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ALTOONA, Pa. — After UnitedHealthcare’s CEO was gunned down on a New York sidewalk, police searched for the masked gunman with dogs, drones and scuba divers. Officers used the city's muscular surveillance system. Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door-to-door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later, those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian's instincts. A Pennsylvania McDonald's customer noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos that New York police had publicized. Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry speaks during a press conference regarding the arrest of suspect Luigi Mangione, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa., in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family, was arrested Monday in the killing of Brian Thompson, who headed one of the United States’ largest medical insurance companies. He remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. He's expected to be extradited to New York eventually. People are also reading... It’s unclear whether Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday's arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after the McDonald's customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Police in Altoona, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, were soon summoned. This booking photo released Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections shows Luigi Mangione, a suspect in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections via AP) They arrived to find Mangione sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a laptop, according to a Pennsylvania police criminal complaint. He initially gave them a fake ID, but when an officer asked Mangione whether he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the complaint says. When he pulled his mask down at officers' request, “we knew that was our guy,” rookie Officer Tyler Frye said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg. New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a Manhattan news conference that Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Mangione also had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America." An NYPD police officer and K-9 dog search around a lake in Central Park, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the document included a line in which Mangione claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also had a line that said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Pennsylvania prosecutor Peter Weeks said in court that Mangione was found with a passport and $10,000 in cash — $2,000 of it in foreign currency. Mangione disputed the amount. Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a midtown Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. Police quickly came to see the shooting as a targeted attack by a gunman who appeared to wait for Thompson, came up behind him and fired a 9 mm pistol. Investigators have said “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on ammunition found near Thompson’s body. The words mimic a phrase used to criticize the insurance industry. A poster issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows a wanted unknown suspect. (FBI via AP) From surveillance video, New York investigators gathered that the shooter fled by bike into Central Park, emerged, then took a taxi to a northern Manhattan bus terminal. Once in Pennsylvania, he went from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, “trying to stay low-profile” by avoiding cameras, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said. A grandson of a wealthy, self-made real estate developer and philanthropist, Mangione is a cousin of a current Maryland state legislator. Mangione was valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, where his 2016 graduation speech lauded his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” He went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” An NYPD police officer and K-9 dog search around a lake in Central Park, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Luigi Nicholas Mangione worked for a time for the car-buying website TrueCar and left in 2023, CEO Jantoon Reigersman said by email. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of Honolulu tourist mecca Waikiki. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back," Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. NYPD officers in diving suits search a lake in Central Park, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. Although the gunman obscured his face during the shooting, he left a trail of evidence in New York, including a backpack he ditched in Central Park, a cellphone found in a pedestrian plaza, a water bottle and a protein bar wrapper. In the days after the shooting, the NYPD collected hundreds of hours of surveillance video and released multiple clips and still images in hopes of enlisting the public’s eyes to help find a suspect. “This combination of old-school detective work and new-age technology is what led to this result today,” Tisch said at the New York news conference. ___ Scolforo reported from Altoona and Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Contributing were Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio and Jennifer Peltz in New York; Michael Rubinkam and Maryclaire Dale in Pennsylvania; Lea Skene in Baltimore and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!A secret millionaire in the I'm a Celebrity camp has been unveiled, earning nearly as much as Coleen Rooney . The WAG is said to have received a whopping £1.5million for her appearance on the popular ITV programme. It's even been suggested that she could easily surpass her footballer husband Wayne's estimated lifetime earnings of £80million. Coleen, 38, has made significant investments in a company now listed on the Stock Exchange for £350million. However, she isn't the only celebrity in camp with impressive earnings outside the show. The camp was recently shaken up with the arrival of Love Island beauty Maura Higgins and author Reverend Richard Coles. But Richard has already reaped the rewards of being the nation's favourite TV vicar. Rev Coles was part of the 80s band The Communards as well as Bronski Beat. He ranks among the highest paid stars due to his successful TV career on shows like Strictly Come Dancing , Celebrity MasterChef, Songs Of Praise and Newsnight Review. Richard has also appeared on Have I Got News For You? and QI. He has worked in radio and has written a series of successful crime novels as well as his autobiography. According to the Sun, Richard's company Mistramark Ltd paid £179,047 in corporation tax over 2022 and 2023. At the time, the rate was 19%, indicating the company made around £940k profit. In the run-up to his adventure Down Under, Richard revealed to the Mirror his unconventional jungle prep, involving a 5000-calorie daily intake on a cruise and shunning 'triggering' nature documentaries about Australia's deadly creatures. The celebrity quipped: "I would like to say that I've been lowering my calorie intake to prepare for that, but that's not worked out so far. I've been trying not to look at nature programs about the horrors of Australia." He confessed his concerns about becoming public enemy number one in camp due to his snoring habits, saying, "everybody wanting to kill me because I keep them awake at night." Highlighting another apprehension, he added: "I am also worried about finding a fear I didn't know I had yet and going to pieces on television in front of a koala or wombat or something." Yet despite his fears, Richard is eager to make history as the first vicar to brave the jungle, noting the historical context with a touch of humour: "I don't think there are many precedents for this, although, vicars have been going into jungles for years and years and years as missionaries." When it comes to potential irritants, he shared with us: "Sniffing. I'm also not naturally a patient person. Also I lived in the monastery for two years." Drawing on past experiences of communal living, he continued: "So I know what it's like to be locked in with people you didn't choose to be with. So I've got some resilience. Except there wasn't food deprivation, instead there was a lot of cake in the monastery. So I don't know what it will be like."

