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WASHINGTON: The United States sanctioned a Chinese cybersecurity company over an ambitious cyberattack that US Treasury officials say could have killed people. The Treasury said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 11) that the Chengdu-based Sichuan Silence Information Technology Company and one of its employees, Guan Tianfeng, deployed malicious software to more than 80,000 firewalls run by thousands of companies worldwide in April 2020. The malicious software not only stole data, it was used to deploy ransomware, which paralyses corporate networks by encrypting data. The statement said three dozen firewalls were protecting the systems of critical infrastructure companies and that, had the hacking not been thwarted or mitigated, the potential impact "could have resulted in serious injury or loss of human life". In particular, the statement said that an energy company targeted in Sichuan Silence's hacking campaign was "actively involved in drilling" during the attack. Had it not been thwarted, the statement said, "it could have caused oil rigs to malfunction." No further details about the incident were provided. Reuters could not immediately locate contact information for Guan. Sichuan Silence has previously been accused of involvement in malicious digital activity. In 2021 Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta Platforms, alleged that the firm was linked to an online influence campaign that promoted claims of a phony biologist who said the United States was interfering in the search for the origins of COVID-19. Beijing routinely denies being a party to hacking and other malicious cyber activity.Elon Musk Spent Over A Quarter Billion Dollars To Help Elect Donald Trump

Beth Dooley | (TNS) The Minnesota Star Tribune The holidays loom large. Parties, gift-shopping, school programs, recitals, family gatherings — there’s really no time to cook. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | Roasted orange delivers big flavor in this smoky chicken traybake Restaurants Food and Drink | Winter can be a time of culinary abundance. Experts share tips on eating nutritiously Restaurants Food and Drink | Recipe: How to make Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits your pup will love Restaurants Food and Drink | Simple fixes give after-dinner cocktails some holiday flair. Here are 5 recipes from the pros Restaurants Food and Drink | Recipe: Upside-down puff pastry apple tarts are both sweet and easy to make But there is! Here are three quick and easy recipes you can hustle to the table in 30 minutes or less. Relax, take a deep breath and know that dinner is served. Serves 4. Making grilled cheese for more than one can be tricky. Here, the sheet pan does the work; the sandwiches are ready all at once. Try our suggested fillings or just enjoy them plain in all their gooey deliciousness. From Beth Dooley. Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Spread the butter to the edge of 4 slices of bread. Place the slices butter-side down on the sheet pan. Top with the sliced cheese and add a layer of the filling, then top with the remaining slices of bread. Put the pan in the oven and cook until the butter is thoroughly melted and bottom slices are turning golden and the cheese is melting, about 8 to 10 to minutes. Flip the sandwiches. Continue cooking until the top layer of bread begins to turn golden and the cheese is melted. Turn the oven to broil and toast the top layer, watching closely, this goes quickly, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Flip the bread and toast the other side, about 15 to 20 seconds or so. Remove, cut and serve. Quick Skillet Chicken with Lemon, Tahini and Warm Spices will come together quickly and can be served on a bed of greens or pasta. (Ashley Moyna Schwickert/For the Minnesota Star Tribune) Serves 4 to 6. A simple marinade of pantry staples — lemon, tahini, olive oil and a little honey — keeps the chicken moist and becomes the sauce for finishing the dish. Serve on a bed of dark greens or cooked rice. From Beth Dooley. Directions In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon, tahini, honey and olive oil. Measure out 1⁄2 of the mixture into a separate bowl. This is to sauce the chicken after it’s cooked. If it seems too thick, whisk in a little water. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and pound with the flat edge of a knife to even out the width a bit. Put the chicken into the bowl of marinade and turn to coat. Film a heavy skillet with more oil and set over high heat. When the oil begins to ripple, add the chicken, reduce the heat to medium and cook, flipping after about 5 to 7 minutes, and continuing, until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. (The chicken should reach 165 on an instant-read thermometer when done.) Remove the chicken from the skillet, set on a cutting board to rest for about 10 minutes. Slice the meat in long strokes against the grain. Serve on a bed of greens or rice, garnished with a drizzle of sauce, chopped herbs and a few thinly sliced lemons. Pass additional sauce on the side. One-Pot Pasta with Sausage, Tomato and Spinach is a quick but hearty meal for busy, chilly nights. (Ashley Moyna Schwickert/For the Minnesota Star Tribune) Serves 4 to 6. You only need one pot for this simple pasta. The sausage adds the seasoning, the onions turn sweetly golden, cherry tomatoes burst into a luscious sauce. A squeeze of lemon at the end livens things up. From Beth Dooley. Directions Film a large heavy pot or Dutch oven with the oil and set over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until it turns limp and