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Yonwoo is set to enter the pharmaceutical and household goods packaging markets with the help of US$53.4 million raised by an initial public offering. The South Korean cosmetics packaging molder is also planning to extend its research capabilities.
The company, which is listed on the South Korean KOSDAQ exchange, sold 2.4 million shares at US$22.20 a share via the IPO.
“The capital injection will allow Yonwoo to strengthen its financial structure and advance its research and development,” commented the company in an official statement following the IPO. “The latter will place an emphasis on cosmetic dispenser technology and next-generation convergence, especially beauty products integrating IT functionality. In addition it aims to move beyond the cosmetic industry into the pharmaceutical and household goods markets, where it sees a real use for its products.”


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The owner of the Southwest Center Mall is thinking way outside the box for a planned redevelopment of the only mall in the southern half of Dallas.
“We have a pretty clear idea of who we would ideally like to have there,” said Peter Brodsky, owner of the formerly-named Red Bird Mall.
Brodsky told NBC DFW he envisions a combination of entertainment, retail, residential, grocery, hotel and green space as part of his plan to inject new life into the 90-acre property along W. Camp Wisdom Road, near U.S. 67 and Interstate 20.
The parking lots of the 1970s-era shopping mall sit largely empty throughout the day, as do many of its store fronts.
Recently Brodsky brought in a pair of Dallas-based real estate "fixers" who specialize in revitalizing shopping malls.
“We are trying to pluck different ideas from different developments in different parts of the country,” Brodsky said about where his team would draw its inspiration from.
Brodsky could not provide a specific timeline for when development may move forward.
The latest news from around North Texas.
"As soon as possible," is as close as Brodsky would come to a timetable.

domain: news


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Google released final Android 7.1.1 Developer Preview 2 for Nexus devices earlier this week. Now we have an idea of the exact release date of the update.
Vodafone Australia has said that Google will release Android 7.1.1 update to Nexus 6P on December 6. The update will coincide with next month’s security patch for Nexus phones. If Nexus 6P is getting the update, it is very likely that Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and Pixel C will also get the latest Nougat 7.1.1 update around same time.
Meanwhile, a journalist as well as podcaster has also tweeted that the entire Nexus family will get Android 7.1.1 update on December 6. Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones already run Android 7.1. Earlier this month Nougat debuted to the Android distribution charts and is present on only 0.3% of all Android devices.


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The largest movie theater chain in the world is collaborating with one of the largest retailers in the world on a new line of popcorn. Yes, AMC Theatres has announced it is teaming up with Walmart for an exclusive launch of a new line of microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn. Sure, there are plenty of options for popcorn already at a supermarket near you, but do any of those currently come from AMC? And, more to the point, can any of those brands of popcorn help chip away at AMC's gigantic mountain of debt? No. No, they cannot.
First, let's talk about the popcorn. The collaboration begins with featured endcaps, which will display AMC Perfectly Popcorn in hundreds of Walmarts throughout the U.S. beginning on March 11, just in time for the Academy Awards on March 12. In April, AMC's popcorn will hit shelves in more than 2,600 Walmart locations, as well as Walmart.com. There will be six items in total, including three flavors of microwave popcorn and popped popcorn: Classic Butter, Extra Butter, and Lightly Salted. The microwave Extra Butter comes with buttery topping packets to "replicate that ultimate movie theatre experience of adding even more butter flavor to their popcorn." Adam Aron, Chairman and CEO of AMC Theatres, had this to say in a press release:
"For years, AMC's in-theatre innovations and initiatives like recliner seating, better food & beverage offerings, enhanced sight & sound presentation technology, AMC Stubs, and premium formats have focused on Making Movies Better at the movie theatre. Through our retail introduction of AMC Theatres microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn, we continue to Make Movies Better, this time in the comfort of your own home. And with popcorn now hitting shelves, we remain focused on future innovations that will continue to surprise and delight movie lovers and our shareholders."
Can The Retail Space Actually Help AMC's Financials?
Let's circle back to the financials of this new venture. It's no secret that the pandemic was very, very hard on the movie business, particularly theaters. For what it's worth, AMC had some financial issues they needed to sort out before all of its theaters were forced to close for the better part of a year, leading into a very slow recovery period at the box office. Things have improved, but it's still not great. The company's stock has tumbled from radical highs in the summer of 2021 approaching $60 per share to just over $6 per share as of this writing. (Much of that boom was driven by the so-called "meme-stock" trade, much like what happened with GameStop.)
The other very important thing to note is that AMC is saddled with around $5 billion in debt as of late 2022. That debt load is a massive burden, and, coupled with the decline in its stock price, has created a rough situation for the largest theater chain in North America. Meanwhile, Regal's owner, Cineworld, is in the middle of ugly bankruptcy proceedings, leaving the second-largest theater chain in the U.S. on uncertain ground. That's where the popcorn comes in.
AMC Perfectly Popcorn's microwavable varieties are expected to retail for $4.98, plus tax, for a six-pack, while the ready-to-eat popcorn will be available in a 4.2 – 5.2 oz bag, and will retail for $3.98, plus tax. So, how much revenue could that actually generate? If things go well, it turns out the answer is quite a bit. And, if it goes really well, yes, this could actually be a way to chip away at that mountain of debt.
The Economics Of Popcorn
According to Grand View Research, the global popcorn market was around $5.64 billion in 2022, with the market expected to grow by 11.2% per year. That means sales are forecasted to eclipse $13.5 billion by 2030 at the current rate of growth. The at-home market exploded during the pandemic, creating a great deal of opportunity for makers of microwavable and ready-to-eat popcorn. Of note, ready-to-eat popcorn accounts for around 74% of global revenue in the market. North America accounted for the biggest chunk of the global market, nearly 25%, in 2021. There is a huge market for AMC to tap into here.
One challenge is that the market is already quite saturated, with Pop Secret (owned by Campbell Snacks) ranking as the best-selling brand in 2020, for example, with sales totaling $169.5 million. But the AMC brand is one that is very recognizable to North American moviegoers, and it could be argued that AMC is like the Walmart of moviegoing experiences. It's the biggest, most accessible, and recognizable brand in that market. That could very much help AMC get a leg up in an already crowded retail space. Not to mention that Walmart seems to be getting behind the product in a meaningful way.
While it's impossible to estimate sales, if AMC could get near Pop Secret levels, that could be tens of millions worth of revenue that they didn't have before, and it could actually help the company's financials. Now, is that kind of money going to make $5 billion in debt magically disappear? Absolutely not. But it's nothing to snub one's nose at, and if things go well, it could open the door for additional retail opportunities. Bottom line: AMC getting into the retail business makes sense and could be more than just a cute marketing ploy.
Read this next: Movies That Flopped So Hard They Practically Put Studios Out Of Business
The post AMC Theatres Launching New Line of Popcorn, Will Surely Help Chip Away At Its $5 Billion Of Debt appeared first on /Film.


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Derince – A blow to ro-ro operators and car manufacturers: following the privatization of the Port of Derince in Turkey, usage fees for ro-ro have hit the roof. As the winners of the contract, Safi Kati Yakit Sanayi ve Ticaret began operations. Following their successful $543 million bid, usage fees at the port have steadily climbed by an estimated 450% last month. Safi won the tender issued by the now former owners of the port, the Turkish State Railways Administration. The company has committed to invest $300 million in the construction of new facilities that it said would be operational within 5 years. In 2013 the Port of Derince handled over 500,000 vehicles, almost twice the volume of the neighbouring Port of Keocaeli which is operated by Ford, Otosan and Gemport. However, despite stipulations by the Turkish government that operating costs should be frozen for three years, Safi has decided to impose new tariffs. The Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) has estimated the increases to be equivalent to an extra $10 million per year for the four shipping operators that use the port, which are Grimaldi Lines, UECC, Neptune Lines and EML.
Derince port rents storage space to ro-ro operators and other service companies which in turn manage their own terminals within the port.As expected, the sudden and steep increases have disgruntled many operators. A spokesperson for Grimaldi, Costantino Baldissara, the group’s director of Commercial Logistics and Operations, said that it won’t be able to absorb the extra costs of operating at the port, which the company calculates as an increase of $1.5 million per year; therefore it will be forced to pass the extra costs to its customers, including car manufacturers. “It’s been impossible to bring up the matter with the new owners, there’s no room for negotiation,” concludes Mr. Baldissara. No pronouncement has been made yet by car manufacturers. Only Toyota – one of the main car producers which, together with Honda, Hyundai and Daimler call at the port – expressed that it was “aware” of the situation.
The views of Mr. Baldissara were echoed by Peter Menzel, Commercial Director at Neptune Lines: “Safi has imposed a drastic increase in handling tariffs and unilaterally withdrawn from agreements made with several service providers. Clearly,” adds Mr. Menzes, “the new tariffs will have a dramatic effect on port users.” Some speculations have surfaced regarding the possible intention of Safi to discontinue ro-ro handling, possibly in favour of the more profitable container business.There’s been no comment from the company nor has it given in any way the rationale behind the increases or its intentions regarding the future of ro-ro services. Where does this leave affected companies and car manufacturers? Should they look elsewhere for lower tariffs? The reopening of the Port of Yenikoy could represent an alternative for operators but here too, it seems, tariffs have risen suddenly. The verdict is still out and this could create turbulence for Turkish exports; as Costantino Baldissara pointed out: “They’re opting for a short-term strategy that could result in customers shifting production in order to avoid the cost increase”.
Source: The Medì Telegraph


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TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is being sued after allegedly violating child privacy laws and collecting the data of young users through the video app, which was formerly called Musical.ly.
ByteDance acquired Musical.ly in 2017, which it later rebranded as the enormously popular social video app TikTok. According to the December 3rd complaint, ByteDance has collected data from Musical.ly users under the age of 13 without their parents’ explicit consent “since at least 2014” and sold the data to third-party advertisers.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, forbids social media companies from collecting the data of children without explicit parental consent. Failing to obtain that consent would be in violation of the law and open the company up to potential lawsuits from regulators like the Federal Trade Commission.
“We disagree with much of what is alleged in the complaint.”
“TikTok was made aware of the allegations in the complaint some time ago, and although we disagree with much of what is alleged in the complaint, we have been working with the parties involved to reach a resolution of the issues,” a TikTok spokesperson told The Verge. “That resolution should be announced soon.”
It’s the latest in a flurry of accusations against the Chinese company and its apps that lawmakers fear feed American user data to the Chinese government and censor content critical of Beijing. ByteDance has already faced legal trouble for violating COPPA. Earlier this year, the FTC reached a $5.7 million settlement over COPPA violations from Musical.ly. YouTube also reached a settlement with the FTC over similar allegations back in September, resulting in a $170 million fine.


