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Hisense Game TV Ace 2023 has been launched in China as the company’s latest smart TV. The new model has a 240 Hz refresh rate and is equipped with a 4K display panel. Hisense Game TV Ace 2023 also comes with Dolby Vision and Audio Audio-Visual Zone support. For gamers, TV provides support for Dolby Gaming. The new Hisense TV also comes with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, along with a dedicated low-latency mode, despite the low power of the network for playing games and live video.
Hisense Game TV Ace Price 2023
The price of Hisense Game TV Ace 2023 is set at CNY 4,999 (approximately Rs 60,200). Television is now coming to the Chinese market. However, there are no official details on whether it will be released in other regions of the world.
Hisense Game TV Ace 2023 specifications
Hisense Game TV Ace 2023 comes with a 65-inch 4K display with a response time of 2.7 milliseconds and a 240Hz screen refresh rate. The TV is equipped with a quad-core SoC, along with 4GB of RAM. It also includes 32 GB of storage. Hisense has also introduced the Hisense U + 2.0 image engine, which includes a list of artificial intelligence (AI) -based features to enhance color reproduction.
Hisense Game TV 2023 connectivity options include HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 6 and NFC. The TV includes AI Upscaling sound field, AI Scene Fit Content Awareness, AI Vocal clarity and AI Equaliser.
At CES 2022, Hisense introduced the U9H and U8H models with mini-LED displays. The company at the time also brought its own Laser TV programming, including a short-range projector with a screen.
To get the latest technology news and feedback, keep Gadgets 360 turned on Twitter, Facebook and Google News. For the latest gadget and technology videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
BenQ X3000i 4K projector with 240 Hz refresh rate, Android TV support launched in India


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The future of triple-A singleplayer games could be grim, according to Blizzard's chief creative officer Rob Pardo.
In an interview with Gamesindustry, Pardo agreed with an assertion put to him by the interviewer that that solo play was an endangered species.
"I don't see there being a great business model for it these days. It's really sad, there's just a lot of elements out there that conspire to make those games difficult to make now," he said.
"Between pirating or the ability for people to rent games, it's hard for publishers to pour millions and millions of dollars into a game and not necessarily see the return they need to make those budgets realistic."
Pardo also believed that the next console cycle would be the last to offer gamers a traditional plug-into-the-TV console experience.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last traditional console generation and it evolves into something new after that,” he said.
“Tablets are getting more and more popular, mobile’s getting popular. The computing and graphics power in those systems are really going to catch up rapidly.”
This article has been changed to more accurately reflect Rob Pardo's remarks, and the context in which they were made. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

domain: news


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Javed Afridi, the owner of Peshawar Zalmi and key stakeholder of MG Motors in Pakistan, has once again teased the launch of the MG 3 in Pakistan. In a Facebook post, Javed Afridi shared a video of the MG 3 while stating that the launch of the vehicle was in its final stages.
The face of MG Pakistan, Javed Afridi, has made another allegation. Afridi published the MG 3 video on Facebook once more, dropping a hint that the debut is soon with the words: “Yes, MG 3 will cost less than 2 million in Pakistan”. If you recall, this is Javed Afridi’s fourth discussion regarding the cost of this hatchback. He first teased the release of this car for fewer than Rs. 2 million in February 2021, which generated a lot of buzz. But after a considerable period of complete silence, he gave another update and, late this month, he again requested people to estimate the cost of the MG 3 in Pakistan.
Keep in mind that MG Pakistan has never formally disclosed any update or potential launch date. Even then, we informed you that MG would not be including this vehicle in its portfolio. However, it appears that Javed Afridi is bringing the vehicle to the neighborhood car market. Even though the MG HS and MG ZS are locally built, MG Pakistan has yet to sell a single one. Despite the fact that Afridi has posted videos showing MG vehicles being assembled, none of them have been distributed to dealers. Therefore, the company’s history is not in its favor. Additionally, according to industry experts, MG still lacks a license to sell CKD automobiles since it has not met the government’s criteria for Greenfield status.
Source: This news is originally published by globalvillagespace


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AT&T has reversed its decision to allow Apple iPhone and iPad owners to use Apple's FaceTime videoconferencing application only on the carrier's most expensive data plans or if they are connected to Wi-Fi.
Cellular telecom carriers spent Saturday working to restore wireless service to customers across the U.S. northeast, which is just beginning to pick itself up from the battering it suffered earlier in the week from hurricane Sandy.
A major investor in WiMax operator Clearwire told the company's board on Thursday to sell its excess spectrum for up to US$9 billion to prevent Sprint Nextel from buying out the company at a discount.
Microsoft said Thursday it will team up with Japan's largest mobile operator, NTT DoCoMo, to push Windows 8 on tablets to corporate customers.
Optus has activated its first 4G sites for customers in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and in the Brisbane CBD.
Telstra has announced the release of its own branded, 4G-capable Android tablet, simply called the Telstra 4G Tablet.
Sprint Nextel's deployment of its ambitious Network Vision infrastructure, which includes the gradual rollout of 4G LTE technology, is about three months behind schedule due to several factors, the company said during its financial results call on Th...
Apple's new iPad mini will support the Australian 4G networks offered by Telstra and Optus, the company announced this morning.
ZTE has launched the first PC-based capacity planning tool for LTE, which will make it easier for operators to optimize the performance of their networks and offer users better performance.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved AT&T's US$1.9 billion purchase of spectrum from Qualcomm on Thursday, allowing the carrier to salvage one ambitious deal to acquire more spectrum, after shooting down its planned merger with T-M...
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved the first database of unlicensed wireless spectrum that can be used by new so-called white spaces devices.
The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing a proposed US$3.6 billion spectrum purchase by Verizon Wireless, a spokeswoman there said Tuesday.
AT&T has scrapped its plans to purchase rival mobile carrier T-Mobile USA in the face of opposition from two U.S. agencies.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission should investigate Verizon Wireless for allegedly blocking Google Wallet on a new smartphone available to the carrier's customers, a law professor has said.
The plethora of spectrum bands used for LTE (Long-Term Evolution) will result in more expensive devices, and also make the ability to roam globally using the technology less likely, according to industry organisation GSM Association's research arm Wi...
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The shoe giant is setting up shop at this year’s Sole DXB, a festival dedicated to sneaker culture and hip-hop held in the Middle Eastern hub. Nike flew in footwear professionals from all over the world to make people’s wildest shoe dreams come to life.
Only the white-on-white pair, the ultimate in a blank canvas, will be available for customization. Treatments such as different patterned swooshes, studs and millennial pink leather embellishments can incorporated onto the basketball-turned-lifestyle shoes. For those more daring, there’s also a dip dye station that will completely transform the plain kicks into a one-of-a-kind design that can only be achieved exclusively at the event.
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Make Your Force: stop by Nike's Maker's Studio at Sole DXB next month and create your own unique AF-1. For the very first time, Nike is bringing exclusive customisation techniques to Dubai to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the icon. For more info sign up at gonike.me/soledxb17 #af1 #soledxb
Those heading out to Sole DXB this weekend can rest assured: Nike representatives have confirmed that the pop-up shop is fully stocked with enough shoes for everyone, and attendees can feel free to purchase as many as they wish for customization.
Just remember that last year more than 16,000 attendees appeared at the festival. So if this event is at the top of your list, arrive early to beat the lines.
Nike, Adidas & Vans Owed Big Bucks by Bankrupt Shiekh Shoes


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Off-licence group Conviviality Retail has increased half-year profits by 46.7% as the retailer recorded a strong Christmas trading period.
Conviviality Retail, which owns the Bargain Booze brand, increased pre-tax profits to £3.2m for the 26 weeks to October 26.
The profit increase came despite revenues dipping slightly during the period from £183.7m to £182.9m.
Meanwhile, the alcohol retailer said trade was strong for the two weeks to January 4 with growth up 2.6% on last year.
Like-for-like franchise retail sales were up 1.2% during the period, while average store sales were up 2.8% year-on-year.
Conviviality chief executive Diana Hunter said: “I am pleased with our first half-year results which are in line with our expectations in a highly competitive market.
“Despite closures of underperforming stores in the period and the integration of the Rhythm & Booze units, sales have been maintained and store numbers have started to grow as we open higher-quality outlets. This has led to increased profits for both the company and its franchisees.
“We now have a solid platform from which to accelerate franchisee growth, our pilot with Scotmid demonstrates the potential for Bargain Booze to expand throughout the UK.”
Hunter said the retailer remained largely unaffected by the supermarket price war over Christmas by only investing in targeted promotions.
She also said that a new format Bargain Booze has opened in Sandbach, Cheshire, which features a bakery, food to go, ready meals and a “relaid grocery assortment”. Hunter said elements would be rolled out to further stores.
Hunter added she was “excited” about the year ahead as the business moves into a growth phase after stabilising sales.
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HOUSTON – As the country fights the coronavirus pandemic, another silent enemy may be lurking in your mail or email — scammers.
The FBI says it is seeing people trying to take advantage of the fear and uncertainty right now as complaints about scams spike in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’re also seeing people just simply trying to steal your money with fake charity emails, with fake CDC emails,” said Christina Garza, a spokeswoman for the Houston FBI office.
Many scams revolve around topical items —things that dominate the news of the day — according to Mary Dickerson who is the Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Houston.
“They use all of this information to send emails to people letting them know, ‘Hey, you can buy a test kit from me, I can sell it to you,’ or ‘Just give me your information so I can make sure you get checked,’” Dickerson said.
She also said the scams are showing up through the usual channels.
“We’re seeing it in many different ways, some people are getting phone calls at home, but the primary way people are finding out about these scams is through email,” Dickerson said.
Dickerson and Garza say robocalls and text messages are also being used to scam people.
They suggest people be highly skeptical of any offers for medical equipment, virus insurance, a vaccine (there isn’t one yet), help with receiving your stimulus check or apps to track the pandemic. Also be aware of products claiming to fight the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Association and Federal Trade Commission have already warned seven companies to stop making these claims.
“Please don’t click on that link. If you want information, if you want to verify that information, go directly to the official source,” Garza said.
Dickerson said scammers are also taking advantage of the disruption in people’s lives. Many people aren’t used to relying on online services for daily needs and she said that can lead to some dropping their guard.
“Well, I know that this is a different way than you typically get information from the IRS, but that’s OK because everyone is doing things differently these days,” Dickerson said. “But, it’s not OK, because it’s a scam.”
Here are some things you can do right now to protect yourself.
- Independently verify the information you receive by going to the official government website, corporate sites or news sites
- Check email addresses carefully to make sure the address matches the agency or company the sender claims to represent
- Look for misspelled words or bad grammar in texts or emails
- Never provide personal information to someone you haven’t thoroughly checked out
“Ask questions,” Dickerson said. “'Why am I getting this email? Really, someone just decided that I needed to have this extra stimulus information?'”
For more information, check out the FBI’s website that specifically addresses COVID-19 scams as well as a place to file complaints.


