Smart speakers often act as the centerpiece of a smart home setup since you can use voice commands to control almost any piece of smart home tech. They also have a variety of other uses, such as playing music, answering questions, and they even replace old-school alarm clocks. There are plenty of other uses for smart home speakers that you may not have even thought of yet . In short, these little devices work perfectly as a normal speaker and have the expanded capability to do other things too. As such, companies have already begun the arms race to get their speakers into your home. Google, Amazon, and Apple are the big players since their speakers use each brand's proprietary smart assistants to answer your questions and perform tasks. In fact, choosing a smart speaker is often the first choice consumers run into when starting a smart home since all other smart home tech will need to be compatible with the speaker. Other brands have also released speakers that use the aforementioned tech brands' ecosystem so there are more choices than ever before. Consumer Reports ranks smart speakers to help consumers figure out which speaker is best for them. We've taken that data and narrowed it down by brand to give you an idea of who makes the best smart speakers. Below is a list ranked worst to first that should give you an idea of which brands make the best smart speakers. We should note, however, that Consumer Reports doesn't have every available smart speaker that money can buy, so this list is based solely on what Consumer Reports has covered. Bang & Olufsen is at the bottom of the list with an aggregate score of 57 out of 100 on Consumer Reports. The brand is hampered somewhat by only having one entrant on Consumer Reports' list, the Beosound A1 2nd Gen speaker . The puck-shaped speaker offers some appealing features such as 18 hours of battery life of listening at 70 decibels and an IP67 water and dust resistance rating. In terms of portable speakers , it's actually pretty decent. It's also bigger than it looks as it'll barely fit in the average palm. In B&O's defense, this smart speaker is made for portability more than it is anything else and it really should fit more in the portable Bluetooth speaker category than as a smart speaker. The Beosound A1 does come with Alexa built-in, so there is smart functionality there, but we have our doubts that people will buy this speaker, plug it in, and place it on a bookshelf for all eternity. Indeed, this speaker is built more for trips to the beach or as a shower speaker, and so while it has smart functionality, it doesn't fall into what many would consider smart speaker territory. Overall, the B&O Beosound A1 is a good overall portable Bluetooth speaker that also comes with some smart functionality. In fact, for its size, it has seriously impressive sound quality, which helps because it's also quite expensive, with a MSRP of $299 on Amazon . However, if you're looking for that smart home centerpiece, you'll want to shop for another brand. Belkin is a step up from B&O with a score of 59 out of 100. Similar to B&O, Belkin only had a single smart speaker on Consumer Reports' list, so Belkin's score is a little hampered by that. Belkin's entrant to the list is the SoundForm Elite with an included wireless charger . It's closer to what you would expect a smart speaker to be with a round design that's meant to be plugged in and sat on a table or shelf. Reviews indicate that the speaker sounds pretty good for its price point and people tend to enjoy the wireless charger on top of the speaker. It comes with Google Assistant, so you can talk to it like a Google Home Hub and run your smart home through it, making it automatically better than B&O's offering for smart speakers. For the most part, complaints about the device stem from functionality, as some folks have had trouble pairing with the speaker. The speaker also tends to lose its alleged hi-fi quality after about 50% volume, which bothers some folks more than others. The biggest issue with Belkin is that the SoundForm Elite seems to be running out of stock in many places and it may be replaced with a new offering sooner rather than later. In any case, for a smart home speaker, there are better options out there than Belkin, even if the company makes plenty of other good products. Bowers & Wilkins is the first brand on the list to top a score of 60, with a 61 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. Like the others so far, Bowers & Wilkins only has one smart speaker on the list, so its entire score is judged by that one speaker. The speaker is certainly a head turner with its wide, zeppelin-like shape. It's also among the most expensive speakers on the list at $799 on Amazon . It also comes in white if the black speaker isn't doing it for you. The speaker comes with Amazon Alexa, so it's made for folks who already engage with the Alexa ecosystem. It's also much larger than it looks, spanning over two feet wide and a little over eight inches tall. So, it not only functions as a smart speaker but it's large enough to be the centerpiece of an entire room. In terms of sound, reviewers agree that it's among the best when it comes to smart speakers. There are five total drivers in the speaker, two for treble, two for midrange, and one six-inch subwoofer to deliver bass. The Zeppelin also has an app where you can mess with the EQ a little bit. For the most part, the biggest issue with the speaker is that it's quite expensive. At $800, this thing is for a very specific audience and the $900 McLaren Edition is even more so. It pumps out loud, bass-rich music and it sounds fantastic. However, you can buy a half a dozen smart speakers with that kind of scratch and load your whole house with them. Google is the first smart speaker maker on Consumer Reports' list that has multiple smart speakers to choose from. These include the Nest Hub Max and the Google Nest Audio , each speaker scoring a 63 out of 100 from Consumer Reports. Both speakers are what you likely think of when you think of a smart speaker. The Nest Hub Max has a screen on the front that you can interact with, stream videos, and even conduct video calls. Meanwhile, the Nest Audio looks more like a traditional speaker but still operates as a smart speaker. Each speaker has its pros and cons. The Nest Hub Max is the stronger option overall as a smart speaker thanks to its screen and superior sound quality. It's an upgrade over the regular Google Nest Hub in almost every way, with better audio and a bigger screen. For folks wanting to buy into Google's ecosystem, it's arguably the best speaker to go with as a first smart speaker. The Nest Audio is still quite good, although it lacks bass at louder volumes. It's a less expensive option that omits the screen but maintains the same Google Assistant functionality. For people wanting to go with Google's ecosystem, Google's speakers are a solid choice. The Nest Hub Max is an excellent centerpiece device while the Nest Audio is good for multi-room smart speaker setups. I personally have a Google Nest Hub in my kitchen, and it's worked well for two years now. At this point, my kitchen wouldn't feel the same without it. Amazon is another big player in the smart speaker game. The brand has four total smart speakers on Consumer Reports' list, including the Amazon Echo Show 15 , Amazon Echo (4th Gen) , the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) , and the Amazon Echo Studio . Amazon would actually be ranked higher on this list as three of their four speakers rank quite well at 68, 67, and 65 for the Amazon Echo Studio, Amazon Echo Show 10, and Amazone Echo, respectively. However, Amazon's overall score is dragged down by the Echo Show 15, which Consumer Reports gave a 56 out of 100, the lowest ranked individual speaker on the list. For the most part, the Amazon Echo Show 15 is an okay product. Reviews state that the audio quality is mediocre and oddly, the speaker doesn't come with a table stand. Amazon instead includes wall mounting hardware as you are meant to put it on a wall. There are stands available on Amazon , though, so it is a problem that can be solved. It's otherwise quite