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Article content EDMONTON — Leaders of the Prairie provinces are urging Canada to act on American concerns over illegal cross-border traffic of people and drugs to stave off the looming threat of 25 per cent tariffs. Recommended Videos Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Tuesday that Canada must do better to address the concerns of its largest trading partner. Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump promised Monday to impose the tariffs on his first day in office in January. He said he would keep the tariffs in place until Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent drugs such as fentanyl from entering the U.S. Kinew said 25 per cent tariffs would mean a recession for his province and that Canada needs to show the new U.S. administration it’s serious about security and tackling the drug crisis. He said it begins with Canada’s pledge to NATO allies to spend two per cent of its gross domestic product on defence by 2032. “First and foremost, (it’s about) hitting that target of two per cent spending on defence,” said Kinew. “That gets us in the game just to be taken seriously as a security partner with the U.S. If we don’t do it, it’s going to become a trade problem.” In a video posted to social media, Alberta’s premier said Canada needs to reach its pledged commitment on defence. “If their trade partners are looking to be free riders on American security interests, that’s also going to harm the relationship,” Smith said, adding, “You also have to take seriously the asylum seekers.” Canada and the U.S. share a $188 billion trade partnership that supports countless jobs and communities across our country. With a new U.S. President incoming, it’s critical we address any concerns head-on to protect and strengthen this vital relationship. pic.twitter.com/v8PgphjgBl Smith added in another post that the incoming Trump administration has “valid concerns related to illegal activities” at the border. The U.S. is Alberta’s largest trading partner, with $188 billion in bilateral trade in 2023. Last year, energy products accounted for more than 80 per cent of that trade, or about $134 billion. The incoming US @realDonaldTrump administration has valid concerns related to illegal activities at our shared border. We are calling on the federal government to work with the incoming administration to resolve these issues immediately, thereby avoiding any unnecessary tariffs... Smith said the vast majority of Alberta’s energy exports to the U.S. are “delivered through secure and safe pipelines,” which “do not in any way contribute to these illegal activities.” In Saskatchewan, Moe said he understands Trump’s position on border security. “As Canadians, we can all benefit from additional border security stopping the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across our borders,” he said in a social media post. A 25% tariff proposed by President-elect Donald Trump would be harmful to our Saskatchewan export-based economy and will drive up prices on both sides of the border. The Saskatchewan government is talking to the incoming USA administration and working alongside Canada’s Premiers... pic.twitter.com/Pnhq5uxd5C He said his province plans to use all levers at its disposal to stop the tariffs and will approach the U.S. directly. Moe added the proposed tariffs would hurt Saskatchewan’s export-based economy and drive up prices on both sides of the border. Speaking to CTV early Tuesday, Moe said his government would represent Saskatchewan interests alongside the federal government, fellow premiers “and on our own when necessary.” “We have a strong relationship with a number of the administration that President Trump has appointed,” Moe said. In 2023, Saskatchewan’s exports to the U.S. amounted to almost $27 billion after hitting a record high of $29 billion in 2022. Its top exports include crude oil, potash and canola. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has convened an emergency meeting for Wednesday with the country’s premiers to discuss the tariffs. — With files from Jeremy Simes in Regina and Brittany Hobson in Winnipeg
Vasko's 4 TDs power Coastal Carolina past Georgia State 48-27 to become bowl eligibleUS authorities on Tuesday charged the man suspected of gunning down a health insurance CEO in New York earlier this month with murder, including a charge of second-degree murder "as an act of terrorism." Mangione, 26, is accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street on December 4, triggering a nationwide manhunt that ended last week when he was spotted at a Pennsylvania McDonald's. The former data engineer remains jailed in that state as he fights efforts to extradite him to New York to face charges there over the killing, which brought into focus widespread public anger against the US health care system. Mangione "is charged with one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of murder in the second degree, including one count of murder in the second degree as an act of terrorism," said Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg said the terrorism charge was included because the shooting met the prerequisites for such a determination under New York law. "In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror and we've seen that reaction," he said. "This was not an ordinary killing." The maximum penalty for the murder charges Mangione faces is life in prison without parole, Bragg said. The suspect was also charged with several crimes related to his possession of a weapon, which authorities said was a 3D-printed "ghost gun." "We allege he... took out a nine-millimeter 3D-printed ghost gun equipped with a 3D-printed suppressor and shot (Thompson) once in the back and once in the leg," said Bragg. "These weapons are increasingly proliferating throughout New York City and the entire country. Evolving technology will only make this problem worse," he said. "Last year, over 80 ghost guns and ghost gun parts were recovered in Manhattan alone." - 'Shocking and appalling' - In the wake of Thompson's killing, many social media users have lionized Mangione, with some even calling for further killings of other CEOs. Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner, criticized members of the public who had praised the murder. "In the nearly two weeks since Mr Thompson's killing, we have seen a shocking and appalling celebration of cold-blooded murder," said Tisch. Mangione is due in Pennsylvania court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to New York. Police say a "life-changing, life-altering" back injury may have motivated Mangione, although they added that there was "no indication" that he was ever a client of UnitedHealthcare. When he was arrested, Mangione had a three-page handwritten text criticizing the US health care system. Police have said that Mangione's fingerprints matched those found near the crime scene, and that shell casings match the gun found on him when he was arrested. Bragg said that the suspect traveled to New York on November 24 with the intention of murdering Thompson. On December 4, he is alleged to have waited "for nearly an hour" outside the hotel where Thompson was shot early that morning. "This was a frightening, well planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation," said district attorney Bragg. bur-aha/md
Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abrasion on hip during crash on final run of World Cup giant slalom KILLINGTON, Vt. Peggy Shinn, The Associated Press Nov 30, 2024 3:07 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Mikaela Shiffrin, of the United States, crashes during the second run of a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. ___ AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. ___ More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing Peggy Shinn, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Skiing Canada's Mikael Kingsbury kicks off World Cup season with 91st gold medal Nov 30, 2024 10:12 AM Canadian freestyle ski star Mikael Kingsbury seeks to extend record Nov 26, 2024 3:09 PM Ruling in doping case set to give biathlon star Fourcade a gold 15 years after Vancouver Olympics Nov 26, 2024 6:27 AMNone
‘Will solicit people’s help in mission against pollution’
Share Tweet Share Share Email ‘Hyperconnected’ might feel like an understatement. With the explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the normalization of remote work, and the adoption of multi-cloud infrastructures, the world seems to run more smoothly and more connected. However, for cybersecurity professionals, these changes create a labyrinth of permissions and vulnerabilities. Traditional “castle-and-moat” security models are crumbling, leaving APIs and other entry points exposed to exploitation. In response, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has emerged as the new gold standard for security. “What might have been dismissed as paranoia a decade ago tends to become the security standard,” says Ravi Kumar , Senior Site Reliability Engineer. With over ten years of experience in high-profile cybersecurity projects and a decorated track record—including recognition as Best Consultant and numerous spot awards at Microsoft —Kumar explains why ZTA is no longer optional, even for those who aren’t tech professionals. What is Zero Trust, and Why Does It Matter? Zero Trust is grounded in three key principles: assume breach , verify explicitly, and enforce least privilege. And unlike previous security models, Zero Trust assumes every network—whether it’s your home Wi-Fi or the coffee shop hotspot—is untrustworthy by default. Every user, device, and connection must be authenticated and authorized before gaining access. “And even then, they should be continuously monitored,” Kumar adds. “Every network is treated as unsafe, and just as hostile as the internet itself.” He explains that traditional network perimeters, such as firewalls, are now regularly supplemented—or even replaced—by security measures centered on individual entities and data. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides foundational guidelines for Zero Trust , advocating for robust identity governance and policy-based access controls. Drawing from his own experience, Kumar offers a practical analogy: “Just because someone is inside the bank doesn’t mean they should be able to walk into the vault.” Zero Trust in Action While the principles of Zero Trust are straightforward, their implementation varies widely across industries. Kumar highlights real-world examples from his career to illustrate the versatility of ZTA. Global financial systems, with their heavy reliance on digital infrastructure, have embraced ZTA as a necessity. Kumar recalls designing an air-gapped security operations center for a foreign bank, combining advanced threat analytics and encrypted communications to create an actively monitored security environment. “But financial systems need to balance security with convenience,” he explains, pointing to the common use of asynchronous and localized cryptographic keys to protect data in transit. In healthcare, breaches pose risks beyond privacy—lives are on the line. Kumar highlights his work implementing a Zero Trust framework for a medical facility serving one million patients, ensuring compliance with HIPAA while safeguarding the hospital’s various IoT devices and patient portals. Role-based access controls and continuous