CTV National News: De-escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China
Watch
Markets surged on news China and the U.S. agreed to slash mutual tariffs by 115 per cent in a major de-escalation in the trade war. Joy Malbon explains.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
These 3 Passive-Income ETFs Are a Retiree's Best Friend
Most people don't want to spend much time managing their retirement portfolio once they've stopped working. After all, you've made it! This is the period in your life when it's time to relax. It is essential to know the tools available to help you build a diversified nest egg that will meet your needs without having to watch it 24/7. That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can help. These are buckets of stocks that trade under one ticker symbol. An ETF might follow an index or a particular investment strategy. The great thing is that a small handful of ETFs can create a well-diversified portfolio that will help protect you from risk. Here are three ETFs that could be a retiree's best friend. They are different from one another, but all three offer retirees the passive income they need. 1. Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF America is home to many of the world's most prominent companies, which is why the U.S. stock market is more valuable than any other countries' by a wide margin. However, there are still remarkable companies outside the United States that can help your portfolio. The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: VYMI) is a great way to add that international investment exposure without having to wade through data that could be in different currencies or languages. It's the perfect situation for an ETF. It carries a 0.22% expense ratio, which Vanguard claims is far lower than comparable funds. VYMI Dividend Yield data by YCharts The ETF holds nearly 1,500 stocks, primarily companies based in North America, Europe, the Pacific region, and emerging markets. Its holdings span virtually all industries and includes top holdings like Nestle, Novartis, Roche, and Shell. The ETF's current yield is approximately 4.6%. Since its inception in 2016, the ETF has generated annualized total returns averaging 8.3%. Consider the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF a great ETF for investing in fantastic companies that probably wouldn't be on your radar otherwise. 2. Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF The passive income doesn't stop there. The Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (NASDAQ: PEY) tracks an index of 51 stocks on the Nasdaq stock exchange with high yields and a history of dividend growth. Financial and utility stocks comprise roughly half the ETF, which lists Walgreens Boots Alliance, Altria, Franklin Resources, Verizon Communications, and UGI among its largest holdings. No stock represents more than 4% of the ETF, so it's well-diversified despite holding just 51 stocks. PEY Dividend Yield data by YCharts This ETF's expense ratio is 0.53%, a little higher than I generally like. However, it has averaged a 9.5% annualized return (pre-tax) over the past decade, giving investors solid total returns while meeting their passive income needs. Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF currently yields 4.6%. The fund's market price has climbed amid the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts, which underlines how attractive these reliable high-yield ETFs can be to investors in a lower-rate investing climate. 3. Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF Peace of mind is increasingly important as you age, which attracted me to the Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEMKT: SPHD). This ETF holds 52 companies listed on the S&P 500 index with high dividend yields and low betas. Stocks with high dividend yields can be more volatile because high yields can signal underlying trouble in a company. However, these low-beta stocks are the exception to this common wisdom. They generally stay more grounded and don't go up or down as sharply as the broader market. SPHD Dividend Yield data by YCharts Its top holdings include Bristol Myers Squibb, Altria, Kinder Morgan, AT&T, and Dominion Energy. Once again, the ETF holds a modest number of stocks (52), but the largest weighting is just over 3%. It's all spread pretty evenly, which means the ETF is well-diversified. The fund's yield is just 3.4%, following strong performance over the past 12 months. The ETF's annualized total returns have averaged 10% for the past decade, a pretty good deal considering the expense ratio is just 0.30%. Those looking for an ETF of mature blue chip dividend stocks should take a good look here. Should you invest $1,000 in Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF right now? Before you buy stock in Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 11, 2024 Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bristol Myers Squibb and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy, Nestlé, Roche Holding AG, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
UnitedHealth (UNH) CEO Hemsley Vows Cost Controls as Q1 Earnings Fall Short
UnitedHealth's (UNH) new CEO, Steve Hemsley, opened his tenure by apologizing for the company's first earnings miss since 2008, pledging to restore shareholder confidence and address rising care costs. Hemsley replaced Andrew Witty after the first-quarter shortfall, which was driven by unexpectedly high costs in the Medicare Advantage unit, prompting a suspension of the 2025 guidance as UnitedHealth recalibrated its financial outlook. Market Overview: UnitedHealth missed first-quarter earnings estimates for the first time since 2008 Medicare Advantage costs rose above forecast, leading to suspension of 2025 guidance Optum Rx pharmacy benefit manager and UnitedHealthcare insurer units faced higher-than-expected care costs Key Points: Hemsley committed to incorporating elevated care-cost assumptions into future pricing Company will review forecasting models and risk metrics across all business units Optum Rx and UnitedHealthcare divisions to undergo a comprehensive audit of practices Looking Ahead: Investors will