Stock Markets
Analysis-US institutional investors could face restrictions on Chinese stock ownership
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A man walks past a billboard with signs of Tencent-backed Chinese online insurance technology firm Waterdrop Inc ahead of the company’s U.S. initial public offering (IPO) on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), in Beijing, China May 7, 2021. REUT
By Ross Kerber
(Reuters) – A U.S. congressional examination of Chinese stock holdings in BlackRock (NYSE:) funds built on MSCI indexes could presage a broader clampdown on U.S. institutional investment in such shares, analysts said, as Washington fears American capital could help Beijing gain military or technological advantages.
Relations between the two countries are at a low point amid friction on issues including Taiwan and the Ukraine war. The Biden administration is weighing new restrictions on outbound private investment in China on top of existing bans on certain technology sales and other trade measures.
A U.S. congressional committee said earlier this week that BlackRock and index provider MSCI were facilitating investments in companies that Washington has tied to Chinese human rights abuses or its military.
The House of Representatives’ Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent detailed questions about how the Chinese shares came to be included in products like BlackRock’s iShares exchange-traded fund.
The committee has also questioned other companies over their China ties, and analysts said more such reviews and increased restrictions on U.S. investing in Chinese shares were likely.
“I’m telling (clients) to expect more and stronger actions prohibiting or making it more difficult to invest in China, and greater scrutiny of those investments,” said Jo Ritcey-Donohue, an attorney who advises institutional investors.
“As long as all these cross-border tensions are out there, there’ll continue to be pressure on U.S. businesses.”
BlackRock said on Tuesday it is one of 16 asset managers offering U.S. index funds holding Chinese companies. It said it complies with all U.S. laws and will engage with the select committee.
MSCI said it is reviewing the committee’s inquiry.
RUSH OF MONEY
The degree to which Western capital enables authoritarian regimes has been a long-simmering issue, intensified by a rush of money into low-cost index funds.
For institutional investors, China, as the world’s second-largest economy, is an important component in international portfolios and indexes. Chinese companies including Tencent and Alibaba (NYSE:) accounted for 31% of the MSCI Emerging Markets index in July.
Committee Chair Mike Gallagher has said the U.S. companies were not doing anything illegal but that Congress needs to close loopholes.
In an interview on Thursday, Gallagher said he is not calling “for a complete cut-off of our economic relationship with China.” But he said the committee is debating “this question of guardrails on outbound capital flows.”
His committee can make policy recommendations, and a hard line toward China has bipartisan support.
Todd Rosenbluth, head of research for financial analysis firm VettaFi, said while BlackRock and MSCI are the most prominent firms in the index-investment space, new laws or regulations that emerge from the probe also would likely apply to competing products such as the Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF.. Vanguard declined to comment.
“If the end result of this investigation are rules that say that index providers need to exclude certain China-based companies, then those rules would apply to others” across the industry, Rosenbluth said.
RED-FLAGGED COMPANIES
MSCI and rivals removed seven Chinese companies from global indexes in 2020 because of U.S. ownership restrictions. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year MSCI and FTSE Russell removed Russian equities from all their indexes. A FTSE Russell representative declined comment.
The committee’s letters this week cited contractors to China’s People’s Liberation Army it identified in BlackRock funds or MSCI indexes.
Some of the companies have been flagged such as appearing on the U.S. Treasury’s “Chinese Military-Industrial Complex” companies list. For companies on it, U.S. persons and asset managers face purchase and sale restrictions but not divestment requirements.
Also, a number of those companies’ subsidiaries are still eligible for U.S. investment, at least for now, according to Ritcey-Donohue, even if they are subject to other sanctions like the Department of Commerce’s Military End User list that restricts certain trade with these entities.
Stock Markets
SUBARU ANNOUNCES PRICING ON 2025 SOLTERRA ELECTRIC SUV WITH SIGNIFICANT PRICE REDUCTION
- Starting price at $38,495 MSRP, $6,500 less than 2024 version, with same features
- 2025 Solterra Touring price reduced $7,000 compared to 2024 version
- Debut of Solterra Touring Onyx Edition with gloss black wheels, exterior and interior trim accents
- Standard Subaru (OTC:) ® Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, best-in-class ground clearance of 8.3 inches
CAMDEN, N.J., Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Subaru of America, Inc. announced pricing today on the 2025 Subaru Solterra all-electric SUV. One year after significant upgrades to charging performance, interior enhancements, and driver-assist technologies, the Solterra adds a new trim level and lower starting price for 2025. The 2025 Subaru Solterra will start at $38,495 MSRP — $6,500 less than the 2024 model — before applicable federal, state, and local tax credits, and arrive at retailers nationwide early next year.
