President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday evening temporarily allowing the use of red-dyed diesel on public roads and deferring the federal excise tax on that fuel through the end of the year, a move aimed at lowering costs for truckers and farmers facing record-high diesel prices.
Red-dyed diesel is chemically the same product as standard highway diesel, but carries a red dye to mark it as off-road fuel — meaning it is not subject to the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal excise tax that applies to diesel sold at the pump for road use, such as for tractors and heavy machinery. Using it in highway vehicles has been illegal, carrying penalties for tax evasion, according to CNBC.
According to the White House, the order instructs the Treasury Secretary to hold off on collecting federal excise taxes on highway use of dyed diesel between October 5 and December 31, 2026, and to do so without charging interest or imposing penalties. The Treasury is also directed to direct the Internal Revenue Service not to impose penalties for on-road use of dyed diesel during that period. The order further instructs officials to explore pathways, including legislation, to eliminate the deferred tax obligations entirely.
The White House projected that a trucker who tops off an 18-wheeler's tank with 250 gallons stands to save over $100 on a single fill-up, provided the trucker's state suspends its own diesel tax as well. On top of the federal levy, each state levies its own diesel excise tax, and those state-level taxes average out to 35.5 cents per gallon, according to CNN.
The order also directs the Secretary of Agriculture to coordinate with agricultural cooperatives and rural fuel distributors to ensure adequate dyed diesel distribution in high-demand areas, and the Secretary of Transportation to engage with state governments and industry stakeholders. The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs was directed to encourage states to adopt corresponding policies.

#Diesel #federal #House #according

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The documentary Dolph Lundgren: Unbreakable, on digital video on demand Tuesday, follows the actor's 40-year career through his recent health crisis. For Lundgren, the ups and downs are evidence of his perseverance.
In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Lundgren, 68, reflected on his career again. He said he values his ability to bounce back from setbacks.
"Part of life is being around to fight another day," Lundgren said. "It's not all successful, great battles. It's like the small battles that get you to the big one, and that's where you make a name for yourself, or that's where you win the war."
From Arnold to Sly
By 1982, Lundgren was a martial artist with a Masters Degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney. He was dating singer Grace Jones, and got his first taste of Hollywood when he joined her on the set of Conan the Destroyer with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

#zoom

Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL) is a global group of energy and petrochemical companies with a presence in over 70 countries. The stock has delivered gains of over 23% since the beginning of 2026 and even hit its all-time high earlier in March, driven primarily by soaring oil prices and solid earnings amid supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Following a slight pullback over the last few months, Shell has started to regain momentum, and Morgan Stanley expects the rally to continue. On September 3, the investment bank upgraded SHEL from 'Equal Weight' to 'Overweight', while also raising its price target from $81.60 to $101.30. The target boost implies an upside of 9% from the current levels and even exceeds Shell's previous record high of almost $95 per share achieved earlier this year.
Morgan Stanley noted that the concerns surrounding Shell's long-term resource longevity have now eased, with the company now positioned to sustain production growth through 2030 and stabilize output thereafter. The ******* yst firm believes that while the stock has been weighed down due to its dividend policy, there is now "potential for a significant acceleration. As a result, Morgan Stanley promoted SHEL to top-pick status.
Shell completed the acquisition of ARC Resources earlier this month, addressing the resource-depletion concerns that have weighed down its valuation. The $16.4 billion deal has significantly expanded the energy giant's gas reserves and will boost its production by 370,000 boed. Additionally, the strategic move expands Shell's exposure to the North American gas market and bolsters its position in a region that is emerging as a key player in the global LNG supply.
Shell's recent upstream investments provide further support to Morgan Stanley's bullish thesis. The company announced earlier this month that it had agreed to acquire a 30% interest in BP's Conifer exploration prospect in the US Gulf, and a 50% stake in the Tupinamba exploration block in Brazil's Santos Basin. Additionally, it also recently signed a preliminary agreement for the acquisition of production rights over Ghana's South Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points ‌oil and gas block.

#shel #production #energy #Stock

For nearly as long as I've been writing for The Motley Fool, the U.S. Pentagon has wanted a laser gun. As far back as 2004, I wrote about a Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) project to load a chemical oxygen iodine laser onto a Boeing (NYSE: BA) 747 and use it to shoot missiles out of the sky.
Nothing ever came of that particular project.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But something might come of this next one.
Earlier this month, defense company AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) -- best known as a manufacturer of military drones -- said that the U.S. Army is paying it $464.8 million to produce laser weapons under the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program.