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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) ¿ Affymetrix Inc., which makes genetic analysis technology, on Wednesday reported a narrower third-quarter loss, but the results missed Wall Street expectations, sending shares plunging in after-hours trading. The company posted a loss of $8.8 million, or 13 cents per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30. That compares with a year-ago loss of $31.8 million, or 46 cents per share, which included a hefty restructuring charge. Revenue rose 4 percent to $78.2 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected a smaller loss of 8 cents per share on $80.7 million in sales, on average. Shares tumbled $1.36, or 15 percent, to $7.50 in aftermarket trading, having closed earlier up 20 cents at $8.86. The company said product revenue and shipment revenue climbed during the quarter. It said it shipped 21 systems, bringing the total number of systems shipped to about 1,890. The company also said its gross margin improved by 5 points, though the company hopes to further improve its margins with new products. Shares have risen from a 52-week low of $1.79 in March to reach a high of $10.06 earlier this month.
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According to Tom Sizemore’s manager Charles Lago, Sizemore, 61, passed out on February 18 and was discovered unconscious at two in the morning. The doctors for Tom Sizemore, who has remained in a coma since suffering a brain aneurysm earlier this month, have advised his family to explore end-of-life decisions.
According to the Associated Press, Sizemore had suddenly passed out at his Los Angeles home early on Saturday morning, at 2 a.m. His manager Charles Lago told the AP that at the time, it was “a wait and see situation.” When he reached the hospital, doctors discovered that he had experienced a brain aneurysm “that occurred as a result of a stroke.”
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There is no longer any hope, Tom Sizemore’s family was informed following the actor’s brain aneurysm.
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(CNN) — Pier 1 Imports will close nearly half of its stores and is reportedly nearing a bankruptcy filing.
The home goods retailer has been struggling for years against rising pressure online and from big-box rivals. Its stock, which was at $300 a share in 2015, is trading at around $5 today.
Pier 1 shares tumbled nearly 17% Monday after Bloomberg reported the news of a potential bankruptcy.
Pier 1 operated 942 stores in the United States and Canada at the end of its latest quarter. It said Monday that it will close up to 450 stores “in order to better align its business with the current operating environment.” Pier 1 will also close distribution centers and lay off corporate employees.
During the company’s latest quarter, sales at stores open for at least one year decreased by 11.4% compared with the same time last year. The company also lost $59 million,
Pier 1 is far from the only casualty of competition and shifting consumer habits in retail.
In 2019, US retailers announced 9,302 store closings, a 59% jump from 2018 and the highest number since Coresight Research began tracking the data in 2012.
Bed Bath & Beyond, a rival home decor retailer, has also struggled in recent years. Bed Bath & Beyond’s new CEO, Mark Tritton, previously worked in Target’s C-suite helping build the chain’s popular stable of private-label clothing and home furnishings’ brands.
™ & © 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


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Source: @nyposts 📸: AFP via @GettyImages
Another vegan menu item is being added by McDonald’s, which could offend more steadfast consumers.
Next Monday, the Chicago-based fast food juggernaut will roll out vegan McNuggets.
With California-based manufacturer of plant-based meats Beyond Meat, the product is now being co-developed.
With a tempura batter, the McPlant Nuggets will be manufactured from peas, maize, and wheat.
The newest product will undergo its first market testing in Germany.
It will be McDonald’s second plant-based product on the menu.


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Get a Sneak Peek of the New DanceMor Ballroom [PHOTOS]
Get ready, music-lovers! The new DanceMor Ballroom in Swisher is set to open this Friday!
Back in March of this year, it was announced that the historic Dance-Mor Ballroom would be reopening its doors. It first opened for business in 1932, but it ended up closing in the spring of 2014 when the owner retired. Nick and Rebekah Neuendorf are the new owners of the venue, and they have been working very hard to give the place a little makeover and get it up and running once again.
The Neuendorfs were kind enough to send over some sneak peek photos of the new DanceMor Ballroom, but if you want a FULL look you'll have to come out this Friday or Saturday!
The grand opening weekend will kick off on October 19th with two different bands. Doors will open up at 5 p.m., with Boot Jack Band on at 6 p.m. and New Trick on at 9 p.m.
On October 20th the doors will open at 4 p.m., with Two Buck Chuck on at 5 p.m. and Lonesome Road on at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, but ages 6 to 20 are half-price till 9 p.m. Once 9 p.m. hits, the venue will be 21 and over ONLY. If you'd like to get your tickets now, click HERE.
Follow their new Facebook page for updates and upcoming shows HERE.


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For decades, few industries have been as cyclical as the automobile business, with sales soaring in good times and plunging so deeply in bad times that the very survival of some auto makers has been threatened.
But for the last three years, sales have been on a somewhat strong and remarkably steady plateau, with buyers snapping up sport utility vehicles, mini-vans and pickup trucks in particular. Auto executives concur that 1997 will turn out much like 1996.
In December, Alex Trotman, the chairman, chief executive and president of the Ford Motor Company, issued precisely the same sales forecast for 1997 that he had given a year earlier for 1996: overall industry sales of 15 million to 15.5 million passenger cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, mini-vans and heavier trucks. Sales totaled 15.1 million in 1995 and 15.4 million in 1994 -- both figures well up from 1993, when auto makers sold just 14.2 million vehicles in the United States.
''We expect it will be more of the same for the auto industry, which would be great,'' Mr. Trotman said. He added that his optimism for continued strong sales in 1997 was based on an assumption that unemployment and inflation would remain low and the American economy would continue to produce jobs at a brisk pace, because the auto market often tracks closely the performance of the overall economy.
The General Motors Corporation echoed his forecast, while the Chrysler Corporation said it expected industry sales to hit 15.2 million.Continue reading the main story
Japanese auto makers were slightly more cautious. ''We hope it would get to 15 million to 15.5 million vehicles next year, but that is very optimistic,'' William C. Duncan, general director of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, said.
This unprecedented stability in sales is saving the industry billions of dollars, mostly by avoiding the kind of inventory gluts that come with downturns. ''Cycles are very, very costly,'' Van Bussmann, Chrysler's top economist, said, because ''you get whipsawed in this kind of high-fixed-cost industry.'' He added that over a decade the steadier path would increase Chrysler's profits by 25 percent.
But getting off the roller coaster has created a few problems for the industry. Low inflation has left customers more resistant than ever to auto makers' efforts to raise prices. Ford, in particular, has been hurt by that sentiment. A year ago, Ford created an expensive new design for the Taurus, only to watch customers choose less expensive, if less sophisticated, midsize cars made by its rivals.
Low inflation has also made the United States a much more attractive place to invest. The result has been a torrent of investment that has helped push up the value of the dollar and made Asian and European cars less expensive here.
In the first two months of the 1997 model year, which began on Oct. 1, the Big Three lost 2.1 percentage points of market share to Japanese and European auto makers. G.M. lost the biggest share. While 2.1 percentage points might not sound like much, if that pace persists for a full year, it would amount to 315,000 cars and trucks and about $5.7 billion in lost sales.
''Exports from Japan have picked up already,'' said Jaime D. Seguino, a research economist at Ford. ''Certainly, it is something we're concerned about.''
Together, the rising dollar and the reluctance of American consumers to pay higher prices have put pressure on auto makers to cut costs to increase their profits.
Despite fairly strong profits, Ford is eliminating 6,000 jobs in its car development division. G.M., Chrysler and Honda are helping their bottom lines by leaning heavily on their suppliers to reduce costs.
To the extent that there are concerns about whether auto sales will stay strong, the worries are focused overseas. Auto executives and economists for the Big Three said they did not see a downturn on the horizon, though they expect that one will come eventually. When it does, it will most likely be caused by something unexpected, like the outbreak of a war or a shock to oil markets, they said.
''Business cycles are created not just by policy management, but by external shocks to the economy,'' said G.M.'s chief economist, G. Mustafa Mohatarem.
Economists and executives said the threat of economic turbulence caused by unpredictable events remained. ''I expect there will be, in the next five years, a downturn,'' Mr. Trotman said.
All three have been stuffing cash into their reserves against such a rainy day. Chrysler, which is seen as most vulnerable to an oil shock because of its heavy sales of mini-vans and sport utility vehicles, has an $8.7 billion cushion. Ford has set aside $13 billion, below its reserve target, and G.M. $14.5 billion, more than its target.Continue reading the main story


