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At the tender ages of 12 and 14, Sam and Johnny Rosenblad are already seasoned entrepreneurs, taught well by their dad, farmer Jeff Rosenblad. They sell cucumbers from Happy Harvest Farms in Mount Angel, OR, at the local farmers’ market and to Bon Appétit at both University of Portland and Willamette University through the Farm to Fork program.
People who say that the details of sausage making are best left to the imagination have never visited an artisanal sausage factory. A few lucky Bon Appétiters got to tour Continental Sausage Company – which has been in business in Denver for 30 years producing authentic Swiss-German style sausages from the best ingredients—and they have nothing to hide.
Diners at the Indian Station in the Bear’s Den at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, often marvel at the quality, variety, and authenticity of the meals served there. While those qualities may be standard at Bon Appétit, Wash U does have two secret ingredients: two special cooks who work there: Sona Kukal, born in Kolkata in east India, and Zach Khan, born in Karachi, Pakistan.
Students here sometimes complain that “there’s nothing to eat,” but that’s a result of their lack of creativity, not Bon Appétit’s. If you eat pasta Alfredo every meal, no matter how flavorful, it can get boring in the long run. Top Chef Dining Hall is designed to get people thinking outside their usual plates: in 30 minutes, five teams compete in making a three-course dinner (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) with only the ingredient and equipment available in the dining hall.
Coffee is a morning necessity for some people. But for the busy student, waiting in line to get can throw off a packed schedule.To solve that problem, students at University of Redlands in Redlands, CA, can now order their favorite coffee drinks via text. Through a new easy-to-use program called Zingle, customers of the Bulldog Café are ordering their iced coffees, half-caf cappuccinos, and double mochas straight from their phones.
More and more people are learning about the environmental and health benefits of grass-finished beef and asking for it in stores and restaurants. Fifteen Macalester students from St. Paul, MN, got a chance to learn about this kind of ranching firsthand by visiting Thousand Hills Cattle Company in Cannon Falls, MN, a Bon Appétit Farm to Fork supplier.
The student-run campus farm at Duke University in Durham, NC, had a successful first year. Students got involved to plant and harvest and the at Bon Appétit has enjoyed watching and cheering the progress of the farm — and of course, loved cooking with the beautiful produce — but one thing was clear to everyone at the end of the first year: a longer growing season would be wonderful.
Smart phones just keep getting smarter, and students in particular depend on them more and more to access information on the fly. Recently, Bon Appetit at Washington University in St. Louis collaborated with two students to create the new “WUSTL Dining” iPhone app to provide access to menus and nutrition information from anywhere.
A few decades ago, when the majority of hogs lived outdoors and were able to eat whatever they wanted, pork was deliciously fatty and juicy. As industrial agriculture grew, pork became known as “the other white meat.”Director of Culinary Operations Bernie Laskowski from the Art Institute of Chicago would like to do something about this state of porky affairs.
Every February for the past 31 years, thousands of fans flock to Santa Cruz’s Beach Boardwalk to sample clam chowder for a good cause. This year, colleagues from Bon Appetit joined forces to support one of their own, Chef de Cuisine Kevin Means, as he presented his award-winning Boston recipe.


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FedEx officials said they are talking with retailers about other steps to avoid a repeat of last year's delivery problems.
The latest indictment said FedEx accepted payment from several pharmacies when it knew the revenue was the product of invalid prescriptions.
FedEx reported a better-than-expected 24 per cent jump in quarterly profit Wednesday as it benefited from higher shipment volumes.
FedEx Express was ranked 19th among more than 500 companies that participated in the survey by the Great Place to Work Institute in India.
How do you get extraordinary results from ordinary people? Mumbai's dabbawalas provide the answers, says Harvard's Stefan Thomke.
US stocks fell on Tuesday, dropping in a broad selloff as a weak outlook from courier company UPS weighed on sentiment.
We are the largest marketplace (by number of sellers), but we are not in valuations game. Hence, we don’t get talked about that much, says eBay India's MD.
'India's Best Companies to Work For' is a study conducted by The Economic Times and Great Place to Work Institute, based on a methodology that has been validated the world over.

