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Thursday, August 14, 2025

Biomerica stock soars after UAE approves home H. pylori test

  Biomerica Inc (NASDAQ:BMRA) stock surged 30.4% after the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention approved the company’s Fortel Ulcer Test for home use in the country.

The approval allows UAE residents to self-administer the 10-minute rapid diagnostic test that detects antibodies to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium responsible for peptic ulcers and a significant portion of gastric cancer cases.

H. pylori affects approximately 41% of the UAE population, with up to 20% of infected individuals potentially developing serious complications if left untreated. The World Health Organization has classified H. pylori as a Class 1 carcinogen and listed it among the top antibiotic-resistant bacterial threats.

"With this home-use approval, we’re giving people direct access to a reliable tool for early detection of a dangerous infection that could result in serious complications," said Zack Irani, CEO of Biomerica. "This can help drive earlier and more effective medical treatment and potentially save lives."

The company is now partnering with UAE-based distributors and healthcare providers to make the test available at pharmacies, clinics, and online platforms. This approval strengthens Biomerica’s presence in the Middle East, building on the previous regional launch of its EZ Detect Colon Disease Test.

Biomerica focuses on delivering affordable diagnostic tools that improve patient outcomes through early disease detection. The company’s products are designed to be accessible and effective for global health improvement.

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/biomerica-stock-soars-after-uae-approves-home-h-pylori-test-93CH-4192764

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals Shares Soar After Diaper Rash Product Hits Major Retailers

 Shares of Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNOA) skyrocketed 100% following the company’s announcement that its diaper rash product is now available at Walmart stores and other leading U.S. retail chains.

The healthcare firm revealed that its antimicrobial hydrogel, built on its patented Microcyn technology using stabilized hypochlorous acid (HOCl), is currently stocked in 3,600 Walmart locations, on Amazon.com, and in several major grocery chains nationwide.

This launch represents Sonoma’s first significant push into the over-the-counter consumer market through large-scale retail distribution, facilitated by the company’s U.S.-based distribution partner.

“We are excited to see our strategy of expanding into the over-the-counter space begin to take hold with our first U.S. product targeted to consumers launched into large scale retail channels,” said Amy Trombly, CEO of Sonoma. “We are also pleased about the increased availability of our Microcyn technology for consumers who seek safe and effective solutions for diaper rash and other skin irritations.”

Sonoma Pharmaceuticals develops a variety of products leveraging its Microcyn technology for applications including wound care, eye, oral and nasal care, dermatology, podiatry, and animal health.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/sonoma-pharmaceuticals-shares-soar-after-diaper-rash-product-hits-major-retailers/ar-AA1KwmPm

Trinity Biotech stock soars after NY regulatory approval for preeclampsia test

  Trinity Biotech plc (NASDAQ:TRIB) stock surged 73% after the company announced it received regulatory approval from the New York State Department of Health for its PreClara™ Ratio biomarker test for preeclampsia risk assessment.

The FDA-cleared test will be provided through Trinity’s New York reference laboratory, with service rollout planned for the third quarter of 2025. The approval represents a significant milestone in the company’s maternal health strategy and strengthens its position in the U.S. diagnostics market.

The PreClara™ test provides clinicians with information to support decision-making for patients hospitalized with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which affect approximately 500,000 women annually in the United States. These disorders are a leading cause of maternal and neonatal complications.

According to recent U.S.-based studies published in March 2025, incorporating the test into standard care could potentially generate neonatal cost savings exceeding $10 million per 1,000 patients, primarily through reduced preterm deliveries and NICU admissions.

The regulatory approval also establishes groundwork for the anticipated commercial introduction of PrePsia™, Trinity Biotech’s proprietary preeclampsia risk assessment technology designed for use in early pregnancy.

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/trinity-biotech-stock-soars-after-ny-regulatory-approval-for-preeclampsia-test-93CH-4192746

Power-Bill Crisis Spreads From Maryland To New Jersey, May Doom Dems As 'Green' Implodes

 A power bill crisis is gripping parts of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and is set to worsen, threatening to financially crush households as long-range forecasts point to a brutally cold winter. What began in Baltimore, Maryland - as first covered in our reporting one year ago- has now spread to New Jersey, where residents are furious over skyrocketing electricity costs. 