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To sharpen India’s bargaining position in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is being negotiated among 16 countries, the Commerce Ministry has roped in experts from academic institutions and think-tanks to carry out a detailed study of the pact and give their recommendations.
The expert group, from the Centre for Regional Trade, IIM-Bangalore and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), will also carry out stakeholder consultations, and has been asked to submit its report by January-end, a government official told BusinessLine .
“The idea is to get an independent view on the negotiations from experts who have not been part of the discussions so far. They will carry out a scientific and objective assessment, and their recommendations will be studied by our negotiating team and implemented in the on-going negotiations,” the official said.
The RCEP now has a new deadline of 2019-end for completion.
Several stakeholders are still unsure about the usefulness of the talks, including the Ministries of Steel, Heavy Industry and Textiles.
“With the deadline postponed by a year, India now has enough time to recalibrate the situation and carry out more nuanced negotiations. We have to cover our sensitivities while being aggressive in our areas of strength. The suggestions by the group of experts will hopefully help the negotiators to strike the right balance,” the official said.
Once implemented, the RCEP could be the largest free trade zone in the world as member countries account for 25 per cent of global GDP, 30 per cent of global trade, 26 per cent of global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows and 45 per cent of the total population.
As part of the review, the experts are likely to examine lines of tariffs of all member countries and identify where Indian industry and agriculture need to be protected the most, and where negotiators could be adventurous and aggressive.
India has not yet managed to get substantial offers from other members in the area of services, which is its area of strength. Other RCEP members, however, are pushing India to take up very ambitious commitments in goods such as committing to dismantle import tariffs on 90-92 per cent of items for the 10-member ASEAN, Japan and South Korea and on 80-86 per cent of items for China, Australia and New Zealand.


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Published: Friday, May 1, 2009
April 29th was the first annual Southwest California Business Summit which was held at the beautiful South Coast Winery in Temecula. It was a HUGE success for vendors like us and attendees. The focus was on creating and enhancing business relationships to help promote economic growth in Southern California. The event represented a coalition of five contiguous Cities and their Chambers of Commerce (Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Menifee and Lake Elsinore), and the EDC of Southwest California. This was an excellent opportunity for local businesses to connect with local cities, schools, non-profits and other local businesses. Seminars were given on procurement to help stimulate the economic growth of Southwest California.
Infinity Arts was given the opportunity to be interviewed by the Press Enterprises where we were asked questions about if this Business Summit was a successful event? The answer was most definitely YES, we made fabulous connections with other local business needing our Web Services. Our booth was set up with a flat screen to display the newly released EDC of Southern California website. The event was presented by The Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California EDC was one of the sponsor of the event and we were thrilled to be able to showcase the new Custom Designed Website. We look forward to the next Southwest California Business Summit.


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Moke International has announced the highway-legal Electric Moke Californian. This is the first time a genuine version of the original Mini Moke has gone on sale in the U.S. in more than four decades, and the first time a highway-legal version of the original Mini Moke has been available in America, with a top speed
Moke International has agreed to sell up to 100% of its shareholdings to EV Technology Group (EVTG). EVTG says it specializes in electrifying iconic automotive brands and the strategic move comes as Moke International launches the new British-built Electric Moke. Moke International says it will benefit from EVTG’s product development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities. In
The use of aluminium panels has reduced the weight of the vehicle, while the instant torque from the electric motor enhances acceleration.


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Telecom Lead Asia: The General Purpose Test
Equipment Market in China is expected to grow at compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4 per cent between 2011 and 2017. The market was
estimated to post $415.9 million in revenue in 2011, and estimates revenue to
reach $713.5 million by 2017, according to Frost & Sullivan.
The study said that China’s constant investment in its
telecom and aerospace and defense industries are boosting the demand for
general purpose test equipment.
However, the study added that such demand is leaning
towards customized and integrated products and likely to threaten the
conventional stand-alone test equipment market over the forecast period.
During the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011 to 2015),
China will accelerate the development of 4G by conducting large-scale
experiments on its own TD-LTE technology and putting it to commercial use.
“Test equipment vendors are continuously improving
their high-end products to deliver better performance as well as their
capability to manage wider bandwidth and digitally-modulated signals at higher
frequencies. For that purpose, vendors are consistently investing in research
and development to keep pace with technological advancements,” said Frost &
Sullivan Research Analyst Wei Wei.
The report suggests that the continuous development of
wireless communication standards, the move to higher frequencies, and the
increasing need for bandwidth will be the main factors driving the demand for
general purpose test equipment market.
High-end customers are more concerned with higher
bandwidth, accuracy, and operating systems than price; therefore, product
introductions are one of the key strategies adopted by vendors to sustain
expansion in this competitive and steady growth market.
On the other hand, Wei said that customers, particularly
in the mid- to low-end test equipment market, are highly price-sensitive and
transfer this price pressure to the equipment manufacturers. As a result,
leading companies offer significant discounts to build their market share.
Chinese wireless test equipment market reaches $265 million in
The Chinese wireless test equipment reached $264.8
million in 2011.
Main growth drivers are mobile data traffic and the
application of mobile Internet. TD-LTE offers more bandwidth and ensures more
efficient data transfer, which spurs the demand for wireless test equipment.


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Cottonseed oil cake futures up on spot demand
Cottonseed oil cake prices strengthened by Rs 14 to Rs 1,566 per quintal in futures trade today as traders enlarged positions in line with a firming trend at the spot markets on an uptick in demand.
Marketmen said expanding of positions by participants, driven by a firm trends t the physical markets following a spurt in demand from animal feed makers, mainly influenced cottonseed oil cake prices at futures trade here.
At the National Commodity and Derivative Exchange counter, cottonseed oil cake for delivery January improved by Rs 14 or 0.90 per cent to Rs 1,566 per quintal, clocking an open interest of 22,670 lots.
Also, the delivery of most-traded December rose by Rs 13 or 0.84 per cent to Rs 1,553 per quintal, having open interest of 78,660 lots.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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UpdatedWhen Apple killed the iPhone 4 in 2013, rumour has it that it muttered "I'll be back" - and it was right!
UpdatedThe U.S. International Trade Commission surprises just about everybody with a sizeable blow to Apple.
BlipCustomers caught in the middle of Apple's 2010 iPhone 4 antenna and reception scandal are starting to see payouts arrive.
Apple's CEO has taken criticism from Chinese media to heart, addressing concerns in an open letter to the public.
UpdatedCupertino CEO also addresses rumors that iPhone production had been cut following a decrease in demand.
Dick Smith has become one of the first retailers in the world to offer the iPhone 4 and 4S unlocked.
Foxconn isn't manufacturing iPhones quickly enough because the device is tricky to make, according to the Chinese company's chairman.


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The internet provides a level playing field, by allowing anyone online to take a course or start a business. For it to do so, however, everyone must have access to it. A new Google Fiber initiative will ensure that low-income families in US public housing get that access, via a superfast connection.
In many ways, Android Wear, with its card-based Google Now interface, is the simplest of the big three smartwatch platforms (a group that also includes Apple's watchOS and Samsung's Tizen for wearables). An update will be rolling out soon, though, that adds a few extra perks to Google's smartwatch OS.
Another year has gone by, and these are the most significant, influential and impressive apps we've seen released on Android over the last 12 months. From high-octane gaming and on-the-go productivity to sedate puzzlers and music streaming, our collection of the year's best Android apps and games has something for everyone.
To many, the concept of self-driving cars will still seem absurd. In California, however, they are very real. Not only has testing been allowed on its public roads since last year, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has now drafted regulations for the public use of autonomous cars.
You may already know that the Nexus 6P is Google's 2015 flagship smartphone and Huawei's first high-profile handset to launch in the US. You can also add Best Smartphone of 2015 candidate to that list. Read on, as Gizmag reviews the awesome Nexus 6P.
A new Nexus phone used to be something to get excited about for Android devotees; it represented what Google thought could be an ideal mobile experience for others to build off of. The Nexus 5X doesn't quite engender that same mystique, but after spending over a week with one, we can still recommend it as one of the best overall value smartphones around.
Gmail users are set to benefit from Google's machine learning research with Smart Reply. The system will use a deep neural network to not only analyze incoming emails for what information is required to form an appropriate response, but to propose three likely replies, with the end result enabling mobile users to respond quickly to emails.
Alphabet, the new holding company of Google, is aiming to roll-out its drone delivery service in 2017. Project Wing was first unveiled by the Google X research arm last year and, according to Reuters, Project head David Vos revealed the targeted launch date in Washington yesterday.
If you're shopping for a plus-sized phone this holiday season, the Google/Huawei Nexus 6P and Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ may be two of your best bets. But is Samsung's phablet worth the extra dough? Let's compare their features and specs.


