Latest news with #post-MemorialDay
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Oil eases after US data shows large builds in fuel stocks
HOUSTON: Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday after U.S. data showed larger-than-expected inventories of gasoline and diesel, adding to supply concerns amid global trade tensions and ongoing OPEC+ output increases. Brent crude futures were down 28 cents to $65.35 a barrel by 10:44 a.m. EDT (1444 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 8 cents to $63.33. Crude inventories dropped by 4.3 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 1 million barrels. However, U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 5.2 million barrels versus an estimate for a rise of 600,000 barrels, while distillate stockpiles rose by 4.2 million barrels compared with expectations for a rise of 1 million barrels. 'The report is in my view bearish, due to large builds in refined products,' Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst with UBS. 'There was a strong increase in refinery demand for crude, resulting in a large crude draw. But post-Memorial Day, the strong supply increase with weaker implied demand resulted in large refined product inventory increases,' he added. Oil: War, wildfires and weak demand Plans by OPEC+ producers to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July were also weighing on investors. Both benchmarks climbed about 2% on Tuesday to a two-week high, driven by worries about supply disruption and expectations that OPEC member Iran would reject a U.S. nuclear deal proposal key to easing sanctions on it. Russia, meanwhile posted a 35% decline in May oil and gas revenue on Wednesday, which could make Moscow more resistant to further OPEC+ output hikes, as such moves weigh on crude prices. Saudi Arabia and Russia last weekend reached a compromise on the July output increase plan as Riyadh pushed for more and Moscow argued for a pause, four OPEC+ sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are likely to speak this week, days after Trump accused China of violating a deal to roll back tariffs and trade curbs. On Tuesday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) cut its global growth forecast as the fallout from Trump's trade policies takes a bigger toll on the U.S. economy, which would in turn impact oil demand. 'Overall, we see limited upside potential amid ongoing concerns about a supply glut and softening demand growth,' analyst Ole Hansen at Saxo Bank said in a note. Offering some support for prices, meanwhile, were wildfires in Canada that reduced the country's output by some 344,000 bpd, according to Reuters calculations.
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Box Office: Lilo and Stitch crushes rivals with USD 63M second weekend, global gross past 600 million
Disney's Lilo & Stitch dominated the US box office in its second weekend, pulling in USD 63 million over the three-day frame. Despite a post-Memorial Day drop of 56.8 percent, the family-friendly remake outpaced all new releases, tripling its earnings and securing its spot as a box office force to reckon with. The live-action animated hybrid, directed by Dean Fleischer Camp and produced by the aforementioned studio, has now amassed USD 280 million domestically. The strong performance places Lilo & Stitch as the second-biggest second Friday earner of all time for a Memorial Day release, trailing only Tom Cruise's Top Gun: Maverick (USD 90 million, -28.9 percent). It edges past several major tentpoles in the same category, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (USD 44.8 million), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (USD 44.3 million), and Aladdin (USD 42.8 million). After its May 17 premiere at the El Capitan Theatre and wide release on May 23, Lilo & Stitch surged ahead with strong family turnout and millennial support, who rode the nostalgia wave. A reimagining of the beloved 2002 animated classic, the 2025 version stars newcomer Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai, with original director Chris Sanders returning to voice the blue alien dog Stitch. The film also features Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance, and Zach Galifianakis, with original cast members Tia Carrere, Amy Hill, and Jason Scott Lee appearing in new supporting roles. With its blend of humor, heart, and Hawaiian warmth, the film has found a solid audience despite mixed reviews—critics appreciated the acting performances and CGI efforts in the title but questioned the need for a remake. With Lilo & Stitch now eyeing USD 425–450 million in domestic earnings, the entry has already grossed a staggering USD 610 million globally, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2025 so far. Its success adds a major win to Disney's live-action portfolio, which very recently braved the bombing of the live-action remake of Snow White. As summer heats up, Lilo & Stitch shows no signs of cooling down, and all eyes are now on whether it can continue the momentum to emerge as the first billion-dollar grosser of the year.