golden, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the sausage, breaking apart with a spatula until it crumbles, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and the stock, scraping up the bottom of the pan to release browned bits that stick to the bottom. Bring to a boil. Add the pasta, stirring well and continue boiling for about 4 to 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to a brisk simmer, stirring to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot. If the sauce becomes too thick and the pasta begins to stick, stir in water, about 1⁄4 cup at a time. Simmer until the sauce is mostly absorbed and the pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the spinach, then stir in the cheese. Add lemon juice to taste. Serve garnished with the chopped parsley. Beth Dooley is the author of “The Perennial Kitchen.” Find her at bethdooleyskitchen.com. ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NASCAR's rising stars to watch in 2025

AI safety is hard to steer with science in flux, US official says‘You can’t hear a smile’: how video visits help dads in prison stay connected with their kids( MENAFN - Asia Times) In a watershed for the Japanese auto industry, Honda and Nissan are expected to start negotiating a merger next week. The two companies, both of which have been overtaken by BYD and which, combined, sell fewer than three-quarters as many vehicles as Toyota, hope to stage a recovery by combining their technologies and achieving greater economies of scale. But the plan looks like a throwback to Japan Inc's downsizing of sunset industries in decades past, and a knee-jerk nationalistic reaction to Foxconn's interest in acquiring a stake in, or even taking over, Nissan. Foxconn is the international brand of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry. The verdict of the stock market was swift and clear. The proposed merger was headline news on the morning of Wednesday, December 18; by the time the market closed, Honda's stock price was down 3%, while Nissan's was up 24%. Put into words, this is a bailout: a windfall for Nissan, bad news for Honda's shareholders. The stock price of Renault, which owns 17.0% of Nissan directly and 18.7% through a trust, was up 5%. Hon Hai's was down 1%. Honda and Nissan, both of them auto industry leaders in the past, have fallen far behind Toyota, Tesla and BYD in the markets for electric and hybrid vehicles. Data for the three months to September show BYD overtaking Honda and Ford to become the world's sixth largest automaker in terms of number of vehicles sold. Perhaps even more humiliating, Chinese automaker Geely (which owns Volvo) overtook Nissan to rank ninth. Of course, the merger is pitched as forward looking. NikkeiAsia, the English language version of Japan's top business daily, reported that the two companies will negotiate a merger“to better compete against Tesla and Chinese electric vehicle makers in a rapidly changing automobile industry.” The Financial Times, which is owned by Nikkei, reported that the two companies“are in exploratory talks about a merger of the two carmakers that would create a $52bn Japanese behemoth.” But the front page headline of the Thursday morning Japanese language Nikkei was“Hon Hai purchase, sense of crisis.” Honda, which had begun discussing a“strategic partnership” with Nissan last March, said it would cancel if Nissan tied up with Hon Hai. Hon Hai is building its own electric vehicle business, adding to the pressure on Honda and Nissan. In 2020, it established the Mobility in Harmony (MIH) Consortium in hopes of becoming the“android system of the EV industry” and“creating a 'software-defined' open ecosystem for the EV manufacturing industry.” Hon Hai also has a joint venture with Taiwanese automaker Yulon, which produces electric vehicles designed by Hon Hai. The MIH Consortium, which develops reference designs and open standards, now has more than 2,700 members, including more than 100 in Japan. Its CEO is the Japanese corporate executive Jun Seki, who previously served as president of Dongfeng Nissan (Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng Motor in China), chief operating officer of Nissan, CEO of Japanese motor maker Nidec and, most recently, chief strategy officer for Hon Hai's electric vehicle operations. Seki reportedly sees potential synergies with Nissan, which launched its pioneering electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF, in 2010, and is said to be interested in acquiring Renault's share of Nissan. Renault has been backing away from its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, while Honda and Nissan are considering bringing Mitsubishi Motors into a new, all-Japanese, three-way alliance. Such an alliance would be about 80% the size of Toyota today but probably no more than 70% as large after cutting back production of gasoline powered cars. But even so it would probably be about the same size as the Hyundai Motor Group, which currently ranks third after Toyota and Volkswagen. Note that only three of the world's top 10 automakers reported year-on-year unit sales increases in the three months to September 2024: BYD (+38%), Geely (+20%) and Ford (+1%). The others reported single-digit declines, except for GM (-13%) and Honda (-12%). On current trends, BYD may soon overtake GM and Stellantis, while Geely catches up with Honda. Total unit sales of Nissan vehicles were down only 3% last quarter, but both deliveries and prices have collapsed in China. As a result, the company's net profit dropped by more than 90% in the first half of this fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. Honda's net profit was down 20% in the same period, for the same reason. Honda