monitoring ensured that only authorized personnel could modify or view sensitive data. Given the growing frequency in ransomware attacks targeting healthcare , Kumar sees such measures as critical for safeguarding both patient information and operational continuity, especially during and after an attack. Education is another vulnerable sector. The pivot to remote learning during the pandemic exposed gaps previously overlooked by educational institutions. Kumar collaborated with the City Colleges of Chicago to replace legacy systems with a hybrid identity management solution, enabling secure, role-specific access for students and staff alike. “In education, the priority is often preventing manipulation rather than access,” he notes. As online learning expands, Kumar emphasizes the need for vigilance in protecting both academic integrity and sensitive information. Despite the widespread applicability, Kumar points out that proactive cybersecurity is still rare. “Too often, vulnerabilities aren’t taken seriously until there’s a breach.” What’s Ahead for Zero Trust Reflecting on recent developments, Kumar says Zero Trust must evolve alongside emerging technologies. AI, for example, is a double-edged sword. “AI-driven attacks like phishing and malware are growing more sophisticated,” Kumar says, “but defenders are countering with predictive containment and anomaly detection. It’s an arms race.” Kumar also sees Zero Trust principles extending beyond networking into physical supply chains and emerging technologies like quantum computing. Technologies like Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) and software-defined perimeters are expected to larger roles in creating highly localized, tamper-resistant security measures. “Regardless of how sophisticated the technology, the goal is to deconstruct security into its smallest, least manipulable components,” he explains. Still, Zero Trust isn’t foolproof. High implementation costs can put it out of reach for smaller organizations, and insider threats or social engineering can still bypass defenses. “It’s important to remember that Zero Trust is just one part of a broader security strategy,” Kumar cautions. “You’ll need to revisit your weakest links as your policy evolves.” Summing Up Kumar offers two simple rules for adopting Zero Trust : “Minimize risk, and maximize resilience. Every solution you implement should align with one of these goals,” he says. “It helps to think of Zero Trust more as a mindset than a rigid set of rules.” He encourages organizations to start with high-risk areas and scale up based on specific needs. Workforce training is equally important to overcome cultural resistance and ensure employees understand their role in the security ecosystem. In a world defined by connectivity, trust can no longer be assumed—it must be earned. “It’s the new reality of cybersecurity ,” Kumar concludes. “Zero Trust is here to stay.” Related Items: cybersecurity , Zero Trust , Zero Trust Architecture Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Strengthen Cyber Resilience: A Checklist for ITOps and SecOps Collaboration Preparing the Next Generation: Cyber Brain Academy’s Focus on Cybersecurity Professionals Sree Gopinath’s Advocacy for Digital Privacy: Defending Critical National Interests CommentsLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . That is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals — and he has scored plenty of those this season. Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated PressNOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEALWELL AI Inc. (“ HEALWELL ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX:HWAIF), a data science and AI company focused on preventative care, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amended agreement pursuant to which Eight Capital and Scotiabank, as lead underwriters and joint bookrunners, together with a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), will purchase, by way of a private placement on a “bought deal” basis (i) 12,500,000 subscription receipts of the Company (the “ Subscription Receipts ”),at a price of $2.00 per Subscription Receipt (the “ Subscription Receipt Issue Price ”); and (ii) 31,250 convertible debentures of the Company (the “ Convertible Debentures ”) at a price per Convertible Debenture of $960, for aggregate gross proceeds of $55,000,000. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions (as defined below), for no additional consideration, one unit of the Company consisting of one Class A Subordinate Voting Share (each, a “ Share ”) and one-half of one Share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at a price of $2.50 for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering. The gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt portion of the Offering, less 50% of the Underwriters’ cash commission and certain expenses of the Underwriters, will be deposited in escrow on closing of the Offering until the satisfaction of certain release conditions, including that all conditions precedent to the Transaction (as defined below) have been met (the “ Release Conditions ”). In the event that the Release Conditions have not been satisfied prior to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver Time) on June 30, 2025, or the Company advises the Underwriters or announces to the public that it does not intend to satisfy the Release Conditions or that the Transaction has been terminated, the aggregate issue price of the Subscription Receipts (plus any interest earned thereon) shall be returned to the applicable holders of the Subscription Receipts, and such Subscription Receipts shall be automatically cancelled and be of no further force and effect. The Convertible