Category Archives: Technology

With the Senate set to flip to Democratic control in the 117th Congress, albeit by a razor thin margin, the policy priorities for the upper chamber are likely to significantly change. In so doing, the various Senate committees will have new chairs, and their agendas will likely vary at least in part on the partisan make-up of the committees.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has a long tradition of bipartisan cooperation. Executive Sessions are usually not contentious; the final language of bills and amendments are usually thoroughly negotiated and eventually accepted by voice vote. That tradition of bipartisanship is unlikely to change with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) swapping roles: Senator Cantwell will now chair the Commerce Committee, while Senator Wicker will be the Ranking Member.

The Commerce Committees agenda for technology and communications policy might not be terribly different under the Chair of Senator Cantwell than under Chairman Wicker. To be sure, Senator Cantwell will have her priorities as will the chairs of the Consumer Protection and Communications Subcommittees, likely Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) respectively and will likely emphasize issue areas and conduct oversight differently than Senator Wicker. But the big ticket legislative items for technology and communications such as a data privacy bill and section 230 reform will likely remain priorities under Senator Cantwells chair as they would have under Senator Wickers, though the substance and priorities of those efforts will be different. And given the thin margin of the Democratic majority and the Commerce Committees historical adherence to bipartisanship, the need to compromise and forge common ground will remain critical to pass such laws.

Privacy

Comprehensive federal privacy legislation will likely remain a top priority for the committee. Californias passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act and the European Unions General Data Practice Regulations spurned renewed interest in passing a federal law in the 116th Congress. Further actions at the state level will only increase a sense of urgency at least within certain sectors. Last Congress in late 2019, Senators Cantwell and Wicker introduced their versions of a privacy bill. Senators Schatz, Klobuchar and Markey joined Senator Cantwell in introducing the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act (COPRA) at almost the same time as Senator Wicker circulated a staff discussion draft of the United States Consumer Data Privacy Act (USCDPA), which was later supplanted by the formal introduction of his privacy bill in September 2020. These two bills will likely serve as the starting point for negotiations on a privacy bill in the 117th Congress.

The biggest sticking points, by far, as reflected in the two bills, are preemption of state law and a federal private right of action. COPRA explicitly does not preempt state law and has a federal private right of action, while USCDPA takes the opposite approach. Finding compromise on these opposing world-views, while difficult, will greatly improve the chances of passing a federal privacy law. Other issues areas on which Members will have to negotiate include the scope of the bills coverage, prescriptiveness and flexibility for compliance, duty of care on the use of data, and algorithmic decision-making. While not easy, these issue areas should be relatively amenable to bipartisan compromise.

Section 230

In communications, the appetite for section 230 (of the Communications Act) reform displayed at the end of the 116th Congress will likely carry over into the 117th. In a November hearing at which the heads of Google, Facebook, and Twitter testified, Members on both sides of the dais expressed interest in reforming the law. However, Democratic and Republican Members want to amend section 230 for different reasons. Democrats largely assert that social media platforms have been slow to crack down on misinformation and hate speech. Many Republicans claim that social media platforms are biased against conservative viewpoints and stifle legitimate political speech. Amending section 230s liability protections afforded to online platforms that host third-party generated digital content would alter the incentives on how such platforms treat posted content. Both sides of the debate will likely validate their narratives by pointing to the contentious 2020 election and the subsequent actions taken by President Trumps campaign and his Administration, Members of Congress (on vote certification), and rioters at the United States Capitol, as well as Facebooks and Twitters decision to ban President Trump from using their services.

Broadband

Broadband access will likely remain a priority in the 117th Congress. Any infrastructure bill Congress considers almost certainly will have broadband buildout provisions. President-elect Bidens plan for rural America includes $20 billion for rural broadband buildout. Provisions for better broadband access in underserved communities both rural and urban are likely to be priorities for Democrats. If such broadband provisions are included in a legislative infrastructure package under budget reconciliation rules (in order to avoid Senate procedures requiring 60 votes for cloture), the Senate will not be able to contemplate broadband access policy, only spending levels. However, the Commerce Committee could consider regulatory matters in separate proceedings. For instance, given the recent events in Nashville, in which a bomb badly damaged an AT&T facility, the Commerce Committee may explore the resiliency and redundancy of the nations communications system.

