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Trump, Carroll press their cases as defamation trial heads to jury

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Trump, Carroll press their cases as defamation trial heads to jury
© Reuters. E. Jean Carroll walks outside Manhattan Federal Court on the day of the second civil trial, after she accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago, in New York City, U.S., January 25, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid

By Jonathan Stempel and Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump should pay the writer E. Jean Carroll “dearly” for defaming her and denying he raped her, likely in the tens of millions of dollars, Carroll’s lawyer told jurors on Friday near the end of a trial.

But a lawyer for the former U.S. president countered that the former Elle magazine advice columnist doesn’t deserve a cent, having enjoyed the attention and suffered neither professional nor emotional harm after Trump branded her a liar.

A seven-man, two-woman jury in federal court in Manhattan is expected to begin deliberations later on Friday, the civil trial’s fifth day.

Carroll, 80, is seeking at least $10 million for Trump’s having defamed her in June 2019, when he was in the White House, by denying her claim that he had raped her in the mid-1990s in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan.

She said Trump’s comments caused her to be subjected to 4-1/2 years of continuous attacks, including death threats.

Trump, 77, accused Carroll of making up the encounter to boost sales of her memoir, and has maintained he had never heard of her.

He has also attacked Carroll during the trial and on the campaign trial, proclaiming her case a “witch hunt” and a “con job.”

Another jury last May ordered Trump to pay Carroll $5 million over a similar October 2022 denial, finding that he had defamed and sexually abused her.

Trump shook his head after U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan told jurors it was an “established” fact that Trump had sexually assaulted Carroll.

‘THIS IS HER LIFE’

Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to the judge, urged jurors to punish Trump for persistently lying about her client, and destroying her reputation as a truth-telling journalist.

“We all have to follow the law,” Kaplan said. “Donald Trump, however, acts as if these rules and laws just don’t apply to him.

“This trial is about getting him to stop, once and for all,” she added. “Now is the time to make him pay for it dearly.”

Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, countered that it was the publication of excerpts from Carroll’s memoir in New York magazine that triggered the attacks, not Trump’s denials, which began five hours later.

“It just doesn’t add up,” Habba said. “Even if you believe Ms. Carroll, that she really and truly feared for her safety because of the emails she received, she has not shown what she needs to show, that President Trump was the reason she received them.”

Habba also said Carroll enjoyed her new fame, citing her comments that she felt “buoyant” and “fabulous” and entered a “cocoon of love” from supporters.

“She was happier than ever,” Habba said. “Don’t take my word for it. Just ask E. Jean.”

Trump, a Republican, is seeking to retake the White House in the November election in a likely showdown against Democrat Joe Biden, who beat him in 2020.

The race is expected to be close even though Trump faces 91 felony counts in four criminal indictments, including two cases accusing him of trying to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss.

Trump walked out of the courtroom during Roberta Kaplan’s closing argument, but returned for Habba’s.

He has tried to make his legal travails a campaign asset, calling himself a victim of biased prosecutors and an unfair judicial system.

Carroll’s legal team urged jurors to ignore that.

“This isn’t a campaign rally,” Shawn Crowley, another lawyer for Carroll, said after Habba spoke. “Donald Trump is not the victim. This is her life. Help her take it back.”

‘SWISS CHEESE’

Jurors in the current trial will decide only how much Trump owes Carroll for harming her reputation, and whether to impose punitive damages to stop him from defaming her again.

A damages expert testified that the reputational harm alone was $7.3 million to $12.1 million.

Attorney Roberta Kaplan said an “unusually high” punitive damages award might also be needed to deter Trump, a billionaire.

“While Donald Trump may not care about the law, while he certainly does not care about truth, he does care about money,” she said.

Habba urged jurors to ignore the damages expert, saying her report “has more holes than Swiss cheese.”

On Thursday, Trump spent only four minutes defending himself on the witness stand after Judge Kaplan forbade him and his lawyers from revisiting issues that the first trial had settled.

Trump was allowed to confirm his October 2022 deposition testimony, which jurors had been shown, in which he called Carroll’s claims a “hoax” and said she was “mentally sick.”

Carroll wrote the “Ask E. Jean” column for Elle from 1993 to 2019, and often appeared on such programs as NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” She said those appearances dried up because of Trump.

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Sprott announces Q1 2024 dividend of $0.25 per share

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TORONTO – Sprott Inc. (NYSE/TSX: SII), a global leader in precious metals and critical materials investments, has declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.25 per common share for the first quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable on June 5, 2024, to shareholders on record as of May 21, 2024.

The company specified that registered shareholders in Canada, according to Sprott’s shareholder register, as well as beneficial holders with shares held through intermediaries participating in CDS Clearing and Depositary Services Inc. or its nominee, CDS & Co., will receive their dividend in Canadian dollars. The amount will be determined by the spot price exchange rate on the day of payment.

Shareholders residing outside of Canada, including those in the United States, as well as beneficial holders whose intermediary is a participant in The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, Cede & Co., will receive their dividend in U.S. dollars. Beneficial holders with intermediaries in CDS have the option to elect to receive their dividend in U.S. dollars and should contact their broker for more information.

Furthermore, registered shareholders in Canada who are not part of CDS and wish to receive their dividend in U.S. dollars are advised to arrange for their common shares to be deposited with CDS and make a currency election before the May 21, 2024 deadline.

The announced dividend is designated as an eligible dividend for Canadian income tax purposes, which could be advantageous for Canadian taxpayers.