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Jewel announced plans Thursday to buy the former Dominick's at 424 W. Division St. and four others in the Chicago area, leaving only one of the closed grocer's buildings in the city without a replacement. (John J. Kim, Tribune photo)
Jewel-Osco's parent company is buying five additional Dominick's locations and even plans to buy the rest of the company that used to run the Dominick's chain, hoping that a cross-country lineup can overcome competition from discounters, warehouse clubs, specialty shops and other eager rivals.
Along with its takeover announcements Thursday, AB Acquisition LLC, better known as Albertsons, named Shane Sampson, president of its Boston-area division, as new president of Itasca-based Jewel-Osco.
Jewel-Osco is one of the company's largest divisions, with 185 stores, and the biggest Chicago-area grocer. But it is under intense pressure as chains such as Mariano's, Whole Foods and smaller regional chains make inroads in and around Chicago, particularly after a struggling Safeway shut its money-losing 72-store Dominick's chain last year.
To bolster its presence, Jewel-Osco will invest about $100 million in new projects and store remodeling this year, officials said.
The five former Dominick's stores that Jewel-Osco plans to remodel and reopen include one in Rogers Park and one in the Cabrini-Green area that were on a priority list created by Mayor Rahm Emanuel's grocery store task force, which aims to help find new owners for stores left vacant after Safeway exited the market. Jewel did not get incentives from the mayor's office on those stores, the office said.
One store on that list, in the South Shore neighborhood, is still up for sale, the only former Dominick's in the city that remains unclaimed. Jewel-Osco has now taken over a total of nine former Dominick's sites, including four in the city.
Albertsons, owned by a group of private investors led by Cerberus Capital Management, plans to buy Safeway in a deal valued at $40 per share, or a total of about $9.4 billion.
The deal, which the companies expect to close toward the end of the year, would create a massive lineup of more than 2,400 stores operated under more than a dozen banners, including Jewel-Osco, Safeway and Albertsons.
Scale can be helpful, grocery analysts said, allowing companies to spread costs. But specialty products and services, like prepared foods, imported wine and cheese, along with organic fare, also have taken on more importance.
Until very recently, the industry "had kind of concluded that just having lots of stores was not necessarily the key to success," said Jim Hertel, managing partner of grocery consulting firm Willard Bishop. Now, the Albertsons group appears to have concluded that it can "go back into those waters and succeed at this point. It is interesting to me that we're back at creating a scale retailer."
U.S. shoppers have numerous options for buying food, ranging from traditional supermarkets to specialty stores such as Whole Foods; discount chains such as Wal-Mart, the biggest food seller in the country; stores with smaller locations and limited assortments such as Trader Joe's and Aldi; locations ranging from 7-Eleven to Walgreen; and online grocery delivery services.
The variety of shopping choices is particularly evident in Chicago. New Jewel President Sampson is taking over a chain that's facing off against several competitors in the bid to win over former Dominick's shoppers.
Along with buying nine of the former Dominick's locations, Jewel-Osco completed 18 remodelings of its own stores in December and has more than 25 remodelings planned for this year.
Sampson fills the role that had been held by Jim Rice on an interim basis since January. Sampson was most recently president of Albertsons' Boston-based Shaw's division. Now, Rice will become the president of Shaw's.
Sampson, who was not made available for interviews Thursday, has spent about 25 years in the grocery business.
He has described himself as a fourth-generation grocer who got his start in the industry as a front-end clerk. He has worked at companies including Albertsons, Giant Food-Ahold USA and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s Sam's Club division.
More than a third of Safeway's Dominick's stores remain dark. As of Thursday afternoon, a Safeway realty website showed 28 Dominick's locations still available for sale, including the South Shore location at 2101 E. 71st St. The remaining 27 stores are outside of the city.
The Dominick's locations that Jewel-Osco is taking over are: 1763 W. Howard St. and 424 W. Division St., both in Chicago; 3243 W. 115th St. in Merrionette Park; 800 Northwest Highway in Fox River Grove; and 345 S. Rand Road in Lake Zurich. The company has not said when the stores will open. A current Jewel-Osco store near the Lake Zurich location is expected to remain open.
Under terms of the deal, Safeway has an initial period of 21 days in which it can look for another buyer. Kroger, the largest mainstream U.S. grocery store operator, with more than 2,600 stores, declined to comment on whether it is looking at Safeway.


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In a bipartisan initiative, Senate leaders have launched a new assault on video and music file-sharing services. Proposed legislation, introduced last week, would make anyone who induces illegal copying just as liable for breaking copyright law as someone who makes the copies.
The legislation, backed by Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) and Minority Leader Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), is intended to stop the free file-sharing services that the recording and movie industries claim are costing them millions of dollars in lost sales.
But, according to the Washington Post, legal experts argue that the bill is worded so broadly that it threatens numerous electronic devices and software products that enable copying of digital entertainment. Opponents worry that the bill is being hustled through the Senate without sufficient hearings and debate.
File-sharing software allows users to trade music, video and other software files. Kazaa, the largest of the networks, claims more than 30 million users who have downloaded more than 1 billion files.
Although music companies have sued more than 3000 people who use file-sharing software, the entertainment industry has so far failed to convince judges that services such as Kazaa, Grokster or Morpheus should also be held responsible.
Instead, in a key ruling late last year, a federal court in California said that as with copying machines or other devices, the fact that some consumers use file sharing for illegal purposes does not mean the networks themselves are liable.
The bill will be taken up by the Judiciary Committee, headed by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who is the legislation’s chief sponsor. Hatch said the bill is partly in response to the California decision, which the entertainment industry has appealed.
Jessica D. Litman, a law professor at Wayne State University, said the California decision rested on an earlier U.S. Supreme Court decision on videocassette recording technology which found that if a device has a substantial legal use, its makers cannot be held liable for how people use it.
“This is something else,” she said. “It’s a new kind of third-party liability for people who wouldn’t be liable” under current law.
Under the bill, someone would be liable if he or she intentionally “aids, abets, induces or procures” illegal material. Intent is defined as what a reasonable person would determine based on “all relevant information about such acts...including whether the activity relies on infringement for its commercial viability.”
Susan P. Crawford, a professor of Internet law at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, said that any lawyer advising device makers, software or even Internet service providers would be compelled to warn them that they could face secondary liability if they know their products might get used for illegal purposes.
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Image Source: Independent
Trustpilot released its second annual Transparency Report, which includes the most recent statistics on user reviews as well as an overview of the company’s ongoing efforts to counteract dishonest review manipulation by online retailers, manufacturers, and other bad actors.
The latest data from the review tracking business shows a rapid increase in review submissions and all of the steps the company claims to be taking to counteract false and manipulated reviews. According to the new study, 46.7 million reviews were submitted to the service in 2021, accounting for nearly a quarter of all reviews received since its 2007 start.
The number of fraudulent reviews removed increased in tandem with the number of reviews submitted to Trustpilot. Over the course of 2021, the service eliminated around 2.7 million bogus reviews. Trustpilot states that automatic detection tools caught 1.8 million of these, a 19 percent increase over the previous year’s performance.
The responsibility of taking action against businesses that attempted to deceive customers using Trustpilot’s platform was also automated. According to the corporation, businesses found to be in violation of the organization’s criteria received 1,425 official “stop and desist” letters and 121,048 automated warnings. This was a 210 percent increase over the automatic warnings sent in 2020.
Trustpilot has previously been accused of enabling phony reviews to exist on its platform and allowing businesses to game its systems to artificially raise their own review scores.
The firm started issuing transparency reports like this one to answer queries about how it handles merchants and manufacturers that try to game its measures. In 2021, it exposed the unethical ways firms attempted to alter their Trustpilot scores. “Incentivizing users to leave reviews,” “‘cherry picking’ by selectively encouraging only pleased customers to provide feedback,” “abusing the reporting mechanism by continually only flagging negative reviews to Trustpilot,” and “soliciting phony reviews” were among the strategies mentioned. They were met with warnings and disciplinary penalties when these attempts were discovered.
Finally, Trustpilot has pursued legal action against three particularly egregious policy violators: Global Migrate, SO Cameras, and Euro Resales. “Any damages paid as part of any litigation to be allocated to groups defending consumers online,” the review tracking company stated. It did not provide any information on the three pending cases.
In Trustpilot’s Transparency section, more statistics and details are presented in this year’s study.