Spectrum and Wireless

Furthermore, spectrum policy, as was the case in previous Congresses, will likely be a hot topic in the Commerce Committee in the 117th. Senator Cantwell has expressed concerns with the Federal Communications Commissions (FCCs) decision to auction spectrum (24 GHz) for commercial use over the objections of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Both agencies voiced strong concerns over possible interference with weather forecasting. Senator Cantwell expressed similar concerns over the FCCs decision to re-allocate a slice of spectrum (5.9 GHz) dedicated to vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure transportation safety for shared unlicensed purposes, such as WiFi services. In general, Senate Democrats may be more inclined to reorient the FCCs tilt towards the commercial use of spectrum and will be more receptive to the concerns expressed by government agencies and public interest groups.

The incoming Biden Administrations consolidated federal policy on the development and deployment of 5th generation mobile networks will likely shape the Commerces Committee oversight and policy activities on 5G. In the past, Senator Cantwell and committee Democrats have expressed concerns over the security of 5G networks and the lack of a national strategy. The Commerce Committee may explore ways to maximize 5G network and supply-chain security, such as the adoption of an interoperable, software-driven open radio access network (ORAN) architecture as opposed to a more traditional cellular architecture.

Network Neutrality

Lastly, the 800 pound gorilla: network neutrality. How the Senate and the Commerce Committee will proceed on net neutrality will largely depend on what a newly constituted FCC will or wont do. In December 2017, the FCC voted to repeal the Commissions 2015 Open Internet order which reclassified broadband Internet access as telecommunications services under Title II of the Communications Act, thus allowing the FCC to impose restrictions on network practices such as throttling, blocking and paid prioritization. Both the 2015 and 2017 Commission votes were 3-2 and along party lines. Last March, Senator John Thune (R-SD), then chair of the Communications subcommittee, announced that he still intended to work on bipartisan net neutrality legislation, an effort that extends back to 2015, when he chaired the full Commerce Committee and pushed for legislation codifying principles of net neutrality that was unable to gain bipartisan traction. Whether the Commerce Committee will seek to pass similar legislation in the 117th Congress, bringing certainty to the marketplace notwithstanding the vicissitudes of the political make-up of the FCC, is unclear. The Department of Justices (DOJs) lawsuit against the state of Californias net neutrality law could also affect Congressional deliberations. While a Biden Administration DOJ may withdraw its complaint, the separate suit filed by industry groups will continue to work its way in federal court in the Eastern District of California.

As the 117th Congress commences and the Senate Commerce Committee kicks off its work on technology and communications policy, ML Strategies will report on such activities and provide insight and analysis.

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Action Items on Technology and Communication Policies in front of the Senate Commerce Committee - JD Supra

The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital.' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. Importantly, Unimicron Technology Corp. (TPE:3037) does carry debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

Check out our latest analysis for Unimicron Technology

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at September 2020 Unimicron Technology had debt of NT$39.5b, up from NT$35.9b in one year. However, it does have NT$23.4b in cash offsetting this, leading to net debt of about NT$16.1b.

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Unimicron Technology had liabilities of NT$38.8b falling due within a year, and liabilities of NT$28.8b due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had NT$23.4b in cash and NT$18.7b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by NT$25.5b.

Given Unimicron Technology has a market capitalization of NT$146.6b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse.

We measure a company's debt load relative to its earnings power by looking at its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and by calculating how easily its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) cover its interest expense (interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

Unimicron Technology has a low net debt to EBITDA ratio of only 1.3. And its EBIT easily covers its interest expense, being 19.4 times the size. So we're pretty relaxed about its super-conservative use of debt. Another good sign is that Unimicron Technology has been able to increase its EBIT by 23% in twelve months, making it easier to pay down debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Unimicron Technology's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. So we clearly need to look at whether that EBIT is leading to corresponding free cash flow. Looking at the most recent three years, Unimicron Technology recorded free cash flow of 31% of its EBIT, which is weaker than we'd expect. That's not great, when it comes to paying down debt.

Unimicron Technology's interest cover suggests it can handle its debt as easily as Cristiano Ronaldo could score a goal against an under 14's goalkeeper. But truth be told we feel its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow does undermine this impression a bit. Taking all this data into account, it seems to us that Unimicron Technology takes a pretty sensible approach to debt. While that brings some risk, it can also enhance returns for shareholders. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Unimicron Technology that you should be aware of before investing here.

At the end of the day, it's often better to focus on companies that are free from net debt. You can access our special list of such companies (all with a track record of profit growth). It's free.

