Latest news with #sub-Antarctic
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Fed Will Cut Interest Rates
US Fed Chairman Jerome Powell is not expected to announce a rate cut as the latest FOMC meeting comes to a close later Wednesday afternoon. However, the Fed fund futures forward curve is showing a cut to occur either at the end of the September or November meeting, with another possibly in December. More News from Barchart Here's What Happened the Last Time Novo Nordisk Stock Was This Oversold Tesla Just Signed a Chip Supply Deal with Samsung. What Does That Mean for TSLA Stock? Earnings Will Be 'Worse Than Expected' for UnitedHealth. How Should You Play UNH Stock Here? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! On the other hand, the US dollar index could be signaling a belief that US interest rates will see hikes to fight inflation rather than cuts as 2025 progresses. The Federal Open Market Committee, loving known as the FOMC or the Fed, will cut interest rates. No, not today. Don't be silly. But sometime. Maybe. Unless someone is foolish enough to get the US into trade wars and impose tariffs on nearly every country on earth, including Australia's Heard Island and McDonald Islands. (Yes, the latter two are described as 'barren sub-Antarctic volcanic islands, home to penguins. That's right. Penguins. Obviously an economic rival.) For now, though, the Fed fund forward curve is indicating no change in interest rates at the conclusion of the latest meeting this afternoon and possibly the September meeting. Despite the bluster and threats from the US president. Enough about him, though. Let's focus on some key markets early Wednesday morning. As I mentioned, the Fed fund futures forward curve is indicating no change in rates. For now. The nearby July contract (ZQN25) is priced at 95.67, putting the expected Fed fund rate at 4.33% Still within the Fed's target range between 4.5% (red line) and 4.25% (green line) Meaning the futures market is indicating no change is expected this month The next scheduled meetings of the FOMC is September 15 and 16, then November 4 and 5. Here's where the forward curve starts to get interesting. The August futures contract (ZQQ25) is priced at 95.6775 putting the expected rate at 4.3225%, still within the Fed's expected range when Chairman Powell makes the official announcement Wednesday afternoon. However, the September futures contract (ZQU25) is priced at 95.75, putting the expected rate at 4.25%, the low end of the Fed's current (sorry Tony D.) range. This hints at the market pricing in a possible rate cut on Wednesday, September 16. Or maybe not. Again, it is not below the low end of the range, it just isn't above. It's sitting on the mark, meaning the futures market is unsure at this time. But things get even more intriguing as we look further down the forward curve. Keep in mind there is no meeting scheduled for October. The October futures contract (ZQV25) is priced this morning (Wednesday, July 30, 2025) at 95.845 putting the expected rate at 4.155%, below the low end of the target range and indicating the futures market is pricing in at least a 25-basis point rate cut. Either in September, or more likely at the conclusion of the early November meeting. Speaking of November, the futures contract (ZQX25) is priced at 95.96 putting the expected rate at 4.04, nearing the low end of what would be the new target range between 4.0% and 4.25%. Closing out the 2025 calendar year portion of the forward curve, the December issue (ZQZ25) is priced at 96.08 putting the expected rate at 3.92%, indicating a second rate cut at the end of the December meeting. The futures market seems a bit optimistic, but that isn't unusual. If you recall my previous pieces on the subject, the forward curve has consistently been showing possible rate cuts, only to keep pushing back the time frame. Are there indications the Fed could actually raise rates before cuts are made? That's an interesting possibility. While not being indicated on the Fed fund futures forward curve, it could be argued this is what the potential bullish turn in the US dollar index is trying to tell us. From a technical point of view, for what that's worth these days, there is a strong likelihood the US dollar index will complete a bullish reversal pattern on its long-term monthly chart as July comes to a close. All the greenback needs to do is finish the month above the June settlement of 96.75. Early Wednesday morning, with only two trading days remaining in the month and the Index sitting at 98.77, it seems almost a given the greenback will generate a long-term buy. But there are no guarantees in markets, so we will watch to make sure. If the US dollar index completes a bullish reversal pattern, either a standard spike reversal or a more meaningful key reversal, and Newsom's Market Rule #6 is taken into account (Fundamentals win in the end), then we would expect the main fundamental factor of the market to turn bullish as well. What is the 'main fundamental factor' of any country's currency? Interest rates. Therefore, if the US dollar index is set to move into a long-term uptrend, the implication is US rates are expected to rise to fight the coming inflation fueled by the aforementioned trade wars and tariffs. On the date of publication, Darin Newsom did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
