Norway's Economy Rebounds to Biggest Gain in Almost Three Years
Norway's economy surprised with better-than-expected growth in the first quarter, expanding at the fastest pace in almost three years, vindicating the central bank's cautious stance on easing.
Mainland gross domestic product, which excludes Norway's oil and gas industry, grew 1% in the first quarter from the previous three months when the economy contracted 0.4%, according to data from the statistics office on Thursday.
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Forbes
37 minutes ago
- Forbes
AI-Driven Robots Are Rewriting The Factory Rulebook
In cognitive manufacturing, production is being transformed as humans increasingly work alongside ... More intelligent robots. We are entering a new industrial revolution, the cognitive industrial revolution, where manufacturing is again being transformed through the growing use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), advanced robots, data, digital twins, and the internet-of-things (IoT). This revolution builds on the progress of the past by further automating, optimizing, and integrating intelligence into every aspect of production. It's an unparalleled economic disruption that will require timely knowledge and investment by leaders. At the leading edge of this revolution is the increasing adoption of robots. But these aren't the robots of the past. These are machines embedded with AI, something we now call physical AI, and behave with increasing amounts of agility and autonomy. A lot of us find robots fascinating and it's probably because they occupy an outsized role in contemporary science fiction literature and movies. For many, a combination of the Daleks from BBC's Doctor Who, and the droids, C3PO and R2D2 from Star Wars, form some early impressions. These narrow representations of robots probably limited our views of what role they could play in real life. The term robot means, surprisingly, but perhaps aptly, forced labor, and it's derived from the Czech word, Robota, first used in Karel Capek's 1920's play, 'Rossum's Universal Robots.' Robots are defined as mechanical machines, particularly those that are controlled by a computer and carry out complex actions. Robots can look like humans, we call them humanoids, but they're just as likely to take the form of a Roomba device that vacuums carpet, a single arm that welds metal joints in a factory, or a laparoscope in a hospital operating room. Unimate pouring coffee for a woman at Biltmore Hotel in 1967. 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Photographer: Jeffrey Dean/Bloomberg Today, significantly improved engineering coupled with AI is ushering in a new generation of robots and the era of cognitive manufacturing. These machines can perceive the world around them, make decisions and act autonomously to a degree, all while performing impressive movement. With less constraints, robots are showing success in mimicking a wide variety of human tasks. Many organizations are experimenting with and already deploying humanoids in areas such as human collaboration—the term cobot is used to describe when a robot assists a human in their work, and in a manufacturing context where tasks are dangerous, repetitive, or require significant strength. Perhaps the most striking development in cognitive manufacturing and robotics is the emergence of dark factories or lights-out manufacturing. This is when the entire production process operates independent of human participation. You could think of it as the ultimate end-state of automation. In these facilities, physical AI and smart machines are responsible for all aspects of production and they operate 24/7. With no humans, there is no need for salaries and health insurance, and no expenses such as heat and light, resulting in significant cost savings. The notion of workplace accidents goes away. The promise of the cognitive industrial revolution is a world where humanoids and other robots conduct complex artificial general intelligence (AGI) tasks in a fully autonomous fashion in every industry. This is also when robots will regularly and with ease do housework, babysit, cook food, deliver healthcare, and even provide companionship. Various projections suggest that in the years ahead there will be millions, perhaps even billions, of humanoids working alongside and as replacements for humans. Planning for a future of intelligent robots means thinking about how they might transform your industry, what it means for the future of work, and how it may change the relationship between humans and technology. Leaders must consider the ethical issues of cognitive manufacturing such as job disruption and displacement, accountability when things go wrong, and the use of surveillance technology when, for example, robots use cameras working alongside humans. The cognitive industrial revolution, like the industrial revolutions before it, will transform almost every aspect of our world, and change will happen faster and sooner than most expect. Consider for a moment, what will it take for each of us and our organizations to be ready for this future?
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Manchester United Forward Set for Exit as €60m Valuation Attracts Interest
Garnacho Edges Towards Exit as Manchester United Lower Price Tag Rising Star Now On Transfer List Alejandro Garnacho's time at Manchester United appears to be drawing to a close. According to Rudy Galetti via X, the club have significantly reduced their asking price for the 20-year-old Argentina international. 'As reported over ten days ago on TEAMtalk, Napoli, AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have recently shown interest in Garnacho,' Galetti stated, adding: 'Other clubs are now preparing to step [up for the] forward. Man Utd value him at ~€60m, a figure seen as more affordable than the January price.' Advertisement United's decision to cut the forward's price from the £60–70 million range to around £50 million (€60m) is not merely a market move, it's a message. Garnacho is no longer deemed essential to their future plans. The club want to generate capital to fund new signings, and Garnacho joins Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony on the list of high-profile attackers who could depart this summer. Undeniable Talent, Unsettling Behaviour Garnacho has always been a source of hope and frustration in equal measure. With 11 goals and 10 assists across all competitions last season, he was United's second most productive player behind Bruno Fernandes. But the flair on the pitch has been offset by immaturity off it. His response to United's Europa League final loss, calling the season 's***', and a series of poorly judged social media posts have not endeared him to the club's hierarchy. Advertisement It is, according to transfer insiders, not just the manager's decision. Fabrizio Romano reported: 'Alejandro Garnacho will leave Manchester United… the decision is made, not only on Ruben Amorim's side, but also [on the] management side.' Market Gathers Pace Interest in Garnacho is expected to intensify. Napoli had a £42m bid turned away in January, while Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen are all keeping tabs. For now, Chelsea seem focused on Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but should that pursuit falter, Garnacho could re-emerge as a priority target. Romano further revealed that 'three Premier League clubs have called for Garnacho,' though only Chelsea's name has surfaced publicly. Others, believed to be in the top