domain: news


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Yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped from Tuesday's record high, finishing Wednesday down 0.16% to 15,542. The S&P 500 took an even bigger dip, losing 0.38% of its value as utilities took some major hits.
Apple's earnings report proved to be a major positive force in yesterday's market movements. After jumping 3.9% in after-hours trading Tuesday evening, shares of the tech giant jumped an additional 5.1% throughout Wednesday. As analysts and investors continue to pick apart the long-term implications of Apple's beats on revenue and profit, as well as its 20% year-over-year iPhone sales growth, this stock could continue to make major moves over the next few months.
Yesterday's after-hours movers
Biotech company Sequenom reported earnings after the closing bell yesterday, missing on both sales and profit. Analysts had expected $46.25 million in revenue, but Sequenom's $34.85 million proved far off the mark. On earnings, Mr. Market was willing to accept a loss of $0.21 per share, but the company's earnings clocked in at -$0.27. Investors seem to have had enough of the biotech: Shares are plummeting around 32% in premarket trading. Long-term investors may have seen Sequenom's downfall coming, as the company has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations. From failed takeover attempts to mishandled test data, there are plenty of reasons why shares have continually headed down.
Unlike Sequenom, telecommunications company 8x8 hit the mark in its afternoon earnings report. Sales of $30 million exceeded analyst expectations by $400,000, while EPS matched predictions exactly at $0.06. The company has managed to grow revenue at an annual rate of 32% since 2007, and it has moved from 19,400 subscribers in 2009 to 33,660 in June. Shares of 8x8 are up 16% in the last three months, and they gained 1.4% in after-hours trading.
Can Sirius keep on playing?
Sirius XM Radio topped analyst estimates in this morning's earnings release, matching second-quarter earnings estimates of $0.02 per share and handily beating top-line estimates with sales up 12% to $940.1 million. Even more encouraging, the company raised its full-year EBITDA estimate to $1.14 billion.
Shares of Sirius are up 19.6% in the last three months, and they're up 2.2% in premarket trading today. Investors will need to keep a close eye on subscriber base numbers, as well as revenue per subscriber as the company looks to pull profits. The radio world is increasingly competitive, and shareholders should keep their ears open for any sign of falling market share.
This quarter's earnings have thrown the stock market up and down, creating havoc for short-term investors' plans for fast fortunes. If you're looking for some long-term investing ideas, you're invited to check out The Motley Fool's brand-new special report, "The 3 Dow Stocks Dividend Investors Need." It's absolutely free, so simply click here now and get your copy today.
The article What to Expect From the Dow Today originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Justin Loiseau owns shares of Apple. You can follow him on Twitter, @TMFJLo, and on Motley Fool CAPS, @TMFJLo.The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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- What's the difference between a B Corp and a B Lab Certified company? Ryan Honeyman literally wrote the book on this and other B Corp questions.
In response to cries of animal mistreatment, some winter-wear companies have sworn off live-plucked, force-fed down, while others have dropped it completely.
Fairtrade, FSC and other labeling programs outperform commodities markets and are breaking into the mainstream, report finds.
The emissions-accounting gold standard is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Here are some key victories over the years.
The new Center for Sustainable Shale Development recognizes companies that go beyond regulatory minimums to protect communities and the environment.
By 2019, Sonoma County Winegrowers aims to achieve this ambitious goal by addressing water quality, land use, carbon emissions and more.
Forget the empty rhetoric. The new year should be about demonstrable, measurable action.
The ASTM Green Meeting Standards provide detailed guidelines for sustainable business events.
These tips will help you devise green claims that hold up to scrutiny — and reap rich rewards.
What does "landfill-free" really mean? A rigorous certification program will define the answer.
The Energy Performance Protocol for Targeted Commercial Projects targets small-scale energy efficiency projects.
At SustainAbility’s annual Engaging Stakeholders workshop, companies delved into the critical issues of transparency and trust.
The sector is demonstrating innovation amid a backdrop of increased scrutiny and transparency.
The new ice cream factory may be the first facility of its kind to be LEED-certified. Here's why.
Dramatic changes to the way products are assessed in LEED v4 will reverberate beyond the building products industry.
The company's goal involves creating a best practices model that others can emulate.
Can a small group of professionals embed sustainability into mainstream accounting systems? Here's a progress report.
Understanding the differences among a range of product disclosure types will help building teams avoid confusion.
These two changes should help companies focus on strategy. Here's how to stay ahead of the curve.
Most do not report carbon emissions, water use or conditions for animals. Yet some are taking the lead using new tools...
The new Carbon Trust standard will showcase businesses that follow best practices reducing and managing waste.


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SUPERMARKET customers are being encouraged to help tackle food poverty this month by taking part in a food drive.
The project, run by Sainsbury’s and FareShare, a national charity tackling hunger across the UK, will be holding its second annual Million Meal Appeal this Saturday and Sunday which will benefit more than 700 charities and projects across the UK.
Last year’s appeal was a huge success and involved over 600 Sainsbury’s stores, including the one in the White Rose Shopping Centre.
Thanks to customers’ generosity, together with Sainsbury’s pledge to match items donated, FareShare could deliver food for over 1.2 million meals to 700 charities and community projects it supports.
Morley’s contribution was significant, with enough food collected at the White Rose Centre to provide 2,000 meals to charities across the UK.
Customers will again be able to choose to donate an item from the appeal shopping list which consists of long-life products including tinned goods, dried pasta, pasta sauce, rice, tea and instant coffee.
The items are purchased as normal and then placed in the collection box after the checkouts. Customers shopping at Sainsbury’s Online can also choose to make a £1 donation between October 3 and October 9.
Anyone wanting to volunteer to help the scheme run smoothly at the White Rose store can go to www.fareshare.org.uk to register.


