ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a globally recognized organization that develops and publishes technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. These standards ensure consistency, reliability, and safety across various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into understanding ASTM standards and their importance in ensuring quality and safety.
What are ASTM Standards?
ASTM standards are documents that define procedures and specifications for testing and material properties. They provide a framework for manufacturers, suppliers, and regulators to ensure that products meet specific quality, safety, and performance criteria. ASTM standards cover a wide range of industries, including metals, plastics, textiles, and construction materials ¹.
Types of ASTM Standards
ASTM standards can be categorized into several types, each serving a distinct purpose:
– Specification Standards: These standards outline the requirements for products, materials, systems, or services, including physical, mechanical, and chemical properties.
– Test Method Standards: These standards provide detailed procedures for testing materials, products, or systems to evaluate their properties.
– Practice Standards: These standards offer instructions for performing specific tasks or operations, such as sampling, cleaning, inspection, and training.
– Guide Standards: These standards provide collections of information or series of options that inform users about various approaches.
– Terminology Standards: These standards define terms, acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols used in specific industries to ensure consistency in communication.
– Classification Standards: These standards categorize materials, products, systems, or services based on similar characteristics, aiding in systematic arrangement and comparison ¹ ².
Importance of ASTM Standards
ASTM standards play a crucial role in ensuring quality, safety, and reliability across various industries. Some of the key benefits of ASTM standards include:
– Uniformity: ASTM standards ensure uniform production and testing methods, maintaining consistent quality across manufacturers and regions.
– Reliability: By adhering to ASTM standards, companies can produce reliable and trustworthy products, enhancing their reputation and consumer confidence.
– Quality: ASTM standards serve as benchmarks for quality, helping companies meet and exceed regulatory requirements and industry expectations.
Applications of ASTM Standards
ASTM standards are applied across a wide range of industries, including ³ ⁴ ⁵:
– Construction: ASTM standards govern materials like concrete, steel, and insulation, ensuring the durability and safety of buildings.
– Manufacturing: ASTM standards ensure the quality and performance of metal products, textiles, and other manufactured goods.
– Healthcare: ASTM standards apply to medical devices and pharmaceuticals, ensuring safety and efficacy.
– Petroleum and Oil & Gas: ASTM standards ensure the quality and safety of materials and equipment used in extraction and processing.
Conclusion
ASTM standards are essential for ensuring quality, safety, and reliability across various industries. By understanding ASTM standards and their applications, manufacturers, suppliers, and regulators can work together to ensure that products meet specific quality and safety criteria. Whether you’re a manufacturer, engineer, or contractor, ASTM standards provide a framework for ensuring consistency and reliability in your work ⁶.
Wall Street’s main indexes crawled higher to close in the green for a third straight day following a historically volatile January as investors continue to price in tighter monetary policy and weigh a lineup of big-name earnings reports.
[Click here to read what’s moving markets heading into Wednesday, February 2]
The Dow Jones Industrial Average capped the day up 273 points, or 0.77{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}, while the Nasdaq Composite also edged 106 points, or 0.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher. The S&P 500 made its way into positive territory, closing the day just above breakeven, up 0.69{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}. The blue-chip index posted a negative return of 5.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} for the first month of the year — its biggest monthly drop since March 2020 and weakest January since 2009 — while the Nasdaq narrowly avoided its worst-performing January on record after a loss of 8.98{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} for the month.
“This is not the time when you want to make rash decisions or change your long-term investment philosophy,” Fitz-Gerald Group CIO Keith Fitz-Gerald told Yahoo Finance Live. “This is when you focus on finding companies that are winning, are profitable, or have have great products we can’t live without.”
Anxiety around how quickly and significantly the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates has caused the turbulence in equities last month as investors dump high-valued, growth assets poised for vulnerability in an environment of higher borrowing costs.
“We are encouraged by the big reversal in stocks last week and we think stocks are in the process of forming a meaningful bottom,” LPL Financial chief market strategist Ryan Detrick said in a note. “But the truth is, this year is going to be much more volatile than last year and investors had better buckle up their seat belts if the first month is any indication.”
Markets are bracing for a bump of at least 25 basis points next month after Fed Chair Jerome Powell implied last week that a liftoff on interest rates to above their current near-zero levels was likely to come in March as policymakers look to tighten financial conditions amid a backdrop of surging inflation.
“Investors are watching the Fed,” Thornburg Investment Management co-head of investments Jeff Klingelhofer told Yahoo Finance Live. “We are absolutely in a period of heightened volatility, and we think it’s here to stay for some time.”
Despite a turbulent month, history suggests buying stocks after major plunges has paid off. According to new research from Goldman Sachs (GS) strategist David Kostin, a look at data since 1950 showed an investor buying the S&P 500 (^GSPC) 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} below its high, regardless of whether it was the trough, would have netted a median return of 15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over the next 12 months.
“There are two parts to the ‘buy-the-dip’ phrase: Buy the dips and sell the rips,” said Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick on Yahoo Finance Live. “I think this is an environment you are going to get the opportunity to do both.”