The common denominator in both states? A disastrous green energy agenda, pushed by radical leftist lawmakers, is dismantling reliable and cheap fossil fuel power generation in favor of unstable solar and wind. This has unleashed a power bill armageddon on working-class and middle-class households, as well as mom-and-pop businesses, all while baseload power demand surges in the era of AI data centers.

Fox News is beginning to latch onto the power bill crisis theme, starting with coverage of New Jersey residents who are absolutely furious over exploding power bills. This new development could severely damage the state's Democratic leaders in the upcoming elections.

This all started when New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities approved a 17 to 20% rate hike for power bills in June. Many residents were shocked when they opened their bills at the end of last month. 

"$200 more, I know my electrical bill," one Jersey woman told Fox News reporter CB Cotton, adding, "I was shocked. So to say the least, I'm very disappointed. This is killing us, and every time you turn around it's something more. You only get little pleasures in life that you enjoy, and my air conditioner is one of them."

Perhaps Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's decision to shutter the state's nuclear and coal plants, without a one-to-one replacement for lost capacity on the grid, was a catastrophic error that is only now coming home to roost. He also prioritized offshore wind farms and other green energy projects, which have left the grid more fragile than ever. 

Fox News pointed out, "Murphy himself is term-limited from running for office again, but the Democratic nominee in the race, Mikie Sherill, is facing many of the same criticisms." 

Let's head three hours south down the I-95 corridor to Baltimore, Maryland, where far-left activist lawmakers, including Governor Westley Watende Omari Moore, who is being positioned for the party's 2028 presidential run, have sparked a very similar power bill crisis. 

Cut from the same climate-crisis-cult cloth, these Democratic leaders across the Mid-Atlantic states have failed voters with disastrous green policies.

In Maryland, the power bill crisis seems much more severe than in New Jersey!

In the political arena, the Democratic Party is panicking to keep Gov. Moore afloat as his ratings implode over the affordability crisis sparked by power bill madness in the era of AI data centers.

"Governing is hard. Just ask Governor Wes Moore — plummeting 14 points in a year, scraping a dismal 50% approval in deep-blue Maryland," Change Annapolis, a bipartisan group of taxpayers, wrote in a post on X. 

Change Annapolis continued, "Marylanders are tired of his presidential vanity tour, crushing tax hikes, and an energy crisis of his own making," adding, "He's polling worse than O'Malley and Glendening at this point in their terms." 

The power bill crisis is still in its early stages. Goldman analyst Hongcen Wei wrote an alarming note to clients on Wednesday, warning that a majority of U.S. power grids "have already reached dangerously low spare capacity levels that are at or below the critical reliability threshold. This raises blackout threats and results in power price spikes during high-demand usage hours."

In other words, the power crisis is here, and high energy costs could very well doom Democrats in Mid-Atlantic states. Each month, voters are reminded of the impact of failed green energy policies when they open their soaring utility bills.

https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/power-bill-crisis-spreads-maryland-new-jersey-may-doom-democrats-green-implodes

Oversight Chair: Bill Clinton Is "Prime Suspect" In Epstein Investigation

 by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has named Bill Clinton as the number one suspect in the committee’s ongoing investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein saga.

Appearing on Newsmax, Comer urged that he will seek explanations for why Clinton visited the infamous Little St James island and flew on Epstein’s jet so frequently. 

Host Rob Finnerty remarked “The American people want to know what happened on Epstein Island. I’m not going to drop this topic,” adding “You’ve subpoenaed Bill Clinton. He’s going to fight you tooth and nail with the best lawyers in the country, in some cases. Do you think Bill Clinton ever actually testifies? I think his date is—what—October 12th?

“Yes. I think we have a very good chance at this. I’ve never lost a subpoena battle,” Comer responded.

“I’ve been chairman of that committee for a year and a half. This is the most challenging subpoena I’ve ever issued,” he added.