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A Philadelphia developer has rooted out an unfinished feature of Windows 7 that turns any laptop into a wireless access point, allowing other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to share the connection without special software.
Nomadio, which specializes in military network consulting and development, used the new “Virtual Wi-Fi” feature in Windows 7 to create Connectify, a free application that it released as a beta last Friday.
Virtual Wi-Fi was crafted in Microsoft’s research group as a way to “virtualize” one wireless card as several separate adapters. The project was discontinued in 2006, but the work made its way into Windows 7 as “Native 802.11 Virtual Wireless Fidelity (Virtual Wi-Fi) object identifiers (OIDs)”.
“A year ago, Microsoft talked a lot about this as a big feature in Windows 7,” said Alex Gizis, the CEO of Nomadio. “But driver support didn’t get finished. The low-level code is in there, but the driver-level stuff isn’t. And there’s no app or setting in Windows to turn it on.”
Explaining that the feature was “half there” in Windows 7, Gizis said his company realized “we have the rest of the software here, in our networking work.”
The resulting Connectify differs from the Internet connection sharing that Windows already supports via an “ad hoc” network connection, which lets several Windows computers share a single connection. “For one thing, it shows up as a real wireless access point,” Gizis said. “Two, Internet connection sharing has issues. It returns to the default settings every time you shut down a connection. And three, you can join another wireless network and still run the Connectify Hotspot on the same Wi-Fi card.”
One application came immediately to mind, Gizis continued. “You’re sitting in a coffee shop that charges you for a wireless connection. With Connectify, I can pay for that connection, and still have all my other devices, like my iPhone, connected to the Internet.”
Connectify lets a Windows 7 laptop “tether” other wireless devices to a single Internet connection by effectively turning that PC into a software-based wireless router, added Gizis. “We’ve done a lot of military networking, including a lot of mesh networks,” he said, “where special routers connect to each other.” That technique, he said, was ideal for keeping in-the-field troops connected to the Internet.
Gizis has used his Connectify-equipped Windows 7 laptop as a wireless access point for his Apple iPhone, for example, and to provide a wireless connection to multiple PCs when only one Ethernet jack was available.
“There are a lot of neat scenarios where this comes in handy,” he said. “For example, people can use a wireless printer without any setup, which usually requires that you first plug the [wireless] printer into the computer with a USB cable so it can select the network.”
Although the Connectify beta is free to download, Gizis said that Nomadio would likely pin a price on the final, full-featured version when that’s ready to release in about six weeks. “I think we’ll end up with two-tier model, one that’s free, potentially ad-supported, and then sell a full version,” said Gizis.
Windows 7 is required on the notebook acting as a wireless hotspot, but any wireless-equipped device, including PCs running Windows XP or Vista, or even Mac laptops, can reach the Web through Connectify without any additional software. Connectify also encrypts the traffic to and from the software “hot spot” using WPA2-Personal (AES) encryption.
The beta of Connectify can be downloaded from Nomadio’s Web site.
Apple’s Mac OS X already offers a similar feature under the “Internet Sharing” preferences setting.


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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), signed an MoU during the WTTC Asia Leaders’ Forum in Shanghai, China to highlight the critical role of international tourism organisations in the promotion and development of tourism around the world.
The strategic partnership will see collaboration not just between WTTC & WTCF, but also their Members - tourism cities and private sector Travel & Tourism businesses and organisations with the overall aim of increasing tourism investment, developing tourism products, encouraging countries and tourism cities to further open tourism markets, and improving the accessibility of tourism services worldwide.
Collaboration will take the form of joint research projects which leverage the organisations’ respective areas of expertise to produce forward-looking reports, mutual support for events and conferences, and the creation of information sharing channels.
WTTC represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world’s leading Travel & Tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. WTTC is committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the Travel & Tourism sector.
WTCF, headquartered in Beijing, is the world’s first international tourism organisation focusing on tourism cities. It now has 218 members across 73 countries. It is guided by the core vision of ‘Better City Life through Tourism’ and is committed to promoting communication and cooperation between cities – playing a vital role in the innovative development of the world’s tourism cities.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “We are excited to enter this partnership with WTCF in order to broaden the scope of both our organisations’ knowledge and influence. We believe that together we will be able to share our collective expertise and continue to shed light on the importance of Travel & Tourism development.”
Li Baochun, Executive Deputy Secretary General, WTCF, reiterated the importance of WTCF’s focus on tourism cities and his willingness to further strengthen cooperation with the global Travel & Tourism industrial chain by joining hands with WTTC in light of the MoU that has been signed to promote the development of the world tourism.


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Amazon is shaking up the $3.4 trillion health care market. It has acquired the fast-growing online pharmacy PillPack. It has made moves into the PBM business. And now it has named famed surgeon and author Atul Gawande as CEO of its new health care company.
Needless to say, there’s a lot to talk about.


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Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.
01-23-2013, 03:03 PM #1
Apple Earnings Disappoint As AAPL Plunges After Hours
Apple on Wednesday announced holiday quarter earnings that, despite passing Wall Street's estimates, fell short of revenue forecasts.
Plunging better than 5% in after hours trading, Apple revealed earnings came in at $13.1 billion on sales of 47.8 million iPhones, 22.9 million iPads and 4.1 million Macs.
Analysts had expected the company to report earnings excluding items of $13.47 a share on $54.73 billion in revenue, according to a consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters.
"We’re thrilled with record revenue of over $54 billion and sales of over 75 million iOS devices in a single quarter," said CEO Tim Cook. "We’re very confident in our product pipeline as we continue to focus on innovation and making the best products in the world."
Unfortunately for AAPL investors, however, it doesn't look like today's report will have the strength to give shares of Apple the long-awaited bounce that some were hoping for in response to today's quarterly earnings report - a report that didn't necessarily disappoint, but didn't wow Wall Street either.
"We’re pleased to have generated over $23 billion in cash flow from operations during the quarter," added CFO Peter Oppenheimer. "We established new all-time quarterly records for iPhone and iPad sales, significantly broadened our ecosystem, and generated Apple’s highest quarterly revenue ever."
01-23-2013, 03:50 PM #2
Investor: ugh, they couldn't get 35 billion? Really? Setting records isn't enough anymore, they need to... Uh... Ya I don't know I would have been disappointed no matter what was said.
Investor 2: why?
Investor: the analyst told me to.
01-23-2013, 03:56 PM #3
This is rediculous. They did great! Can't make everyone happy...geez....
01-23-2013, 04:34 PM #4
Yeah it's pretty ******* crazy... I think this might be the biggest dip I've seen the stock take and this is on a good earnings report.
01-23-2013, 05:05 PM #5
This is what happens when expectations are expected to be exceeded by an excessive amount
01-23-2013, 07:12 PM #6
It's just crazy! Just about every company wishes they could report this kind of news....yet these "analysts"....keep blowing things out of proportion.
+1 Apple. Running a PROFITABLE enterprise.
01-23-2013, 07:28 PM #7
Mac sales are down. That's not a surprise. Most people are getting into the post Lc era where they want tablets. That's why you see a decrease of Mac sales and an increase in iPhone and ipad sales. Not rocket science.
01-23-2013, 10:31 PM #8


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“It is great to see 1.6 million app installs in the last two days, which is a great indicator that India has been preparing well for ‘The Big Billion Days’," said Mukesh Bansal, head of commerce platform at Flipkart.
October 13, 2015, 14:21 IST
New Delhi: Flipkart, India’s biggest etailer, said it sold 10 lakh products on October 13 in the first 10 hours of ‘The Big Billion Days’ five-day sale. The company said in a press release that it recorded sale of 25 items per second, with its website registering six million visits. “The Big Billion Days have started off with a bang this year. We have sold 1 million units already and expect to do a higher number by the end of today’s fashion sale,” said Mukesh Bansal, head of commerce platform at Flipkart. “It is great to see 1.6 million app installs in the last two days, which is a great indicator that India has been preparing well for ‘The Big Billion Days’.” The highest traffic on the Flipkart website emanated from Bengaluru, Delhi and Chennai among metros and Ludhiana, Lucknow and Bhopal among other cities. Footwear, men’s clothing and accessories have been the top selling categories so far. Men’s products witnessed a bigger spike in demand than other fashion categories.
Companies including Arvind Fashions, Flipkart, Amazon, Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, Puma, Myntra, Bestseller India and Snapdeal have seen sales from the segment nearly treble, making them one of the top sellers since the last phase of relaxation in lockdown rules.
Shopping centres in several top cities were shut for weeks even before the national lockdown started on March 25 to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, and that severely dented their working capitals amid inventory pile-up, they said.