PromotedIf you decide to trade Unimicron Technology, use the lowest-cost* platform that is rated #1 Overall by Barrons, Interactive Brokers. Trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on 135 markets, all from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Is Unimicron Technology (TPE:3037) Using Too Much Debt? - Simply Wall St

By: Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs and Colin Rom, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner

Remember in-person meetings? A year ago, would you have thought our world, our homes and offices would be upended and changed so rapidly? Seemingly overnight businesses were adapting to a new reality. We at U.S. Food and Drug Administration adapted as well we had to. Our mission is so critical, we couldnt fall behind because too much was, and still is, at risk. At the start of this 21st year of the 21st Century, businesses, manufacturers, the FDA, and patients, are all adjusting to the changing times and adopting new trends. For the day-to-day work of the FDA those changes are focused on advanced manufacturing technologies, digital industry and Industry 4.0.

Advanced manufacturing technologies are being adopted by both small businesses and large corporations in ways that are changing the industry and regulatory landscape. The FDA has dedicated significant effort over the past several years to establishing both research and regulatory programs for advanced manufacturing, computational modeling, and other emerging technologies. These efforts have led to updated regulatory processes, guidance documents and dozens of peer-reviewed research publications to identify characteristics of advanced manufacturing processes that can provide regulatory evidence of quality, safety and efficacy. The FDA also encourages use of advanced manufacturing through involvement in new standards development and industry outreach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the existing manufacturing structures, with a small number of facilities fed by long and complex supply chains, can be disrupted. This has also been demonstrated in the aftermath of hurricanes in recent years. This can elevate risk and create shortages in the U.S. The reality is that it isnt enough to just respond to the current pandemic. The FDA and industry have to accelerate the adoption of advanced and smart manufacturing technologies to strengthen the nations public health infrastructure. To this end, the FDA is creating a new collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This MOU is intended to increase U.S. medical supply chain resilience and advanced domestic manufacturing of drugs, biological products and medical devices through adoption of 21st century manufacturing technologies. These include smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and emerging manufacturing processes. The MOU signals alignment between senior leadership at both institutions in recognition of the importance of modernizing regulatory frameworks as well as industry practices to meet public health needs in the U.S.

We envision that this partnership will leverage the complementary skills of the FDAs regulatory expertise and NISTs precision characterization and standards. The FDA has unique insight into the broad landscape of medical manufacturing and the regulatory science opportunities presented by emerging technologies. The agency also has expertise in evaluating the quality, safety and efficacy of a wide array of drugs and medical devices. NIST is a globally recognized source of world-class measurement and testing facilities, many of which focus on the processes, controls, and modeling used in modern manufacturing. They have advanced capabilities encompassing a wide range of areas that include precision measurement, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and systems engineering. NIST also works closely with a variety of industry stakeholders through their Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, which coordinates the 16 Manufacturing Innovation Institutes of the Manufacturing USA Network and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) a national network of technical assistance centers and offices located in every state.

The MOU establishes direct points of contact between senior leadership and collaborative links between subject matter experts to accelerate development and implementation of best practices for advanced manufacturing. These include many technologies that are poised to transform industry. For instance, modularization of unit operations entails breaking manufacturing down into parts that can be plugged into each other and still function, much like train cars can connect to any engine. With modularized processes, one has the potential to switch production from one pharmaceutical or regenerative medicine product to another in days or hours, using the same facility. Another example is adaptive process controls for manufacturing, which use artificial intelligence and computational models to monitor a manufacturing line and tweak settings to boost efficiency or schedule maintenance to reduce downtime.

The FDA has also expanded our commitment to advanced manufacturing by starting several new initiatives. These new initiatives supplement ongoing efforts such as the Center for Drug Evaluation and Researchs (CDER) Emerging Technology Program, the Center for Devices and Radiological Healths (CDRH) Case for Quality, and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Researchs (CBER) Advanced Technologies Program.

The FDA has encouraged deployment of advanced technologies in manufacturing and encouraged the renewal of manufacturing assets in the U.S. for many years. This need has been made even more evident by the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges to critical supply chains. We feel strongly that existing regulatory frameworks and ongoing enhancement programs support this effort, but improved coordination and alignment of programs within the agency, communication with innovators in industry and public-private partnerships and understanding of practical challenges and opportunities in real world manufacturing will further support extension of the innovative practices that have so successfully brought medicines to market.

The FDAs steadfast focus, collaboration and communication on advanced manufacturing is helping to connect government agencies, decrease regulatory uncertainty, and increase industry adoption of technologies that can address issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to prepare the U.S. to face the rest of the 21st century with a modern and resilient system for pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and vaccines.

