Baltic
Dry Index. 1071 +20 Brent Crude 74.01
Spot Gold 2654 US 2 Year Yield 4.25 unch.
You should have a strategic asset allocation mix that assumes that you don't know what the future is going to hold.
Ray Dalio.
With so many interest rate decisions this week, led by the US Fed, plus political problems in South Korea, France, Germany and Canada, and Trump 2.0 starting on January 20th, many stock are now trading sideways to slightly lower.
With 2025 already looking to be a very difficult year for the US and global economies, Warren Buffett’s stock selling to raise cash strategy, looks more genius with each passing week.
“The 30-stock Dow fell for an eighth day, marking its longest run of losses since 2018”.
Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as investors look
toward Fed decision
Updated Tue, Dec 17 2024 11:42 PM EST
Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Tuesday,
tracking mixed gains on Wall Street as investors look toward the U.S. Federal
Reserve’s decision stateside.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded 0.73%
higher.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix rose
0.12% and 0.11% respectively. South Korea’s Kospi slipped 1%, while the
Kosdaq dropped 0.92%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index is down 0.4%,
but mainland China’s CSI 300 was up 0.34%
Overnight in the U.S., the Nasdaq Composite advanced to
a record, lifted by a rally in tech. The tech-heavy index gained 1.24% to
20,173.89, while the S&P
500 added 0.38%, closing at 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average underperformed,
losing 110.58 points, or 0.25%, to end at 43,717.48. The 30-stock Dow fell for
an eighth day, marking its longest run of losses since 2018.
The Fed decision on Dec. 18 stateside will
also be top of mind for investors, with the CME Fedwatch tool currently
forecasting a 98.2% chance of a 25-basis-points cut.
Contrary to the general upward trend,
market darling Nvidia, the
artificial intelligence chipmaker that had driven stock gains over the past two
years, saw a 1.7% decline. This drop pushed the stock into correction
territory, falling over 10% from its recent all-time high in November.
Asia markets live: Asian chip stocks, Nvidia
European markets set for lower open as central
banks take center stage
Updated Tue, Dec 17 2024 12:45 AM EST
European markets are heading for a
negative open Tuesday as central banks take center stage this week.
The U.K.’s FTSE 100 index is expected
to open 18 points lower at 8,240, Germany’s DAX down 22 points at
20,291, France’s CAC down
12 points at 7,342 and Italy’s FTSE MIB down 129 points at
34,618, according to data from IG.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s final two-day
policy meeting kicks off Tuesday, and the central bank’s monetary policy
decision on Dec. 18 will be a focal point for global markets.
Traders are pricing in a 95% chance of a
quarter-point cut Wednesday, according to CME Group’s Fed Watch tool. Investors will also be looking
out for clues to future policy moves from Chair Jerome Powell’s press
conference after the meeting.
The Bank of England then meets on
Thursday, with markets so far pricing in only a slim chance of a final rate cut
of the year.
More
European markets live updates: stocks, news, data and earnings
Stock futures inch lower after Dow notches longest
losing streak since 2018: Live updates
Updated Tue, Dec 17 2024 7:36 PM EST
Stock futures inched lower Monday evening
after the Dow Jones Industrial
Average registered its longest losing streak since 2018.
Futures tied to the Dow dipped 66 points, or
about 0.1%. S&P 500 futures
edged 0.1% lower, while Nasdaq-100 futures
ticked down 0.1%.
The overnight moves followed a mixed
session on Wall Street. The Dow dipped 0.25%, or nearly 111 points, falling
for an eighth straight day for the first time since June 2018. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.2%
and hit a fresh record, while the S&P 500 edged up nearly
0.4%.
The gains for the S&P 500 and the
Nasdaq came without the cooperation of market bellwether Nvidia, which pulled back 1.7%.
Shares of the chip giant are down more than 4% this month, even as the broader
indexes and semiconductor names such as Broadcom have touched new
highs. Alphabet, Apple and Tesla also hit all-time highs
on Monday, while the S&P’s tech and consumer discretionary sectors closed
at records.
