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Investopedia
24 m
15
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Major U.S. indexes were higher at midday Thursday, as a strong report on demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips boosted the tech sector. The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all advanced.
Nvidia (NVDA) supplier TSMC (TSM) reported profit soared on demand for AI chips, sending its U.S.-listed shares to an all-time high. The news helped drive Nvidia shares to a record high as well.
Blackstone (BX) shares also surged to a fresh high after the asset manager said its profit jumped as it brought in more investments.
Elevance Health (ELV) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 after the insurer reported a weaker-than-expected profit and lowered its guidance as changes in Medicaid slashed membership rolls.
Shares of CSX (CSX) dropped as the freight shipper’s results missed estimates and it cut its outlook as Hurricanes Helene and Milton impacted operations.
Lucid Group (LCID) shares sank as the struggling luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker announced a $1.67 billion stock sale and warned it would have a larger quarterly loss than expected.
Oil and gold futures rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed. The U.S. dollar gained on the euro and yen, but lost ground to the pound. Prices for most major cryptocurrencies were lower.
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Healthwatch
2 hrs
18
When experts talk about the dangers of excessive drinking, we often assume those warnings apply mostly to people with alcohol use disorder, a health issue sometimes referred to as alcoholism.
But people who don't meet formal criteria for this disorder can still experience toxic effects and suffer other serious harms from alcohol, says Dr. John F. Kelly, professor of psychiatry in addiction medicine at Harvard Medical School. And as research turns up new evidence about alcohol, many people are considering the benefits of drinking less, even if they're not ready to stop imbibing entirely.
How does alcohol affect the body?
That depends on how much you drink. Drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol (defined as one drink per day for women and two for men) increases your risk for developing
What if you're not drinking daily? "Even people who only drink on weekends can have serious accidents if they become intoxicated — for example, by falling or driving under the influence," says Dr. Kelly.
What's more, growing evidence suggests that even small amounts of alcohol may harm your health.
How could cutting down on alcohol help you?
If you're not ready to give up drinking entirely, cutting back can lower the likelihood of all of these harms. For example, cutting down on alcohol, or stopping entirely, is linked with lower cancer risks, according to a report from the American Association for Cancer Research.
You might also notice some immediate benefits, like sleeping more soundly, memory improvements, and generally feeling more mentally sharp. And because you'll be taking in fewer calories, you may also shed some weight.
Ready to try cutting back on alcohol? Start here
These five suggestions are a great way to start cutting back.
Keep a drinking diary
Tracking how much alcohol you drink and when can help you target your efforts to drink less. It's also a good idea to put your reasons for cutting back in writing: for example, "I'd like to sleep better," "I feel sharper," "Better heart health is important to me." That practice can reinforce your resolve to follow through with your plan.
Try alcohol-free days — or even a month of not drinking
Taking a break from alcohol can be a good way to start, allowing your brain and body to recalibrate. Decide not to drink a day or two each week. You may want to abstain for a week or a month, to see how you feel physically and emotionally without alcohol in your life. Consider doing Sober October — a variation of Dry January.
Drink slowly and with food
Sip your drink. Alternate alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic alternatives like sparkling water, soda, or juice. Don't drink on an empty stomach, because you'll feel intoxicated more quickly. That can lower your inhibitions and break your resolve to stick to lower amounts of alcohol, Dr. Kelly says. Drinking with a meal slows alcohol absorption and appears to minimize the drug's health risks.
Try low-alcohol or zero-alcohol substitutes
Alcohol-free beer, nonalcoholic distilled spirits, and similar products have become more widely available in recent years. It's a result of the alcohol industry's response to stay profitable, as health harms of small amounts of alcohol have been confirmed and the sober curious movement gains momentum.
If you drink beer, wine spritzers, hard seltzer, or similar products, check the alcohol content
While light beers have fewer calories, they don't necessarily have much less alcohol than regular beer. The average light beer is about 4.3% alcohol, versus 5.0% in regular beer.
Also, be aware that some craft or specialty beers contain far higher amounts of alcohol — up to 12% or 14% or even higher. Beverages that combine wine or hard liquor with seltzer or other mixers also vary widely in their alcohol content.
Cut down on temptation
Two more tips can help you meet success when changing drinking habits.
Don't keep alcohol in your house. Making your home an alcohol-free zone takes away the risk of immediate temptation.
Avoid temptation. Steer clear of people and places that make you want to drink. If you associate drinking with certain events, such as holidays or vacations, make a plan for managing these situations in advance. Check in with your feelings. When you're worried, lonely, or angry, you might be tempted to reach for a drink. "Think about other ways you might alleviate those feelings, such as going for a walk or calling a friend," Dr. Kelly suggests.
Finally, try this interactive tool from the CDC, which can help you make a personalized plan to drink less.
