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Heat vs. Hawks: Miami first 10 seed to advance in NBA play-in bracket

Sport 4 Mins Read

For the first time in the six-year history of the NBA Play-In Tournament, a 10-seed has clinched a playoff spot.

The Miami Heat toppled the Atlanta Hawks in overtime Friday night, 123-114, to secure the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. And with that, Miami will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, who led the East with 64 victories, in the first round.

Tyler Herro led all players with 30 points on 10-of-21 shooting, while Andrew Wiggins chipped in 20 points. Miami, however, got massive shots from newly-acquired point guard Davion Mitchell, who scored 16 points and flushed three 3-point shots in overtime.

Trae Young led the Hawks with 29 points, but the Hawks, for the second consecutive season, were eliminated from playoff contention in the Play-In Tournament.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s Heat-Hawks play-in game:

It’s that time of the season: Heat focus, intensity ramping up

The Heat, a recent below-average regular season team, have now gone through the Play-In Tournament each of the past three years to get to the postseason. But, once there, the Heat usually have ramped up their competitive intensity and efficiency. Miami likes its identity to be one of grit and competitiveness; it will once again have to prove it.

Can this Heat team make a similarly historic run like the one from two years ago? It’s highly unlikely. That 2022-23 team often needed Jimmy Butler to go nuclear and this iteration of the Heat often slogs through offensive stretches — particularly in second halves. Friday night was a perfect example; the Heat had stretches at the starts of the third and fourth quarter when their shot selection regressed, leading to lazy defensive effort on the other end. In the fourth quarter, after Miami started the period 1-of-9 from the field, the Hawks momentarily took the lead.

The Heat lost an NBA-worst 15 games this season when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter. Miami led by nine entering the period Friday night. Its biggest lead in the game was 17. Cleveland won’t be as forgiving.

Hawks’ slow start, particularly from deep, looms large in defeat

In the modern NBA, leads come and go. It’s the nature of the up-tempo pace played today, highlighted by the fact that even big men can hit 3s. In elimination games, however, slow starts can be lethal. Atlanta discovered that Friday night.

The Hawks started the game 0-for-5 and Miami scored the game’s first 10 points. Atlanta made just one 3 out of its first 13 shots from beyond the arc. All-Star guard Trae Young didn’t get going until the fourth quarter. And while the Hawks did eventually hold a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, resilient teams like the Heat force teams into mistakes. The Hawks clearly missed Jalen Johnson (torn labrum), who was looking like a candidate for Most Improved Player before suffering the injury. Young can be a special player in the clutch. But he has never played with an All-Star teammate. He turns 27 in September. The Hawks must give him more help.

Heat depth shines, but can it continue in the playoffs?

Miami had six players reach double figures, and backup point guard Davion Mitchell — who played 40 minutes of game time — was massive down the stretch. He laced three 3-pointers in overtime and provided energy with hustle plays, including a debilitating offensive rebound that all but put Atlanta out of reach. Forward Haywood Highsmith was also clutch with 12 points, 10 rebounds and several key defensive stops.

Rookie center Ke’lel Ware was highly effective in just more than 20 minutes, scoring 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting and grabbing eight rebounds. Ware, who sometimes gets into foul trouble and still is finding his way defensively, plays more in first halves. The Heat may need more of him in the third and fourth quarter, however, with the Cavaliers boasting Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen — a pair of versatile bigs who can score and defend.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Gregg Popovich has medical event at San Antonio restaurant, per report

Sport 2 Mins Read

Popovich, 76, has returned home and is fine.

The Spurs had no official comment Friday.

The team announced in mid-November that Popovich had a mild stroke on Nov. 2 and that he was expected to make a full recovery.

“At this point, a timeline for his return to the sidelines has not been determined,” the team said in a news release on Nov. 13.

On Feb. 27, Popovich released a statement, saying, “I’ve decided not to return to the sidelines this season. Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding. I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”

It is unknown if he will return for the 2025-26 season.

Popovich is the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching victories with 1,422 and among coaches with more than 500 career games, he has the seventh-best winning percentage (.621). He has led the Spurs to five NBA championships (2014, 2007, 2005, 2003, 1999).