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Accelerating the Adoption of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Strengthen Our Public Health Infrastructure - FDA.gov

CES 2021 highlights of products designed for human health include:

To help build upon those efforts, Eyesafe is expanding a line of patented screen filters to reduce blue light on electronic devices. Designed with input from doctors, these aftermarket screen filters address the legacy market of devices that do not have built-in Eyesafe technology. For more information, visit Eyesafe Filters.

The CES 2021 Eyesafe Exhibition comes in the wake of significantdata from across the globe, indicating rising levels of screen time by consumers. Consumer behavior has shifted, perhaps permanently, to a society where people live, work and play online. In turn, Eyesafe, along with its partners in consumer electronics and healthcare, are focused on providing research, education and solutions to mitigate the potential health impacts of high-energy blue light. Together, these companies are helping define the future of electronics and vision health.

About EyesafeEyesafe is the worldwide supplier of Eyesafe Technology, Eyesafe Display, and Eyesafe Standards, a suite of pioneering products and services that are shaping the consumer electronics industry's understanding of device usage, screen time, and the impacts of blue light-emitting devices. Eyesafe Technology and the associated intellectual property portfolio was developed by a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, and light management. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eyesafe works to develop technologies and standards in conjunction with leaders in health care. Please visit Eyesafe.com for more information.

1*Based on HP's internal analysis of displays marketed to consumers as of Jan 2021. Display's plastic enclosure made with 85% post-consumer recycled plastic content consists of 5% ocean bound plastic materials by weight. Eyesafe certified website (https://eyesafe.com).

SOURCE Eyesafe

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Health at the Forefront of Technology Announced at CES 2021 - PRNewswire

While fitness tech has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world since 2016, the pandemic might just have triggered the sharpest growth in the industry yet. In the months before the pandemic, fitness enthusiasts were starting to team their wearables with at-home fitness and outdoor workouts like cross-functional training, kickboxing, piloxing, and a variety of other new ideas.

Fitness providers were also beginning to identify the demand for virtual training and recognise the potential of online services. The pandemic and resulting lockdowns pushed both to quickly embrace these technology-driven alternatives, giving rise to an era of technology-driven fitness in India.

In 2021, as the pandemic wears away, technology will unlock ways for the industry to boost both its online and offline offerings. Here are some of the trends that will become more prominent in the months to come:

Wearables were the top trend of 2020 and will likely maintain their hold on the fitness sector in the coming year if not emerge stronger. This trend stems from precise health information these devices collect, allowing fitness seekers to design their workouts to address specific concerns and meet carefully identified goals.

With the increased focus on at-home fitness, users will team their virtual workouts with a range of devices, including fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and GPS trackers. Furthermore, the advent of smart clothing like vibrating leggings and biometric shirts shows that innovation in the fitness wearables space has only just begun.

The focus will also be on data collected from fitness wearables that, coupled with artificial intelligence, opens a range of possibilities for the industry. Considering that wearable apps have already permeated through almost all verticals of the fitness industry, the future will likely see a growth in data-driven holistic workouts, highly personalised coaching, and Virtual Reality sports and training programmes. AI-based solutions are also likely to find greater adoption in 2021.

Fitness apps integrated with AI and machine learning, for example, can now provide virtual assistants who, much like human trainers, educate people on correct postures and provide efficient one-on-one feedback.

Similarly, AI-powered intelligent footwear and yoga suits can monitor movements and alert users on incorrect postures. Fitness apps are also innovating with artificial intelligence consistently to create products like smart assistants for gyms and studios or diet planners that account for individual calorie requirements based on user lifestyle.

The concept of virtual fitness is now well past being just a method to traverse the challenges presented by COVID-19, and has established itself as one of the top emerging trends of the post-COVID world. It is attracting both sports and fitness fans, for whom the market now has abundant mobile apps and social media channels that provide on-demand libraries of virtual workouts and even remote coaching services. Patrons are also reaching out to their gym chains and boutique studios to provide virtual fitness options.

For fitness enthusiasts, the trend opens the possibility to plan training programmes, monitoring, and even inspiring to stay fit at their pace and for a lower cost. Virtual options are, hence, likely to gain ground among budding fitness fans as they work on gaining confidence and knowledge.

Furthermore, the industry expects that people who have adapted to digital workouts and online fitness classes will stick to their newly-formed habits, which are saving their resources, the time spent on workout preparation, and related travel.