Sprott’s expertise in the precious metals and critical materials sectors is underscored by its specialized investment strategies, which include Exchange Listed Products, Managed Equities, and Private Strategies. With offices located in Toronto, New York, Connecticut, and California, Sprott stands as a specialized entity in its field, differentiating itself from more generalist financial institutions.

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The company’s common shares are traded on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SII. This dividend announcement is based on a press release statement issued by Sprott Inc.

InvestingPro Insights

Sprott Inc. (NYSE/TSX: SII) has recently announced its quarterly dividend, affirming its commitment to rewarding shareholders. This is in line with one of the InvestingPro Tips that highlights the company’s track record of maintaining dividend payments for 17 consecutive years. Moreover, the same source suggests that Sprott Inc. is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth, which could indicate a potential undervaluation of the company’s stock.

Examining the real-time metrics from InvestingPro, Sprott Inc. boasts a market capitalization of $1.04 billion USD, reflecting its substantial presence in the precious metals and critical materials investment sector. The company also shows a promising P/E ratio of 20.75 when adjusted for the last twelve months as of Q4 2023.

This, combined with a PEG ratio of just 0.18 for the same period, suggests that the stock could have room for growth when considering its earnings trajectory. Furthermore, the revenue growth for Sprott Inc. has been robust, with a 16.42% increase over the last twelve months as of Q4 2023, underlining the company’s financial health and potential for further expansion.

For investors interested in deeper insights and additional metrics, there are more InvestingPro Tips available, which could provide a more comprehensive investment picture. To explore these insights and leverage the full suite of tools, consider using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription at InvestingPro.

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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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Franklin financial exec Gregory A. Duffey buys $58,000 in stock

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Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) director Gregory A. Duffey has recently increased his stake in the company, according to a new SEC filing. On May 3, 2024, Duffey purchased 2,000 shares of common stock at a price of $29.0 per share, totaling $58,000.

This transaction has bolstered Duffey’s ownership in the state commercial bank to 17,964 shares. The purchase reflects a straightforward investment in the company’s stock, without the involvement of equity swaps or other complex financial instruments. As the director of Franklin Financial Services Corp., Duffey’s decision to buy additional shares could be seen as a vote of confidence in the company’s future prospects.

Investors often monitor insider transactions as they may provide insights into the company’s performance and management’s expectations. The details of the transaction, including the number of shares purchased and the price paid, are publicly available through the SEC filing, offering transparency to shareholders and potential investors.

Franklin Financial Services Corp., based in Chambersburg, PA, operates as a state commercial bank and is known for its community-focused banking services. The company’s stock is traded under the ticker symbol FRAF on the NASDAQ exchange.

InvestingPro Insights

Recent insider trading by Franklin Financial Services Corp. (NASDAQ:FRAF) director Gregory A. Duffey has spotlighted the company’s stock, drawing investor attention to its financial health and future outlook. To provide a clearer picture of FRAF’s standing, we’ve gathered some key data and insights from InvestingPro.

Despite a challenging economic environment, Franklin Financial Services Corp. has managed to maintain a consistent dividend payout for 41 consecutive years, a testament to its financial stability and commitment to shareholders. Moreover, the company has experienced a strong return over the last month, with a 12.57% increase, which may partly explain Duffey’s confidence in increasing his stake. This is also reflected in the company’s profitability over the last twelve months, suggesting a solid operational performance.

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InvestingPro Data metrics reveal a market capitalization of $124.48 million and a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.05, which adjusts slightly to 9.11 when looking at the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. The company’s price-to-book ratio stands at 0.94 for the same period, indicating that the stock may be reasonably valued in relation to its assets. However, it’s important to note that FRAF suffers from weak gross profit margins, which could be a point of consideration for potential investors.

For those looking to delve deeper into Franklin Financial Services Corp.’s financials and future prospects, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights. With the use of coupon code PRONEWS24, readers can get an extra 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription, unlocking even more valuable information. There are 5 more InvestingPro Tips available, which could further guide investment decisions regarding FRAF.

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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SICC Co stock rating upgraded to buy, price target cut

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On Tuesday, Jefferies upgraded shares of SICC Co Ltd (688234:CH), a prominent conductive substrate manufacturer, from Hold to Buy, while adjusting the stock price target to RMB66.00 from the previous RMB69.00.

This decision was influenced by the company’s financial performance, with fourth-quarter 2023 and first-quarter 2024 revenues meeting expectations and net profit surpassing both Jefferies’ and consensus estimates.

The optimism for the upgrade is partly due to SICC’s Lingang fabrication plant reaching a capacity of 25 kilowatts per month by the end of 2023. This expansion has positioned SICC among the top three conductive substrate makers.

The analyst noted that overseas customers now contribute approximately 40% to the company’s revenue with a gross margin (GM) of 29% in 2023. The expectation of a higher mix of overseas business in the forthcoming years is a driving factor behind the positive outlook.

The upgrade reflects the company’s short-term financial prospects, which are expected to remain strong. The analyst emphasized this by stating the company’s revenue alignment with forecasts and the substantial outperformance in net profit as key indicators of SICC’s robust financial health.

The revised stock price target of RMB66.00, despite being a slight reduction from the prior target, aligns with the upgraded stock rating and the anticipation of SICC’s continued growth and expansion in market share, especially with its increased capacity and international customer base.

The company’s strategic positioning and financial results are the primary reasons behind Jefferies’ confidence in SICC’s stock performance.

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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