Stock Markets

Israel bans UN aid agency UNRWA from operating in Israel

Published

3 weeks ago

October 30, 2024

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel passed a law on Monday banning the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA from operating in the country, legislation that could impact its work in war-torn Gaza.

The lawmakers who drafted the law cited what they described as the involvement of some UNRWA staffers in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and staffers having membership in Hamas and other armed groups.

The legislation has alarmed the United Nations and some of Israel’s Western allies who fear it would further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has been fighting Hamas militants for a year. The ban does not refer to operations in the Palestinian territories or elsewhere.

“UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable. Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on social media after the vote.

“In the 90 days before this legislation takes effect – and after – we stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not threaten Israel’s security.”

Parliament also passed an addendum to the new law saying that Israeli authorities could no longer have contact with UNRWA, but exceptions to that could be made in the future.

The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, called the vote a “dangerous precedent” that opposes the U.N. charter and violates Israel’s obligation under international law.

“This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to #Palestine Refugees,” he wrote on social media platform X.

UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, employs tens of thousands of workers and provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

It has long had tense relations with Israel but ties have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded, with its responsibilities transferred to other U.N. agencies.

The U.N. said in August that nine UNRWA staff may have been involved in the Oct. 7 assault and had been fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon – killed last month in an Israeli strike – was found to have had an UNRWA job. Another commander killed in Gaza last week doubled as a U.N. aid worker. UNRWA had confirmed both men had been employees.

“If the United Nations is not willing to clean this organization from terrorism, from Hamas activists, then we have to take measures to make sure that they cannot harm our people ever again,” said Israeli lawmaker Sharren Haskel.

“The international community could have taken responsibility and made sure that they used the proper organizations to facilitate humanitarian aid, like the World Food Organization, like UNICEF, and many others who work all around the world,” Haskel said.

An UNRWA spokesperson said prior to the vote that the proposed law would be a “disaster” and would have a serious impact on the humanitarian operation in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank.

“We know that previous attempts that aimed at replacing UNRWA and providing humanitarian assistance have failed miserably,” said Juliette Touma, the main spokesperson for the organisation.

“It’s outrageous that a member state of the United Nations is working to dismantle a UN agency which also happens to be the largest responder in the humanitarian operation in Gaza.”

The law would likely directly impact UNRWA institutions in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in a move not recognised abroad.

Another of the law’s authors, Boaz Bismuth, said UNRWA’s work there has been counterproductive for years. “If you really want stability, if you really want security, if you want real peace in the Middle East, organizations like UNRWA won’t bring you there,” said Bismuth.

Israel has faced heavy international pressure to do more to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to get more aid to people displaced by Israel’s campaign.

Before the legislation was passed, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Britain, Japan and South Korea, Canada and Australia issued a statement expressing “grave concern.”

“It is crucial that UNRWA and other UN organizations and agencies be fully able to deliver humanitarian aid and their assistance to those who need it most, fulfilling their mandates effectively,” the statement said.

Stock Markets

Needham initiates coverage on On Holding with buy rating

Published

7 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Investing.com — Needham on Friday initiated its coverage on On Holding AG (NYSE:) with a “buy” rating and a target price of $64.

Brokerage said On has shown industry-leading growth, with impressive revenue increases and healthy margin expansion. The company is likely to keep growing as it increases brand awareness and gains space with top sneaker retailers worldwide.

“We believe the company has a continued runway for strong growth, as they increase brand awareness and gain shelf space with the biggest and best sneaker retailers in the world,” analyst Tom Nikic wrote in the note.

Needham analyst noted that Roger Federer-backed On was valued at 5 times its expected 2025 revenues, which make stock may seem expensive but strong fundamentals could support continued stock momentum.

“Although valuation metrics are lofty, we believe the shares can continue to exhibit momentum as long as fundamentals”

ON is the fastest growing company in Needham’s coverage, with expected 32% revenue growth in 2024. Its Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) growing 43% year-to-date, compared to 24% growth for wholesale sales.

Brokerage highlighted despite this growth, the brand’s awareness is still relatively low. In major markets like the U.S., U.K., France, and Australia, awareness was under 10% a year ago. However, it’s increasing rapidly, with U.S. awareness doubling to around 20%, and tripling in France.

Stock Markets

Toll Brothers Announces Final Opportunity at Verona Estates Community in Chatsworth, California

Published

7 hours ago

November 23, 2024

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toll Brothers , Inc. (NYSE:), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, today announced the final opportunity to own a new home at Verona Estates, an exclusive gated community in Chatsworth, California. Only a few homes remain available for sale in this prestigious community, including the professionally decorated Siena Modern Farmhouse model home.

The intimate gated enclave of Verona Estates is a rare find showcasing award-winning architecture and innovative home designs. Nestled in an established Chatsworth neighborhood south of the Santa Susana Mountains and adjacent to the Vineyards at Porter Ranch, this exceptional community offers a serene and relaxed atmosphere with the convenience of nearby shopping and easy access to freeways, entertainment, and recreation.

