"Marylanders Are Voting With Their Feet": Johns Hopkins Finds Blue State Exodus To Persist For Years A new Johns Hopkins University survey shows that more than half of Baltimore respondents expect to move out of their current neighborhoods within three years, as the one-party-ruled state of Democratic Party queens and kings has failed taxpayers on affordability, law and order, and other basic issu...
"Marylanders Are Voting With Their Feet": Johns Hopkins Finds Blue State Exodus To Persist For Years A new Johns Hopkins University survey shows that more than half of Baltimore respondents expect to move out of their current neighborhoods within three years, as the one-party-ruled state of Democratic Party queens and kings has failed taxpayers on affordability, law and order, and other basic issues commonly standard in red states. The Hopkins survey, conducted from September to November 2024, found that 42% of Baltimore City residents want to leave the city entirely. Of those, 27% expect to stay somewhere else in Maryland, while 15% expect to leave the state, according to the Baltimore Sun . Among the 58% of city residents who plan to remain in Baltimore, only 36% expect to stay in their current neighborhood, while 22% expect to move to another part of the city. In Baltimore County, the urgency to relocate is also high, but most residents who want to move expect to remain in the county: 66% say they plan to stay. Vice Chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus , Republican Delegate Kathy Szeliga , explained the dire situation in Maryland, where a very real exodus is underway: Every day, I hear from friends, neighbors, and constituents that they are considering or they are actually moving out of Maryland. It's not just the crushing taxes, unaffordable energy bills, and concerns about public safety; it's also the failing education system. Governor Wes Moore is unable to deliver results or give people confidence that he can turn this state around, and so people are voting with their feet and leaving Maryland. How bad is this exodus in Baltimore? Well, the population of Baltimore City alone has collapsed 40% from its 1950s level, and deindustrialization, blended with half a century or more of toxic left-wing politics, has transformed parts of the city into an utter economic wasteland. " There is no question that Governor Moore's policies on crime, affordability, and governme...
Toyota To Import Taiwan-Built Minivans To Japan Amid Factory Strain Toyota will start shipping Taiwan-built Noah and Voxy minivans to Japan later this year, marking a rare shift in the company’s production strategy as mounting pressures strain the country’s auto manufacturing sector, according to Nikkei . Production for the Japanese market is set to begin in October on a dedicated line at Toyota’s...
Toyota To Import Taiwan-Built Minivans To Japan Amid Factory Strain Toyota will start shipping Taiwan-built Noah and Voxy minivans to Japan later this year, marking a rare shift in the company’s production strategy as mounting pressures strain the country’s auto manufacturing sector, according to Nikkei . Production for the Japanese market is set to begin in October on a dedicated line at Toyota’s plant in northern Taiwan, according to Nikkei. While Japanese automakers have long sold foreign-built vehicles at home, those models were typically intended for overseas markets first. Toyota’s decision to create an offshore production line specifically for Japanese consumers is highly uncommon, particularly for two of its key domestic models. The move comes as Toyota faces increasing difficulty expanding output inside Japan. Factory utilization is already near its limits, while labor shortages, higher material costs, and tighter compliance requirements have made domestic manufacturing more expensive and less flexible. Delivery delays for popular vehicles have stretched for months — and in some cases more than a year — forcing the automaker to suspend orders periodically as demand outpaces supply. Nikkei writes that Toyota has committed to maintaining annual domestic production above 3 million vehicles to support employment and preserve Japan’s industrial base. At the same time, however, the company is increasingly relying on overseas operations to ease bottlenecks and reduce operational risk. The Noah and Voxy are among Toyota’s strongest-selling minivans in Japan, with annual sales typically ranging between 70,000 and 80,000 units. To help meet demand, Toyota plans to build roughly 100,000 vehicles per year in Taiwan, focusing mainly on lower-cost variants. Production in Japan will continue in parallel. The Taiwan facility already assembles models including the Corolla sedan and Yaris Cross through a local joint venture. For the fiscal year ending March 2026, the plant p...
More companies and conglomerates in Hong Kong and mainland China are hoarding cash on their balance sheets – following the approach of billionaire investor Warren Buffett ’s investment vehicle – as returns from mature industries remain steady but modest amid a fragile global economic recovery. The trend has heightened investor focus on whether idle funds will be redeployed into new economy venture...
