logo
Pipeline operator Enbridge beats quarterly profit estimates

Pipeline operator Enbridge beats quarterly profit estimates

Reuters19 hours ago
Aug 1 (Reuters) - Enbridge (ENB.TO), opens new tab, beat second-quarter profit estimates on Friday, boosted by contributions from recently acquired U.S. gas utilities, higher margins in Ontario distribution, and strong earnings from its gas transmission business.
Pipeline operators such as Enbridge are benefiting from an increase in demand for natural gas, primarily driven by LNG exports, as well as rising electricity demand.
Enbridge reported an adjusted core profit of C$1.38 billion ($995.02 million) from its gas transmission unit, up from C$1.08 billion a year earlier.
The company reported an adjusted profit of 65 Canadian cents per share for the quarter ended June 30, beating analysts' average expectation of 57 Canadian cents, according to data complied by LSEG.
($1 = 1.3869 Canadian dollars)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Car Shoppers Are Sacrificing These Features to Save Money
New Car Shoppers Are Sacrificing These Features to Save Money

Auto Blog

time3 hours ago

  • Auto Blog

New Car Shoppers Are Sacrificing These Features to Save Money

This one's for those who want to know the nitty-gritty of what makes the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V worth the extra $12k-$20k. Most buyers will sacrifice more than you might expect Automakers continue to add flashy and expensive features to their new vehicles. The expectation is that panoramic glass roofs, reconfigurable digital gauge clusters, or head-up displays are in high demand among consumers. However, AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study,' which surveyed more than 14,000 current new vehicle buyers about their interest in more than 160 options, suggests that actual demand for flashy features is quite low, particularly among those shopping in the $25,000-$35,000 segment. For these buyers, simplicity reigns supreme, and the allure of the latest technology doesn't attract them if it affects their monthly payment. 2025 Nissan Altima — Source: Steven Paul 'Front wheel drive, base stereos, cloth seats with various manual adjustment, and analog gauges are in for these more frugal shoppers,' says Robby DeGraff, AutoPacific's manager of product and consumer insights. 'So, the array of standard equipment found on entry- and mid-level trims of today's popular vehicles within the $25,000-to-$35,000 price range may need to be reexamined as consumers tighten their belts in the face of economic uncertainty.' What some, but not all, buyers want The commonly-found features that matter most to those in the under-$35,000 segment are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, selectable drive modes, a heated steering wheel, and a power front passenger seat. Yet these are must-haves among a mere 26% of buyers in this segment. That's a little more than one-in-four buyers, not exactly overwhelming demand. Other features fare even worse. Consider all-wheel drive, which is demanded by 24% of buyers, a memory driver's seat by 23% or welcome lighting at 22%. Then there's a reconfigurable digital gauge cluster at 21%, a panoramic glass roof at 20%, a head-up display and premium audio at 15%, and leather upholstery at 11% – or slightly more than one-in–ten. 2025 Toyota Camry XSE — Source: Toyota If you think such items are more important to buyers with fatter wallets, guess again. The numbers are not significantly higher, although their priorities differ. According to the AutoPacific study, the feature most desired by wealthier buyers is selectable drive modes, which are demanded by 33% of buyers, or just one in three. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power front passenger seat, heated steering wheel, and a premium audio system tie at 31%, followed by all-wheel drive at 29%, and welcome lighting at 28%. A memory driver's seat, reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, and a panoramic glass roof come next at 27% each, followed by a head-up display at 23%, premium audio at 21%, and leather upholstery at 18%. 2026 Cadillac LYRIQ-V — Source: Cadillac What do $25k-$35k vehicle buyers want? According to AutoPacific, buyers in the $ 25,000-$35,000 range are more open to sedans powered by a conventional internal combustion engine, around 20% want their next vehicle to be a hybrid, and only 5% want it to be a battery-electric vehicle. Keep in mind that these buyers are trading in vehicles that are more than 11 years old, with about a third considering a new vehicle for the first time. Given that, it's a little surprise that they prefer an instrument panel with an analog gauge cluster and conventional controls, alongside a modest center touchscreen without embedded navigation. 2024 Mazda CX-90 — Source: Mazda Yet they still want wireless smartphone charging pads, heated/ventilated front seats, a 110-volt outlet, driver profile settings, and active safety features. With a median household income of $50,000, these buyers are suburban, drive less than 20 miles daily, and have no children living at home. Approximately 31% are Millennials, 29% are Baby Boomers, and 57% are female. Ford Mustang Mach-E — Source: Ford Final thoughts New vehicle prices are rising far faster than the rate of inflation, as automakers continue to ignore new vehicle affordability. Consider that the average new car price in June 2025 was $48,907 according to Cox Automotive. Eleven years earlier, it was $32,556, an increase of more than 50% at a time when inflation rose 35%, according to the Federal Reserve. AutoPacific's 'Future Attribute Demand Study' shows that entry-level buyers are being ignored by an industry too infatuated with pleasing its most profitable customers at the expense of the rest. Source: Adobe Stock Photo 'It's good for models in that price range to offer some fancier, lower-demand features, but those should be optional and limited to higher trim levels, which can also serve to capture customers of bigger and nicely-equipped models who may be downsizing into more affordable segments as they tighten their belts,' says Ed Kim, AutoPacific's president and chief analyst. About the Author Larry Printz View Profile

AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds
AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

The Independent

time4 hours ago

  • The Independent

AI is already replacing thousands of jobs per month, report finds

Artificial intelligence is already replacing thousands of jobs each month as the U.S. job market struggles amid global trade uncertainty, a report has found. The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas said in a report filed this week that in July alone the increased adoption of generative AI technologies by private employers led to more than 10,000 lost jobs. The firm stated that AI is one of the top five reasons behind job losses this year, CBS News noted. On Friday, new labor figures revealed that employers only added 73,000 jobs in July, a much worse result than forecasters expected. Companies announced more than 806,000 job cuts in the private sector through July, the highest number for that period since 2020. The technology industry is seeing the fiercest cuts, with private companies announcing more than 89,000 job cuts, an increase of 36 percent compared to a year ago. Challenger, Gray, and Christmas found that more than 27,000 job cuts have been directly linked to artificial intelligence since 2023. "The industry is being reshaped by the advancement of artificial intelligence and ongoing uncertainty surrounding work visas, which have contributed to workforce reductions," the firm said. The impact of artificial intelligence is most severe among younger job seekers, with entry-level corporate roles usually available to recent college graduates declining by 15 percent over the past year, according to the career platform Handshake. The use of 'AI' in job descriptions has also increased by 400 percent during the last two years. There are other reasons for recent job losses, with more than 292,000 roles having been terminated following cuts connected to the Department of Government Efficiency, previously led by Elon Musk, a former close ally of President Donald Trump, Challenger, Gray, and Christmas found. Senior vice president Andrew Challenger said in a statement, 'We are seeing the federal budget cuts implemented by DOGE impact non-profits and health care in addition to the government.' Amid the rising costs associated with tariffs, layoffs are also increasing in the retail sector, according to the firm. Through July, retailers announced more than 80,000 cuts, an increase of close to 250 percent compared to the same period last year. "Retailers are being impacted by tariffs, inflation, and ongoing economic uncertainty, causing layoffs and store closures. Further declines in consumer spending could trigger additional losses," said the firm. White collar workers are among those at highest risk of having their jobs wiped out by AI, executives have warned. But Challenger said early last month, 'There are roles that can be significantly changed by AI right now, but I'm not talking to too many HR leaders who say AI is replacing jobs,' he added, according to NBC News. In June, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said AI would 'reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains.' But he didn't specify a timeframe. Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Ford CEO Jim Farley would replace 'literally half of all white-collar workers in the U.S.' But experts argue that AI is currently affecting the job market in roundabout ways, such as many companies coming under intense pressure to cut costs because of the uncertain economic climate pushed by Trump's tariff policy and concerns about increasing inflation. As such, some companies are spending money on AI software instead of hiring new staff. The CEO of The Josh Bersin Company workforce consultancy, Josh Bershin, told NBC News, 'There's basically a blank check to go out and buy these AI tools.' 'Then they go out and say, as far as head count: No more hiring. Just, 'stop.' So that immediately freezes the job market,' he added.

ESPN reportedly selling equity stake for RedZone and other NFL properties
ESPN reportedly selling equity stake for RedZone and other NFL properties

The Guardian

time5 hours ago

  • The Guardian

ESPN reportedly selling equity stake for RedZone and other NFL properties

ESPN has reached a deal with the NFL to purchase RedZone, NFL Network and other league holdings, the Athletic reported on Friday. The NFL will receive equity in ESPN that 'is potentially worth billions' in exchange, according to the report. An official announcement is expected next week, ending a four-year period of complicated, on-and-off negotiations. Both sides declined to provide comment to the Athletic. In addition to RedZone and NFL Network, ESPN will gain access to seven more regular-season games and the NFL's fantasy football operations, as well as the potential to integrate sports betting and other special features. The NFL's equity stake in ESPN could be as much as 10%, CNBC first reported and the Athletic confirmed. An ESPN-NFL deal would require regulatory approval, a process that could take up to a year to complete. The two sides already have a cozy relationship. ESPN pays the NFL about $2.7bn per year to air a total of 25 games, including Monday Night Football. The network also holds the rights to the Super Bowls in 2027 and 2031. Friday's reported agreement comes as ESPN is preparing to launch its direct-to-consumer service, with subscribers paying $29.99 per month to bypass cable and satellite providers to view all of the network's programming through the ESPN app.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store