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NEW YORK/SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) – Bitcoin futures eased again from an preliminary surge of just about 22 % to commerce up 13 % on Monday, in an eagerly awaited U.S. market debut that backers hope will confer better legitimacy on the risky cryptocurrency and result in its wider use.
Though bitcoin futures had been already supplied on some unregulated cryptocurrency exchanges exterior america, the Chicago-based Cboe World Markets’ (CBOE.O) launch marked the primary time buyers may get publicity to the market through a mainstream regulated alternate.
The debut on Sunday evening could have prompted an early outage of the Cboe web site. The alternate mentioned that resulting from heavy visitors, the location “could also be briefly unavailable”.
The one-month bitcoin contract <zero#XBT:> opened commerce at 6 pm native time (2300 GMT) at $15,460, dipped briefly earlier than rising to a excessive of $18,700 after which slipping once more.
As of 1112 GMT the one-month future was up 13 % from the open at $17,450, round $1,000 increased than the “spot” bitcoin worth – the value at which bitcoin is at the moment being purchased and bought.
The 2-month contract was buying and selling at $18,880, whereas the three-month contract was altering palms at $19,040.
“The premiums have up to now been very excessive, demonstrating that few wish to take the brief aspect of the commerce,” mentioned Altana Digital Forex Fund supervisor Alistair Milne, whose fund has $35 million in property underneath administration.
In simply over 12 hours after the launch, 2,780 contracts had been traded, that means round $48.5 million had been notionally invested. That compares with day by day buying and selling volumes of greater than $20 billion throughout all cryptocurrencies, in accordance with commerce web site Coinmarketcap.
Simply 13 trades of the two-month contracts had been traded.
“It is going to take time for spinoff volumes to construct up, however ultimately in the event that they show to be a big share of the worldwide commerce, they need to in concept assist stabilize issues,” mentioned Milne.
Most fund managers at mainstream asset administration corporations and different institutional buyers say they won’t be lured into the market by the launch of the futures.
“There’s no place for bitcoin in a multi-asset portfolio given the very excessive volatility,” mentioned Robeco Chief Funding Officer Lukas Daalder.
“We’ve checked out it up to now however when you have a look at the variety of occasions that you want to commerce to maintain your publicity on the similar degree, after one week you want to rebalance the portfolio already,” he added.
On the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp BTC=BTSP alternate, bitcoin costs surged 12.5 % on the day to $16,570, near an all-time excessive of $16,666.66 hit on Friday.
Bitcoin is up greater than 1,500 % up to now in 2017, having began the 12 months at lower than $1,000, and its positive aspects up to now month have been speedy.
Consultants had apprehensive that the dangers related to the foreign money’s Wild West-like nature may overshadow the futures debut. Bitcoin tumbled 20 % in 10 hours on Friday.
“Even when there’s an establishment or institutional-sized dealer on the market, they’re going to wish to make it possible for the mechanics work first, only for the futures,” mentioned Ophir Gottlieb, chief government officer of Los Angeles-based Capital Market Laboratories.
“I feel the joy will come when the futures market is established. That may take a couple of days,” Gottlieb added.
The futures are cash-settled contracts primarily based on the public sale worth of bitcoin in U.S. on the Gemini Trade, which is owned and operated by digital foreign money entrepreneurs and brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Bitcoin was quoted at $16,674 on the Gemini alternate.
Whereas bitcoin’s worth rise mystifies many, its origins have been the topic of a lot hypothesis.
It was arrange in 2008 by somebody or some group calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, and was the primary digital foreign money to efficiently use cryptography to maintain transactions safe and hidden, making conventional monetary regulation troublesome if not not possible.
Central bankers and critics of the cryptocurrency have been ringing the alarm bells over the surge within the worth and different dangers similar to whether or not the opaque market can be utilized for cash laundering.
“It seems remarkably like a bubble forming to me,” the Reserve Financial institution of New Zealand’s Appearing Governor Grant Spencer mentioned on tv on Sunday.
“We’ve seen them up to now. Over the centuries we’ve seen bubbles and this seems to be a little bit of a basic case.”
Many buyers have stood on the sidelines watching its worth rocket. Nevertheless, it’s potential to purchase bitcoin with out having to spend the complete worth of 1 coin. Bitcoin’s smallest unit is a Satoshi, named after the elusive creator of the cryptocurrency.
Any individual who invested $1,000 in bitcoin at first of 2013 and had by no means bought any of it might now be sitting on round $1.2 million.
Heightened pleasure forward of the launch of the futures has given an additional kick to the cryptocurrency’s scorching run this 12 months.
The CME Group (CME.O) is anticipated to launch its futures contract on Dec. 17.
Bitcoin followers seem excited concerning the prospect of an exchange-listed and controlled product and the power to guess on its worth swings with out having to join a digital pockets.
Others, nonetheless, warning that dangers stay for buyers and probably even the clearing organizations underpinning the trades.
“You’ll open up the market to an entire lot of people that aren’t at the moment in bitcoin,” mentioned Randy Frederick, vp of buying and selling and derivatives for Charles Schwab in Austin, Texas.
The launch has up to now acquired a combined reception from massive U.S. banks and brokerages, although.
A number of on-line brokerages, together with Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW.N) and TD Ameritrade Holding Corp (AMTD.O), didn’t enable buying and selling of the brand new futures instantly.
The Monetary Occasions reported on Friday that JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N) wouldn’t instantly clear bitcoin trades for shoppers.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) mentioned on Thursday it was planning to clear such trades for sure shoppers.
Bitcoin’s manic run-up this 12 months has boosted volatility far in extra of different asset courses. The futures buying and selling could assist dampen a number of the sharp strikes, analysts mentioned.
“Hypothetically, volatility over the long term ought to drop after establishments become involved,” Gottlieb mentioned. “However there might not be a direct impression, say within the first month.”
Extra reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak and John McCrank in NEW YORK,; Michelle Chen in HONG KONG and Helen Reid in LONDON; Modifying by Lisa Von Ahn, Will Dunham and Gareth Jones


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Auto industry innovators rely on Impel for AI-powered digital engagement solutions that drive business results throughout the customer lifecycle.
These are their stories.
BDC Manager Annie Lam discusses how AI has become the foundation of Sales and Service at Jim Butler Auto Group.
Brent DeRosier of Milton CAT talks about how the addition of Impel's digital merchandising has accelerated their sales cycle and influenced unit sales.
"Super easy to set up and use. After a few questions the AI is able to answer customers' questions or direct sales to reach out. Customers often come in asking for the AI since it does such a good job!"
We're cutting vendors left and right and are not buying anything from anyone…except for Sales AI from Impel. We're excited to test Sales AI at our first store.
We called your tech support team and they were able to help us out in under five minutes. Big relief after trying to resolve the issue with my own IT support team and Apple’s support crew.
Just keep up the great customer support, that’s been really important and it’s appreciated. I think a lot of times companies underestimate how important that is. But when we need something, you know, you’ve done it fast for us and… and that’s appreciated.

domain: news


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Weekly Store Openings and Closures Tracker 2018 #40: Aldi to Open 130 Stores in the UK Over the Next Two Years
Coresight Research tracks store openings and closures for a select group of retailers in the US and the UK, as well as major US store bankruptcies.
- Year-to-date (YTD) 2018, the number of US store closure announcements stands at 4,612 and the number of store openings is 2,639.
- Walmart has acquired women’s plus-size retailer Eloquii for an undisclosed sum.
- Kroger will test online order pickup at 13 Walgreens stores.
- YTD in the UK, there have been 1,261 store closure announcements and 766 store opening announcements.
- Aldi plans to open 130 stores over the next two years and 1,200 stores by 2025.


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Inflation falls to six-month low in March
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the all-items consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.4% year on year in March—the slowest pace of increase in the past six months.
Despite the rise in consumption tax in October 2019, inflationary pressure failed to pick up in Japan, and growth in the CPI has been decelerating since December. Only seven of the ten categories recorded a rise during March. The education component remained the biggest laggard and will decline further after higher education is made free from April. Prices for utilities also declined, and we expect this trend to continue as falling global oil prices lead to a further contraction in electricity prices. Lower oil prices will also weigh on transportation costs. The category of transportation has a 10% weighting in the CPI basket.
Meanwhile, fresh food prices increased in March after declining for the previous two months. With Japan importing more than half of its vegetables from China, we anticipate that food prices will remain elevated, as supply chains in China have been disrupted by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in that country. Prices of toiletries also remained buoyant; consumers rushed to buy them as the pandemic continued to spread in Japan as well.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ, the central bank) tracks core CPI, which excludes the price of fresh food items, and it remains committed to its price-stability target of 2%. However, the target is unlikely to be met any time soon, owing to the fall in oil prices. After the BOJ revised down its outlook on economic growth, we expect it to revise down its outlook on prices as well at its next monetary policy board meeting on April 27th‑28th. Consumer demand has also contracted, as the government has declared a state of emergency across the country, and this will further reduce price pressures. Consequently, we expect the CPI to decelerate further in the coming months.
Impact on the forecast
In view of the latest data release, we will make a downward revision to our CPI forecast for 2020; we currently forecast average inflation of 0.6% for the year.