The Spurs were 34-48 this season, and All-Star Victor Wembanyama, 21, missed the final seven weeks of the regular season with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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How Luka-LeBron connection turned Lakers into real title contender

Sport 6 Mins Read

Luka Dončić’s first assist to LeBron James was a 70-foot outlet pass resulting in an easy layup. Their offensive connection was immediate.

“It’s kind of a pick-your-poison when you have two brainiacs when it comes to the game of basketball on the floor at the same time,” James said.

Two brainiacs who also are two of the best players in the league.

Those long touchdown passes from Dončić to James are common – at least once a game it seems – illustrating 1) just how good of a rebounder Dončić is; 2) what an exceptional passer he is; and 3) the James-Dončić link has elevated the Los Angeles Lakers to title contender.

“The goal is to win a championship,” Dončić told reporters Thursday. “I think we have a great team. We have guys that are willing to go to war. Everybody is staying together. The chemistry is high, so I think we for sure have a chance.”

The third-seeded Lakers begin pursuit of the franchise’s 18th championship Saturday against the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in an intriguing matchup. The two teams were separated in the standings by just one game. However, the Lakers didn’t get Dončić on the court until early February following the blockbuster trade with Dallas.

It’s rare that one team has two of the most gifted offensive players, and the Lakers present a multitude of problems.

After acquiring Dončić on Feb. 2, the Lakers went 22-13, including 18-10 with Dončić in the lineup. In the 23 games James and Dončić played together, the Lakers were 15-8, scoring 116.1 points and allowing 114.1 points per 100 possessions.

“In order for us to be the team ultimately we need to be, the ball needs to be in Luka’s hands,” James told reporters in March. “And then when Luka sits down, the ball can be in my hands or be in AR’s (Austin Reaves’) hands. But I’m very comfortable playing off the ball and finding my spots, running the floor, getting the outlet pass from Luka, being on the backside of the defense if he’s either being blitzed in pick-and-rolls or switched in pick-and-rolls. He attracts so many eyes and bodies.”

Timberwolves coach Chris Finch lost to Dallas in last year’s conference finals in five games. Minnesota struggled to slow down Dončić, who averaged 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.2. steals and shot 47.3% from the field, 43.4% on 3-pointers and 84.6% on free throws in the five-game series won by the Mavs.

“He’s still the same amazing player,’ Finch told reporters. ‘When the ball’s in his hands, he controls so much of the game in the way it’s played, so we’ve got to do a better job of disrupting that. There’s certain things that we learned from being in a series with him last year that we need to put into action this year. Our discipline around him and the execution of those things has to be better. Last year, we were kind of feeling our way through some of it. And we’re going to have to be ready to do a multitude of things.’

The on-court development between James and Dončić hit pause when James missed seven games in March with a strained left groin. But the results in just two dozen games have been revealing.

In a 123-100 victory against Denver, Dončić had 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals, and James had 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

In a 111-102 victory against Minnesota, James produced 33 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, and Dončić produced 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers beat Oklahoma City, Houston (twice), Memphis, Indiana and Orlando in the final three weeks of the season, and in Dončić’s big return to Dallas for the first time as a Laker, Dončić had 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals while James contributed 27 points and seven rebounds.

In his 28 games with the Lakers, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals and shot 43.8% from the field, 37.9% on 3-pointers and 79.1% on free throws.

James hasn’t played with a shotmaker and playmaker like this since he was Kyrie Irving’s teammate with Cleveland in 2016-17.

“I think Luka needs to be the guy that controls the offense,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters in late February. “And Bron and AR, because we’re going to stagger everybody, they’re going to have their times to be on the ball. But all three of those guys are very intelligent basketball players, and we can create mismatches. We can get teams in the blender.”

Unless the outcome is determined in the final minutes or it’s a blowout, there’s rarely a second where either James or Dončić are not on the court. That puts relentless pressure on opposing defenses every possession, and it has yielded an incredibly productive lineup when Dončić is on the court and James is on the bench.

In the 23 games where both Dončić and James have played, the Lakers score 122.2 points and allow 99 points per 100 possessions for an impressive plus-23.2 net rating when Dončić is on the court and James is on the bench, according to NBA data. Conversely, in those same 23 games, the Lakers score 106.6 points and allow 113.2 points per 100 possessions with James on the court and Dončić on the bench. Lineups shrink a bit in the playoffs, so it’s not like there will be many minutes when both aren’t on the court.

