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Bridge: Aug. 4, 2023

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

This week’s deals have treated declarer’s trump management: handling the trump suit astutely so he can (for example) keep control. Cover today’s East-West cards. At four spades, you win the first club with dummy’s ace.How will you handle the trumps?In real life, South led a trump to his ace, went back to a high diamond and led a second trump to his jack. The finesse won, but West discarded. South then took the king of trumps and started the diamonds. East ruffed the third diamond and led the queen of hearts, and the defense took three hearts. Down one.AVOIDANCESouth has an “avoidance” issue. He doesn’t want East to get in for a heart shift. Dummy leads a trump at Trick Two, but when East follows with the three, South should play his four.West takes the nine and leads another club, but South wins and leads a trump to his ace. He goes to the ace of diamonds, picks up East’s remaining trumps and runs the diamonds for a heart discard. He l...

Word Game: Aug. 4, 2023

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — CATAPULTS (CATAPULTS: CAT-uh-pults: Mechanisms for launching aircraft, as from a carrier deck.)Average mark 30 wordsTime limit 45 minutesCan you find 41 or more words in CATAPULTS? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — DEDICATE date dead decade deceit decide deed deet deice dice died diet edict edit iced idea ideate caddie cadet cede cite aced acid acted addict aide aided teed tide tiedTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathle...

GrafTech: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) — BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) — GrafTech International Ltd. (EAF) on Friday reported a loss of $7.9 million in its second quarter.The Brooklyn Heights, Ohio-based company said it had a loss of 3 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 2 cents per share.The maker of graphite products posted revenue of $185.6 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on EAF at https://www.zacks.com/ap/EAFSource

Owens & Minor: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (AP) — MECHANICSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Owens & Minor Inc. (OMI) on Friday reported a loss of $28.2 million in its second quarter.The Mechanicsville, Virginia-based company said it had a loss of 37 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 18 cents per share.The medical supply distributor posted revenue of $2.56 billion in the period.Owens & Minor expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.30 to $1.55 per share, with revenue in the range of $10.2 billion to $10.5 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on OMI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/OMISource

Cinemark: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

PLANO, Texas (AP) — PLANO, Texas (AP) — Cinemark Holdings Inc. (CNK) on Friday reported second-quarter profit of $119.1 million.The Plano, Texas-based company said it had net income of 80 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 54 cents per share.The movie theater owner posted revenue of $942.3 million in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $880.3 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CNK at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CNKSource

AdvanSix: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — PARSIPPANY, N.J. (AP) — AdvanSix Inc. (ASIX) on Friday reported second-quarter earnings of $32.7 million.The Parsippany, New Jersey-based company said it had profit of $1.16 per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, were $1.25 per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.11 per share.The polymer resins producer posted revenue of $427.9 million in the period, also exceeding Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $418.7 million.AdvanSix shares have climbed almost 4% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 2% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ASIX at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ASIXSource

Essent Group: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — HAMILTON, Bermuda (AP) — Essent Group Ltd. (ESNT) on Friday reported second-quarter earnings of $172.2 million.On a per-share basis, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said it had net income of $1.61.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.47 per share.The mortgage insurance and reinsurance holding company posted revenue of $260.1 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ESNT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ESNTSource

National HealthCare: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — National HealthCare Corp. (NHC) on Friday reported profit of $16.3 million in its second quarter.The Murfreesboro, Tennessee-based company said it had net income of $1.06 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 89 cents per share.The nursing home and assisted living company posted revenue of $282.6 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NHC at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NHCSource

PNM Resources: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — PNM Resources Inc. (PNM) on Friday reported profit of $45.4 million in its second quarter.The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based company said it had net income of 53 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 55 cents per share.The power company posted revenue of $477.2 million in the period.PNM Resources expects full-year earnings in the range of $2.65 to $2.75 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PNM at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PNMSource

LyondellBasell: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:06:08 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — HOUSTON (AP) — LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) on Friday reported second-quarter profit of $715 million.The Houston-based company said it had net income of $2.18 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $2.44 per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.29 per share.The oil refiner and chemical company posted revenue of $10.31 billion in the period, missing Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $10.4 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LYB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LYBSource