One-on-one training motivates users to exercise regularly, both at home and the gym, and allows them to track the progress from each session precisely. Similarly, trainers can also review the trainees progress, and make recommendations in a highly personalised manner, making the whole process incredibly fruitful.

It is no surprise, then, that 2020 saw fitness enthusiasts make extensive investments in at-home exercise equipment. In a recent study, McKinsey noted a 12 percent increase in at-home exercising in the US.

The trend is also prominent in India and is highly likely to become more popular as the countrys fitness demands continue to rise steadily. As a result, at-home gyms will be the new normal of the post-COVID world and emerge as a significant trend in the coming year. Industry experts expect this trend to drive a sharp spike in demand for highly-trained fitness specialists who implement a holistic approach to wellness, and are capable of coaching users remotely.

In 2021, gym chains and boutique studios will adopt technology faster to boost their services with modern equipment. Leveraging smart, cloud-based technologies, these intelligent fitness products will help gym owners and trainers improve member performance and enhance their workout experience by combining their expertise with real-time data.

Technology will also provide solutions for hygiene concerns that have stemmed from the pandemic. For example, some fitness providers have begun using contactless or low-touch check-ins, facial recognition-based attendance tracking, and touchless payment options thus minimising the physical contact environment.

These solutions will not only help fitness entrepreneurs to bolster their digital presence at a time when online fitness is fast emerging as a lucrative growth area, but also improve communication and services delivered to the end-customer.

This year will create a new benchmark in the role played by technology in the fitness industry. Beyond wearable accessories, AI-powered tech solutions will revolutionise how users approach fitness and significantly personalise services on offer, including workouts, virtual reality gamification, diet management, and even selection processes for coaches and training programems. This digital leap is unlikely to stifle as the pandemic fears ebb, and will play the primary role in defining fitness trends for years to come.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

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4 fitness technology trends that will be popular in 2021 - YourStory

Congress needs a new committee that focuses exclusively on information technology, Rep. Bill FosterGeorge (Bill) William FosterHillicon Valley: WhatsApp delays controversial privacy update | Amazon hit with antitrust lawsuit alleging e-book price fixing | Biden launches new Twitter account ahead of inauguration Illinois Democrat calls for new committee focused exclusively on information technology Working together to effectively address patient identification during COVID-19 MORE (D-Ill.) said Thursday at an event hosted by The Hill.

Foster,a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, told The Hill's Steve Clemons that the growing IT sector means Congress needs more resources so that it can be nimble in its responses to issues facing the industry.

Information technology has now just passed financial services as a fraction of the economy. And yet, there is no congressional standing committee on information technology, Foster saidat The Hills Advancing Innovation: Technology Leading the Way event.

Foster is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, where he leads a special task force on artificial intelligence.

The Illinois Democrat on Thursday suggestedrevivingthe Office of Technology Assessments, a congressional entity that provided lawmakers with objective analyses of technology until it was shuttered in 1995.

He also called for a sort of fundamental reorganization of the way Congress works so that we can actually respond in real time with the depth of knowledge, thoughtfulness, and focus that information technology is going to need."

.@RepBillFoster: In congress, we have to organize ourselves better to deal with technology than we have #TheHillTech https://t.co/Q92PsiWh3O pic.twitter.com/BZGe393YOV

Foster also discussed some of what lies ahead for the U.S. government under the Biden administration, particularly with regard to technology and trade.

I think our focus should not be so much at worrying specifically about any one country but worrying about the free world. I am more concerned with having our information technology infrastructure sourced in countries that we can trust rather than not having them built in China or other specific countries, Foster said at the event sponsored by the Information Technology Industry Council.

Continued here:

Illinois Democrat calls for new committee focused exclusively on information technology | TheHill - The Hill

In recent years, local leaders have pushed to make Forsyth County a technology hub in the state, and now, one of the countys lawmakers will be leading one the Georgia General Assemblys science and technology committees.

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, District 27 state Sen. Greg Dolezal was appointed as chairman of the state Senate Science and Technology Committee, where he previously served as vice chairman.

As the technology around us continues to progress, its important that our state laws keep up with the changing times and adapt to meet current standards, Dolezal said in a statement. As one of the fastest growing technology hubs in the country, Georgia needs to continue to adapt its laws and regulations to fit the needs of the current economy and increase economic opportunities for those in the technology sector. I look forward to bringing my skills and experience in this field to work in this committee and I am excited to work with my fellow committee members to vet the bills assigned to our committee.