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Shares in the company that owns both The Daily Mail and MailOnline have plummeted by 25% after they announced a huge £112m loss.
The publications’ parent company DMGT made a profit of £202m in 2016, but said that ‘challenging conditions in some of our sectors’ had led to the huge losses incurred in 2017.
And, in a stark warning for the paper’s long term future, the company added that they expected 2018 to be just as tough.
DMGT stated that due to concerns over the direction the papers were taking, they had subsequently devised a ‘new strategic vision’ for its titles – which also include The Metro.
And in further news, that will surely delight supporters of campaign group Stop Funding Hate, DMGT also announced that sales of print advertising, one of The Daily Mail‘s primary sources of income, dropped by 5%.
Stop Funding Hate recently grabbed nationwide headlines after convincing stationary firm PaperChase to cease advertising in The Daily Mail.
The anti-hate activist group began their latest campaign following ‘a torrid few weeks of divisive stories about trans people’ in the newspaper.
After a torrid few weeks of divisive stories about trans people, is a Daily Mail promotion really what customers want to see @FromPaperchase? #StartSpreadingLove #StopFundingHate https://t.co/T1psWVEFpk pic.twitter.com/BI5Vf0KTgd
— Stop Funding Hate (@StopFundingHate) November 18, 2017
PaperChase finally responded to the criticism of their advertising choices by tweeting:
We’ve listened to you about this weekend’s newspaper promotion. We now know we were wrong to do this – we’re truly sorry and we won’t ever do it again. Thanks for telling us what you really think and we apologise if we have let you down on this one. Lesson learnt.
Whilst online advertising rose 18% in the same period, the company added that they expected media revenues to decline in the mid-single digits in 2018.
The news of the Daily Mail’s financial troubles will also come as fantastic news to supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, who has endured a torrid campaign of abuse from the far-right publication.
The Daily Mail subjected the Labour leader to an astonishing 14 pages of negative coverage on the day of the election, a barrage that Corbyn responded to in hilarious fashion during Labour’s jubilant Conference earlier this year.
In scenes that delighted Labour members and supporters, the Labour leader essentially told The Daily Mail to go f*ck itself:
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LONDON (ICIS)--The potential impact of EU legislation banning certain single-use plastics by 2021, combined with concerns over volatility in feedstock prices and shrinking nameplate capacities are key issues for the European polystyrene (PS) market in 2019.
EU PLASTIC BAN
In late October, the EU Parliament voted to approve a directive that would outlaw a range of single-use plastic products within the 28-country bloc by 2021.
The list of proposed plastics to ban include single-use plates and cutlery, two items often made of PS and particularly important to markets in southern Europe during the summer months when water usage is often restricted.
Depending on how the legislation is interpreted and finalised, the ban could impact PS consumption in Europe by over 5%, according to some participants' estimates.
PS converters and sellers in southern Europe, especially Italy, are likely to be hit hard by the ban.
In areas of southern Italy during the summer, due to water usage limitations, members of the public tend to purchase single-use cutlery and crockery, many of which are made from general purpose polystyrene (GPPS).
However, not all PS businesses are as gloomy about the prospects of a potential ban.
One producer said that a consultation and evaluation period of the single-use plastics targeted by the ban are expected to be carried out, adding that the results of these measures could lead to fewer products than previously thought being prohibited.
Political action against single-use plastics related to marine litter may have also helped spur on chemical recycling projects related to PS production, such as the recent announcement by major styrenics producers in Europe to promote and develop better PS recycling capabilities.
Likely before any impact from the single-use plastic ban is the prospect of tightening supply in 2019, as major European producer INEOS Styrolution carries out a conversion of one of its PS lines at its Wingles site in northern France.
The new acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) line is anticipated to come online in the first quarter of 2020, and some PS participants expect the full impact of the closing of the PS line to be already felt in early 2019.
According to one producer, the converting of one of INEOS’ PS lines at Wingles is the equivalent of almost 4% of European PS nameplate capacity being removed from the market.
“Operating rates on average are not bad on PS [and at the] highest levels they’ve been in a long time … Less supply could bring some upside,” the producer said.
However, some buyers are sceptical that a reduction of that size would influence fundamentals much.
These buyers independently said that PS plants' run rates could increase slightly to make up for the loss, adding that imports from outside Europe could also make up for any shortfall in the near term.
Although there was tightness with certain grades of material due to pre-buying activity and some ongoing production cutbacks in the fourth quarter of 2018, water levels on the River Rhine have improved rapidly and BASF’s production woes are easing.
Most sources expected availability to have normalised by the end of January.
However, most participants are focusing energies on the ongoing issue of price volatility, often dictated by a rapid rise and then sometimes sharp fall in upstream styrene monomer costs.
Volatile upstream costs are nothing new. According to ICIS data, styrene and PS prices have experienced sizeable volatility for at least one quarter of any given year since 2014.
As styrene monomer makes up over 90% of most GPPS, and even some high impact PS (HIPS) grades, PS prices tend to reflect monomer movements.
A number of unpredictable drivers influence styrene prices and ongoing volatility has made business for PS converters and customers further down the value chain difficult.
Many PS resin buyers and PS product/application purchasers would prefer more predictable costs.
According to some buyers, rapid price movements in either direction are difficult to pass on to customers further downstream where much business is conducted via quarterly or bi-annual contracts, rather than monthly like styrene monomer.
This, is turn, can make consistent profitably difficult and sometimes squeeze margins.
Multiple buyers said that the volatility in recent years has made it difficult to justify investments in the market, adding that some end users have been put off choosing PS for some applications and instead sought to develop alternative polymers capable of replacing PS.
“[We could have some] internal product switching from PS to PP [polypropylene] - that may have an impact on … the second half of next year. If the project goes head, it will probably be a 20% reduction [in our PS consumption],” one buyer said.
The buyer added that there are many discussion within the PS industry about about volatility, given the large and "wildly unpredictable" price fluctuations.
"People don’t like it because the customer base wants stable and fixed pricing, and we can’t offer it in the market today. [This] forced the conversation [about] whether we can use a different material for more stability…” the buyer concluded.
Focus article by Ciaran Tyler
Pictured: Chinese workers use expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam to build houses. (Source: Imagine China/REX/Shutterstock)