More companies and conglomerates in Hong Kong and mainland China are hoarding cash on their balance sheets – following the approach of billionaire investor Warren Buffett ’s investment vehicle – as returns from mature industries remain steady but modest amid a fragile global economic recovery. The trend has heightened investor focus on whether idle funds will be redeployed into new economy ventures, dividends or buy-backs. Cash holdings among Hong Kong- and Shanghai-listed companies most representative of traditional industries – with core operations rooted in physical, tangible businesses – have risen from previous reporting periods. This stands in contrast to technology firms, which have been pouring money into artificial intelligence infrastructure build-up. Per-share cash and equivalents at the 50 companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange dividend index climbed 7 per cent year on year to 3,611.31 yuan (US$531) by the end of 2025, according to Bloomberg data. Cosco Shipping Holdings, Guanghui Energy and coal producer Yankuang Energy Group are its biggest constituents. Advertisement The 49 companies on the Hang Seng High Dividend Yield Index reported HK$897.23 (US$114) per share by the first quarter, up 6.2 per cent from the third quarter of last year, the data showed. Its members include Hang Lung Properties, CK Infrastructure and Power Assets Holdings. “In today’s environment – with China’s recovery still uneven, confidence subdued and private-sector investment appetite weak – companies are finding fewer productive places to deploy capital,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo. “That makes buy-backs and dividends a more credible use of cash. The market is right to look at cash-rich China- and Hong Kong-listed companies as potential shareholder-return plays, especially where valuations are depressed and policy is pushing companies to lift dividends and buy-backs.” CK Hutchison says selling its 49 per cent stake in VodafoneThree is expected to g...
FountainVest is considering selling Small Precision Tools , a Swiss manufacturer of high-precision components and tools, according to people familiar with the situation. The private equity firm is working with advisers on a potential disposal that may fetch up to $1 billion, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. SPT has attracted interest from Chinese strategic ...
FountainVest is considering selling Small Precision Tools , a Swiss manufacturer of high-precision components and tools, according to people familiar with the situation. The private equity firm is working with advisers on a potential disposal that may fetch up to $1 billion, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. SPT has attracted interest from Chinese strategic investors and funds focused on industrials, they said. Deliberations are ongoing and might not result in a sale, the people added. FountainVest didn’t respond to requests for comment. FountainVest led a group of Chinese investors in a 2021 acquisition of a majority stake in SPT, which has headquarters in Switzerland and units in China, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and the US. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed. SPT uses ceramic injection molding technology and makes micro-miniature parts and tools used in areas such as electronics, dentistry and watchmaking.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. shares rally as much as 12%, the most since Feb. 9 on the company’s plan to collaborate with US tech company Nvidia Corp. and others on physical AI robot technology. The Japanese industrial heavy machinery company will aim to develop new solutions to combine its robotics technologies with Nvidia’s physical AI to control robots, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported earli...
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. shares rally as much as 12%, the most since Feb. 9 on the company’s plan to collaborate with US tech company Nvidia Corp. and others on physical AI robot technology. The Japanese industrial heavy machinery company will aim to develop new solutions to combine its robotics technologies with Nvidia’s physical AI to control robots, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported earlier. A Kawasaki Heavy spokesperson confirmed the report, saying it will collaborate with Analog Devices Inc. , Microsoft Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. at a joint development base in San Jose, California. The company will proceed with the collaboration on their four-legged robotic personal mobility vehicle CORLEO and aims to expand into other fields, the spokesperson said. Robotics has become one of the hottest stock themes in Asia, with major chip-companies conducting tie-ups with the region’s industrial and automation firms. Earlier this month, Fanuc Corp. said that it would work with with Alphabet Inc. ’s Google, broadening expectations for physical AI with robotics companies. “If the report is accurate, we think this could lead to an acceleration in its AI robot development efforts,” wrote Morgan Stanley MUFG analysts including Takeshi Kitaura in a note published before the confirmation by the company. The fiscal year ending in March 2027 will roughly factor in a ¥10 billion ($63 million) year-on-year increase in investments including robot-related spending which “indicates a proactive stance on AI adoption,” he added. Other physical related AI companies rose, with Fanuc shares up as much as 8% and Yaskawa Electric Corp. gaining 4.4%.