This bird can go days without ever flapping its wings
When it comes to sheer wingspan, no bird matches the majestic Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans). Known for its near-mythical status among seabirds, this gentle giant of the Southern Ocean holds the title for the largest wingspan in the world, stretching up to an astonishing 3.5 metres (11.5 feet). Imagine a bird so wide-winged that it can glide over vast oceans without flapping its wings for hours, sometimes even days. The Wandering Albatross does exactly that. With its expansive wings, it rides the fierce southern winds in a flight style called dynamic soaring, making use of the wind gradients over the waves. This technique allows it to cover mind-boggling distances; some individuals have been recorded circumnavigating the entire Southern Ocean during a single feeding trip. These seabirds spend most of their lives in flight, only returning to land to breed on remote sub-Antarctic islands. Their lifespan? Often more than 50 years, with some individuals known to live even longer. It's said that they fall in love for life, forming lifelong pair bonds, a romantic notion that has inspired sailors and poets alike. But their incredible wingspan is not just for show. The vast reach of their wings is a survival tool, allowing them to glide over roaring oceans with minimal effort. This efficiency helps them forage across vast stretches of the sea, searching for squid, fish, and krill. As National Geographic points out, this remarkable energy-saving flight is what allows them to thrive in some of the most remote and challenging parts of our planet. Sadly, despite their almost mythical endurance, Wandering Albatrosses face real threats. Longline fishing, which unintentionally hooks these birds as they swoop for bait, is a major cause of declining numbers. Climate change and shifting marine ecosystems add to their challenges. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are now listed as a vulnerable species, highlighting the urgent need for global conservation efforts. For many, the image of the Wandering Albatross soaring over the southern seas symbolises freedom and resilience. But it also reminds us of the delicate balance of life on Earth, and how even the mightiest can be fragile in the face of human impact.
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Southern hemisphere is full of birds found nowhere else on Earth, reveals study
MELBOURNE: The snow petrel, a strikingly white bird with black eyes and a black bill, is one of only three bird species ever observed at the South Pole. In fact, the Antarctic is the only place on Earth where this bird lives. It isn't alone in this. Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic harbour a large number of endemic species, which means these species are only found in one or a few locations in the world. In other words, these regions have a high degree of endemism an important metric that tells us where to focus species conservation efforts. But our new study shows that the degree of endemism in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic and in the southern hemisphere more generally has been underestimated. This is important because areas with a high degree of endemism harbour species with restricted ranges, unique evolutionary history or unique ecological functions. This makes them potentially more vulnerable to disturbances such as climate change, fundamental changes in habitat, or invasive introduced species. If the degree of endemism is underestimated, conservation efforts may overlook the sites that are home to irreplaceable birds. Biased measurements: There are two reasons why global patterns of species endemism aren't well defined. First, the most common method used to calculate endemism tends to give higher values to places with more species overall -- this is known as species richness. In addition, global studies of diversity often exclude areas that are comparatively species-poor. These areas are mainly in the southern hemisphere, most notably the Antarctic region. When sites that only contain a few species are left out, this influences the estimates of endemism for all other sites. An alternative way to calculate endemism takes into account a site's complementarity. This metric considers whether species found at a site are also found elsewhere. With this method, we can find sites that have the highest percentage of species with a restricted range. At such highly endemic sites, the local ecosystem relies heavily on species with restricted ranges to function, which makes them all the more irreplaceable. Global hotspots for endemic species This is the approach we used in our new study to reassess the endemism of birds worldwide. In our study, we also considered other aspects of bird diversity. We measured endemism with regard to whether sites hold irreplaceable evolutionary history and ecological functions of birds. We found that southern-hemisphere communities showed higher rates of local endemism than northern-hemisphere communities across all aspects of diversity. The sub-Antarctic islands and the High Andes, as well as several regions in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and southern Africa, stand out as global hotspots of endemism.
