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☆ To shore up Social Security, this controversial proposal calls for limiting retirement plan tax perks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But a new research proposal published by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College by experts at the opposite ends of the political spectrum has sparked considerable opposition. Together, they call for limiting current tax preferences for retirement savings plans, and instead redirecting those funds to help shore up Social Security. How retirement plan tax incentives workIn 2024, the limit for total employee and employer contributions to a defined contribution plans such as 401(k)s is $69,000 in 2024. By rolling back the tax incentives provided through defined contribution retirement plans, the money saved could be used to help fix a portion of Social Security's funding gap, the researchers argue. "We now have an industry and a policy based on 401(k)s and defined contribution plans that has been, relatively speaking, successful," Fichtner said.

Persons: Andrew Biggs, Alicia Munnell, Biggs, Munnell, Michael Wicklein, Jason Fichtner, Fichtner Organizations: Istock, Getty, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College, American Enterprise Institute, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Social Security, U.S, Mercatus, George Mason University, Cato Institute, National Association of Plan, Center, Board

☆ The Biden administration unveiled its hydrogen tax credit proposal, estimated to deliver $140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Officials estimate the hydrogen production credits can deliver $140 billion and 700,000 jobs by 2030. Administration officials estimate the hydrogen production credits will deliver $140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs by 2030 — and help the US produce 50 million metric tons of hydrogen by 2050. Firms that produce hydrogen using fossil fuels get less. The Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association includes more than 100 members involved in hydrogen production, distribution and use, including vehicle manufacturers, industrial gas companies, renewable developers and nuclear plant operators. Some of the money will flow to regional networks, or "hubs," of hydrogen producers, consumers and infrastructure that the Biden administration is also trying to kickstart with a $7 billion program.

Persons: —, Biden, Jesse Jenkins, David M, Turk, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Flores, Rachel Fakhry, Marty Durbin, Frank Wolak, Wolak, Chuck Schmitt, Jennifer M, Granholm Organizations: Biden, Service, Princeton University, Energy, Cummins, Generation, Star Tribune, Getty, Natural Resources Defense Council, US Chamber, Department of Energy, Fuel Cell, Hydrogen Energy Association, SSAB, AP Locations: Fridley , Minnesota, United States, SSAB Americas, American, Pennsylvania, California

☆ Truck maker Scania to switch to zero-carbon steel by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The sky reflects on the window of a Scania truck at the IAA Transportation fair, which will open its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer Acquire Licensing RightsOSLO, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Swedish truck maker Scania will switch to using steel made without carbon emissions in its heavy-duty vehicles before the end of the decade, it said on Monday. "Scania's purpose is to drive the shift towards a sustainable transport system," CEO Christian Levin said in a statement, adding that the truck maker was taking action across its value chain to cut emissions. SSAB is investing heavily in new production methods to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from its steel production, such as replacing traditional coking coal with zero-carbon electricity and hydrogen. The metal has the same quality and technical properties as traditional steel, including when recycled, according to SSAB.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Christian Levin, Terje Solsvik, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Rights, Scania, Volkswagen's, Thomson Locations: Scania, Hanover, Germany, Rights OSLO, Swedish

☆ Green Steel Is Coming. Europe Is Leading the Charge Thanks to New Carbon Taxes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

The need for conversion to low-carbon steel production is greater in Europe, where 57% of steel is produced in coal-fired blast furnaces. Swedish-based startup H2 Green Steel has signed deals to supply low-carbon steel to IKEA, Mercedes-Benz , BMW and Scania. Customers of H2 Green Steel have been willing to support the project based on their own green targets and their end-customers’ willingness to pay a green premium, he said. H2 Green Steel said it would charge a €150 premium, while Swedish steelmaker SSAB expects to charge double that. Research from the Rocky Mountain Institute suggests the IRA will encourage green steel investments that would, by 2030, produce about eight million tons of low-carbon steel, or nearly 10% of U.S. steel demand.