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We are the easiest to use and most secure bitcoin wallet service.Providing breaking cryptocurrency news - focusing on Bitcoin, Ethereum, NEO, ICOs, prices, blockchain technology, and smart contracts.
Bitcoin is increasing in popularity year on year, but many are still wondering about how to buy bitcoins.Fears of a bitcoin bubble and a focus on the. for the current pullback in bitcoin and the broader crypto market. a free fall of late and it.
This Bitcoin podcast is all about Bitcoin, oil, volatility, and OPEC.The currencies exchange at the rate of the market with no intervention.
Basically a reform deals with substituting one currency with another.
Feel free to contact us...
Bitcoin is a new digital currency that is open source,. it is wonderful to see new forms of free market money offering choices for saving and facilitating trade.
Government regulators around the world have spent the last year scrambling to prevent bitcoin from becoming. free-market anarchist and.This section is for topics about individual Bitcoin. securities should go in the top-level Marketplace. bitcoin: How Do You Market A New.Today I was preparing something for my bitcoin workshop when I came to the following observation.Long-term investors in cryptocurrency Bitcoin will be smiling currently as its price continues to surge on various exchanges around the world.
CombiCoin Aims to Diversify Cryptocurrency Investments with a Single Transaction.Find a live Bitcoin price chart, exchange rate data and Bitcoin news.Get started with Bitcoin: find a wallet, buy bitcoin, shop with bitcoin, read bitcoin news, and get involved on the forum.Bitcoin advocates like to claim it is on its way to becoming a widely accepted.
One of the cornerstones of the libertarian argument against the FDA and other regulatory bodies is private companies that provide independent.
Bitcoin mining is probably the closest the world has ever come to a perfectly competitive market.The correct government response to the rise of cryptocurrencies should be to allow free competition on a level playing.
Rejected Inventory - Blocks and transactions which have been rejected by our nodes.
Copyright © 2017 · All Rights Reserved · Maine Council of Churches


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Harley-Davidson has been around since 1903.
The motorcycle manufacturer has seen it all – including two world wars – but the company is now up against new challenges.
But the brand remains an American icon and its history is fascinating.
That’s not to say that the past 100 or so years have been a completely smooth ride. Harley made it through two world wars and a very rough restructuring during the financial crisis. And now it’s up against new challenges as CEO Matt Levatich works to globalize sales amid a US market decline, recruit younger riders, and contend with the itchy Twitter finger of President Donald Trump, who has praised and penalized Harley in equal measure.
Let’s take a look back at Harley-Davidson’s long and illustrious history:


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The Canadian-based company, Bombardier is no stranger to creating great jets, including the Global 7500, but as of recently, the multinational manufacturer released the Global 6500 Business Jet, a spacious, long-range and speedy jet capable of going from Singapore to London, non-stop. READ MORE
POSTS BY Natasha Bazika
The House of Rolls-Royce revealed images of a Bespoke Red Phantom, commissioned to benefit (RED), the global charity and its fight to end AIDS. First sketches of the red-themed creation were revealed by the world’s leading luxury manufacturer seven months ago at the Sotheby’s Galleries in New York City. READ MORE
If you haven’t seen yet, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla recently revealed the Cybertruck, a futuristic-looking metal beast. The electric pick-up truck doesn’t look like anything else on the roads today, but when put to the test, it was a smashing reveal. READ MORE
Jaguar unveiled its first all-electric virtual sports car – the Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo Coupé. The futuristic EV is set to join the grid as the latest addition to the Vision Gran Turismo line-up for the Gran Turismo series.
The all-electric Jaguar Vision GT Coupé has been designed and developed from the ground up taking inspiration from the brand’s incredible racing lineage. The iconic C-type and D-type influence its fearless futuristic design, while Jaguar’s I-TYPE 4 Formula E and I-PACE eTROPHY racing cars provide the technical foundations for its uncompromising racing performance. READ MORE
Following an outstanding reception at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show with seven units already sold, the all-new 48 Wallytender made its American debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) READ MORE
Watches of Switzerland and Stadium Goods collaborate on a purpose-built exhibition, which is displayed in the Soho flagship through December 2, 2019. READ MORE


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Jennifer Hudson's Oscar win for her performance in Dreamgirls wasn't just a boon for the once-spurned American Idol contestant.
It was a win for full-figured women all over.
"People usually think fat and ugly," says Kellie Brown, a spokeswoman for the plus-sized retail chain Avenue. "Fat doesn't have to be ugly. Curviness doesn't have to be ugly. Who would look at Jennifer Hudson and say that she was unattractive?"
Evidently, not too many people - including the hip and thin decision-makers at Vogue, one of the nation's foremost go-to magazines for beauty trends.
Hudson appears on the March cover of the fashion magazine, the same month that R&B; star Beyonce - hips, thighs, cleavage and all - graces the front of Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue.
And on the back cover of the Feb. 16 issue of Life magazine (that just happens to have Hudson's pouty-lipped visage on the front cover), a very round, very nude woman - 54-year-old Mirinete Morrison - sits on the floor in a Dove advertisement, hugging her knees.
Could this be the end of the rail-thin woman in advertisements and fashion shoots?
Probably not. But beauty experts say the images of Hudson, Beyonce and other curvy women in ads for such companies as Dove and Slim-Fast, signal that change is in the air.
"I believe there's a real movement nationally to celebrate plus-sized women," says BJ Towe, executive editor of Figure, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for plus-sized women. "I do think the American media is starting to realize this is who their audience is. That they're not all waif-thin."
In fact, an increasing number of the nation's women are shaped more like Hudson than they are like Lindsay Lohan, experts say.
About 62 percent of American women are size 14 or bigger, Towe says.
And, according to the NPD Group Inc., which tracks consumer spending, the "large-size" clothing market has seen steady increases in sales since 2003. Last year, sales of plus-sized clothing reached a record $18.2 billion.
Clearly, this demographic is growing. But until recently, observers say, it would have been hard to tell that by looking at movies, television programs and magazine ads, which tended to be heavy on teensy-weensy and light on va-va-voom.
In 2005, the beauty product brand Dove introduced a "Real Women" campaign, which featured everyday beautiful women - not actresses or models - who had curves, shapes and imperfections.
"The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is committed to widening the current definition of beauty and inspiring more women to believe in and enjoy their own beauty," says Dove's marketing director Kathy O'Brien, "to show that real beauty is more than thin, blond and young."
Actress Sara Ramirez introduced the winner of a contest to create the newest Dove ad in a commercial during Sunday's Oscar telecast. On the TV hit Grey's Anatomy, Ramirez portrays Dr. Calliope "Callie" Torres, a full-figured doctor among waifish female interns.
The Dove campaign appears to have started a bit of a trend. Other companies have caught on; even Slim-Fast, a weight-loss company, began this year advertising its Optima shakes using curvaceous women with "hips," as the commercial says, "not hipbones."
"I love that commercial," says Brown of Avenue. "They have really real, realistic bodies, but they are also aspirational bodies. They look solid and toned. They look fabulous in a dress. When Dove first did this, it was this whole innovative thing. It was shocking. 'Oh, my gosh - a real person!' But now it's one of those things where it's what people expect. They expect to be represented."
Linda Arroz, former editor of Big Beautiful Woman magazine, says perceptions of beauty decades ago were vastly different than they are today. Women like Marilyn Monroe were beauty symbols, she says, and words such as "buxom" and "voluptuous" were "fabulous adjectives."
"It's taken 40 years, but we're now at a place where we can even show real women and shows like Ugly Betty," says Arroz, who now is a principal of Makeover Media, a public relations and brand-building consulting firm. "The desire to meet the demands of a diverse demographic is what's fueling the popularity of seeing more real women in the media."
Diversity may indeed play a role in the full-figured fad. Many of today's pop culture stars - such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Ugly Betty's Salma Hayek and America Ferrera - are women of color.
Former Victoria's Secret model Tyra Banks took hits in tabloid magazines for gaining weight after she stopped modeling. But Banks, a black woman, proudly defended her heavier, hippier self on her daytime talk show and in a January People magazine.
And Fort Meade resident Lakisha Jones, a full-figured black woman with a big voice, won over American Idol judge Simon Cowell when she belted out "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" - Hudson's career-making song - on the hit show last week.
Experts say black and Hispanic women tend to be more content with curvier, rounder bodies.
"Our readers are kind of broken into three categories in terms of self-esteem," says Towe of Figure magazine. "The first group - those who totally embrace themselves, and are not just accepting but love the curves - that group is African-American rich. It also has a large Hispanic population."
April Masini, who pens an advice column, AskApril.com, says the full-figured trend has more to do with cycles of beauty than diversity. In her opinion, the fashion pendulum swung too far toward super skinny and was bound to swing back.
"While there are plenty of skinny models and actresses, the [ones] who are full-figured are now gaining an opportunity to be the poster girls and the 'It' girls for this new trend," says Masini, who calls the recent images of plus-sized and "healthy" women a "backlash to too-skinny models and actresses."
Indeed, in the past year, the fashion industry has come under increased scrutiny for fostering unrealistic images of beauty and possibly contributing to unhealthy eating behaviors by models - most of whom have to be a size 4 or 2 to be considered for high-fashion shoots.
Countries such as Italy and Spain issued mandates in the past year prohibiting excessively thin models from the catwalk, and American fashion officials encouraged designers, casting agents and others to pay more attention to models' health.
Even ultra-thin Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour lauded Hudson for her healthy outlook on weight inside the March issue of the magazine.
Wintour says Hudson's "happiness in her own skin is something we can draw strength from. The question of body image is a current one, and I can't think of a more compelling and beautiful argument for the proposition that great fashion looks great on women of all sizes than the sight of Hudson in a Vera Wang dress on the red carpet."
But some experts believe even Wintour's favor can't change the perception in our society that thin is better.
"Jennifer Hudson is a star and an Oscar [winner], which is why she's on the cover of Vogue," says Deb Vance, a communications professor and pop culture expert at McDaniel College in Westminster. "But if you open Vogue, you're not going to see anyone else who is curvy like her."
Unfortunately, even Beyonce on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and all the Dove and Slim-Fast ads, won't help, Vance says.
"There is still an overabundance of ads featuring women who are thin and perfectly featured," she says. "This is a drop in the bucket."