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Tires are hugely important, in fact, they’re really the only part of your car or truck that should ever touch the ground. Providing electric vehicle owners with a premium replacement option, Bridgestone introduced its new Turanza EV grand touring tire, which is designed specifically for the unique needs of electric vehicles.
Turanza EV tires aim to minimize roadway noise – something you tend to notice more in super-quiet electric vehicles – while providing ample grip, even in wet conditions. Thanks to the company’s new PeakLife polymer tech that’s debuting here, long tread life is expected to be another strength. The Turanza EV tires will offer a 50,000-mile limited warranty, meaning they should easily withstand the stresses electric vehicles, with their instant and abundant torque, can deliver.
The new Turanza EV tire was designed for premium electric vehicles and will initially be offered in five sizes to fit the Ford Mustang Mach-E as well as Elon Musk’s stable of electrics including the Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y. Starting early next year, 13 additional sizes will be available, so if your electric vehicle isn’t listed here, it may be covered in 2024.
According to Bridgestone, Turanza EV replacement tires are the first in North America to feature the manufacturer’s Enliten technology, which improves treadwear, increases traction and incorporates eco-friendly materials. These tires feature a next-generation tread design that provides many of those benefits, but advanced engineering also helps reduce rolling resistance to increase efficiency, something owners of electric and combustion-powered vehicles will appreciate. Beyond all that, Turanza EV tires also incorporate renewable materials including carbon black harvested from recycled tires. They’re also made with renewable soybean oil as well as synthetic rubber that comes from recycled plastic bags and bottles. These tires even feature rice husk silica, another material sourced from something that would normally be discarded. Going forward, Bridgestone’s Enliten tech will be incorporated across its entire product portfolio.
In a release shared by the company, Riccardo Cichi, president and chief sales officer of Bridgestone Americas said, “With the accelerated progress toward an electrified vehicle fleet, we’re thrilled to launch a tire that is designed to help drivers get the best overall experience from their electric vehicles, including ride comfort, all-season driving performance and excellent wear life.” He added, “We are also excited to introduce Enliten, which marks a major pivot in how we approach tire technology and design to deliver both exceptional dynamic performance and increased use of renewable and recycled materials.”
Designed and developed in North America, Turanza EV tires will also be manufactured here. Bridgestone’s factories in Wilson, North Carolina and Monterrey, Mexico will produce these tires.
To increase sustainability, Bridgestone is aiming to use 100% recycled materials in its tires by the year 2050. Moving closer to that goal, the Turanza EV tire will be made of about 50% recycled and renewable materials.


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|From:||Jose De D.|
|Sent on:||Wednesday, October 2, 2013 8:09 AM|
Good Morning Entrepreneurs!
Startups Showcase is excited to announce our new partner MicroVentures!
MicroVentures is an equity crowdfunding platform that has raised over $20 million for startups. They have been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and their CEO, Tim Sullivan, was recently interviewed on Bloomberg TV. “Over the past two years Tim has transacted with 30 private issuers, representing over $1B transactions.” The MicroVentures portfolio includes Yelp, Twitter, Facebook, Medigram, App.io, just to name a few.
MicroVentures, platform is managed by experienced registered broker dealers so they adhere to all the rules of the JOBS Act. Once approved on their equity crowdfunding platform, those startups are provided with the capital needed to launch their business, realize their potential, and become successful. Accredited investors are offered the opportunity to invest in startups online.
"We are excited to meet passionate people who are looking to bring their startup ideas to the next level," said Elizabeth Ciabattari, Director of Marketing at MicroVentures. The MicroVentures team plans to participate in upcoming demo days and workshops. Please help me welcome the MicroVentures team and if you would like more information on their platform please visit www.microventures.com.
Your team Startups Showcase


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• Though the risk is low, there’s growing evidence that food can be contaminated by harmful chemicals from some types of plastic.
• Many foods are packaged in these risky plastics – including fresh meat, gourmet cheese, and even some health foods and organic vegetables.
• There are safer alternatives, and CHOICE wants the industry to phase out these risky plastics.
Plastic as such isn’t a problem. The polymer molecules from which it’s made are far too big to move from the packaging material into the food. But plastic can also contain much smaller molecules that are free to migrate into the food it’s in contact with. The plastic can slowly breakdown, releasing monomer. Two plastics of particular concern are
• Polycarbonate (often used to make food storage containers and bottles, in particular bottles marketed for use by infants and small children) and the epoxy resin used to line cans can release bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that many experts now believe can cause serious health problems.
• PVC (used to make bottles, cling wrap and the seals for screw-cap jars) contains added chemicals known as plasticisers. On its own, PVC is hard and rigid (it’s used to make drains, guttering and downpipes), so plasticisers are added to make it soft and flexible – in much the same way water added to clay makes it soft. Plasticisers can make up as much as 40% of the plastic material. Phthalates and DEHA (di-(2-ethyhexyl)adipate) are often added as plasticisers to the PVC that’s used for food packaging; again, recent research raises doubts about the safety of these compounds.
Video: Plastics health risk
A simple test shows harmful plasticisers in our food wrapping.
BPA and phthalates are endocrine disruptors, meaning they can mimic the body’s natural hormones and thereby cause a raft of health problems. Infants and the very young are most vulnerable to exposure because of their lower body weight and because their growth and development are strongly influenced by hormones; the effects on health can be lifelong. These effects have been seen clearly and consistently in experiments with animals and when people or wildlife have been accidentally exposed to high levels of endocrine disruptors. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement calling for more research into the possible harmful effects of BPA, reinforcing growing concerns about its safety.
While these compounds are undoubtedly hazardous at high levels of exposure, scientific opinion is divided over the risk from the much lower levels that we’re exposed to every day in our food. There is, however, growing scientific evidence that even at these lower levels of exposure, phthalates and BPA may be causing problems such as infertility, obesity, breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
Use the player below to listen to the CHOICE Radio podcast on this topic.
Subscribe to the free CHOICE Radio podcast


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The University of Florida is taking a bold—some say sneaky—approach to expanding its enrollment in online courses. The school recently accepted an additional 3,118 students into its fall 2015 freshman class, but only for online classes they access from home.
The university had already accepted about 12,000 freshman students who will be free to take either online or traditional courses right on the campus. The add-on group will be limited to online classes for at least their first two semesters, although once they accumulate 60 credit hours, they may be eligible to transfer into regular freshman enrollment.
Florida didn’t inform applicants in advance that there might be two different acceptances, and none of the students specifically applied to be an online-only enrollee, according to The Washington Post.
The move “allows us to offer admission to additional qualified applicants with academic potential and demonstrated success,” Steve Orlando, senior director of media relations, told The Post. The school isn’t sure how many will actually enroll in the online program, but estimates about 10% will probably take the offer.
In part, the decision to admit additional freshmen as online students was made to help fill the university’s new online undergraduate program, launched in 2014. The Florida state legislature, which has been promoting online education, provided $15 million in startup funding.


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Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon and eBay have become digital hotspots for all things retail. With so many brick-and-mortar stores closed as states across the country shut down, these websites became a go-to resource for stocking up on supplies — including masks, medicine, disinfectants and other healthcare products.
With so many people relying on these online marketplaces, the scammers of the web saw a perfect opportunity to rip desperate people off. Between price gouging ordinary products and shilling phony COVID-19 treatments, avoiding scammers has become increasingly difficult. Tap or click here to see how some scammers got away jacking prices up.
But the powers that be have finally said: “Enough is enough!” The EPA is now telling Amazon and eBay to stop allowing sellers to market dangerous chemicals as COVID-19 treatments. If you plan on doing some online shopping in the near future, here’s what you need to know.
EPA to Amazon and eBay: ‘Pesticides can’t kill coronavirus.’
The EPA is finally bringing the hammer down on shady online retailers peddling dangerous chemicals as disinfectants and COVID-19 treatments.
According to a new alert posted by the agency, the EPA has contacted both Amazon and eBay about sellers fraudulently marketing chemicals in their online stores and is demanding the listings be removed to protect shoppers. The products in question aren’t actually disinfectants or soaps at all, but toxic pesticides created for industrial use.
Some eBay and Amazon sellers are describing these products with language implying that they’re safe for at-home use and will either kill or neutralize coronavirus particles. Not only are these statements scientifically unsound, using these chemicals at home can actually cause more harm to your health.
Related: Tap or click here to read the FDA warning about fake coronavirus cures and treatments.
In fact, many of the pesticides in question are actually restricted for industrial use as well, and pose an “immediate health risk to consumers, children, pets, and others exposed to the products.” What’s more, most of these chemicals are sold by overseas merchants and have not been approved for domestic sales by the EPA — a legal requirement for any pesticide.
As per the “stop sale” alert, Amazon and eBay have already started to remove listings across the board. That said, it’s unlikely they’ll catch everything all at once — especially as sellers change their language and product descriptions around to slide under the radar.
How can I spot the chemicals and pesticides eBay and Amazon miss?
Thankfully, you don’t need to do a lot of legwork to avoid getting duped by a quack COVID-19 treatment. To protect yourself from coronavirus particles, you don’t need anything more than good old soap and hand sanitizers, which are in short supply, unfortunately. Alternative chemicals are not recommended, and shouldn’t even be considered in the first place.
That said, here is a list of product descriptions used by some of the frequent offenders that the EPA discovered during its investigations:
- “Kills COVID-19”
- “Complete sterilization including the current pandemic virus”
- “Coronavirus disinfectant”
- “2020 Coronavirus Protection Coronavirus Protection Clearance Sale”
- “A Powerful, Green, Non-Toxic Solution Proven to Inactivate our current viral strain”
- “Epidemic Prevention”
- “Efficient disinfection to prevent the spread of disease”
- “Help keep your family and those you care for healthy”
- “Nontoxic causes no permanent injuries”
- “Ingredients are biodegradable and have no harmful impact on the environment”
- “There is no damage to the environment”
- “You can easily purify the living environment”
- “Safe for all people using”
- “Gentle to Child & Pets”
- “Chemical Free”
These descriptions, the EPA notes, actually violate agency rules due to inaccuracy and misleading claims.
As a perfect example, advertising a pesticide as “chemical-free” is pure hogwash. Nothing made of matter on planet Earth is “chemical-free.” Even water is technically a chemical compound (and is also called “oxidane” or the spooky “dihydrogen monoxide” by some chemists).
Another red flag to look out for is the language on the packaging. Many of these products are sold by China-based merchants, and as such, contain Chinese characters on the packaging. Environmental protection and safety laws differ greatly in other countries, which is why the EPA is so concerned with the proliferation of potentially dangerous chemicals.
Related: Tap or click here to see the COVID-19 phishing sites with fake treatments to watch out for.
In the end, if you use your best judgment, you’ll probably be safe. Just be aware that a can of Raid won’t do jack against coronavirus. We may call illnesses “bugs,” but roach-killer won’t have any effect at all.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, advice, or health objectives.


