A Code Red air quality alert took effect across south-central Pennsylvania on Thursday as thick smoke from wildfires burning in Canada drifted into the region, prompting warnings from state environmental officials and creating conditions expected to disrupt normal outdoor activity for residents throughout the Susquehanna Valley.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the alert as smoke from fires burning in southern Ontario and northern Minnesota spread across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast. Meteorologists tracking the smoke said it was settling close to the surface, which is producing especially poor air quality across central and southeastern Pennsylvania compared with smoke events where haze remains higher in the atmosphere.
A Code Red designation means air pollution levels have reached a point considered unhealthy for the general public, not just for individuals in sensitive groups such as children, older adults or people with existing respiratory conditions. The alert covers the entire Susquehanna Valley for the duration of Thursday.
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Local meteorologists declared Thursday an “Impact Day,” a designation used when weather conditions are expected to significantly disrupt residents’ typical daily routines. Officials cautioned that the smoky air could produce a range of symptoms even in otherwise healthy individuals, including itchy or burning eyes, coughing and difficulty breathing. Those with asthma or other chronic respiratory conditions were warned they could experience a worsening of their symptoms while the smoke lingers over the region.
Health officials urged residents to limit outdoor exercise and avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors for as long as the Code Red alert remains active. The advisory carries particular significance for the Susquehanna Valley, given that the last time the region saw a Code Red air quality alert was in June 2023, when a similar wave of Canadian wildfire smoke triggered widespread hazy skies and health warnings across the eastern United States.
Despite the heavy smoke reducing sunshine and keeping temperatures slightly lower than they would otherwise be, Thursday’s conditions are still expected to be hot and humid. Forecasters said the high temperature was expected to reach about 92 degrees, with humidity pushing the heat index into the mid- to upper 90s. No separate heat-specific alerts were in effect as of Thursday morning, with the primary public health concern tied specifically to the smoke rather than temperature extremes.
The poor air quality is not expected to clear quickly. Forecasters said conditions will likely persist into Friday, when the alert level is expected to shift to Code Orange, indicating air quality that remains unhealthy specifically for sensitive groups rather than the general public. Officials cautioned, however, that conditions could still worsen depending on how smoke concentrations shift, and that Friday’s alert could be upgraded back to Code Red if pollution levels climb again. Friday’s high temperature is expected to reach near 90 degrees.
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Some relief may be on the way by the weekend. Forecasters said scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible Saturday, a pattern that could help clear out lingering smoke and improve air quality heading into the start of the weekend, though the exact timing and intensity of any rainfall remained uncertain as of Thursday morning.
Health officials outlined a series of recommended precautions for residents during the smoky stretch, particularly for children, older adults and those with existing heart or lung disease, groups considered most vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality. Recommended steps include limiting time spent outdoors, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity, keeping windows closed where possible, and running air conditioning systems on a recirculate setting to limit the amount of outside air, and by extension smoke, entering homes. Officials also encouraged residents to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath and to check local air quality sensors and forecasts before heading outside.
The smoke event adds another layer of disruption to a region already contending with a stretch of hot, humid summer weather. Local coverage of the smoky conditions noted that the alert arrived the same week runners competed in the Harrisburg Mile despite high temperatures, with race organizers taking precautions given the heat even before the wildfire smoke moved into the region. Weather trackers in the area also flagged the arrival of a wetter pattern building into the forecast for later in the week, which could bring the added benefit of clearing smoke alongside its potential to increase storm chances Thursday and beyond.
Wildfire smoke drifting into the northeastern United States from Canadian fires has become a recurring seasonal concern in recent years, with south-central Pennsylvania previously experiencing significant smoke-driven air quality alerts during comparable stretches of summer weather. Thursday’s Code Red designation represents the most severe classification the state uses for air quality alerts, reserved for conditions serious enough to affect the general population rather than only individuals with preexisting health vulnerabilities.
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Meteorologists said they will continue monitoring the smoke’s movement and updating air quality forecasts as conditions evolve throughout the week. For now, officials are asking residents across the Susquehanna Valley to treat Thursday’s hazy, smoke-filled skies as a signal to adjust their daily plans, whether that means moving exercise routines indoors, delaying outdoor errands, or simply keeping a closer eye on family members with respiratory sensitivities until the air clears.
The situation remains fluid, with forecasters cautioning that both the intensity of the smoke and the timing of improved conditions could shift depending on how the wildfires in Ontario and Minnesota continue to burn and how wind patterns carry that smoke across the Great Lakes region in the coming days. Residents were encouraged to check updated local forecasts regularly rather than relying solely on Thursday’s outlook, given how quickly smoke-related air quality conditions have shifted in past events affecting the region.