The countdown to Christmas is just as exciting and enchanting as the actual day, don't you think? And if you ask me, the best way to get into the jolly spirit of the season is by opening up tiny delights each day leading up to the holiday. Since Thanksgiving is almost here, you've got a few days left before you can start your advent calendar adventure — and right now, you can scoop up a bunch of this year's best advent calendars from popular brands. Some are already sold out — and if history repeats itself, the others will be gone before even hits (especially since ). So, if you haven't snagged yours yet, consider this your sign to do so. Opening numbered drawers, doors and flaps to reveal foil-wrapped chocolates and tiny toys is a beloved holiday tradition. But these days, it seems like every brand is getting in on the advent calendar fun — and as a result, there are countdowns for every niche appetite, interest and budget. This year, for instance, you can cast a glow with an assortment of mini candles, round out your jewelry collection with a dozen Kendra Scott bestsellers or fuel up for the festivities with different Nespresso blends. And that's not even half of it. Really, there's an advent calendar for everyone, at every age. Do you like to end your day with a little sweet treat? Go with a classic from or . Are you trying to your self-care routine? I've included some of the full of body oils, hand creams and other skin care staples (psst, has all of this and more). Or, ya know, you could always go for one stocked with mini bottles of wine, tea or — whatever you like to sip on throughout the season. And, of course, they make great pre-holiday gifts. I've included tons of options for kids, , and pets, too. Not sure which route to take? A reusable advent calendar is a safe bet since you can switch up what's inside each year. Consider this list of the best advent calendars my to you. We're in the thick of advent calendar season, so I'll update this list as countdowns are released — and inevitably sell out. LEGO Disney Advent Calendar National Geographic Magic Advent Calendar Build-A-Bear Merry Mission Christmas Advent Calendar Play-Doh Advent Calender Bluey: Awesome Advent Calendar Book Bundle Bluey Advent Calendar National Geographic Mega Science Advent Calendar Meri Meri x Laudurée Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar Disney 5-in-1 Advent Calendar Zuri Mini Brands Disney Advent Calendar KiwiCo Christmas Countdown Train Set Bboldin Christmas Advent Calendar Puzzle Kendra Scott 12 Days of Joy Bestsellers Box in Gold Vtyepou Fishing Lure Advent Calendar Exit: The Game Advent Calendar Homeworx by Slatkin + Co. Candle Advent Calendar Freshcut Paper Woodland Wonderland Advent Calendar Happy Socks Advent Calendar Papier 24 Doors of Desk Delights Advent Calendar Kinder Countdown Calendar Lindt Teddy Bear Chocolate Advent Calendar Bonne Maman Limited Edition Advent Calendar Sour Path Kids 24 Days of Mischief Godiva Classic Chocolate Advent Calendar Walker's Shortbread Advent Calendar Harry & David Deluxe Advent Calendar 'Elf' Advent Calendar Keurig 24 Cups of Cheer Advent Calendar Nespresso Vertuo Advent Calendar Vahdam Loose Leaf Tea Advent Calendar Pukka Tea Advent Calendar DavidsTea 12 Days of Matcha Advent Calendar TwelveNYC Skincare Advent Calendar Burt's Bees 12 Days of Joy Advent Calendar ChapStick 12 Days of Holiday Advent Calendar Le Mini Macaron 12 Days of Nails Advent Calendar Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Treasure Chest of Love Best of Dermstore 2024 Holiday Chest Milk-Bone 12 Days of Woof-Mas Advent Calendar for Dogs Wondershop 12 Days of Dog Toys Wondershop 12 Days of Cat Toys Vintage Wine Estates 12 Nights of Wine Advent Calendar In Good Taste Red, White and Rosé Advent Calendar Melissa & Doug Countdown to Christmas Wooden Advent Calendar Pottery Barn Kids Wood Train 3D Advent Calendar Lindt Advent Calendar - 160G Hidden Games - Professor Charlie's World Tour - Advent Calendar 2024 - a Puzzle Game in 24 Episodes (English Edition) Movinpe Scented Candles Advent Calendar Super Mario Advent Calendar Limited Christmas Edition Wizarding World Harry Potter Christmas Countdown Calendar Invite Elsa, Tiana, Ariel, Mirabel and Moana to your holiday table. Build a small scene for each princess — including Ariel's undersea palace — then flip over the box to play the built-in board game with up to five other Disney fans. Kids love magic — and this countdown will teach them 15 new tricks to take to the stage. On the other days, they'll learn how to float coins on water, write secret messages and conduct scientific fun. Alright, I know the last thing a parent wants is more stuffed animals, but you'll be happy to know that this 25-day countdown only comes with mini plushies that can easily be stored away. On the other days, your little one will uncover a new festive outfit or accessory for