Persons: fabian strauch, ”, Colin Richardson, incentivizing, CBAM, Nicola Davidson, Davidson, Henrik Henriksson, Mikael Sjoberg, ” Henriksson, Gunnar Güthenke, SSAB, Europe ”, Simone Tagliapietra, Paul Lim, ” Lim, Yusuf Khan Organizations: Leadership Group, Industry, Argus Media, Rocky Mountain Institute, U.S ., Business, International Energy Agency, Investments, Steel, IKEA, Mercedes, Benz, BMW, Scania, H2, Bloomberg, Research, Europe, Bruegel, U.S Locations: Europe, U.S, Brussels, London, European, Lakes , Texas, Pacific, China, Asia

☆ Thales cyber push meets investor shoulder shrug
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - France's Thales (TCFP.PA) is doubling down on cybersecurity with its $3.6 billion purchase of U.S. firm Imperva. Thales's boss Patrice Caine briefly considered buying Atos's (ATOS.PA) cybersecurity arm last year, but didn’t go through with it. The purchase values the Thoma Bravo-backed group at 17 times forecast 2024 operating profit, according to Thales. Meanwhile Caine’s push into the racy cyber sector doesn’t seem to register in the group’s valuation. That means investors are sceptical that Thales’s efforts to crack the war against hacking will work out for shareholders.

Persons: Patrice Caine, Thoma, Caine’s, Refinitiv Datastream, Pamela Barbaglia, Liam Proud, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, Thales, Thoma Bravo, BAE Systems, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, Spain

☆ Spotify’s awkward three-way dance leads to slip-up
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 25 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Spotify (SPOT.N) is caught between the expectations of investors and major music labels. One bullish argument for Spotify’s stock is that higher prices will mean higher margins over time. First, some of Spotify’s customers pay annually, which means the price hike might take a while to come through. He’s locked in a long-term standoff with major labels like Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), which currently grab the overwhelming majority of Spotify’s revenue. In other words, Spotify’s future may be rosier than Ek is willing to let on.

Persons: Daniel Ek, Ek, coy, He’s, Karen Kwok, Liam Proud, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Spotify, Universal Music, Twitter, Thales, Thomson Locations: Spain

☆ Office landlord offers glimpse of what’s to come
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Piedmont Office Realty Trust (PDM.N) is sifting through the rubble. The $910 million owner of high-quality office buildings in Boston, Dallas and beyond just borrowed at 9.25%, more than twice the interest rate it’s replacing. It’s an ominous sign for U.S. office landlords facing $60 billion of debt maturing at the end of 2023 and 2024, per data miner RCA. Office prices have fallen so much that cap rates are approaching 10%, according to Jonathan Litt, founder of activist hedge fund Land and Buildings Investment Management. Pricier debt means less income, but if rents have stabilized and interest rates keep rising, Piedmont was wise to start reconstructing its balance sheet sooner rather than later.

Persons: Brent Smith, Jonathan Litt, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Realty Trust, Refinitiv, RCA, Buildings Investment Management, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Boston, Dallas, Piedmont, Spain

☆ Spain vote stalemate requires winner to drop out
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - After Sunday’s election, neither the conservative People’s Party nor the governing Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party are likely to have enough support to rule. But he could shorten the pain by declining to form a government, paving the way for another poll in the autumn. The snap election called by left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in May failed to deliver either bloc the 176 parliamentary seats needed to govern. Since Sánchez is also unlikely to muster enough support, that would give Spaniards another chance to choose a leader in cooler conditions. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI’s, Mariano Rajoy, Francesco Guerrera, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, People’s Party, Spanish Socialist Workers ’ Party, El, Vox, PSOE, Spanish, Twitter, Thomson Locations: “ El Gobierno, el aire, El Pais

☆ Chevron’s restraint paying off
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 24 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Chevron’s (CVX.N)second-quarter profit was cut nearly in half as production rose slightly, according to a surprise early release of the oil giant’s earnings on Sunday night. Chevron’s profit jumped, too. Each barrel Chevron was producing brought in about $20 of profit, some 40% less than it had in the quarter earlier. Oil prices have continued to fall, but the drop in profit per barrel is less dramatic than before – just 8%. As long as restraint holds the upper hand, so will Chevron’s profit.