nice, with a good screen with plenty of functionality. The other three speakers are a more positive experience overall. The Echo Show 10 is Amazon's response to the Google Nest Hub, which means it comes with a screen and a speaker. The other two are standalone speakers. Of the three remaining speakers, our reviewers note that the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and Echo Studio have excellent sound quality while the Echo Show 10 is the most versatile with its inclusion of the screen. Any of the three of those would make great starter smart speakers for Alexa-friendly households. The only hold out is the Echo Show 15 and that's mostly because it's ergonomically less friendly. Bose had a solid overall showing on Consumer Reports. The well-known speaker brand sports two smart speakers and each one ranks 65 out of 100, making Bose a solid overall choice for smart speakers. What's more interesting is that both options from Bose on the Consumer Reports list are wireless, which is a bit of an oddity since most smart speakers are plugged into a wall. The first is the Bose Home Speaker 500 and the other is the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a wireless speaker with a small screen. It comes loaded with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box, giving users some choice when it comes to which smart home platform they want to go with. It can also connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to stream music, which is also unusual for a wireless speaker. Per reviews, the Home Speaker 500 sounds quite good for its size, although it can get a little rough at louder volumes. Most of the same can be said for the Bose Portable Smart Speaker , which also houses Google and Alexa and sounds decent at moderate volumes. However, its battery life isn't great and it doesn't get very loud. In all, Bose has the same issue as Bang & Olufsen, where you don't typically shop for wireless smart speakers. However, Bose does have a leg up on its competitors by having multiple smart home assistants available. Even so, for wireless audio, we still think a regular Bluetooth speaker does it better . Apple only has one speaker on the Consumer Reports list and it's the Apple HomePod , which scored a 66 out of 100. As Apple's solo entrant onto the list, that gives Apple a higher score than most. The HomePod comes in two colors and is typical of what you'd find in a smart speaker. It plugs in, integrates with Siri, and you can use it to control your smart home. Interestingly, the HomePod mini isn't on Consumer Reports' list, which is a shame. In any case, the HomePod makes a good case for Apple. It has good overall sound quality, which is good because Apple doesn't give users an EQ to tweak it themselves. Its understated design looks good in most rooms and, of course, it's one of the few smart speakers on the market that can interact with Apple's smart home ecosystem. There are some neat tricks too. For example, if you have two speakers in a stereo configuration, Apple uses beamforming technology to broaden the soundstage and make the speakers sound bigger than they are. The speakers can also be used with an Apple TV device as TV speakers, giving them a little extra versatility. The biggest downside for the HomePod is its price. It costs $299 direct from Apple , which is more than Amazon and Google speakers. The HomePod mini costs $99, which makes it the better value buy if you want speakers in multiple rooms, but the HomePod is excellent overall, so it's one we imagine most Apple smart home users will want. Consumer Reports seems to like JBL quite a bit. Their list has three JBL speakers on it — the JBL Authentics 500, Authentics 300, and Authentics 200. The scores for those three speakers are 73, 70, and 67, respectively, earning JBL a 70 overall and dibs on the second spot on the list. As smart speakers go, JBL does some unique things in this space, including allow the speakers to connect to Alexa and Google Assistant simultaneously, omitting the need to choose for the end user. Reviews say that the smart assistants don't always work well together but it's still something you don't see everyday. In general, all three speakers can be used wired, which makes them a good option for sitting on a bookshelf. The Authentics 300 and 500 also have built-in batteries and can be used as portable speakers, making them the only two speakers on the list that are designed for both portable and at-home use. The downside is that the battery life on both speakers is mediocre, so you may not want to take them far. In terms of sound quality, reviews for all three speakers show that they all sound excellent and include JBL's Self-Tuning feature, which matches the sound signature with your room's acoustics. It seems too good to be true until you look at the price tags. The Authentics 200 runs for $349.99 when it's not on sale and that's the least expensive one. You'll spend $449.99 for the JBL Authentics 300 and $699.99 for the Authentics 500 . These are high-end speakers, though, and there's a reason Consumer Reports rates them so well. Sonos tops the Consumer Reports list and therefore it tops our list as well. It has three speakers on the list, including the Era 300 , Move 2 , and the Era 100 . Consumer Reports gives those speakers a 74, 72, and 71, respectively, which gives Sonos a 72/100 overall. Generally speaking, Sonos makes good products and our reviews agree with that notion, so Sonos topping the list isn't the most surprisingly notion. Of the three options, the Era 300 and 100 are wired speakers and the Move 2 is wireless, making Sonos and JBL the only brands on the list that have both options. The Era 300 and 100 are good for the same reasons. Both of them sound good for their respective sizes. They include Amazon Alexa and Sonos' own assistant platform should you choose to use it. Sonos used to support Google Assistant but doesn't seem to on their latest generation of speakers. Additionally, both speakers can be used in stereo configurations for home theater setups or for some excellent music sound in your living room. Meanwhile, the Move II is a wireless speaker that also only has Alexa and Sonos' own assistant. On the plus side, the Move 2 also sounds excellent for its size and has some of the best battery life of any wireless smart speaker on the list. Like JBL, Sonos is an expensive brand. The Era 100 costs $249 when it's not on sale and the Era 300 nearly doubles that price at $449. The Move 2 is also more expensive than most Bluetooth speakers at $449 . So, while Sonos speakers are quite good, it'll cost you approximately one arm and leg to get a multi-speaker setup at home.‘The smiling one’ Ruben Amorim says he can be ruthless when he needs to beThe COVID Cover-Up: 19 Questions We Must AnswerSuder had six rebounds and four steals for the RedHawks (4-2). Eian Elmer scored 15 points and added five rebounds and three steals. Antwone Woolfolk shot 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points, while adding six rebounds. Ahmad Robinson finished with 19 points, six assists and three steals for the Bears (3-4). Brady Shoulders added 14 points and four steals for Mercer. Alex Holt also put up 12 points and nine rebounds. Miami went into the half leading Mercer 35-30. Elmer scored 11 points in the half. Suder scored 12 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking some time to reflect after Chrystia Freeland's bombshell resignation as finance minister, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Tuesday. That comes as the number of Liberals who are calling for Trudeau to step aside appears to have grown. "The prime minister, as I understand it, a number of caucus colleagues have said that the prime minister has said that he will reflect on both the decision that minister Freeland made, but also what he's heard from members of his own caucus," Jonathan Wilkinson said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "I think we all need to give him a little time to reflect, and I respect that fact that he's going to take some time to reflect." The House of Commons is now on its holiday break, giving Trudeau a few weeks to decide on his next move