Traders await the Federal Reserve’s next
rate decision, slated at the conclusion of the central bank’s final 2024
two-day policy meeting Wednesday. The gathering kicks off Tuesday.
Traders are pricing in a 95% chance of a
quarter-point cut Wednesday, according to CME Group’s Fed Watch tool. Insight into future policy
moves from the meeting and Chair Jerome Powell’s press conference following the
meeting, however, remain key focal points for Wall Street.
As the end of 2024 approaches, investors
also remain focused on prospect of a rally into year-end after another strong
performance for stocks that has pushed all the major indexes to new highs.
“The market does like to climb a wall of
worry,” CFRA’s chief investment strategist Sam Stovall said Monday on CNBC’s “Closing Bell: Overtime.”
“Historically, following an up year in the S&P 500, you want to let your
winners ride.”
Since 1990, he noted that the top three
sectors in a given calendar year tend to outperform in the next year by about
300 basis points on average 75% of the time. But the potential of tariffs under
President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration could be a reason for some
concern heading into 2025.
“If you are going to worry about
something, it is that the tariffs are not just talk but truisms, and that we
will actually be putting up barriers to trade,” Stovall said. “If that is an
actuality, I think that could be a very big problem.”
Stock market today: Live updates
In other PC “green energy” news, more on a story we covered earlier. Canada’s government in peril. German government falls.
Huge storm-wrecked solar farm on Anglesey won't be
repaired until 2025
Wed 11 December 2024 at 3:10 pm GMT
Repairs to a storm-damaged solar farm on
Anglesey will take weeks to complete, its owners have said. A clean-up is
underway at the giant Porth Wen array near Cemaes as EDF Renewables UK assesses
the extent of the damage.
Hundreds of panels at the 190-acre site
were shredded and torn off their fixings during Storm Darragh at the weekend.
The huge solar farm was built just two years ago and residents living nearby
now fear land contamination from shattered solar panels.
Questions have also been asked about the
wisdom of building solar farms in a place known as the “windy island”. Solar
critics claim what happened shows the folly of permitting much larger
installations on Anglesey amid fears
the island risks becoming “saturated” by solar arrays.
Currently in the planning pipeline are two
mega solar units covering 3,700 acres of mostly farmland, equating to around 2%
of Anglesey’s entire land area. Both are also earmarked for the north of the
island and the bigger of the two, Maen Hir, is around five
times the size of
the UK’s largest currently active solar farm. The other, Alaw Môn, will have an
installed capacity more than three times that of Porth Wen.
----Construction work at Porth Wen began
in June 2022 with the first electricity generated later in the year. Despite
local protests, planning consent for the 49.9MW scheme was secured in 2017 by
Countryside Renewables (North Anglesey). At the time it was the biggest scheme
ever consented in Wales, capable of powering up to 9,500 homes.
In 2021 the site was bought by energy
giant EDF Renewables UK, a subsidiary of the French utility EDF Group. When
built, the fields remained available for sheep grazing and a Community Benefit
fund was promised providing £20,000-a-year.
EDF Renewables UK said Porth Wen will be
rebuilt. A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately our Porth Wen Solar Farm has
sustained damage during Storm Darragh. We are currently assessing the extent of
the damage and conducting a controlled clean-up.
“Once the initial recovery efforts are
complete and the damage is fully assessed, we will carry out a full
investigation and when safe to do so, resume generation. Repair work and the
replacement of damaged panels is expected to carry on into early 2025.”
The company was asked if current panel
installations were considered adequate for the increasingly violent storms
predicted as the climate changes – and whether modifications will be needed to
prevent a repeat. EDF declined to respond.
More
Huge storm-wrecked solar farm on Anglesey won't be repaired until 2025
Justin Trudeau 'is on brink of resigning' as his
liberal government crumbles
Published: 20:13, 16
December 2024
Canadian Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau is on the brink of resigning as his liberal government
crumbles around him, according to CTV News.