Andy Andrews/DigitalVision via Getty Images One company that seems to be on a real tear when it comes to growing by means of acquisition is Parker-Hannifin Corporation ( PH ), a business that operates as a player in the motion and control technologies space. On November 11th of last year, I wrote an article detailing a massive acquisition that it had made in the form of its purchase of Filtration ...
Andy Andrews/DigitalVision via Getty Images One company that seems to be on a real tear when it comes to growing by means of acquisition is Parker-Hannifin Corporation ( PH ), a business that operates as a player in the motion and control technologies space. On November 11th of last year, I wrote an article detailing a massive acquisition that it had made in the form of its purchase of Filtration Group Corporation, an enterprise that operates in the life sciences, HVAC and refrigeration, and implant and industrial markets. The firm acquired it in a deal worth about $9.25 billion. More recently, on May 21st, the company announced a much smaller, but also interesting, purchase. And that is of CIRCOR International's Commercial and Defense Aerospace business. This is still a multibillion-dollar transaction, however, and it should help the company expand even more. Considering that I haven't written about the company since last November, I figured it would be a good time to update my thesis on it. Although I would love nothing more than to upgrade it from a 'hold' to a 'buy,' I don't feel I can go that far. However, I continue to be impressed by the progress that management is making, and I believe in the long-term potential of the company. Checking in on Parker-Hannifin Corporation Author - SEC EDGAR Data Operationally speaking, Parker-Hannifin Corporation has been doing a really fine job as of late. In the chart above, you can see financial performance for the business for the first nine months of the 2026 fiscal year compared to the same time in 2025. Revenue increased year over year, shooting up 7.8% from $14.61 billion to $15.74 billion. Net profits did unfortunately decline. But outside of this, profitability for the company improved across the board. This included operating cash flow, adjusted operating cash flow, and EBITDA. In the chart below, meanwhile, you can see financial performance for the last three completed fiscal years. This shows mixed results in term...
On Thursday, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said that the Donald Trump administration has paused a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan as the Pentagon reviews U.S. weapons stockpiles amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. US Pauses Taiwan Arms Sale Over Munitions Concerns Speaking during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, Cao said the administration wants to ensure the U.S. m...
On Thursday, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said that the Donald Trump administration has paused a proposed $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan as the Pentagon reviews U.S. weapons stockpiles amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. US Pauses Taiwan Arms Sale Over Munitions Concerns Speaking during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing, Cao said the administration wants to ensure the U.S. military retains sufficient munitions for its operational needs before proceeding with foreign military sales. "Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury — which we have plenty," Cao told lawmakers. "We're just making sure we have everything, but then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary." US Weapons Stockpile Concerns Grow Amid Iran Conflict Cao's remarks come as questions intensify over the state of U.S. missile inventories following months of military operations tied to the Iran conflict. Reports suggest the U.S. has used significant numbers of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Patriot interceptors and other advanced precision weapons since fighting began earlier this year. The White House is reportedly preparing a supplemental funding request of up to $100 billion to replenish weapons stockpiles and support ongoing operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pushed back against concerns that U.S. inventories are running dangerously low. "First of all, the munitions issue has been foolishly and unhelpfully overstated," Hegseth told House appropriators last week. "We know exactly what we have. We have plenty of what we need." Late in the day, Oil prices rose 1.77% to $98.06 as of 9:41 p.m. EDT, while Brent crude gained 2.26% to $104.90 as of 2:41 a.m. BST; meanwhile, natural gas fell 0.83% to $2.993 as of 9:38 p.m. EDT. Trump Signals Taiwan Arms Sale Could Be Negotiating Tool With China Cao's explanation appeared to differ from comments made by Trump, who suggested the Taiwan arms ...
Waymo is temporarily halting freeway operations for its robotaxi service in several U.S. markets as the company works to address performance issues in construction zones, FOX Business has learned. The Alphabet-owned company confirmed Thursday that it was pausing freeway operations while updating its software. "Safety is Waymo’s top priority, both for our riders and everyone we share the road with,...