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India has 12 major ports and around 205 non-major ports. In FY20, major ports in India handled 704.82 million tonnes (MT) of cargo traffic, implying a CAGR of 2.74% during FY16-FY20. Cargo traffic at non-major ports reached 447.21 MT in FY20 (until December 2019). In August 2021, cargo traffic handled by India’s major ports reached 57.59 MT, an 11.43% increase over the 51.68 MT recorded in August 2020.
India’s key ports had a capacity of 1,534.91 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in FY20.
In FY21, all key ports in India handled 672.60 million tonnes (MT) of cargo traffic.
Non-major ports accounted for 46% of the total cargo traffic at Indian ports in FY21, due to a significant shift of traffic from the major ports to the non-major ports.
Merchandise exports reached US$ 290.63 billion in FY21.
In September 2021, India’s merchandise exports grew 21.3% year-on-year to US$33.44 billion, this was 28.5% higher than pre-COVID levels of September 2019.
In October 2021, the country’s merchandise exports rose by 40.54% year-on-year to reach US$15.13 billion. The centre has set the exports target at US$400 billion in FY22.
The Government of India has allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 100% under the automatic route for projects related to the construction and maintenance of ports and harbours. Ports received a cumulative FDI of US$ 1.64 billion between April 2000 and March 2021. A 10-year tax holiday is extended to enterprises engaged in the business of developing, maintaining, and operating ports, inland waterways, and inland ports. The Government has also initiated National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP), an initiative to develop the maritime sector with a planned outlay of US$ 11.8 billion. In Union Budget 2020-21, the total allocation for the Ministry of Shipping was Rs. 1,702.35 crore (US$ 233.48 million).
The key ports are expected to deliver seven projects worth more than Rs. 2,000 crore (US$ 274.31 million) on a public-private partnership basis in FY22.
The Finance Minister proposed to double the ship recycling capacity of ~4.5 million light displacement tonnes (LDT) by 2024; this is expected to generate an additional ~1.5 lakh employment opportunities in India.
In Union Budget 2021, the government announced subsidy funding worth Rs. 1,624 crore (US$ 222.74 million) to Indian shipping companies to encourage merchant ship flagging in the country.
in February 2021, the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 was passed by the Parliament of India. The bill aims to decentralise decision-making and reinforce excellence in major port governance.
As per studies conducted under the Sagarmala Programme, cargo traffic at ports is expected to be ~2,500 MMTPA by 2025, while the current cargo handling capacity of ports is only 2,406 MMTPA. A roadmap has been prepared for increasing the Indian port capacity to 3,300+ MMTPA by 2025 to cater to the growing traffic. This includes port operational efficiency improvement, capacity expansion of existing ports and new port development. There are 206 port modernisation projects worth Rs. 78,611 crore (US$ 10.71 billion). Of which, 81 projects worth Rs. 24,113 crore (US$ 3.29 billion) have been completed and 59 projects worth Rs. 24,288 crore (US$ 3.31 billion) are being implemented.
The Indian government announced that seven major ports worth US$ 274 million will commence operations under the public-private partnership model in 2021-22. Private sector investments in ports have steadily increased over the last five years, touching an all-time high of US$ 2.35 billion by 2020.
Between April 2021 and August 2021 period, cargo handled at India's 12 state-owned major ports recorded an increase of 19.54% from 245.289 mt the previous year to 293.226 million tonnes (mt).
APSEZ (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone) plans to become the world's largest private port company by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2025.
In June 2021, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Civil Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop sea plane services in India.
In July 2021, the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill 2021 was passed by the Parliament, incorporating global best practices, technological developments and India's international obligations in this field.
In July 2021, the Gujarat government provided an approval to build a new jetty worth ~Rs. 192 crore (US$ 25.77 million) at Navlakhi Port, which has been operating since 1939.
In November 2020, the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi renamed the Ministry of Shipping as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
In October 2020, the Ministry of Shipping announced plans to develop a National Logistics Portal (Marine) with end-to-end logistics solutions to help exporters, importers and service providers.
In August 2020, the government announced its plan to invest Rs. 10,000 crore (US$ 1.4 billion) to build transshipment port at the Great Nicobar Island in the Bay of Bengal to provide shippers an alternative ports in the region. The Transshipment port will enable big ships to anchor and raise India's share in maritime trade due to its proximity to the East-West international shipping route.
Click to access the Ports Industry Archived Report
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SHANGHAI, May 21 (Xinhua) — The retail volume of China's toy market reached 75.97 billion yuan (about 10.7 billion U.S. dollars) last year, up 7.8 percent from the previous year, data from the China Toy & Juvenile Products Association showed.
Children under 14 years old spent an average of 323.4 yuan on toys per capita last year, up 8 percent year on year. Retail sales of strollers, car seats and feeding bottles totaled 14.72 billion yuan, 5.19 billion yuan, and 6.13 billion yuan in 2019, up 11.5 percent, 14.7 percent and 8.9 percent year on year, respectively.
Online sales continued to register robust growth with the rise of livestreaming and social commerce.
In 2019, the online retail sales in China's toy market reached 24.77 billion yuan, accounting for 32.6 percent of the total, up 3.9 percentage points from 2018.
Sales of strollers, car seats and feeding bottles through online channels reached 5.61 billion yuan, 2.37 billion yuan and 2.45 billion yuan, respectively, accounting for 38.1 percent, 45.7 percent and 40 percent of their respective totals.
A sample survey conducted by the association showed that Chinese consumers tend to spend more rationally on toys and baby products. Short videos and livestreams have become the main channels to obtain information on these products. Toys with educational functions are favored by Chinese consumers.
Customs statistics show that in 2019, China's exports of non-game toys rose 24.2 percent to 31.14 billion U.S. dollars. Exports of baby carriages rose 4.7 percent year on year to 3.93 billion U.S. dollars, while exports of car seats registered a year-on-year growth of 13.2 percent to reach 900 million U.S. dollars.
The data also showed that China last year exported 7.53 billion U.S. dollars of toys to the markets of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, up 34.4 percent year on year and accounting for 24.2 percent of the total exports. Enditem
CBME is an established one-stop trade fair with nearly 20 years' experience of bringing together the movers and shakers in child, baby and maternity industry. Uniting top buyers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and sellers together under one roof in Shanghai, China annually. CBME hosts hundreds of quality industrial events, training events, private match making meetings. Awards and industry reports release all year around. As a gateway to key sourcing hubs for child, baby and maternity products and services, CBME now covers the most potential markets in the world and is regarded as a MUST-ATTEND show in the world where the key persons to share knowledge and create business opportunities.


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TVS Motor Q4 profit up 31%, lags Street
Net profit came in at 1.66 billion rupees ($24.47 million) for the fourth quarter ended March 31, compared with a profit of 1.27 billion rupees a year earlier, the company said.
Analysts on average expected a quarterly profit of 2.04 billion rupees, Thomson Reuters Eikon data showed.
Overall two-wheeler and three-wheeler sales in the quarter grew 31.7 percent to 889,000 units, with the motorcycles segment posting a growth of 61.1 percent. Exports rose 45.3 percent to 111,000 units.
Shares of TVS Motor were down 2.5 percent as of 0835 GMT.


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Apple looks to be prepping a new super-high resolution video format, perhaps for the often rumored new Apple TV. As this would change the landscape of your living room, where would the iPad fit into the picture?
The buzz around the iPad mini 7 has been growing in recent weeks, with rumours suggesting an imminent release.
Apple has unveiled its new M3 processors and all three chips include a significant improvement to the GPU side. Unquestionably, the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max will offer a faster CPU performance, however, GPU-focused advancements improve graphics capabilities to enhance professional and gaming experience.


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Asia Pac Unwrapped
The modern telly
We look to Cambodia, which in recent years has emerged as a very attractive destination for investors, particularly among the Japanese. We also check-in at Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor for the city’s favourite high tea as the luxury icon’s future is still in doubt. Plus: we ask what role architecture plays in creating a cosy home and preview a new television from Samsung that comes complete with a high-end design.
Checking out of Tokyo’s Hotel Okura
It’s a sad week in Tokyo as we bid farewell to one of the city’s most beloved architectural marvels, the Hotel Okura. We also hear from a company that specialises in bringing that cosy-home feeling to those who constantly find themselves on the move. And touching down in Singapore, we hear how the importance of community plays a central role in creating a cosy home. Plus: the final chapter of our interview with former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer.
Eco luxury makes a splash in Cambodia
Is Japan’s rail system too safe? We tune in to the difficulties facing Tokyo as it tries to market its famous transport internationally. We’re also in Melbourne where designing a high-end hair salon and a cocktail lounge is all in a day’s work for architect Travis Walton. Plus: we continue our interview with former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer and check-in to an eco-luxury resort making waves in Cambodia.
Superb wine, delicious food and a restaurant design sure to impress. We’re in Melbourne, where culinary magic is a serious business. We also head to Japan, where developers and government officials are trading barbs over preparations for the 2020 Olympics. Plus: we check-in at a new luxury high-rise in Hong Kong and get the best of Singapore in 24 hours.


