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Tesla (TSLA) might have a formidable new challenger in the high-tech self-driving electric car game, and its coming from an unlikely place: Apple (AAPL). Rumors that Apple is finally getting its automotive ambitions off the ground are hotter than ever, and multiple reports say it might have a partner for its so-called Apple Car in Hyundai-Kia.

For Tesla, Apple entering the EV race is a shot across the bow, and Hyundai is potentially a perfect EV marriage, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives told Yahoo Finance.

Apple, like Tesla, would be entering the market with an outside perspective. And with its exceptional customer service knowledge, it could easily eliminate the drudgery of going to the local dealership. Whats more, Apple knows how to generate customer interest in its products, and comes with a built-in and loyal customer base. The companys top-notch supply chain management, which CEO Tim Cook built out, would help it compete with Tesla even more.

Apple will surely have a long way to go to catch up with Tesla, but it might prove to be the kind of challenger to Musks empire that traditional automakers could only hope to be.

Apple has reportedly been working on building out its own vehicle since 2014. But the process on whats known as Project Titan has proceeded in fits and starts. First, Apple was said to be working on building its own car from scratch. Then, it was just working on self-driving software, and now Apple is reportedly teaming with Hyundai to do the heavy lifting on overall vehicle architecture.

Because Apple will reportedly use Hyundas Kia plant in Georgia, it already has a leg up on Tesla which had to build out its production capabilities. At one point in 2018, Musk was sleeping on the floor of Teslas production facility and set up an additional assembly line under an outdoor tent. Notably, Musk said he tried to get a meeting with Apples Cook at the time to sell the company to Apple. But Cook didnt respond, according to Musk.

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There are two big reasons Apple could rival Tesla the tech giant understands how to please customers and it knows how to manufacture high-end products that people want but dont need.

No matter how you cut it, this will provide a rival to Tesla, Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy told Yahoo Finance. Like Tesla, Apple focuses on the experience, so I see them in the same sphere of competition.

To understand Apples commitment to customer service, look no further than the Apple Store. You can walk in, talk to a salesperson, and you can get a phone on the spot. They dont pester you to upgrade or buy accessories they just set up your phone right away.

If Apple can bring that seamless approach to cars, something Tesla has managed, then the tech giant could change the game for the electric vehicle industry.

Think about the areas of improvement for customer satisfaction, Moorhead said. Unless you drive a super premium car, dreading to go into the dealer. And then there's the whole purchasing experience. I would expect them to change that whole dynamic.

Apple also excels at positioning its products as semi-luxury devices, before releasing more affordable versions for everyday consumers. A splashy first-generation vehicle, similar to Teslas original Roadster, could drum up interest in a second-generation mid-range vehicle.

I feel like they're going to have to come out with a statement piece first, before they go after, let's call it a mainstream type of audience, Moorhead said.

Theres also the fact that Apple already has its own financing arm. By using favorable interest rates, the company could give its vehicles a wider potential consumer base.

Of course, theres no guarantee that an Apple Car will hit the streets anytime soon.

As of now, reports indicate Apple and Hyundai are discussing building a self-driving, electric car. According to AppleInsider, citing TF Securities analyst and frequent Apple prognosticator Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple could use Hyundais recently announced E-GMP electric vehicle platform for the Apple Car. The Wall Street Journal reports Hyundai is already seeking partners to help build Apples car.

It might sound odd for Apple to team with a third-party to build its own vehicles, but that would align with its standard business practices. The iPhone maker already pays manufacturers from around the world, including in the U.S., to produce individual pieces for its various devices, before sending them off to be assembled by the likes of Chinas Foxconn and others.

And part of that partnership means Apple spending to build out those manufacturers facilities. Doing so would provide Hyundai with even more incentive to work with Apple.

Right now, its unclear whether well get a prototype of an Apple Car in 2022 or a mass market vehicle by 2024. But either way, Tesla might not lead the EV space for much longer.