Trudeau, 52, is 'considering his options
as leader', sources have told the broadcaster, while his Finance Minister
Chrystia Freeland revealed she will quit.
Freeland quit on Monday after clashing
with Trudeau on issues including how to handle possible U.S. tariffs, dealing a
huge blow to an already unpopular government.
In a stinging resignation letter, Freeland
dismissed Trudeau's push for increased spending as a political gimmick that
could hurt Ottawa's ability to deal with the 25 percent import tariffs U.S.
President-elect Donald
Trump says he will impose.
The resignation by Freeland, 56, who also
served as deputy prime minister, is one of the biggest crises Trudeau has faced
since taking power in November 2015.
It also leaves him without a key ally when
he is on track to lose the next election to the official opposition Conservatives.
More
Justin Trudeau 'is on brink of resigning' as his liberal government crumbles | Daily Mail Online
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence
vote, clearing the way for February election
Published Mon, Dec 16 2024 10:37 AM EST Updated
Mon, Dec 16 2024 10:50 AM EST
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday
lost a confidence vote in the country’s Bundestag, clearing the path for
an early
election in February.
Scholz was expected — and hoping — to lose
the vote, which he had called for himself in November in order to trigger
earlier-than-planned elections, which were originally scheduled for the
fall of 2025.
It marks only the sixth time in Germany’s
history that such a vote has taken place, and the fourth time a president has
fallen foul of the vote.
Scholz said Monday that he had called the
vote not only for parliament but the whole of the electorate.
“Do we dare be a strong country, to invest
powerfully in our future,” Scholz told lawmakers prior to the vote, according
to a Google translation.
Scholz
sacked former Finance Minister Christian Lindner in November,
effectively bringing an end to Germany’s ruling coalition which had been in
power since 2021. It was made up of Scholz’ Social Democratic Party (SPD),
Lindner’s Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green party.
The SPD and Green party have remained in
government as a de facto minority government, and will continue to do so even
after Monday’s vote, until a new Bundestag is formed. Without the parliamentary
majority needed to pass laws, Scholz is however widely seen as a lame duck.
The three-way coalition government was
plagued by disagreements about budgetary and economic policy positions. Tensions
came to a head with a paper authored by Lindner, in which he outlined
his vision to revive the German economy. However, the former finance minister
also argued against fundamental positions of the SPD and Green party in the
paper.
The parties had also struggled to finalize
Germany’s 2025 budget and ultimately appeared unable to come to a resolution.
The government is now set to operate under
a provisional budget until the incumbent Bundestag implements its own budget —
with Germany’s finance ministry saying Monday that it expects a provisional
spending plan for 2025 no sooner than the middle of next year.
More
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote
Finally, a rocky outlook for 2025 on both sides of the Atlantic.
UK firms cut staffing by most since 2021 as budget
bites, PMI shows
16 December 2024
LONDON (Reuters) - British businesses this
month cut staff numbers at the fastest pace in almost four years, raised prices
and turned more pessimistic about the outlook, placing much of the blame on the
new government's tax increases, a survey showed.
The preliminary S&P Global Flash
Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, published on Monday, held at 50.5 in
December, remaining just above the 50.0 no-change level but below expectations
in a Reuters poll of economists for a rise to 50.7.
A measure of activity in manufacturing
fell to its lowest in 11 months at 47.3 and although the services sector
improved to 51.4 from 50.8, employment across both sectors contracted by the
most since January 2021, during the COVID pandemic.
"Businesses are reporting a triple
whammy of gloomy news as 2024 comes to a close with economic growth stalled,
employment slumping and inflation back on the rise," S&P Global Market
Intelligence's chief business economist, Chris Williamson, said.
"Economic growth momentum has been
lost since the robust expansion seen earlier in the year, as businesses and
households have responded negatively to the new Labour government's downbeat
rhetoric and policies," he added.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves hit
businesses with higher social security contributions in a budget announcement
on Oct. 30, having paved the way with gloomy messaging about the tough outlook
and the poor state of the public finances.