before MPs return to Ottawa on Jan. 27. Freeland's decision to walk away from the top cabinet job came three days after Trudeau had informed her she would be moved out of the finance portfolio in the next cabinet shuffle. The news came out just hours before she was set to present the government's fall economic statement in the House of Commons. That kicked off a day of turmoil on Parliament Hill that began with an unexpected cabinet meeting, followed by hours of confusion about which minister might table the important financial update, or if it would be introduced at all. Several Liberal MPs demanded an emergency caucus meeting, and during that evening gathering, some of them called for Trudeau to step aside as party leader. New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, one of 23 caucus members who signed a letter back in October calling for Trudeau to quit, remains adamant that it's time for Trudeau to go. He said this time "is so different than times before." "We certainly have more MPs than last time. So, if I had to guess how many more right now, I'd say we're probably at 40 to 50 right now," Long said. The attempt to oust Trudeau earlier in the fall ultimately failed to garner support from anyone in cabinet. This time, Long said, at least five cabinet ministers believe it's time for a change at the top — though he did not identify them. "I certainly am one to say to my colleagues, to ministers in particular: 'Let's come out of the shadows,'" Long said. "Let's openly, once and for all, state how we feel and let's move forward with what we know has to happen." Several former cabinet ministers have called for Trudeau to go, including former environment minister Catherine McKenna on Tuesday. "Every Liberal MP should be calling on the prime minister to resign," she said in a post on social media. "The surest way to elect a Conservative majority and lose all the progress we've made is for him to stay. And we need to focus on tariff threat from the U.S. It's over." But most current cabinet ministers, when asked, have backed the prime minister publicly. Before question period on Tuesday Treasury Board President Anita Anand and Diversity Minister Kamal Khera, replied "yes" when asked if they support the prime minister. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the same. Prince Edward Island MP Sean Casey isn't convinced this attempt to push Trudeau out will work any differently than when he and 22 colleagues asked the prime minister to resign in October. At the time, Liberal MPs told reporters that Trudeau pledged to reflect on what was said. The very next day, he publicly stated his intention to stay on as leader. Casey does not think the prime minister will take a walk in the snow now, either. "There's not a single indicator in anything that he says or does that would tell me otherwise. He seems to be absolutely committed and he has throughout the piece, he's been remarkably consistent," Casey said. Whenever Trudeau has been asked if he intends to lead the Liberals in the next election the response has been an unambiguous "yes." Trudeau typically holds a cabinet retreat before the return of Parliament and a long-anticipated cabinet shuffle is likely to come soon. He replaced Freeland immediately with longtime friend and ally Dominic LeBlanc, who officially is now the minister of public safety, finance and intergovernmental affairs. Anand also holds two portfolios, juggling Treasury Board with transport, which she took on after Pablo Rodriguez stepped aside to prepare a run for the Liberal leadership in Quebec. There are also at least five sitting ministers who do not plan to run in the next election, including Housing Minister Sean Fraser, whose announcement on Monday about his future was completely overshadowed by Freeland's bombshell. It has been a tumultuous fall for the government. The Liberals survived three non-confidence votes in the House of Commons and have struggled to advance legislation because of a filibuster on a Conservative privilege motion related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund. On Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre once again called on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to topple the government. Poilievre said Canada needs an election because U.S. president-elect Donald Trump "can spot weakness from a mile away" and the Trudeau government is weak. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet also said a new Parliament is needed "as soon as possible," and he wants to see an election called in January. Blanchet said Trudeau has lost the political, moral and ethical authority to govern. On Monday, Singh called for Trudeau to step down but did not make a firm comment on whether the NDP would vote non-confidence in the Liberal government, saying only that "all options are on the table." The NDP, which ended a formal supply-and-confidence agreement to support the Liberals in September, has since voted with the government on all three non-confidence motions, trying to spin it as voting against the Conservatives rather than with the Liberals. Singh has repeatedly said a Poilievre-led Conservative government would cut things New Democrats have fought for like dental care, pharmacare and other social programs. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. — With files from Nick Murray and Michel Saba David Baxter, The Canadian Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When the MLS playoffs began late last month, everyone who follows Inter Miami assumed coach Tata Martino would be preparing his team for the conference semifinals this week. Instead, the runner up for MLS Coach of the Year was in the Chase Stadium interview room on Friday morning announcing his resignation two weeks after the team’s shocking first-round playoff exit. Martino said he wanted to diffuse rumors and stress that he is leaving strictly for personal reasons, that he must return to his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, and that his decision was made before the first playoff game in late-October. He said not even his coaching staff knew of his decision at the time as he did not want it to be a distraction. He informed Lionel Messi, managing owner Jorge Mas, and President of Football Operations Raul Sanllehi last Saturday and told the rest of the players on Wednesday, after they returned from the FIFA break. Martino has no plans to coach another club in the immediate future, saying he cannot take on another job in early 2025 because he needs to focus on personal matters in Rosario. Mas said his conversation with Martino ended at 11 a.m. last Saturday, the search for a new coach began “at 11:01” and that the club had selected a new coach by Wednesday, are finalizing contract details and “will be announcing a new coach for Inter Miami in the upcoming days.” Javier Mascherano, an Argentine national team legend and former teammate of Messi’s, is the leading candidate to replace Martino, according to a few league sources. Media reports from Argentina say it is a done deal. Mas would not confirm or deny the Mascherano rumors but said that the new coach will have a winning history at the highest level as a player or coach, have familiarity with Messi and the other team stars, and will be well-suited to lead Miami’s elite players as well as its young players. “We have a very unique situation at Inter Miami where we have the best player in the world on our team, accompanied by generational talents like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, accompanied by academy kids like Benja Cremaschi, Noah Allen, Ian Fray, David Ruiz, who have played significant minutes, and also young budding stars like Facundo Farias, Toto Aviles, Diego Gomez, Fede Redondo, so it will take a manager to play the attacking style we want to play with that combination of players,” Mas said. Mascherano, the 40-year-old ex-Barcelona defensive midfielder, has been coaching Argentina’s U-20 team the past three years and coached Argentina in the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has a storied playing career but has never coached a club team and has no experience in MLS, which is quite different