Author: MNK News

Topline The U.S.’ bluechip stock index is mired in its longest stretch in the red since 1978, a potentially concerning signal for investors enjoying an otherwise sanguine period for stocks, though Tuesday’s losses are largely tied to a singular company—UnitedHealth Group—and gains remain healthy over a longer timeframe. December has not been festive for the Dow.AFP via Getty Images Key Facts The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 270 points, or 0.6%, notching its ninth-consecutive negative trading session, dating back to December 5. A nine-day losing streak is the Dow’s first since February 1978, according to FactSet, when the Dow traded…

(Bloomberg) — Canadian inflation fell below the central bank’s target for the second time in three months, vindication for policymakers who have cut interest rates aggressively in the second half of this year. Most Read from Bloomberg The consumer price index rose 1.9% on a yearly basis in November, down from a 2% increase a month earlier, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. That’s slower than the median economist estimate of 2% in a Bloomberg survey. On a monthly basis, the index was unchanged, following a 0.4% jump in October and versus expectations for a 0.1% gain. November’s inflation print will likely…

Luna’s departure follows several changes in the Xponential Fitness orbit this yearSarah Luna has stepped down from her role as president of Xponential Fitness, effective December 13.Before assuming the role of president of the leading boutique fitness and wellness franchisor in 2021, Luna served in brand-level leadership positions at Club Pilates and Pure Barre. “We thank Sarah for her service to Xponential and wish her continued success,” an Xponential Fitness spokesperson tells ATN. “The company is actively engaged in the search for a successor. In the interim, Xponential’s executive team will ensure seamless operations and ongoing support for franchisees and their members.”There have been several…

Binance has introduced Binance Alpha, a new platform that targets early-stage crypto projects within the ecosystem. The Binance Alpha platform launches as part of Binance’s web3 wallet Binance Wallet and will serve as the selection pool for pre-list tokens. Notably, the new platform will offer users the opportunity to explore potential Alpha, with select projects likely to end up on the Binance exchange, according to a press release shared with crypto.news on Dec. 17. In recent months, Binance has listed some of the hottest tokens in the market, with this also coming amid investment by the exchange’s venture capital and…

“More resources” are needed to understand the reports of drone activity in New Jersey airspace, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the federal government to “uncover answers.” “I write with growing concern about reports of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in and around New Jersey airspace,” Murphy begins in the December 12 letter addressed to President Biden amid reports of mystery drones flying over parts of New Jersey and the northeast U.S. over the past few weeks. Murphy reminds Biden in the letter that while UAS have “become a standard feature of American life…

WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 18: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news … [+] conference following the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee at the William McChesney Martin Jr. Federal Reserve Board Building on September 18, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Federal Reserve announced today that they will cut the central bank’s benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to a new range of 4.75%-5%. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Getty Images The Consumer Price Index for December 2024, will be released on January 15 2025 giving insight into recent inflation trends. Current nowcasts suggest that inflation…

Some of the best smart home tech is the stuff you don’t have to think about. My lamps have been connected to smart plugs for a long time now — my living room lights turn on at dusk, go dark around 10PM (or when I tell Alexa goodnight) and complete a similar routine each morning. I haven’t manually twisted a switch-knob or stumbled in the dark for over a year. And if I weren’t continually thinking about smart plugs for this guide, I’d have forgotten about them completely.But not every plug offers seamless connectivity, and which plug works with which…

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese IT firm Fuji Soft has reaffirmed its support for the second stage of a tender offer buyout from U.S. private equity firm KKR and came out against a higher offer from rival Bain Capital, it said in a statement on Tuesday. KKR now owns about 34% of Fuji Soft after the first stage of its two-part tender offer, mainly through shares tendered by activist shareholders 3D Investment Partners and Farallon Capital Management at 8,800 yen ($57.18) apiece. Last month, KKR raised its offer price for Fuji Soft to 9,451 yen – 1 yen above Bain’s earlier…

Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, made an investment in the European firm StablR. The investment comes as the European Union prepares to implement the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulatory framework on December 30, 2024. MiCA sets clear compliance standards for stablecoin issuers, providing legal certainty in a previously fragmented regulatory environment.  StablR has introduced two stablecoins, EURR and USDR, designed to streamline transactions and offer cost savings for users. Stablecoins are digital currencies pegged to a fiat currency, like the euro or dollar, to minimize price volatility. These tokens play a critical role in facilitating cross-border payments and improving liquidity…

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher who accused the company of violating copyright law, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment late November according to newly released documents. The Mercury News reports that Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher known for blowing the whistle against the AI powerhouse, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. The San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed his death, with the medical examiner’s office determining the manner of death to be an apparent suicide. Police officials stated that there is currently no evidence…