Author: Lucas

Posted on Friday 23rd January 2026 The libraries investment is part of a wider programme of council expenditure. Millions of pounds are in place to accelerate the development of Staffordshire’s libraries into community hubs. Many of Staffordshire County Council’s 43 libraries already act as the front door to a wide range of local services, advice, activities and community support, alongside the delivery of the core library service. Now the authority has allocated around £5 million for all its libraries to move in that direction, including the 16 directly managed by the county council. Hayley Coles, pictured, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet…

Silver price (XAG/USD) extends its gains for the second successive session, trading around $99.10 per troy ounce during the Asian hours on Friday. The XAG/USD pair hit a fresh high of $99.39 amid persistent bullish bias, indicated by the technical analysis of the daily chart timeframe, as the price of the precious metal rises to near the upper boundary of the ascending channel pattern.Silver price holds above the rising nine-day EMA, while the 50-day EMA continues to advance and underpins the medium-term trend. Trend strength is confirmed by the widening gap between the 9-day EMA and 50-day EMA, keeping bulls…

Aptera Motors has announced the pricing of a new $9 million public offering, and the terms are putting significant pressure on the stock today. The solar electric vehicle startup is issuing shares at $2.00, a steep discount to yesterday’s closing price of $2.41, as it races to secure capital for production. We have been closely following Aptera’s journey to bring its ultra-efficient, three-wheeled solar electric vehicle (SEV) to market. While the engineering and efficiency numbers have always been impressive, the financial road has been much bumpier. Today, Aptera announced that it is offering 4.5 million shares of Class B common…

Gold bullion bars (Photo: David Gray)AFP via Getty ImagesThe price of gold has inched ever closer to the $5,000 per troy ounce mark in recent trading sessions, prompting many to wonder if the rally will continue any further. On Friday, at 6:00am EDT, the COMEX gold futures contract for February delivery was trading at $4,930.70 / ozt, up 0.35% or $17.30. Overnight, spot gold prices in Dubai were in the range of $4,920 / ozt to $4,930 / ozt. As ever, the latest spike is being driven by persistent geopolitical tensions leading to elevated safe haven trades by retail investors…

Reading open interest levels can help pinpoint a contrarian trade Learn to Trade Options: Stock Prices and ‘Magnetic’ Open Interest Options trading can be tricky, and anticipating which stocks will move in what direction can seem like witchcraft to those who don’t know what to look for. Options players are always on the lookout for clues about where and how to invest, and the best options traders know where to look for data that can help them rake in the wins. One of the more subtle, and perhaps underappreciated, factors that can help a derivatives trader anticipate the movement of…

Ready for investmentgettyAs investors navigate a landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, rising scrutiny, and tough competition for standout startups, decoding what ‘investment-readiness’ truly means has become as critical as the funding itself for founders hoping to raise capital.The changing definition of investment-readinessIn truth, investment readiness has also evolved since the frenzied years of 2021 and 2022, with the market becoming more selective and fewer themes attracting investment. While effective pitching remains crucial to a successful outcome, the bar for investment has risen in terms of investor expectations, creating a more competitive and challenging environment for startup founders.Founders often overestimate the…

Double digit Insurance rate increases may present a hurdle for homebuyers.gettyIt comes as no surprise that if you plan on purchasing a house, you’ll also need to get homeowners insurance. However, the cost may come as a shock to many people. Homeowners pay a median of more than $3,000 a year in property insurance, according to data by Bank of America, which adds that this median payment represented 4.5% of household income in the 12 months up to March 2024. And according to data by S&P Global Market Intelligence, through Dec. 29, 2023, homeowners insurance increased by 11.3% from the…

India’s state-owned refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is set to sign next week an oil supply deal with Brazilian state giant Petrobras for the delivery of 12 million barrels of crude, valued at about $780 million.The signing of the agreement is expected to take place during the India Energy Week 2026 forum, which will be held between January 27 and January 30 in Goa, the Indian government said in a statement on Friday carried by Reuters.  Indian refiners, including BPCL, are looking to diversify their crude supply as the U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil,…

The site, located just above Porthkidney Beach at Lelant, St Ives, will be offered at auction with a freehold guide price of £15,000 plus. The land is among 177 lots listed in the first auction of 2026 by Clive Emson Auctioneers, which is due to take place on February 11. Extending to approximately 1.16 hectares (around 2.88 acres), the land comprises beach and cliff terrain in what auctioneers describe as an “idyllic coastal setting”. From its elevated position above Porthkidney Beach, the site boasts wide-reaching views across the beach itself, as well as towards Hayle Beach and the Towans. Senior…

CANADA – 2025/10/12: In this photo illustration, the Abbott Laboratories logo is seen displayed on a smartphone screen. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAbbott Laboratories reported Q4 2025 sales of $11.46 billion, an increase of 4.4% from the previous year but falling short of analyst projections by approximately 3%. The adjusted EPS was $1.50, aligning with expectations, while the total annual adjusted EPS reached $5.15, indicating a 10% growth. Can the stock gain momentum from this point onward despite the revenue shortfall? It won’t be an easy task.However, before we delve into the…