half of the table, are monitoring developments closely. Advertisement Leverkusen's financial position may limit their chances, while AC Milan and Napoli are also constrained unless sales are made. The Premier League, with its spending power, remains Garnacho's most likely destination, albeit in a different shade of red or blue. Photo: IMAGO Strategic Exit or Misstep? United's decision to sell Garnacho at 20 years old, just as his numbers begin to climb, reflects a broader shift in their rebuild strategy. Attitude, adaptability, and application are now prioritised over raw talent. It's a bold approach, but whether the club will regret letting such a gifted wide man go remains to be seen. Advertisement With a new regime in place and a summer of change on the horizon, Garnacho looks set to become one of the window's most talked-about departures. Our View – EPL Index Analysis For United fans, watching Garnacho walk out the door at just 20 years old will sting. There's no doubting his raw talent, his stats from last season speak volumes. He produced moments that excited fans and gave the team attacking width and directness it often lacked. However, supporters are divided. Some feel his attitude and public comments have reflected a lack of maturity, while others argue that passion is being mistaken for petulance. Still, in an era where clubs fight tooth and nail to keep their brightest prospects, seeing Garnacho sold, especially at a reduced fee, raises questions about United's long-term vision. If he thrives elsewhere, it may become yet another painful footnote in a period littered with costly missteps.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 Top High-Yield Dividend Stocks You Can Confidently Buy and Hold Until at Least 2030
ExxonMobil's investment plan could add $20 billion in earnings and $30 billion in cash flow to its annual total in 2030. Kinder Morgan has pipeline projects underway that should enter service through 2030. These energy companies should have the fuel to continue growing their high-yielding dividends for at least the next five years. 10 stocks we like better than ExxonMobil › Investing in high-yielding dividend stocks has benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, they pay lucrative dividends, making them an excellent way to generate passive income. However, a negative is that many companies have high-yielding dividends because they have nothing better to do with their free cash flow than funnel it back to shareholders. That's not true with ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) or Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI). They're also investing heavily in growth projects over the next five years. Because of that, you can confidently buy and hold these energy stocks to collect their high-yielding dividends that should steadily rise through at least 2030. ExxonMobil is a preeminent dividend stock. The oil giant has increased its dividend payment for 42 straight years. That leads the oil industry and is a record that only 4% of companies in the S&P 500 have achieved. "And we plan for that track record to continue for decades to come," stated CFO Kathy Mikells on Exxon's fourth-quarter earnings conference call. She noted that continuing to deliver dividend growth is "only possible by investing in the high-quality growth opportunities that drive leading returns and higher cash flows." The oil giant plans to invest $140 billion into major projects and its Permian Basin development program through 2030. It expects "this capital to generate returns of more than 30% over the life of the investments," stated CEO Darren Woods in the press release unveiling its plan to 2030. That level of investment and returns has the potential to deliver incremental growth of $20 billion in earnings and $30 billion in cash flow by 2030, assuming oil prices average around $60 a barrel (below the current price point). That's a 10% compound annual growth rate for its earnings and an 8% growth rate for cash flow from last year's baseline. Exxon estimates that this plan could produce a staggering $165 billion in surplus cash through 2030. The company can use the money to increase shareholder distributions by growing the dividend and continuing to buy back boatloads of its stock. It's aiming to repurchase $20 billion of its shares this year and another $20 billion in 2026, assuming reasonable market conditions. Given Exxon's track record and visible earnings growth through 2030, it seems safe to assume it can continue growing its dividend, which yields nearly 4%, throughout this period. Kinder Morgan extended its dividend growth streak to eight straight years in 2025. The pipeline company's payout, which yields over 4%, should continue growing for at least the next five years. Several factors drive that view. For starters, the company has highly contracted and predictable cash flows. Only 5% of its cash flow is exposed to commodity prices, and another 26% is subject to volume risk. Take-or-pay agreements or hedging contracts that guarantee payment lock in 69% of its cash flow. Kinder Morgan pays out less than half of its stable cash flow in dividends. It retains the rest to invest in expansion projects and maintain its financial flexibility. The company currently has $8.8 billion of commercially secured expansion projects underway. That's a $5.8 billion increase from where its backlog was at the end of 2023. Its current slate of projects includes $8 billion of natural gas-related expansions. Those projects have in-service dates through the second quarter of 2030. Because of that, they'll supply the company with steadily growing cash flow through at least the end of that year. Kinder Morgan plans to continue adding fuel to its growth engine. It recently closed the $640 million acquisition of a natural gas gathering and processing system in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota, which will immediately boost its cash flow. The company has ample financial flexibility to complete additional accretive deals as opportunities arise in the future. Kinder Morgan is also pursuing a slew of additional growth projects. It's currently working on a substantial number of opportunities to supply additional gas to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals that are under development. The company is also pursuing opportunities to supply a lot more gas to the power sector, which is expected to require substantial additional fuel in the future to support the anticipated surge in electricity demand from catalysts such as AI data centers. With visible growth coming down the pipeline and more opportunities on the horizon, Kinder Morgan should have ample fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend through at least 2030. Most companies don't have a lot of growth visibility. That's what makes ExxonMobil and Kinder Morgan stand out. They currently have visibility into their ability to grow their earnings and cash flow through 2030. Because of that, it looks highly likely that they will be able to increase their high-yielding dividends throughout that time frame. That's why you can confidently buy and hold these dividend stocks for the next five years, if not much longer. Before you buy stock in ExxonMobil, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and ExxonMobil wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 173% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Top High-Yield Dividend Stocks You Can Confidently Buy and Hold Until at Least 2030 was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
