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Michelle Trachtenberg, the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actor, has died at the age of 39
Michelle Trachtenberg died on Wednesday. She was an American actress best known for her roles on the TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Gossip Girl" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Her public relations team confirmed this. It is with deep regret that we confirm the death of Michelle Trachtenberg. The family asks for privacy in their grief. "At this time, there are no additional details," said the statement. Trachtenberg’s cause of death is unknown. Born in New York City on October 11, 1986, to Jewish immigrants. Trachtenberg began her career in Hollywood at the age of three, when she appeared in television commercials. Her debut on TV was in "The Adventures of Pete & Pete", a Nickelodeon show that aired in 1994. She landed her first major role at the age of 10 in the 1996 film "Harriet the Spy." She played in many Nickelodeon shows before being cast in "EuroTrip", a cult classic, in 2004, when she was still in her early 20s. She then played the most famous roles, such as Dawn Summers from the WB supernatural drama series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", in 2000, and Georgina Sparks in the CW TV series "Gossip Girl", in 2007. Her other roles include the television films "Killing Kennedy," Sister Cities, and the science-fiction film "The Scribbler". Trachtenberg has also been seen in the music videos of the emo rock band Fall Out Boy, for their song "This Ain't a Scene It's An Arms Race" and Ringside's "Tired Of Being Sorry", directed by Joaquin Phoenix. (Reporting and editing by Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Sandra Maler).
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US Fund Firms Face New Probe by Legislators over Climate Group Roles
Republican lawmakers have asked leading asset managers in the United States to explain their role in the planned overhaul of climate coalition, a top sectoral group. They are concerned that the efforts could be construed as collusion. Letters to the firms were seen by. The request for documents by companies such as Capital Group, State Street Global Advisors, and JPMorgan Asset Management is part of a planned evaluation within the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative. NZAM, after previous pressures led BlackRock out of the group in January, asked its members to contribute via a series of meeting that U.S. House of Representatives Judge Jim Jordan stated in the letters might lead to "uncompetitive behavior." This material is just the latest in Jordan's and his committee's series of requests for information, and reports that suggest collusion between financial companies. Jordan has not charged any of the financial companies he named with violating federal antitrust laws over their climate initiatives, but several are facing litigation in Texas. The political challenges continue to deter corporate boards from joining global efforts against climate change. Some have even left coalitions in which they might be targeted. Since the election of Donald Trump who called climate change a hysteria, attacked a number green policies implemented by his predecessor, and pulled the country out from global efforts to combat climate change, the trend has increased. (Editing by Leslie Adler).
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Trump terminates oil deal with Venezuela
On Wednesday, U.S. president Donald Trump announced that he was reversing concessions made to Venezuela more than two-years ago by his predecessor Joe Biden. In a post published on Truth Social, Trump said that he would "reverse the concessions" made in the "oil transactions agreement, dated 26 November 2022." On that day in 2022, the Biden Administration granted Chevron the license to expand production in Venezuela. The company would then bring Venezuela's crude oil into the United States. The only license the Venezuelan government issued that day was this one. Trump didn't mention Chevron on the post. The White House or the U.S. State Department didn't immediately respond to questions about whether Trump meant Chevron’s license. Chevron didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and his government, have always rejected the sanctions imposed by the United States. They claim that they are illegal measures that amount an "economic warfare" intended to cripple Venezuela. Maduro, his allies and the government have praised the resilience of the country despite the sanctions. However, they have in the past blamed the sanctions for some economic hardships. (Reporting and editing by Brendan O'Boyle, Rosalba O'Brien and Timothy Gardner)
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The US-Ukrainian Draft Minerals Deal: Key Provisions