#project #i 've #motley

On August 4, Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) reported second-quarter results that erased two consecutive quarterly losses in a single swing. Net income landed at $260 million, or $2.01 per share, compared with a $169 million loss just three months earlier and a $142 million loss a year ago. EBITDA nearly tripled from the second quarter of 2025. The numbers mark a sharp reversal for a company whose chemicals business had been bleeding red ink.
The turnaround centers on Performance and Essential Materials, the segment that makes chlorovinyls and other basic chemicals. PEM swung from a $318 million operating loss in the second quarter of 2025 to $185 million in income this quarter, while EBITDA excluding identified items jumped from a 3% margin to 21%. The driver was pricing: average sales prices across PEM rose 14% year over year, more than offsetting a 3% price decline in the Housing and Infrastructure Products segment. Combined with a 7% increase in companywide sales volume, excluding the effects of plant shutdowns and an acquisition, the pricing recovery pushed companywide EBITDA to $679 million from $210 million a year earlier.
Westlake is also working the balance sheet alongside the market recovery. The company reduced debt by $500 million during the quarter and returned $99 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Management says its three-pillar profitability improvement plan remains on track to deliver a $600 million operating income benefit, a target that, if it holds, would layer structural cost savings on top of whatever the market gives back in pricing.
Not every part of the story improved together. Housing and Infrastructure Products, the segment tied to home construction and building products, saw its EBITDA margin slip to 22% from 24% a year earlier, even as volume rose 6% excluding the ACI acquisition. Average sales prices in that segment fell 3% year over year, a sign that pricing power in housing products has softened even as the company sells more of it.
The improvement in the core chemicals business also leans heavily on price rather than volume. PEM's turnaround came from a 14% jump in average sales price, a figure that can move in either direction with commodity cycles. The first quarter of 2026 was a reminder of how quickly conditions shift: Westlake posted a $169 million net loss just three months before this result, weighed down by $85 million in identified items, including a $67 million charge to settle litigation over PVC pipe and fittings and $18 million tied to facility shutdowns. A year earlier, in the second quarter of 2025, the company absorbed another $130 million in shutdown-related charges. Restructuring and legal charges showed up in two of the last three reported quarters.

#million #year #quarter #loss

Alluvium ******* et Management, an ******* et management company, released its "Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter reflected a sharp shift from geopolitical uncertainty and oil market volatility to a powerful equity rally led by semiconductor companies. Despite the broader market strength, the Fund declined 1.4% in EUR terms, 2.2% in USD terms, and 3.9% in AUD terms. Portfolio results were mixed, with Alphabet benefiting from strong Cloud growth, while Robert Half, H&R Block, and other holdings posted solid gains. However, cable businesses and several healthcare and consumer holdings weighed on performance. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund highlighted LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB). LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is a multinational chemical and plastic manufacturing company. On September 15, 2026, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) closed at $65.43 per share. Over the past month, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) declined 0.95% while its shares gained 22.25% over the past 52 weeks. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) has a market capitalization of $21.14 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $41.58 and $83.94.
Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund stated the following regarding LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB), the plastics producer gave back some of that 88.3% return of last quarter, and fell 34.0%, We are continually amazed by the market's response to the war in Iraq. It seems that this so called "ceasefire" (the one where Iran keeps attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the US keeps bombing) has led to expectations that all is well for the affected commodity markets. Management provided results in early May, and reported expectations that the higher prices will be sustained for some time. That makes sense to us. But since then, Polyethylene and Polypropylene prices, for example, have fallen by around 15%. After we sold around two thirds of our holding during the March quarter, we ceased as the price fell to levels below our valuation. It currently accounts for 2.1% of the Fund and we are comfortable with maintaining this position."
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 57 hedge fund portfolios held LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) at the end of the second quarter which was 59 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trum

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF), headquartered in New York, produces and markets cosmetic active and natural health ingredients for use in various consumer products. Valued at $21.3 billion by market cap, the company flavors and fragrances are individual ingredients and compounds of a large number of ingredients that are blended, mixed, and reacted together to produce proprietary formulas.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and IFF perfectly fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this mark, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the specialty chemicals industry. IFF is a preeminent player in global flavors and fragrances, with 35,000+ products spanning food, beverage, personal care, and health & wellness. Its scale, innovation focus, and alignment with natural, sustainable, and customized ingredient trends support a competitive edge, while operations in 60+ countries provide access to emerging markets and evolving consumer preferences.
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#ingredients #markets #Health #products

Chemical manufacturer OXEA has selected Uber Freight as its strategic logistics provider across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe as the company moves to consolidate regional transportation operations into a more unified global network.
Houston-based OXEA said Uber Freight will manage day-to-day transportation execution across truckload, rail and ocean freight, using technology, data and logistics services to provide greater visibility across the chemical manufacturer's supply chain.
The agreement represents Uber Freight's (NYSE: UBER) first managed transportation engagement designed from the outset to span the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe, according to the companies.
OXEA manufactures oxo intermediates and oxo performance chemicals used in products including coatings, lubricants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flavors and fragrances, printing inks and plastics. The company employs more than 1,200 people and sells chemicals in more than 60 countries.
The partnership is intended to replace a more regionally segmented approach to transportation management with an integrated operation connecting OXEA's plants, carriers and customers.