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Worldwide shipments of PDAs and smartphones combined totalled 42,1-million units in the first half of 2006, a 57% increase from the same period last year, according to Gartner.
Smartphone shipments bolstered the market, growing 75,5% to reach 34,7-million units, more than four times the size of the PDA market. PDA shipments increased by 5,7%, totalling 7,4-million units.
“Japan overtook Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) to become the largest market for smartphones in the first half of 2006,” says Roberta Cozza, principal research analyst in Gartner’s computing platforms worldwide group.
“Japan now accounts for 33% of the worldwide smartphone market.
“North America was the only region where sales of PDAs continued to outsell smartphones. Consumer taste and fashion, advances in personal information manager (PIM) software and messaging, and rapidly declining prices all combined to drive the strong growth in smartphone sales.
“On the other hand, consumer demand for PDAs is dwindling, especially with no new models from Palm in 2006.”
In Japan, smartphone shipments grew 153% in the first half of the year, despite a decline of 22% in the second quarter of 2006.
Japanese smartphone shipments totalled 11,6-million units in the first half of 2006. This allowed Japan to capture the global lead from EMEA, which grew 26,3%.
EMEA accounted for 30% of the worldwide smartphone market, down from 42% in the first half of 2005.
The Asia Pacific region overall remained very strong during the first half of 2006, accounting for 29% of the worldwide market.
Shipments in North America grew 104% in the first half of 2006. However, its share of the global smartphone market remained fairly stable at 6,3%.
North America remained the only region where PDAs continue to outsell smartphones. In the first half of 2006, the region accounted for 45% of worldwide PDA shipments, slightly up from the same period in 2005. In the first half of 2006, the EMEA and the North America regions accounted for 85% of the PDA market.
Nokia accounted for 42% of the combined PDA and smartphone market in the first half of 2006 and commanded half of the global smartphone market.
“The company’s strategic focus remains on the consumer smartphone segment, so more favourable seasonal trends in the second half of the year and the introduction of new models should help Nokia achieve higher shipments of its basic smartphones,” says Cozza.
Motorola accounted for 5,3% of the combined PDA and smartphone market. Motorola’s smartphone shipments grew 103,5% in the first half of 2006, which represented the highest year on year growth among the top five vendors.
In the first half of 2006, RiM accounted for 6,5% of the combined PDA and smartphone market, with shipments up 60% year-on-year. RiM smartphone shipments represent 36% of all BlackBerry mobile devices, up from 9% in the same period last year. The company retained its leadership position in the global PDA market in the first half of 2006, with an increase of 13,5% from the same period last year.
“As mobile E-mail expands beyond the executive segment, RiM is responding with a new hardware strategy in the form of their new Pearl device to tackle prosumer (professional consumer) and consumer markets for wireless E-mail,” Todd Kort, principal analyst in Gartner’s computing platform worldwide group.
In the first half of 2006, Palm accounted for 5% of the combined PDA and smartphone market, down from 8% in the first half of 2005. Palm saw a decrease of 26% in the first half of 2006.
“Palm’s PDA business continues to decline as the company shifted its focus on sales of its Treo smartphones, which accounted for 57% of Palm’s mobile device shipments in the first half of 2006,” Kort added.
According to Gartner’s latest forecast, smartphone shipments will increase by 66% to reach 81-million units in 2006.
“The stronger consumer demand which generally characterises the second half of the year will allow higher volume growth in smartphones. Symbian licensees will continue to drive the market and we can expect new product introductions to focus on advanced features, fashion and rich multimedia functionalities which will fuel demand,” Cozza adds.
“Going forward, players in the smartphone segment will need to overcome the challenge of selling the benefits of smartphones over less expensive enhanced phones if they want to increase overall volumes further. It will be crucial for them to focus on promoting content, applications and services that take full advantage of smartphone capabilities.”
In 2006, Gartner expects the PDA market to increase by 6,3% to 16-million units. The market will continue to be driven by broader availability of cellular-enabled PDAs from wireless carriers.


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The French brand had already announced three new electric vehicles.
The two additional EVs will be larger vehicles aimed at markets outside of Europe.
These models should arrive once Alpine becomes a fully electric brand, after 2026.
Alpine, the sports-premium division of the Renault group is planning a return to North America and an entry to China with a number of electric vehicles.
After having announced three upcoming models (the A5 hot hatch, the GT-X grand tourer and the electric A-110 sports car), the brand is adding two new models to its future lineup of EVs.
As yet unnamed, these two models are said to be larger than the previous three in order to appeal to buyers outside of Europe and notably in China and North America, where Alpine expects about 15% of its sales to be in 2030.
Few details are known about the two EVs at the moment, but there are rumours that say they could be built on the same platform as the Nissan Aryia since the Japanese automaker is also part of the Renault group.
On the other hand, the fact that Alpine teamed up with Lotus on the A110 sports car could mean that a future Alpine SUV will be related to the new Lotus Eletre electric SUV.
Given this category’s popularity, it is very likely that at least one of the two larger Alpine models will be an electric SUV.
In order to keep its sporting heritage, Alpine could give these two models a level of power that is similar to the Porsche Taycan, which offers anywhere from 400 to 750 horsepower.
In terms of style, all of the brand’s upcoming models are expected to be inspired by the Alpenglow Concept hypercar. Elements that could be lifted from this show car include a full-width lightbar in the front, flower-petal wheels, and lighted transparent bodywork elements.
More details will be revealed in the coming years but potential buyers will have to be patient since both of the new electric models are only expected to arrive after the brand has completed its total electrification, after 2026.


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Live shopping, a Facebook Livestream feature akin to QVC that allowed producers to promote and sell their products to their audience, will end on October 1. The business plans to shift its attention to Reels in its place. Facebook’s purchasing tool would no longer be accessible, but Instagram would still have it.
The business declared, “We are changing our attention to Reels on Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s short-form video offering, as customers’ watching behaviors, are transitioning to short-form video.”
The shopping feature allowed influencers to organize their own shopping session by streaming their products and making them available for purchase. It was first launched in Thailand in 2018 and went global by 2020.
In contrast to the rest of the globe, China saw considerable success with the film. Due to a lack of interest, TikTok said last month that it was limiting the use of its shopping tab function in the US and Europe.
Facebook is committed to enhancing Reels, a short-form video product that it only recently introduced. Facebook and Instagram have been making an effort to compete with TikTok-like short video material that has captured the attention of young people.


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President Barack Obama is no stranger to fundraising: his 2008 campaign drew a record-shattering $750 million in donations, and many expect his reelection efforts will result in a colossal war chest exceeding $1 billion come November. To aid in that lofty endeavor, Politico reports that campaign staffers with Android and iPhone handsets will soon be wielding Square credit card readers for collecting contributions on the go. Square units will allegedly be distributed to both Obama for America employees and volunteers nationwide, though a date for the rollout hasn't been pegged as of yet. While smaller political outfits have also turned to the plastic dongle for fundraising, Obama's White House will be the first to utilize the mobile payment technology in a presidential contest.I've been using Square to handle mobile credit card transactions for about a year now and I absolutely love it. The service works with my Android phone and almost instantly authorizes credit transactions and puts the money in my account within a couple of days (less their fee). I'd be curious to know if any special fee discount arrangements have been made for the Obama campaign. They normally charge 2.75% for swiped cards, and 3.5% for manually keyed transactions. I would think any other discount arrangements might constitute a donation to the campaign.
With the Square readers campaign minions could walk around rallies and accept cards on the spot for campaign donations. Square usually limits the number of devices on one account to 20, but they may be making an exception given the number of people involved in a campaign. I just wonder how many people will open their credit card statements and find they've contributed more than they planned to a campaign, or perhaps made a contribution they didn't even know about. The potential for fraud and abuse is pretty high in such an uncontrolled environment.
The other risk is that anyone can set up a Square account, so if they wish to pad their own coffers all they need do is sign onto their account rather than the official Obama campaign account. Any transactions would flow to their bank instead of the campaign. Maybe I should start attending Obama rallies to make a little extra cash?
The GOP should pay attention - using a mobile credit card device like Square is a good idea worth copying. Get on it.


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LeTV Sports to Name Beijing Wukesong Arena
LeTV Sports announced on December 16th that it has obtained naming rights for Beijing's iconic Wukesong Arena, the basketball venue for the 2008 Olympic Games. Beyond that, LeSports promises to provide a package of intellectual services inside the arena and out.
The 18 thousand-seat Wukesong arena in Beijing will be renamed the LeSports Center from next year, in a five-year deal with the venue owner Bloomage International Investment Group. Lei Zhenjian, CEO of LeTV Sports made the announcement: "From January 1st, 2016, Wukesong Arena will be renamed as LeSports Center officially."
It marks the first time that a top-level sports arena in China will be rebranded by an Internet company. The deal coincides with the ongoing 2nd World Internet Conference, and clearly shows that "Internet Plus" has become the driving force behind China's overall rapid development.
Intellectualization has become a new trend for arenas around the globe, but most of which remain information islands, with no Wi-Fi service, nor smooth 3G or 4G signals.
The coming LeSports Center is going to realize the integration of communication network, internet and internet of things. Every smart equipment at anywhere in the arena will be able to download or upload with the speed of at least 1 mega bytes. Which means, spectators are able to find carports and their seats as soon as they arrive, order food and drinks at their seats while watching a game or enjoying a concert, get scores and data of the performances right away, book a taxi before their leaving.
Lei Zhenjian elaborates: "We really want to bring the contents provided by our center, including live games and concerts, as well as the stars and retailors closer and closer to every user of ours."
With a whole new solution for the smart arena, the spectators may expect a better consumption experience on all the associative services with lower prices and more interactions.