The new offer values the Teesside-based chain at about £232m on a fully diluted basis
09:52, 16 Jul 2026Updated 10:00, 16 Jul 2026
Ramsdens CEO Peter Kenyon
The US-based buyer of high street pawnbroking chain Ramsdens has increased its offer for the business.
Investors on the London Stock Exchange were told that FirstCash has revised its bid for Ramsdens following shareholder talks. It now values the Teesside-based firm, which also specialises in jewellery sales and foreign exchange, at about £232m on a fully diluted basis.
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The offer represents a 49% premium to Ramsdens share price on June 22, the last trading day before announcement of FirstCash’s original offer. It will see Ramsdens taken off the AIM market, nearly 10 years since its launch on the London Stock Exchange.
FirstCash is an international pawnbroker with around 3,300 sites across the US, South America and the UK, and is listed on the US’s Nasdaq stock market index. It intends to use funding from its US revolving credit facility to finance the acquisition.
Separately, Ramsdens gave a trading update in which it boosted full year profit expectations. The firm now expects pre-tax profits of between £33m-£35m.
It pointed to continued high gold prices – though down 20% since the peak in January this year – and robust demand for pawnbroking loans with June proving to be another record month. In six weeks since reporting the May 2026 loan book figure of £14.5m, the loan book has increased to £15.5m. Bosses also said England and Scotland’s World Cup run had helped boost the foreign exchange business.
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Chief executive Peter Kenyon said: “The foundations of the group are strong. We are continuing to trade well, maximising the opportunity of trading with a favourably high gold price but knowing that our diversified financial services are all contributing to the Group’s ongoing success.
“The investment in our new store opening program is going well. Hereford and Skegness have recently opened, Newark and Peterborough are in shop fit and we have completed the lease formalities in Corby and St Helens with shop fitting to start shortly.”
The Nasdaq Composite fell sharply Thursday, dropping 265.61 points, or 1.01%, to close at 26,003.62, as semiconductor stocks extended a multi-day slide even after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing reported blowout quarterly earnings, underscoring growing investor skittishness over lofty valuations in the artificial intelligence trade.
The decline marked a sharp reversal from Wednesday’s session, when the tech-heavy index climbed 0.62% to settle at 26,269.23 on the back of cooling inflation data and strength in Big Tech names including Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and Microsoft. Thursday’s pullback erased much of that momentum, as chip stocks — which have powered much of this year’s broader market rally — came under renewed pressure for a second straight day.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, reported a 77% annual earnings gain and posted record second-quarter revenue, while lifting its full-year capital expenditure outlook to a range of $60 billion to $64 billion, up from prior guidance of $52 billion to $56 billion. Despite the strong results, TSM shares fell in early trading, with the stock declining as investors focused instead on the company’s warning about rising prices and questioned whether even robust earnings could justify current valuations across the sector. The stumble in TSM shares rippled through the broader chip complex, dragging down the VanEck Semiconductor ETF and contributing to declines in Arm Holdings, which fell around 5%.
Memory chip names bore some of the heaviest losses. Western Digital shares fell more than 8%, and SanDisk dropped nearly 8%, while South Korea’s SK Hynix fell 7% in U.S. trading, adding to a bruising stretch for the memory sector that has seen sharp single-day swings in both directions over the past several weeks. The selling pressure followed a similar pattern to Wednesday’s session, when SK Hynix sank nearly 11%, SanDisk tumbled more than 12%, Western Digital fell almost 8% and Micron Technology dropped more than 7%, as investors took profits following a run-up in memory stocks tied to enterprise customers shifting spending toward servers, storage and memory hardware.
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The weakness spread overseas as well. Shares of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix fell sharply in Seoul trading, dragging South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index lower and contributing to broader declines across Asian chip stocks, including Japan’s Advantest, SoftBank Group, Tokyo Electron and Renesas Electronics. Europe’s chip sector also felt the pressure, with STMicroelectronics, ASML and Infineon Technologies among the decliners tracking the global selloff in semiconductor shares.
Not all of Thursday’s session was negative. The Dow Jones Industrial Average bucked the broader trend, rising modestly as a more than 6% jump in UnitedHealth Group helped offset weakness elsewhere. UnitedHealth’s results easily topped Wall Street’s expectations, and the company raised its full-year outlook, citing more favorable trends in medical costs during the first half of the year. GE Aerospace also reported an earnings beat before the opening bell, while Abbott Laboratories rose nearly 4% after slightly beating estimates and raising its 2026 earnings guidance. Trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Services jumped 7.5% after handily beating analyst estimates on the strength of increased intermodal shipping volumes.