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Weve got a full month of 2021 behind us now, and a few trends are coming clearer. The coronavirus crisis may still be with us, but as vaccination programs expand, the end is in sight. With President Trump out of the picture, and the Democrats holding both Houses of Congress and the White House, politics is looking more predictable. And both of those developments bode well for an economic recovery this year. Looking back, at the year that was, we can also see some trends that stayed firm despite the pandemic, the shutdowns, and the supercharged election season. One of the most important is the ongoing rollout of 5G networking technology. These new networks bring with them a fuller realization of the promises inherent in the digital world. Faster connections, lower latency, higher online capacity, clearer signals all will strongly enhance the capabilities of the networked world. And it wont just be mundane things like telecommuting or remote offices that will benefit 5G will allow Internet of Things and autonomous vehicles to further develop their potential. There is even talk of medical applications, of remotely located doctors performing surgery via digitally controlled microsurgical tools. And these are just the possibilities that we can see from now. Who know what the future will really bring? To this end, we pulled up TipRanks database to learn more about three exciting plays in the 5G space. According to the Street, we are likely to see further interesting developments in the next few years as this technology takes over. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) The first 5G name were looking at, Skyworks, is a semiconductor chip manufacturer that brought in $3.4 billion in total revenues for FY2020. Skyworks, which is a prime supplier of chips for Apples iPhone series, saw a massive 68% year-over-year increase in 1QFY21 revenues the top line reached $1.51 billion, a company record, and also much higher than analysts had forecast. Much of Skyworks fiscal Q1 sales success came after Apple launched the 5G-capable iPhone 12 line. Strong sales in the popular handset device meant that profits trickled down the supply line and Skyworks channels a disproportionate share of its business to Apple. In fact, Apple orders accounted for 70% of Skyworks revenue in the recent quarter. iPhone wasnt the only 5G handset on the receiving end of Skyworks chips, however the company is also an important supplier to Koreas Samsung and Chinas Xiaomi, and has seen demand rise as these companies also launch 5G-capable smartphones. Finally, Skyworks supplies semiconductor chip components to the wireless infrastructure sector, specifically to the small cell transmission units which are important in the propagation network of wireless signals. As the wireless providers switch to 5G transmission, Skyworks has seen orders for its products increase. In his note on Skyworks for Benchmark, 5-star analyst Ruben Roy writes: SWKS significantly beat consensus estimates and provided March quarter guidance that is also well ahead of consensus estimates as 5G related mobile revenue and broad-based segment revenue continued to accelerate In addition to continued strength of design win momentum and customer activity, we are encouraged with SWKS confident tone relative to the overall demand environment and content increase opportunities. In line with his comments, Roy rates SWKS a Buy along with a $215 price target. At current levels, this implies an upside of 20% for the coming year. (To watch Roys track record, click here) Roy is broadly in line with the rest of Wall Street, which has assigned SWKS 13 Buy ratings and 7 Holds over the past three month -- and sees the stock growing about 15% over the next 12 months, to a target price of $205.69.(See SWKS stock analysis on TipRanks) Qorvo, Inc. (QRVO) Qorvos chief products are chipsets used in the construction of radio frequency transmission systems that power wifi and broadband communication networks. The connection of this niche to 5G is clear as network providers upgrade their RF hardware to 5G, they also upgrade the semiconductor chips that control the systems. This chip maker has a solid niche, but it is not resting on its laurels. Qorvo is actively developing a range of new products specifically for 5G systems and deployment. This 5G radio frequency product portfolio includes phase shifters, switches, and integrated modules, and contains both infrastructure and mobile products. Qorvo posted $3.24 billion in total revenues for fiscal 2020. That revenue represents a 4.8% year-over-year increase and the companys sales have been accelerating in fiscal 2021. The most recent quarterly report, for the second fiscal quarter, showed $1.06 billion in revenues, a 31% yoy increase. Rajvindra Gill, 5-star analyst with Needham, is bullish on Qorvos prospects, noting: Qorvo reported strong sales and gross margins as 5G momentum rolls into CY21 on atypical seasonality... The company is planning for 500M 5G handsets to be manufactured in 2021, with an incremental $5-7 of content/unit from 4G to 5G. Management believes that ultra-wideband adoption will be a key growth driver in for smartphones going forward..." To this end, Gill puts a $220 price target on QRVO shares, suggesting room for 31% upside in 2021. Accordingly, he rates the stock a Buy. (To watch Gills track record, click here) What do other analysts have to say? 13 Buys and and 6 Holds add up to a Moderate Buy analyst consensus. Given the $192.28 average price target, shares could climb ~15% from current levels. (See QRVO stock analysis on TipRanks) Telefonakiebolaget LM Ericsson (ERIC) From chipsets, well move on to handsets. Ericsson, the Swedish telecom giant has long been a leader in mobile tech, and is well known for its infrastructure and software that make possible IP networking, broadband, cable TV, and other telecom services. Ericsson is the largest European telecom company, and the largest 2G/3G/4G infrastructure provider outside of China. But that is all in the background. Ericsson is also a leader in the rollout of Europes growing 5G networks. Ericsson is involved in 5G rollout in 17 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and its product line includes infrastructure base units and handsets, giving the company an interest in all aspects of the new 5G networks. Ericssons revenue performance in 2020 was not notably distressed by the corona crisis. Yes, the top line dipped in Q1, but that was in line with the companys historical pattern of rising revenue from Q1 through Q4. While the companys 1H20 revenues showed small yoy declines, the 2H20 gains were higher. In Q3, the $6.48 billion top line was up 8.7% yoy, and Q4s $8.08 billion revenue was up 17% from the prior year. The companys shares have also performed well during the corona year, and show a 12 month gain of 64%. Raymond James 5-star analyst Simon Leopold bluntly assigns Ericssons recent gains to its participation in 5G rollouts. Japan's awaited 5G roll-out has started. Share gains continue as Ericsson benefits from challenges facing its biggest competitors and more operators embrace 5G it seems obvious that Ericsson should be gaining market share... Competitor Nokia shunned the Chinese 5G projects, citing profitability challenges, yet Ericsson appears to be profiting in the challenging region. Leopold rates this stock an Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his $15 price target implies an upside potential of ~14% for the year ahead. (To watch Leopolds track record, click here) The Raymond James analyst, while bullish on ERIC, is actually less so than the Wall Street consensus. The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on a unanimous 5 reviews, and the $16.50 average price target indicates 25% growth potential from the share price of $13.19. (See ERIC stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for 5G stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Its risky, and it seems to go against everything the NBA tries to stand for, but the All-Star Game is happening.

Things have to be dotted and crossed, but it seems like a formality. The NBA will risk it all on red, players and personnel from all across the country convening down on Atlanta like its Oceans Eleven for one big heist.

Some teams have had a weeks worth of games canceled due to COVID-19 infections or contact tracing and the league doesnt even have a second-half schedule yet to distribute publicly, but it will go forward with All-Star festivities that will take place on a day instead of a usual weekend.

Considering the summer bubble was pulled off without a relative problem and the league feels its gained more of a feel on how to conduct its business in relation to the virus since the season has started, its comfortable with the risk.

Tell that to the random, dangerous and deadly COVID-19, which can take lives mercilessly and without reason. Especially in Atlanta, which feels like a hotter spot than Florida was last summer when the NBA went to Walt Disney World and stayed for 100 days without incident.