watch for more accurate guidance tied to real medical-cost trends Execution of cost-control measures and transparent reporting will be critical to restoring confidence Containment of Medicare Advantage losses will determine near-term profitability and trust Bull Case: The return of Stephen Hemsley as CEO brings experienced leadership to UnitedHealth. Hemsley previously led the company from 2006 to 2017 and has a deep understanding of its operations. He has pledged to earn back shareholder trust and optimize quality in its health services. Hemsley has initiated a comprehensive review of all company policies, practices, and performance measures, including controversial areas like Medicare Advantage risk adjustment and pharmacy benefits management. This review will involve independent experts, and approaches will be modified where appropriate. The company plans to factor in higher care costs into its private insurance plans and next year's Medicare Advantage plans, which could help stabilize margins in the future. Despite recent setbacks, UnitedHealth has a history of resilience and delivering long-term value to shareholders, as evidenced by a total shareholder return of nearly 16% over the past five years. Hemsley expressed optimism about the company's future, stating that many of the issues are within UnitedHealth's control and capacity to resolve. Bear Case: UnitedHealth reported its first earnings miss since 2008 in the first quarter, driven by unexpectedly high medical costs in its Medicare Advantage unit, leading to a suspension of its 2025 financial outlook. The company's shares plummeted significantly following the earnings miss and guidance withdrawal, reflecting a sharp decline in investor confidence. Shares fell nearly 20% in pre-market trading after the initial Q1 earnings report and later hit their lowest closing price since October 2020. Rising care utilization, particularly in Medicare Advantage where physician and outpatient care activity was described as "twice the rate we anticipated," is a major challenge, straining medical costs and profitability. The Optum Health division faced reimbursement gaps due to members transitioning from exited plans who required costlier care than expected. The abrupt departure of former CEO Andrew Witty and the suspension of guidance less than a month after a previous downgrade indicate significant internal challenges and uncertainty regarding the company's financial trajectory. UnitedHealth faces reputational challenges and scrutiny over various practices, which new CEO Hemsley has acknowledged and pledged to review. Hemsley emphasized that future financial guidance would explicitly reflect rising care costs and that all segments must improve forecasting accuracy to rebuild trust. Analysts noted that UnitedHealth must demonstrate tangible progress in cost containment and deliver consistent, reliable forecasts to stabilize its stock and regain investor confidence.
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Yokogawa Announces Release of Next-Generation of the CENTUM VP Integrated Production Control System
Article content – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the announcement of the world's first distributed control system, CENTUM continues to shine in the areas of safety, security, and sustainable autonomous operations – Article content Article content TOKYO — Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces the unveiling of the next-generation Release 7 concept and the launch of Release 7.01 of the CENTUM TM VP integrated production control system, a core product in the OpreX TM Control and Safety System lineup. This is the 10th generation of the CENTUM series, and its release coincides with the 50th anniversary of the announcement of CENTUM as the world's first *1 distributed control system (DCS), on June 19, 1975. By realizing stable operations and expanding the scope of autonomy, CENTUM VP Release 7 will help our customers achieve a more sustainable society and sustainable business growth. Article content In addition to the dynamic changes in supply chains over recent years, countries have been strengthening regulations in response to a growing awareness of the need to protect the environment. At the same time, with the increasing use of digital technologies for complex applications such as the management of the utilization of renewable energy and the analysis of data in cloud-based environments, security risks have become a greater concern. Also, while utilizing existing tangible assets, there is a growing need to pass on to others the expertise of seasoned operators, and to reduce the workload and mental burden for personnel who are responsible for systems that must be kept operating around the clock. Amidst the growing complexity of these industry challenges, management and frontline personnel are required to increase competitiveness and strike a balance between the stable manufacturing of superior products and the need to improve efficiency and profitability. Article content In response to these issues, Yokogawa has based its development of CENTUM VP Release 7 on the concept of enabling autonomous operations *2. With CENTUM, Yokogawa is helping its customers attain sustainability by improving energy efficiency, accelerating decarbonization, and providing a safe and secure working environment. While maintaining the reliability, stability, continuity, robust security, and comprehensive engineering and service network that have been hallmarks of the CENTUM series since its inception, Yokogawa will drive innovations for the future in the following three areas: Article content Expanded scope of control and monitoring By securely aggregating a wide range of data scattered throughout the plant, the status of the entire plant can be monitored, and the scope of automated operation can be expanded, enabling safer and more secure operations. Predictive monitoring through process condition monitoring By extracting and identifying process-specific events related to operations and predicting deviations from expected values, operators can anticipate changes and take action, helping to achieve more stable operations and improve energy efficiency. Reduction