The Duke of York has said he “ceased all contact” with the businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after receiving advice from the Government . Andrew met the individual through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said. The businessman – known only as H6 – lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds. He brought a case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after then-home secretary Suella Braverman said he should be excluded from the UK in March 2023. H6 was described as a “close confidante” of The Duke. A statement from Andrew’s office said: “The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed H6 had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”. They also said that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, 64, represented a threat to national security. At a hearing in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was told by an adviser to Andrew that he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, and that H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020. A letter referencing the birthday party from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021. In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon, dismissed the challenge. Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge who served in the Cabinet as minister of state for security under the previous government, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “The United Front Work Department which is a branch of the Communist Party is seeking influence across the UK in everything across social, academic, financial, industrial, and various other ways.” Asked whether Andrew’s advisers should have been aware of H6, Mr Tugendhat said: “It’s not immediately obvious, it could be someone who’s British who’s working in China and who’s come under the influence, so it’s not quite as black and white as it may first appear – but it’s certainly extremely embarrassing. “It demonstrates I’m afraid that the Chinese state is extremely clear that what its ambition is is to secure influence over foreign countries. “They always talk about no interference in other people’s business when people talk about human rights in China, but they do nothing but interfere in the UK and in many countries across the world.”Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving timeFixed-rate mortgage rates have steadily declined, marking a third consecutive week of decrease. Freddie Mac's data shows that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage now averages 6.60%, significantly lower than the 6.95% rate from a year ago. "The combination of mortgage rate declines, firm consumer income growth, and a bullish stock market have increased homebuyer demand in recent weeks. While the outlook for the housing market is improving, the improvement is limited given that homebuyers continue to face stiff affordability headwinds," noted Sam Khater , Freddie Mac's chief economist. Fixed-rate mortgages are crucial for many homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers because they offer predictability. Since the interest rate remains constant throughout the loan term, borrowers know their monthly payments regardless of market conditions, making for easier financial planning and buying peace of mind. If these rates continue to drop, this development could make homeownership more accessible, stimulating sales. Recent data reveals that the U.S. housing market is showing signs of recovery. Existing home sales rose 3.5% in October 2024, rebounding from a 14-year low and surpassing market expectations. However, the median home sales price increased by 4% to $407,200, outpacing November’s 2.7% inflation rate. While Khater warned about these dynamics, home prices typically rise faster than inflation, which is one reason they were excluded from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation in 1983. Falling mortgage rates support optimism for the market, which suffered high borrowing costs earlier this year. Furthermore, the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted increased inventory could further bolster home sales, with job growth and economic expansion supporting growing housing demand. Still, the home construction market offered mixed results, as shown by broad market ETFs. The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF ITB returned 14.66% year-to-date, while the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF XHB fared better at 23.06%. The Invesco Building & Construction ETF PKB outperformed with 31.86% — however, it is worth noting that it is by far the smallest and most expensive of the group. Two notable stocks in the sector performed similarly. KB Home KBH has clocked a solid yet underperforming 18.52% return year-to-date. It trades at 8.9x its earnings, significantly lagging the peer average 21.1x. Meanwhile, Toll Brothers Inc TOL outperformed, climbing 37.39% year-to-date. Still, the firm trades cheaper than its peers at 8.8x its earnings. Following the latest earnings results , Oppenheimer and JPMorgan reiterated an Outperform and Overweight rating, citing robust demand but warning about the gross-margin guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Read Next: • Egg Hyperinflation Could Spike Grocery Prices: Why Cal-Maine, Vital Farms Are Soaring Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Winter travel advisory in effect for Ottawacasino game app download 。