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A few days ago, the pharmacy retailer CVS announced it would purchase health insurer Aetna for a cool $69 billion. The deal is one of the largest of 2017, and would create a health-care behemoth. Supporters of the deal — including, needless to say, the CEOs of both companies — argue it will deliver efficiencies, better service, and lower prices for customers. Critics worry it will drive even more consolidation in a health industry already dominated by giants, and leave everyone else worse off in the long term.
As it turns out, both arguments might be true.
First, the lay of the land: With almost 10,000 drugstores, CVS is one of the biggest players in the retail pharmacy market. But some of its $177 billion in revenues last year also came from its mail-order drug operation and sales of specialty medicines, along with the over 1,000 walk-in clinics it operates.
Meanwhile, Aetna is a health insurer that boasts 22 million customers and over $63 billion in revenue.
CVS has also been serving as Aetna's pharmacy-benefit manager (PBM) since 2010. A PBM is a kind of middle man between drug manufacturers and health insurance providers, and negotiates bulk discounts on drugs for the latter. With almost one quarter of all prescription drug sales under its command, CVS accounts for an equivalent portion of the PBM industry. Add in Express Scripts and UnitedHealth (OptumRx), and those three PBMs control almost three-fourths of the market.
This is where the case that the merger could benefit consumers begins. PBMs were supposed to help lower drug prices. But like a lot of middle men in health care, they arguably jack prices up and pocket the surplus.
With the CVS-Aetna merger, the job of negotiating drug prices and providing insurance will be brought under the same roof instead. And since OptumRx already exists under the auspices of the insurer UnitedHealth, we could be seeing "the beginning of the end of the standalone pharmacy benefits manager business," as Craig Garthwaite, a Northwestern University health economist, put it to the The New York Times.
But it doesn't stop there. Because it would control drug sales, medical care provision through its walk-in clinics, and insurance coverage to boot, the CVS-Aetna merger could create a chain of local "one-stop shops" for health care. Customers wouldn't just come in for medicine, but to deal with everything from a sore throat to more chronic issues like diabetes or obesity. Having both insurance and the care provision business under one roof could also allow for better use and dissemination of patient information, resulting in smarter and more efficient coordinated care, and thus (hopefully) lower insurance premiums. Since CVS will also retain its retail chains for other products like groceries and beauty supplies, it will also have an incentive to encourage patients to come into the physical locations more often — say, by pushing more regular checkups and preventative care.
One of the longest-running problems in American health insurance is how to get coverage providers to stop competing over who can best game the risk pools, and start competing on who can deliver the best care to patients. So the optimistic case for the CVS-Aetna merger is that it pushes things in that direction.
"We think of it as creating a new front door to health care in America," CVS Health CEO Larry J. Merlo said. "We know we can make health care more affordable and less expensive."
Whether it will actually work out that way is another matter.
Critics point out that UnitedHealth's ownership of OptumRx hasn't succeeded in bringing down prices. On top of that, CVS already has about a thousand walk-in clinics that haven't produced notable savings either, Carnegie Mellon health economist Martin Gaynor noted. And even by themselves, CVS and Aetna already have considerable scale with which to improve quality and prices for patients if they wanted to.
An alternative explanation for the CVS-Aetna merger is that, rather than a pro-active effort to improve their product, the deal is a defensive move to preserve market share in a health industry that's already rapidly consolidating. As the Times reports: "Insurers are buying or partnering with health-care providers. Health systems are offering insurance. Hospitals are employing physicians." Amazon also acquired pharmaceutical licenses in 12 states. They weren't for distributing drugs; they were for distributing medical equipment. But the event still had everyone freaking out that Amazon and its market-eating business model were coming for prescription drugs.
Insurers have also been trying to combine with other insurers as well, but the government has become at least somewhat skeptical of mergers among competitors in the same line of business: It previously squashed Aetna's attempt to combine with Humana, for instance. The CVS-Aetna merger would be an example of "vertical integration" — a combination between two businesses at different points in the supply chain — and thus ostensibly less offensive to antitrust enforcement. But the government could start cracking down on that too.
In the short run, one way to deal with a behemoth in a market is to create another giant through another merger. But that's an unsustainable solution: Eventually, you run out of companies to combine, and wind up under an oligopoly.
The CVS-Aetna combo could provide lower prices and premiums at its one-stop shops initially. But it has no reason to provide those benefits to customers on its insurance plan who need to go to non-CVS-Aetna providers. And eventually, its one-stop shops could become the only shops in many communities. Then it has no incentive to pass along savings to customers at all.
At any rate, the deal will close in the second half of 2018, assuming regulators allow it. So we'll see soon enough.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article misstated details about Amazon's purchases of pharmaceutical licenses. It has since been corrected. We regret the error.


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Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai earned hundreds of millions in 2022, according to the company’s SEC filing. Pichai received $281 million in total compensation, including $235 million in stock awards. The company’s board cited Pichai’s leadership and strategic vision for the company’s success.
Pichai’s compensation package includes a $2 million base salary, along with various stock awards and other incentives. The stock awards are based on the company’s performance and Pichai’s individual performance.
The company’s stock has performed well in recent years, with strong growth in its advertising business. Pichai has been with Alphabet since 2004 and became CEO in 2015.
Under his leadership, the company has continued to expand its offerings, including its cloud computing business and the development of its artificial intelligence technologies. Pichai has also faced criticism from some employees and lawmakers over the company’s handling of various issues, including data privacy and censorship.
In response, Pichai has pledged to do better and improve the company’s policies and practices. Pichai is not the only tech CEO to receive a large compensation package in recent years. Other top executives at companies like Apple, Amazon, and Facebook have also received significant pay packages.
Critics argue that these pay packages are excessive and highlight the growing income inequality in society. However, supporters of these pay packages argue that they are necessary to attract and retain top talent in the industry.
Regardless of the debate around executive pay, Pichai’s compensation package reflects the continued success of Alphabet and its dominant position in the tech industry. Pichai’s leadership will continue to be closely watched as the company navigates the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.


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According to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, salty and fatty foods produce chemicals in your brain similar to those in marijuana. These chemicals, endocannabinoids, help create the vicious cycle that forces you to eat the rest of your chili cheese fries even though you were full after 3 bites.
Human skin also produces endocannabinoids, likely used in the same way they are used on pot plants – to shield the skin from harsh elements.
If youâ€™re wondering if these chemicals are linked to the munchies people get when smoking marijuana, they are. Since smoking a joint releases these chemicals into your body, it contributes to your craving for junk food.
Researchers had lab rats consume one health shake, one sugar solution, one protein liquid, and a fatty beverage made from corn oil. Sugar and protein had no effect on the release of these chemicals, but the fatty foods did. Fat on the tongue sends signals to the brain that produce endocannabinoids, which end up telling you to keep on eating. Before you know it your pants are splitting and youâ€™re elbow-deep in a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos.
If the pharmaceutical industry creates a drug to prevent the release of these chemicals, no doubt it will be a hit. Do you think a drug that signals the gut to say â€œnoâ€ to fatty, salty snacks would be a big break in the fight against obesity, or taking the easy way out?
Now I know why I always leave Buffalo Wild Wings feeling like Iâ€™m going to either burst or throw up.
Image CC licensed by Michele Hubacek: Chili Cheese Fries
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STW has further cemented its investment in digital ventures by buying a majority share in Sydney agency Switched on Media.
Switched on Media specialises in search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising, digital content and social media. It was founded in 2007 by Scot Ennis and Andy Jamieson, with the pair slated to stay on with the business.
STW chief executive Mike Connaghan said: “[Switched on Media is a] solidly profitable and fast-growing business in a short period of time, backed by blue chip clients. The investment in Switched on Media adds deep and established capability in two of our key digital focus, search marketing and social media.
“We will see significant growth in both sectors as audiences continue to increase and clients respond accordingly. Switched on Media has a strong, deep and established capability to integrate search and social and generate online sales, which positions them particularly well to tap into this growth. Additional capabilities in mobile and content further demonstrates the agency's industry-leading position.”
Ennis said: “The clients results we generate have always attracted considerable attention by larger groups. Joining STW was particularly enticing. It's a proven market leader with a focus on growth not just within the market and this partnership will allow us to cement our brand as a leader in the field.”
Jamieson added: “Achieving success in digital is now business-critical. Companies need to understand and utilise channels such as Google and Facebook as starting point, and get a grasp on new channels as they continue to evolve.
“We're excited by the prospect of now working with STW in a partnership that will provide us with a chance to continue to grow, while providing solid recognition of the team's achievements to date.”
STW signalled last month during its financial results reporting that it will continue to invest in digital acquisitions. It said it would spend between $20 and $30 million on new investments, including digital, before the end of the year.
Connaghan said at the time that 30% of STW's revenues were now being generated through its digital operations.
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Shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) surged 2.49% Thursday on the back of continued speculation that the chipmaker will release the much-anticipated update to its GeForce GPU line, sooner than later.
Now the question for investors is should they consider buying NVDA stock now, ahead of any official GeForce announcement.
Brand new reports surfaced on Thursday that suggested that Nvidia is stockpiling roughly one million GeForce GTX 11s in order to meet the demand for a Q3 or Q4 2018 launch. “It has been two years since the Pascal-based GeForce GTX 10 Series landed, so there is pent-up demand for this family’s successor to fuel the 4K gaming craze,” Hot Hardware’s Brandon Hill wrote.
A new GeForce line would help create even more demand for Nvidia’s widely popular graphics cards that help fuel the video gaming industry. The success of the company’s GeForce GTX 11 line will be hugely important for Nvidia because, despite the growth of its other segments, its Gaming division is still by far the company’s biggest revenue generator.
Last quarter, Nvidia’s Gaming revenues skyrocketed 68% to hit $1.72 billion, accounting for roughly 54% of the company’s $3.21 billion in total Q1 revenues. Investors will also be pleased to note that Nvidia’s Datacenter revenue soared 71% to $701 million, while Automotive revenues climbed by just 4% to $145 million.
Stock Price Movement
Nvidia’s massive year-over-year revenue growth is what has driven shares of NVDA up so high over the last few years. In fact, Nvidia has seen its stock price climb roughly 1,100% over the last three years, which destroys the S&P 500’s 31% growth, as well as Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) 290% climb and Netflix’s (NASDAQ:NFLX) 321% surge.
Investors will note that over the last two years Nvidia stock has continued to skyrocket. With that said, shares of fellow semiconductor powerhouse Micron (NASDAQ:MU) have outpaced Nvidia over the last year, up 75% compared to NVDA’s 69% climb. It is also worth pointing out that NVDA stock currently sits roughly 10% below its 52-week high.
Nvidia’s impressive run hasn’t stretched the company’s valuation picture as much as some might assume. NVDA is trading at 33.1X forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimates at the moment, which marks a significant premium compared to its industry’s 11.2X average—this industry includes the likes of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD), and Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN).
Diving a little deeper, Nvidia stock has traded as high as 57.4X over the last year, with a one-year median of 44X. NVDA is currently trading just above its year-long low of 32.9X. Therefore, investors should be able to say with some confidence that Nvidia stock is hardly expensive and it might even appear relatively attractive at its current level.
Our current Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for Nvidia second-quarter revenues to climb by roughly 39% to hit $3.11 billion. For the full-year, Nvidia’s revenues are expected to surge nearly 36% to touch $13.18 billion.
Moving on, Nvidia looks as though it is set to post much bigger profits this year, with its adjusted Q2 earnings expected to expand by over 81% to touch $1.83 per share. Meanwhile, its full-year ESP figure is projected to reach $7.93 per share, which would mark a 61% surge.
Nvidia is currently a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks and sports an “A” grade for Growth in our Style Scores system. NVDA has also earned 11 upward earnings estimate revisions for Q2, against zero downward changes, all within the last 60 days. More importantly, during this same timeframe, Nvidia has received 12 earnings estimate revisions, with 100% agreement to the upside, for both its current fiscal year as well as the following year.
Nvidia’s solid forward P/E, top and bottom line growth projections, and its positive earnings estimate revision activity, coupled with what could be a major product launch all signal that now might be a great time to buy NVDA.
Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?
Here’s another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.
With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.
It’s not the one you think.


