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jili golden bank Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Friday , December 6, 2024 .

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) on Saturday announced a new $988 million security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump’s November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed before he is sworn in next month. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and equipment and spare parts for artillery systems, tanks and armored vehicles, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump met in Paris earlier Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said any resolution of the war with Russia should be a “just” settlement that includes “strong security guarantees for Ukraine.” The meeting was of huge importance to Zelensky, given fears in Kyiv that Trump may urge Ukraine to make concessions to Moscow. The latest aid will be funded via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, under which military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners rather than drawn from American stocks, meaning it will not immediately arrive on the battlefield. It follows a $725 million package announced on Monday that included a second tranche of landmines as well as anti-air and anti-armor weapons. The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden is working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump — who has repeatedly criticized US assistance for Kyiv and claimed he could secure a ceasefire within hours — takes over. Trump’s comments have triggered fears in Kyiv and Europe about the future of US aid, and Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russian attacks in the absence of further American support. “Our job has been to try and put Ukraine in the strongest possible position on the battlefield so that it is in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table,” National Security advisor Jake Sullivan said Saturday. In the closing weeks of Biden’s term, the goal is “a massive surge of assistance and to up the economic pressure on Russia,” he said.Messi's son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watchButterball faces boycott after vile video of workers allegedly sexually abusing and torturing turkeys resurfaces

