Sen. Loren Lippincott's bill allows cities that own and operate natural gas distribution systems to sell natural gas to industrial partners who currently purchase it on the wholesale market.
The iPhone maker is set to report earnings after market closeBig tech results show investor demand for payoffs from heavy AI spendingApple will release its first quarter earnings Thursday after market close, and all eyes will be on the company’s roadmap for integrating artificial intelligence into its products. The tech titan has shown steady financial growth as iPhone sales remain strong. Investors have worried that Apple is getting left behind when it comes to AI.To assuage Wall Street’s fears, Apple announced earlier this month that the rebooted version of its voice assistant, Siri, will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI models. Continue reading...
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund focuses on senior secured loans for private U.S. small and middle market companies.
Applications for the City of Hemet’s new Entrepreneur and Small Business Community Development Block Grant Program will be accepted now through 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2026, offering financial support to help launch and grow small businesses within the city. The program is administered by the City of Hemet Economic Development Department and is funded [...]
Market Analysis by covering: Figma Inc. Read 's Market Analysis on Investing.com PH.
During the first ten months of the current Iranian year, exports through the customs of Qom Province in northern Iran rose compared to the same period last year.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jersey Hired, New Jersey’s leading hyper-local job board and talent platform, is issuing an urgent briefing to the state’s business community following the White House’s decision to freeze $16 billion in federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project. The suspension of work, slated to begin February 6, threatens to trigger a labor crisis that could eliminate 100,000 regional jobs and stall $20 billion in economic output.The Gateway Tunnel Project is widely considered the most vital infrastructure endeavor in North America. By constructing a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitating the existing 116-year-old North River Tunnel, the project aims to secure the Northeast Corridor, a region that contributes 20% of the nation’s GDP. The sudden halt in construction not only leaves 1,000 union workers facing immediate layoffs but also creates a "choke point" for the entire New Jersey labor market.As the state grapples with a 5.4% unemployment rate, significantly higher than the national average, Jersey Hired warns that the collapse of this project would have a "catastrophic" multiplier effect."The Gateway Tunnel is the fundamental artery of our regional economy. When you sever that artery, the entire workforce bleeds," said Richard Eib, Group Managing Director of Local Talent Group, the parent company of Jersey Hired. "We aren't just talking about construction workers; we are talking about the hundreds of thousands of commuters who rely on this transit to reach high-paying jobs in Manhattan, and the thousands of local small businesses in New Jersey that thrive on that economic flow. To withdraw funding now is to pull the rug out from under the New Jersey worker at a time when they are already facing significant headwinds. We urge the administration to recognize that infrastructure is the bedrock of employment stability."The Economic Impact on New Jersey’s WorkforceThe implications of a prolonged shutdown extend far beyond the construction site:Massive Job Loss: Beyond the immediate loss of 1,000 heavy-labor roles, the project was projected to create a sustained pipeline of 95,000 indirect and induced jobs.Commuter Instability: With 70,000 daily passengers currently relying on a crumbling tunnel system that is one major failure away from a total shutdown, a lack of progress threatens the reliability of New Jersey's "super-commuter" class.Real Estate and Investment Risk: Billions of dollars in transit-oriented development across Hudson and Essex counties are tied to the completion of Gateway. A permanent halt could lead to a sharp decline in commercial and residential property values. Jersey Hired currently manages one-third of all active job listings in the state. The platform’s data suggests that any further destabilization of the transit sector will lead to a cooling of the broader professional services and logistics markets, which rely on the movement of people and goods through the Hudson corridor."Our mission at Jersey Hired is to keep New Jersey working," added Eib. "But we cannot ignore the macro-economic realities. If the Gateway project fails, we are looking at a decade-long economic winter for the Garden State. We stand ready to assist any displaced workers, but the best solution is to keep the drills turning and the funding flowing."Jersey Hired is committed to providing real-time labor market insights and recruitment support for those affected by shifts in the infrastructure and construction sectors. For more information, visitwww.jerseyhired.com.About Jersey HiredJersey Hired is a leading recruitment marketing and talent acquisition platform dedicated to the New Jersey business community. A subsidiary of Local Talent Group, Jersey Hired provides a suite of solutions, including premium job postings, contingent search, contract and temporary staffing and the newly launched Shortlist On-Demand service.Media Contact:Richard EibGroup Managing Directorpr@localtalentgroup.com
The recall involves thousands of products sold in Minnesota, Indiana and North Dakota, ranging from food and medicine to pet food.
MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meridian Corporation (Nasdaq: MRBK) today reported: Three Months Ended(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)December 31,2025 September 30,2025 December 31,2024Income: Net income$7,186 $6,659 $5,601Diluted earnings per common share 0.61 0.58 0.49Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR)(1) 12,584 11,523 11,168(1) See Non-GAAP reconciliation in the Appendix Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 was $7.2 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, up $527 thousand, or 8%, from prior quarter.Pre-provision net revenue1 for the quarter was $12.6 million, an improvement of $1.4 million, or 13%. from Q4'2024.Net interest margin was 3.77% for the fourth quarter of 2025, while the loan yield declined to 7.15%, and cost of funds declined to 3.23% from the prior quarter.Return on average assets and return on average equity for the fourth quarter of 2025 were 1.10% and 14.79%, respectively.Total assets at December 31, 2025 were $2.6 billion, compared to $2.5 billion at September 30, 2025 and $2.4 billion at December 31, 2024.Commercial loans, excluding leases, increased $35.2 million, or 2% from prior quarter.On January 29, 2026, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per common share, payable February 17, 2026 to shareholders of record as of February 9, 2026. This is an increase of $0.015 or 12%, compared to the quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share declared in the prior quarter. Christopher J. Annas, Chairman and CEO commented:"Meridian's fourth quarter earnings grew 7.9% over the prior quarter, to $7.2 million. Annual earnings grew 33.6% over 2024 to $21.8 million. Year-over-year growth of our core commercial, industrial, and real estate loan portfolios equaled 10.7%, driven mostly through new and existing loan relationships, and despite SBA loan sales and a $25 million residential mortgage sale to reallocate to commercial. The exceptional loan growth has been sustainable over the years due to targeted lending hires, training new candidates and devising new ways to capitalize on market disruption.The net interest margin has improved throughout 2025 mostly from lower deposit rates. We have benefited from lower core deposit rates to our commercial business because of pricing elasticity, but also from excellent management of our brokered deposit stack, which is similar in proportion to traditional branch banks’ CDs. Expenses were relatively flat from prior quarter, and up just 5.2% year over year. Although we are currently facing higher levels of nonperforming loans and leases, we are seeing slow progress as recoveries are improving and assets are migrating to our possession and ultimate disposition.Our wealth management segment produced annual pre-tax income of $2.3 million, as assets under management grew 7.8%. We hired three new wealth advisors over the year, and also benefitted from stock market gains in client portfolios that expanded the AUM. We are investing in the wealth group as we see more opportunity, and we closely track our commercial customers’ liquidity events to pursue these assets. The mortgage segment earned pre-tax income of $1.1 million, with mortgage revenue down about $260 thousand or 1.3% from the prior year. The business has suffered from lack of homes for sale, that only saw some rebounding at end of year. We further streamlined the business in 2025 to assure profitability, and are optimistic about our 2026 origination goals.Meridian's consistent organic growth, year over year, for the past 22 years has been defined by being opportunistic during times of turmoil. A series of acquisitions in our market during 2025 has positioned us to take advantage of customer and employee turmoil. Through our brand and strategic marketing efforts we expect to leverage this strength to our benefit in 2026."Select Condensed Financial Information As of or for the three months ended (Unaudited) December 31,2025 September 30,2025 June 30,2025 March 31,2025 December 31,2024 (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)Income: Net income$7,186 $6,659 $5,592 $2,399 $5,601 Basic earnings per common share 0.62 0.59 0.50 0.21 0.50 Diluted earnings per common share 0.61 0.58 0.49 0.21 0.49 Net interest income 23,627 23,116 21,159 19,776 19,299 Balance Sheet: Total assets$2,560,420 $2,541,130 $2,510,938 $2,528,888 $2,385,867 Loans, net of fees and costs 2,170,600 2,162,845 2,108,250 2,071,675 2,030,437 Total deposits 2,158,128 2,131,116 2,110,374 2,128,742 2,005,368 Non-interest bearing deposits 245,377 239,614 237,042 323,485 240,858 Stockholders' equity 198,141 188,029 178,020 173,568 171,522 Balance Sheet Average Balances: Total assets$2,588,357 $2,534,565 $2,491,625 $2,420,571 $2,434,270 Total interest earning assets 2,495,922 2,443,261 2,404,952 2,330,224 2,342,651 Loans, net of fees and costs 2,200,626 2,146,651 2,113,411 2,039,676 2,029,739 Total deposits 2,173,242 2,143,821 2,095,028 2,036,208 2,043,505 Non-interest bearing deposits 256,554 253,374 249,745 244,161 259,118 Stockholders' equity 192,799 183,242 176,945 174,734 171,214 Performance Ratios (Annualized): Return on average assets 1.10% 1.04% 0.90% 0.40% 0.92%Return on average equity 14.79% 14.42% 12.68% 5.57% 13.01% Income Statement - Fourth Quarter 2025 Compared to Third Quarter 2025Fourth quarter net income increased $527 thousand, or 7.9%, to $7.2 million due largely to an increase in net interest income of $511 thousand and an increase in non-interest income of $662 thousand, The provision for credit losses increased $437 thousand and non-interest expense was relatively flat over prior quarter. Income tax expense was up $97 thousand. Detailed explanations of the major categories of income and expense follow below.Net Interest incomeThe rate/volume analysis table below analyzes dollar changes in the components of interest income and interest expense as they relate to the change in balances (volume) and the change in interest rates (rate) of tax-equivalent net interest income for the periods indicated and allocated by rate and volume. Changes in interest income and/or expense related to changes attributable to both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately based on the relationship of the absolute dollar amount of the change in each category. Three Months Ended (dollars in thousands)December 31,2025 September 30,2025 $ Change % Change Change due to rate Change due to volumeInterest income: Cash and cash equivalents$348 $412 $(64) (15.5)% $(28) $(36)Investment securities - taxable 1,891 1,895 (4) (0.2)% (14) 10 Investment securities - tax exempt (1) 396 400 (4) (1.0)% (12) 8 Loans held for sale 500 536 (36) (6.7)% (37) 1 Loans held for investment (1) 39,764 39,942 (178) (0.4)% (1,161) 983 Total loans 40,264
Ghana Stock Exchange The Ghana Stock Exchange recorded modest gains on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with both major indices advancing as trading volumes remained relatively subdued compared to earlier sessions this month. The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE-CI) closed at 9,001.57 points, gaining 4.52 points from the previous session’s 8,997.05 points. The advance extended [...]
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While Trump's policies have added to EV firms' woes, legacy automakers like General Motors are making merry.
The new Jose Ramirez contract will keep him with the Guardians until he's 40.