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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — When libertarian President Javier Milei assumed office one year ago, Argentine supermarkets were marking price increases on an almost daily basis. Middle-class families tried to spend their rapidly depreciating pesos as quickly as they got them, and economists warned the country was teetering on the brink of hyperinflation. It was popular outrage over this upside-down economy that fueled the rise of Milei, a self-declared “anarcho-capitalist” and former TV pundit who rode to power on vows to “blow up” the central bank, take an axe to the bloated government and kill sky-high inflation. It was an almost impossible job, and Milei's lack of government experience, unkempt hairdo, sexual boasts and missionary-like zeal for his dead dog, the Rolling Stones and the free market didn't inspire much confidence in a country with a history of failed economic reforms. “It wasn’t a given that he could govern Argentina when he took office,” said Marcelo J. García, Americas director at geopolitical risk firm Horizon Engage. "He was Mr. Nobody." On taking power, Milei implemented a series of austerity measures, including slashing energy and transportation subsidies, laying off tens of thousands of government workers, freezing public infrastructure projects and imposing wage and pension freezes below inflation. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . It has been brutal. Unemployment has climbed, economic activity has declined and poverty has surged. But now signs have emerged that Argentina’s bizarre and long mismanaged economy is starting to look a little more normal. Supporters of Argentine President Javier Milei arrive at a stadium for the presentation of his book titled "Capitalism, Socialism and the Neoclassical Trap" in Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 22, 2024. Credit: AP/Gustavo Garello Monthly inflation has plummeted, bonds have rallied and the closely watched gap between the black market dollar and the official rate has shrunk as much as 44%. Argentina's country-risk index, an influential measure of the risk of default, is at its lowest point in five years. “He reaches the anniversary at the best moment of his administration," García said. Inflation: a priority Inflation, Argentina's perpetual scourge and Milei's top priority upon coming to office, slowed from a monthly rate of 25.5% in December 2023 to just 2.7% in October — its lowest level in three years. “Inflation has gone down faster than what everyone has expected," said Ignacio Labaqui, a Buenos Aires-based senior analyst at risk consultancy Medley Global Advisors. “That’s something that validates his narrative and sustains his popularity.” Argentine President Javier Milei attends a ceremony celebrating the 214th anniversary of the May Revolution, which marked the beginning of the country's independence from Spain, in Cordoba, Argentina, May 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Nicolas Aguilera In a sign of Milei's long way to go — and the unmitigated shambles he inherited — Argentina's annual inflation rate remains at 193%. But Argentines are paying closer attention to month-to-month inflation, taking the sharp decline as a sign that Milei’s fiscal shock therapy is paying off. “Last year it was a shock to the system, I couldn’t keep up with the prices,” said 34-year-old deli worker Jazmin Quintana. “I’m not saying I like the guy, I find his personality very weird and aggressive, but I admit — if he continues on this route I’ll be very happy.” A stronger peso A stronger peso is also boosting confidence. The black market dollar price has dropped since July, narrowing its gap with the official rate of 980. Chileans, once accustomed to bargain-hunting in Argentina, are now surprised to see the traffic reversed. Shoppers unable to afford iPhones and kitchen appliances in Argentina arrive at Chilean border towns by the busload to get the most bang from their buck. The customs office shut down briefly last month because officials were overwhelmed. Underpinning the currency appreciation is a new tax amnesty to lure Argentines to declare their hidden U.S. dollar savings — longs squirreled away in offshore bank accounts and under mattresses. Ahead of the first-phase deadline on Oct. 31, the scheme drew some $19 billion into Argentina’s banks, the tax agency reported, boosting scarce foreign exchange reserves. But a strong peso also carries risks — squeezing domestic industry by making exports more costly, deterring investors and raising fears of a crash. Foreign visitors are warned of higher prices as peak tourism season begins. “The prices are INSANE,” reads a popular Reddit post about travel in Argentina, filled with cautionary tales of $50 dinners and $100 T-shirts. Painful consequences Argentina's first budget surplus in 12 years has come at a steep cost. Milei halted inflation increases for university budgets, leaving some universities struggling to keep their lights on and elevators running. He downgraded the culture ministry, closed the national theater institute, shuttered a state-funded news agency and defunded scientific research. He suspended public works projects, leaving cities littered with white-elephant structures. An estimated 200,000 construction workers lost their jobs in the last year, says the Argentine Chamber of Construction. The brutal austerity has deepened Argentina's recession, with consumer spending falling 20% percent in the past year and poverty rates soaring