Latest news with #DanSmith
Business Recorder
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Copper edges higher, others slip on uncertainty
LONDON: Copper prices drifted higher on Tuesday, buoyed by hopes for firmer Chinese demand, but investors were cautious about the impact of tariffs on economic growth and inflation. The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange added 0.2% to $9,875 a metric ton in official open-outcry trading, having hit its highest in nearly two weeks in the previous session. 'The Chinese government's working plans to stabilize industrial growth and the launch of the giant Tibet hydropower plant are all positive signals to the metals market,' a Beijing-based futures analyst said. Other LME base metals were weaker amid concerns about negotiations ahead of an August 1 deadline for countries to secure trade deals with the U.S. or face steep tariffs. 'There are a lot of reasons to be cautious for the month ahead. We might see a pullback in terms of the base metals,' said Dan Smith, managing director at Commodity Market Analytics. 'I think the next month or two could be pretty interesting with all this pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut rates, but actually inflationary pressure is potentially building in the U.S.' Zinc prices hit four-month peak The period until September is also a seasonally weak period for demand, Smith added. On the Shanghai Futures Exchange, however, aluminium prices hit their highest since November, with the most active contract rising 0.75% to 20,900 yuan ($2,913.26) a ton. 'Aluminium fundamentals are the most solid among metals in China,' a Shanghai-based metals analyst at a futures company said. LME aluminium slipped 0.3% in official activity to $2,638 a ton, zinc eased 0.4% to $2,828, lead lost 0.5% to $2,005.50, nickel dipped 0.3% to $15,470 and tin fell 0.3% to $33,695.
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Horoscope for Monday, July 14th, 2025
Today may feel sleepy and slow, but it signals what we can expect with the Mercury retrograde beginning on Friday. For today, we should plan to go with the flow, keeping our schedules as light or as flexible as possible. Since there may be difficulty with staying on task, it may be more useful to leave the heavy lifting for the middle of the week when the level of energy and enthusiasm will be higher. For now, getting enough rest or finding a quiet moment to reflect should be at the top of our to-do lists. ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Try to minimize the number of distractions vying for your attention with designated downtime. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Use the day to reach out to people you want to connect or follow up with because people will be very happy to hear from you. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Expect some success with money today. Enjoy the extra cash or funding! CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You can be an inspiration to others through your wisdom, optimism or generosity. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Instead of overextending yourself and attempting to do more, try doing a little less. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Partnering or teaming up with others will be advantageous or profitable for you. LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Today is beneficial for catching up on unfinished work. You may end up getting through your to-do list faster than expected. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) If you're seeking inspiration, there's a good chance you'll find it. Give yourself space to daydream, brainstorm ideas, or take a risk and do something you've never done before. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Do something that benefits your emotional well-being today, like getting hugs from someone you hold dear. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) There are people who want to see you thrive. Be confident enough to ask for their help. Your wish will be granted. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) It's a good day for doing anything that supports or improves your physical wellness. PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Be bold. Be confident. Be creative. Let yourself shine! FOR TODAY'S BIRTHDAY You're charming and kind. People often enjoy your company because you're funny, empathetic, and full of positivity. You remain cool under pressure and rarely sweat the small stuff. You have a way of trusting that all will work out as it should, and oftentimes it does. You're good at manifesting the things you want because you believe that you can do it. You inspire others to imagine what's possible, too. This year, know that you've got a good amount of luck on your side. Make a wish because there's a strong possibility that it will come true! BIRTHDATE OF: Jane Lynch, actress/singer; Dan Smith, singer-songwriter; Phoebe Waller-Bridge, actress/screenwriter.
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Gas service returns to Bold Street building after 45 days without use of stoves, hot water
Gas was restored to a Bold Street apartment building on Monday after about a month-and-a-half without service — but residents remain without air conditioning. The utility was shut off at the Durand building on May 24, days after a retaining wall between 27 Bold St. and neighbouring properties collapsed. On June 12, the city issued Burlington-based property manager Valour Group an order to restore gas, a vital service, to the building within 48 hours, said acting bylaw director Dan Smith in an email. It wasn't restored until July 7, when Valour's contractor connected the gas meter in the building's mechanical room, and Enbridge Gas inspected and restored the service, president Richard G. Hall said in an email earlier this week. Without hot water for showers and use of their stoves for about 45 days, some tenants temporarily relocated with family and friends, while others stayed home, shelling out for appliances like toaster ovens and air fryers, and ready-made meals and takeout. Valour says it has waived rent for June and July. The city has also issued an order to fix the building's broken central air system by July 16 under a bylaw that states existing appliances must be kept in safe, working order. Tenants who have sweltered through recent heat waves say the system hasn't worked since at least May. Valour discovered a broken coil in the building's cooling tower and is waiting on replacement parts, Hall previously told The Spec. He said there is an up to 10-week wait to get parts from the manufacturer, which has delayed repairs. 'We are working to have the building's cooling tower repaired as soon as possible,' Hall said. The company has offered tenants $350 each for portable A/C units. But some tenants say that's not enough to cover equipment, plus increased hydro costs from A/C units and other appliances, like microwaves and toaster ovens. Ally Adamczyk, for one, 'splurged' on a second unit amid spiking summer temperatures. She says the portable units don't adequately cool her two-bedroom apartment on the second floor. As of Tuesday, tenants weren't aware of a timeline on A/C repairs, she said. Some say these issues, coupled with what they describe as poor communication from the landlord, have caused stress and frustration. Residents formed a tenants' union with help from advocacy group Hamilton ACORN last month, and have requested a meeting with Valour to present compensation demands. 'I have a strong feeling it will be a long fight for the A/C and the compensation,' Adamczyk said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Copper, other base metals drop on US trade talks uncertainty