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Image source: The Boston Beer Company.
Sam Adams Lager maker Boston Beer Company (NYSE: SAM) still hasn't figured out that it isn't a "craft" brewer anymore. It continues to take the artist's high road and create new craft offerings in-house. Meanwhile, micro-brewers and neighborhood pubs are capturing enthusiasts' interests, and big brewers such as AB InBev (NYSE: BUD) are gobbling up the mass market through acquisitions ofSAB Miller, other regional brewers, and, more recently, a home-brew purchase.
Sales are fizzling out
Boston Beer shares are now half the price they were in early 2015, and it still doesn't look like a bargain, with the company's most recent quarter showing another drop in beer shipments of 12% and revenue falling 14% from the same quarter last year. Depletions, or beer shipped from distributors to end consumers or retailers, also fell 6% during the quarter.
The decreases were led by the Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard,and Traveler beer brands. Partially offsetting craft drinkers' disinterest were increases in the newer Twisted Tea and Truly Spiked & Sparkling brands.
The bad news comes on the heels of reported losses for the better part of a year now. Nevertheless, shares nudged up anyway as management stated that a review of brand strategies is under way, as well as an increased focus on cutting costs. Not exactly what you want to hear from a company with high growth expectations priced into shares, but it was a much-needed scrap for investors to chew on.
Consumer trends on the move
In the 1970s, the number of total U.S. brewers numbered as few as 100. At the end of 2015, that number had skyrocketed to more than 4,200. That's impressive growth, and the totals are still increasing. The numbers underline the resurging American interest in the hometown, or even home-neighborhood, brewpub or taproom, as many of the upstarts operate as local hangouts and gathering places.
Boston Beer management has admitted that the explosion of small competition is indicative of changing consumer trends. Beer drinkers have been trending toward smaller brewers in search of new and creative drinks. Management has also acknowledged the Brewers Association, a non-profit economic organization that represents the craft-beer industry, which says trends are shifting toward smaller and local consumption.
Big non-craft companies have noticed the changes in consumer preference and have taken action. Consolidation and acquisitions have been the big news for the past few years now. Budweiser maker AB InBev completed its merger with SABMiller and has also purchased eight craft brands in the past five years. Not content with the mass market, AB InBev also recently purchased DIY-brew supplier Northern Brewer.
While AB InBev's move to buy up market share and control distribution of beer was something regulators partially addressed during the SABMiller deal, the moves in recent years still put the world's biggest brewer in the driver's seat of the mass market. However, Boston Beer management attributes lost market share to increased distribution from smaller players, citing that distribution for small brewers has been tightening as of late and that it will eventually stall.
I disagree, as this assumption doesn't account for bigger brewers that are buying out smaller ones and inserting them into their large existing distribution networks. Add to that the continuing interest in local consumption at taprooms, brewpubs, and DIY homebrews. Boston Beer is stuck in the middle of a two-front war, and it's currently losing.
Time to shift gears
It's time for the Boston Beer Company to shift gears. The company's internal efforts to generate growth aren't cutting it. I can understand the desire to stay true to "craft" beer roots, but the company opted to play the perpetual growth game and went public years ago, and shareholders demand profitable growth.It might be time to purchase a small rivalbrewer or two and plug them into the existing Sam Adams family.
The good news is that management said it was doing a review of its strategy during the last earnings report. But until the company comes up with a plan, I'm not interested in buying.
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Nicholas Rossolillo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and Boston Beer. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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SALEM, Ore. -- An expansion to Oregon's bottle bill, which has already had a rocky path through the legislature this session, is being sent back to committee by the House for the third time.
The bill expands the sorts of drinks for which consumers must pay deposits. The new bottles include those for coffee and sports beverages among others.
House members voted Tuesday to kick it to the revenue committee so that members can consider adding a provision to the bill allowing the state to keep some of the $20 million to $30 million in unclaimed deposits.
The bill debuted as a strong expansion of the existing bottle bill. It increased the deposit from a nickel to a dime and included liquor bottles. But those pieces were stripped from the legislation during its second trip to committee.


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Earlier this year, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said in a reply to a parliamentary question that there are 13,18,192 sellers who have registered themselves in the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to enable them to sell their products directly to various Government departments and organisations.
What is a GeM
There is no definition of an active supplier on GeM. Registered suppliers decide to participate in any bid depending on their interest, availability of products and other factors. All the registered sellers have equal opportunity to participate in the marketplace and bids. Successful award of an order is contingent on the requirement given by the buyer and the ability of the seller to meet the requirement by offering the most competitive price.
GeM is claimed to have achieved a cumulative GMV of more than 4.5 lakh crore until 23 July 2023 (since inception). Hence, considering the saving estimates as reported above, GeM has facilitated savings worth more than Rs 40,000 crore since its start.


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« Latest News
Cigar Trade Associations Now Pressuring Courts to Postpone FDA Requirements for Warning Labels and User FeesApril 23rd, 2018
The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR), Cigar Association of America (CAA) and Cigar Rights of America (CRA) are now leaning on the courts to drop the FDA’s new warning label requirements and user fees.
This latest request is part of an ongoing lawsuit known as Cigar Association of America, et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration, and stems from the FDA’s recent issuing of the ANPRM, which seeks input and data from premium cigar industry professionals such as manufacturers and retailers, as well as comments and input from consumers.
The argument by the associations comes down to this: the language and claims used in the warning label statements issued by the FDA are a sign that the FDA is now reconsidering parts of the deeming rule, which includes the new warning label requirements and the research used to inform and support the regulation of premium cigars. Moreover, when the lawsuit was argued in court last December, even U.S. District of Columbia District Court Judge, Amit Mehta, raised the question that if the FDA was still in the process of studying and understanding the true nature of the cigar industry, how could it impose user fees and costly compliance requirements? It was that rationale which caused Mehta’s hesitation in issuing a ruling in the case.
Another economic issue the cigar industry is facing this year is higher user fees. The fees, which went into effect on October 1, 2017 for fiscal year 2018, are used to pay for the Center for Tobacco Products, the arm of the FDA that actually regulates tobacco products. In the past, these fees were paid by the cigarette industry, but since the deeming regulations went into effect in 2016, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and RYO must now also pay-up and continue to do so in the years ahead. Additionally, the warning label requirements now make it even more difficult for cigar manufacturers and retailers to promote their respective products and businesses to consumers – not to mention the impact the new label requirements will have on the packaging – since the FDA requires that the new label plans be submitted for approval one year in advance before being implemented. Moreover, the new warning label requirements go into effect on August 10, 2018, shortly after this year’s IPCPR trade show, when manufacturers will be debuting their new premium cigar selections to retailers for 2019.


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White Lumia 900 back in stock at ATT.com
0. phoneArena 26 Apr 2012, 13:30 posted on
It has only been a week since the white Nokia Lumia 900 has hit AT&T stores, but this handset has been flying off both virtual and physical shelves like hot cakes. So much so that AT&T’s website had been listing the white version as out of stock along with the cyan model...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here
2. ahhxd717 (Posts: 332; Member since: 08 Dec 2011)
That and the iPhone are some of the few white phones I think look nice. I'd love to have one


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A report earlier this week said that Samsung is preparing a Galaxy Note 7 relaunch. The company is allegedly looking to replace the faulty batteries with lower-capacity models, and start selling the refurbished phone in emerging markets including India and Vietnam at some point in June. While Samsung isn’t ready to make any announcements regarding the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung India confirmed that the Galaxy Note 7 isn’t heading to the India.
“The report on Samsung planning to sell refurbished Galaxy Note 7 smartphone[s] in India is incorrect,” a Samsung India spokesperson told Gadgets 360.
Samsung fans who may have hoped to score a cheaper Galaxy Note 7 should not despair, though, all hope is not lost. The statement above does not categorically deny Samsung’s interest in selling refurbished Galaxy Note 7 phones. It just says that India won’t get them — as you can see, there’s no word on Vietnam.
Samsung does have a huge Galaxy Note 7 problem on its hands, the previous report suggested. The company has collected 98% of around three million Galaxy Note 7 units it sold around the world. A few weeks ago, Samsung said it used some 200,000 units to investigate the battery problems. Samsung didn’t say how many caught fire, but it’s likely not all of those units were destroyed.
So Samsung has nearly 3 million phones that it has to dispose of in a manner that’s not going to impact the environment. The easier solution might be fixing the handsets and reselling them for a lower price. After all, there are plenty of die-hard Galaxy Note fans out there who kept using the phone long after its official discontinuation. They’ll probably be thrilled to buy a cheaper, safer Galaxy Note 7.


