"2 Dividend-Paying Tech Stocks to Buy in August", 8 AUGUST

 Tech stocks have been the place to be if you're looking for big gains. The tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 has returned 446% over the last 10 years, compared to a 221% return from the blue-chip-focused S&P 500. 

Tech is known for growth and innovation, so it's not surprising to see Nasdaq stocks performing better than the rest of the market. What's even better is that many top tech stocks also pay growing dividends to shareholders, which can pad your returns over many years.

If you're looking for income and growth, here's why Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and TexasInstruments (NASDAQ: TXN) are two great dividend-paying tech stock choices in August.

1. Apple

Apple is one of the most valuable brands in the world. It has a loyal base of customers, and it churns out a large amount of free cash flow each year that fuels investment in new products and dividend payments to shareholders.

Apple's dividend yield is below average at 0.53%, but it pays out only 15% of its free cash flow in dividends. It could double its yield if it doubled its payout ratio. But what you're really getting with Apple's dividend is growth. The quarterly payment has increased annually for 12 consecutive years, more than doubling over the last decade. This is because Apple continues to grow its free cash flow, nearly doubling it to $100 billion annually over the last five years. 

While its largest revenue source, the iPhone, saw sales decline this year thanks to macroeconomic headwinds, its installed base of devices continues to hit new highs. This is fueling growth in higher-margin services, such as apps, subscriptions, and AppleCare protection plans. 

Apple is also seeing users of competing smartphone brands switch to the iPhone. The conversion of these customers, along with growth in services, reflects Apple's compelling lineup of offerings across hardware and software.

Apple is rewarding shareholders while continuing to invest in its future. It is set to launch the new Vision Pro headset next year, which gives it another product to expand its installed base of devices. Additionally, investment in new AI features for iOS could convert even more users to try the iPhone over the next several years.

Apple's cash flow streams, dividend growth, new product opportunities, and brand power should make the stock a solid core holding for any investor's portfolio for the long term.

2. Texas Instruments

Another tech stock that should be at the top of your list of dividend candidates is Texas Instruments. It is a leading supplier of analog and embedded processors that are used in electronic devices from data centers to electric toothbrushes. Considering the company's long operating history and shareholder-friendly management, this is one of the best dividend stocks to hold for the long haul.

TI has been around since the Great Depression. That speaks volumes about the company's resiliency. It has increased its dividend for 19 consecutive years and currently pays an above-average yield of 2.94%. 

The company has several advantages. It has a massive customer base of around 100,000 worldwide, which means TI is not dependent on a specific market or industry for growth. It also does all its manufacturing and packaging in-house, which lowers costs, increases product quality, and raises margins

Its manufacturing efficiency produces outstanding margins. While weak demand across consumer and industrial markets pressured revenue, TI generated an impressive 17% free cash flow margin in the second quarter. The company may already be turning a corner, as revenue grew 3% in the second quarter over the previous quarter.

Moreover, the company is always investing to improve its manufacturing efficiency and improve margins. Growing free cash flow and paying dividends to shareholders over the long term are management's priorities, which should also help bring its currently high cash payout ratio of 139% back to a more sustainable level under 100%.

The stock hasn't moved higher in two years, but with continued dividend increases, the yield is now sitting close to a three-year high.

Besides the dividend, a good reason to buy shares of Texas Instruments is the increasing amount of chips being implemented in products, especially automotive. This is a long-term tailwind that should fuel satisfactory returns for shareholders.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/2-dividend-paying-tech-stocks-to-buy-in-august

"Iraq publishes new budget instructions after SFC dismissed formal challenges", 8 AUGUST

Iraq publishes new budget instructions after SFC dismissed formal challenges

Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry of Justice published instructions on Monday on implementing the country's 2023-2025 budget, which was approved by parliament in June.

The instructions, retroactively effective from Jan. 1, 2023, guide on matters such as the allocation of funds, the procurement of goods and services, and the payment of salaries.

They also clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various government agencies involved in implementing the budget law.

The 2023-2025 budget is the largest in Iraq's history. It is expected to help to boost economic growth.

Earlier today, the Supreme Federal Court (SFC) issued a series of rulings addressing challenges presented by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) about the federal budget law. 

This long-awaited judgment clarifies disputed elements within the law, number 13 of 2023, that oversees Iraq's federal budget for the fiscal years 2023-2025.

An official press release said that the Court reviewed the lawsuit, numbered 168/federal/2023, filed by the plaintiff (the KRG President, in his official capacity) against the defendant (the Speaker of the House of Representatives, also in his official capacity).

The lawsuit specifically contested certain items within the budget law.

The Court's ruling deemed several provisions in the law "unconstitutional." These include the phrase "with the approval of the federal Prime Minister," as stated in Article 11/first, and "in case the House of Representatives fails to take the necessary decision," as mentioned in Article 13/seventh.