also needs an alternative to its self-driving vehicle partnership with GM – which gave up on its Cruise robotaxi last week, leaving Honda in the lurch. Honda and GM had been planning to bring Cruise to Tokyo in 2026. The alternative may already be on the way. At the beginning of August, Honda and Nissan announced plans to conduct joint research into next-generation software-defined vehicles, autonomous driving and AI, as well as batteries, battery charging, and electric vehicle motor and transmission systems (e-axles). With time, this could lead to self-driving taxis. Honda also plans to double its sales of hybrid vehicles, following Toyota and BYD into the strongest segment of the passenger car market. It is easy to be cynical about these developments, but we need to remember that Toyota's commitment to hybrid vehicles was ridiculed for years by people who thought pure electric battery-powered cars were the wave of the future. They were wrong, and those who are skeptical of the Honda-Nissan merger may also be mistaken. But fighting back against Toyota, Hyundai, BYD, Geely and other aggressive competitors won't be easy. Follow this writer on X: @ScottFo83517667 Thank you for registering! An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. MENAFN19122024000159011032ID1109014368 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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Maropost extends its "High Performer" streak in G2 Winter Reports while earning new "Easiest to Use" badgeEnstar Group Ltd, the Bermudian-based insurer, has completed the previously announced transaction between Cavello Bay Reinsurance Ltd, its wholly owned subsidiary, and certain subsidiaries of island-headquartered James River Group Holdings Ltd. The announcement follows receipt of the relevant regulatory approval and satisfaction of the other closing conditions. The deal was announced last month. Under the terms of the adverse development cover agreement, Enstar’s subsidiary has provided $75 million of limit in excess of the existing $160 million ADC reinsurance coverage provided to such subsidiaries of James River by State National Insurance Company Inc earlier this year. The transaction provides further protection against future adverse reserve development for certain US casualty exposures within James River’s Excess & Surplus Lines segment for accident years 2010 to 2023. Enstar’s subsidiary also closed on its previously announced $12.5 million investment in James River common stock.NDP bang-on to tackle private nursing agency free-for-all

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The Australian share market is expected to edge lower on opening after US stocks stabilised following one of their worst days of the year. Futures markets are pointing to a soft start for trading on the ASX after it plunged to a two-year low on Thursday. The local bourse had followed the trajectory of rattled global markets, which fell sharply after the US Federal Reserve predicted it would deliver fewer rate cuts in 2025 than expected. However, a day after tumbling 2.9 per cent following the Federal Reserve’s prediction, the S&P 500 rose 0.2 per cent in afternoon trading (US time). The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 96 points, or 0.2 per cent, as of 1:03 p.m. Eastern time in the US, following Wednesday’s drop of more than 1100 points. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.2 per cent. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they give the economy a boost and goose prices for investments, but they can also provide fuel for inflation. Credit: Bloomberg Indexes are still near their records, and the S&P 500 is still on track for one of its best years of the millennium. Wednesday’s drop just took some of the enthusiasm out of the market, which critics had already been warning was overly buoyant and would need everything to go correctly for it to justify its high prices. Traders are now expecting the Federal Reserve to deliver just one or maybe two cuts to interest rates next year, according to data from CME Group. Some are even betting on none. A month ago, the majority saw at least two cuts in 2025 as a safe bet. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they give the economy a boost and goose prices for investments, but they can also provide fuel for inflation. Darden Restaurants, the company behind Olive Garden and other chains, helped lift the market after leaping 14.9 per cent. It delivered profit for the latest quarter that edged past analysts’ expectations. The operator of LongHorn Steakhouses also gave a forecast for revenue for this fiscal year that topped analysts’. Accenture rose 6.4 per cent after the professional services company topped expectations for profit in the latest quarter. CEO Julie Sweet said it saw growth around the world, and the company raised its forecast for revenue this fiscal year. Amazon shares added 1.6 per cent, even as workers at seven of its facilities went on strike Thursday in the middle of the online retail giant’s busiest time of the year. Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations during what the workers’ union calls the largest strike against the company in US history. Loading They helped offset a tumble for Micron Technology, which fell 16.8 per cent despite reporting stronger profit than expected. The computer memory company’s revenue fell short of Wall Street’s forecasts, and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said it expects demand from consumers to remain weaker in the near term. It gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that was well short of what analysts were thinking. In the bond market, yields were mixed a day after shooting higher on expectations that the Fed would deliver fewer cuts to rates in 2025. Reports on the US economy came in mixed. One showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1 per cent annualised rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The economy has remained remarkably resilient even though the Fed held its main interest rate at a two-decade high for a while before beginning to cut them in September. A separate report showed fewer US workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, an indication that the job market also remains solid. But a third report said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly contracting again despite economists’ expectations for growth. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.59 per cent from 4.52 per cent late Wednesday and from less than 4.20 per cent earlier this month. But the two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for action by the Fed in the near term, eased back to 4.32 per cent from 4.35 per cent. The rise in longer-term yields has put pressure on the housing market by keeping mortgage rates higher. A report on Thursday may have offered some encouragement for the housing industry. It showed a pickup in sales of previously occupied homes. In stock markets abroad, London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.1 per cent and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7 per cent. Indexes likewise sank across much of the rest of Asia and Europe. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the day’s trading. Get it each weekday afternoon . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Shares Investing Wall Street Bonds Most Viewed in Business LoadingDentsu Creative has launched its 2025 Trends Report, Fragment Forward , which reflects a fragmented world where shared experiences and aspirations are growing scarcer, shaped by long periods of isolation, the cost of living crisis and a fragmented media landscape. The 2025 trends report not only asks what brands and businesses need to win in the age of the algorithm but also what humans need to thrive in a world where old certainties are crumbling, and new possibilities are emerging. Fragment Forward explores five trends shaped by the age of the algorithm, examining the implications for brands, businesses and individuals and exploring both timeless human desires and their most timely and trending expressions. The 2025 Trends Report dives into five key themes reshaping the future: 1. The “Good Enough” Life – Redefining what it means to live well in a world where old milestones are less achievable, and shared aspirations are fewer. 2. The Togetherness Deficit – Exploring the new technologies, experiences and narratives emerging in our attempts to reignite a lost sense of togetherness. 3. Generation Blur –A world where old generational boundaries are much less accurate predictors of attitudes, behaviour, or affinity. 4. Curiouser and Curiouser –With all the world’s content available at the touch of a button, consumers are exploring compelling stories across culture and languages. 5. Algorithms and Blues – Unpacking a world where more and more of the content we see is shaped by the algorithm and crafted by AI. The report draws from insights across Dentsu Creative’s global network, showcasing actionable opportunities for brands to engage in a more culturally sensitive, connected, and inclusive world. Each trend is accompanied by case studies and detailed sub-trends, equipping brands with the knowledge they need to navigate a market where consumer priorities are continually evolving. “Winning in the age of the algorithm means winning an outsized share of culture, not just a robust share of voice,” Abbey Klaassen , global brand president of Dentsu Creative, said. “Our work with Nutter Butter, for example, understands how to hack the weird and wonderful side of internet culture to revive the fortunes of a 55 year old cookie brand. “The challenge brands face in the age of the algorithm is that it is very easy for all highly optimised content to start to look the same – so when we think about the efficiency AI brings us we also need to blend AI-Assisted production with craft and brand distinctiveness. Our work with Adobe is helping brands make AI work for them, rather than contributing to a sea of sameness.” Yasu Sasaki , global chief creative officer, dentsu said: “As a creative, I’m constantly looking to the future, but inspired as well by the craft and beauty of the past. Some of the most innovative projects we’ve been involved in combine leading edge technology with the simplest and most human impulses; like Hugtics, a project that enables users to give themselves a hug. Or the “Upcycling Possibility” project which combines the traditional art of Kintsugi with circuitry and electronics to create an entirely new drinking experience.” Global CSO of Dentsu Creative, Pats McDonald , said: “As we look around, we see a world where marketers and innovators are using all manner of tactics to try to engineer the sense of togetherness we once perhaps took for granted. “From innovative wearables to social experiments to the power of nostalgia, there is a huge drive to fill what we call the ‘togetherness deficit’. Which provides a huge challenge, and opportunity for the industry; to create ideas and platforms that connect brands to culture, businesses to customers and communities to one another.” Amit Wadhwa , chief executive officer, South Asia, Dentsu Creative, added: “In an age where technology and culture intersect at every turn, the 2025 Trends Report captures the evolving ways people live, connect, and define themselves. From reimagining what a fulfilling life looks like to navigating the ever-blurring lines between generations, these trends reflect a world in flux—one where shared aspirations are fewer but possibilities are endless. “As we confront the challenges of algorithms shaping content and a growing togetherness deficit, the report offers insights into how brands, businesses, and individuals can thrive. It reminds us that while technology drives change, it’s human creativity and connection that will ultimately shape the future.” Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox.Senators aiming for better win rate, face bulked-up Ducks