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The Van Landingham Rotary will hold its 17th annual Rotary Auction from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The auction will be aired on WTOC-TV, but all items can be found and bid upon online at www.vlrauction.com. Items include a week in London for the royal wedding. Bidding goes "live" today and continues through the auction.
Net proceeds will benefit the new children's dental clinic at Volunteers in Medicine, as well as other area children's charities.


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Before the official notice, we would like to inform you about the sake event hosted by our company.
From 17:00 on Saturday, April 29th, it will be the first sake event since last August at the piano salon "KEITH NOUKENDAI" in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City, Takamin's semi-home ground.
This time, we invited the brewery of Maruyama Sake Brewery (Mr. Kazutaka Maruyama) in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, which is located near the birthplace of Eiichi Shibusawa, to the venue, titled "Maruyama Sake Brewery Association". ,It will be held.
April 29th is Showa Day, a public holiday, and the beginning of Golden Week.
On the day of the event, it will be held from 17:00 with a hybrid system that includes participants at the venue and online participants.
We plan to offer a total of 5 types of sake and dishes that go well with them, centering on flagship brands such as "Suichogetsu" and "Oriboshi", which are the treasured sake brewed by Maruyama Brewery.
In the sense of Maruyama Sake Brewery's meeting, we have held it once in the past, but this time we are planning to have a brewery live at the venue, so the excitement is not halfway.
The membership fee is scheduled to be 8,000 yen at the venue and 5,000 yen online (1 bottle of alcohol will be delivered in advance).
All Japanese sake fans are eagerly waiting for your participation.
Spleen Sake Takami Liquor Store
Store manager: Takamin, the bartender (Takami Hiroyuki)


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Think the end-all-be-all for pizza is New York or Chicago? Then you might be surprised to hear that the World Record holder for pizza memorabilia is right here in Philadelphia. And, the owner of the more than 1,000 piece collection has banded with some buddies to ask for the public’s help to put their project, Pizza Brain, on display.
The group of four guys have issued a plea on start-up site, Kickstarter, and are raising money to make their dream of a pizza museum a reality.
“For the past year, we’ve been tirelessly working to get this vision off the ground,” Pizza Brain’s Kickstarter profile reads. “Currently we’re busy renovating a building in Fishtown, the epicenter of Philadelphia’s burgeoning art community.”
By spring, it’s the guys hope that this revitalized 19th century storefront will be the new and permanent home to their collection, as well as unique restaurant that serves delicious artisan pizza, naturally.
So, what do they need? Well, to be blunt, $15,000. And, fast. If they don’t raise the money by April 1, the project could disappear forever.
The good news is, they are getting there. As I’m writing this post, they’ve raised more than $5,000 and have more than 100 backers.
So, can it be done? Can they get nearly $10,000 in just over 30 days? The roughly $300 a day is a tall order, but according to Kickstarter tens of thousands of people pledge millions of dollars to projects on the site every week. And, thanks to a report on the Huffington Post, the guys are getting some serious attention.
And, local blogs are helping to spread the word, too, disabling the notion that pizza is just for the Big Apple or Windy City.
“Sure, we’ve always had pizza mainstays like Tacconellis, Lorenzo’s and Stantucci’s, but it seems every time we turn around another pizza-centric spot is popping up. We just can’t get enough of the slices coming out of pizza ovens at Zavino, Barbuzzo, Nomad Pizza, Dock Street Brewery, Slice, Blackbird…” the bloggers at UWishUNu wrote in their post about the campaign.
So, it’s our time, Philadelphia. Stand up in the spirit of the pizza pie. Let’s put our name on pizza forever.


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AOL members average more than one hour each day using the service, according to the company. In addition, nearly 60 percent of all AOL members use the latest version of its proprietary software, AOL 5.0, and 1.6 million members use the flagship service simultaneously during peak periods.
"We could not be more pleased to see that the AOL service continues to set the standard as the premium mass market service," AOL president Bob Pittman said in a statement.
The announcement follows AOL's pending acquisition of Time Warner for more than $160 billion in stock. The combination of the companies would create an online and traditional media giant spanning the Internet, cable-TV, film and music.
Time Warner also has agreed to acquire rival record company EMI Music for $1.3 billion, which would create a music giant poised to tap the growing demand for downloadable music online.
Until now, indications of membership growth and continued leadership in the market have kept AOL's stock valuation flying high. But with Time Warner coming under its wing, investors have been questioning whether AOL will continue to maintain its nimbleness as an Internet company.
As a result, AOL's stock has taken a heavy hit since the merger was announced less than a month ago. On the day of the announcement, AOL opened above $80 a share. Yesterday, the stock closed at $55.25.
Yet at the same time, questions remain whether other big media companies, such as the Walt Disney Co. and the soon-to-be-merged CBS-Viacom, can compete with AOL Time Warner without the help of major Internet players by their sides.


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If you were worried that Google was scraping the Nexus program, then don’t fret as a Google employee recently revealed that the Nexus project was still alive. He also said that the Android Silver program too was real, which means we could see the best of both the projects from the company in the coming future.
This time it was ReadWriteWeb’s Dan Rowinski who had a chat with Google’s Engineering Chief Dave Burke who revealed that rumors about Google shifting focus to Android Silver program were untrue.
“We are still invested in Nexus,” said Burke, “Android Silver is not something that we are commenting on right now.”
We expected this reply as Google has not yet announced Android Silver officially, so it would take some time before we get some more details about the project. But on the other hand, the news about Nexus would definitely make a lot of fans happy, given that Nexus devices were one of the most popular Android handsets out there.
“People have been commenting about Nexus because there is something else and they think that means the end of Nexus. That is the totally wrong conclusion to make,” he said.
“You can’t build a platform in the abstract; you have to build a device. So, I don’t think it can or will ever go away. And then, I think Nexus is also interesting in that it is a way of us explaining how we think Android should run. It is a statement, almost a statement of purity in some respects. I don’t see why we would ever turn away from that, it wouldn’t make sense.”
So, according to Burke, the Nexus program will be alive as long as Google is busy developing and releasing an Android version.
This also means that the next Nexus device, aka Nexus 6 could be around the corner. Some sources say that the company has already begun with the production, so it could hit the markets before year end. This raises another question, about the maker of the device. LG out rightly denied reports of a future Nexus device and no other manufacturers have hinted of such a device from their side. But the same source says that the device in production is of 5.5 inches much like the LG G3. So, even if LG is denying its involvement in the next Nexus device, the company may not be telling the truth.
End of the day, the good news is Nexus isn’t dead and we will soon get another Google branded device from the Android Silver lineup too.
For comments and suggestions, leave a message in the comments section below. Like and Follow our Facebook page for more stories and to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings.


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Joblessness is on the rise”India’s biggest challenge has been a slowdown in investments since 2011-12,” said Mahesh Vyas, CEO of the Centre for Monitoring the Indian Economy (CMIE). “Then, since 2016, we have suffered too many economic shocks in quick succession.”
The currency ban, GST and intermittent lockdowns all reduced employment, he added.
Unemployment climbed to a 45-year high – 6.1% – in 2017-18, according to the last official count. And it has nearly doubled since then, according to household surveys by CMIE, a widely-used proxy for labour market data.
More than 25 million people have lost their jobs since the start of 2021. And more than 75 million Indians have plunged back into poverty, including a third of India’s 100 million-strong middle class, setting back half a decade of gains, according to estimates by Pew Research.
‘Make in India’ – Mr Modi’s high-octane flagship initiative – was supposed to turn India into a global manufacturing powerhouse by cutting red tape and drawing investment for export hubs.
The goal: manufacturing would account for 25% of GDP. Seven years on, it’s share is stagnant at 15%. Worse, manufacturing jobs went down by half in the last five years, according to the Centre for Economic Data and Analysis.
Exports have been stuck at around $300bn for nearly a decade.
Under Mr Modi, India has steadily lost market share to smaller rivals such as Bangladesh, whose remarkable growth has hinged on exports, largely fuelled by the labour-intensive garments industry.
Mr Modi has also hiked tariffs and turned increasingly protectionist in recent years – in tandem with his rallying cry for “self-reliance”.
Infrastructure building is a rare bright spot
Mr Modi’s government has been laying 36km (22 miles) of highways a day on average, compared to his predecessor’s daily count of 8-11km, said Vinayak Chatterjee, co-founder of infrastructure firm Feedback Infra.
Installed renewables capacity – solar and wind – has doubled in five years. Currently at about 100 gigawatts, India is on track to achieve its 2023 target of 175 gigawatts.
Economists also largely welcomed Mr Modi’s populist signature schemes – millions of new toilets to reduce open defecation, housing loans, subsidised cooking gas and piped water for the poor.
But many of the toilets aren’t used or have no running water, and rising fuel prices have undone the benefit of the subsidy.
And the increased spending with no matching income from taxes or exports has economists worrying about India’s ballooning fiscal deficit.