Its not in Atlanta as some cruel joke, but because Turner Studios is located there, its a much easier event to put on considering all the behind-scenes personnel wont have to travel, and the players will only be there for a day or so, most likely quarantined until the game and shuffled immediately back to their home markets after.

But like the Super Bowl just illustrated, where a barber for the Kansas City Chiefs couldve infected the entire team testing positive after five days of negative testing all it takes is one cross interaction to turn a stripped-down event into an unwilling super-spreader party.

It doesnt seem worth it, the variables too uncontrollable to the naked eye, but its understandable.

Some inside the league office rightfully claim players will take the All-Star break to go someplace exotic to get away likely a place without stringent testing and carrying much more risk than a one-day event.

Story continues

And while Bora Bora or the Caribbean could do things differently, if a player contracts the virus while away, the eye of the public will be on him.

If he does it at All-Star and brings it back to his market and his team, the league will have to wear it.

When the NBA made the decision to start the season when it did, during Christmas week when all of the infectious disease experts rightfully stated it would result in a huge spike in viruses across the country, it did so for the money.

And nothing stops the money train.

Fan voting is up, even from last years All-Star weekend in Chicago when the league was reeling from the untimely death of Kobe Bryant and prepping for its new rules which turned out to be wildly successful.

Next to the conference finals and NBA Finals, the signature event is All-Star weekend, with the most eyeballs and greatest opportunity to promote the game. Apparently, the players, or at least the ones with an audience with commissioner Adam Silver, want it.

So do the broadcast partners.

So its on, although players like Sacramentos DeAaron Fox shouldnt have their concerns drowned in the chorus of capitalism and show business.

If Im gonna be brutally honest, I think its stupid, said Fox, who noted the league will fine players who are selected but dont attend All-Star weekend. Money makes the world go round, it is what it is.

The NBA knows the dangers, hence the tightened protocols about player contact after games with handshakes and jersey exchanges, as if this isnt a sport full of body contact for 48 minutes.

It flies in the face of common sense but the most recent wave of testing has shown no new cases just some false-positives that have caused a few delays in the meantime.

The league feels comfortable moving forward with this, the financial rewards and capital among its younger subset of fans critical toward its continued growth.

Who knows how the money will be dispersed to HBCUs and if itll make a tangible impact, but clearly the players are on board with it if they truly have a choice in this.

Could they say no? Theoretically, but the blowback would likely be massive and its probably not worth the fight considering how both sides have navigated through the unease of COVID-19 with some real pragmatism.

Nothing about this virus feels practical, and anyone who doesnt live in a bubble carries a level of risk every day, balancing whats realistic with whats important.

The NBA is just doing this on a much grander scale, the rewards more tangible, the consequences more unknown.

Earlier Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was peppered about the leagues failure to hire anyone besides white men for head coaching positions despite the social climate, incentives and some of Goodells own wishes.

Those decisions were made by individual team owners who refuse to stand to account for the micro-actions that create an ugly macro picture.

Silver will soon have his turn, not as a sole caretaker for where the game is going, but as a representative for 30 NBA team owners. Owners who need this to happen to offset some of the financial losses they have incurred with the lack of fans in seats, but also owners who dont have to take on the risk of flying into Atlanta for a day for a meaningless game.

These are also owners who may not take the chance to throwing on an unassuming mask to escape the hotel for a trip to Magic City, Body Tap or Strokers for a decent meal hence why the wings and steaks should be delivered to the hotel to prevent such subterfuge.

It should make you feel a bit icky, and wonder if Silver is cashing in his goodwill for a cash grab. If the incentives are that plentiful, fine.

The NBA is a business, not a charity or altruistic enterprise. If it happens to spread some good cheer on the way to making money, so be it.

But it was and always has been a stretch to assign some moral or extra value to a sports league whose number one objective is to make money. Itll take years to recoup lost revenue due to this pandemic and presumably, the jobs that impact people we dont often see.

The NFL didnt have a Pro Bowl, and it survived, getting to the finish line this weekend.

Its mantra is no different from the NBAs, but we just see them differently.

Dolla, dolla bill, yall.

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NBA knows the dangers of the All-Star Game but nothing stops the money train - Yahoo Sports