to a two-decade high of 52.9% in the second half of last year. Argentina’s retirees are perhaps the most potent symbol of the strife inflicted by Milei’s fiscal shock. Some of the government’s biggest savings came from holding down the real value of pensions. The average minimum monthly pension is just $300. “We have always been in bad shape, but now things are even harsher,” said Rubén Cocurullo, 76, among dozens of pensioners protesting at the social welfare office in Buenos Aires last week. “Do they want to kill us?" An uncertain future In a country with a long history of raucous street protests, it's striking that the mass unrest pundits predicted last year has not materialized. That his approval ratings have held up at some 50% is also a sign of how desperately Argentines wanted change after years of crisis. “Strangely enough, there comes a time in all societies, when the cost of a fiscal adjustment becomes less than the cost of continuing with inflation,” said Sebastián Mazzuca, an Argentine political scientist at Johns Hopkins University. “It’s like a fire. There are badly injured people, but the fire was put out, wasn’t it?” It helps Milei that Argentina's left-leaning Peronist opposition is in disarray, with former President Alberto Fernández charged with beating his ex-wife while in office. Many also attribute the social peace to Milei’s expectation management. He warned that things would get worse before they got better. But now, as an ebullient Milei declares his government the most successful in history and assures Argentines they’ll soon collect on the economic revival he pledged would follow the pain, the bar is getting higher even as risks remain. To fulfill his promise of transforming the heavily regulated nation into one of the world’s freest economies, Milei needs to lift strict currency controls. That requires a fresh infusion of cash or a new deal with the International Monetary Fund, which would relieve pressure on the billions of dollars in debt repayments due next year. Foreign investors, as well as the IMF, to which Argentina owes an unprecedented $44 billion, have expressed excitement about Milei’s changes. But, still haunted by Argentina’s 2001 crisis — which culminated in the largest foreign-debt default in modern history — they’re cautious. “Argentina still seems to be mired in a major ‘wait and see’ period,” said consulting firm Zuban Córdoba and Associates in a report on Milei’s first year. The radical populist hopes to profit from his budding bromances with President-elect Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. As president of the biggest shareholder of the IMF in 2018, Trump was key to Argentina securing a record $56 billion loan package. The three men dined and danced together at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida last month. Milei claims his brutal cost-cutting inspired Trump and Musk to plan their so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Last week the Conservative Political Action Conference brought its traveling program to Buenos Aires, where Milei and right-wing political figures railed against socialism, praised Trump and pledged to battle what they saw as the global scourge of liberal “woke-ism.” “Everyone assumed that we were going to fail politically," Milei told the cheering crowd. “Today they admit, through gritted teeth, that they are surprised.” ___ Associated Press reporter Debora Rey contributed to this report. _
Under the Radar: The Untapped Potential of Price-to-Book Value InvestingMumbai: The insurance industry saw a significant jump in commission expenses in FY24 after the sector regulator removed caps on payouts. Life insurers saw commission expenses increase 22% while general insurers saw commission expenses double in FY24. This follows the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (IRDAI) decision to remove commission caps in April 2023, showed the latest IRDAI Annual report. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America IRDAI removed caps on commission payments for agents and brokers across all insurance lines, shifting from micro-management to offering insurers greater flexibility. The new guidelines gave a leeway to all insurers to manage their expenses in a manner that they expand without getting worried over the individual product level caps. Insurers breaching the Expenses of Management (EoM) cap must now submit a board-approved plan to achieve compliance within three years. During FY 24, the life insurance industry had a commission expense of ₹51,524 crore as against ₹42,322 crore in FY23. There is an overall cap of 30% under the new IRDAI regulations,where insurers are required to maintain total expenses of management (EoM) within this limit. 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Eight insurers exceeded these limits and have sought regulatory forbearance. The total management expenses across the life insurance industry amounted to ₹1.40 lakh crore, which is 16.94% of total premiums. At the same time, the non-life insurance industry saw a cumulative commission expense nearly double to ₹39,601 crore in FY24 against ₹20,145 crore in FY23. Commission expenses and operating expenses constitute a major part of the total expenses. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is chock-full of industry-leading blue chip stocks -- many of which pay dividends. But the Dow tends to underperform the S&P 500 during growth-driven rallies when investors pile into companies based on their potential. Investors looking for established companies with track records for earnings growth have come to the right place. Here's why Visa ( V 0.71% ) , Microsoft ( MSFT 0.18% ) , Procter & Gamble ( PG 0.21% ) , Coca-Cola ( KO 0.01% ) , McDonald's ( MCD -0.08% ) , Chevron ( CVX -0.29% ) , and Nike ( NKE -0.12% ) are seven excellent Dow stocks that have underperformed the S&P 500 in 2024 but stand out as great buys for 2025. A growth-driven rally Year to date, only 10 of the 30 Dow components are outperforming the S&P 500 at the time of this writing. And two of those components -- Nvidia and Amazon -- were added to the Dow this year . Keeping pace with the S&P 500 in 2024 has been a challenge, even for well-known growth stocks like Microsoft, which rallied big time in 2023. Only 144 S&P 500 components, or less than 29%, are outperforming the index this year. ^SPX data by YCharts Big gains from growth companies that are valued more for their forward earnings than their trialing results have made the market more expensive. The S&P 500 is trading above 22 times forward earnings for the third period since 1985 -- giving it a historically lofty valuation. A forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is based on consensus analyst estimates for the next 12 months of earnings. Given that the S&P 500's current P/E ratio is 30.3, there's a lot of implied growth for the year ahead. Combining value, income, and growth Investing during periods of volatility, no matter if the stock market is expensive or cheap, is a great way to build wealth over time. Or as Ken Fisher of Fisher Investments once said: "You don't need perfect timing to achieve marvelous returns. Time in the market beats timing the market -- almost always." However, when the market is expensive, investing in companies that can justify their valuations and have what it takes to endure challenges is essential. Visa, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Chevron, and Nike all have reasonable valuations and have steadily increased their dividends over time. Company Forward P/E Ratio Dividend Yield Consecutive Years of Dividend Increases Chevron 13.7 4.6% 37 Coca-Cola 21.9 3.1% 62 Procter & Gamble 24.2 2.4% 68 McDonald's 24.8 2.3% 48 Visa 28.3 0.7% 15 Microsoft 33.5 0.7% 15 Nike 34.8 2% 23 Data sources: YCharts, Chevron, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, McDonald's, Visa, Microsoft, Nike. Chevron is an integrated oil and gas major with an excellent balance sheet and a low cost of production , meaning it can earn positive cash flows even at mediocre oil and gas prices. Chevron also has a sizable refining business and a growing low-carbon business as it aims to be better diversified to transition to a clean energy future. Coca-Cola and P&G are two Dividend Kings , which are companies that have paid and raised their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years. Coke and P&G aren't the fastest-growing companies, but they can perform exceptionally well during economic downturns or recessions. When budgets tighten, consumers are more likely to pull back on discretionary goods and services like entertainment, vacations, and big-ticket purchases like a new car than on beverages and household goods. Coke and P&G are excellent buys for risk-averse investors looking to limit volatility and generate passive income. Having just raised its dividend for the 48th consecutive year, McDonald's is on track to become a Dividend King by 2026. McDonald's leverages its franchise model to reduce costs and volatility. Just 5% of McDonald's stores are company-owned and operated . McDonald's business model centers more on real estate, intellectual property, and royalties than on selling burgers and fries. The company's growth depends on its brand and franchisees buying into the vision of its operating model. Ideally, it's a win-win for both parties, as franchisees can have a cash cow business backed by a global brand, and McDonald's can continue its passive international expansion. Visa has one of the best business models on the planet . The company achieves ultra-high operating margins and benefits from network effects. The larger the network, the more secure it becomes and trusted by merchants and consumers. Visa has been able to sustain its growth by expanding internationally and boosting services for its debit and credit card users. Visa stock doesn't have a high yield, but it's not because the company can't afford it. Visa chooses to allocate the bulk of its capital return program to repurchasing stock, which has been a highly effective strategy given Visa has massively outperformed the S&P 500 over the long term. Even around an all-time high, Visa remains a reasonable value and is worth a closer look in 2025. Microsoft stands out as one of the more balanced big tech giants. The company is generating record sales and 10-year high operating margins . It has a spotless balance sheet and doesn't depend on debt to run the business. It continues to repurchase stock and raise its dividend at impressive rates. Microsoft has the potential to accelerate growth in the new year. Changes to its agreement with OpenAI could lead to even more AI monetization by giving Microsoft access to more advanced technologies . Microsoft's investment thesis is stronger than ever , making the stock well worth its premium valuation. Nike stock is right behind Boeing for the worst Dow performer in 2024. And its forward P/E ratio doesn't even look that compelling. The business is slowing down and desperately needs a turnaround. Sales and margins are falling as the company struggles to