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Investors are poised to find out Thursday when the optical networking components company reports third quarter fiscal 2016 earnings after the closing bell.
Finisar, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., makes networking equipment that is used in both wired and wireless systems for large telecom carriers like AT&T (T - Get Report) . And its products have been an important part in the buildout of various high-speed 4G LTE networks. In other words, you can thank Finisar because your smartphone can download data at fast speeds and doesn't lock up when you watch videos.
With smartphones and other devices becoming more like computers, and with consumers desiring faster speeds to stream music and movies, this bodes well for Finisar's growth prospects. Why? Obviously, the networks that support these streams will need upgrading, meaning these telecoms will come to Finisar for more of its components. And for this reason, investors should expect upbeat guidance when the company announces its results.
For the quarter that ended in January, the average analyst earnings estimate calls for 22 cents per share on revenue of $311.97 million, compared with the year-ago quarter when the company earned 25 cents per share on $306.28 million in revenue. For the full year, ending in April, earnings are projected to be 91 cents per share, down from $1.04 a year ago, while full-year revenue of $1.26 billion would mark a year-over-year rise of 0.8%.
In its fiscal second quarter, Finisar posted strong revenue, thanks to better-than-expected demand for its networking hardware from the telecom sector. The company, while citing healthy demand from China, projected solid sequential revenue growth, owing to increased telecom spending for the just-ended quarter. This prompted analyst Alex Henderson at Needham & Co., who has a buy rating and $18 price target, to note "the bad news appears to be over for Finisar."
In that vein, with the better-than-expected earnings result and guidance recently released from optical networking company Broadcom (AVGO - Get Report) , combined with solid results from Infinera (INFN - Get Report) , the optimism for Finisar seems justified.
In my view, betting on a higher consumer demand in the optical networking components space now makes sense. And despite already strong 20% and 10%, respective 3-month and 1-month gains from Finisar stock, the shares should be owned ahead of Thursday's results.


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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A group of UNM students took top honors for a marketing campaign they created for Acura.
“We thought, ‘Made You Look,’ it’s edgy, it’s a play on millennials ignoring ads,” marketing student Marisa Montes said.
Marisa Montes and Adam Biederwolf were among the students from the Anderson School of Management who entered the “Acura ILX Marketing Challenge.” The contest called on students to boost the perception of Acura as an innovative, youthful brand.
The UNM team designed slick, energetic “Made You Look” ads that appeared across traditional and digital platforms, and even caught the attention of Honda bigwigs.
“I guess executives were walking upstairs to the Acura office saying, ‘What’s happening in New Mexico? What’s this Made You Look campaign?'” marketing student Adam Biederwolf said.
The team’s two-month campaign beat out teams from 20 other universities, earning $5,000 for UNM’s marketing lab.


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In this week’s Inside Retail Digital Weekly, there’s a spate of changes to Tassie’s capital city, and we look at the myriad of retail developments taking place.
Supermarket’s big box chains continue to struggle.
Stockland centre to officially launch this weekend following $330 million redevelopment.
ACCC to investigate Metcash’s plans to sell three supermarkets to Woolworths.
Shop A Docket to introduce new shorter advertising schedules to retailer receipts.
Harris Farm Markets uses app to target urban dwellers who’ve lost touch with their green thumb.
Woolworths and Coles make top 20 in Deloitte’s global retail rankings.
Woolworths refuses to sign voluntary new supermarket notification code put forward by the ACCC, says Master Grocers Australia.
Despite slowing hardware sales, Metcash’s half year results show growth.
Despite all their promotion, customers still see Aldi as having lower prices than the majors.
Harris Farm Markets has opened one of its largest stores in a new developement at Dee Why, on Sydney’s northern beaches.
It’s like an orchestra and a jazz band: How Coles’ retail operations are being transformed from the top downand the bottom up…
Global car brands are looking to reach new heights by broadening their appeal and offering to local consumers. https://t.co/nSdhCC2TwG14 hours ago


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Crafter named Best Van for second consecutive year at Parkers New Car Awards
Volkswagens large van beats off stiff competition from rivals to retain crown
Awards reflect the views of Britains vehicle-buying public
Crafter recognised for usabili...
New derivatives of all-new Crafter now on sale, with delivery before the end of 2017
Gross vehicle weights now up to 5.0 tonnes open body models join panel vans
First-in-class eight-speed automatic gearbox now available
Rear- and four-wheel-driv...
Since 1 June, all Crafters have been fitted with latest autonomous braking systems
City Emergency Braking and Front Assist now standard on all Volkswagen vans
New Crafter tested by Thatcham Research benefits from insurance group drop
Pricing starts at £17,800* for new Caddy with orders opening in December
Caddy Cargo launches in UK with standard and Maxi wheelbases and three trim levels accompanied by a range of passenger car varients
New technology includes Digital Cockpit an...
Updated Passat introduces a raft of extensive technical updates
New safety technology introduced as standard across the range
Every engine available will feature a particulate filter
Milton Keynes – With over 30 million sold worldwide acro...
Prices announced for all-new large van starting at £23,920 (basic RRP excl VAT)
Order books open now, with UK debut at CV Show in April and deliveries in May
Widest range of engines, drivetrains and sizes gives maximum flexibility
Spectacular concept car blurs the boundaries between the virtual and real worlds
HerndonLos Angeles — Volkswagen will show the spectacular GTI Roadster concept car in North America for the first time at the Los Angeles International Au...
New extended wheelbase Infiniti Q70L is priced just %241,500 USD above Q70 standard wheelbase model
Premium Package content added as complimentary on Q70 3.7-liter V6-equipped models
2015 Infiniti Q70 lineup now features nine distinct choices, inclu...


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A decision made earlier this year by the world’s most populous country has affected Northwestern Montana, causing Lincoln County to no longer be able to accept recyclable plastics.
“China banned all import of foreign waste and used to take 90 percent of the our recyclable plastic,” states a Dec. 24 post to the Lincoln County Health Department Facebook page notifying residents that, as a result, the Lincoln County Landfill will no longer accept plastics “until a new market is found.”
Until the announcement, the Lincoln County Solid Waste and Recycling department, which the Health Department oversees, collected consumer recyclables from several drop-off locations throughout Libby, Troy and Eureka and transported them to Kootenai Disposal.
“Kootenai Disposal notified me on Dec. 20 that they no longer have an outlet for any plastics and can no longer accept them,” said Kathi Hooper, Health Department director, via email. “(Kootenai Disposal’s Jerry Snell) told me he was notified on Dec. 19.”
Representatives from China told the World Trade Center in July that starting Jan. 1, 2018, the country — the world’s largest processor of recyclable materials — would no longer accept imports of 24 kinds of waste for use in recycling. The decision reportedly reflects both a desire to clean up China’s environment and an expanding amount of domestically produced recyclable materials.
Though the announcement was made in July, the nearing of the ban’s start date has prompted a flurry of news reports in recent weeks. At least two news organizations — NPR and The Irish Times — have used the word “chaos” in headlines to describe how the pending ban is affecting countries worldwide.
The local implementation of the ban set off a discussion on the “Lincoln County, MT News and Opinion” Facebook page.
“It is such a bummer,” wrote Shannon Myslicki, who learned about the ban after seeing a sign at Kootenai Disposal stating it was no longer accepting plastic. “Every time I throw it (away now) I cringe.”


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BCE Inc. BCE-T reported a 13.8-for every-cent fall in its fourth-quarter gain, as larger curiosity costs and a drop in the industry price of its French-language Television set attributes weighed on success.
The firm mentioned adjusted earnings per share are predicted to slide involving 3 per cent and 7 per cent in 2023 in light-weight of lower tax adjustments, greater depreciation and amortization expense and greater desire fees.
The Montreal-based telecom posted $567-million in income for the three-thirty day period time period finished Dec. 31, down from $658-million the previous year. Complete operating income was $6.44-billion, a 3.7-for each-cent boost in comparison with last yr.
For the duration of a conference contact to talk about the effects, president and chief government officer Mirko Bibic reported the firm experienced confronted intense Black Friday offer features from rivals as shoppers returned to more in-particular person browsing.
“For the very first time since 2019, extra retail foot traffic and browsing activity was unrestricted and back again to prepandemic stages of opposition,” he said.
Meanwhile, financial pressures are hurting demand from customers for television and radio advertisements across the sector. Nonetheless, Mr. Bibic mentioned BCE’s media division carried out “better than anticipated, buoyed by FIFA Environment Cup viewership and ads, and the company’s streaming platform, Crave, wherever the subscriber foundation grew by a quarter more than 2022.
BCE stock was down about 2.9 for each cent and closed at $61.39 on the Toronto Stock Trade Thursday.
Mr. Bibic mentioned the company’s fibre-optic and 5G enlargement has opened new chances for bundled offers and upgraded cell strategies. Wireless income was up 7.7 per cent in the quarter, and the firm additional 122,621 net cellular telephone clients, up 11.8 for every cent from very last year.
In 2022, Bell obtained two independent online providers, EBOX and Distributel, supplying more entry to “value-aware residential and compact-and-medium business consumers,” Mr. Bibic claimed.
Elevated immigration and journey served gains, with profits from roaming up from previous year as Canadians continue on their return to worldwide travel.
But the firm explained it is aware of recessionary headwinds it could facial area in 2023, as perfectly as larger borrowing rates and fees to company its financial debt, together with greater depreciation and amortization charges relevant to its continued network buildout.
Chief fiscal officer Glen LeBlanc advised analysts that in 2022 the firm had confronted $44-million more in expenses owing to inflation, as perfectly as $43-million in storm-recovery fees, as opposed to $5-million or $10-million in a regular 12 months.
Mr. Bibic stated BCE is preparing for the prospective of elevated competition from rival Rogers Communications Inc. if its proposed takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. goes ahead.
“We have the home to contend on rate if anyone would like to take us there,” Mr. Bibic stated.