Companies responded to the budget and
government plans for new, costlier rules around staffing by not replacing staff
who left. Excluding the pandemic period, the fall in employment was the
sharpest since the global financial crisis in 2009.
Some firms also cut hours and proceeded
with previously planned restructurings.
Other surveys have also shown a drop in
hiring intentions by businesses following the budget while official data showed
the economy contracted in both September and October, the first back-to-back
monthly shrinkages since early in the pandemic.
More
UK firms cut staffing by most since 2021 as budget bites, PMI shows
12 Major Layoffs In 2024: Tesla, Google, Dell,
Cisco, Intel, Microsoft And More
December 15, 2024
Major Layoffs In 2024: Layoffs have
been the talk of the town for the whole of 2024; big firms and small start-ups
across the sector and worldwide have announced layoffs this year, leaving
employees in a difficult situation. Almost every industry has been dealing with
complex business periods in recent times due to worrying economic situations.
Some of the most heartbreaking and massive layoffs took place this year, and
the announcement came from some of the most prominent companies.
Here Is A List Of Some Of The Biggest
Layoffs Of 2024
Tesla Layoffs
Elon Musk’s EV firm laid off over 10 per
cent of its employees globally this year in an effort to streamline operations.
Electric vehicle manufacturers have been grappling with increasing pressure
from falling sales and intensifying competition among automakers, which has
been compounded by rising interest rates that have slowed electric vehicle
adoption.
This strategic decision is expected to
give the company more control over its capital expenditures, helping it
navigate its current challenges.
Bosch Layoffs
German automotive components giant Bosch
has revealed plans to cut 7,000 jobs in response to ongoing business
difficulties. CEO Stefan Hartung also suggested that further layoffs may be
required, as the company has failed to meet its financial targets for 2024.
"In recent months, Bosch has
repeatedly announced plans to reduce jobs worldwide. The latest move affects
over 7,000 jobs in Germany, primarily in the automotive supply sector, but also
in the tools division and the BSH subsidiary that handles household
appliances," Hartung said.
Nissan Layoffs
Nissan Motor unveiled a set of
cost-cutting measures on Thursday, including the elimination of 9,000 jobs,
while also revising its annual forecast downward for the second time this year
due to ongoing challenges in key markets, particularly China.
The automaker further announced plans to
reduce its global production capacity by 20 per cent. CEO Makoto Uchida
reassured stakeholders, stating, "These turnaround measures do not
indicate that the company is shrinking," in a statement released alongside
the earnings report.
Siemens Layoffs
German tech giant Siemens also said that
it is considering cutting up to 5,000 jobs globally in its factory automation
sector amid ongoing challenges. CEO Roland Busch announced the potential
layoffs.
Busch explained that restructuring may be
necessary when business developments fall short of expectations, referencing
Siemens' recent report of a 46 per cent decline in profits within its core
Digital Industries division. Although no final decision has been made regarding
the exact number of job cuts, Busch’s remarks indicate a clear need for
strategic adjustments moving forward.
Boeing Layoffs
17,000 Boeing employees reportedly
received layoff notices this year. The announcement follows a recent visit by a
senior US official to Seattle to address ongoing strike concerns, as a major
airline raised alarms about the growing challenges facing the planemaker.
According to a Reuters report, Boeing issued
60-day layoff notices to thousands of workers, primarily impacting those in its
commercial aviation division. Sources familiar with the situation indicated in
the report that many employees could be departing the company by mid-January.
Amazon Layoffs
Amazon is reportedly planning to cut
14,000 managerial positions by early 2025 as part of a cost-saving initiative
aimed at saving $3 billion annually, according to a Morgan Stanley report. This
move is part of CEO Andy Jassy’s broader strategy to improve operational
efficiency by increasing the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at
least 15 per cent by March 2025.
More
12 Major Layoffs In 2024: Tesla, Google, Dell, Cisco, Intel, Microsoft And More
Global Inflation/Stagflation/Recession Watch.
Given
our Magic Money Tree central banksters and our spendthrift politicians,
inflation now needs an entire section of its own.