their new furry friends. Let your little sculptor's imagination run wild this advent season. They'll get 24 fresh tubs of dough, plus festive molds and accessories to create their very own snowy scene. Hooray, the holidays are nearly here! Bluey, Bingo and the rest of their crew will take young (and old) readers on an adventure (make that two dozen adventures) in the lead-up to Christmas. There are 24 mini books in total — a mix of short stories, coloring pages and kid-friendly activities. Or if you want something tangible to inspire free play, then this countdown is your best bet. They'll uncover a new surprise behind each window, including a decked-out Bluey and Bingo, festive accessories and themed stickers. School may be out of session for part of December, but that doesn't mean the learning has to stop. Some days, your little scientist will experiment with floating coins, secret messages and growing crystals; other days, they'll get a new gemstone to add to their ever-growing collection. Sure, you could just wrap up a decked-out charm bracelet for Christmas morning, but what's the fun in that? This advent calendar will take her on an arm candy adventure this December, unveiling a new charm or tassel each day. Disney fans, listen up: This interactive advent calendar sells out every year — without fail. Snag one while it's still in stock, so the whole family can enjoy 24 days of heartfelt tales, quizzes, puzzles and other games led by your favorite characters. Stock the shelves of a Disney store one mini at a time. Think: a tiny Tinkerbell doll in its packing, VHS tape, Mickey plushie and other nostalgic finds. It's a treat for kids and adults alike. Follow step-by-step instructions to build a working (!) train over 12 days. Made for ages 7 and up, this build-your-own advent calendar will teach them how to hook up an electric motor, assemble cargo cars and so much more. Assemble a mini puzzle daily, then connect 'em on Christmas Eve to see all 1,000 pieces in their glory. The daily jigsaws are on the smaller side and reviewers say they only take a few minutes to complete, so they won't suck up what little downtime you have this time of year. "The puzzle pieces are marked on the back so they can be returned to the correct individual box for future use," Best believe you'll be bejeweled this winter. Treat yourself to a dozen of Kendra Scott's bestsellers — including their signature Elisa pendant necklace, plus an array of bracelets and earrings. Sure, the upfront price is pretty steep, but it's worth $655— that means you're getting this selection of jewels for half price! Now here's a advent calendar for anglers of all ages. Once the 24 days are up, you'll have a collection of fishing lures for all, er, fishy situations, everything from topwaters for catching bass and trout to spoons that are better suited for deeper dives. Crack a Christmas mystery one puzzle at a time. It'll be harder to solve it solo, so team up with a few trusted minds to track down Santa and save Christmas as we know it. "The little daily riddles and quests are challenging enough to keep us entertained and varied enough that everyone in our family of five has been able to make a contribution to solving," , adding that their 19-year-old son loves it as much as their younger kids. Get twelve days of holiday scents — some are sweet (and a touch spicy), others bring the outside in. The candles have a six-hour burn time, so you can light a new one each day or save a couple to enjoy after the season wraps. Create your own woodland wonderland with 24 paper cut-outs — sweater-clad bears, owls and cardinals, to name a few. The entire thing fits in a paper envelope, so you can store it safely once the season wraps. You know you're an adult when you get excited about a stocking full of socks. I see your stocking and I'll raise you this sock-filled advent calendar. Yep, you can refresh their sock drawer with 24 funky, somewhat festive pairs, one day at a time. High-quality stationery is one of the best gifts to give get — and Papier knows this all too well. This year's advent calendar is supposedly "bigger and brighter than last year's," with $250 worth of pretty pens, paper goods and journaling . It sold out in just three weeks last year, so snag one while you still can. Lindt and Godiva — been there, ate your way through that. Switch things up this year by going with Kinder's countdown, which gives a different crispy or creamy chocolate each day. It has all of their heavy hitters, including the much-loved Happy Hippos and Bueno Minis. It's simple: Christmas isn't complete without crushing a Lindt chocolate bear (or two). Luckily, this 24-piece countdown comes with two of 'em, along with an assortment of solid chocolate balls, bite-size bars and creamy truffles. You've seen it, and let me tell you this jam-filled advent calendar is all it's cracked up to be. Spread