Latest news with #technicians
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Top 3 Silver Picks to Watch as Bull Market Gains Steam
Gold has been a very good investment for investors in the last two years. However, there are many reasons why investors are starting to look at silver. Silver has broken above $37 per ounce. That's a significant target for technicians who say there's very little resistance between $37 and an all-time high of around $50. It's a supply-and-demand issue. The last super spike in silver happened in 1979. At that time, the world population was about 2.5 billion less than it is today, and government debt was still below $1 trillion. This plays into silver's unique role as a currency and a commodity. However, many analysts believe the amount of silver available for extraction is running out, and silver mining production has not kept up with demand. Silver is sometimes referred to as the poor man's gold. That reflects silver's relatively 'inexpensive' price compared to gold. In fact, that's a fundamental reason why silver may be attractive. That's because of the silver-gold ratio. That is, how many ounces of silver would be required to ounce one ounce of gold. As of June 17, that spread is about 91, which is historically high. Owning physical silver in bars or coins is a popular way to own silver. But it's not for every investor. However, that shouldn't keep investors away from silver, which can be owned via an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or through mining stocks. Here are three ways to invest in silver that offer investors exposure to a potential silver bull run. Growth Through Acquisition May Be the Next Catalyst for This Miner Pan American Silver Corp. (NYSE: PAAS) is the world's fifth-largest silver producer. In 2024, the mining company produced 21.1 million ounces of silver. In the company's first quarter earnings report in May, it maintained its operational outlook for 2025. That partially explains the 44.8% increase in the Pan American Silver stock price in 2025. However, analysts continue to believe there's more upside for the stock. That comes from its recent announcement that it was spending $2.1 billion to acquire MAG Silver Corporation, which generates much of its silver production from its 44% joint venture stake in the Juanicipio Project. This project is in the Fresnillo district inside the Mexican Silver Belt. PAAS stock is up 28.9% in the last 30 days. However, investors may want to wait for a pullback. That's because short interest, while only about 2% of the stock's float, increased over 18% in the last month. That means that much of the stock's gains may be from short covering. Investors Are Taking a Close Look at This Mid-Tier Miner Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK) is another mining company to watch. The Canadian miner's flagship project is the Terronera mine in Mexico. The company is expecting to double its silver equivalent production from the mine in 2025-2026. Endeavour Silver already operates with a relatively light amount of debt. That means if the company can maintain its all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of under $10 per ounce at the mine, it's margins will expand. Like Pan American Silver, EXK stock is up more than 49% in the last month, making it one of the best-performing basic materials stocks. However, short interest is up as well, which is why some of the recent stock price growth may be due to short covering. Another area where the two companies are similar is the regions in which they operate. Endeavour's operations are in Mexico. However, the company is significantly smaller than Pan American. With a market cap of just over $1 billion, Endeavour is still lumped in with the junior miners even though it does have active production. The Next Best Thing to Owning Physical Silver The iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA: SLV) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks physical silver. The fund's assets consist of silver held by the Trust's custodian and issued to shareholders as shares. This allows investors to get the price benefits of owning physical silver without the custodial challenges that can come from owning the metal. In this case, SLV stock is up 28.4% as of June 17, which is identical to the growth in the spot price of silver. The fund also has an average volume of around 20 million shares, giving investors ample liquidity for trading. Investors may not like the 0.5% expense ratio. However, it's still a discount to other precious metals ETFs. Where Should You Invest $1,000 Right Now? Before you make your next trade, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. Our team has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and none of the big name stocks were on the list. They believe these five stocks are the five best companies for investors to buy now...