However, the SFC dismissed the challenge regarding the constitutionality of several other sections, specifically articles 2/first/5/b, 11/second, 12/second/a, b, c, d, e, and 13/eighth/b.

In a separate but related ruling, the SFC also concluded the challenge posed by the Federal Government against the budget law. According to an additional press release, the Court reviewed the lawsuit numbered 153/federal/2023, raised by the plaintiff (the Prime Minister, in his official capacity) against the defendant (the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in his official capacity).

The SFC's definitive verdict, binding on all authorities, declared several phrases in the law to be unconstitutional. These include the word "exclusively" in Article 2/first/8/c/6, the phrase "upon his request" in the last section of Article 16/second, along with Articles 20/sixth, 28/fourth/a, 57/first/c, 70/second, and 72.

Nevertheless, the Court dismissed the plaintiff's lawsuit regarding the constitutionality of Articles 28/fourth/b, 62/fourth, 63/third, 65/second, 71, and 75 of the law mentioned above.

https://shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-publishes-new-budget-instructions-after-SFC-dismissed-formal-challenges

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Iraq's new budget sparks economic Optimism, eying sustainable development by 2025

Shafaq News/ The implementation of Iraq's new budget law is poised to usher in a robust economic resurgence, marking a significant shift towards investment-focused growth and sustainable development, Mudhar Mohammad Saleh, the Prime Minister's Financial and Economic Advisor said on Tuesday. 

"The most immediate positive consequence of this law's enactment is the initiation of expenditure on the nation's investment projects," he told Shafaq News Agency, "This proactivity serves as a linchpin for the revitalization and stabilization of the business and employment markets, imbuing a sense of optimism for building positive economic prospects aligned with the trajectory of national development set to extend through the end of 2025."

Saleh highlighted the triennial budget's emphasis on mid-term financial planning to invigorate the nation's economy, especially the investment sector. 

"This would empower the Iraq Development Fund to operate more efficaciously, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals, and fostering a synergistic collaboration with the private sector and the employment market."

"The promulgation of the budget law stands as a harbinger of substantial positive ramifications for the overarching economic conditions in Iraq in the forthcoming phase."

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Iraq-s-new-budget-sparks-economic-Optimism-eying-sustainable-development-by-2025

Iraqi Dinar - Accession to the Global Stage - WTO BY MILITIAMAN

"THE IRAQI G0VERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT CONTROLLING THE PRICE OF THE DOLLAR", 8 AUGUST

 Baghdad Trade praises a procedure for the Iraqi Trade Bank: curbing the rise in the price of the dollar

Shafaq News/ The Baghdad Chamber of Commerce confirmed, on Monday, that the move of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) prevented the rise in the price of the dollar, while it indicated that 90% of consumer goods are imported.

The head of the Chamber, Firas Al-Hamdani, said, in an interview with Shafaq News agency, 

"The Iraqi markets are completely affected by the dollar, because 90% of consumer goods are imported, and therefore the high price of the dollar results in price inflation."  He pointed out that 

"the Iraqi government is serious about controlling the price of the dollar and has taken a positive step by authorizing the Central Bank of Iraq to the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI) to sell the dollar at a price of 1320 Iraqi dinars to small merchants for import purposes

without the requirement to submit the fundamental documents that belong to companies except for its affiliation with the Chamber of Commerce." or has a commercial record.  He stressed that 

"this step limited the rise in the price of the dollar against the dinar and created relative stability in the prices of goods in the local markets, because this matter is linked to the transfer of currency abroad, and 

therefore we need the central bank and Iraqi banks to be supportive of the merchant."  Al-Hamdani pointed out that 

"the Iraqi Trade Bank, on July 30, began transferring dollar purchase requests to small merchants (shop owners), amounting to 100 thousand dollars per merchant at a price of 1320 per dollar, through banks directly without the need to participate in the electronic platform of the Central Bank."

https://www.shafaq.com/ar/اقتصـاد/تجارة-بغداد-تشيد-ب-جرا-للمصرف-العراقي-للتجارة-كبح-ارتفاع-سعر-الدولار

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Meeting in the Ministry of Finance on the "Unified Treasury Account"

Today, Monday, Finance Minister Taif Sami Muhammad chaired a meeting to discuss the requirements for designing and implementing the unified treasury system.