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Rubina Dilaik has been serving some major glam looks on her Instagram account lately . From elegant sarees, stunning dresses to even basic workout clothes, the actress can pull off any outfit with ease and style.
Known for her brilliant fashion sense, Rubina Dilaik has us swooning over her latest photoshoot. Rubina Dilaik recently took to Instagram and dropped a series of sizzling hot photos of herself, dressed in a sparkly gown featuring a plunging neckline.
Rubina took the oomph factor to a whole new level with a red and black-coloured sheer, sparkling gown with a very deep plunging neckline and sexy thigh-high slit.
Rubina Dilaik’s red and black sheer gown was adorned with sequins and looked absolutely breathtaking! The stunning outfit is from the shelves of the fashion label Eli Botton.
Letting her glittering gown do all the talking, Rubina Dilaik just accessorized her look with a pair of statement earrings.
Rubina opted for a glam makeup look and a bold red lipstick. She tied her long, shiny tresses in a messy updo.
As soon as the actress dropped the sizzling hot pictures, her fans flocked to the comments section of the post and praised her look.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Rubina Dilaik started her career with the show ‘Chhoti Bahu’ and was last seen as a contestant on ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10’.
Rubina also participated in ‘Bigg Boss 14’ and emerged as the winner. She was a part of Rohit Shetty’s stunt reality show ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 12’ as well.
The actress also appeared in the 2022 short film ‘Ardh’, which was released on Zee5.


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SCHENECTADY — Fandom Fest, the two-day festival celebrating all things pop culture, will be returning to Proctors Theatre for its second installment in August.
Tickets are currently on sale for the festival, which will include cosplay, vendors and celebrity panels, and is set to run from Aug. 26–27, according to a news release.
“Fandom Fest NY will transform Proctors into a space where geeks, bookworms, nerds, gamers and everyone in between can share their love for their fandom,” the release reads.
This year’s installment will include a number of returning features, including the Arcade Arcade that will include a number of arcade machines; the Geek Garage, which will feature vehicles from various fandoms; and the Dragon Dungeon, highlighting an assortment of new tabletop games.
There will also be a vendor hall and a cosplay contest that will take place on the MainStage at Proctors, as well as a video gaming tournament, according to the release.
No celebrity guests or panels have been announced at this time, but additional details are expected to be made available in the coming months. Last year’s Fandom Fest brought Rodger Bumpass, the voice of the “SpongeBob SquarePants” character Squidward Tentacles.
Advance tickets start at $35 and $45 at the door. Two-day passes can be purchased online for $60. Discounted rates are available for students and children under 4 can enter for free.
Tickets are on sale at the Proctors Box Office at 432 State St. or online by visiting fandomfest.org.
Contact reporter Chad Arnold at: [email protected] or by calling 518-395-3120.
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At Verizon Ventures, we have been keeping a close eye on the mobile payment space, which has been rapidly evolving over the past year. One of the developments we’re watching is Host Card Emulation (HCE). If you’re not familiar, HCE can play a significant role in credential management with payments, offering the ability to create exact virtual representations of various electronic identity cards using only software. HCE may set the stage for a cloud-based credential management platform that could serve a host of diverse applications such as mobile payments, ticketing, and hospitality among others where any party can create a Near Field Communication (NFC) credential for the mobile device.
Today, we’re proud to announce our latest investment in SimplyTapp, an Austin-based provider of HCE technology for Android developers. SimplyTapp has been pioneering the use of HCE technologies by allowing developers to leverage mobile devices for proximity payments using software integration and with no dependencies on hardware. According to SimplyTapp co-founder Ted Fifelski, “Through HCE, we were able to give developers access to the tools needed to create a secure, scalable mobile transaction platform that enables a truly outstanding user experience.”
Since 2011, Fifelski and his team have been fostering a more open and consumer-friendly payment environment with their HCE and NFC payment platform, and their technology has implications for several industry segments, including:
- Banking: Card-issuing institutions use SimplyTapp to equip their mobile apps with NFC HCE capabilities, delivering an integrated, customized payment experience for their customers without relying on the non-issuer-controlled secure element.
- Retail: The SimplyTapp platform supports gift cards and private-label cards for retailers, providing them with a secure environment to accept payment at the point-of-sale while integrating with any existing loyalty programs.
- Transit: With SimplyTapp’scard virtualization, transportation organizations can enable easy one-to-one access for passengers.
- Ticketing: From airline ticketing to concerts and sporting events, SimplyTapp’s technology can distribute tickets instantly and securely to end users’ mobile devices.
- Hospitality: Hotel guests can enjoy faster check-in at contactless readers in the lobby and proceed straight to their rooms with keyless door access.
As we look towards the future of a connected society, we’re excited to support SimplyTapp as it expands its capabilities in allowing mobile devices to exchange sensitive data securely across both physical and virtual environments.