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
OTOFIX Introduces the D1 Lite Diagnostic Tool, Purpose-Built for Small Garage Technicians
OTOFIX has launched the D1 Lite, a compact diagnostic tool available at offering professional-grade features for small garages and mobile technicians at an accessible price. OTOFIX has just introduced the D1 Lite, a compact diagnostic tool designed for small garages, mobile technicians, and students in training. Available at it offers key diagnostic features typically found in higher-end models at a price point meant to support independent repair professionals and learners alike. Backed by Autel, a globally trusted name in automotive diagnostics, the D1 Lite provides full-system scans, live data, active component tests, and more, all in a lightweight, easy-to-use device priced under $400. Professional-Grade Capabilities in a Compact Format With a slim build, bright orange shell, and HD touchscreen, the D1 Lite is designed to be simple to carry and operate. It supports over 100 car brands and includes more than 38 service functions, such as: Oil reset Brake system maintenance (EPB) Battery management (BMS) Diesel particulate filter (DPF) service Factory-level full-system diagnostics These functions help technicians perform everyday maintenance tasks quickly and accurately. Whether it's preparing a vehicle for a customer handoff or troubleshooting a warning light, the D1 Lite gives users control over key systems beyond just the engine. It can access ABS, airbags, transmission, HVAC, immobilizer systems, and more—making it a complete diagnostic companion. It also includes over 3,000 active tests, allowing users to trigger components like fuel pumps, cooling fans, mirrors, windows, and seat motors to confirm function during diagnostics. These bidirectional capabilities are usually found in tools that cost far more. Reliable Vehicle History Checks with VIN and Odometer Data One of the most useful features is the VIN/Odometer Check. This function reads the vehicle identification number and mileage from different control units in the car. It helps detect mismatches or irregular readings that could point to tampering or system errors. This feature is especially helpful for inspecting used cars or verifying system integrity. It supports many popular vehicle brands, including Toyota, VW, Ford, BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Subaru, Fiat, Audi, and Land Rover. For garages that often work on pre-owned vehicles, this adds a layer of transparency and helps flag inconsistencies early. Advanced Protocol Support for Modern Vehicle Systems The D1 Lite includes advanced protocols to support today's automotive systems. It works with CAN FD and DoIP, both of which are communication protocols adopted by newer vehicles to allow faster data exchange between modules. These technologies are essential for working on 2021 and newer models from brands like GM, Hyundai, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. It also includes FCA AutoAuth, which provides secure access to Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo systems without requiring additional tools . This lets users scan newer vehicles with locked gateways and still perform full diagnostics and service functions. Auto VIN detection further speeds up the workflow by identifying the vehicle instantly, reducing manual entry and potential errors. Two Years of Free Software Updates Included Unlike many scan tools that charge ongoing subscription fees, the D1 Lite comes with two years of free software updates. This helps users keep up with new vehicle models and functions without added costs. The included updates are valued at 718 dollars, providing long-term value right out of the box. These updates are delivered over Wi-Fi and take just minutes to install, ensuring users always have the latest coverage and bug fixes. After the two-year period, continued updates remain optional—not required to keep using the tool. Designed for Technicians, Trainees, and Mobile Repair Pros The D1 Lite was built with everyday users in mind. It is a good fit for: Independent garages that need professional tools at a fair price Mobile mechanics who want something durable and easy to carry Trade school students learning diagnostics on real vehicles Tool resellers who need a reliable and approachable product to offer For those looking to move up from entry-level scanners or transition from analog to digital, this tool provides the right balance of features and price. There's no steep learning curve, no hidden subscriptions, and no wasted time trying to interpret incomplete scan results. Backed by Autel's Diagnostic Expertise OTOFIX is a sub-brand of Autel, a company known worldwide for its automotive diagnostic systems. The D1 Lite benefits from the same development expertise, software reliability, and product support as Autel's professional-grade tools. Positive reviews from technicians highlight its ease of use and time-saving capabilities in real-world repair jobs. A Smart Investment for Growing Garages The OTOFIX D1 Lite delivers the essential diagnostic features typically found in higher-end tools, but in a format that's accessible, efficient, and easy to use. For small teams and independent technicians looking to upgrade their capabilities without overspending, it offers a smart, practical solution. More details, including availability and specifications, can be found at Contact & Follow Us Website: Follow us on social media: Facebook: YouTube: Media Contact Company Name: Shenzhen Lianke Technology Development Co., Ltd. Contact Person: Amber Qiu Email: Send Email Country: China Website:
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Despite what Donald Trump says, factory work is overrated. Here are the jobs of the future
Even a heroic reshoring effort eliminating America's $US1.2 trillion (about $1.9 trillion) goods-trade deficit would do little for jobs. In the production of that amount of goods, about $US630 billion (about $973 billion) of value-added would come from manufacturing (with the rest from raw materials, transport and so on). Robert Lawrence of Harvard University estimates that, with each manufacturing worker generating $US230,000 (about $355,000) or so in value added, bringing back production to close the deficit would create around three million jobs, half on the factory floor. That would lift the share of the workforce in manufacturing production by barely a percentage point. Assume this was done by levying an average effective tariff rate of 20 per cent on America's $US3 trillion (about $4.6 trillion) of imports, and it could cost an extra $US600 billion (about $926 billion), or $US200,000 (about $308,000) per manufacturing job 'saved'. That is a high price for jobs that are not as attractive as in the past. Seven decades ago, factories offered a rare bundle: good pay, job security, union protection, plentiful employment and no degree requirement. By the 1980s manufacturing workers still earned 10 per cent more than comparable peers in other parts of the economy. Their productivity was also growing faster. Loading Today factory-floor work lags behind non-supervisory roles in services on hourly pay. Even if you control for age, gender, race and more, the manufacturing wage premium has collapsed. Using methods similar to the Department of Commerce and the Economic Policy Institute, we estimate by 2024 the premium had more than halved since the 1980s. For those without a college education, it has gone entirely, even though such workers still enjoy a premium in construction and transport. Productivity growth has fallen, too: output per industrial worker is now rising more slowly than per service-sector worker, suggesting wage growth will be weak as well. A crucial component of the 'manufacturing jobs are good jobs' argument no longer holds. A job in industry is also now harder to attain. Modern factories are high-tech, run by engineers and technicians. In the early 1980s blue-collar assemblers, machine operators and repair workers made up more than half of the manufacturing workforce. Today they account for less than a third. White-collar professionals outnumber blue-collar factory-floor workers by a wide margin. Even once obtained, a factory job is far less likely to be unionised than in previous decades, with membership having fallen from one in four workers in the 1980s to less than one in ten today. In order to find the modern equivalent of such jobs, we looked for employment with the same traits. What offers decent pay, unionisation, requires no degree and can soak up the male workforce? The result: mechanics, repair technicians, security workers and the skilled trades. Over seven million Americans work as carpenters, electricians, solar-panel installers and in other such trades; almost all are male and lack a degree. The median wage is a solid $US25 (about $39) an hour, unionisation is above average and demand is expected to rise as America upgrades its infrastructure. Another five million toil as repair and maintenance workers – think HVAC technicians and telecom installers – and mechanics, earning wages well above the factory-floor average. Emergency and security workers also show similarities; over a third are union members. An air-con capital of the world Still, these jobs differ from manufacturing in one important way: there is no such thing as an HVAC company town. Factories once powered whole cities, creating demand for suppliers, logistics and dive bars. The new jobs are more dispersed and, as such, less likely to prop up local economies. Yet although the benefits are more diffuse, they are almost as large. Nearly as many people are employed in such categories as held manufacturing jobs in the 1990s. With better wages, less credentialism and stronger unions, they may look more attractive than modern factory jobs to working-class Americans. Loading The future is drifting even further from factories. Skilled trades and repair workers should see growth of five per cent over the next decade, according to official projections; the number of manufacturing jobs is expected to fall. The fastest-growing categories for workers without degrees are in health-care support and personal care, which are expected to grow by 15 per cent and six per cent, respectively. These include roles such as nursing assistants and child-care workers, and do not look anything like old manufacturing jobs owing to their low pay. The task, as Dani Rodrik of Harvard puts it, is to boost the productivity of the jobs that are actually growing. Perhaps that might include ensuring the adoption of AI, whether for managing medication or diagnosis. In the late 18th century, Thomas Jefferson viewed farming as the foundation of a self-reliant republic. Influenced by French physiocrats who saw agriculture as the noblest source of national wealth, he believed that working the land was the path to liberty and abundance. By the 20th century, factory work had inherited that symbolic role. But like farming before it, manufacturing employment fades with rising prosperity and productivity. The heart of working-class America now beats elsewhere.