#Mexico #chemical #Logistics

Chemical manufacturer OXEA has selected Uber Freight as its strategic logistics provider across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe as the company moves to consolidate regional transportation operations into a more unified global network.
Houston-based OXEA said Uber Freight will manage day-to-day transportation execution across truckload, rail and ocean freight, using technology, data and logistics services to provide greater visibility across the chemical manufacturer's supply chain.
The agreement represents Uber Freight's (NYSE: UBER) first managed transportation engagement designed from the outset to span the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe, according to the companies.
OXEA manufactures oxo intermediates and oxo performance chemicals used in products including coatings, lubricants, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flavors and fragrances, printing inks and plastics. The company employs more than 1,200 people and sells chemicals in more than 60 countries.
The partnership is intended to replace a more regionally segmented approach to transportation management with an integrated operation connecting OXEA's plants, carriers and customers.

#Transportation #Logistics

On August 4, Westlake Corporation (NYSE:WLK) reported second-quarter results that erased two consecutive quarterly losses in a single swing. Net income landed at $260 million, or $2.01 per share, compared with a $169 million loss just three months earlier and a $142 million loss a year ago. EBITDA nearly tripled from the second quarter of 2025. The numbers mark a sharp reversal for a company whose chemicals business had been bleeding red ink.
The turnaround centers on Performance and Essential Materials, the segment that makes chlorovinyls and other basic chemicals. PEM swung from a $318 million operating loss in the second quarter of 2025 to $185 million in income this quarter, while EBITDA excluding identified items jumped from a 3% margin to 21%. The driver was pricing: average sales prices across PEM rose 14% year over year, more than offsetting a 3% price decline in the Housing and Infrastructure Products segment. Combined with a 7% increase in companywide sales volume, excluding the effects of plant shutdowns and an acquisition, the pricing recovery pushed companywide EBITDA to $679 million from $210 million a year earlier.
Westlake is also working the balance sheet alongside the market recovery. The company reduced debt by $500 million during the quarter and returned $99 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Management says its three-pillar profitability improvement plan remains on track to deliver a $600 million operating income benefit, a target that, if it holds, would layer structural cost savings on top of whatever the market gives back in pricing.
Not every part of the story improved together. Housing and Infrastructure Products, the segment tied to home construction and building products, saw its EBITDA margin slip to 22% from 24% a year earlier, even as volume rose 6% excluding the ACI acquisition. Average sales prices in that segment fell 3% year over year, a sign that pricing power in housing products has softened even as the company sells more of it.
The improvement in the core chemicals business also leans heavily on price rather than volume. PEM's turnaround came from a 14% jump in average sales price, a figure that can move in either direction with commodity cycles. The first quarter of 2026 was a reminder of how quickly conditions shift: Westlake posted a $169 million net loss just three months before this result, weighed down by $85 million in identified items, including a $67 million charge to settle litigation over PVC pipe and fittings and $18 million tied to facility shutdowns. A year earlier, in the second quarter of 2025, the company absorbed another $130 million in shutdown-related charges. Restructuring and legal charges showed up in two of the last three reported quarters.

#million #quarter #westlake #earlier

The energy landscape is evolving rapidly, and one company looking to disrupt the status quo and redefine the future of nuclear power is NuScale Power (NYSE: SMR). NuScale is the only small modular reactor (SMR) developer to receive a Standard Design Approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
On Sept. 1, NuScale achieved a major engineering breakthrough. In collaboration with MilleniTEK, it successfully fabricated specialized boron-oxide pellets, a critical component of NuScale's cutting-edge passive emergency cooling system.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
This engineering triumph is a major step toward making safe, meltdown-proof modular nuclear power a reality. It also helps NuScale move closer to commercial deployment. But does this make NuScale Power stock a buy? Let's dive into the details and what it means for the stock.
In traditional nuclear reactors, reactivity control during nonstandard events often relies on active mechanical insertion of control rods or on powered chemical injection pumps. NuScale's 77 MWe Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design relies on passive safety mechanisms.