Along with chairmanship, Dolezal will also serve as secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee and as a member of the Education and Youth, Government Oversight and Reapportionment and Redistricting committees.

These committee chairs are uniquely qualified to develop real and lasting solutions aimed at building a better Georgia, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said in a news release. The Senate will continue to prioritize diligent committee work and sound public policy, and I look forward to working closely with each one of our chairs, and their committee members, as we work to enact policies that advance both the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.

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Dolezal appointed chair of Senate Science and Technology Committee - Forsyth County News Online

With its stock down 6.5% over the past three months, it is easy to disregard Casing Macron Technology (GTSM:3325). However, a closer look at its sound financials might cause you to think again. Given that fundamentals usually drive long-term market outcomes, the company is worth looking at. Specifically, we decided to study Casing Macron Technology's ROE in this article.

Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

See our latest analysis for Casing Macron Technology

ROE can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Casing Macron Technology is:

18% = NT$176m NT$954m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2020).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. One way to conceptualize this is that for each NT$1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made NT$0.18 in profit.

So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a companys earnings growth potential. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics.

To begin with, Casing Macron Technology seems to have a respectable ROE. Especially when compared to the industry average of 11% the company's ROE looks pretty impressive. Probably as a result of this, Casing Macron Technology was able to see an impressive net income growth of 38% over the last five years. We reckon that there could also be other factors at play here. Such as - high earnings retention or an efficient management in place.

We then compared Casing Macron Technology's net income growth with the industry and we're pleased to see that the company's growth figure is higher when compared with the industry which has a growth rate of 6.1% in the same period.

Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if Casing Macron Technology is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.

Casing Macron Technology's three-year median payout ratio is a pretty moderate 39%, meaning the company retains 61% of its income. So it seems that Casing Macron Technology is reinvesting efficiently in a way that it sees impressive growth in its earnings (discussed above) and pays a dividend that's well covered.

Besides, Casing Macron Technology has been paying dividends for at least ten years or more. This shows that the company is committed to sharing profits with its shareholders.

In total, we are pretty happy with Casing Macron Technology's performance. Particularly, we like that the company is reinvesting heavily into its business, and at a high rate of return. Unsurprisingly, this has led to an impressive earnings growth. If the company continues to grow its earnings the way it has, that could have a positive impact on its share price given how earnings per share influence long-term share prices. Remember, the price of a stock is also dependent on the perceived risk. Therefore investors must keep themselves informed about the risks involved before investing in any company. You can see the 5 risks we have identified for Casing Macron Technology by visiting our risks dashboard for free on our platform here.

PromotedIf you decide to trade Casing Macron Technology, use the lowest-cost* platform that is rated #1 Overall by Barrons, Interactive Brokers. Trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on 135 markets, all from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Casing Macron Technology Co., Ltd. (GTSM:3325) Stock Has Shown Weakness Lately But Financials Look Strong: Should Prospective Shareholders Make The...

Keep friends close, but enemies closer. That is the mantra behind a new technology now gaining ground. Cement production 4 billion tonnes worldwide annually accounts for 7 per cent of global CO2 emissions. The way to square it up is by making use of CO2 alongside cement in concrete production.

When you inject liquid CO2 into wet concrete, it turns into carbon dioxide snow, which reacts with calcium ions in the cement to form hard calcium carbonate nano particles. The dreaded greenhouse gas is therefore permanently imprisoned in concrete 17 kg of it per cubic metre of concrete.

The aim is the same as pouring water over freshly laid concrete for hardening it; only, the results are better.

The claim that carbonaceous concrete costs as much as conventional concrete may not be true. But whats important is that CO2-concrete has begun to attract climate funds. Last September, Amazon and Microsoft were part of a consortium that invested in Canadian company CarbonCure, a player in this technology, which aims at bringing down emissions by 500 million tonnes by 2030. All set for the future, so to speak.

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An eye on the enemy - BusinessLine

Hello, Earthlings!This is our weekly newsletter on all things environmental, where we highlight trends and solutions that are moving us to a more sustainable world.(Sign up hereto get it in your inbox everyThursday.)

This week:

What On Earth27:01Can we really suck CO2 out of the air?

Carbon capture is often talked about as a climate solution, but a growing chorus of experts caution it may not be that effective, and in some cases could even add to greenhouse gas emissions.

"Direct air capture" promises to filter existing carbon dioxide out of the air, whereas "point-source capture" grabs carbon dioxide from smokestacks, ideally preventing emissions associated with things like steel, cement or power plants (like Saskatchewan's coal-fired Boundary Dam project) from even reaching the atmosphere.

