Latest news with #MichaelNolan
Agriland
20 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
Weanling bull sales start strong with prices near €7/kg
With the autumn weanling sales just around the corner, prices are running at record highs with the top prices for weanling bulls nearing €7/kg at one sale in Co. Leitrim over the weekend. At GVM Carrigallen Mart, Co. Leitrim, on Saturday, July 19, prices reached €6.98/kg for a 364kg weanling bull that totalled €2,540, bought by a local farmer. This 364kg weanling bull sold for €2,540 Mart manager Helen Kells told Agriland there have been small numbers of weanling bulls coming out to sales all summer and these have met a good trade throughout. The mart is hosting its first special sale of weanlings on Saturday, August 9, which is expected to see a big entry of suckler-bred weanlings. In Balla Mart, Co. Mayo, on Saturday, weanlings prices were described as "strong due the strong demand from export buyers" by mart manager Michael Nolan. The price of cattle at Balla Mart averaged out at €2,240/head this week. Bull weanlings weighing from 200-350kg averaged €4.96/kg, and bulls weighing from 350-450kg averaged €5.04/kg. Top bull prices from Balla Mart: 255kg Charolais-cross bull calf sold for €1,540 or €6.04/kg; 350kg Limousin-cross bull sold for €2,090 or €5.97/kg; 435kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,380 or €5.47/kg. The mart manager said: "What good quality heifers around 450kg was making was unreal - they were up by approximately €900/head on this time last year." Some of the top heifer prices from Balla Mart: 295kg Charolais-cross heifer sold for €1,780 or €6.03/kg; 375kg Salers-cross heifer sold for €2,400 or €6.40/kg; 485kg Charolais-cross heifer sold for €2,660 or €5.48/kg; 600kg Parthenaise-cross heifer sold for €3,430 or €5.72/kg. Lighter store heifers weighing from 300-400kg averaged €4.93/kg. Heifers weighing from 400-500kg averaged €4.67/kg and heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €4.65/kg.A farmer from Co. Longford sold a 510kg Limousin heifer for €3,080 or €6.04/kg. Store bullocks up to 500kg were up on last week the best making over €5.00/kg and up by €200/head on last week, according to the mart manager. Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged 4.71/kg. Store bullocks 400-500kg averaged 4.65p/kg. While heavier bullocks over 500kg averaged 4.23/kg. A Charolais bullock weighing 715kg sold for €3,300 to a northern factory buyer. The cows saw a good trade, with prices for dry cows over 500kg averaging €3.93/kg and the tops of the dry cows making €3,460/head. A six-year old Limousin cow with a bull calf at foot sold for €6,250 in the sale.
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 strikes Alaska Peninsula
An area of southeast Alaska where the quake occurred. Photo: AFP / Michael Nolan A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the US state of Alaska on Wednesday (US time), triggering a tsunami advisory, the US Geological Survey said. The earthquake took place at approximately 12:37 local time (2037 GMT), with its epicentre located about 87km south of the island town of Sand Point, USGS said. The epicentre had a relatively shallow depth of 20km. The site where the earthquake struck. Photo: USGS / Screenshot Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska peninsula after the quake, but later downgraded it to a tsunami advisory. The advisory was issued for "South Alaska And the Alaska Peninsula, Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles SW of Homer) to Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Unalaska)," the National Tsunami Warning Centre said. People in that area were advised to "move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbours, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets". Based on initial information, tsunami warnings were not issued for areas further afield, the NTWC said. Alaska is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The remote state was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America. It devastated the city of Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii, killing scores and causing more than US$400 million in property loss. A 7.2-magnitude quake hit off the Alaskan peninsula in July 2023, with no major damage reported following the tremor. -AFP
Agriland
17-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Mart trade: Record calf prices continue as heavier cattle ease