The Age
6 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Despite what Donald Trump says, factory work is overrated. Here are the jobs of the future
Even a heroic reshoring effort eliminating America's $US1.2 trillion (about $1.9 trillion) goods-trade deficit would do little for jobs. In the production of that amount of goods, about $US630 billion (about $973 billion) of value-added would come from manufacturing (with the rest from raw materials, transport and so on). Robert Lawrence of Harvard University estimates that, with each manufacturing worker generating $US230,000 (about $355,000) or so in value added, bringing back production to close the deficit would create around three million jobs, half on the factory floor. That would lift the share of the workforce in manufacturing production by barely a percentage point. Assume this was done by levying an average effective tariff rate of 20 per cent on America's $US3 trillion (about $4.6 trillion) of imports, and it could cost an extra $US600 billion (about $926 billion), or $US200,000 (about $308,000) per manufacturing job 'saved'. That is a high price for jobs that are not as attractive as in the past. Seven decades ago, factories offered a rare bundle: good pay, job security, union protection, plentiful employment and no degree requirement. By the 1980s manufacturing workers still earned 10 per cent more than comparable peers in other parts of the economy. Their productivity was also growing faster. Loading Today factory-floor work lags behind non-supervisory roles in services on hourly pay. Even if you control for age, gender, race and more, the manufacturing wage premium has collapsed. Using methods similar to the Department of Commerce and the Economic Policy Institute, we estimate by 2024 the premium had more than halved since the 1980s. For those without a college education, it has gone entirely, even though such workers still enjoy a premium in construction and transport. Productivity growth has fallen, too: output per industrial worker is now rising more slowly than per service-sector worker, suggesting wage growth will be weak as well. A crucial component of the 'manufacturing jobs are good jobs' argument no longer holds. A job in industry is also now harder to attain. Modern factories are high-tech, run by engineers and technicians. In the early 1980s blue-collar assemblers, machine operators and repair workers made up more than half of the manufacturing workforce. Today they account for less than a third. White-collar professionals outnumber blue-collar factory-floor workers by a wide margin. Even once obtained, a factory job is far less likely to be unionised than in previous decades, with membership having fallen from one in four workers in the 1980s to less than one in ten today. In order to find the modern equivalent of such jobs, we looked for employment with the same traits. What offers decent pay, unionisation, requires no degree and can soak up the male workforce? The result: mechanics, repair technicians, security workers and the skilled trades. Over seven million Americans work as carpenters, electricians, solar-panel installers and in other such trades; almost all are male and lack a degree. The median wage is a solid $US25 (about $39) an hour, unionisation is above average and demand is expected to rise as America upgrades its infrastructure. Another five million toil as repair and maintenance workers – think HVAC technicians and telecom installers – and mechanics, earning wages well above the factory-floor average. Emergency and security workers also show similarities; over a third are union members. An air-con capital of the world Still, these jobs differ from manufacturing in one important way: there is no such thing as an HVAC company town. Factories once powered whole cities, creating demand for suppliers, logistics and dive bars. The new jobs are more dispersed and, as such, less likely to prop up local economies. Yet although the benefits are more diffuse, they are almost as large. Nearly as many people are employed in such categories as held manufacturing jobs in the 1990s. With better wages, less credentialism and stronger unions, they may look more attractive than modern factory jobs to working-class Americans. Loading The future is drifting even further from factories. Skilled trades and repair workers should see growth of five per cent over the next decade, according to official projections; the number of manufacturing jobs is expected to fall. The fastest-growing categories for workers without degrees are in health-care support and personal care, which are expected to grow by 15 per cent and six per cent, respectively. These include roles such as nursing assistants and child-care workers, and do not look anything like old manufacturing jobs owing to their low pay. The task, as Dani Rodrik of Harvard puts it, is to boost the productivity of the jobs that are actually growing. Perhaps that might include ensuring the adoption of AI, whether for managing medication or diagnosis. In the late 18th century, Thomas Jefferson viewed farming as the foundation of a self-reliant republic. Influenced by French physiocrats who saw agriculture as the noblest source of national wealth, he believed that working the land was the path to liberty and abundance. By the 20th century, factory work had inherited that symbolic role. But like farming before it, manufacturing employment fades with rising prosperity and productivity. The heart of working-class America now beats elsewhere.
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Quebec artists demand action to regulate AI in arts and culture
Montreal Watch Members of 6 Quebec unions representing thousands of artists and technicians are demanding action to regulate artificial intelligence in arts and culture.