NoneFollowing a tough loss, Tony Brar reports that the Edmonton Oilers are working with some interesting line combinations ahead of Saturday night’s match-up with the New York Rangers. In an attempt to combat several injuries, some unexpected players are getting an opportunity they otherwise wouldn’t get. Notably, Connor Brown finds his way into the top six and after just one game in orange and blue, forward Kasperi Kapanen sees an early promotion to the top line. In his Oilers debut, Kapanen showed promise on the second line, impressing the coaching staff. In just 12 minutes of ice time, he recorded one shot on net, delivered four hits, and, crucially, drew two penalties. The penalties he drew highlighted his skating ability — something he called his best asset — earning him an opportunity to play alongside one of the NHL’s best skaters, Connor McDavid . Additionally, head coach Kris Knoblauch praised Kapanen’s speed and physicality, emphasizing his strong first impression in an Oilers uniform. In a post-practice interview Knoblauch stated , “That’s a pretty good game...if you’re going to be physical, you got to be quick.” Ranking in the top 95th percentile for top skating speed , Kapanen uses his speed effectively. With McDavid being one of the fastest players in the league, pairing him up with somebody who can keep up with him is vital. Furthermore, having Ryan Nugent-Hopkins , a strong playmaker, rounding out the top line works to stimulate as much offense as possible. Kapanen’s Offensive Struggles On the other hand, Kapanen has struggled offensively. Before being waived, he registered only one point through ten games with St. Louis this season. His lowered offensive production has been a trend for the past few seasons. In the last 159 games, Kapanen has recorded only 59 points. A shocking statistic as Kapanen once logged 44 points in a single season. After losing several key young and speedy players in the offseason, the aging Oilers took a chance on the struggling yet quick 28-year-old forward, hoping he could inject some much-needed pace into the lineup. From being placed on waivers to earning a spot on the Oilers’ top line alongside Connor McDavid , Kapanen has experienced a whirlwind of emotions this week. Now, he looks to rejuvenate his game and make the most of this unique opportunity to play alongside one of the NHL’s best. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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Women more likely to need walking aids but less likely to use them – studyEditor’s note: The headline of this story was updated to correct an error related to the reported day of the week. On Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted final payment determinations for its 2025 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule. Included was a final decision related to CMS pricing for Exact Sciences Corp’s (NASDAQ: EXAS ) Cologuard Plus, a second-generation test that received FDA approval in October . William Blair writes that the determinations effectively raise reimbursement by 16% versus the current Medicare rate for the first-generation Cologuard test (to $592 for Cologuard Plus from $509 for Cologuard). Also Read: Colorectal Cancer Diagnostic Focused Exact Sciences Stock Plunges On Weak Annual Guidance, Analyst Sees Compelling Long-Term Entry Point The determination reverses the September preliminary decision but aligns with a proposal made during the public comment period. The analyst writes that reimbursement for Cologuard Plus will now be calculated based on two components: three times the fee for methylation analysis of Septin-9 ($192 x 3) and the fee for a FIT test ($15.92). This pricing adjustment is expected to take effect for Medicare volumes when the test officially launches in late first quarter or early second quarter of 2025. Medicare fee-for-service volumes should reflect the new pricing immediately upon launch, with Medicare Advantage following soon after. The company is also likely to renegotiate commercial contracts for higher pricing, which may gradually roll out over the coming quarters and years. William Blair reiterates the Outperform rating on the stock. The analyst highlights that the update is a positive outcome for the company, as it simplifies the process of implementing a price increase compared to the more complex advanced diagnostic laboratory test (ADLT) pathway. From a financial perspective, this decision is expected to support a moderate pricing boost starting in 2025. Based on William Blair’s estimates, this could add at least 300 basis points to Cologuard's growth rate next year, which is projected to be around 15% overall. Exact Sciences said it will present 10 abstracts demonstrating the breadth of its Precision Oncology portfolio at the 2024 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium scheduled next month . Price Action: EXAS stock is up 7.60% at $59.33 at last check Tuesday. Read Next: Analog Devices Q4 Earnings: Beats Estimates, Automotive Rebound, Cautiously Optimistic Outlook & More Illustration of Phrama lab worker created with MidJourney. Date Firm Action From To Feb 2022 Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight Feb 2022 Citigroup Maintains Neutral Feb 2022 Raymond James Maintains Outperform View More Analyst Ratings for EXAS View the Latest Analyst Ratings UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily , plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? EXACT SCIENCES (EXAS): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Why Is Exact Sciences Stock Trading Higher On Tuesday? (CORRECTED) originally appeared on Benzinga.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Cutting in line? American Airlines’ new boarding tech might stop you at now over 100 airports

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