Still, Dončić’s value can’t be overstated. He attracts so much attention from defenses with his shooting and playmaking that his teammates benefit.

Jaxson Hayes has benefited from easy buckets at the rim on lobs from Dončić. There are better 3-point opportunities for Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Jordan Goodwin and Dalton Knecht.

Finch also understands that too much attention on Dončić creates other advantages for the Lakers. “You can’t just commit to running around multiple guys at the ball,’ he said, ‘because now you’re giving maybe the best player in the game to ever have played (James) the chance to pick you apart in space.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Grizzlies’ Ja Morant scores 22 vs. Mavs despite ankle injury

Sport 1 Min Read

Ja Morant was in the starting five in Friday night’s NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Dallas Mavericks in Memphis, a huge boost for the Grizzlies after Morant injured his ankle earlier this week.

Morant scored 22 points, dished nine assists and had three steals as the Grizzlies thrashed the Mavericks to earn the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. They will play Oklahoma City in a first-round series starting Sunday.

Morant turned his right ankle with about 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter of a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. He spent several minutes on the floor and seemed to be in considerable pain. He was able to return for a free throw, but left the court for treatment. He returned in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 points.

Morant never went to the locker room, and the team said it was not planning to do X-rays Tuesday.

After the game, Morant told reporters: ‘I’m playing. That’s basically the answer I’m giving. It ain’t nothing different.’

The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.

(This story was updated with new information Friday night.)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Finlay Minerals Enters into Earn-In Agreements with Freeport for its PIL & ATTY Properties

Investing 7 Mins Read

Finlay Minerals Ltd.( TSXV: FYL) (OTCQB: FYMNF) (‘Finlay’ or the ‘Company’) announces that the Company has entered into two definitive earn-in agreements (the ‘Earn-In Agreements’) with Freeport-McMoRan Mineral Properties Canada Inc. (‘Freeport’), a wholly owned subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), pursuant to which it has granted Freeport separate options to earn an 80% interest in its PIL and ATTY Properties (the ‘Properties’) in the Toodoggone District of northern British Columbia.

Highlights

  • Freeport may earn 80% of the PIL and ATTY Projects by expending $35 million in Exploration Expenditures and making Cash Payments of $4.1 million – (Refer to Table 1 below for further details);
  • Finlay will act as the Operator during the Earn-In period; and
  • Exploration Program planning is underway and will be announced shortly.

The earn-in in respect of each of the Properties may be exercised separately. Following the completion of the earn-in on either of the Properties, Freeport and Finlay will respectively hold interests of 80% and 20% in such Property, and a joint venture will be formed for further exploration and development. In the event that a party does not fund their portion of further joint venture programs, their interests in the joint venture will dilute. Any party that dilutes to below a 10% interest in the joint venture will exchange its joint venture interest for a net smelter returns (‘NSR‘) royalty of 1% on the applicable Property, which is subject to a 0.5% buyback for USD $2,000,000.

The earn-in requirements can be accelerated by Freeport at its discretion. During the earn-in period, Finlay will be the Operator on the Properties, collecting an operator’s fee, under the direction of a technical committee that will approve work programs and budgets during the earn-in period.

The PIL & ATTY Properties are each subject to a 3.0% NSR royalty held by Electrum Resource Corporation (‘Electrum’), a private company, the outstanding voting shares of which are held by Company directors: John A. Barakso and Ilona B. Lindsay. The Company has a current right to buy back ½ of the royalty (1.5%) on each property for an aggregate payment of $2,000,000 and $1,500,000 respectively. Finlay and Electrum have agreed that upon the exercise of the earn-in in respect of each Property by Freeport, the buy-back right will be amended to provide for a 2.0% buyback for each Property, in consideration for an increased buy-back payment to be sole-funded by Freeport without joint venture dilution to Finlay, and will be divided equally between Finlay and Electrum.

Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is a leading international metals company focused on copper, with major operations in the Americas and Indonesia and significant reserves of copper, gold, and molybdenum.

The Earn-In Agreements were executed and delivered on April 17, 2025 and are subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Finlay and Freeport are arms-length parties and no finders’ fees were incurred with these transactions.