Not every earnings report drew a positive reaction. United Airlines shares fell nearly 3% after the company issued cautious third-quarter guidance tied to rising fuel costs, even though its second-quarter earnings beat estimates and revenue matched consensus forecasts. The airline’s chief executive told CNBC that overall demand remained strong despite the guidance concerns. Netflix was scheduled to report its second-quarter results after Thursday’s closing bell, capping a week of earnings that had broadly exceeded expectations, though the streaming company’s shares had fallen following each of its last four quarterly reports.
Broader economic data released Thursday added to the day’s uncertain tone. June retail sales rose 0.2% from the prior month, falling short of the 0.3% consensus estimate, even as some underlying components of the report were viewed more favorably by economists. The modest miss came alongside continued concern over geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as the United States continued launching strikes against Iran and crude oil prices remained elevated near recent highs. Treasury yields rose Thursday morning as investors weighed the combination of persistent Gulf tensions and mixed economic signals.
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The volatility in chip stocks has become a recurring theme throughout July, with the sector swinging sharply in both directions as investors debate whether current spending and valuation levels tied to the AI buildout are sustainable. JPMorgan analysts have characterized the recent weakness as a reflection of crowded investor positioning within the sector rather than a sign that the broader AI investment cycle is faltering, drawing comparisons to similar bouts of chip-sector selling in past months that were later followed by recoveries.
SpaceX shares also remained under pressure this week, falling below their $135 initial public offering price for the first time since the company’s record-setting Nasdaq debut in June, amid investor concerns over increased competition from Chinese launch providers and a coming increase in the number of shares available to trade on the exchange.
Thursday’s divergence between the Dow’s modest gain and the sharp declines in the Nasdaq and S&P 500 highlighted the extent to which chip and technology stocks continue to dictate the direction of the broader market, even as strength in healthcare, industrials and select consumer names offered some counterbalance. With Netflix’s earnings due after the close and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East showing no signs of easing, investors said they expect volatility in technology shares to persist in the sessions ahead as markets continue to grapple with high expectations heading into the heart of the second-quarter earnings season.
Small firms that reward staff with share options are set to lose one of their more tedious HMRC chores, after the government published draft legislation scrapping the requirement to notify the taxman separately every time an Enterprise Management Incentive option is granted.
Under proposals included in the draft Finance Bill 2026-27, published on 13 July, companies operating EMI schemes would report new option grants through their existing annual EMI return rather than filing a standalone notification for each grant.
For the thousands of growing businesses that use EMI to compete for talent against deeper-pocketed rivals, the change removes a compliance trap that has caught out many an otherwise well-run company. Miss a notification and the tax advantages that make the scheme worthwhile can be put at risk.
Cam Wright, a Senior Associate at audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, said: “As part of the draft Finance Bill 2026-27, HMRC have published proposals to simplify the grant reporting process. Reducing the reporting burden should make EMI more appealing to businesses.”
He added: “The proposals remove the requirement for companies to separately notify HMRC about EMI option grants. Instead, options granted on or after 6 April 2027 would be reported through the existing annual EMI return.”
Wright said: “EMI options are a tax-advantaged share option scheme approved by the Government. They are designed to help small to medium-sized businesses recruit and retain key talent. EMIs remain one of the UK’s most valuable tax-advantaged share incentive arrangements available for qualifying companies.”
The reform will be particularly welcome to founders who see employee ownership as central to their recruitment pitch but have long complained that the compliance burden on entrepreneurs keeps growing even as ministers talk up simplification.
He added: “The proposed changes will also consolidate reporting through the annual EMI return, reduce the administrative requirements for companies operating EMI schemes and simplify the process of granting EMI options while maintaining HMRC reporting requirements through the existing annual filing framework. While this change was originally announced at Budget 2025, the publication of draft legislation represents a significant step towards implementation.”
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The draft clauses are open for technical consultation until 7 September 2026, with the final contents of the Bill subject to the Chancellor’s decision.
Wright said: “The proposal forms part of a broader trend towards modernisation and simplification across the UK’s shares and incentives landscape.”
Until the new rules take effect, companies granting EMI options must continue to notify HMRC under the current framework. Business owners planning grants around the April 2027 changeover should take advice on timing, and on keeping their annual returns in good order, since that single filing will soon carry all the weight.
Jamie Young
Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the ‘covid era’ and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine’s coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk
SoftBank-backed digital-commerce ecosystem AceVector Ltd has filed updated draft papers with markets regulator Sebi for an initial public offering (IPO), which will include a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 300 crore.
In addition to the fresh issue, the IPO will also involve an offer-for-sale (OFS) of 6.38 crore shares by existing shareholders, according to the updated draft red herring prospectus (UDRHP).