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Weve got a full month of 2021 behind us now, and a few trends are coming clearer. The coronavirus crisis may still be with us, but as vaccination programs expand, the end is in sight. With President Trump out of the picture, and the Democrats holding both Houses of Congress and the White House, politics is looking more predictable. And both of those developments bode well for an economic recovery this year. Looking back, at the year that was, we can also see some trends that stayed firm despite the pandemic, the shutdowns, and the supercharged election season. One of the most important is the ongoing rollout of 5G networking technology. These new networks bring with them a fuller realization of the promises inherent in the digital world. Faster connections, lower latency, higher online capacity, clearer signals all will strongly enhance the capabilities of the networked world. And it wont just be mundane things like telecommuting or remote offices that will benefit 5G will allow Internet of Things and autonomous vehicles to further develop their potential. There is even talk of medical applications, of remotely located doctors performing surgery via digitally controlled microsurgical tools. And these are just the possibilities that we can see from now. Who know what the future will really bring? To this end, we pulled up TipRanks database to learn more about three exciting plays in the 5G space. According to the Street, we are likely to see further interesting developments in the next few years as this technology takes over. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) The first 5G name were looking at, Skyworks, is a semiconductor chip manufacturer that brought in $3.4 billion in total revenues for FY2020. Skyworks, which is a prime supplier of chips for Apples iPhone series, saw a massive 68% year-over-year increase in 1QFY21 revenues the top line reached $1.51 billion, a company record, and also much higher than analysts had forecast. Much of Skyworks fiscal Q1 sales success came after Apple launched the 5G-capable iPhone 12 line. Strong sales in the popular handset device meant that profits trickled down the supply line and Skyworks channels a disproportionate share of its business to Apple. In fact, Apple orders accounted for 70% of Skyworks revenue in the recent quarter. iPhone wasnt the only 5G handset on the receiving end of Skyworks chips, however the company is also an important supplier to Koreas Samsung and Chinas Xiaomi, and has seen demand rise as these companies also launch 5G-capable smartphones. Finally, Skyworks supplies semiconductor chip components to the wireless infrastructure sector, specifically to the small cell transmission units which are important in the propagation network of wireless signals. As the wireless providers switch to 5G transmission, Skyworks has seen orders for its products increase. In his note on Skyworks for Benchmark, 5-star analyst Ruben Roy writes: SWKS significantly beat consensus estimates and provided March quarter guidance that is also well ahead of consensus estimates as 5G related mobile revenue and broad-based segment revenue continued to accelerate In addition to continued strength of design win momentum and customer activity, we are encouraged with SWKS confident tone relative to the overall demand environment and content increase opportunities. In line with his comments, Roy rates SWKS a Buy along with a $215 price target. At current levels, this implies an upside of 20% for the coming year. (To watch Roys track record, click here) Roy is broadly in line with the rest of Wall Street, which has assigned SWKS 13 Buy ratings and 7 Holds over the past three month -- and sees the stock growing about 15% over the next 12 months, to a target price of $205.69.(See SWKS stock analysis on TipRanks) Qorvo, Inc. (QRVO) Qorvos chief products are chipsets used in the construction of radio frequency transmission systems that power wifi and broadband communication networks. The connection of this niche to 5G is clear as network providers upgrade their RF hardware to 5G, they also upgrade the semiconductor chips that control the systems. This chip maker has a solid niche, but it is not resting on its laurels. Qorvo is actively developing a range of new products specifically for 5G systems and deployment. This 5G radio frequency product portfolio includes phase shifters, switches, and integrated modules, and contains both infrastructure and mobile products. Qorvo posted $3.24 billion in total revenues for fiscal 2020. That revenue represents a 4.8% year-over-year increase and the companys sales have been accelerating in fiscal 2021. The most recent quarterly report, for the second fiscal quarter, showed $1.06 billion in revenues, a 31% yoy increase. Rajvindra Gill, 5-star analyst with Needham, is bullish on Qorvos prospects, noting: Qorvo reported strong sales and gross margins as 5G momentum rolls into CY21 on atypical seasonality... The company is planning for 500M 5G handsets to be manufactured in 2021, with an incremental $5-7 of content/unit from 4G to 5G. Management believes that ultra-wideband adoption will be a key growth driver in for smartphones going forward..." To this end, Gill puts a $220 price target on QRVO shares, suggesting room for 31% upside in 2021. Accordingly, he rates the stock a Buy. (To watch Gills track record, click here) What do other analysts have to say? 13 Buys and and 6 Holds add up to a Moderate Buy analyst consensus. Given the $192.28 average price target, shares could climb ~15% from current levels. (See QRVO stock analysis on TipRanks) Telefonakiebolaget LM Ericsson (ERIC) From chipsets, well move on to handsets. Ericsson, the Swedish telecom giant has long been a leader in mobile tech, and is well known for its infrastructure and software that make possible IP networking, broadband, cable TV, and other telecom services. Ericsson is the largest European telecom company, and the largest 2G/3G/4G infrastructure provider outside of China. But that is all in the background. Ericsson is also a leader in the rollout of Europes growing 5G networks. Ericsson is involved in 5G rollout in 17 countries in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and its product line includes infrastructure base units and handsets, giving the company an interest in all aspects of the new 5G networks. Ericssons revenue performance in 2020 was not notably distressed by the corona crisis. Yes, the top line dipped in Q1, but that was in line with the companys historical pattern of rising revenue from Q1 through Q4. While the companys 1H20 revenues showed small yoy declines, the 2H20 gains were higher. In Q3, the $6.48 billion top line was up 8.7% yoy, and Q4s $8.08 billion revenue was up 17% from the prior year. The companys shares have also performed well during the corona year, and show a 12 month gain of 64%. Raymond James 5-star analyst Simon Leopold bluntly assigns Ericssons recent gains to its participation in 5G rollouts. Japan's awaited 5G roll-out has started. Share gains continue as Ericsson benefits from challenges facing its biggest competitors and more operators embrace 5G it seems obvious that Ericsson should be gaining market share... Competitor Nokia shunned the Chinese 5G projects, citing profitability challenges, yet Ericsson appears to be profiting in the challenging region. Leopold rates this stock an Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his $15 price target implies an upside potential of ~14% for the year ahead. (To watch Leopolds track record, click here) The Raymond James analyst, while bullish on ERIC, is actually less so than the Wall Street consensus. The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on a unanimous 5 reviews, and the $16.50 average price target indicates 25% growth potential from the share price of $13.19. (See ERIC stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for 5G stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Why the 'disappointing' jobs number could be good news for the White House's stimulus push - Yahoo Finance

When Super Bowl LV kicks off Sunday, at least one hulking human a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman with an especially vested interest in the outcome will watch it all by himself.

In many ways, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is as excited for it as he is nervous. He started for the Kansas City Chiefs 2019 Super Bowl championship team, and he knows the itch to get back to the game will be clawing at him as much as ever since he became the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID.