West Australian
21-06-2025
- Climate
- West Australian
3000 swimmers bare all and strip down to tackle the harsh waters on during the winter solstice
Swimmers have stripped off and braved brisk waters on the shortest day of the year. Wearing nothing but red swim caps, 3000 souls took the annual nude sunrise plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice on Saturday. The water temperature was about 13C as the naked pack took to the river at 7.40am, sparking shrieks and anguished yells. Liz Cannard, who has been travelling around Tasmania for almost four months with her husband, said she was petrified before taking the dip. 'I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't take my gear off for anybody ... so I've ticked off a couple of things today,' the Geelong resident said. Lizzy Nash from Sydney was also in the mood for a bit of carpe diem. 'It's about seizing the moment, seizing life and being inspired,' she said. 'This is the sort of thing that motivates you to want to do more and challenge yourself. It was awe-inspiring and I absolutely loved it.' The free swim is part of the Dark Mofo festival and started with just a few hundred participants in 2013. Melburnian Belinda Chambers has been watching people do it on television for years and decided to work remotely from Tasmania for the festival so she could stay and leave on a high. 'So exhilarating,' she said post swim. 'I was nervous but there was this almost primal moment of everyone being together that carries you along, and a sense of pure happiness.' Dark Mofo festival returned to its full pomp in 2025 after running a reduced program in 2024 so it could find a more sustainable financial model. It has made a name for itself by courting controversy and in 2018 drew the ire of some by installing inverted Christian crosses along Hobart's waterfront. Festival artistic director Chris Twite said the swim was a tremendous way to bring things to a close. 'The response in 2025 has been incredible,' he said. 'The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again.' University of Queensland psychologists surveyed swimmers in previous years before and after they took the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection. 'People told us about whether they felt pain and pleasure during the swim,' Laura Ferris said. 'And those who rated their swim as pleasurable also felt more social connection with the other people around them.' It is an example of people seeking out aversive experiences, such as eating extremely spicy food or watching horror movies. 'This is what psychologists call 'benign masochism',' Dr Ferris said. That could be the optimal term for expeditioners at Australia's four Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, who also celebrated the solstice with a much-colder traditional plunge. At the three Antarctic stations, a hole is cut in the sea ice each year and expeditioners have a quick dip in the sub-zero waters. 'The shock is closely followed by a rush, which is quickly followed by a scramble to the ladder to get the hell out of that water,' Mawson Station leader Dave Roberts said. 'Ironically, the water is warmer than the wind chill, so it's all a bit confusing but totally worth it.' Those on the sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island have it mildly easier for their beach swims, with temperatures hovering from 2C to 4C. A shared meal and the exchanging of gifts and awards round out expedition festivities for the solstice, which is historically the most important day on the Australian Antarctic calendar. 'It's the soul of the Antarctic winter,' Casey Station leader Andy Warton said.
The Advertiser
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Primal moment: nudes brave icy waters for solstice swim
Swimmers have stripped off and braved brisk waters on the shortest day of the year. Wearing nothing but red swim caps, 3000 souls took the annual nude sunrise plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice on Saturday. The water temperature was about 13C as the naked pack took to the river at 7.40am, sparking shrieks and anguished yells. Liz Cannard, who has been travelling around Tasmania for almost four months with her husband, said she was petrified before taking the dip. "I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't take my gear off for anybody ... so I've ticked off a couple of things today," the Geelong resident said. Lizzy Nash from Sydney was also in the mood for a bit of carpe diem. "It's about seizing the moment, seizing life and being inspired," she said. "This is the sort of thing that motivates you to want to do more and challenge yourself. It was awe-inspiring and I absolutely loved it." The free swim is part of the Dark Mofo festival and started with just a few hundred participants in 2013. Melburnian Belinda Chambers has been watching people do it on television for years and decided to work remotely from Tasmania for the festival so she could stay and leave on a high. "So exhilarating," she said post swim. "I was nervous but there was this almost primal moment of everyone being together that carries you along, and a sense of pure happiness." Dark Mofo festival returned to its full pomp in 2025 after running a reduced program in 2024 so it could find a more sustainable financial model. It has made a name for itself by courting controversy and in 2018 drew the ire of some by installing inverted Christian crosses along Hobart's waterfront. Festival artistic director Chris Twite said the swim was a tremendous way to bring things to a close. "The response in 2025 has been incredible," he said. "The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again." University of Queensland psychologists surveyed swimmers in previous years before and after they took the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection. "People told us about whether they felt pain and pleasure during the swim," Laura