“But what makes this subpoena different is that the Democrats voted with Republicans. This is a bipartisan, congressionally approved subpoena, and I think that will hold a lot of weight in court,” Comer contiuned.

“You’re absolutely right—he’s going to have the best lawyers in America fighting us tooth and toenail on this,” Comer emphasised.

“But the fact that this was voted on by Republicans and Democrats—because we’re hearing from our constituents—means everybody in America wants to know what went on at Epstein Island,” he further urged.

“We’ve all heard reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor there. He’s a prime suspect to be deposed by the House Oversight,” Comer concluded, adding “Hopefully, we’ll win that court battle with that subpoena and see President Clinton in October.”

Last week, Comer announced that the Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to a whole host of deep staters.

The post continues…

  • Former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland: October 2

  • Former FBI Director James Comey: October 7

  • Former U.S. Attorney General William Barr: August 18

  • Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: August 26

  • Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions: August 28

  • Former FBI Director Robert Mueller: September 2

  • Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch: September 9

  • Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder: September 30

Will anything come of this? People are tired of talking and want to see action.

*  *  *

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/oversight-chair-bill-clinton-prime-suspect-epstein-investigation

Producer Prices Spike Most In 3 Years In July As Services Costs Soar

 Following the 'mixed' message from CPI earlier in the week (which the market perceived as dovishly cooler than expected), Producer Price Inflation was expected to accelerate in July's data released today.

...and accelerate it did - dramatically with headline PPI rising 0.9% MoM (massively more than the +0.2% expected and the biggest jump since June 2022) sending PPI up 3.3% YoY (highest since Feb 2025)...

Source: Bloomberg

The surge in producer prices was driven almost entirely by Services...

Source: Bloomberg

Core PPI also jumped 0.9% MoM (dramatically hotter than expected) with the YoY shift spiking to +3.7%...

Source: Bloomberg

PPI rose 0.9% MoM in July, the biggest increase since March 2022 (after a 0.0% print in June and 0.4% in May). Within final demand, more than three-quarters of the broad-based advance in July can be traced to the index for final demand services, which rose 1.1%. Prices for final demand goods increased 0.7%.

  • PPI YoY rose 3.3% for the 12 months ended in July, the largest 12-month increase since rising 3.4% in February 2025.

Details:

Final demand services: The index for final demand services moved up 1.1% in July, the largest advance since rising 1.3% in March 2022. Over half of the broad-based July increase is attributable to margins for final demand trade services, which jumped 2.0% (Trade indexes measure changes in margins received by wholesalers and retailers.) Prices for final demand services less trade, transportation, and warehousing and for final demand transportation and warehousing services advanced 0.7 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively.

  • Product detail: 30% of the July rise in prices for final demand services can be traced to margins for machinery and equipment wholesaling, which jumped 3.8%. The indexes for portfolio management; securities brokerage, dealing, investment advice, and related services; traveler accommodation services; automobiles retailing (partial); and truck transportation of freight also advanced. In contrast, prices for hospital outpatient care fell 0.5%. The indexes for furniture retailing and for pipeline transportation of energy products also declined.

Final demand goods: Prices for final demand goods moved up 0.7% in July, the largest advance since rising 0.7% in January. Forty percent of the broad-based increase in July can be attributed to the index for final demand foods, which jumped 1.4%. Prices for final demand goods less foods and energy and for final demand energy moved up 0.4% and 0.9% respectively.

  • Product detail: A quarter of the July advance in the index for final demand goods can be traced to prices for fresh and dry vegetables, which jumped 38.9%. The indexes for meats, diesel fuel, jet fuel, nonferrous scrap, and eggs for fresh use also rose. Conversely, prices for gasoline decreased 1.8%. The indexes for canned, cooked, smoked, or prepared poultry and for plastic resins and materials also declined.

Looking at the PPI detail matters for PCE calculation:

  • Airline passenger services rose 1% m/m in July after contracting 2.3% in June.

  • Portfolio management costs rose 5.8% m/m in July, after rising 2.1% in June.

  • Home health and hospice care slowed to 0.1% m/m after rising 0.2% m/n in June.

  • Hospital outpatient care contracted 0.5% m/m after rising 0.9% m/m in June.

