The Most-Read Scene Stories of 2024A Nigerian billionaire’s firm is set to roll out the first AI-powered Radio station in Nigeria The new radio station will commence operations in January 2025, combining entertainment and e-commerce KongaFM will be a pioneer said station in Africa, combining artificial intelligence with entertainment PAY ATTENTION: Follow our WhatsApp channel to never miss out on the news that matters to you! Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment and the economy for over a decade. Nigeria is set for a historic launch of its first AI-powered radio station, marking a breakthrough initiative by Konga, an e-commerce company. The station is reportedly scheduled to begin operations in January 2025 and will be known as KongaFM. KongaFM to combine AI and entertainment The station is said to be the first in Africa to combine artificial intelligence with entertainment and commerce. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! According to reports, a source disclosed that KongaFM will be a pioneer platform to empower brands, distributors, and original equipment manufacturers to connect with unreached markets and change the e-commerce landscape. Read also Nigerian billionaire starts another building material business as cement price increases Leadership reports that the station will deliver non-stop music and a unique mix of entertainment and commercial opportunities. The platform's latest media push is part of its wider plans to disrupt conventional marketing communications and amplify consumer engagement across sectors such as FMCG and electronic and digital solutions. Company promises statement in January The move is reportedly set to ignite the FX market, influencing the pricing and availability of critical goods and commodities. It aligns with Konga’s history of innovation in the e-commerce sector. The company has not commented on the new move, although Konga Group CEO Nnamdi Ekeh promised an official statement in January. Konga was acquired by the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Leo Stan Ekeh, merging with Yudala, a then-burgeoning e-commerce firm. Nigerian billionaire launches cable television Legit.ng earlier reported that KongTV, Africa's first 24-hour buyers and sellers television platform , launched in 2023. The television station launched on November 6, 2023, which coincided with the company's biggest sale of the year. Read also Nigerian entrepreneurs share N11m in TrendX’s Pitch2win competition The television station is designed to offer competitive pricing from sources including manufacturers, distributors, merchants, and resellers. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng
Bullrun, bullshit and other market lessons of 2024
Preparing for ChristmasCentral Texan Mario Ochoa Wins $134,000 in Home Upgrades The winner of the Home of the Future Contest, Mario Ochoa, is a father of two and resident of McCormick Ranch on Lake Austin Ochoa received $134,000 of cutting-edge smart home technology and future-proof solutions Service Experts' popular Austin center, Strand Brothers, began work on Ochoa's home this month The team installed a new HVAC unit, water heater, water filtration system and more "When the house becomes more seamlessly integrated, allowing a central unit to coordinate and run major equipment through apps that determine what your comfort preferences are and how to best achieve those, also saving you money along the way, you definitely have a Home of the Future,” Ochoa said. Service Experts' popular Austin center, Strand Brothers, began working on Ochoa's home this month, installing equipment that will both reduce energy costs and provide support in case of grid failures so essential systems can keep running. The company has more than 100 locations like Strand Brothers across 31 U.S. states that provide local HVAC repair, maintenance, new equipment sales and related services, including plumbing and solar to help homeowners like Ochoa realize their own homes of the future. "We work daily to make our customers feel right at home, and we're excited one of our local customer's won this incredible national giveaway,” said Jason Parton, General Manager of Strand Brothers Service Experts. "Energy-saving technologies and services are transforming homes, from advancements in personalized temperature control to worry-free electric power via solar and whole-home generators, these innovations not only save energy but also make every home a haven of well-being.” ABOUT SERVICE EXPERTS Founded in 1996, Service Experts is a leading provider of HVAC repair, maintenance, new equipment sales and related services to residential and commercial customers in 31 U.S. states. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Service Experts is one of North America's largest heating and air conditioning service companies, with more than 100 locations serving approximately 2,500 homes and businesses, on average, each working day. HVAC services include: residential HVAC service, replacement and leasing through the Service Experts Advantage Program. For more information on Service Experts sales, rebates, products and services, visit ServiceExperts.com . Attachments The winner of the Home of the Future Contest, Mario Ochoa, is a father of two and resident of McCormick Ranch on Lake Austin Service Experts' popular Austin center, Strand Brothers, began work on Ochoa's home this month CONTACT: Delaney Nicodemus Service Experts 4692352708 [email protected]
Dec 27 (Reuters) - Tech and growth stocks dragged Wall Street's main indexes lower on Friday, at the end of an upbeat holiday-shortened week that was driven by expectations around a traditionally strong period for markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) , opens new tab fell 0.82%, the S&P 500 (.SPX) , opens new tab was down 1.24% and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) , opens new tab briefly fell more than 2% and was down 1.80%. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors, including information technology (.SPLRCT) , opens new tab and consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD) , opens new tab fell the most, down about 2% and 1.9%, after powering most of the broader market's gains in 2024. COMMENTS: "I’ve heard anecdotes that pension funds are rebalancing ahead of year-end, selling stocks and buying bonds. Unfortunately, I can’t verify that, but it would explain the sudden sell-off on no news. And of course, if large funds are selling stocks en masse, the megacap tech stocks would bear the brunt because of their heavy weighting in major indices." "If nothing else, today is a reminder that just because a 'Santa Claus' rally is a statistical likelihood, it is far from guaranteed." “We’ve seen an attempt at a buy-the-dips rally smacked back, which seems to confirm that this is some selling or rebalancing underway by a big investor.” JAY WOODS, CHIEF GLOBAL STRATEGIST, FREEDOM CAPITAL MARKETS, NEW YORK "What people are doing is they're raising some cash. They're taking some profits right now as we go into the end