Latest news with #Sams
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clearmatics' New DeFi Derivatives Let Traders Bet on Anything, but It's Not a Prediction Market
Clearmatics, one of the first startups to explore how financial instruments can live on blockchains, is unveiling an entirely new class of decentralized futures products, which it is calling forecast markets. These fully on-chain instruments take the form of dated futures contracts that can track any public time series data, whether it's crypto indexes, inflation or temperatures, giving the appearance of something more akin to prediction markets such as Polymarket than traditional derivatives. Forecast markets will be supported on the soon-to-launch layer-1 blockchain Autonity and newly developed Autonomous Futures Protocol (AFP). The debut of the new Ethereum-compatible chain and the futures protocol will coincide with a "Forecastathon" next month, a way to invite quants, engineers and DeFi enthusiasts to participate in creating prototype products on Autonity. 'AFP supports the permissionless creation of dated futures contracts that can track any underlying time series of interest, not just market time series, but non-market time series, like GDP, inflation, global temperature, blockchain metrics etc," CEO Robert Sams said in an interview. 'Basically any time series that the market cares about enough to speculate on or hedge, you can create a product for on Autonity.' Despite sounding similar to prediction markets, currently popular owing to the success of Polymarket, the two don't work in the same way. Forecast contracts move one-to-one with some underlying factor providing a symmetrical payoff profile. Prediction markets deliver a one-off payout. When a prediction market event happens, the winning side is paid out and the market goes away. A sequence of futures contracts on an underlying data series, however, can go on in perpetuity, Sams said. This allows liquidity to build up over time, tracking risks that persist, whilst prediction markets are more focused on topical narratives, he said. Forecast markets are not meant to compete with prediction markets, Sams said. "We see forecast and prediction markets as complementary to one another, serving different needs in a shared and growing space of market-based mechanisms for managing uncertainty." The crypto derivatives space, which has been hotting up lately as some large exchanges acquired derivatives firms, remains largely dominated by perpetual futures products. Crypto perps will be supported in a future version of the AFP, Sams said, but on-chain, dated futures with the capability to track any real-world, measurable risk factor can create far more value and social utility than protocols focused on crypto asset markets, he said. 'There's a community of people in quantitative trading and machine-learning research who would love to test whether their systems have an edge in predicting things that currently cannot be traded,' Sams said. 'The long-tail of value creation will come when people discover how these instruments could be used to reduce the volatility of asset portfolios. Every portfolio has exposure to risk factors for which there is no corresponding financial hedging instrument.' Stanley Yong, head of the Autonity Foundation, the blockchain's decentralized governance entity, offers the pricing of Singapore's certificate of entitlement (COE) for cars as an example of a real-world risk that cannot be hedged today. 'Singapore controls the number of cars on its roads by rationing the supply of COEs through periodic COE auctions,' Yong said. 'All cars need a COE, so used car prices fluctuate with COE auction prices. A forecast contract that tracks COE auctions would allow someone looking to sell their car to hedge the amount they receive ahead of time.' A somewhat geekier, market structure element to the Autonity blockchain and the AFP is the separation of the exchange part, where buyers and sellers agree on a price and execute a trade, and the clearing part where smart contracts hold collateral, handle margin requirements and auction off under-funded positions. In other DeFi protocols, this is usually done in a vertically integrated architecture where a product can be traded only on a specific trading venue. The AFP allows products to be permissionlessly listed on multiple trading venues but with all the collateral and the cross-margining done on-chain, Sams said. This makes it very capital efficient, and also solves one of the key structural issues with the decentralized derivatives, which is the fragmentation of open interest across exchange silos. 'We think it's odd to call a market 'decentralized' when you can only trade it through one trading venue, even if that monopoly venue is a DEX,' Sams said. 'We think a market is only decentralized when participants can enter a position through whatever venue they choose and exit a position through whatever venue they choose."Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
News18
10-07-2025
- News18
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 And Z Flip 7 Series Launched In India: Price, Specs
