Latest news with #Ulin
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Asean's renewable push needs inclusive economic models
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In South Papua, Indonesia, nine-year-old Ulin spends hours each day collecting water and firewood – time that could be spent in school or learning online. Her village, once reliant on diesel generators, has struggled to afford fuel amid rising costs. With the nearest grid over 50km away, communities like hers are left quite literally in the dark. Such stories highlight a deeper issue. While Southeast Asia's economies are growing rapidly, access to reliable, affordable and clean electricity remains uneven. The International Energy Agency estimates that about 35 million people in the region still lack electricity, and that more than 100 million rely on traditional biomass or kerosene for cooking. As the global energy transition accelerates, we must remember a fundamental principle: no one should be left behind. A just transition means more than swapping fossil fuels for renewables; it's about ensuring communities have the energy they need to thrive, from hospitals to schools to homes. Progress requires more than large-scale infrastructure. It demands inclusive economic models, resilient institutions and tailored support for rural and marginalised populations. Southeast Asian governments have advanced regional cooperation on renewables, yet deployment on the ground remains uneven. Urban and wealthier communities often benefit first, while poorer regions face hurdles in financing and technical support.
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Planet Green, Inc. Petitions U.S. Supreme Court to Review Amazon's Section 230 Defense in Cartridge Mislabeling Case
Planet Green asks Supreme Court to review Amazon's Section 230 immunity over alleged role in distribution of falsely advertised printer cartridges WASHINGTON DC, CA, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2025 / / -- Planet Green Cartridges, Inc., a U.S.-based remanufacturer of printer ink cartridges, has filed a petition for writ of certiorari ( Docket #23-4434 ), asking the Supreme Court of the United States to review lower court rulings that dismissed its claims against Amazon under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. According to the petition, filed on June 18, 2025, Planet Green alleges that Amazon continued to list and distribute printer cartridges labeled as 'remanufactured' even after receiving formal complaints that the products were inaccurately described. The petition contends that these products were newly manufactured replicas of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cartridges, not professionally remanufactured used OEM products. The case, which originated in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ( Case No. 2:23-cv-06647-JFW-KS ), centers on whether Amazon's actions, as alleged, fall outside the protections of Section 230 when the platform is made aware of and continues to list disputed third-party products. Planet Green asserts that it provided Amazon with detailed documentation over a period of more than a year, identifying 45 brands and sellers allegedly marketing newly made cartridges as remanufactured. The petition states that despite these efforts, the listings remained active and Amazon cited Section 230 immunity in its defense. 'This case tests whether e-commerce platforms like Amazon can invoke Section 230 immunity when they are sued for allegedly facilitating the sale of misrepresented products,' said John Ulin, legal counsel for Planet Green at TroyGould. 'We believe the statute does not support broad immunity when platforms are knowingly involved in these kinds of sales. We're asking the Supreme Court to clarify the limits of that protection.' The petition presents two main legal questions: 1. Whether Section 230 provides immunity to online platforms that allegedly permit and profit from the sale of third-party products misrepresented in violation of consumer protection laws. 2. Whether platforms are immune from civil claims based on their own conduct, such as recommendation algorithms and advertising practices. Planet Green argues that the continued availability of the disputed listings and products, after notice, raises questions about the extent to which Section 230 protects platforms that play an active role in the promotion or sale of such products. 'By continuing to host and distribute the misrepresented products after being notified, Amazon has used the statute as a shield while continuing to benefit commercially,' Ulin added. Planet Green's filings estimate that annual sales of products labeled as 'remanufactured' ink cartridges on Amazon exceed $3 billion. The petition also references broader national concerns regarding product mislabeling and safety on online marketplaces. 'We went to great lengths to avoid litigation,' said Sean Levi, Founder and CEO of Planet Green. 'We had hoped Amazon would take corrective action once we made them aware of the 45 brands and their sellers we named in our lawsuit. It is nearly impossible for any U.S. company to hold all unlawful Amazon sellers accountable who operate outside U.S. jurisdiction.' Founded in 1999, Planet Green is one of the few remaining U.S.