You know, winning at Arrowhead Stadium in front of 80,000 people ... It's a feeling thats almost like a drug, said Duvernay-Tardif, who spoke to Yahoo Sports on behalf of Microban 24s Most Valuable Protector program. There were plenty of times during the season that I was like, I've got to be down there.

But I also knew what I signed up for.

Indeed. But in 2018, when Duvernay-Tardif became the first active NFL player to become a medical doctor, he had no idea it would lay the foundation to one day sacrifice an entire season of his prime to further serve his community.

Thats exactly what happened this season, when the native Canadian continued his offseason work as an orderly in a long-term care facility just outside of Montreal as a way of fighting against the pandemic.

I feel like it was the right call for me to make, to err on the side of caution, Duvernay-Tardif said. Like, there were so many things that were unknown back then and that are still unknown, that I just felt like I had to make that call in order to live well with that decision 10 years from now when I'm going to be full-time in the medical world.

Still, it was a tough decision for Duvernay-Tardif. He was happy to see the league carry on as it inches toward the completion of a full season despite the pandemic.

Football is probably the only thing that brings people together now these days, and we need that, we need that to help us go through this crisis. That's what sports can do, Duvernay-Tardif said.

Story continues

And while the itch to play has arisen a few times this season, the overwhelming support he received from Chiefs coach Andy Reid and his teammates always reinforced his choice.

It means a lot because to be honest, when I made that decision, I felt like I was letting my team down. And I was to a certain extent, you know? Duvernay-Tardif said. So feeling the support from coach Reid, from the guys, not only over the phone but also in the media and press conferences, it really means a lot. It's what the team is all about.

Duvernay-Tardif also knows Reids support comes from a sincere place since he has always been understanding and accommodating of Duvernay-Tardifs medical dreams, which certainly isnt a given in a sport filled with coaches intent on finding players who are only about football.

Back in 2014, he was the only coach that, during the pre-draft visit, saw the medical school thing as a cool thing, as a positive thing, and he said he was going to help me and that's really what he did, Duvernay-Tardif said. So when I called him and he was like, Yes I support you, I understand what you're what you're trying to accomplish, it really meant a lot.

So after announcing his decision in July, Duvernay-Tardif carried on to a new pattern, a new rhythm without the very sport that has played the pre-eminent role in his life for the past decade.

Since then, he has spent two to three days a week working with patients at a Quebec long-term care facility, doing everything from changing them to feeding them to putting in IVs and doing blood draws. On the side, hes also advanced his medical curriculum by starting a master's program in public health at Harvard.

Yet its Duvernay-Tardifs experiences in the facility and the things he has seen that wont soon be forgotten.

When somebody tests positive and youve got to rush into their room and basically, like, strip them of their belongings and send them into a red zone, there's some stuff that ... you know the odds that they might not be coming back, Duvernay-Tardif said. And it's such a fragile and vulnerable population that you're working with that you also take a big responsibility on making sure that you don't bring the virus in the building. So ... I was never really scared of COVID for myself, but that idea of potentially doing harm to my patient because I exposed myself in the community ... that's something that you've got to live with, too.

The COVID situation has been evolving in Quebec. Right now it has a curfew, he said, and he has to be home by 8 every night, which means he can't really see anybody.

Gone is the apartment he used to rent as a transitional zone, where he showered and washed his clothes with special soap before going home in order to protect his loved ones from any virus exposure he might have brought from the facility.

Interestingly enough, he could rejoin the NFL sooner rather than later. He haas stayed in shape, lifting regularly while consulting with a team of nutritionists and trainers. Duvernay-Tardif also received the first dose of the COVID vaccine two weeks ago and expects to get the second within the next month

I feel pretty good, Duvernay-Tardif said, and the good thing too is that I don't have all the impact of a full season on my body. I feel like I'm going to hit this offseason pretty fresh and ready to go.

So much so that Duvernay-Tardif went as far to say that hes focused on getting back to Kansas City in July, even though no one is sure how COVID will affect the NFLs schedule for the next several months.

In the meantime, Duvernay-Tardif will enjoy rooting for his friends to finish the journey they started in July on Sunday, when the Chiefs try to beat Tampa Bay to become the first team since the 2004 Patriots to go back-to-back.

It's one thing to go down there and win the Super Bowl, but to go back for a second year in a row with COVID, with all the uncertainty and I mean, even though we had a good team, you've still got to do it every week for 16 weeks, Duvernay-Tardif said. I'm really proud of the guys and I'm going to be rooting for them on Sunday.

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Laurent Duvernay-Tardif decided to fight the COVID pandemic rather than for another Super Bowl title. He has no regrets - Yahoo Sports

A Gold Coast weatherman has pulled a lifeless body from the rough Queensland surf moments after a live cross.

Luke Bradnam was reporting the dangerous conditions at Narrowneck Beach for Nine News on Friday evening when he said a swimmer told him he had seen someone struggling in the water.

Just after I got off air chatting with you guys a boogie boarder just behind me here alerted me here at Narrowneck, alerted me he thought hed seen someone struggling again out in the surf, Mr Bradnam told Channel 9.

The weatherman said he immediately stripped down and rushed into the water with the other swimmer to help but unfortunately it was too late.

When we got close it became pretty evident that there was a body floating in the water, Mr Bradnam told Nine.

The body is believed to be a British national who had moved to the Gold Coast from the UK and had been missing since Thursday.

The body however has not been formally identified.

The discovery of the body at Narrowneck came after a woman in her late 20s was found unresponsive on Kurrawa beach about 10.15pm on Thursday.