Monday commenced a prolific week for this earnings season, with more than 100 companies in the S&P 500 set to report fourth quarter results through Friday. Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) unveiled figures after the bell on Tuesday, with results from Amazon (AMZN) and Facebook, now Meta Platforms (FB), due out later this week.
4:00 p.m. ET: Stocks close positive for third straight day following turbulent January
Here were the main moves in markets as of 4:00 p.m. ET:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): Previous Close to
Dow (^DJI): +272.00 (+0.77{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,403.86
Nasdaq (^IXIC): +106.12 (+0.75{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,346.00
Crude (CL=F): +$0.20 (+0.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $88.35 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$4.10 (+0.23{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,800.50 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): +1.8 bps to yield 1.8000{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
10:12 a.m. ET: US manufacturing activity loses steam at start of new year
U.S. manufacturing activity fell to a 14-month low in January amid a surge of COVID-19 infections in the latest Omicron-driven virus wave, according to one closely-watched measure. The slowdown supported views that economic growth lost traction at the start of the year.
The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) latest read on its index of national factory activity dropped to a print of 57.6 last month, the lowest since November 2020. December saw a print of 58.8.
Consensus economist estimates compiled by Bloomberg predicted a read of 57.5. Readings above 50 indicate expansion in manufacturing, which accounts for 11.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of the U.S. economy.
—
10:05 a.m. ET: Job openings rose to 10.925 million in December
The number of job openings and quits each held at historically elevated levels in December, with worker leverage remaining high as labor demand persisted.
The Labor Department’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) showed that vacancies across the U.S. totaled 10.925million at the end of 2021,compared to 10.775 million openings in November. Consensus economists had anticipated December vacancies would come in at 10.3 million, according to Bloomberg data.
The latest report represented a seventh straight month that job openings held above the 10 million level, underscoring the ongoing tightness in the labor market as employers struggle to find enough workers to fill positions. Vacancies had set an all-time high of nearly 11.1 million in July, and trended only slightly lower since then. Before the pandemic, job openings had averaged around 7 million per month throughout 2019.
—
9:50 a.m. ET: Meme stock favorites pop after earnings beats
AMC Entertainment (AMC) jumped more than 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in early trading after preliminary revenue and Ebitda for the fourth quarter beat consensus estimates. The gains extended to other retail-trader favorites, including fellow meme-stock darling, GameStop (GME).
The gaming retailer also beat forecasts on fourth quarter results. Preliminary revenue came in at $1.17 billion, more than the $1.09 billion estimated by the Street, according to Bloomberg data. Preliminary adjusted Ebitda was $146.8 million to $151.8 million, compared to $82.4 million foreseen in Bloomberg consensus estimates.
“We finished the year with the strongest quarter in two years. The fourth quarter of 2021 marks a meaningful milestone with positive Ebitda of more than $145 million, positive operating cash generated of more than $215 million, and a record year-ending liquidity position of $1.8 billion,” Gamestop CEO Adam Aron said.
Shares of AMC were up 6.69{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 17.14 a piece as of 9:46 a.m. ET, while Gamestop traded 3.57{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} higher to $112.82 per share as of the same time.
—
9:30 a.m. ET: Stocks struggle for direction ahead of big-name earnings, economic data
Here were the main moves on Wall Street as morning trading kicked off:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): +5.07 (+0.11{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,520.62
Dow (^DJI): +7.57 (+0.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 35,139.43
Nasdaq (^IXIC): +25.00 (+0.18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,264.88
Crude (CL=F): -$0.90 (-1.02{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $87.25 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$8.40 (+0.47{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,804.80 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): -0.5 bps to yield 1.7770{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
7:25 a.m. ET: AT&T to spin off WarnerMedia in $43 billion Discovery deal
Telecomm giant AT&T Inc (T) announced it will spin off subsidiary WarnerMedia in a transaction to merge its media properties with Discovery Inc. (DISCA) valued at $43 billion. The company is also expected to cut its dividend by nearly half as part of the deal.
Shares of AT&T were down 4.35{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} in pre-market trading to $24.39 a piece as of 7:25 a.m., while Discovery stock was mostly flat at around $27.87 per share.
AT&T shareholders will own 71{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of the new, resulting company and receive 0.24 shares of Warner Bros. Discovery for each AT&T share they own. The telecommunications group will have 7.2 billion diluted shares outstanding after the transaction closes. The company will distribute shares of the new Warner Bros. Discovery as a dividend of $1.11 per share, down from $2.08 per share, the lower end of a $8 billion to $9 billion range AT&T had projected earlier.