About the PIL Property:

The 100% owned PIL Property covers 13,374 hectares of highly prospective ground in the prolific Toodoggone mining district of north-central British Columbia. The core PIL claims were staked over 30 years ago by the founders of the Company. Over the decades, numerous Cu-Au-Mo porphyry and porphyry-related Au-Ag epithermal targets have been identified at PIL. The identified targets are central to a broader 70 km porphyry corridor trend, which includes: Centerra Gold’s past producing Kemess South Cu-Au porphyry mine and Kemess Underground Cu-Au-Ag porphyry resource, Thesis Gold’s Lawyers-Ranch Au-Ag epithermal resource, and the newly discovered Amarc Resources and Freeport AuRORA Cu-Au-Ag porphyry. Readers are cautioned that mineralization on the foregoing regional properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the PIL Property. The PIL Property is road accessible and permitted for the 2025 season. (Refer to Figure 2 Map.)

About the ATTY Property:

The 100% owned ATTY Property covers 3,875 hectares in the prolific Toodoggone mining district of north-central British Columbia. The ATTY Property adjoins Centerra Gold’s Kemess Project and Amarc Resources and Freeport’s JOY property. Several epithermal-style Ag ± Au ± Cu ± base-metal veins are exposed on the ATTY Property, and geochemical and geophysical work have outlined at least two promising porphyry targets, including the drill-ready KEM Target. The ATTY Property is road accessible and permitted for the 2025 season.

Qualified Person:

Wade Barnes, P. Geo. and Vice President, Exploration for Finlay and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

About Finlay Minerals Ltd.

Finlay is a TSXV company focused on exploration for base and precious metal deposits with four 100% owned properties in northern British Columbia: the PIL and ATTY properties in the Toodoggone, the Silver Hope Cu-Ag Property (21,322 ha) and the SAY Cu-Ag Property (15,246 ha).

Finlay Minerals is advancing the PIL, ATTY, SAY and Silver Hope Properties that host copper-gold porphyry and gold-silver epithermal targets within different porphyry districts of northern and central BC. Each property is located in areas of recent development and porphyry discoveries with the advantage of hosting the potential for new discoveries.

Finlay trades under the symbol ‘FYL’ on the TSXV and under the symbol ‘FYMNF’ on the OTCQB. For further information and details, please visit the Company’s website at www.finlayminerals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Robert F. Brown
President, CEO & Director

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as ‘expect’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘project’, ‘target’, ‘potential’, ‘schedule’, ‘forecast’, ‘budget’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’ or ‘believe’ and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘should’ or ‘might’ occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the exploration plans for the Properties and the potential exercise of Freeport’s option to acquire an interest in the Properties. Although Finlay believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, the ability of Finlay and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Finlay’s proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third-party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Finlay does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Source

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Gold Price Hits New Record, Breaking US$3,300 for First Time

Investing 3 Mins Read

The gold price reached yet another record high on Wednesday (April 16), breaking US$3,300 per ounce.

The precious metal has gained significant momentum since the beginning of the year. In trading on Wednesday it surged past the US$3,200 mark, climbing as high as US$3,354.10 per ounce. The price retreated below the US$3,300 mark on Thursday (April 17).

The rise comes after statements from US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell made at the Economic Club of Chicago on Wednesday. In his remarks, he said that he expects US President Donald Trump’s tariff policy to negatively impact US economic growth and further fuel inflation.

In addition to gold climbing to record highs, the US dollar sank to its lowest point in three years with the DXY dollar index falling to 99.3 points on Thursday.

Gold price chart, April 10, 2025, to April 17, 2025.

Gold prices have soared in recent weeks amidst the chaos caused by Donald Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2.

Those measures included a 10 percent tariff on all but a handful of countries, including Canada and Mexico, with more severe reciprocal tariffs to come into effect this week. However, on April 9, Trump announced he would pause the additional tariffs for 90 days, saying more than 70 countries had contacted him to make deals.

Trump may have also been feeling pressure from economic advisors as a surge in treasury yields signaled a potential economic crisis brewing in the US bond market. Normally a safe haven during market volatility, the bond market saw a significant selloff this week as US tariffs and worries about the US economy’s stability spooked traders.

