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Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Sevilla Conference On Development Financing Shows Optimism For Multilateralism
Today, a $4 trillion financing gap is hindering progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the end of this decade. In response, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) will take place in Sevilla, Spain, beginning on 30 June, bringing together stakeholders to advance solutions to the financing challenges threatening sustainable development. 'We've seen mounting debt burdens and declining investment, and we've seen reduced aid and growing trade barriers. The current system is certainly not delivering for the people it was designed to support,' said Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at a briefing on Wednesday about the conference. She was joined by Ambassador Héctor Gómez Hernández of Spain, and Ambassador Chola Milambo of Zambia. Role of stakeholders More than 70 heads of state and government will attend the Conference, along with leaders of international financial institutions, civil society, philanthropies and the private sector, including those from energy, food systems and digital industries. 'The collective presence alone, I believe, sends a good signal for multilateralism at a time when we're facing quite a bit of pushback,' said Ms. Mohammed. Seville Commitment On 17 June, Member States agreed on the Compromiso de Sevilla, or Seville Commitment, to adopt at the Conference. Ms. Mohammed stressed that the Commitment addresses the debt crisis in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to financing shortfalls, as many spend more on debt interest than on essential services, straining the opportunity for sustainable development. Ambassador Milambo explained that this will be done through greater transparency, a global debt registry, and amplifying the voices of debtor countries. It also aims to catalyse investment by tripling Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) lending, doubling Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing countries, leveraging private sector investment and ensuring the international financing system is more inclusive and effective. 'This is an agenda that world leaders can do something about. They do have the tools – and the political clout – to make it happen,' said Ms. Mohammed. Test of multilateralism Ambassador Hernández emphasised that the Conference comes at a critical time for multilateralism. 'This conference is an appeal to action, and we have the extraordinary opportunity to send a very strong message to defend the international community's commitment to the multilateral system,' he said. Ambassador Milambo later added that the consensus on the Seville Commitment 'sends a real message of hope to the world that we can tackle the financing challenges that stand in the way of the SDGs and that multilateralism can still work.' Despite the consensus, the United States recently announced it will not send a delegation to the Conference. Speakers urged observers to keep the broader picture in mind: 'It is regrettable, but it doesn't stop us from continuing to engage with that Member State' and urge a change in the course of action, said Ms. Mohammed. She concluded by noting that, especially given the recent agreement of the Commitment, the discussions the UN is having with other donors on how they are trying to use resources more efficiently will hopefully go a long way.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wall Street Analysts See a 34.26% Upside in MongoDB (MDB): Can the Stock Really Move This High?
Shares of MongoDB (MDB) have gained 10.5% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $209.2, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $280.88 indicates a potential upside of 34.3%. The mean estimate comprises 33 short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $54.3. While the lowest estimate of $170.00 indicates a 18.7% decline from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 105.5% to reach $430.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts. While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice. But, for MDB, an impressive average price target is not the only indicator of a potential upside. Strong agreement among analysts about the company's ability to report better earnings than they predicted earlier strengthens this view. While a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't gauge how much a stock could gain, it has proven to be powerful in predicting an upside. According to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading. While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why? They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts. However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces. That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism. There has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. For the current year, 11 estimates have moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 15.8%. Moreover, MDB currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> . Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much MDB could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report MongoDB, Inc. (MDB) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Community fights proposed ward boundary change in Chatsworth