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On Monday, September 30, the Beyond Meat burger goes on sale for a 12-week trial at McDonald’s in Toronto and surrounding communities in southwest Ontario.
The P.L.T.—(plant, lettuce, tomato)—is the latest plant-based burger to be trialed at a major fast-food chain in North America.
Plant-based meat has become a big hit at White Castle, A&W Canada, Carl’s Jr., Burger King, and many others, but until now, McDonald’s remained the white whale among North American quick-service restaurants. For reference, Mickey D’s has nearly twice as many outlets in the United States as Burger King—about 14,000.
McDonald’s has been experimenting with plant-based meat overseas for a few years. They have had a McVegan burger in Finland and Sweden for several years and veggie nuggets in Norway. Earlier this year, they introduced the Big Vegan TS, featuring the Incredible Burger by Nestle, at all 1,500 locations in Germany, as well at locations in Israel.
In fact, McDonald’s introduced a short-lived veggie patty (the McVeggie) in Southern California in 2003. However, this is their first foray into the world of plant-based meat (i.e., a burger made from plants that looks and tastes like conventional meat) in North America.
This time may well be different. Burger King introduced a veggie burger back in the day, but when they added the next-generation Impossible Whopper earlier this year, overall sales increased significantly at their test locations. The subsequent national rollout of the Impossible Whopper has been a great success for BK.
“The Impossible Whopper has proved that plant-based meat is here to stay and is poised for explosive growth. If McDonald’s Beyond Meat test in Canada is successful, and the plant-based burger is rolled out across its North American restaurants, that will be the final sign that plant-based meat is poised for global domination,” said GFI executive director Bruce Friedrich.
We are excited to see how McDonald’s Toronto trial goes. If you get a chance to try the P.L.T., give @GoodFoodInst a tag in your review! Hopefully, everyone in North America looking for plant-based goodness will soon be Lovin’ It!
Read our press statement here.


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At a La Mesa coffee shop called Java Mama, Nichole MacDonald shows off the latest in eco-friendly purses. One’s made of recycled polyester, treated to look and feel like leather. Another has a zippered compartment to hide your green shopping bag. Her year old business Bagonia is thriving, she says, in big part, because of the support she’s getting from other moms.
"I can't even tell you what it's meant to me and my business," the single mom of a four year old boy says. "Being connected to some of the moms has gotten me into stores and has gotten other people onto my website, and that's genuine support."
And now MacDonald is part of a new online movement asking moms to pledge to do exactly that: harness their purchasing power to support women-owned businesses through the recession. It’s called "Moms Rock the Economy."
"Eight five percent of all the purchases that happen within a household are made by women. So women are essentially going to take this recession and bring the U.S. out of the recession by their purchases," said Charity Lacey, a spokesperson for the Moms Rock the Economy website.
The website asks moms to sign a pledge saying they will support women-owned businesses as often as possible.
"It doesn't mean I can't go to Target and buy my diapers if I need to do that it,“ Lacey explains. “Essentially, it says when I look at where I purchase my goods and services I'm going to take a look and really support other mothers and other women owned businesses so they can become financially stable and as well as successful.”
"I know what it's like to fight for your family and fight for your economic success and really want to be a part of that in any way you can," says San Diego mom Michell Sybert, who signed the online pledge.
"There's always this stereotype about women that they're competitive and it's not true. I have nothing but support from every mom group, every person that I talk to about the bags. People really do want to help each other," MacDonald says.


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From the Wall Street Journal:
Among the most common misperceptions is the notion that patents are useless in China. In reality, patent law is a booming area. The Chinese Patent Office issued more than 580,000 patents in 2009, up 41% from a year earlier. New patent applications grew to 947,000 in 2009 from 252,000 in 2002. The Chinese Patent Office is now the third-busiest patent authority in the world, after Japan and the United States. Meanwhile, China surpassed the U.S. in 2008 to become the most litigious country in the world for IP disputes—with 24,406 suits filed, a 4.6-time increase over 2001. That compares to about 8,000 in the U.S. in 2009.
Yet foreign companies are leaving themselves out of this legal progress. Only about 10% of those patent applications were filed by foreign companies, and a foreign company was one of the parties in less than 5% of IP lawsuits filed in 2008.
This is partly because they believe the Chinese legal system will favor local companies in litigation with foreign competitors. Certainly the largest patent-infringement damages award in China’s history, in 2007, saw French company Schneider Electric ordered to pay around $48.5 million to Chint Group, a Chinese company, for infringing a Chinese patent on a low-voltage circuit breaker. The suit settled for around $24 million in April 2009 as the appeal was underway. In 2008, another court hit Samsung with damages of $7.4 million for infringing a mobile phone patent held by Holley Communications.
See past CDT posts on intellectual property.


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Our January 2013 study Branches of Opportunity found that New York City’s public libraries are serving more people in more ways than ever before, but have been undervalued by policymakers and face growing threats in today’s digital age. The report recommended that libraries turn their online presences into intellectual homes for readers, places where patrons can discover new titles and even purchase them if they aren't immediately available to be checked out. Facilitating book purchases, we argued, could open doors with publishers that have been reluctant to make their ebooks available to libraries and perhaps even lead to new revenue opportunities.
We’re pleased to report that this recommendation is being implemented. Publisher Simon & Schuster recently announced that, over the next year, it will test a pilot eBook program with the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library. The participating libraries can acquire any Simon & Schuster ebook title at any time during the pilot’s one-year term. All of Simon & Schuster’s frontlist and backlist titles that are available as ebooks are eligible for the program, with new titles being made available simultaneous with their publication. And, most importantly, patrons can buy books through the library online and the library will receive a portion of the sale.


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Society as a whole is more food conscious than ever before. The diets that exist today each claim to be the healthiest and limit what people can and cannot eat. But, even more so than these diets, people care about what they’re putting in their bodies. They want to know how the food was grown/raised, where it came from and, most importantly, is it safe to eat.
Why the Food Safety Modernization Act is so Important
We see the headlines all the time: “Eggs recalled due to possible salmonella outbreak,” or “boxed salads recalled due to fear of Cyclospora outbreak.” Then, the search begins to see what caused the foodborne illness outbreak. Usually, the issue stems from something that went wrong in the growing or processing stage of the supply chain, but the possibility of contamination occurring during the transportation process must also be considered.
That’s where the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) comes into play. The law, which was signed into effect in 2011 by President Obama, gave the Food and Drug Administration new authorities to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested and processed. Although it wasn’t the first piece of legislation aimed at improving food safety standards, it’s considered to be the first major piece of federal legislation addressing food safety since 1938.
This presented challenges such as increased accountability, improved monitoring of the supply chain, quicker adoption of best practices and more collaboration within the industry. If shippers and carriers don’t meet the requirements set forth by the FSMA, they are subjected to fines. Also, they must pay fees to cover the cost of inspections.
FSMA and Carrier Compliance
But, what can be even more debilitating for shippers and carriers is if they are found responsible for a foodborne illness outbreak. The damage to the company’s reputation can cause them to lose out on current and future business, which can potentially lead to shutting the business down. So, following the regulations of the FSMA becomes even that much more important.
While transportation is just one aspect of the supply chain in the food and beverage industry, it’s an area that is just as important as any other.


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Ann Arbor SPARK’s marketing materials recently took top honors from the Michigan Economic Development Association. Also, our business accelerator was awarded honorable mention from the International Economic Development Council.
For the MEDA award, Ann Arbor SPARK competed against other economic development organizations in the state serving the population of 100,001 to 500,000. For IEDC, we competed in the populations of 25,000 – 200,000 category against economic development organizations globally.
More info on the awards can be found here.


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Here at doxo, we have more data on Bills, Bills, Bills than a Destiny’s Child song. After the launch of doxoINSIGHTS, our collection of analytics reports, earlier this year, we’ve been aggregating anonymized payment statistics to more than 50,000 billers across 45 different service categories from three million users. Today, we’re releasing our latest data, which has some interesting findings ranging from time and day Americans pay their bills.
Prime Time for Paying Bills? 11 A.M.
Given the increasingly blurred lines between work and home life, it’s no surprise that more and more people are going online for personal tasks during the traditional 8 A.M. – 5 P.M. working hours. doxoINSIGHTS data shows that most people pay their bills during the weekday – likely added as another item on their workday to-do list. But interestingly, most people across the country pay their bills at 11 A.M., regardless of whether it’s a weekday or weekend. Perhaps by then the coffee has kicked in, emails are handled, kids are off… and Americans are able to check a personal finance to-do off their list before lunch. ✓
There are some subtle regional differences. Another interesting finding in the data shows that while the majority of bills are paid during the 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. window in all states, some states skew even more toward the working hour time period. Residents of the Midwestern Mountain States, namely Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wisconsin, are 10% more likely to pay bills between 8 A.M. – 5 P.M. than the average.
Hawaii adheres the least of all to this rule, with exactly 50% of bills being during the 8 A.M. – 5 P.M. window and the other 50% being paid other times – maybe it has something to do with being on “island time”.
Is Bill Pay Friday the New Paycheck Friday?
Getting paid on a Friday! You know the feeling. When you celebrate by going out to lunch, hitting happy hour with friends, doing a little online shopping – or however you choose to treat yourself on payday – you’ve earned it! But doxoINSIGHTS data shows that Friday also takes the top spot when it comes to the day most bills are paid, likely due to it being a conventional payday. While bill pay dips over the weekend, Mondays are the second most common day to pay.
We are looking forward to diving deeper into the data in the coming months and tracking trends over time to see what other insights we can share.