Waymo is temporarily halting freeway operations for its robotaxi service in several U.S. markets as the company works to address performance issues in construction zones, FOX Business has learned. The Alphabet-owned company confirmed Thursday that it was pausing freeway operations while updating its software. "Safety is Waymo’s top priority, both for our riders and everyone we share the road with," a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business. "We have temporarily paused freeway operations, as we work to integrate recent technical learnings into our software and expect to resume these routes soon." Waymo said the pause affects only freeway driving and that surface street operations remain active. WAYMO TO BRING DRIVERLESS CARS TO CHICAGO, EYES MIDWEST EXPANSION The company said its vehicles navigate construction zones more than 10,000 times per day and that it is using the pause to improve robotaxi performance on freeways. The announcement comes after Waymo paused operations in Atlanta following flash-flooding incidents, while separately working to improve performance around construction zones and flooded roadways. That pause followed reports of Waymo vehicles encountering floodwater in Atlanta on Wednesday; AJC reported one vehicle required recovery, while Waymo said a handful of others were temporarily waylaid. STELLANTIS UNVEILS $70B TURNAROUND STRATEGY WITH 60 NEW MODELS The move also comes after Waymo filed a recall covering 3,791 vehicles equipped with fifth- and sixth-generation Automated Driving Systems over a flooding-related software issue that NHTSA said could result in loss of vehicle control. The recall followed an April 20 incident in which an unoccupied Waymo vehicle detected a potentially untraversable flooded section of a roadway with a 40 mph speed limit and proceeded at reduced speed, according to NHTSA. Ticker Security Last Change Change % GOOG ALPHABET INC. 383.47 -1.43 -0.37% The NHTSA report found that when a Waymo robotaxi approac...
Shares of Walmart (WMT 7.27%) sank on Thursday after management's outlook concerned investors. Solid Q1 sales and profits Walmart's revenue grew 7.3% year over year to $177.8 billion in its fiscal 2027 first quarter, which ended on April 30. The discount retail giant's U.S. comparable sales, which measure revenue at stores and websites open for at least 12 months, rose 4.1%. E-commerce sales growt...
Shares of Walmart (WMT 7.27%) sank on Thursday after management's outlook concerned investors. Solid Q1 sales and profits Walmart's revenue grew 7.3% year over year to $177.8 billion in its fiscal 2027 first quarter, which ended on April 30. The discount retail giant's U.S. comparable sales, which measure revenue at stores and websites open for at least 12 months, rose 4.1%. E-commerce sales growth was particularly strong at 26%, driven by store-fulfilled pickup and delivery services. Walmart's high-margin advertising sales jumped 37%. Expand NASDAQ : WMT Walmart Today's Change ( -7.27 %) $ -9.51 Current Price $ 121.34 Key Data Points Market Cap $1.0T Day's Range $ 120.39 - $ 125.80 52wk Range $ 93.43 - $ 135.16 Volume 53M Avg Vol 18.6M Gross Margin 23.41 % Dividend Yield 0.74 % Higher fuel costs weighed on Walmart's profit margins, but operating income still rose 5% to $7.5 billion. All told, Walmart's adjusted earnings per share increased 8.2% to $0.66, in line with Wall Street's estimates. Consumers may be forced to pull back on spending Investors, however, appeared to focus on management's concerning comments during the company's earnings call. Walmart maintained its full-year forecast, including net sales growth of 4% to 5% and operating income growth of 7% to 10%. Yet CEO John Rainey noted that higher tax refunds likely boosted sales in the first quarter. As that temporary boost dissipates, Rainey warned that higher gasoline prices could pressure consumer spending in the quarters ahead. Still, despite these challenges, Walmart's well-earned reputation for low prices should help it maintain and even increase its market share in this difficult economic environment.
SpaceX got within 40 seconds of launching the first flight of a taller, more powerful version of its Starship rocket Thursday, but a pesky problem with the launch tower kept the vehicle bound to Earth for at least one more day. Clouds and rain showers cleared the area around SpaceX's launch site in South Texas, leaving mostly sunny skies over the Starship launch pad Thursday afternoon. SpaceX push...
SpaceX got within 40 seconds of launching the first flight of a taller, more powerful version of its Starship rocket Thursday, but a pesky problem with the launch tower kept the vehicle bound to Earth for at least one more day. Clouds and rain showers cleared the area around SpaceX's launch site in South Texas, leaving mostly sunny skies over the Starship launch pad Thursday afternoon. SpaceX pushed back the launch time by one hour, but the countdown appeared to proceed smoothly once propellants began loading into the rocket. That was true, at least, until the countdown clock paused 40 seconds before liftoff. The launch team repeatedly attempted to resume the countdown, only for the computer controlling the launch sequence to stop the clock again. There were five holds in all before SpaceX called off the launch attempt. Read full article Comments