The Mobeni Heights Civic Association is opposing adjustments by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB). Image: eThekwini Municipality RESIDENTS of Mobeni Heights and Havenside are uniting against a proposed ward boundary change that threatens their community ties and access to essential services ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE). This move would see the geographic area change from ward 69 in Chatsworth to ward 74 in Lamontville. The respective civic associations are now on a vigorous 'fight back' campaign to object to the proposed ward boundary change. Community leaders claimed that they had not been notified of the proposed move, which was brought by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), ahead of the 2026 LGE. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Denzil Davan, chairperson of the Mobeni Heights Civic Association said they were leading the fight against the proposed changes which 'threatened to split a tightly knit community, severing decades of civic and social cohesion'. 'I stumbled upon the proposal while I was doing an internet search for a map of ward 69. We did not see any advert or media reports, and we were not notified of the public consultations. 'I immediately informed the civic committees and we started reviewing and objecting to the demarcation. The proposal seeks to move Mobeni Heights and part of Havenside into neighbouring Lamontville, splitting them from their long-standing ward. 'The plan, shrouded in minimal publicity and limited transparency, has sparked outrage among residents and ignited a powerful grassroots response. 'If implemented, it would place parts of Mobeni Heights and Havenside - areas with a rich, shared history - into a ward with little contextual or infrastructural alignment,' he said. 'The closing date for objections is June 30. The MDB's publications have not been widely distributed, and the process remains opaque. I informed the ward 69 councillor, Ganas Govender, who advised us that the municipality had not officially notified councillors of the proposal. He was informed of the proposal at a council meeting a few weeks ago,' added Davan. He said they had called a public meeting to inform residents of the proposal, and also obtained legal advice about the proposed move. 'Ultimately, we would not get municipal services like water, electricity, health, policing or fire department services from the Chatsworth area. We would have to access services from Umlazi. 'All billing queries would have to be done at the Lamontville Sizakala Centre and no longer at the Chatsworth office. Most of these venues are not on our bus or taxi routes. If the hospitals decide to follow the ward framework, our residents would have to go to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital and not RK Khan. The Mobeni Heights Cemetery and Crematorium would also be in Ward 74, Lamontville, if approved. 'With regards to policing, we would no longer be serviced by Bayview SAPS, but Lamontville SAPS. Wards determine everything, from social services to housing,' he said. Davan said they were now in the process of mass mobilisation to submit objections. 'Our 'fight back' campaign includes a door-to-door, inbox-to-inbox effort to awaken community voices. Volunteers have been distributing objection forms, hosting information sessions, and circulating legal guidance to every corner of the affected areas. 'Residents are being urged to submit personal objections using the official Form MDB 3, available through the civic association. These objections must be emailed to registry@ with copies to mobeniheights@ 'Mass petitions would not be accepted, a point the association has worked hard to communicate in the face of misinformation spreading through unofficial WhatsApp groups. 'As the deadline looms, the campaign is in overdrive. Volunteers are walking streets, hosting pop-up booths, and educating residents. The hope is that individual voices, each one legally protected and independently considered, will together become too loud to ignore. Rocky Naidoo, chairperson of the Havenside Civic Association, said most residents became aware of the proposal from social media messages. 'Should this proposal go forward, it would cause a disruption in local development and reduce accountability between residents and elected officials. 'It would divide a strong and united community and weaken our voices and the role we have played in local governance. We stand together with the Mobeni Heights Civic Association and would do what it takes to stop the proposed changes from being passed." Ganas Govender, the ward 69 councillor, said he supported the civic and residents' objections. 'I have had a look at the proposed amendment which would drastically change ward based municipal services, voting services and more.' Barileng Dichabe, spokesperson for the Municipal Demarcation Board, said ward boundaries had changed due to an increase in the number of voters, a change in the number of wards from the previous elections and addressing dysfunctional wards. 'The objection period will be open during August 2025, immediately after the publication of the wards in the provincial gazette. 'Public consultations are being held in different regions between June 23 and 26. Ward 69 will only be finalised once all proposals are received. The current draft ward 69 may still have further changes as per proposals received,' she added. THE POST
IOL News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mobeni Heights residents unite to oppose proposed ward boundary changes
