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Candy inflation casts a sour pall on Halloween

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

“Swift swings” takes a quick peek at one economic trend.The number: Here’s a spooky hit to your wallet: The buying power of American wages has been cut by a candy bar in two years.The source: My trusty spreadsheet looked at some Halloween-themed research from S&P Global Market Intelligence comparing candy costs and wages.Quick analysis: The pay of an average US worker bought 15.2 candy bars an hour in 2023 – that’s a 4% drop from 15.9 bars in 2022 and off 7% from 16.3 in 2021.Related ArticlesBusiness | California shoppers get 4% less for their money after inflation’s bite Business | Chipotle says it may need to tick its food prices up to pay California wages Business | PG&E electric bills outpace Bay Area inflation rate by huge margin Business | More working Californians slipped into poverty as pandemic aid expired Business | Why this Bay Area couple swapped California for Spain The problem isn’...

Abcarian: No one should get fired for stating an unpopular view

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

Should Americans be punished or lose their livelihoods for things they say about a gut-wrenching conflict taking place halfway across the world? In an ideal world where freedom of speech is absolute, short of advocating violence, no one should get fired for stating an unpopular view.But we don’t live in that world, as some professionals with strong points of view and the irresistible urge to share them on social media are finding out.One day after the heinous Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team tweeted out a message of support for Israel: “We stand with the people of Israel and join them in mourning the hundreds of innocent lives lost to terrorism at the hands of Hamas.”Jackson Frank, a young sports reporter who had been hired in September to cover the 76ers for PhillyVoice, took exception.“This post sucks!” Frank quote-tweeted. “Solidarity with Palestine always.”He was fired the next day.‘...

UN expert call on the Taliban to free 2 women rights defenders from custody in Afghanistan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — U.N. experts on Tuesday demanded the Taliban immediately release two women rights defenders who have been in detention for more than a month with no reason given for their arrest.The Taliban have barred women from most areas of public life and work and stopped girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade as part of harsh measures they imposed after taking power in 2021, as U.S. and NATO forces were pulling out of Afghanistan following two decades of war. U.N. experts, including the special rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, described the release of Neda Parwan and Zholia Parsi and their family members as an urgent matter. They have not been granted legal representation, charged with a crime or brought before a court. “We are increasingly concerned about their physical and mental wellbeing,” the experts said in a statement. They urged Taliban authorities to demonstrate respect for rights and freedoms and said there was no justification for the det...

Pfizer: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Pfizer Inc. (PFE) on Tuesday reported a loss of $2.38 billion in its third quarter.The New York-based company said it had a loss of 42 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 17 cents per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 32 cents per share.The drugmaker posted revenue of $13.23 billion in the period, missing Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $13.77 billion.Pfizer expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.45 to $1.65 per share, with revenue in the range of $58 billion to $61 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PFE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PFESource

Ranger Energy: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — HOUSTON (AP) — Ranger Energy Services, Inc. (RNGR) on Tuesday reported profit of $9.4 million in its third quarter.The Houston-based company said it had profit of 38 cents per share.The company posted revenue of $164.4 million in the period.Ranger Energy expects full-year revenue in the range of $630 million to $640 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RNGR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RNGRSource

PJT Partners: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — PJT Partners Inc. (PJT) on Tuesday reported net income of $17.4 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had net income of 68 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 78 cents per share.The investment bank posted revenue of $278.4 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PJT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PJTSource

MSCI: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — MSCI Inc. (MSCI) on Tuesday reported third-quarter earnings of $259.7 million.The New York-based company said it had net income of $3.27 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $3.45 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $3.33 per share.The maker of software tools to help portfolio managers make investment decisions posted revenue of $625.4 million in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $628.9 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MSCI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MSCISource

IGT: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

LONDON (AP) — LONDON (AP) — International Game Technology PLC (IGT) on Tuesday reported third-quarter profit of $94 million.On a per-share basis, the London-based company said it had profit of 46 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 52 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 39 cents per share.The slot machine maker posted revenue of $1.07 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.03 billion.For the current quarter ending in December, IGT said it expects revenue in the range of $1.1 billion. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had expected revenue of $1 billion.The company expects full-year revenue of $4.3 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on IGT at https://www...

Techne: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Techne Corp. (TECH) on Tuesday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $51 million.The Minneapolis-based company said it had profit of 31 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 41 cents per share.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 44 cents per share.The maker of medical testing and diagnostic products posted revenue of $276.9 million in the period, which also fell short of Street forecasts. Five analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $289.8 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TECH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TECHSource

WATCH: Harmonica player Frédéric Yonnet on collaborating with Martin Scorsese, Prince and others

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:30:53 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "9a3c4f91-845c-4e22-9144-1faaeefae98a"}).render("07b8c40fb8d64c03abf7eeaac0ed139e"); });Originally from France, harmonicist Frédéric Yonnet moved to D.C. approximately 20 years ago and has since taken the national musical scene by storm.His music is heard in films such as Bradley Cooper’s 2018 remake of “A Star is Born” and two of Martin Scorsese’s movies — “The Irishman” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”In “The Irishman,” Yonnet was tasked with making a sound that represented the Grim Reaper, while he captured the sound of greed in the latter film.If his name is unfamiliar, his sound isn’t.His expert harmonica playing has been heard around the world in recordings, tours and performances with musi...