A statement from the ministry, received by Alsumaria News, stated that 

the minister "chaired a meeting today, in the presence of the Director General of Accounting, the head and members of the committee supporting the  application of the unified treasury account, representatives of government banks, representatives of the Office of Financial Supervision, the Central Bank of Iraq and the Iraqi Trade Bank, to discuss the requirements for designing and implementing the unified treasury system."  The meeting discussed 

"plans to reform the public finance sector through the application of the unified treasury account, which represents a qualitative leap in the management of public funds, as 

the project will allow the possibility of monitoring the movement of funds and their safety."  Sami stressed, 

"The need to continue the ministry's efforts through the committees formed for the purpose of implementing the system to complete the steps of the project, which represents one of the pillars of developing the ministry's policy towards reforming the financial sector and the optimal implementation of the stages of the unified treasury account project." 

https://www.alsumaria.tv/news/economy/463948/اجتماع-في-وزارة-المالية-حول-حساب-خزينة-الموحد

FRANK26……8-7-23…..INSTRUCTIONS…..INCLUDED

"THE HISTORY OF THE IRAQI DINAR", 8 AUGUST

TNT

AL: I post the for the benefit of anyone that may be new to this venture.

As you will see, the Dinar has always been higher in value than the US Dollar. Iraq today has more opportunity to reach its full potential that it has in the past 50 years. Iraq currently has the 3rd largest oil reserve in the world and with further exploration possible the largest. It has the largest natural gas reserve in the middle east. They have water and potential for agriculture which many of the middle east countries do not have. They also posses a great deal of gold and other natural resources. Suffice it to say they could be the wealthiest country in the world. 

Because of the war their currency has been artificially devalued and now that the sanctions have been lifted they are ready to explode as an economic power. They have the support of every country in the world the IMF, World trade organization etc. ……need I say more.

History of Iraqi Dinar 1932 – 2011

1932
Currency unit consisting of 1,000 fils or 20 dirhams. When officially introduced at the end of the British mandate (1932), the dinar was equal to, and was linked to, the British pound sterling, which at that time was equal to US$4.86.

1932–1949
Iraqi dinar (ID) equaled US$4.86 between 1932 and 1949 and after devaluation in 1949, equaled US$2.80 between 1949–1971.

1959–1967
Iraq officially uncoupled the dinar from the pound sterling as a gesture of independence in 1959, but the dinar remained at parity with the pound until the British unit of currency was again devalued in 1967.

1971
One Iraqi dinar remained equal to US$2.80 until December 1971, when major realignments of world currencies began.

1973
Upon the devaluation of the United States dollar in 1973, the Iraqi dinar appreciated to US$3.39.

1980
It remained at this level until the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War in 1980. 

1982
In 1982 Iraq devalued the dinar by 5 percent, to a value equal to US$3.22, and sustained this official exchange rate without  additional devaluation despite mounting debt.

1988
In early 1988, the official dinar-dollar exchange rate was still ID1 to US$3.22; however, with estimates of the nation’s inflation rate ranging from 25 percent to 50 percent per year in 1985 and 1986, the dinar’s real transaction value, or black market exchange rate, was far lower-only about half the 1986 official rate.

1986–2003      1986–2003 between .33 cents to 1.32 to a dollar.

2001
Oil-production: 2.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.); note — production was disrupted as a result of the March –          
April 2003 war (2001est.)

2002
GDP: purchasing power parity — $58 billion (2002 est.)

2002
Exports–partners:US 40.9%, Canada 8.2%, France 8.2%, Jordan 7.5%, Netherlands 6.4%, Italy 5.4%,
Morocco 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2002)

2003
In october 2003, the official dinar-dollar exchange rate was ID1 to US$0.00027.

2004–2011
August 2004 till 2005, the official dinar-dollar exchange rate is ID1 to US$0.00068. Population: 25,374,691 (July 2004 est.) *See graph at top of this page to chart the dinar from 2004 – 2011

Positive Changes in Iraq

Upon Saddam Hussein’s deposition in 2003, Iraq has undergone political and economic changes. Many believe that the re-building of Iraq’s infrastructure will stabilize Iraq socially, politically, and economically. With the new government establishing a new monetary system that encourages foreign investment, and the central bank of Iraq awarding foreign licences, many also believe that the value of the new Iraqi dinar banknote is poised to escalate.

More Treasury Bills on the Way

The government of Iraq will issue more Treasury bills to the secondary market. For the first time in years, the central bank auctioned Treasury bills in July. Thus far, local banks have bought 900 billion Iraqi dinars ($628 million) worth of three-month bills with coupons ranging between 2.5 percent and 6.8 percent. To improve Iraq’s local currency, the dinar against the dollar, Iraq’s central bank also plans to build up its foreign-currency reserves.

Creating viable domestic capital markets will start the process of trimming the massive pre-war debt. Iraq’s path to debt reduction along with the generosity of the Paris Club by forgiving 80% of Iraq’s debt is good news for the Iraqi economy. Iraq’s growth-oriented policy, along with Iraq’s prospects of economic stability makes investing in the dinar potentially lucrative.