But recent study of carbon capture processes casts doubt on their efficacy in reducing overall emissions.

In fact, a lot of captured carbon is being repurposed to extract more oil and gas.

"People have heard about carbon capture, they have this sort of warm and fuzzy idea that this can be something good to save us. And that's because they have this impression that we can have carbon-neutral fossil fuels," said June Sekera, a policy expert and visiting scholar at the New School in New York and senior research fellow at Boston University.

Sekera and a colleague reviewed 200 papers on the topic, including direct air capture and point-source capture. While captured carbon can be stored in a number of ways (including underground and in concrete), it is estimated up to 81 per cent is used in a process called enhanced oil recovery (EOR), a decades-old practice to extract remaining oil from an oil field.

The oil industry has touted this process as win-win more efficient extraction and reduced emissions. Some research suggests that the EOR process could store about half of the carbon dioxide used to extract oil. But that means it still emits more CO2 than it captures.

"A carbon removal process can be labelled as 'net-negative' when it removes more carbon dioxide than the emissions required to achieve that removal. But in the case of enhanced oil recovery, the extraction of oil is not in service of carbon removal," said Andrew Bergman, a PhD student in applied physics at Harvard University who contributed to a new book on CO2 removal and is helping develop carbon removal technology.

"Talking about the 'carbon content' of oil extracted using enhanced oil recovery obscures the fact that [it's] a process, very simply, for extracting oil," said Bergman via email. "Oil itself cannot be net-negative. Oil is oil."

Rather than assume we can replace other oil extraction with this particular method, Sekera said we should push for public policy measures to reduce the demand for oil.

"We need energy," she said. "We don't need fossil fuels to be that source of energy."

By extending the life of fossil fuels, Sekera worries it will delay the switch to renewable energy. It's a concern shared by Dale Marshall, national program manager with the organization Environmental Defence.

"Any time a government talks about fossil fuels being some kind of a bridge to a future sustainable world or a stepping stone to dealing with climate change, essentially what that means is we're going to delay the phasing out of fossil fuels," said Marshall.

Direct air capture technologies that filter carbon dioxide from the atmosphere have been demonstrated at a small scale including ClimeWorks in Switzerland and Carbon Engineering in B.C. (see photo above). But they would require massive amounts of renewable energy in order to take more emissions out of the atmosphere than they emit.

Some suggest that while we need to quickly shift to renewable energy, we should also think about how carbon removal, like direct air capture, could fit into the larger emissions-reduction picture.

"Fossil fuel companies [being] involved in carbon removal is controversial," said Shuchi Talati, a senior policy advisor with Carbon 180, aD.C.-based NGO. While she acknowledged that this sort of technology may be important in the interim, she said "the public should benefit from [carbon capture] technology."

Talati said regulation and transparency of carbon capture would allow governments to procure carbon storage as a public service.

"In my ideal future, none of this carbon would be going towards enhancing the [oil] recovery," she said. "It would be stored underground. And that's really how you benefit from that captured carbon when you permanently lock it away, whether it's underground or in materials like concrete. I think using it for [oil] recovery is not a way that the public can profit from those actions."

Molly Segal

Last week, Emily Chung wrote about some emerging eco-friendly consumer trends, including decreased meat consumption and increased active transport (like walking and cycling).

A reader named Urbano had this to say:

"Thank you for the article about green habits on the rise. May I also suggest you write one on the rise of groups such as the Buy Nothing Project. My neighbourhood Buy Nothing group has grown so much we recently had to split into several smaller groups.

"During the time I've belonged, I've seen food and tool sharing, people getting together to help neighbours in need furnish their apartments with items they no longer have need of and many smaller acts of sharing, such as passing on clothes no longer worn or household items they never use. In addition to building community, this means hundreds of items even food are not ending up in the waste stream."

In response to an item in the last newsletter about plastic pollution at a Serbian hydro-power plant, Debra Hayes said, "When I look at photos like those taken of the plastic-clogged Serbian dam, I think we are the plague and COVID is here to save the Earth from us."

There's also a radio show! This week, What on Earth asks: Does sucking CO2 out of the air live up to the promise? From capturing carbon at industrial plants to filtering it from the air, join host Laura Lynch for a look at what it all meansand if it is a viable part of our climate future. Listen to What on Earth on CBC Radio One on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. in Newfoundland, orany time on podcast orCBC Listen.