As part of the OFS, promoter Starfish I Pte Ltd and other shareholders Nexus, Wonderful Star Pte Ltd, Kenneth Stuart Glass, Jason Ashok Kothari, Priyanka Shreevar Kheruka, Rupen Investment and Industries, and Centaurus Trading and Investments will offload their holdings.
Despite the share sale by several investors, AceVector’s promoters and founders Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal, who together hold a 23.56 per cent stake, will not participate in the OFS. However, another promoter entity Starfish, which owns 30.68 per cent stake in the company, will be divesting part of its stake.
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The company plans to use the IPO proceeds to strengthen technology infrastructure, support marketing and business promotion for Snapdeal, pursue inorganic growth through acquisitions, and meet general corporate requirements.
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The Gurugram-based company operates Snapdeal, a value-focused lifestyle e-commerce marketplace; Unicommerce, an e-commerce enablement SaaS platform; and Stellaro Brands, an omnichannel consumer brands arm. Financially, AceVector reported operating revenue of Rs 244 crore in H1 FY26, up 34 per cent from Rs 181 crore in H1 FY25. During the same period, its adjusted EBITDA loss narrowed significantly to Rs 9.2 crore from Rs 28 crore a year earlier.
AceVector had initiated its IPO journey earlier this year by filing confidential draft papers with Sebi in July and subsequently securing approval in November. By opting for the confidential pre-filing route, the company gained the flexibility to delay public disclosure of IPO details until the later stages.
Welcome to the Nederman Holding Q2 2026 Report Presentation. [Operator Instructions] Now I will hand the conference over to speakers, CEO, Sven Kristensson, and CFO, Matthew Cusick. Please go ahead.
Sven Kristensson President, CEO & Director
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Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today, taking the time not sitting in the fabulous sunshine in this — at least in this part of Sweden. The second quarter was encouraging for Nederman and our owners. We saw a clear increase in customer activity and a strong order intake across all 4 divisions. This confirms the positive trend we saw at the end of the first quarter.
You remember the first part of the first quarter wasn’t that great. Market uncertainty persists, but we continue to see customers investing in areas that are important for their operations. It’s also encouraging that the investments we have made in innovation, operations over the — and operations over the recent years are creating results. This is strengthening our competitiveness, and it’s also helping us gain market share in traditional and new industries.
During Q2, orders received increased in all 4 divisions. Extraction & Filtration Technology, which is the biggest division, had record order intake. Monitoring & Control Technology and Duct & Filter Technology had the highest quarterly order intake since Q1 last year. We also see continued growth in our service business. That’s a focus area, and it’s very important for recurring revenue and long-term value creation. We continue to advance our innovation agenda through new product development and releases that address our customers’ need for cleaner production, improved
The 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is set to double local business spending, according to Mastercard data based on economic impact from previous tournaments
Frank Dalleres www.cityam.com
12:04, 16 Jul 2026
Early morning crowds at Royal Birkdale today for the 154th Open
This week’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale is forecast to double spending at businesses in the surrounding area, according to figures from Mastercard.
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Last year’s tournament at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland generated a 119 per cent surge in spending within 5km of golf’s oldest major, while the 2024 Open delivered an 82 per cent uplift within 3km of Royal Troon.
The hospitality sector stands among the greatest beneficiaries. Spending in bars and restaurants around Portrush last year soared 234 per cent and 95 per cent respectively, while at Troon expenditure across both categories more than doubled.
“As fans travel to Royal Birkdale to enjoy one of golf’s greatest Championships, the local hospitality sector is in for a bumper weekend,” said Mastercard UK and Ireland president Simon Forbes, as reported by City AM.
“From Australian tourists to B&B owners in Merseyside, live events bring people together. We’re proud to help businesses at these busy times, connecting them to tourists from all over the world with the tap of a card.”
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Play got under way this morning at Royal Birkdale, where local favourite Tommy Fleetwood is considered one of the frontrunners to lift the Claret Jug.
The Open draws in excess of 250,000 spectators, with a significant proportion travelling from abroad — particularly from the United States, home of defending champion Scottie Scheffler, and Australia. Accommodation spending at the 2024 Open rose 44 per cent, according to Mastercard’s findings.
This comes as Britons are continuing to devote more of their budgets to experiences. The proportion of UK consumer spending on experiences, excluding travel, rose to 23.3 per cent, up from 22.3 per cent the previous year, according to the payments giant.
This rise in spending also provides a welcome boost to the broader economy, with the 2025 Open credited with delivering £89.2m in economic impact for Northern Ireland. The 2024 Open generated a comparable figure, £87.3m, for Scotland.
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