UK
factories take fright as budget adds to cost pressures, survey shows
16
December 2024
LONDON
(Reuters) - British manufacturers have reported the sharpest loss of confidence
since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of higher costs including
tax increases by the new government, a group representing the sector said on
Monday.
Make
UK said its gauge of manufacturers' confidence about the economic outlook over
the next 12 months in its quarterly outlook survey dropped to 5.8 in the fourth
quarter of 2024 from 6.8 three months earlier.
The
group cut its forecast for manufacturing output in 2024 which it now expected
to shrink by 0.2% this year, down from a previous forecast of 0.5% growth. The
sector was likely to expand by 0.7% in 2025, half the rate of the broader
economy, it predicted.
Output
and orders were positive while recruitment and investment intentions remained
stable, Make UK said. But the mood among manufacturers worsened from the
previous survey when almost six in 10 companies were upbeat about the outlook.
"Having
faced a cost creep for most of the year, manufacturers are now facing a cost
crisis which has brought a sharp dip in their confidence," Fhaheen Khan,
senior economist at Make UK, said.
British
finance minister Rachel Reeves announced in her Oct. 30 budget a 25 billion
pound ($32 billion) increase in social security contributions paid by employers
which will take effect from April, which is also when the minimum wage is due
to rise by almost 7%.
Other
recently published surveys have shown a drop in hiring intentions by employers
following the budget.
Official
data published on Friday showed Britain's economy shrank in both September and
October in the run-up to the announcement by Reeves of her tax and spending
plans - the first back to back declines in gross domestic product since 2020.
The
survey of 303 companies was carried out between Oct. 28 and Nov. 27.
UK factories take
fright as budget adds to cost pressures, survey shows
Audi
Sets Date as Major Factory Closes in February, Cutting 3,000 Jobs
!5
December 2024
For
decades, Brussels has been a hub for car manufacturing.
Factories
like Audi’s have provided steady work, supporting thousands of families and
shaping the local economy. But that chapter is coming to an end.
Audi
has announced the closure of its Brussels plant, with operations set to stop
entirely by the end of February 2025, according to Boosted.
The
factory, which employs around 3,000 people, has been struggling for years.
Efforts to find a buyer fell through, forcing the company to make a difficult
decision.
“This
is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” said Gerd Walker,
Audi’s head of production. He called the move painful but unavoidable.
The
news has caused anxiety among workers, many of whom have spent decades at the
factory. In November, Audi introduced a social plan to ease the transition.
The
package includes severance payments, early retirement options, and bonuses tied
to seniority. Employees with 17 years of service could receive up to
approximately $185,000, depending on their position and salary.
However,
negotiations between management and unions have been tense. Union leaders
rejected the proposal, calling it inadequate.
Jan
Baetens of the ACV Metea union criticized Audi for dismissing worker-driven
alternatives, calling the process a breach of trust.
Frustrations
boiled over into protests, some of which were described as violent. Despite the
tension, Audi decided to present their offers directly to employees, bypassing
union representatives.
Management
hopes workers will see the value in the compensation packages.
The
plant’s closure marks a significant loss for Belgium’s car industry. Once a
cornerstone of the economy, the Brussels factory was one of the city’s largest
employers.
Its
shutdown leaves only one car plant in Belgium, operated by Chinese automaker
Volvo.
Audi Sets Date as
Major Factory Closes in February, Cutting 3,000 Jobs
Porsche’s
China Sales Crash — One in Three Dealerships to Close
Written by Kathrine Frich Dec.15 - 2024 6:07 PM CET
Porsche’s
sales in China have dropped a staggering 29%
Luxury
cars and China have been a love story for years. A booming economy, rising
middle class, and a taste for the finer things fueled an appetite for brands
like Porsche.
For
nearly a decade, China was Porsche's crown jewel, its largest market worldwide.
But things have taken a sharp turn this year, and the German automaker is
feeling the heat.
Porsche’s
sales in China have dropped a staggering 29% in the first nine months of 2024,
according to Boosted.