#power

Alluvium ****** et Management, an ****** et management company, released its "Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. The letter can be downloaded here. The second quarter reflected a sharp shift from geopolitical uncertainty and oil market volatility to a powerful equity rally led by semiconductor companies. Despite the broader market strength, the Fund declined 1.4% in EUR terms, 2.2% in USD terms, and 3.9% in AUD terms. Portfolio results were mixed, with Alphabet benefiting from strong Cloud growth, while Robert Half, H&R Block, and other holdings posted solid gains. However, cable businesses and several healthcare and consumer holdings weighed on performance. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund highlighted LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB). LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is a multinational chemical and plastic manufacturing company. On September 15, 2026, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) closed at $65.43 per share. Over the past month, LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) declined 0.95% while its shares gained 22.25% over the past 52 weeks. LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) has a market capitalization of $21.14 billion, and its stock has traded within a 52-week range of $41.58 and $83.94.
Conventum – Alluvium Global Fund stated the following regarding LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB), the plastics producer gave back some of that 88.3% return of last quarter, and fell 34.0%, We are continually amazed by the market's response to the war in Iraq. It seems that this so called "ceasefire" (the one where Iran keeps attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the US keeps bombing) has led to expectations that all is well for the affected commodity markets. Management provided results in early May, and reported expectations that the higher prices will be sustained for some time. That makes sense to us. But since then, Polyethylene and Polypropylene prices, for example, have fallen by around 15%. After we sold around two thirds of our holding during the March quarter, we ceased as the price fell to levels below our valuation. It currently accounts for 2.1% of the Fund and we are comfortable with maintaining this position."
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) is not on our list of the 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 57 hedge fund portfolios held LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) at the end of the second quarter which was 59 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE:LYB) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-

Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is reportedly considering selling its 35% stake in Sadara Chemical, its $20 billion chemicals joint venture with Saudi Aramco, as the company continues to reshape its portfolio amid a prolonged downturn in the global chemicals industry. No final decision has been made, and Aramco or another strategic or financial investor could potentially acquire Dow's stake.
The potential exit comes as Sadara has become a significant financial burden for Dow. As of June 30, Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) had a negative investment balance of $793 million in Sadara and had suspended recognition of its share of the venture's equity losses in the first quarter. Dow has also been exposed to Sadara's financing obligations and previously disclosed that the venture had drawn on a credit facility.
At the same time, Sadara remains a major industrial ****** et, operating a complex in Jubail with more than 3 million metric tons of annual chemicals and plastics capacity. Its operations were disrupted earlier this year by the Middle East conflict, adding transportation, supply-chain, and operating pressures to an industry already dealing with weak demand and global oversupply.
The strongest argument for Dow Inc. (NYSE:DOW) is that exiting Sadara could remove a persistent drag on cash flow and allow management to redirect capital toward businesses with better returns. Dow's exposure to Sadara is no longer simply an investment in a large Saudi chemicals complex; the company has accumulated a negative investment balance and financial obligations ****** ociated with the venture. A sale could therefore reduce Dow's exposure to future funding requirements and limit the amount of capital that could otherwise have to be committed to the partnership.
That would be particularly valuable because Dow is already trying to improve its cash generation. Management has said its objective is to reach free-cash-flow breakeven while pursuing significant cost reductions. In March, CEO Jim Fitterling said Dow's goal was to avoid putting additional cash into Sadara during 2026, while describing the venture as having low operating cash costs but more challenging fixed costs and financing obligations.

#chemicals

On August 13, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), upholding a preliminary injunction that bars the defendants from importing or facilitating the sale of foreign-market Gilead-branded medications in the US. The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that the differences between Gilead's HIV medication for the US market and the foreign versions being imported were "material, not theoretical." The controversy began in December 2024 when Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) filed suit against a number of companies, including third-party administrator Meritain Health, pharmacy benefit manager ProAct, and pharmacies Rx Valet and Advanced Pharmacy, alleging illegal imports of its best-selling HIV drug Biktarvy.
The dispute dates back to December 2024, when Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) sued a group of companies, including third-party administrator Meritain Health, pharmacy benefit manager ProAct, and pharmacies Rx Valet and Advanced Pharmacy, alleging illegal imports of its top-selling HIV drug Biktarvy. The lawsuit arose from a specific instance in which a patient in Maryland received the medicine in the mail from Turkey, with label instructions written in Turkish.
A federal district court in Baltimore ruled in Gilead's favor and ordered a preliminary injunction, determining that the company was likely to succeed on its Lanham Act trademark violation and unfair competition arguments. As the case continued, the injunction was increased to include new sellers like CanaRx, ElectRx, and ScriptSourcing. The defendants filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit, and the district judge declined to suspend the injunction while the appeal was pending, thus the import restriction has been in effect the entire time. The recent ruling maintains the order rather than overturning it.
In court documents, Rx Valet stated that the Turkish-sourced Biktarvy was chemically identical to the US version, which was offered at a significantly higher price. Meritain, for its part, said that it has never supported getting non-FDA-approved pharmaceuticals from outside the US and denies the claims, despite being named as a defendant.
The Fourth Circuit rejected the defendants' main argument that the imported and domestic versions of Biktarvy are interchangeable. The court's judgment that the two versions differ materially, not just in packaging or labeling, but also in the quality-control protocols that each version goes through before reaching a patient, challenges the basic argument that these alternative funding programs have used to support their business model.