of operator workload By presenting future scenarios that leverage operator knowledge and know-how, it supports the operator in making accurate decisions. In addition, autonomous control AI *3 can take over from operators to achieve long-term stable operation. This reduces operator workload and mental stress. Article content To achieve autonomous operations, it is essential to leverage AI while ensuring safety and security. Release 7.01 helps to establish the necessary foundation for this goal. The key features are as follows. Article content 1. Enhanced security Article content To achieve data-driven operations, it is crucial to ensure the security of critical infrastructure. This release adopts industry security benchmarks to strengthen the cybersecurity of the components that make up control systems and enhance the overall security level of the system. Article content 2. Expansion of control and monitoring scope with CENTUM Article content By integrating OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) connectivity, the range of plant equipment and devices that can be controlled and monitored by CENTUM is expanded. OPC UA is a platform-independent standard that enables data exchange between devices from different manufacturers in the industrial automation field. In this update, OPC UA client functionality has been added to CENTUM. Article content 3. Enhanced engineering capabilities for large-scale projects Article content To promote operational optimization by integrating various systems within the plant, a feature has been added that allows the merging and testing of multiple engineering databases related to CENTUM. This enhancement will enable high-quality and efficient engineering, contributing to the rapid startup of new plants and restart of upgraded plants. Article content Mitsuhiro Yamamoto, Vice President, Executive Officer, and head of the Systems Business Division at Yokogawa Electric stated, 'In this VUCA *4 era, the conditions required for manufacturing sites and management are becoming ever more complex. By realizing stable operations and expanding the scope of autonomy, CENTUM VP Release 7 will help our customers achieve a more sustainable society and sustainable business growth.' Article content *1 CENTUM has been recognized as the world's first DCS by Japan's National Museum of Nature and Science, which in 2012 designated CENTUM as such in the document 'Important Material for the History of Science and Technology (Heritage of Future Technology) ' (Japanese). This status was also confirmed by the Denki no Ishizue (Foundation of Electric Technology) 14th Electric Technology Awards (Japanese). *2 Yokogawa is advocating the transition from industrial automation to industrial autonomy (IA2IA), and defines industrial autonomy as a state where plant assets and operations possess learning and adaptive capabilities that allow responses with minimal human interaction, empowering operators to perform higher-level optimization tasks. Autonomous operations is the final stage of industrial autonomy, representing an ideal state where operations function with complete autonomy throughout a value chain. *3 The Factorial Kernel Dynamic Policy Programming (FKDPP) reinforcement learning AI algorithm. Yokogawa defines autonomous control AI as 'a robust system capable of deriving optimal control methods and autonomously responding to unexperienced situations to a certain extent.' Yokogawa already has experience in integrating the use of an autonomous control AI and CENTUM VP, and this has been officially adopted for use in controlling operations at a chemical plant. For this achievement, which has reduced environmental impact, lessened workloads, and improved safety, Yokogawa has received the Prime Minister's Prize, the highest of the 2023's Japan Industrial Technology Awards (Nihon Sangyo Gijyutsu Taisho), which was established in 1972. *4 An acronym that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity Article content More Information Article content About CENTUM Article content CENTUM was announced as the world's first distributed control system by Yokogawa Electric on June 19, 1975, and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Since its launch, more than 30,000 systems have been deployed in more than 100 countries around the world, supporting a wide range of industries such as oil refining, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, textiles, steel, pharmaceuticals, food, water, electric power, and gas. It's development was made possible by Yokogawa's experience in providing safe and stable control technologies. For over 50 years, CENTUM has continued to evolve as a core plant operations system characterized by reliability, stability, and continuity. By enhancing control functions, it has played a significant role in increasing product functionality, reducing energy consumption, and improving plant productivity. With 'trust' as the design theme during development, CENTUM is leading the safe and secure operation of industry, supported by Yokogawa's global service network. Article content OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa's IA products, services, and solutions. This brand comprises the following five categories: OpreX Transformation, OpreX Control, OpreX Measurement, OpreX Execution, and OpreX Lifecycle. One of the product groups that make up the OpreX Control category is the OpreX Control and Safety System family, which includes CENTUM VP. With its various OpreX Control solutions, Yokogawa is able to quickly effect changes for its customers that lead to a transformation in such areas as management and operations, and provides highly reliable control technology that ensures high efficiency, high quality, and safe and stable plant operations. With the OpreX brand, Yokogawa will deliver integrated solutions that address specific needs and support its customers in their efforts to transform and grow their businesses. Article content Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations. Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 128 companies spanning 62 countries. For more information, visit Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