This
is no small dip — it’s a full-on crash for a brand that once thrived in the
country.
The
decline has forced Porsche to rethink its approach, and the first step is
cutting back on its dealerships. Around 40 locations are set to close, which
means a reduction of about 30% of its current network in China.
The
company hasn’t said which dealerships are on the chopping block, but the
strategy is clear.
Porsche
plans to pull back from areas where business has slowed to focus on regions
with stronger sales, such as Shanghai and Beijing. These major cities remain
bright spots in an otherwise tough market.
For
the dealerships that are shutting down, Porsche has promised some form of
financial compensation. However, details on what that looks like haven’t been
shared yet.
This
shift comes as the luxury car market in China faces new challenges.
Economic
uncertainty, tighter regulations, and competition from other high-end brands
and electric vehicle makers are reshaping the landscape. For Porsche, the
pressure is on to adapt.
Elsewhere,
though, things look brighter. In Denmark, for example, Porsche’s performance
has been solid. With just three dealerships in the country, the brand has sold
574 cars so far this year.
That’s
a respectable number for a luxury carmaker and well above what brands like
Mitsubishi or Lexus managed during the same period.
Porsche’s China
Sales Crash — One in Three Dealerships to Close
Struggling
Auto Giant to Spin Off Key Division by 2025
Dec.14
- 2024 10:58 AM CET
Continental,
a name synonymous with tires and automotive components, has been a cornerstone
of German industry for decades.
Known
for its innovation and global reach, the company has weathered market
fluctuations and technological shifts. But now, Continental is facing one of
its toughest challenges yet.
Financial
difficulties have forced it to make a dramatic decision that could reshape its
future, according to Boosted.
The
company announced plans to spin off its Automotive division, which has
struggled with mounting losses in recent years.
This
division, responsible for producing electronics, brakes, and interiors for
cars, has been a financial drag despite its technological capabilities.
Continental aims to complete the separation by the end of 2025.
12,000
Jobs to be Cut
To
stabilize its operations, the company is implementing a cost-cutting program.
Leaders plan to reduce annual expenses by €400 million, starting in 2024.
Unfortunately,
this will come at a human cost. Over 12,000 jobs are set to be cut, affecting
both administrative and research roles.
The
spin-off will take the form of a stock market listing. Shareholders will
receive new shares in the standalone Automotive division, which they can either
hold or sell.
More
Struggling Auto
Giant to Spin Off Key Division by 2025
German
porcelain maker Rosenthal mulling plant closure and job cuts
15
December 2024
German
porcelain manufacturer Rosenthal may have to close one of its two production
sites and cut jobs as it faces a crisis, a spokeswoman for the renowned
household goods maker said on Sunday.
Talks
between management and the union were ongoing, she said from company
headquarters in Selb, Bavaria.
"The
content of the current negotiations is a focus on only one production site,
which will produce to a smaller extent," the spokeswoman said.
"Which
factory will remain is part of ongoing talks," she added.
The
company currently produces at Selb and Speichersdorf, both in Bavaria,
employing 600 workers.
The
company noted that consumer behaviour had changed and that wage costs had
risen.
The
company was founded in Selb in 1879. Increased foreign competition led to a
sale to Waterfood-Wedgewood in the United Kingdom in 1997. In 2009, Rosenthal
declared insolvency and was bought out by Italy's Arcturus Group.
German porcelain maker Rosenthal mulling plant closure and job cuts
Covid-19 Corner
This section will continue until it becomes unneeded.
Quad-demic
sweeps through UK before Christmas – do you have Covid, flu, norovirus or RSV?
NHS
bosses have warned Brits to be careful as a 'quad-demic' is on the horizon. It
comes as there is a 'tidal of flu hitting hospitals'. People have been urged to
keep up to date with their jabs this winter
14
December 2024
Brits
have been told to brace themselves for a "quad-demic" as patients
across the country have been struck by a series of illnesses in recent weeks.