-based printer cartridge remanufacturers. The company attributes the decline of the industry—once valued at $7 billion—to increased competition from imported products, some of which it claims are marketed in misleading ways. 'Regardless of how the Court rules, we will continue working to raise awareness around anti-competitive challenges facing American manufacturers,' Levi said. Planet Green's filings also highlight environmental concerns associated with non-recycled cartridges that are marketed as remanufactured. The company notes that most overseas producers of aftermarket cartridges do not offer recycling or take-back programs, resulting in increased landfill waste in the U.S. The petition asks the Court to grant a jury trial to evaluate the facts and determine whether Section 230 applies in cases where a platform is alleged to have both knowledge of and commercial interest in disputed product listings. 'In our view, Congress never intended Section 230 to shield large platforms from accountability when they knowingly allow the sale of questionable or misrepresented products,' stated Levi. 'If the courts do not address this issue, we believe lawmakers must. Otherwise, U.S. businesses face increasing challenges competing against overseas sellers who may not be subject to the same legal and regulatory standards.' About Planet Green Founded in 1999 and based in Chatsworth, California, Planet Green is a U.S. printer cartridge recycler and remanufacturer. The company remanufactures used OEM cartridges and sells surplus OEM stock as an environmentally sustainable alternative to newly manufactured products. For more information, visit John Ulin Attorney Troy Gould 310-553-4441 Eric Sherman - Media Contact Planet Green + +1 800-377-1093 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
CNBC
17-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Gold is near an all-time high—here's how much a Costco bar bought a year ago is worth today
Costco's gold bars are worth a lot more than they were a year ago — and demand is soaring. The bars have been a steady draw since Costco began selling them in 2023, and a sharp rise in spot gold prices seems to have boosted their appeal. In May, the retailer tightened purchase restrictions, limiting members to one transaction, capped at a maximum of two bars, per day. As of Tuesday morning, gold traded around $3,390 per ounce — near a recent record high and roughly 45% higher than it was at this time last year. Historically, investors tend to flock to gold during periods of geopolitical instability, inflation and concern over the strength of the U.S. dollar. Here's how much more a 1-ounce gold bar purchased at Costco in June 2024 could be worth today, based on the listed purchase price and Tuesday's opening spot price. If you bought gold from Costco a year ago, you may be considering selling at a profit. But offloading a gold bar isn't as simple as checking the spot price and pocketing the difference. The spot price offers a benchmark for negotiating prices, but sellers typically receive about 5% to 10% less, depending on where and how they sell, says Jon Ulin, a certified financial planner based in Boca Raton, bullion dealers typically offer in-person evaluations and immediate payment, and may pay 1% to 5% below the spot price for a standard 1-ounce gold bar — often more than pawn shops, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 19, 2024. Online buyers may advertise competitive rates, often with the added convenience of insured shipping. In either case, vetting potential buyers on platforms like Yelp, Google or the Better Business Bureau can help you avoid lowball offers, hidden fees or scams. "I would avoid private buyers or marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace," says Ulin. "You're dealing with a high-value item and there's a risk of encountering less-than-reputable individuals." Any profits you make from selling gold can be taxed at a higher rate than other investments, such as stocks or bonds. The IRS generally classifies physical gold — such as bars, coins or jewelry — as a collectible for tax purposes, Troy Lewis, a certified public accountant and professor of accounting and tax at Brigham Young University, told CNBC on April 30. The "collectible" classification means that federal long-term capital gains on gold can be taxed at a rate of up to 28%, compared to a maximum of 20% for stocks or real estate. If the gold is sold within one year, any profit is taxed as ordinary income, which could mean an even higher rate, depending on the seller's tax bracket. By selling gold, you might unexpectedly "be adding up the tax bill you pay to Uncle Sam," says Bill Shafransky, a New Canaan, Connecticut-based financial advisor.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's tariffs are sending ultra-rich investors to Europe and Asia: ‘The world has changed in the last 3 months'