the love with 24 gingham-lidded minis of the brand's beloved fruit spreads (like Mixed Berries and 4 Berries) along with several limited-edition flavors. Some like it sweet. Others like it sour. If you're shopping for the latter, then go with this colorful countdown with 48 individually-wrapped pieces, which are perfect for sharing. Nothing screams "Christmas" quite like a Godiva advent calendar. Pull back the cover to reveal 24 doors — each one has a decadent milk, dark or white chocolate tucked inside. Some are straight chocolate, while others are filled with salted caramel, almond crunch and sweet ganache. Walker's shortbread cookies are as classic as it gets. Trade Santa-shaped chocolates for 24 buttery delights, everything from the brand's iconic fingers to chocolate chip and salted caramel squares. One advent calendar, 104 individually wrapped chocolate truffles and mints. Pull out a numbered drawer to reveal a sweet surprise and inspiration for a new holiday tradition. Hold onto this and repurpose it during future Christmases. Does someone need a hug? Nope, you just need 12 days of holiday cheer in the form of peppermint taffy, maple syrup and a Mr. Narwhal sugar cookie. The holidays are brewing — and so is your Keurig machine. Each morning, pop a new pod into your machine and brew up a cup of cheer. Sip on a variety of festive flavors from brands like Green Mountain and Caribou Coffee. And in the event that there's a morning or two that you want a break from the caffeine, this 24-door countdown has a couple of Swiss Miss hot chocolate K-cups. If you own a machine from Nespresso's Vertuo line (like ),then pick up this caffeinated countdown to get a whole coffee. You'll get 23 capsules varying in strength, flavor and caffeination, plus a limited-edition mug to hold your fresh brew. Oprah's a big fan of Vahdam tea — so much so that the brand earned a coveted spot on Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2018 2019. See what the hype is all about by sampling a selection of their loose-leaf black, green, oolong, white and herbal teas. Just make sure you have handy. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we like options.This pick from Pukka has 23 (!) different tea varieties — yep, there's only one duplicate in the whole set. Some will make sure you start your day off right (like the aptly-named morning berry), while others will help you wind down (chamomile with vanilla and honey). Here's one way to guarantee that your Christmas is filled with matcha happiness. Try out 12 fresh and fruity flavors fit for the season, including toasted marshmallow and gingerbread. Get two servings of each — that's 24 heartwarming cups! Pamper yourself from head to toe with this 12-day countdown. Get an assortment of tried-and-tested favorites from Cetaphil and Olay, along with buzzy releases like Byoma's gel cream cleanser. A four-pack of Burt's Bees lip balms usually goes for about $10 — and with this advent calendar, you can get a set of 12 for just $25 (which is seriously good deal, if you ask me). Uncover a new flavor each day, ranging from vanilla maple to coconut and pear. Don't let dry, cracked lips get your tinsel in a tangle this holiday season. Prepare for the inevitable with this calendar, which comes with a dozen full-size lip balms in a variety of fun flavors like sugar cookie, candy cane and vanilla mint. You without your nails done is like a Christmas tree without any ornaments. It just doesn't make any sense. But instead of rushing off to the salon to dress up your tips, just power up this mini LED lamp and get gel nails right at home. This countdown comes with all the essentials — six mini polishes, double-sided nail files, nail stickers and more. Get glowy this Christmas! Each year, CT releases a 12-drawer chest with all of their top products — and this year's is stuffed to the brim with their viral highlighter wand, cult-favorite Pillow Talk lipstick and makeup setting spray, to name just a few of the all-stars. It's not an advent calendar per se, but this beauty comes with 21 of Dermstore's best in makeup, skin and hair care from the last year. There are a number of full-size products thrown into the mix, including a SkinCeuticals moisturizer, BeautyStat vitamin C serum and Tarte Cosmetics eye highlight. Work your way through this chest over a couple of weeks or open everything at once — your secret's safe with me. Your pup only has one thing on their mind during the treats, and lot's of 'em. While you're snacking on cookies and chocolates, they'll join in on the festive fun with bone marrow bites or crunchy peanut butter biscuits. On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a ball to play fetch with. On the second day, they gave me a rope for tug-of-war. Then came the plush toys that crinkle and squeak. This 12-day countdown will make for a good Christmas — need I say more? Chances