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European shares ended higher yesterday as short covering kicked in ahead of a long Easter weekend and strong quarterly results including those from Unilever and Nestle tempered data showing eurozone businesses unexpectedly slowed this month.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose for a seventh straight session, its best winning streak since early February with Germany’s DAX closing at six-month highs, while London’s FTSE 100 fell, dragged by healthcare stocks.
Growth worries gripped equity markets in the early hours after surveys showed businesses across the eurozone stumbled into the second quarter as demand remained weak despite more modest price rises.
The data came on the heels of the German government lowering its forecast for 2019 economic growth on Wednesday, which was overshadowed by better-than-expected economic data out of China.
Markets however turned to end higher as a weaker euro and short covering ahead of Easter holidays benefited stocks.
“There is so much pessimism around Europe that the negative PMI data failed to find fresh sellers, triggering short-covering,” said Giuseppe Sersale, fund manager at Anthilia Capital in Milan.
A survey of fund managers by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) found earlier this week that short positioning on European equities was the “most crowded trade” for the second straight month in April.
Earnings boosts from key industrial and consumer companies in the region also helped lifted STOXX with Schneider Electric providing the biggest impetus after the French company beat first-quarter sales forecasts.
Amsterdam-listed shares of Unilever hit a life-high after the consumer goods group reported stronger than expected quarterly underlying sales growth, helped by increased prices and volume.
Also boosting consumer stocks was Nestle on higher-than-expected sales growth in Q1.
But Kering dropped 3.6% on signs of a slowdown at the French fashion company’s Gucci brand.
Sandvik led gains on the STOXX after reporting a better than forecast quarterly order intake and said demand remained strong across all its business areas, sending an upbeat signal for the Nordic industrial sector.
The grim PMI data had a negative impact on the euro and the German 10-year bund yields, which fell further.
The banking index barely moved after five strong sessions.
Healthcare stocks were the biggest drag with Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline all sliding following a sell-off in US healthcare stocks over regulatory worries on Wednesday.
The US is among the biggest markets for European drugmakers.
Osram was the biggest percentage loser on the STOXX 600 after a German magazine reported that private equity groups Bain and Carlyle were losing confidence in their bid for the lighting group.
British American Tobacco shed 1.4% and Imperial Brands gave up 0.8% after US
Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell said he planned to introduce legislation to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco products.
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PMI shows growth outlook for business activity strengthens
Doha set to host ‘IBD Summit 2020’
GWC records 10% net profit growth in first half of 2019
Mnuchin and Kudlow invite US tech giants to discuss Huawei ban
India seeks to tap foreign lenders for loans to small firms
China opens up financial sector to more foreign investment
Pound jolted out of slumber as no-deal Brexit din grows
Prospect of Fed rate cut pushing US investors into tech and energy
New senior-level appointments continue to bolster Doha Bank’s executive management strength


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Fujitsu cedes 'iPad' trademark to Apple
Japan's Fujitsu has ceded rights to the "iPad" name to Apple, just in time for the tablet computer from the California company to hit US stores next month.
Fujitsu agreed last week to assign over all rights to the iPad name to Apple, according to US Patent and Trademark Office records.
Fujitsu originally registered the iPad name with the Patent and Trademark Office in March 2003 in connection with a handheld scanner for retailers made by the Japanese company.
The Patent and Trademark Office records, obtained on Friday by technology blogs and PatentAuthority.com, show that the iPad trademark was assigned to Apple on March 17.
The details of the transaction between Fujitsu and Apple were not available.
The iPad is to go on sale in the United States on April 3.
Fujitsu's "iPad" was launched by its US subsidiary in 2002 and was used by retail store clerks to keep inventory data, scan barcodes and manage business operations.
Apple has been embroiled in trademark disputes with other companies before, including Cisco Systems, which launched its "iPhone" before Apple. The two companies settled the dispute in 2007, agreeing to share the name.
Germany's Siemens also uses the trademark "iPad" for small engines and motors and the Swiss-based microchip maker STMicroelectronics has reportedly registered "IPAD," short for "Integrated Passive and Active Devices."
In Canada, the Ontario-based company Coconut Grove Pads Inc. has since 2007 made a line of bra inserts and shoulder pads called the "iPad", according to the Globe and Mail daily.
(c) 2010 AFP


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BOSTON (CBS.MW) -- Final arguments were heard in a patent-infringement trial between Amgen and Transkaryotic Therapies on Friday.
A ruling in the case is expected within several weeks, said Elise Wang, an analyst at PaineWebber.
The companies have been battling each other over patents covering erythropoietin, or EPO. Amgen (AMGN) markets erythropoetin as Epogen, a red-blood cell stimulator.
A protein hormone produced by specialized cells in the kidneys, erythropoietin is used to treat anemia in patients with kidney failure. It is Amgen's biggest product, generating sales of close to $2 billion in 1999.
Transkaryotic Therapies (TKTX) is arguing that its method of making a gene-activated version of erythropoietin is different and novel and doesn’t infringe Amgen’s patents, Wang said. Amgen, by bringing suit, claims the method does infringe its patents.
Upper hand for Amgen?
Wang said right now, she believes the “situation favors Amgen” as the winner of the trial, since the company has already established infringement of one patent. If that patent’s validity holds up, Wang said, Amgen will be victorious.
If that’s the outcome, Transkaryotic will not be able to sell its version of erythropoietin, which is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
However, Wang said, the case won’t likely end there. “Certainly, the loser will appeal,” she said.
Amgen brought the suit against Transkaryotic in federal court in April 1997, then broadened the scope of the patents it alleges were infringed a year ago.
Shares of Transkaryotic slipped $3.50 to $38, while Amgen rose $2.94 to $74.94.