The woman and the British national were initially seen going into the ocean at Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach, about 9.20pm on Thursday.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Several beaches are closed on the Gold Coast due to dangerous conditions and swimmers are reminded to stay between the flags.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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TV weatherman's grim discovery after live cross - Yahoo News Australia

Make your MLB plans for the 2021 season with Yahoo Fantasy Baseball.

Yahoo Fantasy Baseball is officially LIVE for the 2021 season, and were proud to once again be the official Fantasy Commissioner Game of MLB.com.

We know many of you have been waiting to make your Fantasy Baseball plans for the upcoming season. The wait is over sign up today!

As for the 2021 version of our game, everything you love is back. New to fantasy? Need a refresher on how to play? We have you covered.

Yahoo Fantasy will also help you get ready to draft with advice from some of the best analysts in the business, including Andy Behrens, Dalton Del Don, and Scott Pianowski.

[Batter up: Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for free today]

Our experts already have their early draft rankings out. In the coming days and weeks, well follow up with position primers, sleepers, busts, breakout candidates and so much more. Let our analysts do the work so you dont have to sweat getting ready for your draft.

But the draft itself is just the beginning of Fantasy Baseball. Well keep you up to speed all season long with waiver wire advice, emerging trends, prospects to stash, and our ground-breaking Fearless Forecast series with hundreds of player predictive videos each week so you can stay ahead of the competition.

And be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for ongoing fantasy tips for both season-long and Daily Fantasy.

Coming off the unprecedented 2020 season, which featured a 60-game schedule, we wanted to address a couple of pressing questions ...

We've adjusted scoring for points-only and head-to-head points leagues to have better balance between fantasy value for pitchers and hitters. Since these are private leagues, the settings can always be adjusted by any commissioner.

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Now go sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Baseball and start prepping for the 2021 season. Good luck!

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Yahoo Fantasy Baseball is open: Sign up to play for the 2021 season - Yahoo Sports

TipRanks

We are entering a new paradigm for the oil and gas industry, one far removed from the Trump Presidencys pro-drilling policies. The Biden Admin is likely to cut back on oil and gas production in the US, in favor of promoting renewable energy sources and carbon pollution reduction. In the short run, his policies are likely to push oil and gas prices up and that may turn out to help the hydrocarbon sector, at least at the bottom line, over the coming year. But for the oil companies, the lessons of 2020 appear in the balance sheets. The massive spike down in prices last May, followed by a quick recovery, only to finish the year at roughly the same price as it began all of this has the producers looking to cut back on spending, consolidate or reduce debt, and maintain free cash flow. In the words of Raymond James oil industry analyst John Freeman: [We] enter 4Q20 earnings and 2021 capital budget season with WTI trading, ironically, in essentially the same low $50s range as we did this time last year. While crude is largely in the same spot, the industry has definitely undergone a strategic shift with balance sheet health and returning capital to shareholders by far the highest priorities. In addition to noting the general trend of the industry after a difficult year, Freeman has also been updating his stance on individual oil and gas stocks. Two in particular have gotten Freemans attention. He sees at least 50% upside potential for each of them. We ran the two through TipRanks' database to see what other Wall Street's analysts have to say about them. Apache Corporation (APA) With headquarters in Houston, Texas, Apache is an important operator in the North American oil industry. The companys US hydrocarbon exploration and production activities are located in the Permian Basin, along the Gulf Coast, and in the Gulf Mexico. Apache also has operations in the UK (in the North Sea), in Egypt (in the Western Desert), and in Suriname (offshore). The companys Permian holdings include 665.8 million barrels of oil equivalent, 66% of its proven reserves. The company beat the quarterly revenue expectations in the third quarter, with $1.12 billion at the top line. Since reporting the Q3 revenue, Apaches stock has gained 71%. The company reported 445,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Q3 production. Covering the stock for Raymond James, analyst John Freeman writes: We continue to like Apache's diversified portfolio of U.S. onshore and international assets (Egypt, the North Sea, and Suriname), and given Apache's considerable commodity exposure (only hedged Waha basis in 2021), the company is ideally situated to capitalize on our projected resurgence in commodity prices in the 2021/2022 timeframe. Adding to this, the operator has an extremely robust FCF profile [and] proven commitment to capital discipline In line with these comments, the analyst gives APA a Strong Buy rating and a $24 price target that implies a 60% upside potential over the coming 12 months. (To watch Freemans track record, click here) Freeman leads the Bulls on Apache. The stock has a Moderate Buy from the analyst consensus, based on 12 reviews that include 6 Buys, 5 Holds, and 1 Sell. The shares are selling for $14.94, and their $19.30 average price target suggests room for 29% upside growth this year. (See APA stock analysis on TipRanks) Diamondback Energy (FANG) Also based in Texas, Diamondback Energy is another player in the Permian Basin energy boom. The company boasts an $8.9 billion market cap and saw revenues hit $720 million in the third quarter of 2020. Production in the quarter averaged 287.8 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day. Diamondbacks reserves total more than 1.12 billion barrels of oil equivalent, of which 63% are oil and 37% are natural gas and related liquids. Diamondback is expanding its operations through M&A activity. In December of last year, the company announced that it will be acquiring QEP Resources, a natural gas driller in the Midland Basin of the Permian formation along with operations in North Dakotas Williston formation. The acquisition is an all-stock deal, worth an estimated $2.2 billion. QEP brings 49,000 acres in the Midland for potential development, an average production of 48,300 thousand BOE per day, and 48 drilled but uncompleted wells. These assets are accretive to Diamondbacks portfolio. In a related piece of news, Diamondback has announced that it will also be acquiring Guidon, another rival Texas oil producer. Guidon brings additional Permian assets to Diamondback, and the acquisition is significant, valued at $862 million in both cash and stock. Casting his eye on Diamondback, Freeman sees the company in a strong position to meet the challenges of both the energy environment and the Biden Administrations regulatory policies. Going forward with the addition of QEP and Guidon acreage we anticipate the Midland accounts for ~75% of pro forma activity. Note that even after the QEP/Guidon acquisitions, FANG still has no federal acreage exposure - a significant positive given regulatory uncertainty will likely persist following the expiration of the 60-day leasing moratorium We believe FANG offers considerable upside potential over the long-term and are confident in the company's ability to weather near-term commodity uncertainties, Freeman opined. Unsurprisingly, Freeman rates FANG as a Strong Buy, along with a $91 price target. This figure indicates confidence in ~51% growth over the next 12 months. (To watch Freemans track record, click here) Theres broad agreement on Wall Street with Freemans position here. FANG stock holds a Strong Buy rating from the analyst consensus, based on 13 recent Buy reviews against just 3 Holds. The average price target is $67.37, which implies ~12% upside from the current trading price of $67.37. (See FANG stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for oil stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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GameStop mania has gotten inside the head of Wall Street - Yahoo Finance