The Central Bank of Iraq

For the first time in decades, the central bank of Iraq awarded foreign bank licences to the following banks: HSBC, Standard Chartered, National Bank of Kuwait, Iranian National Bank, Commercial Housing bank, and Bahraini Arab Banking Institute. The Bahraini Arab Banking Institute is listed on the Bahrain, Kuwait, and Paris stock exchanges, and its major shareholders include the Kuwait Investment Authority, the central bank of Libya, and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Granting foreign licences and liberalizing interest rates will create a vibrant free-market economy. Iraq’s re-invigorated banking policies will positively effect the value of the dinar in the near future.

The Potential of the Dinar

Prior to United Nations sanctions, the Iraqi dinar traded at 3.35 per U.S. dollar, and prior to the war in Iraq, the Iraqi dinar traded at .33 U.S. Dollars. During major combat operations, the Iraqi dinar declined to an all time low. However, after major combat operations, the value of the dinar increased 25%. Countries such as Germany (post WWII) and Kuwait (post Iraqi invasion) experienced a similar devaluation of their currency, but both countries recovered. Today, the dinar has increased from 3,500 against the dollar during the U.S. led invasion last year to 1,400 against the U.S. dollar. Imagine the growth potential of the Iraqi dinar once Iraq recovers and begins to enjoy the potential revenue of a country rich in oil and other natural resources.

The New Iraqi Dinar Banknote

Today, De La Rue, the world’s largest commercial security printer and papermaker based in Great Britian, prints the new Iraqi dinar banknote. The new Iraqi dinar banknote has various security features making the dinar very difficult to counterfiet, and the dinar banknote is now available in 50, 250, 500,1000, 5000, 10000, and 25000 bills. With the re-building of Iraq’s infrastructure and with the prospect of stability at hand, the Iraqi dinar is quickly becoming a very attractive investment opportunity.

This article reflects on until 2011 and we are much further down the road since then. In fact we are at the point where they can revalue . IMO

DINARLAND UPDATE FROM DINARCHRONICLES, 8 AUGUST

 MarkZ

[via PDK]

We have a great bank story…out of North Carolina from a Regional Bank. A person goes in their local branch…There is a new office in there. …In it is a currency exchange room with pictures of mostly European currencies on them.  The person asked what this was about?… It was explained to them that they would be handling a lot of currencies. The person said “I have a lot of …“Vietnamese dong, “ The branch manager said “That’s great”  The person asked “What do you think the rate is going to be? The bank manager said “Around $3 is what we are hearing…”

“Iraq shut down Telegram yesterday for National Security ”  This was yesterday about noon their time. From a number of news agencies. They said it’s for “national security” that they suspended the popular messaging system.  We were also told they wanted control of information across borders in and out of Iraq close to the revaluation.  So things could not leak…It could be. We were told they would start controlling currency movement at the borders …and control the press releases…at that time… I think its interesting…let’s see if it pans out.

Nader From The Mid East

Let me explain…why the parallel market is so hard to get out of it…If you live in Iraq and you have say, $1000.  If you go to the bank or you go in an exchange office they will change your dollar for 1320-1310 plus some fees.  You lose a lot of money.  If you go to the parallel market…can be in a street changing money, without license, without anything… You come see me [Street vendor] with $1,000 and I’ll give you 1500 dinar for a dollar . 

Where would you go?  Would you come to me?  Of course you would come to me because you’ll make more money on your dollars…That’s why it’s so hard…That’s why the parallel market will always exist.  It will never go off no matter how many they’re gonna arrest.  But they can control it.  Instead now it’s 70% parallel market will become like 20%, 10% maybe.  The dinar is going to be a lot stronger if the parallel market goes down to 10%-20%. 

Enorrste

They already have 132 tons of gold.  Now they’re coming in with another 50 tons per year.   They’re planning on making this the strongest currency in the world.  There’s no question in my mind.  They already have the strongest currency in the world because they’ve got 110 billion in cash in reserves…they’re over 100% coverage of their full money supply.  No other country has that strong of a currency… they’re not messing around.   They want to have the strongest currency in the world. 

MilitiaMan (KTFA)

Article Quote:
“Regarding the increase in the monetary mass, Khalaf stressed that the process of increasing the monetary mass is directly linked to the process of increasing the foreign reserves owned by the Central Bank, so any financing for the public treasury is through the exchange of dollars obtained from oil sales with dinars, and therefore any increase in the dinar mass comes mainly from foreign currency…There is no fear of any increase in the monetary mass.”

There we have it. The Central Bank is not going to increase the monetary mass.  There should be no fear of any increase in it from here on out. The CBI is giving reassurances to the citizens on that matter.

If they issue new notes, 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 50s etc alongside the bigger notes they’re going to be able to be in country side by side for a period of up to 10 years…