Here are the key details from a draft framework agreement on minerals between Ukraine and United States. A copy of this document, dated February 25, has been reviewed. RECONSTRUCTION FUND The document's title is "BILATERAL AGREEEMENT ESTABLISHING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF A RECONSTRUCTION FUND". - Both countries will create a Reconstruction Investment Fund for the purpose of collecting and reinvesting revenues generated by Ukrainian resources. The fund will be managed by representatives from both countries. After the conclusion of the current agreement, a subsequent agreement regarding the fund will "be promptly negotiated". - Ukraine will contribute 50% of the revenues from the development in future of natural resources owned by the Ukrainian state. - The agreement does not specify the assets, but says that they will be specified in a subsequent agreement which will go before parliament for a vote. - Assets are defined as "minerals, hydrocarbons (oil, gas, etc.) and other materials that can be extracted, as well as other infrastructure related to natural resources assets, such as terminals for liquefied gas and port infrastructure." "For the sake of clarity, these future sources of revenue do not include current sources of revenue which are already included in the general budget of Ukraine." - The fund aims to invest in Ukrainian project and attract investments in public and privatized assets, including natural resources and infrastructure, ports, and state-owned companies. Contributions will be reinvested in Ukraine for "the safety, the security and the prosperity of Ukraine". SECURITY GUARANTEES The U.S. Government will support Ukraine in its efforts to secure the security guarantees necessary to achieve a lasting peace. The U.S. government has not mentioned any concrete security guarantees that Kyiv is hoping to obtain. "The Government of United States of America is supporting Ukraine's efforts in obtaining the security guarantees necessary to establish a lasting peace." The United States has committed to a long-term commitment of financial support for the development and growth of an "economically prosperous Ukraine". - The agreement includes "concrete measures to establish lasting peace and to strengthen economic resilience." According to the draft, both U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha will sign the agreement. (Reporting and editing by PhilippaFletcher; YuliiaDysa, Tom Balmforth)
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NRG Energy exceeds profit expectations for the fourth quarter on increased demand for electricity
NRG Energy, a leading energy company, beat Wall Street's expectations for the fourth quarter adjusted profit on Tuesday, thanks to a growing demand for electricity and lower fuel prices. It also announced its plans to serve more data centers over the next few years. The shares of the company increased by over 11% during morning trading. Utility companies benefit from the rising electricity consumption, mostly from the energy-guzzling, data-intensive data centers that are needed to scale Big Tech’s artificial intelligence technologies (AI). This has led NRG and its peers to increase their spending plans by tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Robert Gaudette is the president of NRG’s Business and Wholesale operations. He said, "Growing electricity demand due to GenAI, and the construction of data centers, means that we need to create new, innovative partnerships in order to increase America's dispatchable generator quickly." In the first phase, the company signed Letters of Intent with PowLan, a data center developer, and Menlo Equities. The power targets were 500 Megawatts (MW). The work is expected to begin in 2026. Analysts said that the deals could scale up to as much as 6.5 gigawatts, which bodes well for the firm. NRG signed a similar agreement with GE Vernova, a maker of power equipment, and TIC, whose subsidiary is Kiewit, on Wednesday to develop new natural gas projects up to 5.4 GW. NRG's quarterly fuel costs decreased marginally compared to a year earlier, falling from $4.89 billion to $4.89. The company's Texas business unit, which is the biggest contributor to its profit, saw quarterly adjusted core earnings fall 14.4% from a year earlier to $327 millions, due to warmer weather. The gains were offset by the East and West segments. The Houston-based utility beat analysts' expectations by posting an adjusted profit per share of $1.56 in the fourth quarter. (Reporting and editing by Sahal Muhammad in Bengaluru, with Pooja Menon reporting from Bengaluru)
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European shares reach record highs as US dollar increases amid tax cuts plans