Although the pause gave most countries some breathing room, tariffs against China were left on the table. After much back and forth, US tariffs levied against China have now increased to 145 percent.

The net effect of Trump’s actions has been political and financial turmoil, sparking selloffs in major stock markets and pushing prices for safe-haven assets like gold to fresh records.

Additionally, China, Japan and South Korea agreed on March 30 to seek deeper free trade ties in response to the threat of tariffs from the US government. The deal marks a significant move by the three countries following decades of US diplomacy to maintain close relationships with Japan and South Korea.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Westport Announces Annual General and Special Meeting and Timing of Q1 2025 Financial Results

Investing 2 Mins Read

Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (TSX: WPRT Nasdaq: WPRT) (‘Westport’ or the ‘Company’) announces that the Company will release Q1 2025 financial results on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, after market close. A conference call and webcast to discuss the financial results and other corporate developments will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Time: 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Call Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI73bcac200e5f4652873668cf803d72ed
Webcast: https://investors.wfsinc.com

Participants may register up to 60 minutes before the event by clicking on the call link and completing the online registration form. Upon registration, the user will receive dial-in info and a unique PIN, along with an email confirming the details.

The webcast will be archived on Westport’s website and a replay will be available at https://investors.wfsinc.com .

Annual General and Special Meeting

Westport will host its 2025 Annual General and Special Meeting (the ‘Meeting’) virtually on May 15, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET).

To streamline the virtual meeting process, Westport encourages shareholders to vote in advance of the Meeting using the voting instruction form or the form of proxy which has been shared with shareholders with the Meeting materials. Further instructions on voting and accessing the meeting are contained in the Management Information Circular under ‘Section 1: Voting’ – upon receipt, please review these materials carefully.

Registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders can attend the meeting online at https://meetnow.global/MD2JR55 to participate, vote, or submit questions during the meeting’s live webcast.

About Westport Fuel Systems

At Westport Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, we serve our customers in approximately 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.

Investor Inquiries:
Investor Relations
T: +1 604-718-2046
E: invest@wfsinc.com

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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Google’s Ad Tech Business Faces Uncertainty After Court Ruling

Investing 4 Mins Read

On April 17 (Thursday), Judge Leonie Brinkema of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled against Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) in the antitrust case concerning its advertising technology business, casting a shroud of uncertainty over the future of the tech giant’s online advertising business.

Brinkema will now need to determine what remedies to impose on Google to restore fair market competition. The plaintiffs sought to force Google to divest its Ad Manager, which includes the company’s publisher ad server and its ad exchange, to restore competition in the market. This outcome is far more likely following Judge Brinkema’s ruling.

This is a developing story happening alongside a similar case against Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), which is being sued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly monopolizing social media through its acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.

This trial against Google began in September 2024, and the plaintiffs in the lawsuit comprise the Department of Justice (DOJ) and attorneys general from eight states.

The plaintiffs argued that Google’s dominance in ad tech allowed it to charge higher prices and take a larger share of ad sales. They accused Google of stifling competition by controlling the technology used to place ads on websites across the internet.

The ruling against Google marks a significant step in one of numerous anti-competitive cases brought against Google in the past few years, both in the US and internationally.

It follows an earlier ruling in August 2024 in which Google was found to have an illegal monopoly in the online search market in the US. That case will move into the remedies phase next week, with a court date of April 21, 2025.

“This is a game-changer,” wrote Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, one of the plaintiffs in both cases. “As Judge Brinkema writes in her decision, Google was in direct violation of the Sherman Act by dictating how digital ads are sold and the terms under which its rivals can compete.

‘With this victory in hand, we can hopefully work now towards restoring a fair, free, and competitive digital advertising marketplace. This decision is the first step in opening up competition so that Connecticut businesses and consumers will pay less for advertising – and therefore less for goods and services. We will no longer be under the thumb of a gigantic multinational conglomerate.”

US District Judge Amit Mehta, who ruled against Google in the August 2024 case, has considered imposing structural remedies that could involve forcing Google to divest its Chrome business, although Google has argued divestiture would hurt consumers. Instead, the company has suggested allowing browser companies to have multiple default agreements with various search engines.

Regulators have been digging into various aspects of Google’s business, including its advertising technology, search practices and mobile operating system.