Ferris said. "And those who rated their swim as pleasurable also felt more social connection with the other people around them." It is an example of people seeking out aversive experiences, such as eating extremely spicy food or watching horror movies. "This is what psychologists call 'benign masochism'," Dr Ferris said. That could be the optimal term for expeditioners at Australia's four Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, who also celebrated the solstice with a much-colder traditional plunge. At the three Antarctic stations, a hole is cut in the sea ice each year and expeditioners have a quick dip in the sub-zero waters. "The shock is closely followed by a rush, which is quickly followed by a scramble to the ladder to get the hell out of that water," Mawson Station leader Dave Roberts said. "Ironically, the water is warmer than the wind chill, so it's all a bit confusing but totally worth it." Those on the sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island have it mildly easier for their beach swims, with temperatures hovering from 2C to 4C. A shared meal and the exchanging of gifts and awards round out expedition festivities for the solstice, which is historically the most important day on the Australian Antarctic calendar. "It's the soul of the Antarctic winter," Casey Station leader Andy Warton said. Swimmers have stripped off and braved brisk waters on the shortest day of the year. Wearing nothing but red swim caps, 3000 souls took the annual nude sunrise plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice on Saturday. The water temperature was about 13C as the naked pack took to the river at 7.40am, sparking shrieks and anguished yells. Liz Cannard, who has been travelling around Tasmania for almost four months with her husband, said she was petrified before taking the dip. "I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't take my gear off for anybody ... so I've ticked off a couple of things today," the Geelong resident said. Lizzy Nash from Sydney was also in the mood for a bit of carpe diem. "It's about seizing the moment, seizing life and being inspired," she said. "This is the sort of thing that motivates you to want to do more and challenge yourself. It was awe-inspiring and I absolutely loved it." The free swim is part of the Dark Mofo festival and started with just a few hundred participants in 2013. Melburnian Belinda Chambers has been watching people do it on television for years and decided to work remotely from Tasmania for the festival so she could stay and leave on a high. "So exhilarating," she said post swim. "I was nervous but there was this almost primal moment of everyone being together that carries you along, and a sense of pure happiness." Dark Mofo festival returned to its full pomp in 2025 after running a reduced program in 2024 so it could find a more sustainable financial model. It has made a name for itself by courting controversy and in 2018 drew the ire of some by installing inverted Christian crosses along Hobart's waterfront. Festival artistic director Chris Twite said the swim was a tremendous way to bring things to a close. "The response in 2025 has been incredible," he said. "The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again." University of Queensland psychologists surveyed swimmers in previous years before and after they took the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection. "People told us about whether they felt pain and pleasure during the swim," Laura Ferris said. "And those who rated their swim as pleasurable also felt more social connection with the other people around them." It is an example of people seeking out aversive experiences, such as eating extremely spicy food or watching horror movies. "This is what psychologists call 'benign masochism'," Dr Ferris said. That could be the optimal term for expeditioners at Australia's four Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, who also celebrated the solstice with a much-colder traditional plunge. At the three Antarctic stations, a hole is cut in the sea ice each year and expeditioners have a quick dip in the sub-zero waters. "The shock is closely followed by a rush, which is quickly followed by a scramble to the ladder to get the hell out of that water," Mawson Station leader Dave Roberts said. "Ironically, the water is warmer than the wind chill, so it's all a bit confusing but totally worth it." Those on the sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island have it mildly easier for their beach swims, with temperatures hovering from 2C to 4C. A shared meal and the exchanging of gifts and awards round out expedition festivities for the solstice, which is historically the most important day on the Australian Antarctic calendar. "It's the soul of the Antarctic winter," Casey Station leader Andy Warton said. Swimmers have stripped off and braved brisk waters on the shortest day of the year. Wearing nothing but red swim caps, 3000 souls took the annual nude sunrise plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice on Saturday. The water temperature was about 13C as the naked pack took to the river at 7.40am, sparking shrieks and anguished yells. Liz Cannard, who has been travelling around Tasmania for almost four months with her husband, said she was petrified before taking the dip. "I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't take my gear off for anybody ... so I've ticked off a couple of things today," the Geelong resident said. Lizzy Nash from Sydney was also in the mood for a bit of carpe diem. "It's about seizing the moment, seizing life and being inspired," she said. "This is the sort of thing that motivates you to want to do more and challenge yourself. It was awe-inspiring and I absolutely loved it." The free swim is part of the Dark Mofo festival and started with just a few hundred participants in 2013. Melburnian Belinda Chambers has been watching