#gild

WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The contractor responsible for renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington told U.S. President Donald Trump's administration that errors in its work and flaws ‌in the repair plan caused the pool's liner to peel and break loose, the New ‌York Times reported on Friday, citing documents it reviewed.
Trump has repeatedly blamed problems with the newly renovated pool, including its new blue paint peeling off, on vandalism.
According to the New York Times, citing the documents, Atlantic Industrial Coatings found problems in the design and execution of the renovation.
Workers did not spray enough primer in some areas, the contractor said in the cited documents, and layers of the liner included incompatible chemicals. The bottom layer blistered and loosened ‌as the chemical on top reached ⁠a hotter temperature than the one underneath could withstand, the New York Times said.
The documents include the contractor's reports to the government and daily progress updates from ⁠the National Park Service over the past two months, the New York Times said.

#sept

Based in Midland, Michigan, Dow Inc. (DOW) is a global materials science leader that develops and manufactures chemicals, plastics, coatings, silicones, and other advanced materials used across industries ranging from packaging and construction to automotive, electronics, and consumer products.
Companies valued between $10 billion and $200 billion are typically classified as "large-cap stocks," and DOW, with a market capitalization of $21.4 billion, fits the label perfectly. Its key competitive advantage is its global scale, deep materials-science expertise, and broad portfolio of essential chemicals and advanced materials.
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RKLB Stock Jumps as Rocket Lab Debuts New Solar Cell for ******* e

#billion #science

Amanda Seyfried went for an earthy color palette while attending the Tory Burch spring 2027 show during New York Fashion Week on Thursday. For the event, the actress paired one of the brand's most popular shoes with a fall-ready brown-and-green look. Amanda Seyfried attends the Tory Burch spring 2027 show. Getty Images for Tory Burch She opted for the Tory Burch Peep Toe pump, which has been a favored choice among celebrities in recent years. The peep-toe pump riffs on the classic style with a twisted, sculptural heel, designed to look as if it is in motion. Rather than reveal several toes like a traditional peep-toe silhouette, the cutout frames only the hallux, or big toe — a highly specific footwear trend that surfaced at Copenhagen Fashion Week at the end of August. Grosgrain details and side seaming borrow from balletic pointe shoes. The pumps were made in partnership with a Leather Working Group-certified tannery, which supports high standards in leather manufacturing and chemical management. Their twisted heels measure 90mm, or approximately 3.54 inches, while a cushioned leather footbed offers comfort. The shoes also boast a patent leather upper and grosgrain binding. Napa leather lining and a buffed leather sole complete the construction. A closeup
Follow Footwear News on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

#burch #peep #fashion #footwear

Dow is considering an exit from its stake in the $20-billion Sadara Chemical Company venture with Saudi Aramco as the U.S. chemicals giant battles a prolonged industry downturn compounded by the Iran war.
Dow could sell its reported 35% interest in the Saudi petrochemical complex, with Aramco potentially emerging as a buyer, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Strategic and financial investors could also be interested, although no final decision has been made.
The potential exit comes as the global chemicals industry struggles with weak demand, persistent overcapacity and elevated costs. The Middle East conflict has added another layer of pressure by disrupting petrochemical flows and supply chains and increasing transportation and operating expenses.
Sadara itself was temporarily shut earlier this year due to conflict-related supply disruptions.
Located in Jubail Industrial City, Sadara was developed as a $20-billion mega-project and was the world's largest integrated chemicals complex built in a single phase when completed. Its 26 manufacturing plants have the capacity to produce more than 3 million metric tons of performance plastics and high-value chemicals annually.

#exit #reported

It looks like the American consumer has more to worry about than food recalls and cyclospora—a new study found that even the packaging the food comes in may pose some health concerns.
Out of over 15,000 food contact chemicals (FCCs), 1,222 or 8% can pose serious health risks, according to a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology. Some of these FCCs, which in general are "substances that come into contact with food, such as through food packaging, processing, storage or other handling," per the FDA, were found to be hazardous to human health.
Researchers from the nonprofit Food Packaging Forum Foundation, which conducted the study, found at least 2,160 chemicals regularly contact food and "migrate into foodstuffs." Using guidelines from the UN's Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS), researchers found some of the chemicals related to food packaging and other materials were "carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction, harmful to specific organs after repeated exposure, [and] endocrine disrupting."
That's not the only concerning part. The researchers found that 13,211 of the 15,159 known food-contact chemicals lacked harmonized hazard data. That means the scientists could not determine from the available data whether those chemicals met the study's criteria for being hazardous.
"There's a lot of ways of establishing whether something is hazardous or not, and some methods are based very much just on computer models, looking at the structure, predicting something. And others are based on in vitro tests," Dr. Helene Wiesinger, scientific communication officer at the nonprofit and one of the researchers on the study, told Fortune. "And in some sense, the data that we used?' So this is the data we used, and the problem we ran into at that point was that there were huge data lags."