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
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Investopedia
2 hrs
12
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CSX (CSX) shares tumbled Thursday after the freight shipper reported worse-than-expected results and warned about the current quarter because of the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The company posted third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $0.46, with revenue rising 1.3% year-over-year to $3.62 billion. Both were short of consensus estimates of analysts polled by Visible Alpha.
The company said revenue growth was limited by a drop in coal revenue, lower fuel surcharges, and other revenue declines.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joe Hinrichs explained that over the past few weeks, "CSX, along with many of the communities in which we operate, was presented with significant challenges brought about by the recent hurricanes."
The company revised its outlook, noting that "external factors make Q4 more challenging." It predicted volume would grow "modestly," hurt by hurricane impacts, and it sees revenue down about $200 million because of falling fuel prices and softer coal markets.
CSX added that a drop in revenue and the storms' effects will likely reduce "sequential operating margin in Q4, limiting 2H margin expansion." In addition, it predicted capital expenditures (CapEx) of $2.5 billion, excluding costs to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the hurricanes.
The news sent shares of CSX down 5% Thursday and into negative territory for the year.
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Instablog9ja
4 hrs
15
The Akwa Ibom State government has reportedly allocated N14.7 billion for repairs and purchases, including renovations of the governor’s and deputy governor’s lodges, and the acquisition of Toyota Prado SUVs for State House of Assembly members.
According to a report by civic tech organization BudgIT, and seen on SaharaReporters, N1 billion was set aside for the refurbishment of the governor’s office annex exterior.
Additionally, N9.3 billion was earmarked for repairs to the governor’s and deputy governor’s lodges.
The budget also includes N1 billion for Toyota Prados for assembly members and N1.5 billion for medical equipment for the government house.
Another N1.95 billion was spent on “backup” vehicles for the assembly members.
#Instablog9jaNews #TrendingStory #Awareness #StayUpdated Akwa Ibom Government Reportedly Allocates N14.7 Billion for Governor’s Lodge Renovation, SUVs for Lawmakers
The Akwa Ibom State government has reportedly allocated N14.7 billion for repairs and purchases, including renovations of the governor’s and deputy governor’s lodges, and the acquisition of Toyota Prado SUVs for State House of Assembly members.
According to a report by civic tech organization BudgIT, and seen on SaharaReporters, N1 billion was set aside for the refurbishment of the governor’s office annex exterior.
Additionally, N9.3 billion was earmarked for repairs to the governor’s and deputy governor’s lodges.
The budget also includes N1 billion for Toyota Prados for assembly members and N1.5 billion for medical equipment for the government house.
Another N1.95 billion was spent on “backup” vehicles for the assembly members.
#Instablog9jaNews #TrendingStory #Awareness #StayUpdated
Instablog9ja
5 hrs
11
A young man is currently battling for his life at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after an alleged encounter with operatives of the Lagos State Police Command.
It was gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred on Wednesday morning, October 16, in Ipaja area of the state.
According to X user Omorhemi, “Yesterday morning, police chased my friend’s husband until he f+ll into the canal. They took his slippers and the money that fell, then left when people started shouting. This happened at Federal bus stop, Ipaja Ayobo axis. He is currently unconscious at LASUTH.
The officers were in plain clothes. They stopped him on a bike, and the rider left. They searched him, accusing him of being a yahoo boy because of his tattoos. They began c%cking their g*ns, thr€@t€ning to sh%%t. He denied the accusation and tried to move away, but they chased him until he ran.“
Videos obtained shows the victim, who covered one of his hands with tattoos, being rescued from the canal by a group of young men.
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Investopedia
9 hrs
11
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Shoppers kept hitting the stores in September, showing they could continue to boost the economy despite economists' calls for a slowdown.
U.S. retail sales increased by 0.4% in September, Census Bureau data showed. Consumers again surprised economists with their propensity to spend, as the $714.4 billion in sales was a slightly bigger jump than they expected.
What caught some economists’ attention was a measure of “core” spending that excludes sales at gas stations and auto dealerships. That measure rose 0.7% from the prior month.
“Despite worries about the financial health of the consumer and potential weakening in the labor market, U.S. retailers had a solid month in September,” Wells Fargo economists Tim Quinlan and Shannon Seery Grein wrote in a commentary.
The strong results could lead to better-than-expected growth in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the third quarter, economists said.
"The September retail sales report shows the U.S. consumer still has formidable spending power that they continue to deploy in somewhat more targeted ways," wrote BMO Capital Markets' Chief U.S. Economist Scott Anderson.
Leading the way were “nonstore retailers,” which mainly includes online stores like Amazon (AMZN), as well as other e-commerce platforms and traditional catalog services. Online store sales rose 7.1% over the same time last year.
Sales were also improved at restaurants and bars, clothing stores, and health and beauty stores.
Furniture sales dropped 2.3% as home sale activity declined amid a high interest rate environment that has made home buying difficult for many.
The monthly data comes after the National Retail Foundation projected sales would continue to grow during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
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