Though President Donald Trump has said his aggressive tariff strategy, unveiled this week, will make the markets "boom," it has so far resulted in a rout, with U.S. equity markets suffering their worst week since March 2020 and more pain likely on the way. And that's sending ultra-wealthy investors to seek refuge from the financial storm abroad. The average tariff rate is even higher than in the 1930s, "which means there is no modern-day precedent to predict the economic hit," says Larry Adam, chief investment officer at Raymond James. The U.S. markets have been tanking in the aftermath, and analysts including from JPMorgan are ringing alarm bells about a potential recession this year. The preeminence and exceptionalism of the U.S. is now being questioned. Investors are reacting accordingly. Worried about the effects of tariffs and other moves by the Trump administration that could hurt growth in the U.S.—such as defunding research efforts around the country—ultra high net worth and family office investors are rethinking their positions here, at least in the short term. "We've seen a growing interest among high-net-worth family office clients in diversifying a portion of their portfolios outside the United States," says Jon Ulin, private wealth advisor at Ulin & Co. Wealth Management. "This trend is largely driven by concerns over policy uncertainty and potential economic or market disruptions." Of course, many of these wealthy investors already hold sizable investments and real estate holdings abroad, particularly those who were born in another country or have dual citizenship somewhere. But the uncertainty now plaguing the U.S. economy is causing them to double down on looking for better growth opportunities and hedges abroad. Ulin's team is now tilting managed portfolios more international than U.S. "to better navigate the trade war fall out of domestic stocks and the markets." "For them, investing internationally is not just about diversification, it serves as a currency hedge and provides access to government bonds and equities that may not be readily available in U.S. markets," says Ulin. At a media event Thursday, Goldman Sachs representatives said they are watching Trump's moves closely. Many of their ultra-high net worth (UHNW) clients are asking for guidance, though they haven't fled from U.S. equities just yet. But non-U.S. equities have outperformed so far this year, and broader diversification in general is a goal for the firm. Still, the firm is bullish on U.S. long-term given the country's ability to innovate. "There's still some belief that even if things look murky in the U.S. ... the U.S. may end up better than other countries on the other side of the tariffs," said Elizabeth Burton, senior client investment strategist at Goldman Sachs. That said, many UHNW clients were thinking of moving money out of the U.S. even before Trump's so-called Liberation Day. Europe, for example, may be more attractive given its increase in defense spending. In Asia, India is attracting Goldman's attention. "For so long, being long the U.S., and particularly large cap U.S., was was the right investment," said Matt Gibson, Goldman's global head of the Client Solutions Group. "A lot of our clients in Q4 [2024], as they saw the election happen and so forth, started to wonder if keeping that trade on was the right thing to do." Tariff uncertainty is pushing those conversations into overdrive. "The world has changed in the last three months in a material way," said Marc Nachmann, Goldman's global head of asset & wealth management. "Our conversations with clients right now include ... how should we think about these tariffs? How should they make us rethink how we allocate all of our assets?" This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
31-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
How to invest when stocks are sinking
March has been a dizzying month for US markets. The S&P 500 just posted two days of back-to-back gains, but the benchmark index is still down almost 5% this month. President Donald Trump's tariff announcements have roiled markets and sent US stocks bouncing all over the place. While the uncertainty on Wall Street can be unsettling, selling your stocks in panic would likely only make it worse. Although recent market swings can be daunting, market volatility is more normal than you'd think, according to Jeff Buchbinder, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial. 'Volatility is like a toll investors pay on the road to attractive long-term returns,' Buchbinder said in a recent note. The last thing you want to do is 'panic sell.' Volatility is a short-term feature of markets. So, too, are so-called corrections, when stocks fall 10% from their most recent high. Historically, the US stock market has climbed higher in the long term, smoothing out kinks and rewarding investors who stayed in the market. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday told NBC News that he was 'not at all' worried about recent drops in the stock market. 'I've been in the investment business for 35 years, and I can tell you that corrections are healthy,' Bessent said. 