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Innovations and business opportunities were the focus of a recent visit by Evonik Chairman Klaus Engel at JeNaCell, a specialist in generating nanocellulose using biotechnology methods and has a unique production process in this field.
At the BioInstrumentation Center in Jena, Engel was briefed on the company’s expanding production and the market launch of new products. JeNaCell is a spinoff venture of Friedrich Schiller University. As part of its venture capital activities, in summer last year Evonik acquired a minority share in the company, which was founded in 2012 by two chemists, Nadine Heßler and Dana Kralisch.
For Evonik, the collaboration with JeNaCell offers access to an innovative material platform. Nanocellulose can serve as a carrier system for cosmetic and medical active ingredients. Evonik and JeNaCell have already initiated the first joint projects in this area.
In addition, JeNaCell is working with process technology engineers from Evonik to look into ways of further expanding the scale of its nanocellulose production process. JeNaCell is currently preparing the market launch of a new product line in the area of dermatology.
It is due to be launched at the end of the first quarter of 2016. The products are used to aid therapeutic measures in medical cosmetology, laser treatments, and skin sensitivities or to supplement aesthetic procedures such as exfoliation. As documented by current studies, they have a long-lasting moisturizing, cooling, and soothing effect on the skin and support the natural regeneration of sensitive skin.


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The Natural Seal program led by the Natural Products Association (NPA), Washington, D.C., has hit a new milestone with the 1,200th certification of natural products and ingredients, according to data released by NPA. The first and only natural certification in the U.S., the Natural Seal helps millions of Americans identify personal care and home care products that are truly natural. Certified manufacturers can use the Natural Seal on their labels. More than 85,000 stores nationwide carry products with the Natural Seal, and 726 products and 485 ingredients have been certified natural by the program. In addition, 91 companies offer NPA-certified products or ingredients.
“We’ve been seeing brands both large and small apply for Natural Seal certification. As consumers and retailers are asking for natural products, manufacturers are stepping up to answer the call,” said Cara Welch, PhD, NPA senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. “The growth in the program in just one year’s time has been phenomenal. It’s exciting to see the accelerating demand for natural products.”


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Intel's partnership with Nokia on the MeeGo Linux project appears to have hit a new level, with the two companies announcing the foundation of their first joint research and development laboratory at the University of Oulu.
Designed to be part of Intel Labs Europe, the new facility - which will employ around two dozen researchers - has been set up to research new interfaces for mobile devices in an attempt to make them easier to use, with the focus being on developing for the MeeGo mobile platform that was born out of the amalgamation of Intel's Moblin Linux and Nokia's Maemo Linux.
Rich Green, chief technology officer at mobile giant Nokia, claims that initial projects will look at integrating 3D graphics into mobile devices in the hope that "3D technology could change the way we use our mobile devices and make our experiences with them much more immersive
Speaking about the choice of location, Intel's chief technology officer Justin Rattner claimed that "the University of Oulu’s focus on future telecommunications solutions as well as electronics and photonics made it the perfect location for the Intel and Nokia Joint Innovation Centre
It isn't the first time that Intel has partnered with a university in order to set up a R&D centre: Intel Labs Barcelona runs in collaboration with Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, while the Intel Visual Computing Institute forms part of the Saarland University in Germany, and Intel Labs Berkeley is part of - you've probably guessed where this is going - the University of California at Berkeley in the USA.
In keeping with the Linux ethos, much of the research carried out at the lab will be released under an open-source licence - meaning that while the focus will be on MeeGo, other platforms are welcome to make use of any innovations that appear. By being the core developers of such technology, however, Intel and Nokia will give themselves - and their mobile platform - a head-start over rivals.
Do you think that 3D interfaces will be the future of mobile devices, or are Nokia and Intel barking up the wrong tree with that one? Share your thoughts over in the forums


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Icahn, one of the biggest investors in the California firm, emphasised in an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook that the television and automotive sectors offer the company a combined market of $2.2 trillion, Efe news agency reported on Monday.
For this and other reasons, the investor feels that Apple continues to be undervalued on the stock market and he says that the firm’s shares have a real value of $240, almost double their current price.
In recent months, several media outlets have said that Apple was in talks with several US television channels to offer a TV service through the web with some 25 channels in September.
According to The Wall Street Journal in March, the service will include programming from networks such as ABC, CBS and Fox and will be available on devices such as Apple TV.
In the automotive sector, Icahn gives credibility to the rumours that Apple before 2020 will unveil an automobile and feels that “it’s not a coincidence” that it’s considering a move of that kind because, then, self-driving vehicles will have captured a certain market share.
Icahn said that petroleum prices, climate change and other factors present Apple with an opportunity to “change the world” with its automobile, in which he believes lithium batteries — with which the firm has acquired much experience — will be a key component.


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A Bay Area News Group investigation has found overseas contractors are shipping workers from impoverished countries to American factories — including Tesla’s plant in Fremont — where they work long hours for low wages, in apparent violation of immigration and labor laws.
Michelle Quinn writes: Facing a hornet’s nest of regulatory scrutiny, blood-testing startup Theranos and founder Elizabeth Holmes are on the edge of a precipice.
Troy Wolverton writes: Ransomware, a type of malware that can make users files inaccessible unless they pay criminals a ransom, is proliferating, putting individuals, businesses and institutions at risk.
Larry Magid writes about live video’s risks: Anyone can now star in their own live TV show, but that brings up some new issues when it comes to safety, privacy and acceptable content.
Apple has staked out a claim in the booming ride-hailing industry, pouring $1 billion into Didi Chuxing, Uber’s chief competitor in China.
Legal action against Google by four UC Berkeley students has ballooned into two lawsuits by 890 U.S. college students and alumni alleging the firm harvested their data for commercial gain without their consent.
There’s no room at the mall, or at least very little of it, thanks to the strong Bay Area economy that has filled up shopping centers throughout the region.
Nonprofit SV@Home, founded last year, has released a policy roadmap for making inroads into what seems like an intractable problem: making housing affordable in Silicon Valley.


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Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and Black Knight have overcome a significant regulatory obstacle announcing Monday that the Federal Trade Commission will dismiss its challenge to the merger.
The joint stipulation dismisses the federal court complaint and dissolves the temporary restraining order that was previously in place.
In March, the FTC threatened to intervene in the exchange owner's purchase of Black Knight. This followed warnings from some American lawmakers who feared that ICE's increased control over the mortgage data market might result in consumers facing higher costs. In a bid to grow beyond its central exchanges operations, ICE has recently sealed several acquisitions, including an $11 billion purchase of mortgage technology platform Ellie Mae in 2020 and a $335 million acquisition of Simplifile a year earlier.
Black Knight made concessions by agreeing to divest two of its divisions, including its Empower LOS, to alleviate the FTC's apprehensions, but expressed a readiness to take legal action to preserve the deal if needed. The entities involved now aim to reach agreeable terms by Aug. 25.


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SAN FRANCISCO—Those of you who have bought an Apple Watch since they launched in April will soon be able to download your first major software update. Apple has announced that the final version of WatchOS 2 will be available to the public on September 16. To update the Apple Watch, open the app on your phone, tap General, and then tap Software Update.
Most of WatchOS 2's new features let third-party developers do stuff that Apple could already do with the hardware. This includes full access to the watch's sensors, the Digital Crown, the microphone, and the Taptic Engine. Developers will be able to build more complex animations, too—current WatchKit apps are much more limited by comparison, and they're largely made up of static cards.
Developers can't make custom watch faces quite yet, but they can design complications for Apple's existing faces. This still isn't as flexible as it could be, but it's a pretty obvious candidate for future WatchOS updates.
Jeff Williams, senior vice president of operations at Apple, took the stage to show off some of the newest things in WatchOS 2. "We're adding transit to Maps, making it easier to find and use public transportation," he said, adding, "There are over 10,000 watch apps on the app store."
We'll give WatchOS 2 a closer look when we've had more time to play with the operating system and the third-party apps that developers create.
Apple also announced some new Watch form factors. The company started by showing off a partnership with Hermes and then launched into a video of new Apple Watch models and watch bands, including gold and rose gold in anodized aluminum finishes.
When we originally reviewed the Apple Watch, we said that most people should wait until the operating system and app ecosystem had some time to mature. Assuming that developers use the new WatchKit capabilities to make apps that are more like the first-party versions, WatchOS 2 should usher in that maturity. You should still probably wait for second-generation hardware if you can, but WatchOS 2 should at least bring the software side of things closer to its full potential.
Apple's event is still ongoing, and you can check our liveblog for more updates as they come in.
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Card processor Clearent jumps to $4.5 billion in transactions
Credit card processor Clearent reported Tuesday that it processed $375 million in transactions in June, 56 percent higher than in June 2012 and putting it on track for $4.5 billion in volume for the year, according to a company statement.
In addition, Clearent said its client base is growing rapidly, with 2,700 new merchant client applications in June, 80 percent more than in the same period a year earlier. It has 18,000 merchant clients, up from 15,000 in 2012
The company, based in Clayton, said it recently hired a new chief technology officer and is hiring development, IT and other employees. It has 60 full-time employees and 112 employees in all, counting commissioned sales people.
CEO Dan Geraty said Tuesday that additional growth will be spurred by new mobile and e-commerce technology that it is bringing to market.
Clearent’s growth has been rapid since its launch in 2007. As the Business Journal previously reported, it ranked 62nd on the Nilson Report’s list of U.S. credit card processors in 2012, with $3 billion in credit card volume, up from $1.5 billion in 2011 and $700 million in 2010.
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