The mart trade over the past few days has seen record calf prices continue as heavier forward-type cattle prices have eased at some mart sales as a result of recent declines in factory beef price offers. At GVM Carrigallen Mart, Co. Leitrim on Saturday, June 14, calves made up to €1,050 for a Shorthorn heifer calf off a Friesian cow with a registered birth date of May 12, 2025. May-born Friesian bull calves made up to €700 and speaking to Agriland after the sale, Carrigallen Mart manager Helen Kells said there was strong activity from both farmers and export customers for calves at the most recent sale, with exporters managing to secure the majority of these calves. This Shorthorn-cross heifer calf made €1,050 In Balla Mart, Co. Mayo on Saturday, June 14, 400-500kg heifers 'were showing the knock-on effect of the factory cuts' with average prices below the €4/kg, according to mart manager Michael Nolan. Average bullock prices remained strong with 300-400kg bullocks averaging €4.23/kg. Store bullocks weighing from 400-500kg averaged €4.29/kg while heavier bullocks weighing over 500kg averaged €4.19/kg. One of the top prices in the bullock sale went to a Charolais bullock weighing 925kg that made €3,930 or €4.25/kg for a farmer from Cloonmore – Tuam. Some of the top bullock prices from the weekend sale at Balla Mart: 360kg Charolais bullock sold for €1,940 or €5.39/kg; 490kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,580 or €5.27/kg; 670kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,290 or €4.25/kg; 795kg Simmental bullock sold for €3,300 or €4.15/kg; 895kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,730 or €4.17/kg. While the average price for 400-500kg store heifers dropped below €4/kg, lighter store heifers weighing from 300-400kg averaged €4.26/kg. Heifers weighing from 400-500kg averaged €3.92/kg, while heavy heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €3.86/kg. A 330kg Belgian Blue-cross breeding heifer sold for an impressive €4,150 or €12.58/kg. The cows were described as 'a good trade with a surprising amount of dry cows still coming out', and cows weighing over 500kg averaging €3.59/kg. An eight-year-old Charolais cow with a bull calf at foot sold for €3,720. Commenting on the weanling trade, the mart manager said: 'There are great numbers of weanlings coming out – way more than normal for this time of year – and this week they were slightly up due the demand from export buyers.' The best price was paid for a 485kg March-2024-born Belgian Blue bull that made €3,600 or €7.52/kg. Another March 2024 weanling bull weighing 335kg sold for €9.13/kg or €3,060. Bull weanlings 200–350kg averaged 5.59/kg and bulls from 350-450kg averaged €5.08/kg with bulls weighing over 450kg averaging €5.10/kg.
Daily Mirror
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Newsboy's racing tips for Tuesday's four meetings, including Worcester Nap
Newsboy reckons his Nap, Salamanca Bay, can give his rider Michael Nolan a boost by winning at Worcester (2.30), and he also rates Jena d'Oudairies highly on the same card in the 4.00 MICHAEL NOLAN has an opportunity to put a sad chapter behind him on SALAMANCA BAY (2.30, Nap) at Worcester today. The selection runs in the same colours as the ill-fated Celebre D'Allen, also trained by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, who died days after collapsing when pulled up in the Grand National. Nolan received a ten-day ban for continuing on a horse the stewards deemed 'had no more to give' and had to deactivate his social media accounts due to the abuse he received. He returned to action last week and Salamanca Bay could be a fitting first winner back on his third start for the stable. The nine-year-old recorded his only chase win at Ayr, when with Lucinda Russell, and, after three runs for Dan Skelton, ran his best race in a while when third at Chepstow last month. A repeat of the front-running tactics adopted last time out can pay off for the well-handicapped gelding. Later on the same card JENA D'OUDAIRIES (4.00) should make the most of her superior form in the mares' novices' hurdle. The six-year-old has a long way to go to pay back her six figure purchase price but she has nevertheless been a reliable performer for Paul Nicholls in this modest grade, finishing outside the four only last time out when fifth in a valuable Cheltenham handicap. CHEPSTOW 2.20 GLAMOROUS JOY 2.50 SINJ 3.20 JOHNJAY 3.50 DIAMOND COTTAGE 4.20 VAPE 4.55 JENSON BENSON
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fidelity National Financial Inc (FNF) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Title Segment ...
Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Earnings (Q4 2024): $343 million Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Margin (Q4 2024): 16.6% Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Earnings (Full-Year 2024): $1.2 billion Adjusted Pre-Tax Title Margin (Full-Year 2024): 15.1% Total Revenue (Q4 2024): $3.6 billion Total Revenue Excluding Gains/Losses (Q4 2024): $4 billion Net Earnings (Q4 2024): $450 million Adjusted Net Earnings (Q4 2024): $366 million or $1.34 per diluted share Total Revenue Excluding Gains/Losses (Full-Year 2024): $13.6 billion Adjusted Net Earnings (Full-Year 2024): $1.3 billion Title Segment Revenue (Q4 2024): $2.1 billion Direct Premiums Increase (Q4 2024): 28% Agency Premiums Increase (Q4 2024): 27% Escrow, Title-Related, and Other Fees Increase (Q4 2024): 15% Personnel Costs Increase (Q4 2024): 11% Other Operating Expenses Increase (Q4 2024): 8% F&G Assets Under Management (End of 2024): $65.3 billion F&G Gross Sales (Full-Year 2024): $15.3 billion F&G Net Sales (Full-Year 2024): $10.6 billion F&G Adjusted Net Earnings (Q4 2024): $123 million F&G Adjusted Net Earnings (Full-Year 2024): $475 million Cash and Short-Term Liquid Investments (End of 2024): $786 million Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with FNF. Release Date: February 21, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Fidelity National Financial Inc (NYSE:FNF) reported strong fourth-quarter results with adjusted pre-tax title earnings of $343 million and a margin of 16.6%. The Title segment showed resilience with a 6% increase in daily purchase opened orders in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023. FNF's F&G segment profitably grew assets under management to a record $65.3 billion by the end of 2024. F&G contributed 38% of FNF's consolidated adjusted net earnings for the full year 2024, highlighting its role as a strong growth engine. The company maintained a strong balance sheet with $786 million in cash and short-term liquid investments at the holding company by the end of 2024. Refinance volumes remain significantly lower than the levels seen in early 2021 due to high mortgage rates. The housing market faced challenges with home sales in 2024 at the lowest level since 1995, attributed to high mortgage rates and a housing shortage. The Title segment's personnel costs increased by 11% and other operating expenses rose by 8% in Q4 2024. F&G's alternative investment returns were below long-term expectations by $27 million in Q4 2024. The company faces potential challenges with elevated mortgage rates persisting around 7%, which could impact future transaction volumes. Q: I was surprised to learn that your open orders in the Title business are accelerating into January despite the backup in rates. Could you give us more color on what's driving the strength in January? Are you taking market share? A: Michael Nolan, CEO: It's hard to determine on a monthly basis if we're taking market share, but we're encouraged by the 6% increase in purchase orders in the fourth quarter over last year. Refinance numbers were up 16% in January, indicating pent-up demand despite higher rates. We'll need more time to see how market share plays out. Q: On your F&G earnings call, you mentioned benefits from FNF's majority ownership. Are there any material benefits or synergies critical to executing your growth plans, or could F&G execute well as a standalone entity? A: Chris Blunt, CEO of F&G: We've run F&G as a standalone business, but benefits like hard capital support and cybersecurity advancements have been significant. The ratings upgrade was crucial for channel expansion, which has been a major growth driver. Q: What's your best guess on the impact of the data breach from the previous year on the Title margin expansion? A: Anthony Park, CFO: The impact was minor, possibly around 50 basis points on margin. We only had two days of disrupted transactions, and much of the revenue was recovered in December of last year. Q: Can you discuss the sustainability of the strong commercial results and your confidence in continuing to grow off the $1.2 billion base? A: Michael Nolan, CEO: Starting in June, we've seen strong growth in national orders, averaging about 12% over the last three quarters. Clients and business partners are optimistic about 2025, and the office sector's recovery could further boost commercial volumes. Q: How should we think about margins in 2025 compared to 2024, assuming market trends persist? A: Michael Nolan, CEO: Margins depend on factors like the mix of Direct and Agency, Commercial performance, and non-Title businesses. If 2025 sees more transactional volume, we expect better margins than in 2024, outperforming prior cycles with improved conditions. Q: Can you break down the margin by segment? A: Anthony Park, CFO: In Q4 2024, Direct operations had a margin of over 23%, Agency was about 7.5%, National Commercial units were around 34%, Loan Care was 23%, and Home Warranty was flat compared to the prior year. Q: Any impact from the wildfires on Q1 closings? A: Michael Nolan, CEO: The impact is minimal. While the fires are tragic, the affected areas don't have significant transactional volume, so the effect on our business is negligible. Q: How have investments in efficiency and technology impacted the Title segment, and what are the future focus areas? A: Michael Nolan, CEO: We've moved to cloud data storage and integrated our operations on the SoftPro platform, enhancing efficiency. Future focus includes improving the closing process and leveraging AI for better customer and employee experiences. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