In addition to the current case, Google is also facing scrutiny from antitrust regulators in Europe, the UK and other jurisdictions. The outcomes of these cases could have far-reaching implications for Google’s business model and the tech industry as a whole.

Today’s ruling signifies a major development in the ongoing scrutiny of Big Tech’s market dominance, which echoes efforts to dismantle AT&T’s (NYSE:T) phone monopoly in the 1980s. The eventual outcome of that case led to AT&T’s breakup into seven independent enterprises, which laid the groundwork for some of today’s major telecommunications and internet services providers, including Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN). It also gave cable companies like Comcast room to expand into internet services.

Whatever outcome Judge Brinkema decides, the ruling could reshape the online advertising landscape and have far-reaching implications for both the company and the broader tech industry.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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US Capital Gains Tax Guide for Gold and Silver Investors

Investing 8 Mins Read

As gold and silver continue to prove their worth as sound investments, market participants should know how precious metals investments are taxed in the US.

While the majority of gold and silver investing comes with a certain degree of taxation, there are different levels of tax based on how market participants decide to invest in these precious metals, how long the investments are held for and the investors individual tax bracket.

Read on for a breakdown of the taxes associated with investing in gold and silver bullion, ETFs and stocks, as well as the forms involved with reporting precious metals investments.

In this article

    How are physical gold and silver taxed?

    Gold and silver bullion, coins and bars are seen as collectibles by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US. Thus, physical gold and silver, no matter the form, are subject to a higher rate of capital gains tax when they are sold. The same is true for fellow precious metals platinum and palladium.

    While long-term capital gains would typically carry a top bracket of 20 percent, collectibles can be taxed at a higher 28 percent.

    The total an investor will owe in capital gains tax when selling physical gold and silver is based both on their income bracket and the length of time they held the asset.

    The long-term capital gains tax on physical gold and silver is equal to an investor’s marginal tax rate, up to a maximum of 28 percent due to their status as a collectible, meaning those in higher tax brackets still only have to pay 28 percent on long-term gains from physical precious metals sales.

    It is worth noting that the 28 percent maximum is only for long-term capital gains, which applies to metals that an investor has held for more than one year. Short-term capital gains on precious metals held for less than one year are taxed at ordinary income rates.

    For example, a person in the highest tax bracket purchased 100 ounces of physical gold at US$1,800 per ounce and two years later sold their holdings for US$2,000 per ounce. While they are in the 37 percent tax bracket, they would pay 28 percent tax on the capital gains made from these sales. As they earned US$20,000 in capital gains, that would translate to US$5,600 in income tax.

    However, if the investor sold the gold at the same gain just 11 months after they purchased it, it would count as short-term capital gains, and the investor would be taxed at 37 percent and owe US$7,400.

    Investors who are in one of the tax brackets below 28 percent are taxed at the standard rate of their bracket when selling their solid gold and silver assets, whether they are held short- or long-term.

    Similarly to other investments, precious metals sold at a loss can be used to offset capital gains.

    How are gold and silver ETFs taxed?

    Like all other exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold ETFs and silver ETFs act in the same manner as individual stocks, meaning that investing in these ETFs is similar to trading a stock on an exchange. There are two main types of gold and silver ETFs: those that track the prices of those metals and those that track gold or silver stocks.

    ETFs that follow metals prices provide exposure to either physical gold or silver, or gold or silver futures contracts. It is important to keep in mind that investing in these ETF platforms does not allow investors to own any physical gold or silver — in general, even an investment in an ETF that tracks physical gold or silver cannot be redeemed for the tangible metal.

    ETFs that invest in gold or silver companies provide exposure to gold- and silver-mining stocks, as well as gold- or silver-streaming stocks.

    In terms of taxation, capital gain taxes from selling gold and silver ETFs is determined by the ETF’s holdings, the investors tax bracket and how long they held the asset for.

    Funds will often supply investors with tax forms that they can use to fill out their income tax. The webpage for a fund should have a document describing how income tax is handled for that fund, which is worth reading before investing in it.

