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This article was written by

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MPT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Alan Greenspan, former chair of the board of the governors of the Federal Reserve System, died on Monday at the age of 100 years old, according to a statement from his wife Andrea Mitchell, NBC News chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent.

”Alan passed away at our home this morning at the age of 100 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease,” Mitchell said in the statement.

“He was a giant of a man who helped shape the U.S. economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes,” she continued. “To me he was my husband, who shaped my life from our very first date in 1984. “

Alan Greenspan Visits “The Daily Briefing” at Fox News Channel Studios on October 17, 2018 in New York City.  ( Steven Ferdman/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“He had ‘irrational exuberance’ for baseball, the Washington Commanders, tennis, golf and music, especially jazz. He will be remembered for his brilliance and his kindness,” Mitchell noted. “Being his life partner was the joy of my life.”

Fox Business Network’s Edward Lawrence contributed to this report

BIGBANG’s Daesung and KARA’s Hur Youngji have denied dating rumors. Recently, dating rumors between the two surfaced when they were spotted appearing close at MAMAMOO’s concert.

Where the Rumors Started

The speculation began after the two were photographed sitting near each other at the concert, with Daesung seated alongside Hur Youngji and Oh My Girl’s Hyojong among the attendees. A social media post sharing photos from the event quickly drew widespread attention, with fans noting the pair appeared close and cozy while looking at a phone together before the concert began.

The moment took on added significance for longtime fans given a previous on-air comment. Daesung has interacted with both idols on his YouTube show, however fans recalled that after Youngji’s appearance on the program, fellow BIGBANG member Taeyang had commented that the two would “hit it off.” Comments on the resurfaced video also playfully “shipped” the two together based on their interactions, with many online joking that the pair appeared to be on a “date.”

The Agency’s Response

In response to the rumors, a source from Daesung’s agency R&D Company clarified the nature of the relationship. “They became closer after ‘ZIP DAESUNG,’ and they went to watch MAMAMOO’s concert together. They are just close peers, and the dating rumors are not true,” the representative said.

A separate statement to CBS Nocut News offered a similarly direct denial, with a representative from Daesung’s agency describing the two as simply “close colleagues,” quickly shutting down speculation about a romantic relationship.

How They First Met

The connection between Daesung and Youngji traces back to her appearance on his variety program. Previously, Hur Youngji starred on an episode of Daesung’s YouTube program “ZIP DAESUNG,” which marked the beginning of their relationship as friends and colleagues in the industry.

Daesung’s Recent Activities

The dating speculation arrives during an especially active period for Daesung professionally. In April, BIGBANG took the stage at Coachella as a full group — G-DRAGON, Taeyang, and Daesung together — for the first time, a set that doubled as the opening signal for the group’s 20th-anniversary world tour.

Youngji’s Upcoming Projects

Heo Youngji, for her part, has also been keeping active on the variety front. She’s set to appear as a storyteller on the reality-based thriller talk show “The Psychopath I Met,” premiering July 12, giving her a notable new platform separate from her music career with KARA.

A History of Playful Speculation Involving Daesung and KARA

This isn’t the first time Daesung’s interactions with KARA members have generated fan speculation about a possible romance. His YouTube program previously featured a separate segment involving fellow KARA member Kang Jiyoung, during which the two participated in a playful blind-date format episode that similarly fueled fan theories and online discussion about potential chemistry between them, separate from the more recent rumors involving Youngji.

That pattern of fan speculation surrounding Daesung’s appearances with various KARA members reflects a broader, long-running fan interest in potential connections between BIGBANG and KARA, two groups whose members have appeared together on variety programming on multiple occasions over the years.

For Now, the Rumors Have Been Put to Rest

By the agency’s account, the two are just close colleagues who happened to catch a concert together, friends in tow. With both Daesung’s representatives and the broader official response framing the relationship strictly as a professional friendship, the latest round of dating speculation appears to have been resolved, at least for now, through the agency’s direct denial.

With Daesung continuing preparations for BIGBANG’s ongoing 20th-anniversary world tour and Youngji preparing for her upcoming role on “The Psychopath I Met,” both artists appear focused on their respective professional commitments in the weeks ahead. Given the pattern of recurring fan speculation surrounding Daesung’s variety show appearances with various KARA members, however, it remains likely that any future public appearances together will continue to draw attention and renewed rounds of dating chatter from fans, regardless of the most recent denial from his agency.