The Mobeni Heights Civic Association is opposing adjustments by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB). Image: eThekwini Municipality The Mobeni Heights Civic Association and the eThekwini Municipality have until June 30, 2025, to object to adjustments proposed by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB). They are just some of the organisations carefully reviewing the MDB proposals, which are rolling out the ward delimitation process in preparation for the 2026 local government elections (LGE). Thabo Manyoni, chairperson of the MDB Board, explained that the board delimits wards every five years preceding the LGE in compliance with the Municipal Structures Act. On Thursday, the Mobeni Heights residents launched a 'stop the split' campaign against ward boundary changes because the proposed demarcation would move Mobeni Heights and part of neighbouring Havenside into Lamontville. Denzil Davan, Mobeni Heights Civic Association chairperson, said the association aims to rally residents to submit individual objections, adding that it has actively opposed the proposal on legal, procedural, and social grounds. Key issues raised: Lack of public awareness: Most residents are unaware of the proposed change. The MDB has not widely disseminated public notices or explanatory material. The proposal violates Section 4(b) of the Municipal Structures Act, which requires the avoidance of unnecessary community fragmentation. Limited political support: Major political parties have remained silent, placing the burden of advocacy entirely on civil society. Legal criteria unmet: Objections highlight potential non-compliance with statutory voter parity limits, insufficient public participation, and unclear motivations for the shift. Davan said the association is educating the public on legal grounds for objection, hosting information sessions and mobilising door-to-door efforts. 'This is not just about redrawing lines. It is about preserving our community, our identity, and our democratic voice.' At a recent eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) meeting, the redetermination of boundaries to move part of Cato Ridge from eThekwini to the Mkhambathini Municipality was discussed. Sipho Cele, the deputy city manager: Governance, explained that the municipality took the matter to court, intending to review the outcome. He stated that the matter is still in court, and officials are busy with the papers. According to Cele, the two municipalities recently met at Cato Ridge for a site visit in order to evaluate the borders and create a plan of action. Part of the land parcel to be transferred is on the plans of the dry port in Cato Ridge. Among the concerns raised. The infrastructure that belongs to the municipality and that is servicing the community of eThekwini, Cato Ridge Library, Cato Ridge Fire Station, Metro Police offices, and Water and Sanitation pump station/valves. Cost of servicing and maintaining the infrastructure, Losing the new Fire station that is servicing the outer west region, including Hillcrest, Gillits, and Hammersdale. Losing these will affect the services being rendered to the community of eThekwini.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Cash-Heavy Stocks in Hot Water
Companies with more cash than debt can be financially resilient, but that doesn't mean they're all strong investments. Some lack leverage because they struggle to grow or generate consistent profits, making them unattractive borrowers. Not all businesses with cash are winners, and that's why we built StockStory - to help you separate the good from the bad. Keeping that in mind, here are three companies with net cash positions to avoid and some better alternatives instead. Net Cash Position: $2.42 billion (13.4% of Market Cap) Started in 2007 by the team behind Google's ad platform, DoubleClick, MongoDB offers database-as-a-service that helps companies store large volumes of semi-structured data. Why Does MDB Fall Short? Historical operating margin losses show it had an inefficient cost structure while scaling Projected 1.2 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin next year reflects the company's plans to increase its investments to defend its market position MongoDB is trading at $220.25 per share, or 7.6x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MDB doesn't pass our bar. Net Cash Position: $175.3 million (6.2% of Market Cap) Founded in 2014, ACV Auctions (NASDAQ:ACVA) is an online auction marketplace for car dealers and wholesalers to buy and sell used cars. Why Does ACVA Give Us Pause? High servicing costs result in an inferior gross margin of 25.1% that must be offset through higher volumes Expensive marketing campaigns hurt its profitability and make us wonder what would happen if it let up on the gas Low free cash flow margin of 0.3% for the last two years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders ACV Auctions's stock price of $16.54 implies a valuation ratio of 30.9x forward EV/EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ACVA. Net Cash Position: $137.6 million (3% of Market Cap) Pioneering technologies for radio frequency power delivery, Advanced Energy (NASDAQ:AEIS) provides power supplies, thermal management systems, and measurement and control instruments for various manufacturing processes. Why Do We Pass on AEIS? Sales tumbled by 8.8% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 6.6 percentage points Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging At $121.56 per share, Advanced Energy trades at 24.2x forward P/E. If you're considering AEIS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