By Lourdes O. Pilar, Researcher LISTED BANKS rose in the third quarter propelled by higher loan growth thanks to cheaper borrowing costs that boosted net interest income. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) gained 13.4% on a quarter-on-quarter basis in the third quarter of 2024, a reversal from the 7.1% drop in the second quarter. Year on year, PSEi climbed by 15.1%. Meanwhile, the financials subindex, which included the banks, inched up by 19.4% quarter on quarter at the end of the July-September period, a turnaround from the 5.4% decline recorded in the second quarter. The subindex, however, rose by 23.4% annually. Out of 15 banks covered in the third quarter of this year, 13 banks’ stock performance rose. Quarter-on-quarter top performers were Security Bank Corp. (SECB, 52.5%), Bank of Commerce (31%), China Banking Corp. (27.5%), Philippine National Bank (27.3%), and BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO, 23.2%). Philippine Trust Co. and Philippine Business Bank performed poorly as their stock prices in the third quarter declined by 3.2% and 5.6%, respectively. Aggregate net income of universal and commercial banks went up by 51.9% to P271.73 billion as of end-September from P178.91 billion last year, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed. Gross total loan portfolio of these big lenders rose by 14% to P13.81 trillion as of end-September from P12.11 trillion a year ago. The big banks’ gross nonperforming loans (NPLs) ratio, however, edged up to 3.18% in September from 3.09% in September the previous year. The big banks’ net interest margin (NIM) — a ratio that measures banks’ efficiency in investing their funds by dividing annualized net interest income to average earning asset — grew to 4.06% in the third quarter from 3.83% recorded in the same period in 2023. “Most of the banks under our coverage posted double-digit growth in the bottom line, attributable to high net interest margins and lower provisions for losses amid benign asset quality,” Wendy B. Estacio-Cruz, Unicapital Securities head of Research, said in an email. Ms. Estacio-Cruz said that Union Bank of the Philippines and Bank of the Philippines (BPI) posted high net income growth in third quarter alone with 77% and 28% year-on-year growth, respectively. UBP’s bottom line was driven by high top line growth and managed operating expenses and for BPI, high trading income contributed to the growth. BDO Securities Corp. First Vice-President and Head of Research Abigail L. Chiw said that most banks reported stronger loan growth, stable lending margins, and improving asset quality, which contributed to record high incomes. “The big banks continue to do well, as they registered above-average industry loan growth given their extensive branch network and expanding digital presence, strong asset quality with low NPL ratios and solid profitability with robust double-digit return on return on equities (RoEs),” said Ms. Chiw. “During the third quarter, majority of banks booked trading gains which helped push noninterest income higher. This was the result of lower interest rates in the period. On the other hand, majority of banks continue to enjoy high net interest income margin as majority continue to grow consumer loan book which is high yielding in terms of assets,” said Kervin Laurence Sisayan, Maybank Securities Philippines, Inc. head of Research. Mr. Sisayan also said that SECB stood out given the very strong loan growth year on year. Meanwhile, BDO and Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (MBT) continued to show high NPL coverage and stable NPL ratio, implying sustained asset quality. RCBC Securities, Inc. said that the main factor for the performance of listed banks during the third quarter was the double-digit loan growth under the consumer segment, as business confidence improved along with the BSP’s rate cut. “BDO and MBT stood out because both managed to improve their asset quality while increasing topline and beating industry loan growth. Their ability to make it happen provides them a shield from inflationary risks or flexibility to deal with slower interest rate cuts,” RCBC Securities said. BANK STOCK PICKS In choosing bank stocks, analysts said that traders and investors should continue to monitor market conditions that may affect loan demand and asset quality of banks. “Uncertainties with regard to the potential impact of protectionist policies from US president-elect Donald J. Trump may temporarily weigh on credit appetite and temper loan growth for banks,” said Ms. Chiw. Ms. Chiw also added that the risks of reaccelerating inflation and interest rates remaining high and restrictive could also have knock-on effects to the ability of borrowers to repay their debts. “Traders should watch potential rate changes, loan demand stability, and credit quality trends. Digital transformation will also be pivotal in enhancing banks’ competitiveness and profitability,” said Arielle Anne D. Santos, an equity analyst at Regina Capital Development Corp. Investors should keep an eye on the movement on NIMs given that they saw more policy rate cuts, Maybank’s Mr. Sisayan said. “Eventually when we see a more pronounced decline in interest rates as inflation continues to ease, then we could also start looking more closely at an acceleration on loan growth,” Mr. Sisayan said. Ms. Estacio-Cruz said that they are cautiously optimistic about the banking sector and believe that operating income is likely to peak in mid-2024. “We anticipate a 20-bps decline in NIMs for the banks within our coverage, given the ease of interest rates. However, we expect that strong asset quality and improved loan growth will help to partially offset the effects of these rate cuts next year, thereby supporting the sector’s RoE,” Ms. Estacio-Cruz added. “Year-to-date, the financials index remains the most outperforming index and rose 28% compared to the PSEi’s gain of 3%. Nevertheless, we advise a selective approach, particularly considering banks with substantial discounts,” said Ms. Estacio-Cruz. RATE CUTS This year, the BSP has delivered a total of 50 basis points (bps) worth of rate cuts in increments of 25-bp reductions at its August and October meetings. BSP has signaled a possible interest rate cut in December, following the slower-than-expected economic growth in the third quarter and the within-target inflation print in October. Further rate cuts could be expected in 2025, BSP said. “Rate cuts are expected to compress banks’ net interest margins, which may weigh on short-term profitability. However, they could also stimulate loan demand, potentially benefiting banks with diversified loan portfolios like BDO and BPI,” said Ms. Santos. She added that lower rates might support asset quality by easing debt burdens, a factor investor may view positively. “Overall, rate cuts could have a mixed impact on bank stocks, balancing margin pressure with potential gains from loan growth and improved asset quality,” said Ms. Santos. For BDO Securities, the negative impact of rate cuts to margins can be offset by the positive impact of the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) reductions, such that banks are largely expecting NIMs to remain stable. “Lower interest rates or borrowing costs are also seen to potentially lift consumer and business sentiment, which in turn, could translate to better investment spending and faster loan growth, which are positive for bank earnings,” Ms. Chiw said. “We believe that there is room to cut another 25 bps in the last month of the year. So, for the 25-bps cut, this could lead to lower interest rates and lower asset yields,” Mr. Sisayan said. Meanwhile, Ms. Estacio-Cruz expects net interest margins stable for this year as banks manage to lower cost of funds while keeping asset yields steady.Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday that he is ready to sit down with Republican President-elect Donald Trump and his rapidly developing cabinet while reiterating that he wants to work rather than war with the incoming administration. During his weekly press conference, Hizzoner said he has communicated to the burgeoning Trump administration that City Hall would like to engage with them on several of the city’s most pressing issues. “We communicated that once things are in order we would like to sit down and share some of our ideas and visions around the border, around affordability, around New York City needs,” Adams said. “He was receptive to that. Our goal is not to be warring, but working, with the new president for New York City. Not four years of fighting, but four years of working.” During the briefing, the mayor also took issue with those criticizing Trump’s highly controversial cabinet appointments — including anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. He suggested those who do not like Trump’s picks should run for office themselves instead of criticizing him. “He ran, he went across the country, he went to rallies,” Adams said. “The person who did the sweat, blood and tears, now he has to pick his team. Those who say ‘I don’t like who you picked,’ then run. No one stops anyone from running and being the president.” The Democratic mayor’s lastest comments fit into his noticeably soft rhetoric around Trump over the past few months—compared with most other leaders in his party . His efforts to seemingly tiptoe around criticizing Trump have come under fire, as some critics speculate the mayor might be angling for the incoming president to help with his legal troubles. Mayor Adams bristled last week at the notion that he is trying to curry favor with Trump to help his legal case, noting that after he reached out to the president-elect, so did Gov. Kathy Hochul, US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough. “None of them, not the governor, not the senator, not Morning Joe, did you say, ‘are you doing it because you want something?'” Adams said last week. “How about we’re doing it because we love New York? This is the president. And it’s time for us to stop yelling at each other and working with each other.” Adams pleaded not guilty to a five-count federal indictment in late September and will go on trial for the charges on April 21 of next year. Prosecutors allege that he sought and accepted luxury travel perks and illegal foreign campaign contributions in exchange for political favors on behalf of the Turkish government. Trump has publicly belittled the charges against Adams and cast him, without evidence, as the target of political persecution from President Biden’s Justice Department. The president-elect pardoned many of his political allies during his first term in office, and Adams’ legal team reportedly believed he could do the same for the embattled mayor. Trump is set to nominate Jay Clayton — his former Securities and Exchange Commission head — to take over as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the office that indicted Adams. Damian Williams, the current US Attorney for SDNY, announced Monday that he would resign next month .