    Long-term capital gains from selling shares of gold and silver ETFs are subject to a 28 percent maximum federal income tax rate if they hold physical precious metals and 20 percent if they hold stocks. While long-term capital gains would typically be capped at 20 percent maximum rate. This is because the holdings are considered collectibles, as described in the section above. Short-term gains made from selling gold or silver ETFs are subject to a maximum federal rate of 37 percent.

    Additionally, these gains could get slapped with a 3.8 percent net investment income tax for high net-worth investors, and a state income tax may also apply.

    Futures-based commodity ETFs can come with their own set of rules that you can learn about here. Briefly, they are often taxed in a 60/40 hybrid, with 60 percent treated as long-term gains and 40 percent treated as short-term gains. Additionally, this is calculated at the end of each tax year, whether a sale is made or not.

    ETFs that hold stocks are taxed in the same way as traditional securities, which you can read more about below.

    How are gold and silver stocks taxed?

    In terms of tax on gold and silver stocks, long-term gains from selling are subject to the standard 20 percent maximum federal rate, while short-term gains will face a maximum federal rate of 37 percent. For investors in higher income brackets, there is the potential for gold and silver stock investments to also be hit with the 3.8 percent net investment income tax as well as state income tax.

    Unlike physical precious metals and ETFs that hold them, precious metals stocks are not classified as collectibles, which is why the long-term capital gains tax is capped at 20 percent instead of 28 percent.

    Stocks sold at a loss are important as well as they can be used to offset capital gains when filing income tax.

    How to report taxes on physical gold and silver investments

    Market participants who sell precious metals in the US for a profit are required to report that profit on their income tax return, regardless of whether or not the dealer has any reporting obligation.

    When selling gold and silver investments in the US, there are two different sets of reporting guidelines — one applies to the dealer through which a person sells and the other applies to the investor who is selling the asset.

    It is important to note that taxes on the sale of gold and silver will not be due the moment that the sale is made, and the tax bill for all of these sales is due at the same time as a standard income tax bill.

    For investors selling precious metals, capital gains or losses need to be reported on Schedule D of Form 1040 when making a tax return.

    Investors will first need to detail their precious metals transactions on Form 8949, including the length of time the investments were held. This form must be filed alongside Schedule D. Investors then use this information alongside the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet included in the Schedule D instructions.

    Depending on the type of metal being sold, Form 1099-B may have to be submitted to the IRS by the broker when the sale closes, as such transactions are considered income. As for when a broker will need to file Form 1099-B, there are specific rules that determine which sales of precious metals require the dealer to file this form that apply to transactions over a 24 hours period.

    For gold sales, reportable items include specific gold coins, including the 1 ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and Gold Kruggerand, and gold bars and rounds of at least 0.995 fineness. As for quantity, only sales of more than 25 gold coins and or more than 1 kilogram in gold bars and rounds will require the form.

    Sales of 0.999 fine silver bars and rounds totaling over 1,000 ounces qualify. For silver coins, US coins with above 90 percent silver are reportable, but Silver American Eagle coins are not. Sales of silver coins exceeding US$1,000 will require a form.

    When it comes to selling gold and silver overseas, market participants must follow the laws as they apply to the sale of gold and silver investments in that particular country.

    The information in this article does not constitute tax advice, and investors should work with a tax professional or program to help them make sure everything is reported accurately.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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    Sport

    Damian Lillard injury update: Bucks star could return for NBA playoffs

    Sport 2 Mins Read

    Bucks guard Damian Lillard is no longer taking blood thinner medication for deep vein thrombosis and is cleared for full basketball activities, the team announced Thursday, opening the door for a potential return during Milwaukee’s first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.

    Lillard was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, the Bucks announced on March 25.

    “We’re thrilled for Dame,” said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst on Thursday. “Our priority has always been Dame’s health. We’re grateful to our medical team for diagnosing and treating his DVT at an early stage, and for the world-renown hematology specialists at Mayo Clinic. Every step of Dame’s recovery has been at the direction of world-class medical professionals and their specific and strict protocols that have allowed for Dame’s safe and healthy return to play.”

    Lillard will continue to increase his on-court basketball activity in preparation for his return to play.  

    Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 58 for games for Milwaukee this season, and Lillard and All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo were the highest-scoring duo in the league. The Bucks were 32-26 with Lillard in the lineup and were 10-4 without him in the final three weeks of the season.

    The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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