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the new Z Flip 7 series are finally here, and these are the first to get One UI 8 based on Android 16 version. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 models have been unveiled in New York on Wednesday. The new foldables from the brand look to build on the heritage of Samsung's Fold series and look to freshen up the lineup to compete with a host of brands available in the segment these days. The Z Fold 7 is sitting alongside the Z Flip 7 and the new Z Flip 7 FE model and you have other products like the Galaxy Watch 8 series also added into the mix. Samsung teased the new launch with the Ultra experience and fair to say that you are getting some of the Ultra features now on the Fold series as well. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 price in India starts at Rs 1,74,999 for the base 12GB + 256G variant. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 prices start from Rs 1,09,999 while the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE model starts at Rs 89,999. Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Z Flip 7 series pre-orders start from July 9 in India and will be available at stores from July 25 in the country. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Specifications Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has been promised a refined design upgrade and numbers speak for themselves. When you fold the Z Fold 7, you get a 8.9mm thickness, while the unfolded state gives you 4.2mm in dimensions. More importantly, the Z Fold 7 weighs 215 grams which is significantly trimmed down from the 239 grams on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 model. Now that the design has been the focus for the brand, it is time to look at the screen sizes and the quality on offer. The device is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The company has managed to bring the new flagship product with the latest One UI 8 version based on Android 16 out of the box. This is a big feat for Samsung, as it manages to launch the new Android flavour before Google brings it with the new Pixel flagships. The new fold will get 7 years of OS upgrades as well as security updates. Next up is the imaging department, where you get a triple camera setup once again but the upgrades are in the sensors. You get a 200MP primary wide sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP telephoto lens with OIS and 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 might have gotten lighter and thin but the 4,400mAh battery unit seems to have been retained from its predecessor and with support for 25W charging speed. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 And Z Flip 7 FE Specifications The Galaxy Z Flip 7 now gets a bigger 4.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate support. The inner screen is also at 6.9-inch but with a Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel that supports 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The Z Flip 7 FE gets a 3.4-inch cover display while the main screen comes at 6.7-inch with the Dynamic AMOLED 2x panel. The Z Flip 7 comes at 6.5mm when unfolded and weighs 188 grams. The Z Flip 7 FE is 6.9mm thin and weighs 187 grams. Unlike the Fold 7, Samsung is going with the Exynos 2500 chipset for the Flip 7 and the Exynos 2400 SoC for the Z Flip 7 FE variant. The premium Flip 7 comes with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage, while the Z Flip 7 FE gets 8GB RAM with up to 256GB storage. The back of the Z Flip 7 comes with a dual camera system that consists of a 50MP wide sensor with OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. It has a 10MP selfie camera. The Z Flip 7 FE also has a 50MP wide sensor with OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide lens at the back. And finally, you have the Galaxy Z Flip 7 packing a 4,300mAh battery, while the Z Flip 7 FE has been offered with a smaller 4,000mAh unit. Both the devices get 25W charging speed out of the box, and yes, no adapter available with the unit. First Published: July 09, 2025, 20:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Highgate names Pete Sams president
This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter. Highgate named Pete Sams president, effective July 7, the New York-based hotel management, investment and development firm announced Monday. In the newly created role, Sams is tasked with optimizing business performance across Highgate's 500-property portfolio to drive financial results for owners, create memorable experiences for guests and expand opportunities for associates, according to the firm. In his role, Sams will work closely with Highgate's principals, including CEO Arash Azarbarzin, and discipline leaders, per the company. The 30-year industry veteran joins Highgate from Peregrine Hospitality, formerly KSL Resorts, where he was chief operating officer. Prior to Peregine, Sams held the same role at Davidson Hospitality Group. Also this week, Davidson Hospitality appointed Jason Reader chief operating officer. According to Highgate, Sams' appointment is 'a strategic move' in line with its mission to build 'a world-class team committed to creating lasting value and leading outcomes for stakeholders.' 