people do it on television for years and decided to work remotely from Tasmania for the festival so she could stay and leave on a high. "So exhilarating," she said post swim. "I was nervous but there was this almost primal moment of everyone being together that carries you along, and a sense of pure happiness." Dark Mofo festival returned to its full pomp in 2025 after running a reduced program in 2024 so it could find a more sustainable financial model. It has made a name for itself by courting controversy and in 2018 drew the ire of some by installing inverted Christian crosses along Hobart's waterfront. Festival artistic director Chris Twite said the swim was a tremendous way to bring things to a close. "The response in 2025 has been incredible," he said. "The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again." University of Queensland psychologists surveyed swimmers in previous years before and after they took the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection. "People told us about whether they felt pain and pleasure during the swim," Laura Ferris said. "And those who rated their swim as pleasurable also felt more social connection with the other people around them." It is an example of people seeking out aversive experiences, such as eating extremely spicy food or watching horror movies. "This is what psychologists call 'benign masochism'," Dr Ferris said. That could be the optimal term for expeditioners at Australia's four Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, who also celebrated the solstice with a much-colder traditional plunge. At the three Antarctic stations, a hole is cut in the sea ice each year and expeditioners have a quick dip in the sub-zero waters. "The shock is closely followed by a rush, which is quickly followed by a scramble to the ladder to get the hell out of that water," Mawson Station leader Dave Roberts said. "Ironically, the water is warmer than the wind chill, so it's all a bit confusing but totally worth it." Those on the sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island have it mildly easier for their beach swims, with temperatures hovering from 2C to 4C. A shared meal and the exchanging of gifts and awards round out expedition festivities for the solstice, which is historically the most important day on the Australian Antarctic calendar. "It's the soul of the Antarctic winter," Casey Station leader Andy Warton said. Swimmers have stripped off and braved brisk waters on the shortest day of the year. Wearing nothing but red swim caps, 3000 souls took the annual nude sunrise plunge into Hobart's River Derwent to mark the winter solstice on Saturday. The water temperature was about 13C as the naked pack took to the river at 7.40am, sparking shrieks and anguished yells. Liz Cannard, who has been travelling around Tasmania for almost four months with her husband, said she was petrified before taking the dip. "I'm not a strong swimmer and I don't take my gear off for anybody ... so I've ticked off a couple of things today," the Geelong resident said. Lizzy Nash from Sydney was also in the mood for a bit of carpe diem. "It's about seizing the moment, seizing life and being inspired," she said. "This is the sort of thing that motivates you to want to do more and challenge yourself. It was awe-inspiring and I absolutely loved it." The free swim is part of the Dark Mofo festival and started with just a few hundred participants in 2013. Melburnian Belinda Chambers has been watching people do it on television for years and decided to work remotely from Tasmania for the festival so she could stay and leave on a high. "So exhilarating," she said post swim. "I was nervous but there was this almost primal moment of everyone being together that carries you along, and a sense of pure happiness." Dark Mofo festival returned to its full pomp in 2025 after running a reduced program in 2024 so it could find a more sustainable financial model. It has made a name for itself by courting controversy and in 2018 drew the ire of some by installing inverted Christian crosses along Hobart's waterfront. Festival artistic director Chris Twite said the swim was a tremendous way to bring things to a close. "The response in 2025 has been incredible," he said. "The streets of Hobart have come alive with locals and visitors celebrating winter and Dark Mofo again." University of Queensland psychologists surveyed swimmers in previous years before and after they took the plunge and found a significant boost in feelings of connection. "People told us about whether they felt pain and pleasure during the swim," Laura Ferris said. "And those who rated their swim as pleasurable also felt more social connection with the other people around them." It is an example of people seeking out aversive experiences, such as eating extremely spicy food or watching horror movies. "This is what psychologists call 'benign masochism'," Dr Ferris said. That could be the optimal term for expeditioners at Australia's four Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations, who also celebrated the solstice with a much-colder traditional plunge. At the three Antarctic stations, a hole is cut in the sea ice each year and expeditioners have a quick dip in the sub-zero waters. "The shock is closely followed by a rush, which is quickly followed by a scramble to the ladder to get the hell out of that water," Mawson Station leader Dave Roberts said. "Ironically, the water is warmer than the wind chill, so it's all a bit confusing but totally worth it." Those on the sub-Antarctic base at Macquarie Island have it mildly easier for their beach swims, with temperatures hovering from 2C to 4C. A shared meal and the exchanging of gifts and awards round out expedition festivities for the solstice, which is historically the most important day on the Australian Antarctic calendar. "It's the soul of the Antarctic winter," Casey Station leader Andy Warton said.