Debentures will be issued with a 4% original issue discount and will be convertible into Shares at a price of $2.40 per Share. The Company may force the conversion of all of the principal amount of the then outstanding Convertible Debentures at a price of $2.40 per Share on not less than 30 days’ notice should, at any time following the date that is 4 months and 1 day following the issue date, the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Shares be greater than $3.85 for any 10 consecutive trading days. The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of each year, beginning on June 30, 2025. The Convertible Debentures will mature on December 31, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed, or converted in accordance with their terms. The Convertible Debentures will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to December 31, 2027. On or after January 1, 2028, the Convertible Debentures will be redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 110% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Company has granted the Underwriters an option to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Subscription Receipts, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of up to 48 hours prior to the closing date. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to partially fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the Company’s acquisition of Orion Health Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”), as described in greater detail in the Company’s press release dated December 16, 2024. Completion of the Offering will be subject to various conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. As the number of Shares to be issued in the Transaction and the Offering will exceed 25% of the number of HEALWELL’s current issued and outstanding Shares, HEALWELL is required to obtain shareholder approval from shareholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Company. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about January 7, 2025. Dr. Alexander Dobranowski Chief Executive Officer HEALWELL AI Inc. About HEALWELL HEALWELL is a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused preventative care. Its mission is to improve healthcare and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. Using its own proprietary technology, the Company is developing and commercializing advanced clinical decision support systems that can help healthcare providers detect rare and chronic diseases, improve efficiency of their practice and ultimately help improve patient health outcomes. HEALWELL is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company’s road map. HEALWELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AIDX” and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol “HWAIF”. To learn more about HEALWELL, please visit https://healwell.ai/ . About ORION HEALTH Orion Health is a global healthcare technology company focused on reimagining healthcare for all. Orion Health is leading the change in digital health with health and care organizations to improve the wellbeing of every individual with our world leading Unified Healthcare Platform. Made up of a Virtuoso digital front door, Amadeus digital care record, and Orchestral health intelligence platform - each underpinned by extensive health and social data sets, machine learning, and 30 years of innovation focused purely on improving global well-being. www.orionhealth.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and are based on assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to, among other things, the closing of the Transaction and the Offering and the terms on which each of them are expected to be completed. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “in the event”, “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "can" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by HEALWELL as of the date of such statements, are outside of HEALWELL's control and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being entirely or partially incorrect or untrue. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following: the parties’ ability to satisfy any conditions precedent to completion of the Transaction and the Offering, including receipt of all shareholder, regulatory and TSX approvals; HEALWELL’s ability to complete the Transaction and the Offering or to complete them on the terms described above; HEALWELL’s ability to access sources of debt and equity financing to complete the acquisition and the terms on which such financing may be provided; the stability of general economic and market conditions; HEALWELL's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; HEALWELL's continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights; and that the risk factors noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on HEALWELL's business, operations, revenues and/or results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of HEALWELL, could cause the actual results of HEALWELL to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in HEALWELL's most recent annual information form dated April 1, 2024, which is available under HEALWELL's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. The risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect HEALWELL and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. HEALWELL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. For more information: Pardeep S. Sangha Investor Relations, HEALWELL AI Inc. Phone: 604-572-6392 ir@healwell.ai
CLR Neurosthenics® launches neurophysiological assessment platform to help prevent sports injuries, optimize performance and improve rehabilitation
Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.