'Pete brings an extraordinary track record of unlocking performance, energizing teams, and delivering sustained results across complex portfolios,' Mahmood Khimji, Highgate's co-chairman and managing principal, said in a statement, adding that Sams' expertise 'will be a catalyst to sharpen our strategic focus, accelerate growth, and elevate the value we deliver to our owners and partners around the world.' Prior to joining Davidson Hospitality, Sams held executive roles at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and White Lodging Services and spent nearly two decades at Omni Hotels. He is also a two-term representative on the American Hotel & Lodging Association's board of directors. Highgate has expanded its luxury lifestyle portfolio in recent years to capitalize on interest in the growing hotel segment. Recommended Reading Highgate names Matt Greene EVP of luxury residences
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Duval County Public Schools considers removing DEI language from its policies, no decision made yet
Duval County School Board members are considering removing diversity, equity, and inclusion from its district policy handbook. But as of now, the DEI language remains. Cami Sams, the district's Executive Director of Policy and Compliance, said she does not want to risk losing federal dollars for the continuation of DEI practices. 'I don't know if we can predict when that will impact us or when these policies will be reviewed, but I do think that for us as a district, that's something we do have to look at,' Sams told board members. The Policy Handbook Review Committee shared this agenda packet (see below). PUBLISHED - May 28, 2025, Policy Handbook Review Committee - REVISED4 - GC by ActionNewsJax on Scribd The lines of red text that are marked through signal the proposed removal of a policy. This was done so by Sams. Some of her suggestions include removing the equity policy, eliminating cultural considerations when creating curriculum, and scrapping language that prohibits racial, gender, and age discrimination. Sams reiterated to members that this is only an attempt to be compliant with the federal executive order. 'We wanted to bring this policy forward to the board because the law has updated,' she told members. Board members spent hours discussing how the policies in the handbook could be reworded for compliance but still incorporate language that is fair and welcoming. Board Members Darryl Willie and Reginald Blount tossed around the idea of swapping out the word 'diverse' for words like 'broad' or 'multi-talented.' 'It's important to figure out some word that explains to the public that we do want you if you're a veteran, or if you're coming from somewhere else, or if you have a different background,' Willie said. Board Chair Charlotte Joyce, though, believes the district will continue to use fair practices in hiring because discrimination is already illegal. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'We're not really looking at your ethnicity, we're not looking at your gender, we're not factoring those things into consideration,' Joyce said. Board Member Melody Bolduc told her colleagues that she is for diversity, too. But feels like it is forced when the DEI language is included in policy. 'I don't want it engineered. I'd like it to happen natural,' Bolduc said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] DCPS spokesperson Dr. Tracy Pierce said that this conversation is just the first of many as the board continues to iron out the details of what this policy revision could look like. 'After today's conversation, we'll take all of that input back and our team will kind of rewrite the policy and try to get it to a point where the board will have its debate and arrive at final language that they can agree on,' he said. Pierce encourages people to stay up to date with the board's meeting agendas as he expects more conversations about DEI through June. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Gunk by Saba Sams: nightclub boss left holding the baby after ex-husband's one-night stand
Author lives up to the hype in debut novel Gunk, with a portrayal of parenthood that is both smart and fresh Today at 21:30 The publishing world loves and thrives on fresh blood, and was especially exhilarated when Saba Spiral Sams, then 25, released Send Nudes, a coolly deadpan collection of 10 short stories. The slim but punchy collection, published in 2022, featured plenty of knockout one-liners, and covered all kinds of Gen Z preoccupations, from Tinder dating and selfies to miscarriage and shapewear. It marked Sams, who became a mother at 22, as a writer of considerable humanity, and one with plenty to say. With a place on Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2023, Sam's debut novel, if and when it appeared, was destined to make a splash.