The 2025 Subaru Solterra is available in Premium, Limited, Touring, and new Touring Onyx Edition trim levels. The 2025 Solterra will qualify for applicable federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for some consumers.
New for 2025, the Subaru Solterra adds a Touring Onyx Edition trim level that adds 20-inch aluminum-alloy gloss black wheels, black exterior and interior accents, including black badging. The Subaru Solterra Touring Onyx Edition will cost $45,495 MSRP.
All Solterras are equipped with Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and Subaru StarDrive ® Technology, which delivers smooth, linear output from dual electric motors placed on the front and rear axles that deliver 249 pound-feet of torque. All models feature Dual-Function X-MODE ® with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes with Grip Control and Downhill Assist Control for confidence in low-grip or off-road capability. Every Solterra includes 8.3 inches of ground clearance for genuine off-road capability “ a Subaru hallmark and best in class among small electric SUVs “ and standard Active Cornering Assist and Vehicle Stability Control for better on-road handling.
The Solterra’s high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack includes ample usable daily range and can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 35 minutes. New for 2024, an uprated battery conditioning system improved cold-weather charging performance in colder temperatures. With thousands of available public charging stations and DC-fast charging, replenishing the Solterra’s battery away from home can be quick and easy. At home, the Solterra offers affordable Level 1 or Level 2 charging compatibility.
All Subaru Solterras are equipped with a suite of standard EyeSight ® driver-assist technologies including Emergency Steering Assist, Intersection Collision Avoidance Support, Pre-Collision Brake Assist, Lane Departure Prevention, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Lane Tracing Assist, Hands-Free Low Speed Driving, DriverFocus ® Distraction Mitigation System, Emergency Driving Stop System, and more. In 2024, the Subaru Solterra was named a TOP SAFETY PICK+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, its highest honor, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the Solterra a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score.
For added convenience, the Solterra is available with a 12.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen for infotainment with wireless Apple (NASDAQ:) CarPlay ® and Android Auto™ compatibility. The 2025 Solterra includes five USB charge points: one USB-A and two USB-C connectors for front-seat occupants and two USB-C charge points for rear-seat riders. A wireless phone charger is included on Solterra Limited and higher trim levels.
2025 Subaru Solterra Premium
Starting at $38,495 MSRP, which is $6,500 less than the 2024 model, the 2025 Subaru Solterra Premium is well equipped with an impressive list of standard features for convenience and comfort. The Subaru Solterra Premium is equipped with standard roof rails with a 700-pound static load capacity (176 pounds dynamic load capacity), 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with black and silver aerodynamic wheel covers, an 8.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay ® and Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio (4-month free trial included), Bluetooth ® connectivity, and SUBARU SOLTERRA CONNECT™ vehicle services for safety, remote access, service, available cloud-based navigation, and Wi-Fi (30-day free trial or 3GB). The connected-vehicle services also include Remote Climate Control, Remote Lock/Unlock via smartphone, and more.
Inside, the Subaru Solterra Premium features heated front seats with auto setting, Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control, rear seat reminder, S-Pedal Drive, electronic parking brake, a 7.0-inch LCD combination meter, windshield wiper de-icer, heated sideview mirrors, and LED headlights (multi-beam low and single-beam high).
2025 Subaru Solterra Limited
The 2025 Subaru Solterra Limited adds more comfort and convenience features to the Premium trim level’s roster of standard equipment and starts at $41,995 MSRP, which is $6,500 less than the outgoing version. Those include standard 20-inch alloy wheels with gray machine finish, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 8-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, heated rear seats, power rear gate, rain-sensing wipers, wireless smartphone charger, LED fog lights, heated steering wheel, and StarTex ® trimmed interior upholstery.
A 12.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen with Apple CarPlay ® and Android Auto™ compatibility is standard and paired to a Harman Kardon ® 576 watt-equivalent premium audio system with 11 speakers. A 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor provides an overhead view for better maneuverability, and Advanced Park helps further with perpendicular or parallel parking assistance using the EV’s sensors and cameras.
2025 Subaru Solterra Touring
Building on the Solterra Limited’s impressive standard features, the 2025 Subaru Solterra Touring adds more comfort and convenience features for $44,995 MSRP, $7,000 lower than the 2024 model.
The Solterra Touring adds a panoramic glass moonroof with power sunshade, front and rear LED footwell lighting, standard heated and ventilated front seats, a digital rearview mirror with view position adjustment with Homelink ® and camera washer, and smart key access on all five doors.