PPI Energy prices are accelerating, tracking the oil price jump (but that will decline next month)...

Source: Bloomberg

Over half of the increase is attributable to margins for final demand trade services, which jumped 2.0% with margin pressure roaring back...

Source: Bloomberg

This implies that companies are eating the higher tariff costs (impacting margins) while end-users are not experiencing much pain.

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/producer-prices-spike-most-3-years-july-services-costs-soar


Bank of America finally axes rule that sparked ‘debanking’ of conservative, religious groups

 by Charles Gasparino

Bank of America has finally scrapped a controversial rule that critics say had sparked the “debanking” of charities and businesses associated with conservative religious groups, On The Money has learned. 

BofA CEO Brian Moynihan has, along with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, come under fire from President Trump for denying him banking services following his first term in 2021. As first reported by The Post, insiders say the banks were under pressure from the Biden administration to snub Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

The banks’ shunning of Trump and MAGA – which came amid Biden’s politicization of US agencies such as the Fed, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, and the FDIC – was based at the time on the so-called reputational risk clause in federal regulations to deny services.

Illustration of a man in a suit giving a thumbs-up in front of a Bank of America vault, with a sign reading "Conservatives Need Not Apply."
BofA CEO Brian Moynihan (above) has, along with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, come under fire from President Trump for denying him banking services following his first term in 2021.Jack Forbes / NY Post Design

Evangelical organizations faced even more pressure, right-leaning activists and bank executives say: In addition to reputation risk, they were slammed with a once widely-used rule across the financial-services industry that could deny services based on religious “viewpoint.”

The rule allowed woke bank administrators to cancel evangelical groups from their platforms on the grounds that opposing progressive cultural norms, such as same-sex marriage, was tantamount to hate speech.

Last year, most major banks like JPM ditched the “viewpoint” rule following attacks from conservative activists suggesting it was illegal.  

Bank of America, meanwhile, was the lone holdout – until recently. On the Money has learned that in late June, BofA amended its code of conduct to explicitly state that discrimination based on religious viewpoint is no longer allowed.

“While we have been very clear that politics is not a factor in our decisions, we received thoughtful input from a range of stakeholders and agreed it is best to explicitly add that to our Code of Conduct,” a spokesman said. “Religious views are not a factor in any account closing decision. Bank of America is proud to provide services to about 120,000 non-profits associated with religious organizations around the country.”

Donald Trump speaking at a microphone.
The banks’ shunning of Trump and MAGA was based at the time on the so-called reputational risk clause in federal regulations to deny services.AP

JPMorgan pointed to its 2023 annual letter to shareholders, which read, “We have not turned away — and will not turn away — customers because of their political or religious affiliations.”

The Post also reported that as many as 12 banks rejected Trump just after his first term ended. Other right-leaning businesses associated with the MAGA movement and heterodox sectors like crypto say they also faced “debanking”.

BofA’s surrender comes as Trump has recently issued an executive order that bans debanking over soft, nebulous, often political considerations. But it’s also a major victory for an economist named Jerry Bowyer, the CEO of Bowyer Research.

Bowyer’s proxy consultancy firm has focused on getting big companies to root left-wing politics out of their business practices. He has been tackling the religious debanking issue with the likes of JPM and BofA since 2022 – years before President Trump’s recent outburst that grabbed headlines nationwide. 

Bowyer was able to get a shareholder vote on the JPM ballot to end viewpoint debanking in 2023. He lost the vote – but it jumpstarted a dialogue that eventually led to JPM to change its policies.

He told On The Money he discovered BofA’s “viewpoint” on religious debanking after it booted an evangelical church in Tennessee from its platform. BofA cited the church’s affiliation with a debt collector in Uganda. The church countered that the business was a way to help people in the impoverished country find work.

“We met with them several times about this and asked them to change the language and they refused; they just blew us off,” Bowyer said, unaware that the rule had been changed just a few weeks ago.

Informed by On The Money that his work sparked a change in bank policy, Bowyer said: “Better late than never.”

https://nypost.com/2025/08/13/business/bank-of-america-axes-rule-that-debanked-religious-conservatives/