from other leagues around the world in everything from schedule to salary structure. Asked how involved Messi was in the coaching search, Mas said: “I spoke to Leo, and he gave his input. Familiarity with Leo and the other stars is an advantage in every aspect. I want Leo to feel comfortable with the new coach, but Raul and I spearheaded the search. “This is not our first coaching search. I have been involved in interviewing some of the world’s best coaches since 2019. We have more experience now. We know exactly what we want. That’s why we were able to accomplish this search in five days. ... This is not the first time I spoke to this individual. We came close [to hiring him] in 2020, and he has been following our team and the league closely.” Mas added that while MLS experience would be a plus, it is not a necessary criteria for the incoming coach, and then repeated that the main attributes they were looking for were a coach who could manage a locker room of stars and youngsters. “We want to thank Tata Martino and appreciate everything he has given this club for the past year and a half,” Mas said. “His fingerprints and success will always be part of our history.” Mas pointed out that the team, under Martino, lifted the Leagues Cup trophy in the summer of 2023, made the final of the U.S. Open Cup, won the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and broke the league’s points record. Martino, 62, led Inter Miami to a league-record 74 points, which also earned the team the Supporters’ Shield for best regular season record. The team scored a league-high 79 goals. Miami, with a star-studded roster including Argentine icon Messi and three of his former Barcelona teammates, fell short of expectations with a first-round exit from the MLS Playoffs after losing the best 2-of-3 series to Atlanta United. Martino had a year remaining on his contract. He joined Inter Miami in July 2023 upon Messi’s arrival and was a natural choice to get the job as he led Atlanta United to the 2018 MLS Cup title in that club’s second season, had coached in two World Cups with Paraguay and Mexico, reached three Copa America finals and, vitally important, coached Messi at FC Barcelona and with the Argentine national team. Martino replaced Phil Neville and took over a team that was in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-13-0 record just past the midway point of the season. With the addition of Messi, Busquets and Alba, Martino led the team to the 2023 Leagues Cup title later that summer. Upon announcing his decision on Friday, Martino took time to thank team ownership and management and lamented that he couldn’t continue being part of the club’s growth next season. “It has been a very satisfactory year and a half, I am grateful for the opportunity, and although we ended the season on a sour note, and fell short of what we wanted to accomplish, we had a lot of success and I would have liked very much to have continued being part of this club,” Martino said. “I am happy we transformed this club from one that struggled to make the playoffs to the one that won the Leagues Cup, won Supporters’ Shield, and had the best record in history.” Martino was asked how his players reacted to the news. “It’s clear when you leave a job so abruptly, especially when there aren’t any apparent reasons, it hard to expect people to understand,” Martino said. “There are many coaches out there who would love this job. People would say, `This guy is crazy, working in this team, living in this place, working in this league and he’s leaving where everyone wants to be.’ I have had moments like this in my career. Things happen, and you have to leave. I appreciate that the players respected my decision and the club will go on.” Asked what the team was missing during the playoff series with Atlanta, he replied that Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan was decisive in all three games, that Inter Miami played well and was in position to win all three games, and there were some intangibles and moments that went against Miami. “I know someone from the outside hears that and thinks I am not being self-critical, which is not true. I am. People will debate if we should have played four in back or five, but if I had to do it again, I would line up the same way. In hindsight, it is easy to debate, and everyone has a right to their opinion.” Mas also addressed the futures of Suarez, whose contract expires in December, and Alba, who has an option for next season, and dismissed rumors that sporting director Chris Henderson was headed to another club. “I think Luis Suarez has been an amazing addition to our team and our league,” Mas said. “What he did this year was spectacular. Jordi Alba, my personal opinion is he had the best season of any left back on MLS history and I don’t think it’s close. We’re going to continue to have the best team we can. There are no budget limitations, we will continue to bring top players from all over the world ... and use every single roster mechanism we can.” ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Unbeaten, untested No. 18 Gators headline tournament at Disney
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worthington Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: WOR), a market-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative products and solutions that serve customers in the building products and consumer products end markets, today reported results for its fiscal 2025 second quarter ended November 30, 2024. Second Quarter Highlights (all comparisons to the second quarter of fiscal 2024): Consolidated Quarterly Results Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 were $274.0 million, a decrease of $24.2 million, or 8.1%, from the prior year quarter, primarily driven by the deconsolidation of SES during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Net sales in the prior year quarter include $27.5 million related to SES, which is now operated as an unconsolidated joint venture and results are reported within equity income on the consolidated statement of earnings beginning June 1, 2024. Operating income of $3.5 million was favorable $17.9 million to the operating loss in the prior year quarter due to certain nonrecurring effects of the separation of the former Steel Processing business ("Separation”) in the prior year, including one-time Separation costs and stranded corporate costs eliminated post-Separation, partially offset by higher restructuring and other expense in the current quarter. Excluding these items, adjusted operating income was $6.1 million, an increase of $3.8 million over the prior year quarter, primarily driven by the inclusion of Ragasco, which was acquired on June 3, 2024, along with higher overall gross margin. Equity income decreased $4.1 million from the prior year quarter to $34.6 million, on lower contributions from ClarkDietrich in the current year quarter and the $2.8 million gain in the prior year quarter related to the divestiture of the Brazilian operations of the engineered cabs joint venture. These headwinds were partially offset by a $3.1 million increase in equity earnings from WAVE. ClarkDietrich contributed equity earnings of $9.7 million, down $4.0 million from the prior year quarter, but up $1.0 million sequentially from the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Income tax expense was $9.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $6.6 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was driven by higher pre-tax earnings from continuing operations, partially offset by a lower estimated annual effective tax rate of 24.1%, down from 25.7% in the prior year quarter. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow The Company ended the quarter with cash of $193.8 million, down $50.4 million from May 31, 2024, primarily driven by the acquisition of Ragasco. During the second quarter, the Company generated operating cash flow of $49.1 million, of which $15.2 million was invested in capital projects, including approximately $4.9 million related to previously announced facility modernization projects. Total debt at quarter end consisted entirely of long-term debt and was relatively unchanged from May 31, 2024, at $295.7 million. The Company had no borrowings under its revolving credit facility as of November 30, 2024, leaving $500.0 million available for future use. Quarterly Segment Results Consumer Products generated net sales of $116.7 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2025, down $2.6 million, or 2.2%, from the prior year quarter, primarily driven by a less favorable product mix that was partially offset by higher volumes. Adjusted EBITDA was $15.5 million, up $2.8 million over the prior year quarter, on the combined impact of higher volumes and gross margin improvement partially offset by higher SG&A expense. Building Products generated net sales of $157.3 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $6.0 million, or 4.0%, over the prior year quarter on contributions from Ragasco, partially offset by lower overall volumes. Adjusted EBITDA of $47.2 million, was up $1.4 million over the prior year quarter, as contributions from Ragasco and higher equity income from WAVE were partially offset by the combined impact of lower volumes and lower contributions of equity income from ClarkDietrich. Outlook "Our team continues to navigate the current environment effectively, maintaining a strong focus on delivering value-added solutions and products for our customers,” Hayek said. "While we are pleased with our performance, we continue to set our sights higher. We have improved our value propositions in multiple product lines over the last year, and we are very well positioned as growth returns to our end markets. Led by our people-first, performance-based culture, leveraging a solid balance sheet and a commitment to transformation, innovation and M&A, we are confident in our ability to optimize our business, drive sustainable growth and deliver long-term value to our shareholders.” Conference Call The Company will review fiscal 2025 second quarter results during its quarterly conference call on December 18, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Details regarding the conference call can be found on the Company website at www.WorthingtonEnterprises.com. About Worthington Enterprises Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a designer and manufacturer of market-leading brands that help enable people to live safer, healthier and more expressive lives. The Company operates with two primary business segments: Building Products and Consumer Products. The Building Products segment includes cooking, heating, cooling and water solutions, architectural and acoustical grid ceilings and metal framing and accessories. The Consumer Products segment provides solutions for the tools, outdoor living and celebrations categories. Product brands within the Worthington Enterprises portfolio include Balloon Time®, Bernzomatic®, Coleman® (propane cylinders), CoMet®, Garden Weasel®, General®, HALOTM, HawkeyeTM, Level5 Tools®, Mag Torch®, NEXITM, Pactool International®, PowerCoreTM, Ragasco®, Well-X-Trol® and XLiteTM, among others. The Company also serves the growing global hydrogen ecosystem via a joint venture focused on on-board fueling systems and gas containment solutions. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Enterprises and its joint ventures employ approximately 6,000 people throughout North America and Europe. Founded in 1955 as Worthington Industries, Worthington Enterprises follows a people-first Philosophy with earning money for its shareholders as its first corporate goal. Worthington Enterprises achieves this outcome by empowering its employees to innovate, thrive and grow with leading brands in attractive markets that improve everyday life. The Company engages deeply with local communities where it has operations through volunteer efforts and The Worthington Companies Foundation , participates actively in workforce development programs and reports annually on its corporate citizenship and sustainability efforts . For more information, visit worthingtonenterprises.com . Safe Harbor Statement Selected statements contained in this release constitute "forward-looking statements,” as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act”). The Company wishes to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions included in the Act. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events. These statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe,” "expect,” "anticipate,” "may,” "could,” "should,” "would,” "intend,” "plan,” "will,” "likely,” "estimate,” "project,” "position,” "strategy,” "target,” "aim,” "seek,” "foresee” and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to: future or expected cash positions, liquidity and ability to access financial markets and capital; outlook, strategy or business plans; the anticipated benefits of the separation of the Company's Steel Processing business (the "Separation); the expected financial and operational performance of, and future opportunities for, the Company following the Separation; the Company's performance on a pro forma basis to illustrate the estimated effects of the Separation on historical periods; the tax treatment of the Separation transaction; future or expected growth, growth potential, forward momentum, performance, competitive position, sales, volumes, cash flows, earnings, margins, balance sheet strengths, debt, financial condition or other financial measures; pricing trends for raw materials and finished goods and the impact of pricing changes; the ability to improve or maintain margins; expected demand or demand trends for the Company or its markets; additions to product lines and opportunities to participate in new markets; expected benefits from transformation and innovation efforts; the ability to improve performance and competitive position at the Company's operations; anticipated working capital needs, capital expenditures and asset sales; anticipated improvements and efficiencies in costs, operations, sales, inventory management, sourcing and the supply chain and the results thereof; projected profitability potential; the ability to make acquisitions and the projected timing, results, benefits, costs, charges and expenditures related to acquisitions, joint ventures, headcount reductions and facility dispositions, shutdowns and consolidations; projected capacity and the alignment of operations with demand; the ability to operate profitably and generate cash in down markets; the ability to capture and maintain market share and to develop or take advantage of future opportunities, customer initiatives, new businesses, new products and new markets; expectations for Company and customer inventories, jobs and orders; expectations for the economy and markets or improvements therein; expectations for generating improving and sustainable earnings, earnings potential, margins or shareholder value; effects of judicial rulings; the ever-changing effects of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19”) pandemic and the various responses of governmental and nongovernmental authorities thereto on economies and markets, and on our customers, counterparties, employees and third-party service providers; and other non-historical matters. Because they are based on beliefs, estimates and assumptions, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation, those that follow: the uncertainty of obtaining regulatory approvals in connection with the Separation, including rulings from the Internal Revenue Service; the Company's ability to successfully realize the anticipated benefits of the Separation; the risks, uncertainties and impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic - the duration, extent and severity of which are impossible to predict, including the possibility of future resurgence in the spread of COVID-19 or variants thereof - and the availability, effectiveness and acceptance of vaccines, and other actual or potential public health emergencies and actions taken by governmental authorities or others in connection therewith; the effect of national, regional and global economic conditions generally and within major product markets, including significant economic disruptions from COVID-19, the actions taken in