The European stock market hit a new record on Wednesday thanks to a draft U.S.Ukraine agreement on vital minerals, and strong corporate earnings. The U.S. Dollar rose as well after House Republicans approved President Donald Trump's tax-cut plans. U.S. Copper Prices Surge after Trump Ordered a Probe into copper imports. Wall Street was ahead of the hotly anticipated earnings from AI chipmaker Nvidia. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives late on Tuesday narrowly passed Trump's $4.5 trillion tax-cut plan, sending the budget resolution to the Senate, where Republicans are expected to take it up. Lars Skovgaard is senior investment strategist for Danske Bank. Tax cuts and less regulation are expected. It is something I expect to happen, and it would be good for the markets if it did. The mood also improved following reports that the U.S.A. and Ukraine had agreed to terms for a draft mineral deal. The STOXX 600 index, which covers the entire continent, reached a record high. Blue-chip indices in Frankfurt and Paris, as well as London, also rose. Tony Sycamore is a market analyst for IG. Wall Street saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise 211.70, or 0.49% to 43,834.33, S&P 500 gain 41.19, or 0.70% to 5,996.73 while the Nasdaq Composite gained 176.96, or 0.94% to 19,204.88. Emerging Market Stocks rose by 13.04 points or 1.16%. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.4 basis points, to 4.302, as investors anticipated more debt issuance in the future. The yield on the two-year bond, which is sensitive for changes in Federal Reserve expectations of interest rates, increased 2.7 basis points, to 4.123% In the previous session, yields fell to their lowest level in several months as traders increased bets on more Fed rate reductions this year due to growing concerns about the outlook for the largest economy in the world. The latest survey data released on Tuesday shows that U.S. consumers' confidence dropped at the fastest pace in three-and-a half years in February. This is the latest of a series of surveys which indicate that both businesses and consumers are becoming more concerned about the policies of the Trump administration. Fed funds futures indicate that 55 bps will be priced in for easing by the end of the year, which translates to at least two quarter point cuts. This is up from 40 bps about a week earlier. Meanwhile, U.S. copper prices The price of the products rose 3.5% due to rising expectations about Trump's tariffs, and a major power outage that hit a major producer in Chile. The dollar index (which measures the currency in comparison to six other majors) was up by 0.2%. The euro fell 0.18% to $1.0494. Oil prices in commodities remained near their two-month lows. Brent crude futures fell 0.08% to $72.96 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.02% to $69.98. Spot gold dropped 0.26% in the previous session after dropping by 0.16%. Nvidia, the company that is the poster child for artificial intelligence, will report its earnings on Wednesday. This could provide clarity about demand and justify sector valuations. Due to the slow returns and breakthroughs made by China's DeepSeek, investor scepticism about the billions of dollars that U.S. technology firms have invested in AI infrastructure has increased. Jacob Falkencrone, global head of Saxo’s investment strategy, said that any signs of weakness within Nvidia’s report would have a significant impact on investor sentiment toward AI stocks in general. This week, some of Europe's top AI stocks fell after an analyst report flagged that Microsoft could slow down on data center leasing. The note lowered sentiment in the industry.
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US Targets Chinese, Hong Kong firms over alleged role of Iranian drone procurement
As part of the Trump administration's "maximum-pressure" campaign against Tehran, the United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on six entities in Hong Kong and China that they accused of involvement in an Iranian drone acquisition network. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that entities involved in the procurement of components for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on behalf of a firm under U.S. sanction, Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis were also key suppliers to Iran's UAVs and ballistic missile program. We were unable to reach PKGB and NSMI immediately for comment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Iran continues to seek new ways to obtain the key components needed to boost its UAV weapons programs through new front companies or third-country suppliers. Treasury remains committed to disrupting schemes that allow Iran to send deadly weapons to terrorist proxy groups and other destabilizing agents abroad. The embassy of China in Washington and the Iranian mission at the United Nations headquarters in New York did not respond immediately to comments. The United States imposed new sanctions on Iran's oil sector, which is the main source of revenue for the Islamic Republic. The announcements are made as U.S. president Donald Trump seeks a zero crude exports from Iran to prevent it obtaining a nuke weapon. They also build on the layers sanctions already imposed by the Biden administration and his government. Trump, earlier this month, had restored his campaign of "maximum press" against Iran. This includes efforts to drive down the country's exports of oil to zero. Washington has reimposed its tough policy towards Iran which was used throughout Trump's initial term. The top Iranian diplomat stated on Tuesday that Iran will not give in to the pressure and sanctions of Washington. The action on Wednesday freezes all U.S. assets and prevents Americans from doing business with those who are targeted. (Reporting and editing by PhilippaFletcher; Michael Martina, additional reporting; Daphne Psaledakis).