—
7:00 a.m. ET: Contracts on Wall Street’s main indexes edge lower after volatile January
Here’s how the main benchmarks fared ahead of Tuesday’s open:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -11.75 (-0.26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,492.50
Dow (^DJI): -54.00 (-0.15{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,943.00
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -28.25 (-0.19{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,876.75
Crude (CL=F): -$0.27 (-0.31{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 87.88 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$10.30 (+0.57{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,806.70 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): 0 bps to yield 1.7820{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
—
6:01 p.m. ET Monday: Futures dip after S&P 500 posts worst month since March 2020
Here were the main moves in markets heading into overnight trading:
S&P 500 (^GSPC): -9.00 (-0.20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 4,495.25
Dow (^DJI): -50.00 (-0.14{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 34,947.00
Nasdaq (^IXIC): -29.50 (-0.20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 14,875.50
Crude (CL=F): +$0.03 (+0.03{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to 88.18 a barrel
Gold (GC=F): +$2.40 (+0.13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) to $1,798.80 per ounce
10-year Treasury (^TNX): 0 bps to yield 1.7820{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the opening bell January 25, 2022. – Wall Street stocks fell early January 25 following a deluge of mostly solid corporate earnings but a lower global growth forecast from the IMF. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
—
Alexandra Semenova is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @alexandraandnyc
Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct 28, 2021–(Business enterprise WIRE)–GE Appliances (GEA), a Haier firm, announced strategies to invest $450 million at its Appliance Park headquarters and production operation and insert a lot more than 1,000 new positions by year-conclusion 2023. This is one particular of the greatest investment decision announcements in the company’s 100-yr background. The options involve continuing to enhance services, raise capability and launch new items. GEA made the announcement as aspect of its Manufacturing Thirty day period celebration.
Equipment Park – GE Appliances’ headquarters in Louisville, KY (Photograph: GE Appliances, a Haier enterprise).
Around the very last 5 many years, GE Appliances has invested additional than $1.3 billion in its U.S. production and distribution operations and designed much more than 3,000 new work opportunities – with a the vast majority in Kentucky. A 2020 financial influence examination released by the organization in January 2021 noted that GEA’s investments, provider foundation, buyers and payroll contributed $11 billion to Kentucky’s GDP that 12 months.
“GE Appliances proceeds to provide production back again to the United States – building positions and economic progress,” stated Kevin Nolan, president and chief executive officer for GE Appliances. “We want zero distance between us and the thousands and thousands of family members across The united states we serve with our goods.”
Now, GEA gained preliminary approval of its plan and amplified economic improvement incentives by the Kentucky Economic Progress Finance Authority (KEDFA), which was recognized within the Cabinet for Financial Progress to motivate enterprise expansion and task generation. KEDFA provides an array of fiscal assistance and tax-credit score systems to further more the Commonwealth’s aims of accomplishing very long-phrase economic development and employment prospects for Kentuckians.
“I want to thank Governor Beshear and the overall financial enhancement team for their comprehending of the great importance of expanding and sustaining current enterprises in the Commonwealth,” claimed Nolan.
“As GE Appliances grows, Kentucky and our citizens stand to advantage. This substantial expenditure will far better placement the company for the yrs in advance and will produce excellent work opportunities for Kentuckians,” Gov. Beshear claimed. “I want to congratulate the Louisville neighborhood on this upcoming financial commitment and thank the leaders at Haier and GE Appliances for their dedication to the Commonwealth.”
“GE Appliances is a firm that you can rely on day in and day out. From today’s exciting announcement to its ‘Blue Wave’ of local community provider, GEA is a national design for its determination to commit in U.S. advanced production, for its chopping-edge products and solutions and for its impression to the wellbeing of our group,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “Thank you to GEA for aiding Louisville to be a leader in advanced manufacturing and to Kevin Nolan for his excellent leadership!”
The conclusion by KEDFA was taken pursuant to the Kentucky Positions Retention Act (KJRA), which offers incentives from the Commonwealth and the Metropolis of Louisville to assist economic advancement ideas conditioned on employer commitments to manage work at an agreed-on amount. KEDFA initially accredited incentives for GEA in 2014 as section of an agreement that bundled the company’s motivation to sustain a workforce of not less than 5,263 employees at Appliance Park. GEA has exceeded its original commitment and enhanced employment by about 2,000 folks. The Oct 28, 2021, final decision would maximize the incentive amount of money to $80 million for the new financial investment and have to have retaining a minimal of 7,100 staff for the subsequent 10 several years.
About GE Appliances
At GE Appliances, a Haier organization, we come jointly to make “great matters, for lifestyle.” We’re creators, thinkers and makers who imagine everything is doable and there is usually a superior way. We’re a corporation driven by our people, produced more powerful through our range — allowing us to grow closer than ever prior to to our house owners, anticipate their needs and enhance their life. In 2021, we were being qualified as a Great Area to Work™, named a single of the Most effective Providers for Multicultural Gals, gained the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces® award, and received a best rating for the fourth year in a row on the Human Legal rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
Because 1907, we’ve developed innovative, high quality products and solutions that are reliable in 50 {1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of all U.S. properties. We promote appliances less than the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier and Hotpoint models. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking goods, dishwashers, washers, dryers, wine & beverage facilities, air conditioners, tiny appliances, drinking water filtration techniques and h2o heaters. To discover additional about GE Appliances, take a look at geappliancesco.com.
Media Get in touch with: Julie Wood, GE Appliances, a Haier company (502) 741-1557 or julie_wood@geappliances.com
Julie Wood Senior Director – Company Communications GE Appliances, a Haier enterprise T +1 502 452 5914 M +1 502 741 1557 julie_wood@geappliances.com www.geappliances.com