NHS bosses have
warned that there has been an increase in cases of flu, norovirus, RSV and
Covid-19. The disastrous news has sparked health alerts, with the board
stressing there will be a "tidal wave of flu hitting hospitals". With
dozens of Brits being left bunged up with numerous symptoms, experts believe
a quad-demic is on the horizon.
Officials use the
phrase to describe the four conditions expected to push additional pressure on
hospitals in the winter months. The alert comes at a time when the number of
hospital beds in England occupied by patients with flu has increased
significantly.
A&Es
had their busiest November on record, with doctors seeing 2.31 million patients
come through emergency department doors across hospitals in England. Experts
warned that hospitals are running
“red hot”, with some predicting winter could be “one of the worst the NHS has
faced” and others suggesting that the service could reach “crisis point”.
Professor
Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England,
said: “The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals
is really concerning for patients and for the NHS – the figures are adding to
our ‘quad-demic’ worries. While the NHS has plans in place to manage additional
demand over the busy winter period, with one week left to book your vaccine, I
cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked in to protect yourself
against serious illness and to avoid ‘festive flu’.”
Health
and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting also urged people eligible for free
vaccinations on the NHS to take them “before it’s too late”. He said:
"With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to encourage people
to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS by getting
vaccinated before it’s too late.
Danielle
Jefferies, senior analyst at The King’s Fund think tank, said that services are
running “red hot”, adding: “The situation in the NHS is fraught as it enters
what looks to be a deeply troubling winter.” Patricia Marquis, from the Royal
College of Nursing, added: “The NHS is woefully underprepared for the crisis flooding into its
wards this winter.”
More
Technology
Update.
With events happening fast in the
development of solar power and graphene, among other things, I’ve added this
section. Updates as they get reported.
Chinese
firm’s cylindrical lithium battery offers more power, charges 80% in 10 mins
14 December 2024
A China-based firm has
launched a novel energy storage device that tackles the 18650-battery power
challenge. Introduced by Ampace, the latest JP30 cylindrical lithium battery is
claimed to be capable of delivering breakthrough performance in a compact form.
Themed “Working Non-stop,
compact and more powerful”, the new battery is the latest addition to the JP
series.
Despite having a compact and
sleek design in appearance, the battery offers ultra-high power performance.
JP30
achieved comprehensive leaps in data indicators
“For years, the industry
believed the power capabilities of the 18650 batteries had reached its
limit. The JP30 changes that narrative entirely,” said Dr. Yuan Qingfeng,
Ampace’s Chief Technology Officer.
The company claimed that the
latest battery achieved comprehensive leaps in various data indicators,
including power output, pulse discharge capability, battery lifespan,
charging speed, and low-temperature performance.
“JP30 supports 36A continuous
discharge and 140A pulse discharge within 5s, ensuring smoother operations in
steel cutting and concrete drilling. Its capacity has been increased by 20%,
from 2.5Ah to 3.0Ah. In terms of longevity, the JP30 delivers over 600 cycles
at 30A discharge, three times longer than the traditional 18650
batteries,” said Ampace in a press release.
JP30 battery
also charges to 80% in just 10 minutes
With 20A discharge, it
exceeds 1000 cycles, significantly lowering the battery’s which cost per use.
The JP30 also charges to 80% in just 10 minutes, 60% faster than conventional
batteries, which means that only 2 or 3 batteries are enough for outdoor working,
as per the release.
The company maintains that
the JP30 reaffirms Ampace’s position at the forefront of high-power
battery technology.
Ampace assures that the
powerful battery product can unlock the full potential of power tools, offering
impressive performance and wide application possibilities.
More
Chinese firm’s cylindrical lithium battery offers
more power, charges 80% in 10 mins
Next, the
world global debt clock. Nations debts to GDP compared.
World Debt
Clocks (usdebtclock.org)
The
biggest mistake investors make is to believe that what happened in the recent
past is likely to persist. They assume that something that was a good
investment in the recent past is still a good investment. Typically, high past
returns simply imply that an asset has become more expensive and is a poorer,
not better, investment.
Ray
Dalio.
No comments:
Post a Comment