#Food #study #contact

India's refineries have been running at 105% to 108% capacity utilization in the past six months as demand for diesel soars and international fuel markets tighten amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Refinery capacity utilization in the world's third-largest crude oil importer has been between 105% and 108% since the war began, a senior executive at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) said at the APPEC petroleum conference in Singapore on Wednesday.
"Most of our refiners are complex, ‌can take a wide ‌variety of crude from an API range of something like 16 to 45 or 48," Nandakumar Pillai, a company director at MRPL, said at the event, as carried by Reuters.
MRPL operates a refinery with the capacity to process 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) on the coast of India's southern state of Karnataka. The refinery has a versatile design with complex secondary processing units and high flexibility to process crudes of various API, delivering a variety of quality products, the refiner says.
MRPL will continue to run its refinery at above 100% until March 2027, Pillai told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference.

#mrpl #utilization #crude

Reuters reported that Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLS) and Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) mutually agreed to terminate their $14.5 billion merger agreement, the companies said on August 27, citing feedback from shareholders on both sides who preferred each to stay independent. Neither side will pay a termination fee.
Solstice Chairman Rajeev Gautam said the company valued that feedback, including shareholders' "excitement about Solstice's strategy and growth trajectory as an independent company." Solstice's board also authorized its first-ever buyback, up to $500 million, and reaffirmed its recently raised guidance. Solstice shares jumped 15% in after-hours trading, while Element gained 4%. The deal, announced July 6 just 10 months after Solstice's Honeywell spin-off, would have combined Solstice's refrigerants and specialty materials businesses with Element's electronics chemicals operations, paying Element holders $10 cash plus 0.5 Solstice shares per share. The original announcement got a rough welcome: Solstice fell nearly 15% that day, which CEO David Sewell blamed on arbitrage trading, not doubts about the deal.
Both companies continue to perform strongly on their own. Solstice's second-quarter net sales rose 11% to $1.148 billion, and the company raised its full-year sales guidance to $4.125 billion-$4.185 billion. Element delivered an even stronger quarter, with record net sales up 56% to $978 million and full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance raised to $690 million-$710 million.
Solstice Advanced Materials, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOLS) sheds significant deal risk by walking away. The termination removes the financing and merger risks linked to the acquisition and eliminates the need to use the $4.685 billion bridge facility. It also lets Solstice maintain its 1.3x net leverage. Its new $500 million buyback, the company's first ever, also gives Solstice a direct way to return capital to shareholders while it focuses on organic growth.
Element Solutions Inc (NYSE:ESI) also maintains the strengths that its shareholders wanted to preserve. Chairman Ian Ashken said investors valued Element's management team, culture, and existing business portfolio. CEO Benjamin Gliklich said the company's growth remains compelling. Remaining independent allows Element to continue investing in its existing businesses and pursuing its own growth strategy without taking on the risks of a larger combination.

#billion #million #Growth

Kenya's government sought to reassure foreign traders that they have legal protection to operate in the country after President William Ruto raised doubts over their status in East Africa's biggest economy. Ruto reportedly ordered authorities to begin shutting down foreign-owned businesses from Sept. 7 as part of a move to restrict small-scale retail to Kenyans. However, the principal secretary for foreign affairs on Sunday said the president's comments related to a debate about proposed employment legislation.
Ruto reportedly made the remarks last week, days before ordering Tata Chemicals to leave the country, accusing it of failing to create jobs and process minerals locally.
The president, who will seek a second term in a poll next August, has increasingly focused on employment and wealth creation in his reelection pitch. He took office four years ago, after an election campaign in which he vowed to improve the lives of the poorest Kenyans. But his popularity plummeted amid tax hikes that prompted street protests.
— Alexis Akwagyiram

#ruto #kenyans #east

On August 4, Innospec (NASDAQ:IOSP) reported second-quarter results that pushed revenue up 12% to $491.4 million, with every one of its three businesses posting higher operating income. Net income attributable to Innospec climbed to $30.8 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, up from $23.5 million and 94 cents a year earlier. That headline growth was real, but a look further down the cash flow statement shows a business generating far less cash than its earnings suggest, a gap investors weighing this specialty chemicals maker need to understand.
Every segment expanded in the quarter ended June 30. Performance Chemicals revenue rose 9% to $190.3 million, with operating income up 15% to $16.4 million as price and mix gains of 8% more than offset a 2% drop in volumes. Fuel Specialties, the company's largest and most profitable unit, grew revenue 12% to $185.7 million on a 7% volume increase, with margins staying inside management's target range even as the business absorbed input cost pressure.
Oilfield Services put up the sharpest turnaround. Revenue jumped 14% to $115.4 million, gross margin expanded 2.7 percentage points to 32.3%, and operating income surged 40% to $8.7 million, a swing the company tied to its recent DRA plant expansion. That kind of margin recovery in a smaller segment can move the needle disproportionately if it continues.
Underneath all of it sits a debt-free balance sheet with $250.2 million in net cash. Innospec used part of that cushion to pay its semi-annual dividend of 92 cents per share and repurchase 87,089 shares for $6.4 million in the quarter, continuing a pattern of returning cash to shareholders without adding leverage.
The cash flow statement tells a less flattering story. Operating cash flow for the first six months of 2026 fell to $24.8 million from $38.8 million a year earlier, as working capital changes consumed $60.9 million compared with $22.6 million in the prior-year period. Cash and equivalents dropped to $250.2 million at quarter-end from $292.5 million at the start of the year, even before the dividend and buybacks funded from that balance are counted.