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Act fast to save $100 on a 240Hz OLED gaming monitor
I saw a lot of great discounts on PC hardware over Memorial Day, but even though many have ended there are still some killer deals to be had. For example, the 27-inch Acer Predator X27U OLED gaming monitor is $499 at Newegg, which is $100 off its usual asking price. That's the cheapest I've ever seen this monitor on sale for, and one of the best post-Memorial Day OLED gaming monitor sales I've seen all week. This Acer Predator gaming monitor offers an adjustable 27-inch (2560 x 1440 pixels) OLED panel with up to a 240Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, so it's great for gaming. Plus, it supports HDR and comes with a built-in KVM switch. And while $500 is still a little pricey for a 27-inch gaming monitor that's not 4K, I think the fact you're getting an HDR-capable OLED panel is what makes this display worth buying. Ever since I switched from IPS to OLED I've hated going back, because the striking brights, inky blacks and sharp contrast you get on a good OLED panel blows non-OLED displays out of the water when playing games or watching movies. Plus, I kind of think the 1440p resolution can be a strength of this display because it hits a nice middle ground between 1080p and 4K gaming. You get more pixels than standard 1080p, but you don't need an incredibly beefy gaming PC to run the best PC games at high framerates on a 1440p display. You should be able to game seamlessly at high speed too thanks to this monitor's 240Hz refresh rate and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. It's also a good monitor for day-to-day productivity thank to its included KVM switch, and the built-in 5W stereo speakers are nice to have when you're lacking a pair of the best computer speakers. This monitor sports both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 ports, so you can plug in a modern console and count on full support for variable refresh rates and other HDMI 2.1-limited features. Plus, the display is adjustable, so you can tilt, swivel and raise or lower it a bit for optimal comfort.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Triple-digit heat in forecast as California braces for scorching summer
Much of California is set for its first heat wave of the season, as weather experts predict several parts of the state could experience record-high temperatures. The surge of warmth is expected to sweep across the state, peaking on Friday, May 30. Temperatures could soar near or above 100 degrees in the warmest deserts and valleys this weekend, said Heather Zehr, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather on May 27. "Really, this is the first widespread heat wave of the season," said Zehr, adding those areas are already under an extreme heat watch. "While there have been some heat cells, a couple of days here and there that's been shorter in duration, but in terms of the scope of the land area, this is the first." In California's Central Valley, triple digits are likely, as some locations could break daily records, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. Redding is forecast to hit up to 109 degrees on May 30, which would tie the city's all-time May record set in 2021, the agency said. Sacramento also could reach a high of 105 degrees on May 30, and Bakersfield could see a high of 106 degrees on May 31, the weather service added. Other cities with the greatest chance of breaking record highs include Paso Robles, Ojai, Palmdale and Lancaster, the weather service said. "There is an increasing chance — 30% to 40% — of Friday's highs approaching or breaking calendar daytime record(s) across some valley and desert areas," the agency said in its May 27 forecast. The triple-digit temps could extend into eastern parts of the San Francisco Bay Area as well. "There's definitely a significant warm-up expected in those areas, especially this Friday and Saturday," said Ryan Kittell, a weather service meteorologist based in Los Angeles. The Climate Prediction Center forecasts above-normal temperatures across most of California by Friday, May 30. However, cooler temps are expected throughout California by next weekend, Kittell said. Hot, hot, hot: Here's what Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting for summer 2025 in California The anticipated post-Memorial Day weekend heat wave in California comes as the weather service's latest three-month outlook on May 15 predicted temperatures in June, July and August will be "above normal" this summer. ''Normal' is based on the average of all temperatures from 1991 to 2020,' the weather service said. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center also predicts that this summer, California and the rest of the contiguous United States will experience above-average temperatures. Meteorological summer starts on June 1. And the astronomical summer, which is marked by the summer solstice, begins on June 20. A primer: All your questions about the 2025 hurricane season answered About 22.7 million Californians were living in areas affected by drought, according to a report released by the National Integrated Drought Information System on May 23. Overall, nearly 40% of California is experiencing drought conditions, with 18.3% classified as abnormally dry, 15.1% in moderate drought, 17.6% in severe drought, 7.0% in extreme drought and 0.1% in exceptional drought, a May 20 report said. "The drought is pretty much focused on the southern part of the state," Kittell said. "Most of California doesn't get much rain during the summer months, so for the vast majority of the state, it will be dry.". Weather Service working with less: First came the weather service staffing cuts. Then came the tornadoes. AccuWeather's Zehr also warns that the combination of intense to extreme heat, low humidity and dry vegetation could also increase the risk of wildfires sparking across the state. California is still recovering from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which swept through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena regions earlier this year, killing at least 29 and burning over 37,000 acres, or 57.8 square miles. The fires were fully contained in early February. They have been ranked as the second and third most destructive wildfires in California history, according to Cal Fire. "There may be an expansion of the short-term drought conditions, including areas with extreme or exceptional drought levels," Zehr said. "There hasn't been widespread, meaningful rainfall in California since mid- to late March, so fuels have had a chance to dry considerably over the past two months." Additionally, Zehr said there will be "a very dry air mass," along with the low relative humidity this weekend. "The high heat will help to make it even drier," Zehr said. "Gusty winds, while not reaching alarming levels, will also contribute to the dryness. These conditions will make it easier for fires to start and spread." (This story has been updated to add more information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California's first 'widespread' heat wave is coming this weekend
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Box Office: The Final Reckoning collects USD 7.2M on Discount Tuesday, USD 100M milestone expected by Friday
Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning continues to thrill at the US box office, pulling in a strong USD 7.2 million on Tuesday discount day. The post-Memorial Day performance marks only a 52 percent drop from the holiday Monday and nearly doubles the Tuesday haul of Mission: Impossible 2, which raked in USD 4.5 million with a 65.1 percent wane, cementing it as one of the strongest holds in the franchise. The film now ranks as the 12th-biggest post-Memorial Day Tuesday of all time, joining the ranks of major box office hits like Top Gun: Maverick (USD 15.8M) and Aladdin (USD 12M). It also held better than other legacy titles, including Fast & Furious 6, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. After six days in release, The Final Reckoning has reached a USD 86.2 million cumulative domestic total. It is now on track to cross the coveted USD 100 million mark by Friday, an impressive feat, especially given the film's limited screen count compared to previous entries due to its longer runtime. MI8 is also contending directly with another box office juggernaut, Disney's Lilo & Stitch, which earned USD 15.3 million on Discount Tuesday. The eighth and final installment in the Mission: Impossible series, The Final Reckoning, is directed by longtime collaborator Christopher McQuarrie and stars Cruise as Ethan Hunt. The film follows the iconic IMF agent and his team as they battle to stop the Entity, a rogue AI threatening global havoc. The ensemble cast includes Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett. Initially planned as part of a two-part finale, the film was restructured following production delays, including the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. With a reported budget of USD 300 to USD 400 million, it ranks among the most expensive films ever made. Despite production hurdles and stiff competition, the film has grossed USD 213 million globally, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2025 so far. It premiered in Tokyo on May 4 and screened at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14 before opening in US theaters on May 23 to largely positive reviews and the franchise's best opening weekend to date. Cruise's action legacy remains unscathed, proving yet again why he is one of Hollywood's last true box office draws.