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The former senior brand manager behind Frito-Lay’s “inNw” Doritos campaign, Kevin Pate, is leaving the snack-food giant to join Dallas-based agency imc2, which counts Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson among its clients.
Pate will take on the role of VP and head of the firm’s consumer products practice group.
“We saw the Doritos [inNw] campaign and were impressed with it and really sought out the man behind it,” said Doug Levy, founder and president of imc2. “That’s really how we found Kevin. It’s kind of convenient that he was already here in Dallas, and we had connections to him through some of our people here.”
The inNw campaign — produced in conjunction with Frito-Lay agency Tribal DDB Dallas and mobile firm Hip Cricket — tied online and mobile messaging elements with outdoor and TV placements. Pate’s other interactive experience includes developing and running the PLOIDS online loyalty program for the Cheetos, Doritos, Tostitos, and Lays brands. He also ran the Cracker Jack Web site while at Frito-Lay.
“For me, coming in, there are a couple of roles,” said Pate. “The first is to work on our existing Procter & Gamble account and those brands. The second is to build on consumer products practice in general. It’s a great opportunity. There’s a lot of movement in interactive marketing.”
For Procter & Gamble, imc2 is the online agency of record for brands including Crest, Clairol, Secret, Olay, and Prilosec OTC. The agency’s other clients include Pfizer, Sara Lee, Eli Lilly, Blockbuster, and Hanes.
A class action lawsuit against an internet-connected pleasure device highlights the potential pitfalls a growing number of companies will face as they embrace ... read more
Google sparked a small firestorm last week as reports surfaced that its intelligent assistant device Google Home delivered an unsolicited advertisement to unsuspecting owners.
According to Internet Retailer's newly released The Best Digital Marketers in E-Commerce report, Target is the most effective marketer in online retail. So why is it struggling overall?
The rise of YouTube and digital video generally has a lot to do with the rise of the internet and the abundance of digital video content. But YouTube's ascendency is also the result of Google's savvy use of algorithms.


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The SF Chronicle had a great story by Ryan Kim about the escalating battle with HP and Apple. Everybody has a lot at stake. I love it.
P.S. Much thanks to Scott Budman from NBC 11 for covering Beyond Urban Branding's perspective on the latest tech battle between HP and Apple.
-Beyond Urban Branding


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Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) is planning to launch its freight index futures contract this year amid a volatile rate environment for container shipping.
The contract will be the first financially settled commodities futures in China, according to Yang Yiping, the associate director of INE's international cooperation and business development department.
"Given the volatile container freight price this year, I believe this contract will provide a good tool for price discovery and risk management for shipping companies, ship owners and any other participants," Yang said in a Reuters report.
Further details on the contract are not immediately available.
INE, part or Shanghai Futures Exchange, generally aims to cater to foreign investors. But regulatory approval is required for such futures trading to be open to market players outside mainland China.
While the Chinese government has been seeking more foreign investors in the mainland commodities market, those from overseas can only trade a limited number of futures contracts in China.
The most widely used market indication in the container shipping market is Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, published by Shanghai Shipping Exchange to track rate development for the main east-west trades.
Shanghai Shipping Exchange itself has been trying to develop a box derivatives market for years, but the efforts are plagued by a lack of liquidity.
Both Shanghai Futures Exchange and Shanghai Shipping Exchange are backed by the government.
Freight rates on main container shipping routes have hit all-time highs in recent months, riding on persistent port congestion and healthy shipping demand.
For many market players, a freight futures contract can function as a hedging tool to lock in profits or protect themselves against further hikes.
“Port closures caused by Covid-19 outbreaks on the export side as well as capacity problems on the import side are all contributing to ships getting stuck in record-breaking queues and missing planned port calls by weeks,” Bimco said in a recent research note.
“The delays mean that more ships are needed to maintain scheduled sailings. Some shippers are paying thousands of dollars in surcharges to ensure their load gets on board a ship in time.”
The trade group for shipowners expects the container market to remain strong well into 2022.
“Even as consumer demand for containerised goods begins to ease, there will be plenty of work to be done in clearing the backlog built up over the past many months, and lots of stocks that need to be restocked,” Bimco said.


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Haryanvi Actress Pranjal who is always in the headlines never leaves a chance to surprise her fan following.
Pranjal Dahiya keeps on posting quality & engaging content on her social media account which keeps the people entertained.
From that day till now, the actress has been posting some stunning pictures and videos for the audience. Recently, Pranjal posted a reel which is something to look upon. She was wearing a cute lavender colour crop top with her hair opened wide. The diva wore nude makeup to subtle her look.


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Just before the Labor Day weekend began Aug. 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced China was welcome "to export processed, cooked chicken to the United States."
If the USDA hoped this little nugget might get overlooked during summer's last, languid holiday, that thought was deep-fried by noon when Politico, the fast-rising Capitol Hill news service, sniffed out the story.
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Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to intensify industrial cooperation
On August 18, 2018, within the framework of the state visit of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon to the Republic of Uzbekistan, negotiations with the delegation of Tajikistan led by the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the Republic of Tajikistan Shavkat Bobozoda with the aim of strengthening trade, economic and cooperative partnership between the two countries were held at the Ministry for Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Representatives of large industry associations and companies of the two countries, operating in the mining and metallurgical, textile, construction, fruit and vegetable, pharmaceutical, electrical, transport, trade, oil and gas and other areas, attended the meeting.
Prospective directions of cooperation in industrial and commercial sectors, improvement of logistics, preparation of investment and trade agreements, as well as opening of joint ventures were discussed at the meeting.
As participants of the meeting noted, such a dialogue helps to establish close cooperation between the enterprises of the two countries. The two sides emphasized their commitment to provide all kinds of support and promote the establishment of cooperation in the spheres of industry and trade.
As reported by the Press Service of the Ministry for Foreign Trade, the sides reached an agreement on further studying and development of proposals on enhancing cooperation between the industrial enterprises of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.


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The relocation of Donzi Marine production and development from Fountain Powerboats headquarters in Washington, N.C., to Caldwell Marine Designs, a nearby 50,000-square-foot facility also in Washington, is a full-circle change. In addition to working alongside Reggie Fountain, Jr., with step placement on Fountain models, Jim Caldwell designed the original running surface for the Donzi 38 ZRC—a game-changing sit-down V-bottom sportboat—in the early 2000s. Caldwell’s son, Pete, has carried on his father’s legacy at Caldwell Marine Designs and he has long been steeped in the Donzi brand and lineage.
The Donzi brand is moving into the future with its production facility—and new models in development. Photo by Mark Spencer copyright Donzi Marine.
“I can’t even describe how happy I am to be involved,” Pete Caldwell said. “I remember my dad being involved with the ZRC project. Donzi is such a great brand.”
In addition to producing newly refined Donzi models, Caldwell and company will work closely with Craig Barrie developing completely new Donzi offerings. As previously reported on speedonthewater.com, Fred Ross, the owner of the Donzi, Fountain and Baja Marine brands, hired Barrie in May to revitalize the brand and shepherd it into the future.
“Pete will be Craig’s right-hand man,” Ross said. “He has been building boats forever—he was building catamarans for Fountain—and he loves Donzi. Now we have three Donzi enthusiasts involved—Craig, Pete and me—and we are really excited about it. Pete is laying up the first boat right now and it will in the convention center at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in November.”
Two primary factors drove Donzi’s move to Caldwell Marine Designs, Ross explained.
“There’s just not enough space at Fountain with all the center consoles we’re building,” he said. “But honestly, it’s just better for each brand to have its own focus and attention in its own facility.
“The people who live and breathe Donzi have their own plant now,” he added. “And Craig and Pete are very, very excited to build this brand back.”
Caldwell Marine Designs will handle Donzi Marine production.
“Craig is great for me,” Caldwell said. “He worked with my dad back in the Donzi days and I have already learned so much from him. Billy Moore also works here, and his father, Bobby, had a relationship with Donzi. So there’s a lot of heritage here.”
As for what model the Donzi team will display in Fort Lauderdale in November—and what new Donzi models may be on the drawing board—Ross declined to elaborate.
“We’ll talk about that in another few weeks,” he said.


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The local Chrysler Dodge dealer has changed hands as of last Wednesday March 11. For many years the Healy family has operated the franchise, originally in Scottville.
Chrysler-dot-com now identifies Watson's Ludington as the local authorized Chrysler/Dodge dealer. Watson's operates Chrysler dealerships in Manistee and Benzie counties. Cody Watson says "We look forward to meeting the customers of Ludington and already have current clients from our other stores paying us a visit in our new location." The dealership is located at 3632 US 10 Ludington. When Great Lake's ford moved into its new building, the Chrysler dealership moved into the old Ford garage at the US 10 location.


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After DRAM wafer output peaked in 2008 at 16.4 million 300-millimeter-equivalent wafers, production is expected to decline by 24 percent to 13.0 million this year, according to an IHS DRAM Dynamics Market Brief from information and analytics provider HIS.
The projected cut will be the second straight year of deliberate downsizing following an 8 percent drop-off last year. This year's output is expected to be slashed by 5 percent compared to 2012, as shown below.
Curtailing DRAM capacity is a positive move for the industry, resulting in a gradual normalization between supply and demand for DRAM. The industry is now believed to be perhaps slightly undersized relative to demand moving forward because of the intentional slash in output, and DRAM pricing can continue to remain firm if production remains slightly behind demand.
DRAM revenue in the first quarter rose to its highest level in nearly two years, thanks to a jump in commodity prices spurred by demand from the server PC and mobile PC segments. Pricing for the bellwether 4-gigabyte DDR3 module rose to $23 in March, up from $16 in December, an unusually large increase.
“The DRAM industry has struggled with major challenges in recent years, including chronic oversupply and slowing demand from its main market, the PC business,” said Mike Howard, senior principal analyst for DRAM and memory at IHS. “This has led to continued weak pricing, financial losses and market revenue declines. However, the DRAM industry has entered a more mature state, enacting structural changes that will allow it to grow even in challenging market conditions.”
DRAM market enters the post-PC era
In one major change, the DRAM market is adjusting to the fact that demand is diversifying away from PCs alone to servers and mobile devices. Nearly 65 percent of all DRAM bit shipments went to a desktop or laptop 10 years ago, but that figure is less than 50 percent today and will fall further


