrier and the vast age difference between them, Zhang made sure she was cared for and provided for as best as he could.