#million #quarter #flow #every

On September 1, Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL) posted fiscal 2026 results that looked nothing like the shaky operator investors have grown used to. Net debt fell to its lowest level in ten years, Secunda output hit a five-year high, and adjusted EBITDA jumped 17% year over year to ZAR 61 billion. The numbers suggest a turnaround that finally has traction, even as chemical markets stay stuck in a rut.
The clearest thread running through the quarter is that Sasol's core Southern African operations are simply working better than they have in years. Secunda production reached 7.26 million tonnes, a five-year high, driven by improved coal quality and gas availability after the company installed a destoning plant that pushed sinks below 12%. That reliability helped cut the Southern African oil breakeven to $49 per barrel. Management is also weaning the business off external coal, planning to cut purchases from 8.8 million tonnes down to a range of 5 million to 7 million tonnes in fiscal 2027 as own production climbs toward 34 million tonnes by 2028.
The balance sheet tells a similar story. Net debt dropped 11% to $3.3 billion, and available liquidity rose 21% to roughly $5 billion after a bond swap that better matched debt currency to cash generation. Free cash flow of ZAR 11.9 billion was actually up 26% once you strip out a one-time legal settlement from the prior year. International Chemicals, long the drag on the portfolio, posted $604 million in adjusted EBITDA on a 7% cut in fixed costs and a stronger fourth quarter market. Retail fuel market share climbed to 13% from 9% five years ago, and renewable capacity reached 500 megawatts on the way to a 2 gigawatt target by 2030.
Not everything is fixed. Sasol lost two colleagues during the year, a reminder that operational improvement has not erased safety risk. Currency remains a persistent headwind, with CFO Walt Bruns noting that "the stronger rand remained a significant earnings headwind given the U.S. dollar-linked nature of much of our revenue." That same stronger rand outlook, combined with weaker long-term polyethylene pricing, drove impairments on the Secunda liquid fuels refinery and the South African polyethylene unit.
Management was explicit that global chemical markets have not turned a corner, warning that "excess capacity and weaker demand" continue pressuring prices with only a gradual recovery expected. Working capital also ran hot at 18.3% of trailing turnover, above the 15.5% to 16.5% target range, due to pricing volatility and elevated inventory. Fiscal 2027 capital spending guidance of ZAR 23 billion to ZAR 26 billion is also higher than the year just completed, and dividends stay off the table until net debt is sustainably below $3 billion, a threshold the company has approached but not yet crossed.

#debt #fiscal #years #five

Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) operates in the railroad business. Valued at $178.6 billion by market cap, it connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the U.S. by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain, hauling a variety of goods, including agricultural, automotive, and chemical products.
Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally described as "large-cap stocks," and UNP definitely fits that description, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the railroads industry. UNP's expansive North American network, including its stake in Mexico's Ferromex and strong cross-border freight business, gives it a distinct competitive advantage and supports a diverse customer base. Its long-standing reputation for reliability has built strong brand loyalty and long-term contracts, driving stable revenues and long-term growth.
Dear Sandisk Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for August 31
Bill Gates Says 'We Need Time to Prepare' for an Economic Upheaval — Especially the $20-an-Hour Workers Being Replaced by $10-an-Hour Robots
Dear Palantir Stock Fans, Here's What Maven's Billion-Dollar ARR Means for PLTR

#strong

Santos FC is incorporating APS – Acqua Performance System into its high-performance structure, a methodology developed by Pai e Filho ****** soria, a national benchmark in large-scale and shared-use swimming pools. Created especially for high-performance sports, APS establishes a new concept in aquatic environment care, aimed at athletes' training, recovery, and preparation routines.
Unlike conventional pool treatment, APS is based on an athlete-focused approach. The methodology combines highly precise chemical management, continuous monitoring of water parameters, automation, filtration efficiency, and complementary technologies, seeking to provide a more controlled aquatic environment suited to the demands of a high-performance sports routine.
One of the system's main focuses is eliminating factors ****** ociated with respiratory, eye, and skin discomfort, especially in athletes exposed to the pool frequently.
APS is based on the principle that an aquatic environment developed specifically for high performance helps give athletes better conditions to train, carry out their recovery processes, and reach their full potential. By reducing factors that cause discomfort and more precisely controlling water conditions, the methodology seeks to improve the quality and consistency of training. Better preparation conditions allow athletes to get more out of each session and, as a result, contribute to the development of their sporting performance.
With more than 30 years of experience in shared-use pools, Pai e Filho ****** soria developed APS from the knowledge accumulated in the operation and management of large aquatic facilities. The methodology is intended exclusively for training centers and environments connected to high-performance sports.