Stocks dipped Friday morning, reversing course after a recovery rally on Thursday.

The Dow fell more than 150 points, or about 0.6%, shortly after the opening bell. The index had closed higher by 1%, or 300 points, a day earlier. Still, each of the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were on track to post weekly losses after dipping earlier in the week.

Shares of some of the heavily shorted stocks that had become popular picks among members of Reddits r/wallstreetbets forum surged anew after sliding during the regular session and giving back steep gains from earlier this week. GameStop (GME) shares rocketed higher after nearly halving on Thursday. Shares of AMC (AMC) also soared Friday after sliding on Thursday, as did shares of BlackBerry (BB), Express (EXPR), Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) and Nokia (NOK).

Over the course of this week, trading in these and other heavily shorted names generated historic trading volumes in equity markets, surpassing even the volume of trades taking place at the most volatile points of the pandemic in 2020. More than 23.6 billion shares of U.S.-traded stocks were exchanged on Wednesday this week, according to Bloomberg data, marking the most ever in records spanning more than a decade.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Friday it was closely monitoring and evaluating the extreme price volatility of certain stocks trading prices over the past several days, according to a statement. A day earlier, online brokerages including Robinhood, Webull Financial and E-Trade Financial blocked buying of many of these volatile shares, drawing the ire of users, criticism from lawmakers and a class action lawsuit against Robinhood for the trading restrictions.

Elsewhere, recent reports on U.S. economic activity came in better than expected, pointing to a tentative improvement in the economic landscape as investors await widespread vaccinations and lasting business reopenings. Weekly unemployment claims dipped below 900,000 for the first time in three weeks, albeit while remaining at a historically elevated level. And on Friday, new data showed that personal income rose more than expected in December, while consumer spending ticked down less than feared.

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I think what were looking at is, weve got pockets around the market that are decidedly showing signs of bubble-ness so to speak, whether that comes from what we saw [Wednesday], which was really a side-show of the markets, related to these shorted stocks that were driven up higher by individual investors, John Stoltzfus, Oppenheimer chief markets strategist, told Yahoo Finance on Thursday. The other side of it would be on a fundamental basis, what we are seeing is an economy that is positioning itself for a recovery process. And that means your core equities are likely to have an opportunity to move higher.

The valuation might be stretched in terms of a more conventional period, but right now with the Fed essentially magnanimously providing liquidity and fiscal policy coming to the rescue at least one more time to help small businesses and individuals, we would say that valuations are probably reflecting the current environment, and a need for investors who have intermediate to long term goals to invest in stories that are fundamentally sound, Stoltzfus added.

Pending home sales edged lower in December over November, steadying after a surge in housing market activity over the course of 2020.

Pending home sales declined 0.3% during the month, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index. This was better than the drop of 0.5% expected, according to Bloomberg consensus data.

Despite the month-over-month dip, pending home sales still remained 22.8% higher over the same month of 2019, as demand for new homes while social distancing as low mortgage rates buoyed housing market activity.

Here were the main moves in markets, as of 9:31 a.m. ET:

S&P 500 (^GSPC): -27.04 points (-0.71%) to 3,760.34

Dow (^DJI): -271.5 (+0.9%) to 30,331.86

Nasdaq (^IXIC): -42.88 (-39.33%) to 13,297.82

Crude (CL=F): +$0.71 (+1.36%) to $53.05 a barrel

Gold (GC=F):+$37.70 (+2.05%) to $1,878.90 per ounce

10-year Treasury (^TNX): +3.9 bps to yield 1.094%

U.S. personal income increased by 0.6% in December after a downwardly revised drop of 1.3% in November, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Friday. Decembers increase was better than the 0.1% tick up consensus economists expected, according to Bloomberg data.

The increase to personal income mostly came as a result of increased government social benefits, compensation and personal dividend income, the BEA reported. This included benefits through the pandemic unemployment assistance programs, which were renewed until March.

Personal spending, the biggest component of U.S. economic activity, ticked down just 0.2% in December, or half the expected decline for the month. This followed a revised drop of 0.7% in November.

The personal saving rate, or savings as a percentage of disposable income, increased for the first time since April in December, ticking up to 13.7% from 12.9%. This remained well above the pre-pandemic average rate of below 7.5% throughout 2019.

Core personal consumption expenditures, the Federal Reserves core inflation gauge, increased by only 1.3% year-over-year in December, coming in well below the Feds 2% target yet again.