are, your cat's festive too. And while they may view the Christmas tree and decorations as toys, this 12-pack will ensure they always have a ball, plush or wand to play with. Four toys contain catnip for when they're on the nice list. Celebrate the most wine-derful time of the year by popping open a flap to reveal if you'll be pouring a glass of red, white or rosé. You'll get 12 half-bottles — it's up to you if you drink them all before Santa's big day or hold onto a few for the new year. Dreaming of a white Christmas? What about a red winemas? Well, you'll get a bit of both (plus, some rosé!) in this 24-day wine countdown. Each mini bottle gives you a six-ounce pour — sip on one solo while you make your list (and check it twice) or save 'em to share with loved ones at holiday parties. Turn the festive fun into a teaching moment. By the time Rudolph lands on your rooftop, this will be decked out with 24 magnetic ornaments and a gold star at the very top. A wooden train on a decked-out mantel just screams "Christmas." Everyone will think this four-car choo-choo is a mere seasonal knickknack — until you explain that there are tiny treats behind each numbered window. This is a must-have for any chocolate lover. There's a decadent treat behind each door — some of Lindt’s signature chocolates crafted by master chocolatiers. The charming seasonal design adds a touch of joy to your holiday décor in addition to the chocolatey bliss each day reveals. Want a holiday filled with intrigue and fun? This is the advent calendar for the person who can't get enough games. In each niche, there's a new clue, puzzle or riddle to help solve Professor Charlie's global mystery. 'Tis the season for candles. This set lets you start each day with a little scented luxury. It adds a cozy glow to the festivities with scents like vanilla, cinnamon or pine. WE're never too far from Mario. This calendar blends nostalgia with holiday cheer — you get a new surprise from the Mushroom Kingdom each day. Adding magic to a magical seasonal is gilding the lily, but that's what this time of year is all about. This one is packed with Harry Potter-themed figurines or accessories that glow in the dark for the little wizards in your life. See all of our in one spot. We've got gift ideas for all the different people in your life — , , kids, you name it.Julianne Hough Congratulates Ex-Husband Brooks Laich on Engagement

At the end of 1999, many thought Y2K would cause the world to collapse

Overcoming A 44%+ Drop In A Top Stock We’ve done well with Super Micro Computer (SMCI) recently, buying it at $21.86 last month (“ Turning Bullish On Supermicro “), and seeing the stock more than double since. But SMCI was in some of our hedged portfolios created six months ago, and it dropped more than 44% over that time frame. Here’s a look at one of those portfolios, and how hedging and security selection enabled it to still smoke the S&P 500. Our Hedged Portfolio From June 6th, 2024 This was the hedged portfolio our system created on June 6th, for an investor with $3,000,000 to put to work who didn’t want to risk a decline of more than 30% over the next six months. Our system started by dividing the money in seven equal parts, and allocating it to Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF , Century Aluminum Co. CENX Dell Technologies DELL , Comfort Systems USA, Inc. FIX , Powell Industries, Inc. POWL , and Semtech Corp. SMTC , in addition to Super Micro Computer Inc. SMCI . Screen captures via Portfolio Armor on 6/6/2024. Next, it rounded down those seven dollar amounts to round lots of each of those names and their optimal hedges. Then it swept most of the leftover cash from that process into a tightly collared position in MicroStrategy, Inc. MSTR . The dollar amount of the SMCI position (circled in red in the image above) at the start was $233,376 in underlying shares and $21,900 in puts for a total position value of $255,276. We’ll come back to that in a moment. How That Portfolio Performed Over The Next 6 Months Over the next six months, our portfolio was up 30.52%, net of hedging and trading costs, while the SPDR S&P 500 Trust SPY was up 14.4%. So it more than doubled the performance of the market, despite SMCI dropping 44%. You can view an interactive version of the chart above here . You can see the ending value for the $SMCI plus its put hedge circled in red above: $202,155.30. Recall that the starting value for that position was $255,276. $202,155.30 represents a 20.8% drop from $255,276. How This Portfolio Beat The Market Despite SMCI’s 44% Drop We mentioned two reasons above: hedging and security selection. Both are true, but there’s a bit more to it. Although SMCI dropped by 44%–and its hedge was designed to protect against a >30% drop–it nevertheless limited the drawdown to 20.8%. That was due to the positive hedging error inherent in our hedging