#methodology #athletes #developed #conditions

MD Sass, a boutique ****** et management firm, published its second-quarter investor update for its flagship, the "MD Sass Concentrated Value Strategy." The letter can be downloaded here. In the first half of 2026, AI infrastructure stocks led the market, with the Russell 1000 Value increasing by 16.3%, outpacing the S&P 500 (10.2%) and Russell 1000 Growth (5.3%). This growth was fueled by semiconductor, memory, and hardware companies benefiting from AI development, even though they are considered cyclical. These sectors, representing only 7.7% of the Russell 1000 Value at the start of the year, contributed nearly 70% of its returns. The portfolio gained 10.0% in the second quarter, net of fees, compared to 13.9% for the Russell 1000 Value Index. Year-to-date, the strategy returned 6.6%, net of fees, versus 16.3% for the Index. The portfolio faced challenges due to limited exposure to companies with the greatest upside from AI infrastructure investments. It also lacked exposure to the Energy sector, which returned about 20% in the first half amid geopolitical tensions with Iran that increased commodity prices, affecting performance. The firm recognizes the importance of adapting its strategies while maintaining core investment principles as it explores future opportunities in emerging technological themes. Also, check the fund's top five holdings to see its best picks in 2026.
In its second-quarter 2026 investor letter, MD Sass Concentrated Value Strategy highlighted Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS). Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) is an industrial company that focuses on industrial flow management equipment. On August 28, 2026, Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) closed at $80.33 per share. The one-month return of Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) was 4.95%, and its shares gained 49.70% over the past 52 weeks. Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) has a market capitalization of $10.21 billion.
MD Sass Concentrated Value Strategy stated the following regarding Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"We initiated a position in Flowserve Corporation (NYSE:FLS), a global leader in pumps, valves, seals, and other flow control equipment used across energy, power generation, chemicals, water, and general industrial markets. The company operates through its Pumps and Flow Control divisions and benefits from a large installed base that generates recurring, high-margin aftermarket revenue. Over the past several years, management has materially improved the quality of the business through more selective bidding, portfolio rationalization, and its 80/20 operating framework. Adjusted operating margins reached 14.8% in 2025, up 300 bps from the prior year, and management is targeting approximately 20% by 2030.
While continued margin expansion and aftermarket growth support the investment case, the crux of our thesis is nuclear power. FLS is one of the leading suppliers of highly engineered pumps and valves used in nuclear reactors. These

Houston, Texas-based Chevron Corporation (CVX) is one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, with operations spanning oil and natural gas exploration and production, refining, marketing, chemicals, and lower-carbon energy. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Chevron operates across the U.S. and numerous international markets. The company has a market cap of $364.5 billion.
Companies with a market capitalization of $200 billion or more are typically referred to as "mega-cap stocks." CVX fits right into that category, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, reflecting its substantial size and influence in the integrated oil and gas industry. A major strength of Chevron is its vertically integrated and geographically diversified portfolio. The upstream business provides significant exposure to oil and gas prices, while refining, marketing and chemicals operations can provide earnings diversification when commodity prices or refining margins move in different directions.
Wu-Tang Clan Member Raekwon Is a Palantir 'OG,' Visiting Headquarters 16 Years After Receiving His Custom PLTR Jacket
Tesla Stock Could Benefit as Trump Locks Down the U.S. Power Grid
Tesla Just Killed Its Solar Roof After Years of Struggling to Scale. What It Means for TSLA Stock.

#market #texas #Stock

Brian Austin Green recently admitted that his **** drive isn't what it used to be as he gets older.
The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum, 53, opened up about the changes he's noticed while answering a listener's question about whether men's **** drives decline with age on the Saturday, August 29, episode of his I Do, Part 2 podcast.
"Sure, absolutely, of course," Green said, adding that it was "a chemical thing."
"That is testosterone," he continued. "That is what men, as they age, start naturally losing."
Green noted that there are supplements men can take to "go the opposite direction," but said that he's personally noticed a difference.

#noticed #austin #august

As if dating weren't already enough of a gamble, a new trend has some men skipping their usual hygiene routines before meeting a prospective partner.
So-called "pheromone-maxxing" is a viral TikTok trend primarily **** ociated with teen boys and young men that involves skipping showers and deodorant before a date.
Some proponents go so far as to wear unwashed shirts or drink their own urine in an effort to "sweat out toxins," Vice reported.
'Looksmaxxing' Trend Has Young Men Taking Hammers To Their Faces In Pursuit Of Sharper Features
Pheromones are chemical compounds that transmit signals between members of the same species. They are well documented in insects and other animals, and some pheromones do not have a discernible scent, Scientific American explained.

#trend #looksmaxxing #hammers