balance its growing direct-to-consumer platform while also mending relationships with wholesalers. Nike reported earnings on Dec. 19 that showed some signs of improvement, but it takes time to reinvent a product development pipeline as extensive as Nike's. Nike is an underrated dividend stock with 23 consecutive years of annual increases. These increases, paired with the sell-off, have pushed its yield up to 2%. Folks who are confident that Nike can turn things around may want to consider picking up shares of the stock now, but bear in mind things could get worse before they get better, and turnarounds often take longer than expected. Proven winners to buy now Visa, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Chevron, and Nike are recognizable brands and have business models that are fairly easy to understand. Their advantages should allow them to deliver on promises to investors over time. The best buy of the bunch will depend on your investment objectives and preferences. Income-oriented investors may gravitate more toward Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Chevron, whereas folks looking for more growth may want to explore Visa and Microsoft. As discussed, Nike is a specific case -- the company has an iconic brand but has made blunder after blunder in recent years, and it could take time to recover. But if it does, the stock will likely look like a bargain at these levels. All told, these Dow stocks offer a balance of reasonable risk and potential reward, making them excellent long-term buys in 2025.
Michael Moore reacted to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by saying he wants to “pour gasoline” on the “anger” people feel toward the health insurance industry. In a Friday Substack post , Moore said that while he condemns “murder” in general, he does not condemn the “anger” people feel “toward the health insurance industry.” In fact, he wants to further fuel that anger. “The anger is 1000% justified. It is long overdue for the media to cover it. It is not new. It has been boiling. And I’m not going to tamp it down or ask people to shut up. I want to pour gasoline on that anger,” Moore wrote. Moore goes on to point out that Thompson’s murder suspect, Luigi Mangione, appeared to reference his work in his manifesto. “In his manifesto, he references how I’ve ‘illuminated the corruption and greed,’ implying folks should go to my work to understand the complexity — and the power-hungry abuse — within our current system,” Moore noted. “It’s not often that my work gets a killer five-star review from an actual killer,” he added, before disclosing that he has therefore received a slew of calls and emails asking him to condemn murder. In response to those inquires, Moore wrote, “Do I condemn murder? That’s an odd question,” before noting that he has condemned murder in his films, which should be evidence that he does not condone violence. But when it comes to people condemning “anger toward the health insurance industry,” Moore said, “I am not one of them.” “Because this anger is not about the killing of a CEO. If everyone who was angry was ready to kill the CEOs, the CEOs would already be dead. That is not what this reaction is about,” Moore said. “It is about the mass death and misery — the physical pain, the mental abuse, the medical debt, the bankruptcies in the face of denied claims and denied care and bottomless deductibles on top of ballooning premiums — that this ‘health care’ industry has levied against the American people for decades,” he added, before claiming that the government has enabled the healthcare industry to “murder.” Moore continued: Yes, I condemn murder, and that’s why I condemn America’s broken, vile, rapacious, bloodthirsty, unethical, immoral health care industry and I condemn every one of the CEOs who are in charge of it and I condemn every politician who takes their money and keeps this system going instead of tearing it up, ripping it apart, and throwing it all away. We need to replace this system with something sane, something caring and loving — something that keeps people alive . “This is a moment where we can create that change,” Moore added, before attacking the “mainstream media” for refusing to publish Mangione’s manifesto. Moore concluded his lengthy post with a link to his 2007 film, Sicko , and a call for the Unites States to “throw this entire system in the trash” and implement “universal” cradle-to-grave, government-funded healthcare. Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on Facebook and X at @ARmastrangelo , and on Instagram .Only three countries in the world - United States, Russia, and China - have the ability to carry out docking of two spacecraft or satellites in outer space. India is now on the cusp of joining that elite global space club with the last mission of 2024 named SpaDeX scheduled for lift-off on December 30. SpaDex is short for Space Docking Experiment. Every time astronauts or cosmonauts are sent to space, especially the space station, the space shuttle they travel in needs to dock with a spacecraft or space station. Only after docking is complete and secured can the astronauts get into the pressurised space station. Docking in space is one of the most difficult and complicated procedures - the slightest of errors can lead to a massive catastrophe - an example of which was shown in the epic sci-fi movie Interstellar - where Cooper and the crew had to navigate a near-impossible and heart-pounding docking scenario after a minuscule error by Dr Mann sends the Endurance space station into