** 2024 saw a rise in U.S. sales of hybrid and electric cars, but more Americans are still buying gas-powered vehicles.
** Electric vehicle sales hit a new record in the U.S. in Q3, driven by attractive lease deals, financing offers and a growing appetite for affordable models among American car buyers. Despite all the political noise around EVs and negative headlines in financial papers, automakers are having a moment selling their battery-powered cars.
** Austin’ Hyliion Holdings Corp., a developer of sustainable electricity-producing technology, today announced it has been awarded a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
** NOV Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10 a.m. (Central Time). NOV will issue a press release with the Company’s results after the market closes for trading on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
World
** A Russia-linked tanker suspected of cutting Baltic Sea cables has been tugged to port amid reports it was loaded with “spy equipment”. Finnish authorities boarded the Eagle S tanker at sea after suspecting the vessel of sabotaging undersea power and internet lines on Christmas Day.
** Nato said on Friday it would boost its presence in the Baltic Sea after the suspected sabotage this week of an undersea power cable and four internet lines.
** Toyota‘s stock is skyrocketing as investors look to cash in on the company’s reported efforts to increase profitability. US-listed shares surged 9% as of Thursday afternoon to trade at an intraday high of $197.44.
** President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pushed back at a threat by Slovakia to cut off back-up power supplies to Ukraine if Kyiv stops transporting Russian gas to central Europe.
** Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire. The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on Dec. 19, the government gazette showed reported Bloomberg.
** China National Nuclear Corporation’s (CNNC) first-ever commercial reactor for the production of isotopes has officially opened. Called the Qinshan Nuclear Power Base plant, it has already produced its first batch of Lutetium-177 (Lu-177) medical isotopes.