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Ad new CEO Steve Ritchie takes over on January 1, 2018, the company remains steadfast on its focus area - its people and its pizzas.
Former CEO John Schnatter, however, will remain the cornerstone of the brand's communication. At the moment, it is unthinkable that Papa John as the face of the company will disappear.
But is the CEO spokesman era ending? In the 1980s and the 1990s, it was a common enough phenomenon, the most famous among them being Lee Iacocca with Chrysler's tagline of: "If you can find a better car, buy it."
A CEO spokesman can be a liability as well. When a CEO is deposed, the ads can end rather abruptly and create a consumer PR headache that most corporations wouldn't experience from boardroom politics.
What will happen to "Papa" John?


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The best-selling books in Australia in 2021
For the first time this century, Australia’s top five best-selling books in a calendar year have all been written by local authors. But only two – Apples never fall by Liane Moriarty, which has sold nearly 2 million copies, causing a market blitz, and The cabin in the 143 floors by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton – were released in 2021.
The other three – Happiest man on earth by the late Eddie Jaku, The barefoot investor by Scott Pape and The Lost Words Dictionary by Pip Williams – were published in 2020, 2016 and 2020 respectively.
In one of the most difficult years for the book industry, in which it has been hit by bottlenecks and critical supply chain issues, overall sales edged down to 65.4 million. pounds, but the value rose 2.5% to over $ 1.2 billion, according to the figures. for last year from Nielsen BookScan, which surveys booksellers across the country.
The top 10 was completed by perennial favorite Lee Child, writing with his brother Andrew (Better to die), Delia Owens (Where the crayfish sing), Charlie Mackesey (The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse), And two blue securities, The swimming pool and The backyard. Eleven of the top 20 titles were Australian.
Besides Scott Pape, Dave Grohl’s The narrator was the top-performing non-fiction title, selling over 84,000 copies in a $ 45 hardcover. Jane harper The dry, which was originally released in 2016, received an additional film-related edition released in late 2020 that accounted for 60% of the more than 82,000 copies sold. Sally Rooney’s highly anticipated third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, sold over 76,000 copies, while Matthew Reilly’s latest Jack West jnr novel, One Impossible Labyrinth, sold around 72,000 copies.
In the top 10 adult titles by Australian titles, Reilly’s novel came in sixth, followed by two titles by Trent Dalton, boy swallows the universe and Love stories, that of Kim McCosker The Easiest Air Fryer Book Ever!, and Hannah Kent’s third novel, Devotion.
Australian Booksellers Association chief executive Robbie Egan said in addition to the blockages, supply issues had been the major issue and the entry into the crucial Christmas period was worse than expected. “Fortunately, they came out in December,” said Mr Egan, “but stores in Brisbane and Melbourne were hit hard, and northern Queensland and the Victoria region struggled.”
The problems arose because all three distribution centers for publishers – two in Sydney, one in Melbourne – use the same delivery company and when Melbourne and Sydney opened after the lockdown demand created a deadlock.


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The redesigned Google TV entertainment hub that recently launched on Android is now available on iOS. The new Google TV iOS app is available as an update to the existing Play Movies & TV app, and it can now do much more than provide access to movies and TV shows purchased on Google Play.
Google TV acts as a central entertainment hub, and it can help you find what to watch across the different streaming apps you subscribe to. Users can also create a unified watchlist with content from Prime Video, Apple TV+, HBO Max, or YouTube (Netflix is a notable absent), making it easier to jump right in where they left off on the big screen.
If you own a Google TV or Android TV device, you can also use the Google TV app on iOS and Android as a virtual remote for your TV. The app lets you use your phone’s keyboard to type passwords, and it also supports voice with Google Assistant.
In many ways, this new Google TV app is very similar to the Apple TV app on iOS, which also integrates with other streaming apps (again, with the exception of Netflix). Overall, both apps do a pretty good job at providing recommendations based on what you love, though the Apple TV app tends to put a big emphasis on Apple TV+ content.
There are no conversations


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Strategic outsourcing is gaining strength in the marketplace. That migration, according to Scott Andersen, operating executive, commercial sector, MCI Systemhouse, has followed a path from the completely vertically integrated companies, such as automobile manufacturers, of 40 years ago through the just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing environments of the ’70s and ’80s to what MCI Systemhouse calls the “network enterprise.”
The JIT environment drove the integration of very tight customer/vendor relationships and changed the way industry was viewed, said Andersen. The network† enterprise, he said, is an extension of the JIT approach, in which the key focus was linking across the supply chain to tie all the companies together.
“It’s not only an extension back through the supply chain but up to the customer, across to your various business partners and also back to your suppliers,” said Andersen. “So now there’s an even tighter integration of all the parties that have to come together to play a role in creating that product or solution for the customer, whether it be business or end user.”
The key question is how a company can use its internal resources most advantageously in going to market and reaching their customer set. Then, said Andersen, comes the question, “How can we team with others so we can really provide a total solution to that customer?”
That ability to use outsourcing as a strategic tool and team with vendors is going to be what separates the winners from the also-rans in the emerging marketplace, according to Andersen. “The company and its partner that can rapidly respond to changing customer requirements, whether that be product or services, is probably going to be the winner in tomorrow’s world,” he said.
Strategic or Tactical?
The people in a company who make the decision to outsource can determine whether the decision is strategic versus tactical, according to Andersen.
“If it’s just done from a cost-cutting perspective, these decisions can be made on a limited basis by a departmental or CIO type executive,” he said. “Where it becomes strategic is where more of the executive team is involved in the decision process, and it plays a piece in the puzzle of what that company is trying to achieve.”
The upper echelon involvement not only helps determine the status of a relationship, it also is essential to making the business partnership work when difficulties are encountered, according to Andersen — and the ability to weather rough spots is crucial. “I tell my customers that a partnership is all fine and good when things are going well, but what tests the mettle of partnership is how you react when there’s an issue.”
The second important element to success is having a clear statement of expectations and objectives.
“The more you can reach agreement and understanding …of what makes the relationship a win-win, the more the joint relationship will work,” said Andersen.
Familiarity Breeds Opportunity
The comfort level with outsourcing has increased over the years. Andersen points to the automakers that, 40 years ago, were totally integrated from resources through the production of cars. Then services such as security and janitorial began to be outsourced, followed by the boom in information technology and the resulting acceptance of outsourcing data centers. “What we’re looking at now is really an extension of that because of a rapid change in technologies,” said Andersen.
Now the door is swinging wide open on the opportunities for relationships and the technical offerings that drive those relationships. MCI Systemhouse is involved in a joint venture with Mellon Bank where the long-term goal is to provide all of the services of a chief financial officer. On the products front, the company recently announced an online process called electronic bill presentment payment. It allows a company to target market a customer paying bills electronically and get an immediate response.
“I think more and more companies are going to look at the activities that add value to what they provide to their external customer and where they need to focus their limited resources to make sure they make a difference,” said Andersen. He pointed out two companies where that focus on core components coupled with technology to create innovative corporate structures.
The Name of the Game
One of those companies, amazon.com, has turned the bookselling business on its ear. It is, essentially, a retail book selling business whose only way of touching the customer is through the electronic media. Moreover, the company maintains no inventory. Instead, amazon.com has relationships with publishers that enables the booksellers to take orders and turn them around quickly enough to meet their customers’ needs.
Now amazon.com has added an element that allows customers to tell the publishers what authors and subjects they want to see in new books. “That’s publishing based on pre-demand,” said Andersen. “It drastically changes that whole book manufacturing supply chain.”
Another example that illustrates the power of strategic outsourcing is a major food manufacturer that, in the past, made and sold most of the food. “What they decided to do is take outsourcing to almost its fullest extent by outsourcing all of the manufacture of their product,” said Andersen. “What they became is a marketing, research and development and customer contact company. Customer contact drove the marketing, marketing feedback drove research and development, and all of that was pumped into the types of products they brought to market.”
These examples, according to Andersen, are indicative of what lies ahead for strategic outsourcing. “The virtual corporation that people talked about in the past can become one in reality,” he said. “If you have an idea and can bring it to market, you can radically change the way you deal with customers and the way the whole supply chain works. You do not have to manufacture the product. In many cases, you might not even be the distributor, manufacturer or the person that sells it.”
Lessons from the Outsourcing Primer
- Strategic outsourcing grew out of supply chain relationships created in just-in-time manufacturing.
- Teaming with others effectively can be crucial to success.
- Senior level involvement is required to move a relationship from tactical to strategic.
- Having clear expectations and objectives are essential to a successful relationship.
- Strategic outsourcing has opened the door to the creation of virtual companies.


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More and more Australians today are drinking single-use bottled water. Those who are always on the go appreciate the convenience and accessibility of bottled water. They are spared from having to carry heavy water bottles around and the responsibility of having to refill these with water.
But did you know that the convenience and accessibility of single-use bottled water come at a cost?
Bottled water produces more waste
Single-use water bottles contribute to landfill. In fact, according to a 2010 report by Clean Up Australia, one in ten items found on Clean Up Australia Day were related to plastic bottled water. And these water bottles stay, well, almost forever: because it takes 1,000 years for plastic bottles to break down, they linger on in landfills and in water, oftentimes killing marine life.
It’s not only the usage of bottled water that hurts the environment. Its production, from start to finish, has tremendous impact on the environment. According to nonprofit eco organization Do Something, the process of producing and delivering a litre of bottled water emits a hundred times more greenhouse gases than the production and delivery of tap water.