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There’s something magical about moving into a newly constructed home: the smell of recently milled wood, new paint and gleaming tiles – knowing no one has lived there before you. However, like anything in real estate, that privilege comes with a price. According to a recent report from Redfin , asking rents for newly constructed apartments rose 1.5% – the biggest year-over-year increase in 18 months – to a median of $1,802 in the third quarter. Don't Miss: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, and this platform allows individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000 offering a 12% target yield with a bonus 1% return boost today! If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it ? It’s a surprising stat given that the deluge of newly constructed apartments, primarily in Sunbelt states, caused rents for new apartments to fall by more than 7% in Q1 and Q2. The latest numbers reflect that the newer apartments are now being filled. Redfin based its numbers on an analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s data for newly constructed, unfurnished, unsubsidized, privately financed rental apartments in buildings with five or more units. Apartments completed in the second quarter of 2024 and either rented or not rented within three months were used to compile the survey. The Northeast Stumbles While Everywhere Else Soars Only the Northeast saw asking rents fall (-3.6%) after the number of recently finished apartments rose 13% year over year in the second quarter to the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2022. The rental decrease could have been due to several reasons – primarily that rents in the Northeast, particularly in places like Boston and New York , were already high, with many residents moving to the Sunbelt states, according to government census data. See Also: It’s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $70 million in art — this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here’s how everyday investors are getting started. “We would usually predict that rents will stay flat or even potentially fall when there are so many new apartment buildings opening up. What’s interesting in the third quarter is that rents are rising by more than the national average in the West and Midwest, even after the number of new apartments spiked between 30-50%,” Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari said in the report. “This is likely due to more new apartments being built in more expensive metros in each region, pushing the overall levels up.” High-End Finishes and Amenities The competition among new multifamily developments for tenants has led to higher-end finishes and more amenities, even among mid-priced rentals. Comfort, sustainability and catering to the increased number of work-from-home or hybrid working tenants have been at the forefront of developers’ minds. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today. “From state-of-the-art fitness facilities to luxurious pools, multifamily developments can bring a unique experience to day-to-day life,” Jared Bradley, president and founder of The Bradley Projects, told multifamilyexecutive.com. “Small pockets of privacy for tenants to complete their work gives residents the feeling of ‘leaving their apartment’ without stepping outside the building,” he added. “The confines of apartments can sometimes feel tight for working from home and areas designated for remote workers can allow tenants to leave their units and work from other comfortable places in their building.” More Of The Same In 2025 According to a new outlook from Yardi Matrix, rents for new developments will continue to grow in 2025, outstripping other sectors of the multifamily sector. The report stated that a “large number of properties under construction will support robust supply growth again in 2025 ... which will push rents higher as the supply boom starts to fade.” Read Next: The Ascent Income Fund from EquityMultiple targets stable income from senior commercial real estate debt positions and has a historical distribution yield of 12.1% backed by real assets. Earn a 1% return boost on your first EquityMultiple investment when you sign up here (accredited investors only) . This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, with minimum investments as low as $100 for properties like the Byer House from Stranger Things. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the run-up to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high. They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level are the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third interest rates cut. The Fed has eased its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays is stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul. Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane, the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Global High Education Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-Oracle, SAP, Microsoft, Ellucian, Workday Student