an uncontrolled spin due to a catastrophic decompression. The scene highlights a complex docking manoeuvre. Just like in the movie, where there was a Lander spacecraft and a Courier spacecraft, ISRO's mission on December 30 will also have two spaceships - the Chaser (SDX01) and the Target (SDX02), each weighing 220 kilograms. As the names suggest, the aim of the mission will be for the chaser to chase the target while both are orbiting Earth at a high speed and dock with it expeditiously. ALL ABOUT ISRO'S SPADEX MISSION The SpaDex mission is scheduled for lift-off at 2158 hrs (9:58 pm) IST on December 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. ISRO's launch will be onboard the workhorse PSLV-C60 rocket, which will put the two spacecraft in low-Earth orbit, roughly 470 km above the Earth's surface. The inclination of the two spacecraft will be at 55 degrees facing the Earth. After being deployed in a circular orbit, the two spacecraft will grow apart by around 20 kilometers over 24 hours. The scientists sitting at ISRO's mission control in Bengaluru will then initiate the intricate and precise docking and undocking manoeuvre. To develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft. The demonstration of the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics. Composite spacecraft control, including remotely controlling it both in space and from mission control. Payload operations after undocking. A successful docking and undocking would catapult India in the league of a select few in space technology. This mission is crucial for India's ability to set up its own Space Station. It will also give India's RLV or Reusable Launch Vehicle - India's variant of NASA's iconic space shuttle - docking capability in future. India's Reusable Launch Vehicle or RLV US AND RUSSIA - RIVALS ON EARTH, UNITED IN SPACE Among other key missions, NASA's space shuttle was used by the United States to construct the US side of the International Space Station. Russia too used their own space shuttle to build the Russian side of the International Space Station. While NASA had a series of space shuttles, starting with Columbia and evolving into Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour, Russian space agency Roscosmos named their space shuttle Buran. NASA's Space Shuttle (L) and Russia's Space Shuttle (R) Here is a insightful video of how the International Space Station - the largest man-made space object - was built by the US and Russian space shuttles using the docking mechanism and robotic arms in addition to astronauts and cosmonauts: ISRO'S EXPERIMENT WITH MICROGRAVITY Besides the space docking manoeuvre, there is another key mission objective. ISRO plans to experiment with microgravity during the PSLV rocket's fourth-stage. ISRO aims to use the spent fourth stage, which it has termed POEM-4 or PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 4, as a platform for carrying our experiments with microgravity. According to the space agency, it provides an opportunity for the scientific community to carry out certain in-orbit microgravity experiments for an extended duration of up to three months using the POEM platform, which otherwise would end up as space debris immediately after the mission objective of injecting the primary payloads of the mission. A total of 24 payloads will be flown in this POEM-4 mission, of which 14 payloads are from ISRO/DOS centres and 10 payloads are from various Non-Government Entities (NGEs) comprising Academia and Start-ups that have been received through IN-SPACe. One of the fourteen payloads by ISRO is of a robotic arm - again a crucial element to constructing India's own space station in future. For now the experiment will involve a robotic arm to demonstrate the capturing of tethered debris. As India and the rest of the world prepare to 'have a blast' on New Years' Eve, Scientists at ISRO are readying themselves for the blast-off (lift-off) which will help India enter a new era in space technology.There are two big blowouts currently in the early window of NFL games, including one involving the New England Patriots. The Pats are currently down 31-0 to the Miami Dolphins on the road. After three quarters, New England has only 184 yards of total offense and is on the verge of falling to 3-9 on the season under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. Mayo was a star as a player for the Pats before becoming a long-time assistant, where he earned the attention of owner Robert Kraft. Kraft entrusted Mayo to replace Bill Belichick as head coach, but his job performance so far has not been good. Some fans have already lost patience, taking to social media to advocate for Mayo's dismissal on Sunday. "If Kraft is serious about winning he fires Mayo and does whatever it takes to hire Ben Johnson. Right now the Patriots are one of the worst coached teams in the league," one fan said. Icon Sportswire/Getty Images "The Krafts absolutely have to fire Mayo, Covington and Van Pelt tonight. This simply cannot go on. All three must go tonight. Total humiliation thanks to the worst coaches in football," a second fan added. "Other than 'you can’t fire him after one year' what other reason is there to bring mayo back? What is he good at?" a third fan asked. "Fire Mayo. I haven’t seen anything that will tell me he’ll ever be a good coach," a fourth fan added. "Can we fire mayo already?" a fifth fan chimed in. The Patriots have personnel issues, in addition to whatever struggles Mayo is having. The offensive line is porous, they don't have enough skill position talent, and their defense has dealt with some noteworthy absences this year. However, with rookie quarterback Drake Maye looking impressive early, there is some hope in Foxboro. It just remains to be seen if Mayo will be the guy to stick around and try to deliver on that promise. Related: Entire NFL Team Accused Of 'Quitting' On 2024 Season