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In the last financial year, Capacitybuilders allocated over £24 million to charities and voluntary sector organisations. Communitybuilders was announced in the Department for Communities and Local Government White Paper “Communities in Control” in July 2008. As planned, the programme will be open for applications this summer, and its national partner will be the Adventure Capital Fund.
The gift aid programme is making good progress, and it gives charities a significant amount of additional money. A recent specific reform is that the profits generated when goods given to charity shops are sold can be donated as gift aid to the organisations involved. There is further work to be done with gift aid, and I understand that the Treasury is looking at it at the moment, in consultation with Ministers.


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myTukar Sdn Bhd has expanded its network to cover East Malaysia with the opening of an inspection hub each in Sabah and Sarawak. Touted as Malaysia’s fastest-growing online used car trading platform, the first two myTukar inspection hubs in East Malaysia are located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Kuching, Sarawak. This expansion of its network is part of its objective to digitalise the used car industry.
Sales of used cars have been on a positive growth especially in the third quarter of 2020, likely as more consumers seek budget-friendly options. According to MAA (Malaysian Automotive Association), used car sales grew by 100% in the first six months of 2020. The blanket loan moratorium and other government financial incentives, as well as consumers turning to private car ownership to decrease time spent in public transport have also helped spur sales throughout 2020.
“With the increased demand for used cars nationwide, we have also observed an increase in online trading among East Malaysians. Currently, only an estimated 26% of used car dealers in East Malaysia are conducting their transactions online. As myTukar’s mission is to simplify the process of selling used cars through digitalisation within our online platform, we believe that it is the right time to enter the currently untapped East Malaysian market. The innovative myTukar platform is able to provide the needful support to used car dealers in East Malaysia, ultimately helping to increase sales for the dealers through a speedy, efficient and cost-effective ecosystem,” Fong Hon Sum, CEO of myTukar.
Fong added that the ongoing 2,325km Pan Borneo Highway, expected to be completed in 2023, will make road travel safer and more comfortable for the 3.74 million people. This project is expected to have a multiplier effect on the states’ economies, including the automotive market which will be positive for the estimated 369 used car dealers in both states.
myTukar’s expansion into Sabah and Sarawak is aligned to the company’s growth plans for 2021, and will greatly support the growing used car market there. In October 2020, myTukar announced a hyper-growth expansion plan with the opening of seven new branches in 2020, bringing the total branches nationwide to 15. The innovative technology-enabled platform which began operations in 2018 has been on an aggressive business growth strategy to serve the used car industry through digitalisation of the purchasing process.
To-date, myTukar’s 2,000-strong dealerships have transacted over 27,000 vehicles with an estimated value of RM805 million. In early December 2020, myTukar became the first within the used car market in Malaysia to be awarded the ISO 9001:2015 Certification for Quality Management Systems.


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ASOS Black November 2023: A Month-long Extravaganza
As tradition holds, ASOS’s Black Friday sales are a grand affair. Yet, what sets ASOS apart is its initiation of the sales season at the brink of November, unlike the majority of retailers who start towards the end of the month. Christened as ‘ASOS Black November’, this month-long shopping fest is characterised by striking deals and staggering discounts, creating a shopping euphoria well before Black Friday itself.
Best ASOS Black Friday Deals 2023: Grab them while they’re Hot!
Each year, ASOS surpasses its previous sales records, offering better discounts and more compelling deals. This year, ASOS Black Friday Deals for 2023, are no exception. To keep the suspense alive, the specifics are typically unveiled closer to the event. However, one can anticipate lucrative price drops across all product categories, including clothing, accessories, beauty products, and footwear.
Save the Date: ASOS Black Friday 2023
So, when exactly is ASOS Black Friday 2023? Mark your calendars for November 24th, when ASOS officially celebrates Black Friday. Yet, remember, the ASOS Black November deals will be well underway by then, so ensure you’re on top of the sales from the start of the month.
ASOS Top Deals: Where Quality Meets Affordability
Every year, ASOS’s top deals form the cornerstone of the shopping spree. While specifics are subject to change, previous years’ top deals have consistently revolved around high-demand categories like premium clothing, designer accessories, and leading beauty brands. Expect the trend to persist in 2023, with lucrative discounts on popular and high-end labels.
Reflecting on the Past: Previous ASOS Black Friday Deals
A look back at the previous years’ Black Friday deals is insightful for gauging what’s in store for this year. ASOS has been known for offering discounts as high as 70% across various categories, with particularly appealing deals on fashion-forward clothing and luxury beauty products. Given ASOS’s reputation for exceeding expectations, similar or better deals are likely on the horizon for 2023.
ASOS Cyber Monday Deals: The Sale Continues
ASOS doesn’t stop at Black Friday. The online retailer carries the momentum forward with impressive deals on Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately following Black Friday. This day, filled with digital bargains, often features an extension of some of the most popular Black Friday deals, alongside fresh offers of its own.
Current Deals and Promotions at ASOS
Even outside the Black November and Black Friday window, ASOS regularly offers an array of deals and promotions. From seasonal sales to special discounts for students and first-time shoppers, there’s always an opportunity to snag a bargain on ASOS.
Conclusion: To Wait or Not to Wait for ASOS Black Friday
Considering the significant discounts offered during ASOS Black November and Black Friday, it’s safe to recommend that it’s well worth the wait. These sales events present the perfect opportunity to buy gifts for the upcoming Christmas season, not to mention treating oneself to high-quality, fashionable items at reduced prices. So brace yourselves, shoppers, for a shopping experience that promises quality, affordability, and variety all in one place.