'They're normal. What's not healthy is straight up.' Still, seeing your retirement account take a hit can be unnerving, especially given the whiplash of recent market swings. But if you're investing for retirement or long-term financial goals, the best thing to do during moments of uncertainty is to keep calm and tune out the noise. 'Reacting emotionally to the markets can wreck your returns,' said Jon Ulin, a certified financial planner and chief executive at Ulin & Co. Wealth Management. 'Panic selling often means locking in losses and missing the best rebound days,' Ulin said. A core tenet of investing is that no one can really 'time' the market. Swings can be so unpredictable that staying invested is a better strategy than selling and trying to pick the best opportunity to get back into a fund or stock you sold. People who sell when times are tough tend to lose out in the long run. 'Protecting your portfolio isn't about timing the market — it's about time in the market with a strategy that can withstand the storm,' Ulin said. If you've checked your retirement account and felt unsettled — you're likely not alone. The S&P 500's performance from Trump's inauguration to March 7, or 46 days into his second term, was the index's worst start to a presidency since President Barack Obama's first term, according to Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research. Trump's whipsawing tariff proposals are the primary reason for the markets' rollercoaster ride, because they have created an environment of uncertainty. US stocks have slid amid the ensuing economic chaos, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite largely erasing their gains since the election. The benchmark S&P 500 last week closed down 10% from its record high reached on February 19, its first correction since October 2023. Nonetheless, it's important to recognize that market downturns are normal occurrences. The S&P 500 on average has three drops between 5% and 10% each year, according to Buchbinder. Stocks on average see one correction a year, according to Buchbinder. Before the S&P 500 closed in correction territory last week, it had been over a year since its last correction. If you're planning to hold your investments long term, such drops in one year don't necessarily matter. Heading into this year, US stocks had been at record highs, with some strategists questioning whether they were overvalued. The S&P 500 posted back-to-back gains of more than 20% in 2023 and 2024 — a feat not achieved since President Bill Clinton was in office in the 1990s. After those sky-high gains, investors were already uncertain whether the good times would last. Big tech stocks that propped up the S&P 500 in 2024 have sputtered this year. While downturns are frustrating, they also present opportunities to 'buy the dip' and purchase stocks while they are cheaper. 'Encouragingly, history hints (but does not guarantee) that quick drops below the 10% decline threshold typically resulted in shorter and shallower total declines, followed by more rapid recoveries,' Stovall said in a note Monday. 'Unfortunately, the greatest uncertainty surrounding this decline and possible recovery is that its major headwind — the tariff tiff — appears far from over,' Stovall added. While markets face continued tariff uncertainty, it can be helpful to return to investing 101. A portfolio that is well-diversified across different types of stocks and bonds can help you mitigate losses during market swings. That becomes especially apparent during times of heightened volatility. 'Spreading risk across different asset classes, sectors and regions is investing 101,' Ulin said. 'Think of diversification as your portfolio's seatbelt, keeping you secure when markets hit rough air.' If your portfolio is overexposed to US stocks, it might be smart to consider buying stocks in global markets like Europe and to further diversify by investing in Treasury bonds. Diversification might also look like investing in stocks in industries that have less exposure to tariffs, or 'tariff-proofing' your portfolio, Ulin said. As with all things in investing, there is no one-size-fits-all. Each person has their own unique financial goals and tolerance for risk. Periods of volatility present opportunities to reflect on whether or not your investments still align with your financial goals, according to Tom Hainlin, national investment strategist at US Bank Wealth Management. That means reviewing your investing goals and reassessing whether you're well situated to pay for big-ticket items you might have coming up, whether you have enough cash for emergencies and whether there are new opportunities to buy stocks given the recent declines. If you are closer to retirement, you might consider parking more cash in Treasury bills or other cash-equivalent assets, as one of the most essential steps to take is to try and minimize sequence risk. The bottom line: Volatility — though unnerving — is normal. Keep a level head and look for opportunities to diversify and bolster your portfolio. 'Regularly review your asset allocation, rebalance when needed and tune out the noise,' Ulin said. 'Long-term success is built on discipline, not panic.'
