The bald eagle has been formally recognized as the official national bird after President Joe Biden signed legislation on Christmas Eve. The recognition came as Biden signed roughly 50 bills, including an anti-hazing law, weeks before his term ends.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) has been featured on the US Great Seal since 1782, a mark used by the State Department and printed on the dollar bill (see here). The bird is the only eagle indigenous to North America and is considered sacred by many Native American tribes. The bird of prey became endangered in the 1900s amid hunting and pesticide use, with nesting pairs dropping from an estimated hundreds of thousands in the 1800s to fewer than 500 in 1963. Hunting bans and conservation efforts returned their numbers to 19th-century levels.
The US natural gas industry is poised for significant growth as new LNG hubs are expected to come online with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office. The industry anticipates a supportive administration that will fast-track infrastructure projects, potentially leading to increased exports and development. Despite previous constraints due to public aversion and permitting challenges, the market is optimistic about future LNG facilities and their ability to meet global demand.
The oil market in 2024 was marked by fluctuating demand, geopolitical...
The oil market in 2024 was marked by fluctuating demand, geopolitical tensions and industry consolidation. Demand from China was a key factor, with underwhelming growth affecting prices, while the conflict between Israel and Hamas briefly raised supply concerns. In the US, mergers and acquisitions in the shale sector surged, although production did not increase as expected after the presidential election.
How will the markets respond to the first year of a second Donald Trump...
How will the markets respond to the first year of a second Donald Trump presidency? What will happen in AI and Big Tech? Will you ever be able to afford a house, like, ever?
Here’s what the experts are saying about what to expect in 2025:
Stock market: After the tech sector fueled markets to record numbers in 2024, everyone sees the S&P 500 continuing to rise in 2025. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs believe the S&P 500 will reach 6,500, while Eric Schiffer of the Los Angeles-based investment firm The Patriarch Organization told Quartz that it will climb to 6,750. Jeff Krumpelman of Mariner Wealth Advisors has a rosier outlook, predicting the index will hit 7,000.
AI: Unsurprisingly, everyone expects the uprising of our automated allies (or enemies) to continue as the technology improves. Fast Company foresees more organizations implementing AI in the workplace. Forbes predicts that AI-based scams will increase. But some are sounding the alarm that AI’s just one big bubble bound to collapse.
Jobs: Fast Company also predicts that low unemployment levels will hold steady. Hiring will pick up in certain sectors—healthcare, technology, defense, and energy—but will slump in retail, government, and professional services.
Renting vs. owning: Redfin believes prices in the US rental market will remain flat in the coming year, with more units becoming available. As for homebuyers, that market appears to be more volatile. Redfin foresees a 4% increase in home prices during 2025, which would represent a slowdown compared to previous years. But with Trump promising to increase tariffs on foreign goods, the cost of owning a home could get much higher, per LendingTree.
U.S. stocks ended mixed Thursday, after the "Santa Claus...
U.S. stocks ended mixed Thursday, after the "Santa Claus rally" period kicked off on Tuesday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average went up 28.77 points or 0.07% to end at 43,325.80 for its fifth straight daily gain, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
The S&P 500 went down 2.45 points or 0.04% to finish at 6,037.59, snapping a three-day winning streak.
The Nasdaq Composite declined 10.77 points or 0.05% to close at 20,020.36, snapping a three-day winning streak.