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Province Brands of Canada and Murphy Hospitality Group announce a co-packing agreement.
Cannabis firm and soft drink giant reportedly in talks for non-psychoactive CBD infused drinks.
Nine global distilled spirits organizations issue a resolution urging the “prompt removal” of recent tariffs.
They fear the tariffs could spark reciprocal levies just as Americans embrace the lighter-tasting Canadian spirit.
Allows extraction only when water is available, to protect natural resources in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Small and mid-sized companies are especially vulnerable; they lack the ability to stockpile reserves and take other protective steps.
Dairy Farmers of Canada president fired back blasting Trump’s personal attacks on Trudeau and defended its supply-managed system.
Supply management 2.0 is finally here: farmers will need to develop new skill sets.
IPM emphasizes biological, mechanical and cultural controls.
A Supreme Court ruling that there’s no ‘constitutional guarantee of free trade’ will stifle both competition and lower prices for consumers.
Watch for a Supreme Court of Canada’s key ruling on buying booze and interprovincial trade.
Will focus on eliminating non-recyclable plastics and use of plastics with better recycling rates.
No longer any medium-sized breweries that produce between 50,000 and 75,000 hectolitres of beer.
Flaw that may cause a small piece of glass to break off and possibly fall into the beer.
Beverage maker said it was mistake to sell the product, designed to counter Four Loko made by a US competitor.


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February 8, 2013
This past Wednesday, Kelli Workman of Pompano Beach, opened up a copywriting business, A Freelancer For Hire, focusing on helping small to mid-size businesses connect with their customers to build long term relationships.
Ms. Workman stated, “It is not enough for businesses to present their advertising message to potential customers once or twice. To stand out in this extremely competitive marketplace, companies need to reach out to their customers repeatedly and to establish themselves as experts in their fields.
Ms. Workman, who specializes in writing for the educational and the health, nutritional, and fitness markets, recommends that businesses position themselves as experts and communicate with their customers through a company blog, a series of email messages, or a monthly newsletter to share valuable tips and information, as well as their marketing message. As a freelance copywriter, Kelli Workman can provide these writing services to businesses without companies having to take on the expense of hiring a full-time copywriter. Her writing portfolio can be viewed at http://kelliworkman.info. She also hosts a freelance writing blog at http://afreelancerforhire.com.
For additional information, please contact: Kelli Workman, (954) 290-6792, email@example.com


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oDesk and Elance Merge to Create One Big Freelancer Company (But Still With Two Brands)
Elance and oDesk said today that they would merge. The companies have a lot in common — they both connect freelancers and gigs online — and they say they have a combined 10 million workers in 180 countries, with $750 million in 2013 billings.
That said, the new merged entity won’t be all that different from the two old ones. Terms of the agreement say both sites will continue to operate under their own independent brands. Pending regulatory approval, the deal is planned to close within four months.
“Our two communities have preferences and unique differences,” said Elance CEO Fabio Rosati. “We will honor the communities and support the two brands. But underneath there are synergies in investments in data science, trust and safety, mobile technology, education and many other things.”
Elance, which is six years older than oDesk, is taking the upper hand of sorts in the deal, with Rosati staying on as CEO of the yet-to-be-named combined company and oDesk CEO Gary Swart becoming a “strategic advisor.” However, by some measures, oDesk is larger; it has a million businesses and 5 million freelancers, compared to 800,000 businesses and 3 million freelancers on Elance.
So why merge? Swart noted today that the two competitors have been on panels and met at industry events for years. They are just a few exits off Highway 101 from each other, in Mountain View (Elance) and Redwood City (oDesk). “The more we got together over the past couple years the more we realized that, though competitors, these are decent people,” Swart said. “We’re on the same mission. We’ve made $2 billion combined to date of a $422 billion global staffing opportunity.”
Rosati added, “If we are to become the workplace for the world, we need to make massive investments in technology, massive investments in data science, massive investments in predictable business outcomes. Fundamentally, we have a shot at building a business on the scale of Amazon or LinkedIn or iTunes.”