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Tommy Hilfiger has announced it will be closing the doors on its global flagship store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The 22,000sqft store at 681 Fifth Avenue will be yet another loss to the district, following the likes of Ralph Lauren Polo and GAP.
In 2009, Hilfiger opened the fourth floor to its flagship store following growth, marking the occasion as a “pinnacle moment” for the label. Today, Tommy Hilfiger continues to see growth, with its revenue growing by 11% in 2018 Q3, reaching revenues of $1.1 billion USD. Despite this, the company is facing the increasingly difficult battle of the internet, and aims to tackle it.
Daniel Grieder, chief executive officer of Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe explained the decision to WWD: “in line with our strategic objective to further reach and engage with digitally-savvy North American consumers, we will focus on next-generation retail experiences and partnerships to stay ahead of today’s continuously changing shopping habits and preferences.
“This means we are reshaping our retail landscape in North America, closing the New York City Fifth Avenue Tommy Hilfiger store and the Tommy Hilfiger store on Collins Avenue in Miami, Fla. Leveraging our store-of-the-future concepts rolled out in the global retail landscape, going forward North America will be the lighthouse region to develop and test new modular, digitally-infused retail concepts.”
Rumours suggest that the brand may look to pop-ups in the near future, tapping into its “See Now Buy Now” fashion show concepts and numerous younger-audience focussed collaboration with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Zendaya.
In other news, Nike’s shares fell in Q3 after slowing North American sales.


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Uber, which started with four people around a desk and two cars on the streets of San Francisco, is now a global success, serving 300 cities across six continents and recently reaching the one-millionth-driver mark.
For starters, Uber’s vision is to set up shop in “thousands more cities,” add another million drivers this year, and grow the company’s carpooling service, CEO Travis Kalanick said in an anniversary speech to employees Wednesday.
In his address, Kalanick talked about the state of the nation’s transportation system, and Uber’s role in filling the gaps left by public transit. He urged cities to adopt the innovative service. He said:
Today, the transportation status quo is broken, and it’s getting worse. We can choose to do nothing, and wake up to a future where our cities are clogged with cars, choked by congestion, and still debating whether to build that new railroad or subway stop.
Or we can embrace a future where companies like Uber work with businesses, governments, and citizens to build a transportation system for the 21st century.
The app-based service, he said, complements the available public transit options, making it easier for commuters to get around:
Not everyone can live by a bus stop or a subway station. And today, there are still too many places that mass transit doesn’t serve; places where it’s hard to get a cab – the poorest neighborhoods and suburban communities where millions of people don’t have access to reliable, affordable transportation. It creates an unequal transportation ecosystem that makes people’s lives that much harder and more expensive to live.
Cities across the U.S. and the world are still reacting to the rapidly growing service that has changed the car-for-hire industry, igniting a war with the traditional taxi industry. The company’s success, which so far has come with extraordinary resistance, is at stake and Kalanick on Wednesday more than urging action, appeared to be making a plea for support to cities. He said:
All we ask of these cities is that they allow their citizens to start serving their neighbors. Our belief is that if a driver meets all the criteria for safety, for insurance, and for quality, and she wants to make a living driving people around, why can’t she?
All we ask of local officials is that they say yes to allowing people to serve their cities. All we ask is that they don’t deprive people of this service because of some outdated regulation – regulation that might have originally been designed to protect passengers or drivers, but decades later exists to preserve a century-old monopoly for a connected few.
In the Washington area, it wasn’t long ago that Uber was criticized for setting up shop and operating without regard to existing laws and regulations. Just a year ago, the company received a cease and desist order in Virginia and downtown D.C. traffic was gridlocked as taxi drivers protested the service. Just last month some D.C. taxi drivers filed a lawsuit challenging the District’s law that legalizes Uber and similar services.
But the company’s popularity among consumers has helped it win some major battles. And Uber has continued to grow to have thousands of drivers in the DMV. It’s biggest victory was getting the District, Virginia and Maryland lawmakers to legalize its services. Now, even the region’s airports are considering opening up their ground transportation areas to Uber.
These welcome mats, Kalanick assures, will bring benefits ranging from reducing traffic congestion to reducing carbon pollution and spending less on expensive new public transportation. He added:
And a city with Uber will be a more prosperous city – a city where more people and small businesses have access to more affordable transportation than ever before; a city where there will be tens of thousands of new jobs created in a couple years.
Uber now has its sights set on expanding UberPOOL, which allows two people taking a similar route to take one car instead of two. This service is available only in selected cities, including San Francisco where about half of all rides are now UberPOOL, Kalanick said. (Uber hasn’t set up a launch date in the Washington region).
An UberPOOL ride can be cheaper than taking UberX, the company’s low-cost service. And, Kalanick said, it “has the potential to be as affordable as taking a subway, or a bus, or other means of transportation.”
And that’s what he says is the “real game-changer” and what Uber will be working toward in the future.
See the full speech:


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BattleTech Kickstarter Announced for Fall 2015
Hot off the success of their previous Kickstarter, Shadowrun Hong Kong, Hairbrained Schemes has announced plans to launch a new Kickstarter campaign for BATTLETECH. Jordan Weisman, creator of BattleTech and MechWarrior, is excited to bring this mech franchise back to the turn-based PC genre for the first time in over two decades.
Steeped in the feudal political intrigue of the BattleTech universe, the game will feature an open-ended Mercenaries-style campaign that blends RPG ‘Mech and MechWarrior management with modern turn-based tactics.
Shadowrun Hong Kong is set to launch on August 20, 2015. BattleTech will begin its Kickstarter campaign sometime in the fall.
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WOW! Business is now offering its voice, data and cloud services to businesses in Annapolis and other communities in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Starting this month, WOW! Business said it was serving up its commercial services to thousands of businesses in Annapolis, Pasadena, Millersville and other parts of the county closest to its 200-plus mile coaxial and fiber-optic network.
WOW! has entered the Maryland market through its majority stake in Broadstripe, which is a Millersville-based cable operator that had been serving the local residential market for more than 20 years but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy several years ago. WOW! Business will become the operator of business services in the market while Broadstripe will continue to serve the residential subscribers.
“The ongoing commitment to economic development and businesses in Anne Arundel County is phenomenal, from family-owned small businesses to large corporations, and presents WOW! Business with an ideal market opportunity in a key strategic state for us,” said Brad Cheedle, senior vice president of WOW! Business. “We’re excited about entering the Maryland market and look forward to offering SMB, enterprise, telecommunication carriers, and government customers a variety of communications and cloud services delivered over our local fiber and cable networks, backed by local customer support.”
With the addition of Anne Arundel County, WOW! Business now serves 19 markets in 11 states, including Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Tampa and other major cities.


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Amsterdam-owned start-up Squad Mobility has revealed a new car run by solar energy, which is expected to be launched late next year.
Created by Robert Hoevers and Chris Klok with the aim of making urban mobility safe and hassle-free, the Squad car offers an affordable, convenient and sustainable solution for daily transportation. Despite the apparent police theme to its name, Squad is derived from S(olar)quad(ricycle).
The car is equipped with a solar panel on the top which allows the vehicle to charge its batteries directly from the sun. It also has an alternative battery for use in emergencies. Reaching a maximum speed of 45kph, the vehicle is probably best kept off major arterial routes.
However, it offers a range of 100km thanks to swappable batteries, and automatic solar charging provides up to an extra 20km per day. Squad Mobility says that given the average person in this LEV segment drives just 12 km per day, Squad’s range will be enough on most days. Besides, owning one will save you congestion charges in some European cities – and you can park it like a scooter…
“We saw the potential of solar charging,” said Hoevers, who is also CEO. “But we both agreed that it was a shame that the car was only available for the happy few. We wanted to make a vehicle that’s basically available to everybody.”
Squad car will be unveiled in a commercial version this September at US$6800. It is available for preorder in Europe, with deliveries commencing next year.
It comes in a weatherproof solution with a roof, windshield, floor and optional doors with windows. The company says the doors can be easily removed for warm summer days.
Air-conditioning is offered as an option, but only in combination with full doors, which can be ordered post-purchase for retrofitting if desired.
It comes in two versions – two or four-seater for adults, with the two-seater model including a bench seat for children in the back.
An aluminium tubular roll cage protects the occupants and there is a full crash structure front and rear.
Hoevers believes there is a ready market for the tiny car in Europe.
“Cities love solar charging, as this is a sustainable energy source. It decreases the load on the local charging infrastructure and energy demand. Cities are looking for zero-emission mobility solutions with a small space footprint – and we have achieved both.”
Squad offers owners a per-capita energy consumption lower than public transport and a space footprint comparable to a bicycle.
“And all this, while offering the flexibility of personal transport and the comfort of a car,” said Hoevers.


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Eyewear fashionista Rihanna would approve.
After LeBron James recently led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 7 victory in the NBA Finals that brought the city its first major sports championship in more than 50 years, he was spotted wearing Karen Walker sunglasses, a brand that has gained traction among celebrities, as Stuff writes. The media outlet identifies the model as the brand’s Deep Freeze sunglasses, which retail for $329. Rihanna and Adele are also counted among Karen Walker’s fans, the article adds.Read more at Stuff
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The insurance tech company is working to create a new ecosystem to offer end-to-end medical care and plans to expand its footprint globally in next five years, says Yashish Dahiya
The GST challenges are surely there but the scenario is much better now with rising awareness and government’s readiness to rehash the laws to make the process simpler, says Prashant Ganti of Zoho


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Baltimoreans are used to being underestimated, overlooked or even castigated by the President of the United States on Twitter. You might say that’s contributed to an attitude of knee-jerk defensiveness over the years. Those of us who live and work here have a tendency to express our love for the city with a certain edge, even snarkiness. That often shows up in our merchandise. (What other American city has a trash wheel as its mascot? And rats on bumper stickers?)
Below, your guide to a few gifts that scream “Baltimore Attitude.”
“Not bad for a running back” T-shirts and hoodies
What makes Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson a Baltimore hero isn’t just how he plays the game — though the MVP contender certainly does that well. It’s his attitude. In response to his passing numbers, he retorted that his performance was “Not bad for a running back," a slightly snarky response to the many critics who wrote him off as a poor passer. It’s an ethos that perfectly suits many in a city that’s forever playing the underdog. The slogan is available on a T-shirt ($29.99) and hoodie ($65) Jackson sells through his apparel line.
“Baltimore vs” T-shirts
“Unapologetically Representing Charm City” is the slogan for this line of T-shirts, which say in bold lettering “Baltimore vs y’all whores” and have been seen on the likes of former mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake. In recent months, the brand launched a few new versions, including “Baltimore vs Healthy Holly” and “Baltimore vs Trump.” $20 each.
“Baltimore: Actually, I like it" bumper stickers
At Sideshow, the gift shop of the American Visionary Art Museum on Key Highway, customers can buy Baltimore paraphernalia like a mug that says “There’s more than murder here.” Another item is a bumper sticker that says “Baltimore: Actually, I like it" ($3). The sentiment may resonate with many shoppers, said owner Ted Frankel. “We get mostly visitors [to the city] and I think they’re surprised how much they love Baltimore,” said Frankel.
800 Key Highway, Federal Hill. 443-872-4926. sideshowbaltimore.com
“I love my disgusting rat and rodent infested mess" travel mugs
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s tweets this summer calling Maryland’s seventh congressional district a “rat and rodent infested mess," Chase Street Accessories and Engraving produced a line of travel mugs featuring a map of Maryland and a response to Trump’s comments. Find them for $20 at Zelda Zen in Fells Point.
1634 Thames St., Fells Point. 410-625-2424.
Baltimore rat sticker
Designed by artist Matt Fouse, the $4 decal, which resembles oval, European style-stickers, have become a familiar sight on cars across the city. Fouse copyrighted the design and started an online store: ratczar.com.
After Trump’s tweets this summer, Fouse gave his signature rodent a tuft of Trumpian yellow hair and a new address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Fouse is donating all the proceeds from the rat Trump stickers to a charity that brings showers and laundry facilities to homeless people.
“Stay Trashy, Baltimore” Mr. Trash Wheel Shirt
Part of the Healthy Harbor Initiative, the water wheel that cleans Baltimore has attracted its own cult following over the years. At Baltimore in a Box and Route One Apparel, you can buy $30 t-shirts with Mr. Trash Wheel wearing a Ron Burgundy style 'stache, urging Baltimore to “stay trashy.” Concerned that the message might inadvertently endorse littering? Opt instead for the “Please Don’t Feed the Trash Wheels” tees sold online. All funds raised for the latter will go directly to Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore.
Baltimore in a Box, 857 W. 36th St., Hampden. 410-910-9666. baltimoreinabox.com
“Healthy Holly goes to prison” T-shirt
A bitingly satirical take on the Healthy Holly scandal is available in T-shirt form from online retailer Wear Maryland. In a nod to the misspellings and typos rampant in the books authored by former Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh, who pleaded guilty to four federal counts of conspiracy and tax evasion, the fictional book here has even misspelled the word “autobiography.” Shirts are $14.99 and buy one, get one free.
“Don’t mess with Baltimore” T-shirt
Within days of Trump’s tweets this summer, local clothier Brightside Boutique began carrying T-shirts that say “Don’t mess with Baltimore," a riff on the more classic “Don’t mess with Texas" slogan. Get it for $30 at their branch in Federal Hill, Hampden or Fells Point.
1133 S. Charles St., Federal Hill and two other Baltimore locations. shopbrightside.com


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A performance test of the “Motorola G100” was recently revealed by Geekbench. As a result, rumors are mounting that the device is expected to hit the international market soon.
The global version of Motorola Edge S used in the evaluation has 8 GB of RAM and uses Android 11. In addition, the data accompanying the benchmark test confirms the presence of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 processor.
Details on the performance test were released by leaker Abhishek Yadav. In evaluations with a single-core and more than one (multi-core), the Moto G100 obtained 957 points and 2,815 points, respectively.
Apparently, the device will be the main model of the recently renamed Moto G line. Thus, the Moto G10 and Moto G30 will be the most basic devices in the series. Then the Moto G50 and Moto G70 will take the place of intermediate phones.
Launched in January in China, the Moto Edge S was a huge success in the country for presenting a great cost-benefit ratio. For example, the model sold more than 10,000 units in just two minutes.
International indefinite release
The Moto G100 was approved by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) earlier this month. However, Motorola has not yet revealed information about the launch of the device in Brazil and other parts of the world.
The new phone promises to offer high performance to users. Following the Moto Edge S “formula”, the model features a 6.7 ”full HD + screen with dual camera for selfies. At the rear, it has four cameras with the main sensor of 64 MP.
In addition to the Snapdragon 870 chip, the device will have a 5,000 mAh battery. In China, the device has variants with 6 and 8 GB of RAM and 128 and 256 GB of storage. For now, it has not been revealed whether the international version will have the same options.


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MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Hold on to our tip Boku that tripled in a year
MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Stick to our tip Boku which tripled in one year
Midas gave Boku a 59 cent tip at the start of the first lockdown, when stay-at-home consumers around the world watched, played and paid for everything on mobile phones.
The online payments business had risen to £1.74 per share a year later in March 2021, when readers were advised to make some profits.
Last week, Boku showed that it still has a winning formula when it comes to payment technology. It announced first-half results showing that local payment methods now account for a fifth of sales.
Local payment methods are – as the name suggests – transactions that are only used in certain parts of the world. They are becoming increasingly popular with an emerging global middle class that is bypassing traditional credit card brands and moving straight to country-specific e-wallet payments, whether buy now, pay later, or pay via SMS.
Thanks to Boku, customers using these methods can pay for subscriptions using Spotify, PlayStation and Netflix on their phone.
Convenience: Boku allows telephone payments and the company’s debt-free status gives room for investment
By doing more business with these ‘mega traders’, Boku can continue to increase sales without having to attract new customers, according to stockbroker Peel Hunt. So as long as payment methods remain fragmented around the world, Boku will thrive.
Profit after tax fell due to the company’s sale of a division, which left it with a one-off profit last year. But adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (a key measure of core profitability) rose 28 percent. Based on this metric and the company’s enterprise value, Peel Hunt estimates that Boku is trading at a 25 percent discount to its peers. The company has no debt.
Change is on the horizon for Boku, with respected chief executive Jon Prideaux moving to a non-executive position. The new boss, Stuart Neal, is Boku’s former Chief Commercial Officer and former commercial director of Barclaycard. He has a lot of knowledge of the company and the sector.
Boku’s share price performance over the last twelve months has been impressive, up 41 percent since September 2022, even if they are still below the highs they reached in March 2021, when we advised some profit taking.
Midas judgment: The rapid rise of local payment methods as a revenue driver for Boku shows that this company is nimble and able to capitalize on trends. The decline in cash isn’t going to slow down anytime soon, and Boku’s work with major companies from Netflix to Amazon gives it plenty of room to grow.
Analysts have upgraded their forecasts following Boku’s results, and the company’s debt-free status gives it room to invest. By most measures, the shares look like a good bet.
There’s no denying that, having had a very good run after Midas first tipped them in 2020, they’ve fallen back from their heights in 2021. However, at £1.46 they’re worth snagging for the next chapter of the Boku story.
Traded on: GOAL ticker: BOKU Contact: boku.com or via IFC advice on 020 3934 6630


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This car was sold for 4 million 620 thousand dollars at auction, according to Bloomberg. The car, named La Marquise, achieved a record price for rare vehicles. The rare car was put up for auction by the American RM Auctions auction house. Auction organizers expected somewhere for US $ 2-2.5 million. The auction house didn't reveal the name of La Marquise buyer, who became the fifth owner of this car throughout its history.The first owner of La Marquise was a French aristocrat, Count de Dion, who took part in its creation.In 1906 year de Dion sold the car to the French officer - Henri Doriolyu (Henri Doriol), whose family has owned La Marquise until 1987 year. The next owner was the British club of classic cars member, Tim Moore (Tim Moore), who reconstructed the car and got it into working trim. In 2007, La Marquise was sold to a John O'Quinn (John O'Quinn), collector from Texas, who payed 3.63 million dollars for it, as it was reported. La Marquise was put up to auction by the O'Quinn inheritors, who died in 2009 year.
The oldest car in the world
01 / 29 / 2016