Prices for copper and other base metals fell on Monday as President Donald Trump said the United States was close to finalising several trade pacts in the coming days. The U.S. will notify other countries of higher tariff rates by July 9, Trump said, with the higher rates set to take effect on August 1. Trump also said any countries aligning with the "anti-American" policies of the BRICS group of developing nations would face an additional 10% tariff. The three-month copper contract on the London Metal Exchange (LME) eased 0.5% to $9,815 per metric ton in official open-outcry trading. On the technical front, the contract is supported by the 21-day moving average at $9,767. "Everyone is taking a bit of profit due to the threat of additional tariffs because there was a lot of optimism already built into the current prices over the past month," said Dan Smith, managing director at Commodity Market Analytics. Copper, used in power and construction, hit a three-month high of $10,020.5 a ton last week. As Washington's ongoing investigation into potential new copper import tariffs keeps the premium of COMEX copper futures over the LME benchmark elevated, COMEX copper stocks are at a seven-year high, up 120% since mid-February. "This copper is effectively trapped in the U.S. at the moment, creating a bit of the squeeze," Smith said. "A lot of inventory is in the wrong place, and it is hard to access it." The copper stocks in the LME-registered warehouses, currently at 97,400 tons, have edged up since the start of July, but are still down 64% since mid-February. LME aluminium fell 1.0% to $2,564 a ton in official activity, zinc shed 1.1% to $2,695, lead eased 1.0% to $2,038, tin slipped 0.6% to $33,495 and nickel lost 1.2% to $15,100. (Reporting by Polina Devitt; Editing by Leroy Leo and Jane Merriman)
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Connecticut couple fell victim to a ‘ghost car' scam — landing them a $111 fine for a road they never drove on
Cruising in their classic 1966 Ford Mustang was one of the joys of retired life for Mary and Dan Smith, but that joy took an unexpected turn when they received a fine for an alleged toll they never paid. That fine was for the New Jersey Turnpike, a toll road that the Enfield, Connecticut couple hadn't driven on in years, let alone in the very specific car that authorities had flagged. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it "Our Mustang was never there," Mary told WBTV. "We never drove that far with that old car to begin with." Now the couple is sounding the alarm on so-called "ghost car fraud," a scam that is quickly becoming a growing problem for American drivers and state governments. It all started when Mary found a letter from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority in the mail. In it, the authority stated the Smiths's license plates were recorded traveling through one of the state's E-ZPass toll booths without paying. The fine? $11.50. "We haven't been to New Jersey in at least 5 years," said Mary. The Smiths appealed the fine, but the couple was shocked when the appeal was denied. Making matters worse, their $11.50 fine had skyrocketed to $111.50 thanks to administrative fees. From then on, the bills just kept coming, almost daily. Finally, a letter arrived with visual evidence of the supposed offense, showing a car distinctly different from the Smiths's classic yellow Mustang. While unclear, the photo showed a vehicle with modern taillights that featured the same license plate as the Smiths's Mustang. The couple sent replies to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority stating that while the plates seemed to match, the car captured in the photo was in no way theirs. "We're giving you all the information, the pictures, what more can we do?" It was only after WBTV inquired on behalf of the Smiths that the error was rectified, with the couple no longer on the hook for the charges. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Ghost car fraud is a type of scam where criminals steal or duplicate license plates and put them on different vehicles, causing the legitimate plate owners to receive toll violations and fines for roads they never traveled. License plate theft scams typically involve criminals stealing plate numbers in a few common ways: Physically removing plates from vehicles. Creating duplicate plates to mask stolen vehicles. Using stolen plate information for identity theft or toll evasion. Capturing plate images to create fraudulent registrations. The Smiths's story is similar to those of other Americans who also found they had become victims of ghost car fraud. Joanne Barbara from New Jersey once discovered her temporary Audi SUV plates were duplicated on a black Audi sedan, racking up over $600 in tolls and fines, according to WABC. Similarly, Walter Gursky discovered his truck's temporary license plates were also duplicated on a white Tesla, resulting in $167 in toll violations. The states of New York and New Jersey have since taken steps to alert residents about this scam. "Ghost plates and toll evasion cost our state millions each year," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on NYC's official website. "Working in partnership with Mayor Adams and law enforcement, we are prioritizing the safety of all New Yorkers by removing these vehicles from our streets and ensuring these brazen actions do not go unchecked any longer." While there might not be much you can do to thwart criminals from stealing the numbers and duplicating your license plates, there are a few things you can do to prevent your plates from being stolen from your car. For starters, parking your car in the garage and keeping it off the street as much as possible can make it more challenging for criminals to steal your plates. You could also protect your plates by installing an anti-theft license plate cover, or replacing the screws on your plates with tamper-proof screws. These screws can only be installed or removed using a special wrench that comes with the screws. If you've received a letter from a toll authority claiming that you owe money for tolls that were wrongfully applied to your license plate, you can follow the same steps the Smiths took to rectify their situation: Contact the toll authority to both verify and dispute the charge(s). Request photographic evidence of the supposed offense, as this could prove that your plates were duplicated and you did not incur the toll charges. If you hit a wall in dealing with the toll authority, consider alerting your local news outlet about your situation, as Mary Smith had done. Bringing local news into the situation could apply enough pressure to encourage the toll authority to recognize the fraud and clear the charges from your records. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