Reducing carbon emissions and addressing the ancillary impacts of climate change are monumental tasks that require co-operation across jurisdictional boundaries. Let's face it that often doesn't happen. Governments at the national level have the money and legislative sway to address many environmental challenges, but they don't always demonstrate the will, which is why lower levels of government often feel compelled to act. Cities are hubs of social, economic and environmental activity, which is why several years ago, a number of them banded together to form C40, "a network of the world's megacities committed to addressing climate change" (their words). The list includes places like Paris, New York, Shanghai and Addis Ababa as well as Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. C40 cities have taken bold steps on initiatives like renewable energy, reducing building emissions and phasing out plastics always with an eye on sharing knowledge.

In a sign of its seriousness about pivoting to electric vehicles, General Motors has announced that it is minting a new business called BrightDrop, which would build delivery vehicles using GM's Optium battery system. The fleet will include a van that can go about 400 kilometres on a single charge. This comes on the heels of a redesign of the company's iconic logo it's now lower-case and rendered in an electric blue.

A series of new studies suggests that the planet is losing one to two per cent of its insects every year. The list of causes should seem quite familiar by now they include climate change, insecticides, invasive species and changes in land use.

Worldwide carbon emissions during the pandemic have been down about seven per cent, but research by the New York-based Rhodium Group suggests it was more like 10 per cent in the U.S.

CBC News business columnist Don Pittis wrote about the broader implications of the introduction of water futures.

You could be forgiven if, amid the recent chaos of COVID-19 and U.S. politics, you missed some news related to what is arguably Canada's most valuable natural resource.

Just before Christmas, the CME Group, the New York-based market operator that takes its name from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, began trading water futures. For the first time, Wall Street traders are now able to take a stake in the future value of water the way they have with other agricultural and mineral commodities.

As with gold or pork bellies or natural gas, commodities speculators may see it as a kind of sophisticated gambling on derivatives. But the intent of the new water futures market is to share the risk of unexpected price swings for farmers and other water users.

While traded in North America's financial capital, so far the water contracts being bought and sold are limited to five water districts in drought-prone California. But it could expand well beyond the Golden State.

"Climate change, droughts, population growth and pollution are likely to make water scarcity issues and pricing a hot topic for years to come," RBC Capital Markets managing director Deane Dray told Bloomberg Green.

Water remains big business. But the idea of the wet stuff as something to be bought and sold by Wall Street speculators does not necessarily sit well with those who study the economics of this resource in Canada.

"I find it quite disturbing," said Jim Warren, a Regina-based scholar and author of Defying Palliser: Stories of Resilience from the Driest Region of the Canadian Prairies.

Water has always been seen by economists as a special case. Like the air we breathe, it is more valuable to human life than gold or oil or even, in the short term, food. But because of its relative abundance, water's traditional price in Canada has been close to zero.

In the driest parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Warren said there are signs that may be changing. He points to events around the year 2000, when Alberta and Saskatchewan were suffering a serious drought and communities and their industrial users were running out of water in the Lethbridge area.

Warren said that under an implied threat from the provincial government, and for a financial consideration, irrigation associations of farmers who had allocations of water cut back on their use by about a third. Elsewhere, individual farmers who had allocations of their own made private deals with neighbours to share some of their water.

"It wasn't as if there were public auctions," said Warren. "At the curling rinks and coffee shops, you sort of figured out what it might be worth to sell some of what [you] had to others."

The situation demonstrated how water was already being commodified.

As a provincial resource under the Constitution, there is no single set of rules for water use in Canada. However, the general rule is that water cannot be bought or owned. Instead, it is allocated by provincial regulation.

Diane Dupont, a water economist at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., said in most cases, the water itself costs nothing for municipal and large industrial users and that creates problems of its own.

"Typically, they're paying a very low fee," said Dupont, author of Running Through Our Fingers: How Canada Fails to Capture the Value of its Top Asset. "They're not paying the value of the water."

Despite the apparent abundance of water in Canada, she said, low prices mean the best-quality water in many regions is in increasingly short supply and being overused.

Roy Brouwer, executive director of the Water Institute at the University of Waterloo, said that introducing various market price systems might fix that.

Of course, in the past, leaving speculators in charge of the price of essential goods such as when Enron helped bid up the price of gas and electricity in the early 2000s has sometimes worked out badly for end users.

"If you leave it completely to the market, you might end up with some of these extreme situations," said Brouwer. "Somewhere in between considering water a human right and the commodification of water through these water markets is probably where you want to be."

Don Pittis

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