Toll Brothers residents in Verona Estates will enjoy distinctive architecture, quality craftsmanship, luxurious home designs with open floor plans, expansive home sites, and proximity to the future 50-acre Porter Ranch community park. Verona Estates offers generous two-story home designs ranging from 4,700 to 6,000+ square feet, with 5 to 6 bedrooms, 4.5 to 6.5 bathrooms, and 3-car garages. The homes also feature popular floor plan options including prep kitchens, guest suites, floating staircases, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and more. Move-in ready homes in the community are priced from $1,979,995.

We are thrilled to offer the final opportunity to own a home in the exclusive Verona Estates community, said Nick Norvilas, Division President of Toll Brothers in Los Angeles. The Siena model home is a showcase of luxury and design, and we encourage interested home buyers to visit and experience this exceptional home along with the final few quick move-in homes remaining in the community firsthand.

The Siena Modern Farmhouse model home features designer upgrades throughout, including fully landscaped and furnished interiors, offering an unparalleled living experience. The professionally decorated model home is priced at $2,999,995.

For more information, call 844-700-8655 or visit TollBrothers.com/LA. The Sales Center for Verona Estates is located at 20508 Edgewood Court in Chatsworth and is open by appointment only.

About Toll Brothers

Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 57 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TOL. The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations.

In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies™ list and the Company’s Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron’s magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com.

Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cbb8cf4a-a018-4df0-955e-3cf4ab63edeb

Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)

Verona Estates by Toll Brothers

Toll Brothers announced the final opportunity to own a new home at Verona Estates, including the designer-decorated Siena model home, in Chatsworth, California.

Source: Toll Brothers, Inc.

Stock Markets

Northvolt crisis may be make or break for Europe’s EV battery ambitions

Published

7 hours ago

November 23, 2024

By Marie Mannes, Alessandro Parodi and Stine Jacobsen

STOCKHOLM/GDANSK (Reuters) – Northvolt’s financial collapse deals a blow to Europe’s plan to set up its own battery industry to power electric cars, stirring a debate about whether it needs to do more to attract investment as startups struggle to catch up with Chinese rivals.

Europe’s biggest hope for an electric vehicle battery champion filed for U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday after talks with investors and creditors including Volkswagen (ETR:) and Goldman Sachs for funding failed.

The Swedish company, whose motto is “make oil history”, has received more than $10 billion in equity, debt and public financing since its 2016 start-up. Volkswagen and Goldman Sachs each own about one fifth of its shares.

Northvolt said on Friday it needed $1.0-$1.2 billion in new funds under the restructuring process, which it hopes will end by the end of March.

In recent months, it has shrunk the business and cut jobs in a bid to shore up its finances. But it has struggled to produce sufficient volumes of high-quality batteries, and lost a 2 billion euro ($2.1 billion) contract from BMW (ETR:) in June.

That has left Europe’s ambitions to build its own battery industry looking a distant dream.

In recent years, Northvolt led a wave of European startups investing tens of billions of dollars to serve the continent’s automakers as they switch from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.

But growth in EV demand is moving at a slower pace than many in the industry projected, and China has taken a huge lead in powering EVs, controlling 85% of global battery cell production, International Energy Agency data shows.

Making batteries and cells, the units that store and convert chemical energy into electricity, is a delicate process and doing so at scale is a challenge for any battery maker.

Northvolt has missed some in-house targets and curtailed production at its battery cells plant in northern Sweden, underscoring the difficulties, Reuters reported on Monday.

“The biggest issue is that batteries are not easy to make and Northvolt haven’t satisfied the supply demands of their customers – that is a management issue,” said Andy Palmer, founder of consultancy Palmer Automotive said.

“The Chinese are technologically 10 years ahead of the West in batteries. That’s a fact,” he said.

At least eight companies have postponed or abandoned EV battery projects in Europe this year, including China’s Svolt and joint venture ACC (NS:), led by Stellantis (NYSE:) and Mercedes-Benz (OTC:).

In 2024, Europe’s battery pipeline capacity out to 2030 has fallen by 176 gigawatt-hours, according to data firm Benchmark Minerals. That’s equivalent to almost all the current installed capacity in Europe, according to Reuters calculations.

RETHINK

Some executives say Europe should do more to attract and support home-grown projects so they can compete with Chinese rivals such as CATL and BYD (SZ:).

“Europe needs to rethink how it supports a nascent sector before China eats up the entire value chain, which is due to smart planning,” said James Frith, European head of Volta Energy Technologies, which specialises in battery and energy storage technology.

Among its $5.8 billion in debts, Northvolt owes the European Investment Bank (EIB) some $313 million.

EIB vice president Thomas Östros said it had been a constructive partner to Northvolt, but it needed to safeguard the EIB and EU’s interests.

“It remains the case that Europe has a strategic interest in a European battery industry for electric cars and we will follow developments very closely. But it is much to early to say what the outcome will be,” he said.

The Swedish government has repeatedly said it does not plan to take a stake in Northvolt.

On Friday, Northvolt’s outgoing CEO and co-founder Peter Carlsson said he was a “little worried” Europe is giving up on its dream of competing with China.

He said Europe would regret it in 20 years time if it retreated.

“It’s not a straight journey and right now, we’re all in a bit of a down in that journey where there’s more hesitations, there’s more questions on the speed of the transition from the carmakers, from policymakers, from the investor community,” he told reporters in a call.