algorithm. Security selection helped overall here in picking mostly winners. POWL, for example, was up more than 73% over that six-month period. Concentration helped here too. Since there were only 8 underlying securities in the portfolio, the 73% gain in POWL had a big impact. Finally, knowing when to hedge with optimal puts rather than optimal collars was key. Our system has an algorithm to determine that, and since it hedged POWL with puts, we captured nearly all of its upside. You can use our system to create hedged portfolios for dollar amounts as small as $30,000–you just need to enter the dollar amount you want to invest and largest drawdown you’re willing to risk, and our system does the rest. If You Just Want To Hedge What You Already Have If you are concerned about downside risk, as a reminder, you can download our iPhone hedging app by aiming your iPhone camera at the QR code below (or by tapping here , if you’re reading this on your phone). And if you would like a heads up next time we place an aggressive trade, like our recent winner on QIFU Technologies QFIN Calls on QIFU Technologies ( QFIN 2.17%↑). Bought at $2.15 on 10/1/2024; sold (half) at $6.45 on 12/9/2024. Profit: 200%. You can subscribe to our trading Substack/occasional email list below. If you’d like to stay in touch You can scan for optimal hedges, find our current top ten names, and create hedged portfolios on our website . You can also follow Portfolio Armor on X here . Or become a free subscriber to our trading Substack using the link below ( we’re using that for our occasional emails now ). © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.‘Will file FIR on sale of Worli soc’s shops sans collector nod’

One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets has announced a giveaway with a prize pool worth $2 million. Coles announced it’s first ever Christmas Instant Win giveaway. It will allow more than 66,000 customers to win instant money off their in-store shop until New Year's Day. Shoppers who spend $20 or more in-store and then scan their Flybuys card will find out if they’ve won instant prize. There are 6667 $10 off prizes every week. There are also 4999 chances to win $20 off every week, as well as 3333 $50 off your shops. The big prize — where there are 1667 chances to win — sees winners get $100 off their shop. Coles has announced a huge giveaway. Picture: Martin Keep/Coles. Shoppers can choose to use their savings immediately or store it on their Flybuys account for future shops. However, the latter method is only available until March 11, 2025. Amanda McVay, Coles chief customer officer, said Christmas Instant Win is another way the supermarket is offering value. “Our Christmas Instant Win giveaway is all about adding a special surprise to the shopping experience, helping our customers get more value when they shop with us this holiday season,” Ms McVay said. “We want to say thank you to our customers for shopping at Coles by spreading some festive cheer – and we can’t wait to see the joy and excitement as our customers win.” It comes after fans raved about a $99 Urbanworx 5-in-1 High Speed Hair Dryer as part of its regular Best Buys sales. Amanda McVay, Coles chief customer officer, said Christmas Instant Win is another way the supermarket is offering value. Picture: news.com.au The product came with two dryer barrels, two curling barrels and a styling brush, a similarity some shoppers claim make it a “dupe” of the $849 Dyson Airwrap. Laila Cooke said she spotted it in the special aisle while popping into the supermarket on her lunch break, adding it was a great option for people who “couldn’t justify” splurging on the luxury version. Coles launched its Best Buys range in 2021 and is only available in-store, but not everywhere. Items are also only available while stocks last. At the time Best Buys was announced, a spokesperson for the supermarket said it would provide a platform for emerging brands to showcase their limited edition products to a large national customer base. The latest Best Buys collection included a premium glassware collection, a serving board and a lazy Susan. There were also a variety of other festive-themed items. More Coverage 25yo given three years to live after shock text Claudia Poposki Nestle responds to outrage over choccie snap Claudia Poposki Originally published as Coles announces huge $2m giveaway Eat Don't miss out on the headlines from Eat. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Eat Iconic product vanishes after 100 years A popular brand has revealed it has ditched one product from it’s offering — and fans aren’t happy with the news. Read more Eat Nestle responds to outrage over choccie snap An image of a popular assorted chocolate box has social media users up in arms over the stark change in the product. Read moreWomen will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.