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Microsoft has made the decision to fuse its two online gaming portals and house them under one intuitive roof, Xbox.com. The news broke when a statement appeared on the Games for Windows homepage, explaining that the move is being implemented to consolidate the studio’s gaming services.
“Games for Windows Marketplace will fully transition over to Xbox.com,” reads the gaming service’s website. “Now you can get all of your gaming needs in one place. It’s convenient, it’s concentrated and it’s a whole lot of great games.”
After confirming a July 11th release, a Microsoft representative reached out to Eurogamer, outlining some of the finer details of the transition.
All of the same content from GamesForWindows.com will be available on Xbox.com so members of communities across Xbox 360 and Games for Windows can purchase and get details on their favorite games, all in one place. All account information will remain the same and community members can still take advantage of their Xbox Live profile in their Windows games and stay connected to friends who are playing on the PC.
In an interview, Mike Delman, Microsoft’s Vice President of Global Marketing at Interactive Entertainment Business, revealed that Xbox LIVE would be headed to the Windows platform, potentially being the entertainment and gaming service for Windows 8. The announcement today to merge Games for Windows with Xbox is possibly the first step in bringing the Xbox LIVE brand across to the PC.
Historically, the Games for Windows LIVE brand haven’t been particularly strong, especially in comparison to Xbox LIVE. The network launched in 2006 to coincide with the release of Windows Vista. Since its creation, the service has faced stiff competition from platforms such as Steam and EA’s Origin. Microsoft has already brought Xbox LIVE to the Windows Phone platform, indicating that the “Xbox LIVE” brand is no longer confined to the gaming console, but rather a cross-platform service that spans across the PC, TV, and Mobile screens, realizing Microsoft’s “three screens and the cloud” dream. In fact, Microsoft has already announced that Xbox LIVE game saves and profiles will be stored on the cloud towards the end of this year. The next logical question is, when will we be finally seeing true cross-platform multiplayer games coming to Xbox LIVE?
What do you, fellow gamers, think? Are you sad to see Microsoft’s game distribution service go? Are there any advantages to merging the Games for Windows brand with Xbox.com? Sound off in the comments below!


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Chronext, a Swiss luxury watch trading platform, is exploring the possibility of an IPO in 2H this year if market conditions improve, three sources familiar with the situation told this news service.
The company could tap new advisers to handle the listing, the sources added.
Chronext is also keen on strategic M&A, said one of the sources, and seeks to benefit from a recovery in the luxury market after the reopening of China and a general sales recovery from the worst of the pandemic.
The company has ambitions to enhance growth in Europe, the US and Asia, said the same source.
A Swiss listing is still the most likely scenario, said another source, due to the relevance of the market for the watch industry.
The renewed enthusiasm around the asset also comes off the back of the Watches and Wonders trade show this week in Geneva, marking the return of the industry’s largest gathering after the pandemic, the same source said.
There has been a boom in second-hand luxury watch purchases, driven by younger generations buying timepieces online, adding to the attractiveness of its equity story, said a third source.
A potential IPO could value the business over EUR 1bn, the sources agreed.
Founded in 2013, Chronext generated sales of more than EUR 100m in 2019.
A spokesperson previously responded citing CEO Philipp Man, who said given the market environment it was still hard to pinpoint a window to IPO.
Chronext did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Chronext is not the only watches trading platform pondering an IPO. ECM advisers are waiting to pitch for bookrunner roles on the IPO of Chrono24, the other German online marketplace for luxury watches, and are hopeful of a deal later this year, as reported.
Advisers are circling Chrono24 in anticipation of a deal between the second half of 2023 and early 2024, with bookrunner roles still up for grabs, as reported. The company, appointed JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs last year, has already conducted pre-work for an IPO, as reported.
One example of a recent ECM success in the sector is UK firm Watches of Switzerland [LON:WOSG] which listed in 2019 in a GBP 242m London listing and is trading 189% above its IPO price.
There have been four trades in the company since its UK IPO, according to Dealogic data.
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H-E-B is excited to announce plans to open an H-E-B store in Mansfield, continuing its expansion in the DFW Metroplex. The store builds on the company’s longstanding presence in the area and reinforces its commitment to serve more customers in this dynamic and growing part of Texas.
“We are excited to officially announce that H-E-B is coming to Mansfield,” said Juan-Carlos Rück, H-E-B Executive Vice President. “We look forward to providing this dynamic and growing city with the best H-E-B has to offer.”
The Mansfield store will be located at the corner of US 287 and Broad Street. It will become the first H-E-B store format in Tarrant County, joining Central Market in Fort Worth. H-E-B owns roughly 28 acres at the site.
Additional details will be shared at the store’s groundbreaking, which is expected early next year.
“For years our residents have asked for an H-E-B, and on behalf of the City Council, we are proud to welcome this economic driver and much desired business to Mansfield,” Mayor Michael Evans said. “With our growing economy and invested community, Mansfield is the perfect home for the first H-E-B location in southeast Tarrant County and we are excited about the continued economic growth coming to our city and the entire southeast Tarrant County region.”
“H-E-B is well known for being an excellent corporate citizen and we look forward to them becoming a valuable part of our community,” said City Manager Joe Smolinski.
Proudly serving communities across the state since 1905, H-E-B is committed to the DFW area for the long term and hopes to serve even more of the Metroplex in the future.


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JHE is proud to be the producer and promoter for the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance. The inaugural event unites the best in golf with the best in automobiles May 3-5.
On Friday, May 3, Pinehurst Resort and Fort Bragg will join forces in a parade of cars and courage as the weekend’s show car participants make the 70-mile, round-trip drive to the base for the Iron Mike Rally.
Up to 118 Corvettes and Porsches from across the region will be featured on Saturday, May 4 at the Pinehurst Fairway Drive presented by AutoTrader Classics, with each brigade headed by cars owned by automotive executive and champion car owner Rick Hendrick and business executive and noted Porsche collector Bob Ingram.
The inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance field of 118 exclusive show cars will compete Sunday, May 5 on the emerald green fairways of Pinehurst Resort, an industry leader in the sport of golf and true trend setter in Southern hospitality.


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Apple recently refreshed its AirPods model with a third-gen AirPod, but we are yet to see a new Pro model. Past leaks suggested a launch last year and even this year, but there's no clarity from the company. Ahead of the official confirmation, notable Apple Analyst and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the new AirPod Pro (2nd-gen) will launch this year, though it may skip an anticipated health feature.
His latest report claims that the AirPod Pro (2nd-gen) will not get a heart-rate sensor or body temperature. This information contradicts his old report from June 2021 that claimed the possibility of a heart rate sensor. He had later backtracked on his prediction in January this year but again highlighted the possibility in April.
The heart rate sensor on true wireless earbuds isn't exactly new and the feature is available on select products like Jabra Elite Sport Earbuds and AmazFit PowerBuds. The idea behind the option is that users can listen to music and later monitor their heart rate with the supported app.
Apple has been banking on fitness features a lot recently, amid the global COVID pandemic. With the heart rate sensor on AirPods Pro (2nd-gen), it would've aimed to gain an edge over rivals. However, it will be interesting to see how Apple will promote the new-gen model as the old AirPods Pro already offers great performance.
Meanwhile, Gurman claims that this year's Apple Watch Series 8 will get a body sensor to monitor body temperature. It would let users get warnings if they have a fever. His report adds that Apple Watch Series 8 will get an S8 chipset, which is said to be on par with the S7 chipset on Watch Series 7. It essentially means that the S8 will be almost on par with S6 on Watch 6.
Copyright©2022 Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today


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Namco Bandai confirmed today that it has delayed Ridge Racer Unbounded by four weeks. The game will now be released on 30th March for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
"The development team felt they needed a little bit of extra time to optimise the game," said a spokesperson for Namco Bandai.
Ridge Racer Unbounded was originally meant to be released on 2nd March.
Ridge Racer Unbounded delayed, entering Retail on 30th March
13 February 2012 | By Jamie Davey
- Related Games:
- Ridge Racer Unbounded


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During the past few years, the popularity of online togel hari ini games has surged. This is largely thanks to the increase in internet users. The advent of mobile applications has also facilitated the growth of these games. This is because a player’s smartphone makes it easier to purchase tickets.
Online lotteries allow players to wager money on a number of different games and jackpots. The site can even host and stream live events from around the world. They also allow players to share in the profit. Some lottery games cost as little as a few bucks while others can be as high as $200.
Some states have already introduced their own online togel hari ini sites, while others are in the process of legalizing them. New Jersey is currently considering the idea. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia is planning to launch an online game in January 2021. The state’s iLottery is competing with the online casinos that have become popular in recent years. Some states have also experimented with the courier sale of lottery tickets.
While the online lottery may not be as big a hit as sports betting or casino games, the market has grown in recent years. However, there are still only seven states that offer these services. The most prominent of these states are Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Other northeastern states such as Rhode Island and New Hampshire have joined in the online gaming bandwagon. While the lottery itself is not a new concept, the advent of online games has transformed the business. This has led to increased consumer confidence.
The market is fragmented, but some key players are making moves to expand their portfolios and enhance their user experience. This includes investing in user-friendly online games and developing strategic partnerships. In addition, many of these companies have improved their graphical user interface and increased their security.
Most websites use geolocation when purchasing and playing an online lottery. This is the best way to ensure that a player is actually located in the desired state. It is also the quickest and most convenient way to play. For example, in the state of Illinois, you can purchase lottery tickets from the comfort of your home. It is also possible to play online games from your tablet or smartphone.
The global online lottery market is segmented into two primary categories based on geography. The first category focuses on US and international players. The second category divides the market into end user segments, including those with access to an internet connection, those without, and those in between. The most prominent players are concentrating on expanding their portfolios, optimizing their offerings, and forming strategic partnerships.
Although the online lottery industry is relatively young, the market has been growing at a healthy rate. In the future, the market will continue to grow as more states make the jump into the online gaming space. The growth is expected to be driven by strong competition and the growing number of internet users.


