A coalition of Concerned Northern Youths and Students in 19 Northern states have on Wednesday announced their resolve to withdraw from the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship in the country.

The Coalition’s National Coordinator, Jibril Sani Bello, who kicked against the protest while addressing newsmen in Kano, however, called on students in the country to desist from participating in the protest.

Bello, who doubles as the National Senate President, National Association of Kano State Students, NAKSS, said plans to join the protest have already reached an advanced stage but it resolved to withdraw from the protest because organizers and the aim of the protest were unknown. He said, that although they understand the economic hardship faced by Nigerians in recent times protests in the past had caused setbacks to their academic pursuit.

According to him, “We understand the economic hardship in Nigeria but as students, your future is paramount. Already, plans to join the protest have reached an advance stage but we resolved to withdraw from the protest due to the fact that organizers and aim of the protest were unknown, especially with the sponsorship for us to fight for our right and so, we are uncertain whether their intentions are peaceful or v+olent

Students of Kano State University of Science and Technology, KUST, Wudil and Uthman Danfodio University in Sokoto state could bear witness that protest has, in most case, it has been a setback to our academic journey. Those in KUST, Wudil, in the 2017/2018 session have to witness an elongation of 4 to 5 months just because of a day protest. Similarly, students of Uthman Danfodio University, in 2012/2013, there was a protest which led 3 to 4 months elongation of the academic journey.

I strongly urge you to refrain from participating in the upcoming nationwide planned protest. The organizers of this protest are unknown, and we are uncertain whether their intentions are peaceful or v+olent. Your safety and well-being are our top priority.

Besides, this administration has shown consideration for students by making educational loans available without interest, ensuring that you can focus on your studies now and secure jobs in the future to repay these loans. Let’s prioritize our education and future success. While we appreciate the efforts of the government, we are also appealing to them to see the possibility of expanding the scholarship exercise like the foreign one to make it mandatory for every student to be a beneficiary of the scholarship and it will make an academic journey hitch free for students” the National Coordinator, Bello however stated.

FedEx (FDX) shares tumbled in extended trading Thursday after the company missed analysts' estimates with its fiscal first-quarter results and slashed its full-year outlook.

The shipping company posted first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $3.21 on revenue of $21.6 billion, both of which missed analysts' expectations compiled by Visible Alpha.

CEO Raj Subramaniam called the period a “challenging quarter,” hindered by higher operating expenses and weaker demand for priority shipping services. 

FedEx said it now anticipates year-over-year revenue growth in the low single digits, down from a low-to-mid single digit increase. Its expects EPS of between $17.90 to $18.90, down from $18.25 to $20.25. The revised range came in below the analyst consensus of $19.80.

Notably, FedEx will also lose out on one source of revenue later this month, when its contract with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) ends. 

Shares of FedEx tumbled over 10% to $269.85 in extended trading Thursday following the release.

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Dell Technologies (DELL) shares jumped Thursday, adding to recent gains after J.P. Morgan analysts added the stock to an “Analyst Focus List” highlighting the legacy computing company’s opportunity for long-term artificial intelligence (AI) gains.

Shares finished 7% higher at $110.21 Thursday, contributing to the stock’s 25% jump after six straight days of gains, and 44% rise since the start of the year. Over three-quarters of analysts tracked by Visible Alpha gave the stock a “buy” rating, with a consensus target price of $152.44, representing over 38% upside from Thursday’s closing price.

J.P. Morgan analysts, who lifted their price target for Dell stock to $160 from $155 on Thursday, said the stock could be poised for AI-related gains and offers an "attractive entry point from a valuation perspective after the recent pull-back."

Dell shares had plummeted in May after the company's first-quarter results showed a double-digit decline in operating income, despite strong demand for AI servers, raising worries about margin pressures and competition in the AI server market.

The analysts indicated that while some concerns about margins and competition persist, they said it's still the “early innings" of the AI server market, with Dell positioned for AI-related revenue growth.

The company's AI server offerings for enterprise customers could drive long-term, AI-driven growth, the analysts said, though they noted Dell will face pressure to show margin improvement.

Melius analysts said that the first half of the fiscal 2025 "needs to be the trough" for margins, with margin improvement in the second half.

Dell could tell investors it's accelerating cost-cutting in an effort to improve margins, similar to legacy peers like Intel (INTC) and Cisco (CSCO). Dell is set to report second-quarter earnings on Aug. 29.

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