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Apple begins shipping Verizon iPhone 4 web orders one week earlyApple has started shipping the first online orders for the new Verizon Wireless iPhone 4, a week earlier than it initially estimated.
Initial orders placed on February 9 were slated for delivery "on or before February 18," but shipping notices are now being sent out, specifying a "delivers by" date of February 16th.
Apple reportedly stockpiled an initial production of 2 million CDMA iPhone 4 units in December and January, reserving an unknown proportion of the initial batch for Verizon to offer to its existing customers as pre-orders February 3. That initial batch was sold out on the first day.
Apple began taking web orders on the 9th, offering either reserved in-store pickup or free delivery for those willing to wait a week or two for the new model to ship and arrive. Initial orders estimated a five day shipping delay after the ship date.
A more efficient ordering process that appeared to capably handle the demand for the new carrier prevented the long lines that dogged the initial release of iPhone 4 last summer on AT&T.
On Topic: iPhone
- Apple touts iOS 8 voice messaging in new iPhone 6 ad
- Apple, Inc. Beats promotes Solo2 headphones with new celebrity-packed #SoloSelfie campaign
- Speculators drive up Asian sapphire stocks amid questionable rumors about Apple's 2015 iPhone
- T-Mobile pledges to FCC it will be more transparent about data speed caps
- Apple's latest iPhone 6 ads focus on Continuity, gaming prowess


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Advanced Micro Devices appears to be succeeding at its strategy of winning microprocessor market share by lowering prices, according to final second-quarter figures released by iSuppli.
AMD’s microprocessor market share, measured in dollars, increased 2.5 percentage points to 13.4 percent, about midway between the company’s recent low of 10.5 percent in the first quarter of 2007, and its most recent high — 16.8 percent — in the third quarter of 2006.
According to iSuppli, the pressure on AMD became strongest as Intel launched its Core2 Duo and Core2 Quad chips within the last year. Since then, however, AMD has launched new chips at aggressive price points, forcing average selling prices down. However, as the iSuppli figures are measured in dollars, this has actually hurt players like Via, whose market share has been absorbed by AMD and Intel.
Intel’s second-quarter market share decreased slightly, down two percentage points to a commanding 78.8 percent of the market.


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In an interview with Automotive News, Jaguar’s global brand director, Adrian Hallmark, lets known that the UK automotive company is currently considering bringing a small sedan to market. This new sedan would slot in under the Jaguar XF and compete directly against the F30 3-series or the Audi A4/A5.
The last time Jaguar introduced a smaller sedan with lower pricing to take on the 3-series was with the Ford Mondeo based X-type, which had little success in the competitive compact sports sedan segment.
But, Jaguar may be ready to try again, citing the need for different and lower priced models. “We need to play in that world,” Hallmark said. Jaguar needs a small sports car for image and a sedan for volume, he said. “We have to do … CONTINUED
Not many details have been confirmed yet on the upcoming F10 M5, but in a recent interview with the head of M division, Dr. Kay Segler has confirmed that ceramic brakes for the F10 M5 is in the works! When posed with the question whether future M cars will be available with a ceramic brakes option, he responded that it’s being worked on, for the M5.
This would represent the first time that ceramic brakes are offered as an option on a production BMW. Ceramic brakes provide great braking power, well wear over time, produce less brake dust, and are very lightweight.
Ceramic brakes are options currently standard on the best performance cars (Carrera GT, 911 GT2, Nissan GT-R, Corvette ZL1, etc.), so it’s safe to assume that … CONTINUED
This image is said to be a close approximation on the looks of the upcoming BMW 1-series Gran Turismo (GT). The 1-series GT will be the next Gran Turismo model in the BMW lineup following the 5-series GT and preceding the next generation 3-series Gran Turismo model.
The 1 series GT is a mixture of a 5 door hatch and a touring shape. Rear legroom is almost on par with the 5-series sedan.
China has really proved itself to be ahead of the curve on the EV front and it seems BMW will come on board and produce an all electric 5-Series exclusively for the Chinese market.
This new car is not to be confused with the ActiveHybrid 5, which will have its official launch in September 2011. The ActiveHybrid 5 still has a gasoline motor afterall. No this new car will be an all electric vehicle and would likely fall under BMWs growing ActiveE project.
Autonews Europe is referencing a report from the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper which pinpoints a partnership between BMW and Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd in order to produce the vehicle. Brilliance is BMWs current partner in building standard Chinese market BMW 5-Series, which includes … CONTINUED
Although the BMW Z2 Roadster and Z2 Coupe are not expected to debut until 2013, we should begin to see and hear more news and renderings in 2011, like this latest one from Carmagazine UK. The Z2 has been designed at Designworks and will be based on the next generation F20 1-series platform. BMW’s design philosophy is to keep the car lighweight, dynamic, and sporty by using a high strength steel body with aluminum doors and front bonnet. Based on earlier rumors, the target weight for both the Z2 coupe and roadster is 1000kg (only 2,200 pounds)! We’ll believe that one when we see it, but it’s good to hear that keeping the Z2’s weight down is a principle concern.
Here are the other previously rumored (speculative) … CONTINUED
On the heels of the big BMW turbo 4-cylinder news yesterday, SCOTT26 has provided some dates for the switchover of certain BMW models from the current inline 6-cylinder to the new twinpower turbo I4 motor, as well as the end of production of the current 3-series, M3 and 1-series.
Here is the I4 switchover and end of production schedule (inside).
We reported earlier about the rumor that BMW was considering to build a fourth model at the US plant in Spartanburg, SC. Ian Robertson, member of the BMW board of management responsible for sales and marketing, now confirmed with FAZ that they were actually looking into this. While there’s no final decision, Robertson said they “would by no means put that off the table.” The US market continues to be the most important market for premium vehicles, so an US production would make sense for either the F10 5-series or the new F30 3-series coming later this year.
BMW currently produces the X3, the X5 and the X6 at the Spartanburg Plant. As Robertson puts it, “the Spartanburg plant still has enough capacity to allow the … CONTINUED
Automobile has just tweeted some interesting news on the base Z4 which corroborates a recent report from a ZPOST member. If these reports are correct, the base BMW Z4 will soon be powered by two turbo 4-cylinder variants (sDrive20i and 28i) instead of the current naturally aspirated inline 6-cylinder. This would not come as a huge surprise as recent rhetoric from BMW has pointed to the likely use of turbo 4-cylinder engines in future BMW base models (i.e. next generation F30 3-series), especially with improvements in forced induction technology and the overall goal of increasing efficiency throughout its entire fleet.
The exact tweet states “BMW new 4-cyl coming this year in Z4 roadster. Replaces nat asp 6, so at least 200 hp” but according to the info … CONTINUED
Autocar Magazine in the UK is speculating that the rumored 3-cylinder engine that BMW has been working on for some time now, will be seen under the hood of the F30 3-Series. This should come as no surprise, as the 3-Series is the bread and butter volume car in the BMW brand, and such an efficient engine would go a long way into promoting BMW as THE brand for sustainability.
The engine itself is rumored to be a 1.5L 3-Cylinder diesel engine putting out 150HP and produce less than 100g/km of CO2. Its already been rumored that this engine setup, which will come in both diesel and regular gasoline formats will drive the smaller cars in the BMW lineup such as … CONTINUED