of the year and getting ready for an opportunity if it presents itself in the beginning of next year. Tech, which has had a tremendous run, is starting to pull back. I think this is the beginning of a healthy correction that will get focused over the next four to eight weeks as we switch administrations." “Any kind of selling pressure sort of spirals a little bit out of control when you have a thinly traded market. And I think the selling pressure is really just people looking for direction.” “It’s not a lot of institutions. I think a lot of non-professionals are looking seeing the market’s direction and they just go with the flow. There’s concerns that maybe the first part of this year can involve some repositioning and reallocation of funds and those that are trading today and next week are probably just trying to get a little bit ahead of that.” “There’s uncertainty about the direction of interest rates and inflation, and the fact of all this is sort of coming together at one time. What is the Federal Reserve going to do in the first part of next year?” “And then there’s a new administration coming in with new policies and (there are uncertainties as to) what those policies will actually be, which policies will actually be implemented. There's a lot of talk about new and many changes, but what's really going to happen?” “And because of the big run that you've had in 2024, portfolios are not exactly positioned correctly for 2025 and I think a lot of people are expecting a lot of changes in the early part of the year.” “You're seeing some of that today and that will lead to more selling pressure because people just want to capture the gains before they go on into 2025.” PETER TUZ, PRESIDENT, CHASE INVESTMENT COUNSEL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA “This is end of year stuff going on people have had a pretty good year, and it’s typical year-end selling pressure caused by people taking profits, not a lot of buyers out there and not a lot of volume.“ “(There’s) no reason to jump in and buy these things at these valuations, and tax planning is on peoples’ minds this week and will be on Monday and Tuesday. I don't attribute it to, you know, any changing outlook in anything right now.” “The Santa Claus rally is one of those historic statistics that bears watching, but because of the change in administration and the potential change in policy you're probably seeing more action now than you would ordinarily. There's the potential for a lot of disruption in 2025.” BRYCE DOTY, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, SIT FIXED INCOME ADVISORS, MINNEAPOLIS "Today the market has really been reacting to the implications of taxes coming up. Tax positioning is overwhelming the other factors. But the more the Fed looks out of touch (with economic realities), the worse it is for equities...Tax trading will continue for the rest of the year." Sign up here. Compiled by the Global Finance & Markets Breaking News team Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
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The Vancouver Canucks ’ home-versus-road split has been talked about plenty by now. The team that has dominated away from home has not found the same success at home. But in watching the team persevere over the past six games on the road, have Canucks fans seen enough to say that the poor home play will now be behind them? Do Canucks fans think their team has finally found the right elixir? Does Thatcher Demko hold the key to all this? It’s time for this week’s fan mailbag. They did what they needed to do and then some. Can’t imagine there isn’t a huge morale boost coming from return of J.T. Miller and Thatcher Demko . — Simon Little via Bluesky Demko’s stature as a leader on this team is something that has really stood out to head coach Rick Tocchet since he arrived here almost two years ago. Demko is the goalie, but he’s also a real straw that stirs the drink in Tocchet’s mind. “He’s a leader of the team. He’s a different type of leader. You know, it’s just him being around. He’s a glue guy. The guy works awfully hard. I mean, he spent a lot of time by himself working out. He’s here at 7 a.m. working with one trainer. It’s contagious to me the hard work he does. The young guys see this stuff, how dedicated he is. I see that really helps our locker room,” Tocchet said Friday after confirming that the team’s No. 1 goalie is back and ready to play. Miller is still a little time away, but Tocchet spoke positively about the star, who took a leave to re-set himself mentally. He’s been working out and skating on his own, but he’s not yet ready to return to practice, the head coach said. The way Miller plays, the production he brings, energizes the team. He’s a loud presence, one that sometimes needs a little managing, but when the team is winning, everyone feels better. I give them only about a 92-per-cent chance of winning the cup — Trevor Chong via Bluesky That confident, eh Trev? That’s the spirit. That is, in the end, the dream in the back of every Canucks fan’s mind. They know the truth is the Canucks will never win. They’ll get close, but then something will stop them from success. But in their heart, they still hope they’re wrong. Maybe this is the year. At least now fans can actually vaguely dream of this. This isn’t the lost years of the Jim Benning era. I think the defence, even with Hronek healthy, isn’t close to championship quality. They still need a top-four defender added, and Willander doesn’t fill that need. — Trevor Spinks via Bluesky It’s been clear since the summer the Canucks’ defence corps as currently constructed was an unfinished project. They need another true puck mover. Erik Brännström has helped in that regard, but he’s not a second pairing guy. They need a second pairing guy. Just about every team does, of course. No, but they got better at bailing — Jeremy Parker vis Bluesky This is the kind of cynicism we’re after. Jeremy’s not wrong, either. The Canucks are playing alright, they’re picking up points, they’re getting star performances from their stars, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. When the stars, especially Quinn Hughes , aren’t on the ice, the lineup is treading water at best. What’s going on with Nils Höglander? Has Carson Soucy finally found his way back to who he was last year? Does Thatcher Demko come racing out of the gate, playing like his old self? The numbers show the Canucks are super stout defensively, which is a great base to work off, but they’re still not controlling overall play the way they would like. And they’re still starting games badly. When their starts become more consistent, when they’re not falling behind every other night, then you’ll know they’re not just trying to keep their heads above water, that they’ve found their way to standing up on the surf board with confidence. pjohnston@postmedia.comAlgert Global LLC Sells 35,470 Shares of Omnicell, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMCL)
Postal Service EV Order Is in Jeopardy, Report Says. This Stock Is Down.