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:36 p.m. ESTNoneJuan Soto could decide on his next team before or during baseball's winter meetings

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The couple teamed up with The Stanway School in Colchester, challenging a group of Year 8 students—and themselves—to go without their smartphones for three weeks. The kids, some of whom used their phones for up to five hours daily, initially found it tough to cope without the gadgets they're hooked on. However, as the experiment progressed, improvements were noted; the youngsters slept better, appeared more attentive in class, and some experienced reduced anxiety. The documentary also explores the disturbing content that young children can access on their phones, including violent footage and explicit adult material, leaving Emma and Matt shocked. Read more Rebekah Vardy branded 'jealous' and 'desperate' by ex-husband in savage rant Emma and Matt, posing as 13 year olds on TikTok with new phones, were shocked to receive content related to suicide and violence against women within just four hours of scrolling on a fresh account, reports the Mirror . Emma expressed her shock, saying: "It's just not what I thought it would was. I know you hear stories about what can be found on there but finding and searching for something is very different from it being served to you the first time you go on there as a 13 year old." Matt later described the content accessible to children on their phones as "terrifying". Prior to the experiment, Matt voiced his concerns: "It's how much time our kids spend on their smart phones that got us worried. I think we've signed up to this experiment because we're living it. We're going through it with our kids and we have no idea how to navigate this. We're worried, we're scared, everything we're seeing is negative, but we don't know how to stop it." He also shared his personal experience: "Our daughter was 11 when she got a smart phone, it's been the biggest disruptor between us and her, I feel like I lose her to it quite a bit. I miss her. I remember sitting on the couch once, the TV was playing and we were all on our phone. I was like, 'This is not good'." The couple, parents to Isabelle, 15, Ace, 13, and Trixie, 8, have now implemented changes in their own home following the experiment. Emma, the presenter of The Voice, aged 48, has shared details about her family's tech habits, revealing that mobile phones are now charged downstairs and not in bedrooms. The children also hand over their devices to ensure some quality time together after 8pm. Interestingly, Emma has removed Instagram from her phone, only accessing it via an iPad. While their youngest child has steered clear of owning a smartphone for now, this looks unlikely to change for several years. Emma expressed her mixed feelings on the matter: "Our kids first had a phone when they were at secondary school, it feels like everyone has one and they want one. There are times when I definitely feel like I've lost them. Personally for me, I wished I'd never given them a smart phone. Our eldest, even now, and we're a bit scared of her on this subject, which is terrible really because she's a lovely kid. We never allow them to have social media. Then when she was 14 she had been begging for a long time and we were like, you can have Snapchat. And she's literally on it all the time." She continues with hopes for the future: "The one thing that we really want to get out of this experiment is that we really hope that it will get the ball rolling and change will begin. Because I think what we all want is that for our kids to be able to be in the tech world from the right age, but be absolutely safe within it. If we can all kind of put that pressure on, hopefully we can make positive change." Musician Matt, 41, who is a recovering drug addict and no stranger to battling addiction, shared his personal struggle with technology dependency. He confessed: "I used to belittle it in my head. But when I think about it, I am addicted to my phone. When I'm without it I crave it. I act the same way about this device as I have about substances in the past." He also expressed strong support for age restrictions on smartphone use, saying: "When I think about the idea of a smartphone ban to the age of 14, I think that's a very wise decision. We are exposing them to so much stuff that they can't process or they shouldn't be seeing, and we are allowing that to happen. The Government can't turn a blind eye to this anymore. You've got to look at this and go, this is a massive problem." They discuss potential reforms with Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, considering measures such as a ban on smartphones for under-14s on the documentary.Repealing no-fault divorce stalled across the U.S. Some worry that will change under Trump

SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2024) The of new and used warm clothes has significantly increased in and its tehsils, including , , , , and Kotmomin. Various winter essentials, such as gloves, woolen hats, mufflers, pullovers, sweatshirts, and jackets, are prominently displayed outside shops and on stalls in different localities. Markets and weekly bazaars are bustling with crowds of shoppers bargaining with retailers. In addition to clothing, heaps of quilts, bed covers, blankets, and rugs are also available for . The sudden onset of chilly , particularly during the night over the past 10 days, has compelled people to stock up on winter apparel and other necessities. Used winter items, including quilts and blankets, are a popular choice for budget-conscious buyers. A local visitor, Ghulam Rasool, commented, "Although the is taking steps to curb inflation and provide relief to the , a nearly 20pc increase in the of winter clothing compared to last year has been observed." Vendors and shopkeepers are experiencing a surge in , with winter apparel selling rapidly. “Our is thriving these days as the demand for warm clothes has skyrocketed,” said Suleman Ahmed, a second-hand clothing dealer at Shaheen Chowk Bazaar. Another dealer on Station expressed similar sentiments, stating, "Our sales have doubled, and we anticipate further growth in the coming days." Shoppers are becoming increasingly selective, focusing on quality and affordability when purchasing used clothing. “Customers not only look for the quality but also aim to get items at the lowest possible prices,” said Ali Ahmed, a shop owner at Al Munir in . He noted that international brands are particularly popular among buyers, with many seeking slightly used items renowned labels. Traders typically purchase second-hand clothing in bulk, sorted by categories for men, , and children. “Some customers have a keen eye for quality products, picking them out like hawks heaps of used clothing,” Ali Ahmed explained. “Even at fixed-price shops, bargaining is common, as people strive to find affordable yet durable options.” As the cold persists, bazaars across are teeming with shoppers searching for practical and budget-friendly winter essentials, signaling a profitable season for vendors and stall-holders.

A few days ago, Woot kicked off a massive sale on the Braided Solo Loop and Solo Loop bands for Apple Watch, and not only are most of these deals still live, but Woot has added even more bands to the sale. All bands are in brand new condition and come with a one year Apple limited warranty. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You can get the Solo Loop for just $19.99 ($29 off) and the Braided Solo Loop for $29.99 ($69 off) in this sale. Additionally, if you purchase multiple bands and your order exceeds $39, you can use the code APPLEBANDS to get an extra 15 percent off your order . Woot has extended the sale into next week, but it'll probably end sooner when stock runs out, so make your purchases soon if you're interested. Shoppers should note that this sale is focused on colors of the Braided Solo Loop and Solo Loop that Apple has stopped selling, and it doesn't include any of the new band colors. That being said, all of the bands in this sale are in new condition. The entire sale is focused on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop Apple Watch bands, so you'll need to know the size that works best for you before you buy. Apple has a measurement tool on its website that you can use to determine your exact size. Solo Loop Braided Solo Loop If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week. Deals Newsletter Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!

NEW YORK — More shoppers than ever are on track to use 'buy now, pay later' plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don't report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper's mind at least, more money for smaller purchases. They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. "Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you're going to make anyway," said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. "The challenge is that it does fuel overspending." For merchants, that's part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. "The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they're already relying on revolving credit," Elliott said. "The psychographics of 'buy now, pay later' may be different — people don't think of it as debt — but it is." If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. "Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red," she said. "And, based on what we're seeing in the data, they're continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend."