U.S. stocks add to their all-time high
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are adding to their records on Monday as Wall Street nears the finish of a second straight winning month.
The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in early trading, its first trading after completing its stunning rebound from a springtime sell-off of roughly 20%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 142 points, or 0.3%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% higher.
Stocks got a boost after Canada said it's rescinding a planned tax on U.S. technology firms and resuming talks on trade with the United States. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump had said he was suspending talks with Canada because of his anger with the tax, which he called 'a direct and blatant attack on our country.'
One of the main reasons U.S. stocks came back so quickly from its springtime swoon has been hope that Trump will reach deals with other countries to lower his stiff proposed tariffs. Otherwise, the fear is that the trade wars could stifle the economy and send inflation higher.
The United States is charging a 10% baseline tax on all imported goods, along with higher rates for Chinese goods and other import taxes on steel and autos. But many of Trump's additional, announced tariffs are currently on pause. They're scheduled to kick back into effect in a little more than a week.
In an interview with Fox News Channel's 'Sunday Morning Futures,' Trump said his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are deals with the United States. Letters will start going out 'pretty soon' before the approaching deadline, he said.
On Wall Street, GMS' stock jumped 11.3% after the supplier of specialty building products said it agreed to sell itself to a Home Depot subsidiary in a deal that would pay $110.00 per share in cash. That would give it a total value of roughly $5.5 billion, including debt.
Less than two weeks ago, another company, QXO, said it was offering to buy GMS for $95.20 per share in cash. After the announcement of the Home Depot bid, QXO's stock rose 2%, and Home Depot's stock was flat.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise rallied 12% and Juniper Networks climbed 8.4% after saying they had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that could clear the way for their merger go through, subject to court approval. HPE is trying to buy Juniper in a $14 billion deal.
In the bond market, Treasury yields were easing a bit ahead of some major economic reports later in the week. The highlight will be Thursday's jobs report. It's often the most anticipated economic data of each month, and it will come a day earlier than usual this upcoming month because of the Fourth of July holiday.
The job market has remained relatively steady recently, even in the face of tariffs, but hiring has slowed. Economists expect Thursday's data to show another slowdown in overall hiring, down to 115,000 jobs in June from 139,000 in May.
Such data has kept the Federal Reserve on hold this year when it comes to interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said repeatedly that it's waiting for more data to show how tariffs will affect the economy and inflation before resuming its cuts to interest rates. That's because lower rates can fan inflation higher, along with giving the economy a boost.
Trump, meanwhile, has been pushing for more cuts to rates and for them to happen soon. Two of his appointees to the Fed have said recently they could consider cutting rates as soon as the Fed's next meeting in less than a month.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.26% from 4.29% late Friday.
In stock markets abroad, indexes dipped modestly in Europe following a more mixed finish in Asia.
Stocks fell 0.9% in Hong Kong but rose 0.6% in Shanghai after China reported its factory activity improved slightly in June after Beijing and Washington agreed in May to postpone imposing higher tariffs on each others' exports, though manufacturing remained in contraction.
___
AP business writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
By Stan Choe
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Winnipeg Free Press
35 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Iowa's civil rights protections no longer include gender identity as new law takes effect
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Iowa's Department of Transportation still has a process by which people can change the gender designation on their license or identification card but has proposed administrative rules to eliminate that option. Wichtendahl also said she has talked to some families who are looking to move out of state as a result of the new law. 'It's heartbreaking because this is people's lives we're talking about,' Wichtendahl added. 'These are families that have trans loved ones and it's keeping their loved ones away, it's putting their loved ones into uncertain future, putting their health and safety at risk.'
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Victory Square Technologies Reports 2024 Results: Revenue Growth, Strategic Investments, and Portfolio Progress
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Insu Therapeutics: Advancing Oral Insulin for Diabetes Care Another promising digital health holding in Victory Square's portfolio is Insu Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing a non-invasive, oral insulin tablet for people living with diabetes. Victory Square holds approximately 22.8% ownership in Insu, which originated from research at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Insu's tablet uses a buccal delivery system —absorbing insulin through the inner cheek-bypassing the digestive tract and mimicking the body's natural insulin absorption via the liver. Preclinical trials have demonstrated insulin uptake comparable to injections, with prolonged glucose control and improved liver targeting. This innovation addresses a global health need. According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 500 million people worldwide are living with diabetes as of 2021, with the number expected to rise to 783 million by 2045. 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" 2024 was a pivotal year for Victory Square," said Shafin Diamond Tejani, CEO. "We strengthened our balance sheet, scaled promising platforms, and unlocked value across the portfolio. We're committed to supporting innovation and creating long-term value for our shareholders in 2025 and beyond." Victory Square thanks its shareholders for their continued support and looks forward to sharing additional updates throughout the year. Sign up to VST's official newsletter at On behalf of the Board of Directors "Shafin Diamond Tejani" Director and Chief Executive Officer Victory Square Technologies Inc. For further information about Victory Square, please contact: Investor Relations Contact — Abbey Vogt Email: ir@ Telephone: 604 283-9166 Peter Smyrniotis — Director Telephone: 604 283-9166 ABOUT VICTORY SQUARE TECHNOLOGIES INC. Victory Square is a Venture Builder that provides investors a liquid way to invest in early-stage technology companies without buying a venture fund that requires accredited investor status or multi-year commitments. A diverse portfolio of 25+ innovative companies from around the world (founders come from: Ireland, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Australia, India, Brazil, the Middle East and North America) Sectors include: Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain/Web3, Virtual & Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Gaming, Climate Tech Owner-operated (approx. 15% Management Ownership) Business Model: The Victory Square business model is to buy, build and invest in early stage tech companies. We spend upwards of 48 months with those companies until they're ready to spin-off or stand on their own. There are a couple of unique elements to our business model… We have unparalleled access to startups through our internal incubator and International network with over 250+ founders, investors, tech accelerators and venture capital firms from more than 60 countries. Second, our management team and advisors are actively involved in our investments from incubation through monetization, providing them with financial, operational, and strategic support to scale globally. We drive value by monetizing investments and reinvesting the gains in new innovations. The strategy was to build a self-sustaining business. VST is a publicly-traded company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, and listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (VST), Frankfurt Exchange (6F6) and the OTC Pink (VSQTF). For more information, please visit Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this news release are forward looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, execution of business strategy, future performance and future growth, business prospects, synergies and opportunities of the Company and its related subsidiaries, and other factors beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made, including, but not limited to the Company being able to capitalize on the acquired assets, the ability of acquired assets to maintain its value as presently contemplated, the synergies of the acquired assets with the Company's operations, and such other assumptions presented in the Company's disclosure record. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and GameOn disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures This release contains references to non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA. The Company defines Adjusted Revenue as gross cash income before adjustments for the deferred portion of business partner setup, license, and sponsorship fees and gross and accrued receipts from blockchain grant funding. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and before (i) transaction, restructuring, and integration costs and share-based payments expense, and (iii) gains/losses that are not reflective of ongoing operating performance including inventory impairment. The Company believes that the measure provides useful information to its shareholders and investors in understanding the Company's 2023 operating cash flow and may assist in the evaluation of the Company's business relative to that of its peers more accurately than GAAP financial measures alone. This data is furnished to provide additional information and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP. Accordingly, it should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and is not necessarily indicative of other metrics presented in accordance with GAAP.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Asian shares are mostly higher, tracking US rally into record heights
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Asian shares are mostly higher after U.S. stocks added to their records with the close of a second straight winning month. U.S. futures and oil prices were lower. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.2% to 40,003.24 despite positive results of the central bank's quarterly Tankan survey of large manufacturers, which showed an better than expected improvement in business sentiment. The Shanghai Composite index added 0.2% to 3,451.69 after China's official manufacturing purchasing managers index, or PMI, rose to a three-month high of 49.7 in June while the PMI for services and other non-manufacturing businesses also rose to a three-month high of 50.5. Hong Kong's stock market was closed on Tuesday. South Korea's KOSPI Composite Index surged 1.5% to 3,117.17 after the government reported that exports bounced back in June, helped by strong demand for semiconductors, ships and health products. 'Automobile and automotive parts exports also gained. Strong electric vehicle exports to the EU and solid used-car exports partially offset the decline of U.S. exports. However, we expect auto exports to remain soft due to tariffs and increased production in the U.S.,' Min Joo Kang of ING Economics said in a report. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1% to 8,550.80. The PSEi in Manila, Philippines, rose 0.2%. On Monday, Wall Street resumed its upward climb. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% to 6,204.95. It has staged a stunning recovery from its springtime sell-off of roughly 20%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6% to 44,094.77, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.5% to 20,369.73. Stocks got a boost after Canada said it would rescind a planned tax on U.S. technology firms and trade talks with the United States resumed. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump had said he was suspending those talks to retaliate for the tax, calling it 'a direct and blatant attack on our country.' U.S. stocks have bounced back on hopes that Trump will reach deals with other countries to lower his painful high tariffs and avert trade wars that could stifle the economy and send inflation higher. Many of Trump's announced tariffs have been postponed and are due to kick back into effect on July 9. The U.S. stock market recovery could raise the risk Trump will resume escalating tariffs, similar to what happened in 2018-2019, according to strategists at Deutsche Bank led by Parag Thatte and Binky Chadha. On Wall Street, Oracle's 4% rise was one of the strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. CEO Safra Catz said the tech giant 'is off to a strong start' in its fiscal year and that it signed multiple large cloud services agreements, including one that could contribute over $30 billion in annual revenue two fiscal years from now. GMS' stock jumped 11.7% after the supplier of specialty building products said it agreed to sell itself to a Home Depot subsidiary in a deal that would pay $110.00 per share in cash. That would give it a total value of roughly $5.5 billion, including debt. Less than two weeks ago, another company, QXO, said it was offering to buy GMS for $95.20 per share in cash. After the announcement of the Home Depot bid, QXO's stock rose 3.9%, and Home Depot's stock slipped 0.6%. Hewlett Packard Enterprise rallied 11.1% and Juniper Networks climbed 8.4% after saying they had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that could clear the way for their merger go through, subject to court approval. HPE is trying to buy Juniper in a $14 billion deal. Bank stocks were also solid after the Federal Reserve said on Friday that they are financially strong enough to survive a downturn in the economy. JPMorgan Chase climbed 1%, and Citigroup gained 0.9%. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. In the bond market, Treasury yields fell ahead of several major economic reports later in the week. The highlight will be Thursday's jobs report. It's often the most anticipated economic data of each month, and it will come a day earlier than usual because of Friday's Fourth of July holiday. In other dealings early Tuesday, benchmark U.S. crude oil lost 37 cents to $64.74 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, fell 35 cents per barrel to $66.39. The U.S. dollar dipped to 143.86 Japanese yen from 144.04 yen. The euro rose to $1.1792 from $1.1789. ___ AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.