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Assembly, has announced the launch of a new, dedicated Beauty division within its VFX department, helmed by industry veterans Josh Laurence and Alan Balian.
Josh Laurence joins Assembly as VFX Supervisor, with 32-years of experience in the Advertising, Fashion, and Feature Film industries as a Beauty artist. Josh spent 11 years establishing a premiere film and commercial Beauty studio in New York and Chennai – supervising finishing for Prada, Chloe, Gucci, Estee Lauder, Maybelline, Pat McGrath, David Yurman, Harry Winston, Tom Ford, and many others.
In addition to Beauty for advertising, Josh also led teams of artists on projects for major studios such as HBO, Warner Brothers, MGM, and others. At Assembly Josh is bringing his experience to service top fashion, beauty and luxury brands in executing top-tier video content.
Alan Balian is Assembly’s new Executive Producer of Beauty and Luxury. Alan has worked at the forefront of fashion, beauty and luxury goods content creation for two decades, including 8 years at Gloss Studios.
He has been heavily involved in guiding the industry’s top photographers through the early days of digital photography and into motion capture, to supervising video editing, color grading, and VFX services for iconic brands such as clients Prada, Chloe, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Gucci.
Alan’s technological and creative expertise complements Assembly’s core mission to utilize versatile, industry-leading technologies to facilitate premier creative environments for clientele, from film to fashion and more.
Together at Assembly, the team has recently developed work for Beauty brands such as Pat McGrath, Harry Winston and Zeghani Jewelry, in addition to films featuring Naomi Campbell, Nicola Coughlan, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lawrence.
Managing Director of Assembly, Colin Moneymaker comments, “When we started Assembly a year ago, we knew Beauty and Luxury brands would be a key component of our success, so we’re thrilled to have the team of Josh and Alan onboard to spearhead this division which is already doing an impressive array of work with.
Reel 360 News wishes Josh and Alan the best of luck at Assembly.


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IK now shipping iRig UA
06-05-2015 05:06 PM
First universal guitar interface and processor for all Android devices now available
IK Multimedia have announced that*iRig*UA, the first digital effects processor and audio interface that gives guitarists everything they need for rock solid performances, is now available worldwide.
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Just two years ago Ninkasi Brewing sold a majority stake to a newly formed company called Legacy Breweries, an investment group started by former Yakima Chief CEO Don Bryant. The Legacy concept was to add additional breweries to the family and then pool resources such as distribution, marketing and even production. In a fast moving and evolving industry, the idea was to increase margins through the efficiencies of multiple breweries working together.
Soon after the Ninkasi deal, Legacy acquired stakes in Laurelwood Brewing and Aspen Brewing. But only a year or so into the deal, Ninkasi pulled out of the partnership, it was announced last week. Ninkasi co-founder Nikos Ridge and Jamie Floyd are again majority stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Legacy has a newly formed ownership group, High Country Brewing LLC, and is back on the acquisition trail. Aspen Brewing Co. (part of the new High Country Brewing LLC) has announced that it will purchase Capitol Creek Brewing Co. in Basalt, Colorado later this month. More details on that purchase here.


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Kyle Mills’s timing could not be better. Just as gasoline prices approach $100 per barrel, with corresponding price jumps at the retail level, his latest hits the street with as plausible a doomsday scenario as you're likely to read this year.
DARKNESS FALLS involves the introduction of a designer bacteria into one of the world’s largest sources of oil. Erin Neal, a renegade environmentalist who has managed to alienate proponents of both (or all) sides of the energy issue, is reluctantly drawn into the emergency by Mark Beamon from Homeland Security. Neal is the world’s foremost expert on bioremediation, the method of using bacteria to clean up toxic


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Change is coming to Washington. Earlier this month, Americans went to their local polling booths or sent their ballots and elected Democratic Party challenger Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States.
In general, a new president, especially one from the opposite political party for a sitting president, would suggest that major changes are imminent. But it may not turn out. With more than a 50-50 probability that the Senate will remain under Republican control after two run-off elections in Georgia, lattice locks in Congress will lead to a continuation of the status quo on Capitol Hill. This would mean no increases in corporate, individual or capital gains.
A Biden presidency will also increase the likelihood of a second round of federal stimulus being passed. When combined with the Federal Reserve̵
As Wall Street is potentially ready for success, here are five growth stocks you should strongly consider buying for a Biden bull market.
If you like making money, you would like fintech stocks Square (NYSE: SQ) with Biden in the White House. Even after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is well placed in hindsight, the push toward cashless payments and peer-to-peer digital transactions will not ebb.
Most are familiar with Square’s sales ecosystem. This is what provides outlets and analytics tools to businesses. For much of its existence, Square has focused predominantly on processing small business transactions. However, in recent quarters, the percentage of gross payment volume from medium-sized and large companies has grown significantly. Since this is a trade-based fee-based segment, it can be quite lucrative to attract retailers with larger volumes in an expanding economy.
Square’s second operating segment is the digital payment platform Cash App. Since the end of 2017, the Cash App’s monthly active number of users has catapulted from 7 million to 30 million. Business fees are helping the Cash App grow, but the company’s bitcoin exchange and investments are driving Cash Apps’ revenue potential through the roof. It is not excluded that Square’s sales more than doubled under Biden.
Edge cloud computing service provider Quickly (NYSE: FSLY) has taken a lot of flak in recent weeks for the top customer TikTok, which significantly mates back on the use of Fastly’s content and security solutions in the third quarter. After all, TikTok was responsible for 12% of Fastly’s sales in the first half. But look beyond this quarter hiccup, and investors will like what they see.
When life returns to normal, the new will usually consist of consumers who favor e-commerce for their shopping needs and the Internet for their content consumption. This is excellent news for Fastly, who has fired on all cylinders, even without the TikTok in the corner. Its perceived to be malignant third quarter included the addition of 96 new customers and saw an increase in average business customer spending of $ 37,000 from the sequential third quarter.
Even better is the success of Fastly’s business model based on increased use from existing customers. In the third quarter, the company’s dollar-based net expansion hit 147%, a 10 percentage point increase from the sequential second quarter. It has become very clear that Fastly is a preferred edge cloud platform, and it would not surprise me if the company’s sales potentially tripled with Biden in the White House.
Another growth stock that appears to be a sure winner under Biden is the social media platform Pinterest (NYSE: PINS), who happens to be a customer of Fastly.
While most social platforms eventually hit a user growth ceiling, Pinterest has been busy breaking through these barriers. It ended the September quarter with 442 million monthly active users (MAU) and grew its MAU number by 30% on a compound annual basis in the three years to 2020.
Although it has received a COVID-19 boost with people stuck at home, Pinterest has shown years of sustainable MAU growth, especially in international markets. These ex-US countries will give the company its greatest ad-based growth potential this decade.
Pinterest is also a budding e-commerce game. Its users willingly publish the products, services and sites that interest them, making it exceptionally easy for Pinterest to act as the bridge and connect those users with small businesses that meet their desires. All Pinterest needs to do is keep its users engaged to keep growing fast. (Hint: It uses more video.)
Do not forget specialized drug manufacturers with Biden as president, because a divided congress means little chance of health care reform or setbacks in drug prices by brand name. That’s all good news Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX).
Vertex’s allure is tied to its success as a developer of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatments. Although CF does not have a cure, the therapies that Vertex develops improve patients’ quality of life. What really stands out is Trikafta, the newly approved combination treatment that took virtually no time to become Vertex’s best-selling CF treatment. Trikafta was responsible for $ 960 million of $ 1.54 billion in 3rd quarter net product sales, meaning it looks well on its way to peaking at $ 6 billion in maximum annual sales in short order.
But there are reasons to be excited beyond CF. Vertex’s pipeline consists of clinical candidates for the treatment of beta-thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, pain, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and APOL1-mediated renal disease. While not all of these indications will necessarily bear fruit, Vertex’s drug development record speaks for itself and offers plenty of hope for both patients and investors.
Investors would also be wise to buy cybersecurity stocks like Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA) to a Biden bull market. Octa’s cloud-native identity verification solutions rely on artificial intelligence, which means they’re getting smarter about detecting threats all the time.
As noted, the new normal after the pandemic will still include a lot of online purchases as well as workers who want remote data access. The physical office will not disappear, but it will continue to evolve to suit the needs of the workers. This means even greater cloud demand and a continuous need to protect business and customer data. In other words, cybersecurity stocks like Okta provide a basic need service, which should lead to very predictable cash flow.
A key point in the Okta investment dissertation is that virtually the entire company’s revenue (approximately 95%) comes from subscriptions. Subscriptions are a much higher margin for generating cybersecurity revenue than physical firewall products. It also does not hurt that subscriptions tend to reduce client settlement and eliminate lump of revenue associated with physical security products.
As Octa’s customer numbers grow and its existing customers expand the number of required security solutions, operating margins must increase.


text: During the last couple of years, there was a spike in vinyl sales. This year, the format is expected to grow 23.4% and Newbury Comics has already seen a 43% increase in vinyl dollar value. Buyers seem to say that their love affair with the lost format stems from its social use. “When Valentine and his friends play music on the laptop, one of them simply gets up to change the playlist. When they spin vinyl, they crowd around the turntable, passing albums around, admiring the artwork and sharing stories about the songs,” wrote Ed Christman and Cortney Harding in a recent Rolling Stone article. Moreover, record companies make higher profits per unit with vinyl than they do (and made) with CD sales. As a result, many are pushing vinyl full-throttle by including digital download coupons with each purchase. It could be a passing fad. But it also prompts another reflection: Could there be more perceived aesthetic value in a tangible, analog product?