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Andy Home: Trump's tariff threats presage turbulent times for Dr Copper
Doctor Copper has been trying since late January to estimate the impact of U.S. tariffs on imports, ever since President Donald Trump included copper in his list of tariffs along with steel and aluminum. After the launch of a Section 232 investigation - the same national security tool that paved Trump's way to steel and aluminum tariffs during his first term, and extended them in Trump’s current term - the threat is set to become a reality. Tariff trade has played out so far in the arbitrage of the U.S. Copper price on CME and international copper prices traded on London Metal Exchange. This may change, as financial arbitrage causes a realignment in flows on the physical market. A raid on LME's inventory indicates that it has already happened. Mind the Widening Gap The LME copper product is an international contract that has delivery locations on all three continents. However, the CME contract is a U.S.-cleared product with only domestic delivery points. Arbitrage between these two contracts is the ideal forum to trade the potential U.S. tariffs on imports. When Trump mentioned aluminium, steel and copper as possible targets for tariffs in the same breath, the CME premium over London shot up to more than $1000 per metric ton. The CME premium was based on the fact that LME copper traded just above $9,000 per tonne, implying a tariff of 10% on imports. Transatlantic gap was steadily closing in absence of further comments by the Trump administration prior to Tuesday's shocking announcement that U.S. Import dependency would be subject of a National Security Investigation. The U.S. premium for the CME's May contract has risen again from $500 to more than $800 per ton in the past 24 hours. It is clear that the U.S. premium could be much higher if copper were to be subjected to the same tariff rate of 25% as steel and aluminum from next month. LME STOCKS RAID The LME price of three-month copper has remained stable at $9,500 per tonne, despite the CME price having risen sharply. Early-year rallies have stalled because of concerns over how Trump's tariff policy, which is broader, will impact on global trade and growth. This is especially true in China, as it's the largest copper purchaser. There's a lot of chaos beneath the calm surface, in the form time-spread instability. The benchmark spread between three-months cash and the benchmark cash On February 14, the price of the commodity flipped from a comfortable contagious of more than $100 per ton, to a backwardation at $250 per ton. It is now trading near zero. The Valentine's Day massacre was a clearing-out of liquidity, but the tighter tone that followed is due to a clearance-out of physical stock held in LME Warehouses. In preparation for the physical loading out, almost 100,000 tons of copper stored at LME have been cancelled in the last four working days. The total on-warrant stocks of copper have fallen from 258,000 tons to 161,225 tonnes in just one week. COMPLEX ARBITRAGE It makes sense to send as much copper to the United States as possible, to take advantage of the metal being in place prior to tariffs. The physical arbitrage trade is more complex than financial arbitrage. This was evident when the CME suffered a squeeze in May last year. The CME list of brands that can be delivered is largely restricted to Canadian, domestic and South American producers. This reflects the refined import mix of copper in the United States. LME stocks are largely made up of Chinese and Russian brands. These two brands together accounted 74% of the total stocks on warrant at the end January. The United States banned imports of Russian metal about a year ago. Imports from China already face a 10% blanket duty. Instead of LME-stored steel being shipped directly to the United States it is likely that South American shipments would be rerouted, and LME steel used to fill in the supply gaps. As happened last year it is possible that Chinese producers deliver metal to LME storage in Asia due to a high U.S. Premium causing a global roundabout of metal. Coming Home The U.S. Secretary for Commerce Howard Lutnick is given 270 days to complete the Section 232 Report on Copper. However, it appears that this will be a fast-tracked process. It is also clear that the results will be positive, as Lutnick accused international actors of "attacking [our] domestic production." Lutnick told the press at a briefing on Tuesday that "it's time to bring copper home." Tariffs alone are unlikely to reverse the trend of copper processing, where ever more capacity has migrated to China. He's correct, there is probably a large amount of copper headed to the U.S. It all depends on where the copper comes from, and how much turmoil is created by transporting it to the U.S. These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for.
Ukraine bonds rise on preliminary US critical mineral deal
Ukraine's foreign bonds rose on Wednesday, after Kyiv announced it had reached a "preliminary deal" on vital mineral resources. Washington was seen as central in its efforts to win the support of President Donald Trump's Administration.
Tradeweb data revealed that the bonds denominated in dollars gained up to 1.4 cents per dollar. The biggest gainer was the 2029 maturity which was bid at 72.35cents.
The agreement stipulates that Ukraine will pay the United States revenue from its mineral resources. It comes ahead of a Friday trip to Washington expected by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump wants to end Russia's conflict in Ukraine quickly. U.S. and Russian talks, which have excluded Kyiv so far, will continue on Thursday.
Trump has framed the deal as repayment for the billions of dollars Kyiv received during the war. Zelenskiy asked for security guarantees as a trade-off for the minerals rights. However, it's unclear if his demands were met.
The new agreement appears to be less burdensome for Ukraine than its initial proposal, said Piotr Kalisz of Citi. He added that it did not offer any security guarantees but authorities in Kyiv believed a greater presence of U.S. interest in the country could act as a stabilizing force.
Kalisz said that it appeared a similar deal could help ease diplomatic tensions between Ukraine & the U.S.
In recent days, the bonds issued by Ukraine as part of the August 2008 restructuring agreement have experienced a roller coaster ride.
After Trump falsely referred to Zelenskiy as an unpopular "dictator", who had to make a quick deal with the government or risk losing his country, the debt dropped sharply. The Ukrainian leader claimed that the U.S. President was in a "disinformation-filled bubble".
Bonds have recovered some of their losses over the past few days, and some maturities are now close to reaching record highs set in mid-February. Reporting by Karin Strohecker, Editing by Peter Graff & Bill Berkrot
(source: Reuters)