Justin Sullivan Google: DoJ's "Radical" Proposals Hit Optimism Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ: GOOGL ) ( NASDAQ: GOOG ) investors have struggled to regain momentum, even though the S&P 500 ( SPX ) ( SPY ) and the Nasdaq ( NDX ) ( A Unique Price Action-based Growth Investing Service We believe price action is a leading indicator. We called the TSLA top in late 2021. We then picked TSLA's bottom in December 2022. We updated members that the NASDAQ had long-term bearish price action signals in November 2021. We told members that the S&P 500 likely bottomed in October 2022. Members navigated the turning points of the market confidently in our service. Members tuned out the noise in the financial media and focused on what really matters: Price Action. Sign up now for a Risk-Free 14-Day free trial! JR Research is an opportunistic investor. He was recognized by TipRanks as a Top Analyst. He was also recognized by Seeking Alpha as a "Top Analyst To Follow" for Technology, Software, and Internet, as well as for Growth and GARP. He identifies attractive risk/reward opportunities supported by robust price action to potentially generate alpha well above the S&P 500. He has also demonstrated outperformance with his picks. He focuses on identifying growth investing opportunities that present the most attractive risk/reward upside potential. His approach combines sharp price action analysis with fundamentals investing. He tends to avoid overhyped and overvalued stocks while capitalizing on battered stocks with significant upside recovery possibilities. He runs the investing group Ultimate Growth Investing which specializes in identifying high-potential opportunities across various sectors. He focuses on ideas that has strong growth potential and well-beaten contrarian plays, with an 18 to 24 month outlook for the thesis to play out. The group is designed for investors seeking to capitalize on growth stocks with robust fundamentals, buying momentum, and turnaround plays at highly attractive valuations. Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOGL, AMZN, META, MSFT, QQQ either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Important note: Investors are reminded to do their due diligence and not rely on the information provided as financial advice. Consider this article as supplementing your required research. Please always apply independent thinking. Note that the rating is not intended to time a specific entry/exit at the point of writing unless otherwise specified. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Michael Moore Wants to 'Pour Gasoline' on '1000 Percent Justified Anger' After UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder
Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHubSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. What’s working Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. What needs help Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. Stock up LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Stock down Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Injuries Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” Key number 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. What’s next The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLAI misuse The misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan is a growing concern, with personal videos being leaked and manipulated into fake content. This not only violates privacy but also damages reputations. The widespread availability of deep-fake technology worsens the problem, compounded by weak laws and public unawareness. To combat this issue, the government must enact strong legislation, equip cybersecurity units with AI detection tools, and launch public awareness campaigns on digital privacy. Social media platforms should also be held accountable for hosting fake content. Protecting privacy and digital security requires urgent attention from authorities and responsible behaviour from individuals. Faizan Shafiq Jamali Badin
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Teary Adele Says She Doesn’t Know When She’ll Perform Again After Vegas StintJay-Z was named in a Diddy lawsuit. Will other celebrities be next?
The Indiana vs. Notre Dame matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff is the most expensive ticket on StubHub, but it's Tennessee vs. Ohio State that's selling the fastest. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said Monday that the game being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 21 has sold 34% more tickets than the game in South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 20. “The expanded college football playoffs are seeing early high demand, especially as we see new teams enter the competition for the first time,” Budelli said. StubHub lists tickets for sale from official event organizers, but most of its offerings are from the resale market. Here's the ticket marketplace's average CFP first-round prices as of Monday evening: 1. Indiana at Notre Dame — $733 2. Clemson at Texas — $518 3. Tennessee at Ohio State — $413 4. SMU at Penn State — $271 Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football