connection therewith and the implementation of related fiscal stimulus packages; the effect of conditions in national and worldwide financial markets, including inflation, increases in interest rates and economic recession, and with respect to the ability of financial institutions to provide capital; the impact of tariffs, the adoption of trade restrictions affecting the Company's products or suppliers, a United States withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, the occurrence of trade wars, the closing of border crossings, and other changes in trade regulations or relationships; changing oil prices and/or supply; product demand and pricing; changes in product mix, product substitution and market acceptance of the Company's products; volatility or fluctuations in the pricing, quality or availability of raw materials (particularly steel), supplies, transportation, utilities, labor and other items required by operations (especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine); effects of sourcing and supply chain constraints; the outcome of adverse claims experience with respect to workers' compensation, product recalls or product liability, casualty events or other matters; effects of facility closures and the consolidation of operations; the effect of financial difficulties, consolidation and other changes within the steel, automotive, construction and other industries in which the Company participates; failure to maintain appropriate levels of inventories; financial difficulties (including bankruptcy filings) of original equipment manufacturers, end-users and customers, suppliers, joint venture partners and others with whom the Company does business; the ability to realize targeted expense reductions from headcount reductions, facility closures and other cost reduction efforts; the ability to realize cost savings and operational, sales and sourcing improvements and efficiencies, and other expected benefits from transformation initiatives, on a timely basis; the overall success of, and the ability to integrate, newly-acquired businesses and joint ventures, maintain and develop their customers, and achieve synergies and other expected benefits and cost savings therefrom; capacity levels and efficiencies, within facilities, within major product markets and within the industries in which the Company participates as a whole; the effect of disruption in the business of suppliers, customers, facilities and shipping operations due to adverse weather, casualty events, equipment breakdowns, labor shortages, interruption in utility services, civil unrest, international conflicts (especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine), terrorist activities or other causes; changes in customer demand, inventories, spending patterns, product choices, and supplier choices; risks associated with doing business internationally, including economic, political and social instability (especially in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine), foreign currency exchange rate exposure and the acceptance of the Company's products in global markets; the ability to improve and maintain processes and business practices to keep pace with the economic, competitive and technological environment; the effect of inflation, interest rate increases and economic recession, which may negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; deviation of actual results from estimates and/or assumptions used by the Company in the application of its significant accounting policies; the level of imports and import prices in the Company's markets; the impact of environmental laws and regulations or the actions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or similar regulators which increase costs or limit the Company's ability to use or sell certain products; the impact of increasing environmental, greenhouse gas emission and sustainability regulations and considerations; the impact of judicial rulings and governmental regulations, both in the United States and abroad, including those adopted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other governmental agencies as contemplated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; the effect of healthcare laws in the United States and potential changes for such laws, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may increase the Company's healthcare and other costs and negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; the effects of tax laws in the United States and potential changes for such laws, which may increase the Company's costs and negatively impact the Company's operations and financial results; cyber security risks; the effects of privacy and information security laws and standards; and other risks described from time to time in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in "Part I - Item 1A. - Risk Factors” of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024. Forward-looking statements should be construed in the light of such risks. The Company notes these factors for investors as contemplated by the Act. It is impossible to predict or identify all potential risk factors. Consequently, readers should not consider the foregoing list to be a complete set of all potential risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake, and hereby disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (In thousands, except per share amounts)
The redemption price for the 4.750% senior notes is equal to the sum of 100% of the principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes that remain outstanding, the make-whole amount calculated in accordance with the terms of the 4.750% senior notes and the related indenture under which the 4.750% senior notes were issued, and the accrued and unpaid interest on the remaining 4.750% senior notes up to, but excluding, the redemption date of December 27, 2024 . The aggregate principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes outstanding and the aggregate principal amount of the 4.750% senior notes to be redeemed is as set forth below: Holders owning 4.750% senior notes through a broker, bank, or other nominee should contact that party for information. For more information, holders of the 4.750% senior notes may call the paying agent for the redemption of the 4.750% senior notes, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas at (800) 735-7777. About Paramount Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA) is a leading global media, streaming and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, its portfolio includes CBS, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+ and Pluto TV. The Company holds one of the industry's most extensive libraries of TV and film titles. In addition to offering innovative streaming services and digital video products, the Company provides powerful capabilities in production, distribution, and advertising solutions. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains both historical and forward-looking statements, including statements related to our future results, performance and achievements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events; generally can be identified by the use of statements that include phrases such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "likely," "will," "may," "could," "estimate" or other similar words or phrases; and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: risks related to our streaming business; the adverse impact on our advertising revenues as a result of advertising market conditions, changes in consumer viewership and deficiencies in audience measurement; risks related to operating in highly competitive and dynamic industries, including cost increases; the unpredictable nature of consumer behavior, as well as evolving technologies and distribution models; risks related to our ongoing changes in business strategy, including investments in new businesses, products, services, technologies and other strategic activities; the potential for loss of carriage or other reduction in or the impact of negotiations for the distribution of our content; damage to our reputation or brands; losses due to asset impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets, FCC licenses and content; liabilities related to discontinued operations and former businesses; risks related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters; evolving business continuity, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection and similar risks; content infringement; domestic and global political, economic and regulatory factors affecting our businesses generally; disruptions to our operations as a result of labor disputes; the inability to hire or retain key employees or secure creative talent; volatility in the prices of the Companyʼs common stock; potential conflicts of interest arising from our ownership structure with a controlling stockholder; business uncertainties, including the effect of the Skydance transactions on the Companyʼs employees, commercial partners, clients and customers, and contractual restrictions while the Skydance transactions are pending; prevention, delay or reduction of the anticipated benefits of the Skydance transactions as a result of the conditions to closing the Skydance transactions; the Transaction Agreementʼs limitation on our ability to pursue alternatives to the Skydance transactions; risks related to a failure to complete the Skydance transactions, including payment of a termination fee and negative reactions from the financial markets and from our employees, commercial partners, clients and customers; risks related to change in control or other provisions in certain agreements that may be triggered by the Skydance transactions; litigation relating to the Skydance transactions potentially preventing or delaying the closing of the Skydance transactions and/or resulting in payment of damages; challenges realizing synergies and other anticipated benefits expected from the Skydance transactions, including integrating the Companyʼs and Skydanceʼs businesses successfully; potential unforeseen direct and indirect costs as a result of the Skydance transactions; any negative effects of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the Skydance transactions on the market price of the Companyʼs common stock and New Paramount Class B Common Stock; and other factors described in our news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. There may be additional risks, uncertainties and factors that we do not currently view as material or that are not necessarily known. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this communication, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. PARA-IR View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paramount-global-announces-redemption-of-its-4-750-senior-notes-due-may-2025--302334251.html SOURCE Paramount GlobalNone
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Quest Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Olympic Steel, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ZEUS – Free Report ) by 488.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 15,411 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after acquiring an additional 12,792 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in Olympic Steel were worth $601,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ZEUS. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in Olympic Steel by 1.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 681,512 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $48,306,000 after acquiring an additional 12,242 shares in the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Olympic Steel during the first quarter valued at about $61,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Olympic Steel by 5.0% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 9,903 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $702,000 after purchasing an additional 471 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank lifted its position in shares of Olympic Steel by 53.7% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 7,085 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $502,000 after buying an additional 2,474 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wedge Capital Management L L P NC boosted its stake in Olympic Steel by 61.2% during the second quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 17,380 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $779,000 after buying an additional 6,601 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.07% of the company’s stock. Olympic Steel Price Performance ZEUS stock opened at $42.41 on Friday. Olympic Steel, Inc. has a 52 week low of $32.23 and a 52 week high of $73.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $472.02 million, a P/E ratio of 18.09 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $38.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 3.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Olympic Steel Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com cut Olympic Steel from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, October 25th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Olympic Steel About Olympic Steel ( Free Report ) Olympic Steel, Inc processes, distributes, and stores metal products primarily in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It operates in three segments: Carbon Flat Products; Specialty Metals Flat Products; and Tubular and Pipe Products. The company offers stainless steel and aluminum coil and sheet products, angles, rounds, and flat bars; alloy, heat treated, and abrasion resistant coils, sheets and plates; coated metals, including galvanized, galvannealed, electro galvanized, advanced high strength steels, aluminized, and automotive grades of steel; commercial quality, advanced high strength steel, drawing steel, and automotive grades cold rolled steel coil and sheet products; hot rolled carbon comprising hot rolled coil, pickled and oiled sheet and plate steel products, automotive grades, advanced high strength steels, and high strength low alloys; tube, pipe, and bar products, including round, square, and rectangular mechanical and structural tubing; hydraulic and stainless tubing; boiler tubing; carbon, stainless, and aluminum pipes; valves and fittings; and tin mill products, such as electrolytic tinplate, electrolytic chromium coated steel, and black plates. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ZEUS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Olympic Steel, Inc. ( NASDAQ:ZEUS – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Olympic Steel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Olympic Steel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .How Trump's Tariffs Could Impact Thanksgiving Dinner Prices
Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California. The Texas-based company is accused of discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater containing excessive amounts of oil and grease. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Thursday. Phillips is charged with two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. An arraignment date has not been set. The company’s media relations department did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment U.S. regulators want a federal judge to break up Google to prevent the company from continuing to squash competition through its dominant search engine after a court found it had maintained an abusive monopoly over the past decade. The proposed breakup floated in a 23-page document filed late Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department calls for Google to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser and impose restrictions designed to prevent Android from favoring its search engine. Regulators also want to ban Google from forging multibillion-dollar deals to lock in its dominant search engine as the default option on Apple’s iPhone and other devices. What you need to know about the proposed measures designed to curb Google's search monopoly U.S. regulators are proposing aggressive measures to restore competition to the online search market after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly. The sweeping set of recommendations filed late Wednesday could radically alter Google’s business. Regulators want Google to sell off its industry-leading Chrome web browser. They outlined a range of behavioral measures such as prohibiting Google from using search results to favor its own services such as YouTube, and forcing it to license search index data to its rivals. They're not going as far as to demand Google spin off Android, but are leaving that door open if the remedies don't work. SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler will step down from his post on January 20. Since taking the lead at the SEC, the commission has been aggressive in its oversight of cryptocurrencies and other regulatory issues. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler, who has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry and repeatedly called for more oversight. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. US intelligence warns defense companies of Russian sabotage threat WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials are warning American defense companies to increase their security after a wave of sabotage in Europe blamed on Russia. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a public bulletin Thursday advising companies that work in the defense industry that Russia may seek to carry out acts of sabotage as part of its effort to undercut Ukraine's allies and their ability to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Western authorities say they believe Russian intelligence is behind several recent acts of sabotage targeting European defense companies. Russia has denied the allegations. Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of finding ways to cut government spending and regulations. It's possible that their efforts will lead to a constitutional clash. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage the Republican president-elect to refuse to spend money allocated by Congress, which would conflict with a 1974 law that's intended to prevent presidents from blocking funds. If Trump takes such a step, it would quickly become one of the most closely watched legal battles of his second administration. Musk and Ramaswamy also aim to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000 as post-election rally rolls on NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin is jumping again, rising above $98,000 for the first time Thursday. The cryptocurrency has been shattering records almost daily since the U.S. presidential election, and has rocketed more than 40% higher in just two weeks. It's now at the doorstep of $100,000. Cryptocurrencies and related investments like crypto exchange-traded funds have rallied because the incoming Trump administration is expected to be more “crypto-friendly.” Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is hard to predict. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000 NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks climbed after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 pulled 0.5% higher Thursday after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite edged up by less than 0.1%. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend to do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. Treasury yields inched higher in the bond market. The biggest remaining unsanctioned Russian bank hit with U.S. sanctions, nearly three years into war WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia’s third largest bank, Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were hit with U.S. sanctions on Thursday. The action is intended to curtail Russia’s ability to evade the thousands of sanctions imposed on the nation since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions targeting Russia’s largest remaining non-sanctioned bank would further diminish Russia’s military effort and “will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military.” In addition, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials were hit with sanctions. Trump's incoming chief of staff is a former lobbyist. She'll face a raft of special interests WASHINGTON (AP) — As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, his election victory is likely to embolden those who think they can get his ear. There's the prospect that his second administration could face many of the same perils as his first, when there were influence-peddling scandals. That will test the ability of Susie Wiles, his incoming chief of staff, to manage a growing number of high-powered figures such as Trump’s children, son-in-law Jared Kushner and billionaires like Elon Musk. Wiles herself is a former lobbyist, but Trump's transition team rejected any suggestion that her past work would make her susceptible to pressure.
San Antonio Spurs @ Utah Jazz Current Records: San Antonio 9-8, Utah 4-12 When: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Delta Center -- Salt Lake City, Utah TV: FanDuel SN - Southwest Follow: CBS Sports App Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $8.00 The Jazz will be in front of their home fans on Tuesday, but a look at the spread shows they might need that home-court advantage. They will host the San Antonio Spurs at 9:00 p.m. ET at Delta Center. Both worked hard to overcome the odds in their previous battles and are surely both feeling confident heading into this clash. Having struggled with four defeats in a row, the Jazz finally turned things around against the Knicks on Saturday. They enjoyed a cozy 121-106 victory over New York. That looming 121-106 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Utah yet this season. Lauri Markkanen went supernova for the Jazz, shooting 5-for-8 from long range and almost dropping a double-double on 34 points and nine rebounds. The match was Markkanen's third in a row with at least 30 points. Another player making a difference was Collin Sexton, who went 6 for 8 from beyond the arc en route to 25 points plus five assists. The Jazz were working as a unit and finished the game with 30 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as the Knicks only posted 25. Meanwhile, the Spurs had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7 points) and they went ahead and made it three on Saturday. They came out on top against Golden State by a score of 104-94. The win was all the more spectacular given San Antonio was down by 17 with 3:34 left in the third quarter. Harrison Barnes and Victor Wembanyama were among the main playmakers for the Spurs as the former went 7 for 8 en route to 22 points plus eight rebounds and the latter almost dropped a double-double on 25 points and nine assists. Wembanyama is also on a roll when it comes to blocks, as he's now posted two or more in the last 13 games he's played. Utah's victory bumped their record up to 4-12. As for San Antonio, they pushed their record up to 9-8 with the win, which was their third straight at home. Not only did both teams in this Tuesday's game win their last matches, they also took care of their bettors and covered the spread. Going forward, the Spurs are expected to win a tight contest, barring any buzzer beaters. This contest will be Utah's 14th straight as the underdogs (so far over this stretch they are 6-7 against the spread). The Jazz came up short against the Spurs in their previous matchup on Thursday, falling 126-118. Will the Jazz have more luck at home instead of on the road? San Antonio is a slight 2.5-point favorite against Utah, according to the latest NBA odds . The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Spurs as a 2-point favorite. The over/under is 226 points. See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Utah and San Antonio both have 5 wins in their last 10 games. Nov 21, 2024 - San Antonio 126 vs. Utah 118 Nov 09, 2024 - Utah 111 vs. San Antonio 110 Oct 31, 2024 - San Antonio 106 vs. Utah 88 Mar 27, 2024 - San Antonio 118 vs. Utah 111 Feb 25, 2024 - Utah 128 vs. San Antonio 109 Dec 26, 2023 - Utah 130 vs. San Antonio 118 Mar 29, 2023 - Utah 128 vs. San Antonio 117 Feb 28, 2023 - San Antonio 102 vs. Utah 94 Feb 25, 2023 - Utah 118 vs. San Antonio 102 Dec 26, 2022 - San Antonio 126 vs. Utah 122Layne throws 3 TD passes, Idaho beats Idaho State 40-17