Persons: Brent, Goldman Sachs, Robert Cyran, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, Chevron, Reuters Graphics, Twitter, Thomson Locations: U.S, Spain

☆ SSAB profit hit flags EU steel's parlous state
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - SSAB (SSABa.ST) has kicked off European steelmakers' quarterly earnings season with a profit drama. Poor demand in Europe, declining steel prices and severe rises in energy and production costs are to blame. With steel consumption expected to decrease further in the second half of the year, investors sent SSAB stock down more than 15%. Without a deal, trade tariffs, which have been temporarily frozen, would return in December along with retaliatory measures from the EU. For SSAB, whose heavy plate business in North America was relatively stable during the second quarter, that would take things from bad to worse.

Persons: SSAB, steelmakers, Valdis Dombrovskis, Pamela Barbaglia, whir, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, SSAB, European Central Bank, Union, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Europe, U.S, North America

☆ UK scientists found a way to slash nearly 90% of carbon emissions from the country's steel industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Now, researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a process to clean up the most carbon-intensive part of the steelmaking process: blast furnaces. Currently, coking coal and iron ore are fed into furnaces and heated to sky-high temperatures to create liquid iron, which is then refined into steel. About 70% of steel used around the world for buildings, cars, and household appliances is made this way. For every metric ton of steel produced, nearly two metric tons of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, according to the World Steel Organization. Kildahl described it as a "closed-loop" system that captures and recycles carbon dioxide to trigger the chemical reactions that convert iron ore into steel.

☆ Key Finnish industries resolve wage disputes
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Wage disputes in the Finnish technology and chemicals industries have been resolved, ending the risk of labour strikes that were due to begin next week, employers and a workers' union said on Sunday. The agreement is a key step in defining workers' pay rises in Finland as the tech industry has traditionally been considered a benchmark for other unions' demands. The Finnish Industrial Union said it had agreed to a two-year wage deal which will increase wages by 7% over two years for employees, including a one-off extra payment of 400 euros this year. The wage deal covers some 90,000 industrial employees, it said, adding a similar deal was reached for some 13,000 chemical industry employees. Reporting by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik and Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Goldman Sachs reveals 7 under-the-radar global stocks to buy this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Many under-the-radar stocks are key to a green energy transition, according to Goldman Sachs — and it expects them to take off in 2023. The Wall Street bank said investor focus on large renewable energy and energy efficiency stocks in previous years means that companies further down the supply chain have been overlooked. Despite much talk of a transition away from burning highly polluting energy sources, the world's fossil fuel dependency continues . However, Goldman said there was a "growing urgency to accomplish key Sustainable Development goals," given the pressure on energy supplies following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Shares of ASML are expected to rise the most by 29.3% to 700 euros ($742), the data shows.

☆ UBS reveals global stocks that will win — or lose — when China reopens
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But when they do, Swiss bank UBS has identified stocks in the MSCI Europe index that will do better than others "in an environment where China's growth rebounds." The investment bank screened for companies in Europe that meet the following criteria: A high percentage of sales exposure to China. The stocks in the table below have been ranked using UBS' composite score, which brings together the above factors. London-listed engineering groups IMI and Weir Group and Asia-focused bank Standard Chartered were among the top 15 stocks with high exposure to China, according to UBS. According to UBS, shares of chemicals and specialty materials companies BASF , Solvay , Arkema and Sika are also exposed.

German chemicals maker Covestro (1COV.DE) lowered its 2022 earnings guidance for the third time this year, blaming gas and raw material prices. Gas prices in Europe have eased in response to an unusually warm October and projections of a mild winter. The group, which relies heavily on natural gas, is buying from outside Europe, where prices are lower. RACE TO CUT COSTSCompanies across Europe are racing to reduce their energy use ahead of the winter when demand increases as households turn up the heat. Chemical companies are among the hardest hit by the energy crisis because they use gas as a raw material for production and as an energy source.

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