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) reported Friday morning that its new single-shot COVID-19 vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe cases of the virus 28 days after vaccination. The data was based on a global study including more than 44,000 participants. In the U.S. alone, the efficacy rate for the vaccine was 72%.

The vaccine also prevented 85% of severe infections and 100% of hospitalizations and deaths, the company added.

The efficacy data came in below that from Pfizer and Moderna, with these drugmakers shots each conferring well over 90% efficacy in preventing COVID-19. However, unlike Pfizers and Modernas vaccines, J&Js is delivered in just a single dose, and can be stored for longer periods of times at less extreme temperatures.

J&J said it plans to file for emergency use authorization in the U.S. in February and expects to have product immediately available for shipment at that time.

Scott Gottlieb, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, said in a Twitter post Friday morning that J&Js vaccine data was a fantastic result.

Heres where markets were trading on Friday ahead of the opening bell:

S&P 500 futures (ES=F): 3,756.75, down 22.5 points or 0.6%

Dow futures (YM=F): 30,358.00, down 149 points or 0.49%

Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): 13,074.00, down 112 points or 0.85%

Crude (CL=F): +$0.24 (+0.46%) to $52.58 a barrel

Gold (GC=F): +$1,868.30 (+1.47%) to $1,868.30 per ounce

10-year Treasury (^TNX): +1.6 bps to yield 1.071%

Here were the main moves in markets, as of 6:24 p.m. ET Wednesday

S&P 500 futures (ES=F): 3,770.25, down 9 points or 0.24%

Dow futures (YM=F): 30,474.00, down 33 points or 0.11%

Nasdaq futures (NQ=F): 13,171.75, down 14.25 points or 0.11%

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @emily_mcck

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Stock market news live updates: Stocks fall, looking to end the week lower - Yahoo Finance

ATLANTA The Brooklyn Nets were a few seconds away from staving off a young Atlanta Hawks squad on the road inside of State Farm Arena on Wednesday night.

With four seconds remaining in overtime, James Harden was at the charity stripe and Hawks star point guard Trae Young was positioned behind him staring into space in deep thought. He looked as if he was itching for a couple of do-overs.

The rising Hawks had fought valiantly throughout and led for much of the contest. They had their chances to win. In the end, the three-headed superstar trio of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were too much to overcome down the stretch, accounting for 89 of the teams 132 points in a four-point Nets win.

Young finished the evening with 28 points and 14 assists. The third-year guard issued Yahoo Sports an exclusive phone interview to discuss what he was thinking late in the game, the misperception of the Hawks locker room and a look into the latest phase of the franchises developmental chapter.

When the game got to that point [with Harden at the line sealing the victory], I was just thinking that Im looking forward to the next matchup against them, Young told Yahoo Sports. I think for us, being in the East and having a chance to possibly see them in the playoffs and maybe see them in the second half of the season, I just love playing against the best. Thats always fun. So when you get a chance to play against them, it brings the best out of you. So when that happened at the end of the game, thats what I was thinking about, the next time we play them.

Prior to Wednesdays affair, the season series was tied at 1-1 with Atlanta winning the last game in Brooklyn by 18 points.

In the previous two seasons, the Hawks more than likely wouldnt have been able to compete for 48 minutes against a team of this caliber. Now, Clint Capela who is making a case for All-Star consideration is racking up massive double-double numbers while protecting the paint and Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce is equipped with a nucleus of John Collins, DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish who are showing immense promise as long, versatile defenders capable of switching everything.

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The Hawks are trending upwards.

I read a stat a couple days ago that we didnt win our seventh game last year until our 35th game, and were 9-9 right now, Young told Yahoo Sports. So for us, were winning and were getting better. Thats my main focus and if were doing that, everything else will take care of itself.

But with success, often comes scrutiny.

The Athletic reported earlier in the month about a film session in which Collins reportedly criticized Young for mismanaging the clock on the offensive end and questioned his early shot-clock heaves. The leadership skills of the 22-year-old franchise player were suddenly in question.

On a young team, those sort of gripes are routine across the league. But Young insists the episode was overblown.

Of course if theres anything out there publicly, I always go directly to [that person], Young relayed to Yahoo Sports. As for the John [Collins] incident, me and him talked about it as soon as it got out the next day and we were both confused. It just got out and it was over a regular film session. So theres no beef or anything in there to begin with. There hasnt been any locker room issues on my side. Anything that people were saying about locker room issues, there hasnt been one. Its all about our team and how weve been trying to get better in film sessions.

Another area of scrutiny Young has endured as of late is his foul-drawing ability. He has a knack for using a screen to get around his defender, sealing him on his backside and causing the opponent to run into him.

Nets coach Steve Nash and New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, along with multiple players, have complained to the officials about Youngs tactic for getting to the line.

Ive obviously seen it. Ive seen a lot more talking about fouls this year and me just being able to draw fouls and the way Im drawing them, Young told Yahoo Sports. If you look at my track history going back to high school, I averaged 42 points and Im pretty sure I shot 17 free throws a game. And in college, I led the country in free throws my freshman year. Ive always been able to know how to get to the free-throw line. Its little things like that people are pointing out this year, but its stuff Ive been doing my whole life.

Young said hes built for whatever may come his way. And that bodes well for the Hawks whose mission is to return to a place they haven't been in five years.

Making the playoffs is the main goal for us, Young told Yahoo Sports so adamantly. For us, these past couple of years, its been more of a development stage. Were all pretty young and of course were trying to win each and every night, but everybodys main focus was to get better each and every day. And when youre hearing that all the time, thats really the main focus. So now, its like, How can we win each and every day. Its a different mindset around here now.

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Trae Young-led Hawks holding own against league's best as they focus on making the playoffs - Yahoo Sports