2025 Subaru Solterra Touring Onyx Edition
New for 2025, the Subaru Solterra Touring Onyx Edition adds dynamic stylish features inside and out and starts at $45,495 MSRP.
On the exterior, the Subaru Solterra Touring Onyx Edition adds a high gloss black front underguard; 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels finished in black; black roof pillars, shoulder line trim, door frame, rear quarter window and roof spoiler; and black badging. Two-tone exterior color options are exclusive to Touring Onyx Edition as well.
Inside, the Touring Onyx Edition features black trim accents on the front and rear doors, and black StarTex ® trimmed upholstery.
With the purchase or lease of a new 2025 Subaru Solterra, customers will also receive up to 10 days of Subaru Just Drive Rental at no charge from their participating Subaru retailer. The program allows owners to rent various Subaru vehicles through those retailers.
2025 Subaru Solterra | ||
Model/Trim | MSRP | MSRP plus Destination |
Solterra Premium | $38,495 | $39,915 |
Solterra Limited | $41,995 | $43,415 |
Solterra Touring | $44,995 | $46,415 |
Solterra Touring Onyx Edition | $45,495 | $46,915 |
i Destination & Delivery is $1,420 for Solterra and may vary in the following states: CT, HI, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT. D&D is | ||
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $320 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 100,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company ® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook (NASDAQ:), Instagram, <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4329519-1&h=2088501060&u=https%3A%2F%2Furldefense.com%2Fv3%2Fhttps%3A%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fcompany%2Fsubaru-of-america%2F%3B!!P1uQfTJRew!RITC1tICLlR8tTdygLlH6eiHENIniru8XHdUVy0VTgQgkhmXIrEhDmg0rHqzgny7ey_ys_IlZvCI1TBBwUQ%24&a=LinkedIn” rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
Dominick Infante
Director, Corporate Communications
856.488.8615
dinfante@subaru.com
Aaron Cole
Product Communications Manager
720.231.0809
acole1@subaru.com
Stock Markets
PBF Energy to Participate in the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference
PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:) today announced that members of its management team will participate in the Goldman Sachs Energy, CleanTech & Utilities Conference on January 6-8, 2025.
Any company presentation materials will be made available on the Investor Relations section of the PBF Energy website at www.pbfenergy.com.
About PBF Energy Inc.
PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) is one of the largest independent refiners in North America, operating, through its subsidiaries, oil refineries and related facilities in California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio. Our mission is to operate our facilities in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible manner, provide employees with a safe and rewarding workplace, become a positive influence in the communities where we do business, and provide superior returns to our investors.
PBF Energy is also a 50% partner in the St. Bernard Renewables joint venture focused on the production of next generation sustainable fuels.
Contacts:Colin Murray (investors)
ir@pbfenergy.com
Tel: 973.455.7578
Michael C. Karlovich (media)
mediarelations@pbfenergy.com
Tel: 973.455.8981
Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. (INTS) stock has reached a new 52-week low, trading at $1.76, marking a steep 80% decline from its 52-week high of $8.79. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company maintains a positive cash position despite challenging market conditions. This latest price point marks a significant downturn for the company, which has seen its stock value decrease by 69.09% over the past year. Investors are closely monitoring the biotech firm, known for its innovative cancer treatments, as it navigates through a challenging period. While analyst price targets range from $4 to $16, suggesting potential upside, InvestingPro data reveals weak financial health scores and unprofitable operations over the last twelve months. The 52-week low serves as a critical juncture for Intensity Therapeutics, as market watchers consider the company’s future prospects and potential for recovery.
In other recent news, Intensity Therapeutics secured approximately $3 million in gross proceeds from a stock offering and concurrent private placement. The company also reported promising results from its Phase 1/2 clinical trial of INT230-6, a treatment for various sarcomas, showcasing an improved median overall survival rate and a favorable safety profile. A global Phase 3 trial is currently underway to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of INT230-6.
In addition, Intensity Therapeutics granted stock options to its Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Talamo, and the Principal Accounting Officer, John Wesolowski, as part of the company’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan. The company has also initiated a $15 million At-The-Market offering, facilitated by H.C. Wainwright & Co.
Furthermore, Brookline Capital Markets has given Intensity Therapeutics a Buy rating, highlighting the potential of their intratumoral drug delivery technology. The company is also preparing for a Phase 2/3 trial focusing on breast cancer.
Lastly, Intensity Therapeutics has elected two Class I directors and ratified EisnerAmper LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. The company is expecting the pathological complete response data from a partnered Phase 2 clinical trial in Europe in the second half of 2025. These are the recent developments concerning Intensity Therapeutics.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.
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