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As expected, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) debuted its long-awaited smartphone, dubbed Fire, that will be sold exclusively by AT&T Mobility (NYSE: T).
Click here for more details on the Amazon Fire.
One of the highlights of the retail-oriented device is a service called Firefly that identifies more than 100 million different items, including books, music and TV episodes, and lets users purchase them with the click of a button. The phone also sports an interface called Dynamic Perspective that is intended to make navigation easier; the UI also recognizes where a user's head is relative to the device and lets users tile the phone to scroll through information or get more details hidden in apps. The Fire also has a Second Screen app that lets you fling TV shows and movies from your Fire phone to your Fire TV, PlayStation or other Miracast-enabled device.
The smartphone, which is available starting July 25, costs $199 for the 32 GB version with a two-year contract or $299 for the 64 GB version with a two-year contract. The phone is also available via AT&T's Next handset upgrade and installment payment program for $27.08 for 24 months. It also comes in a 64 GB version for $299.99 or via the Next installment program for $31.25 per month for 24 months or $37.50 for 20 months.
Interestingly, the Fire phone comes bundled for a limited time with 12 months of Amazon Prime service, which typically costs $99 annually. Prime includes free two-day shipping from Amazon, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Prime Instant Video, unlimited, ad-free streaming and downloading of over 1 million songs and hundreds of playlists, and more. Amazon said existing Prime members will get an additional 12 months added to their account for free.
Amazon's Fire phone, which was long rumored to have 3D-like capability, uses multiple front-facing cameras and software to show 3D renderings of buildings, maps and more via the Dynamic Perspective UI. Amazon said it will make navigation quicker, especially if you are using just one hand. The company is making the Dynamic Perspective SDK available to developers to encourage the technology's use in games and other apps.
Firefly, the item recognition service, is perhaps the most interesting Fire feature. Firefly can identify real-world items like signs and business cards and zero in on relevant information to identify the items.
According to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, with the phone's dedicated Firefly button, users can click on an item, find out more information about the item and even purchase it. Like Dynamic Perception, Firefly can also be integrated into other apps. For example, with an app like MyFitnessPal, a user could click on a piece of food and immediately find out the nutrition value.
The phone also sports Amazon's Mayday button, which delivers live video customer service on the phone from Amazon.
As far as other phone specifications, the Amazon Fire has a 13-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, a 1080p HD video, a 2.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) Snapdragon processor and 2 GB of RAM. It also has a 4.7 inch HD screen, dual-stereo speakers and Dolby digital audio.
The phone also comes with free unlimited cloud storage of photos taken with Fire and automatic wireless back-up capability.
Although this is Amazon's first smartphone, it isn't the first time AT&T has teamed exclusively with a company to offer a phone only to AT&T customers. The company in 2007 started that tradition with Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone, which resulted in a lot of customers flocking to AT&T to get the iconic device. However, since then, AT&T's exclusive deals have been less successful for the company. Last July AT&T became the exclusive U.S. operator to sell Nokia's (NYSE:NOK) highly touted Lumia 1020 Windows 8 smartphone, which was only marginally successful.
Analysts said that the Fire phone will likely be a niche product to start, especially because of Amazon's decision to go with AT&T as its exclusive wireless partner. "I think they probably struck deal with AT&T because they knew that selling this phone was going to require education and was going to require the ability to show people the device and extoll its virtues," IDC analyst Tom Mainelli told FierceWireless. "Clearly, AT&T is willing to put in the effort to train its associates to try to do that." Longer term, Amazon is likely going to want more carrier partners, he said.
Mainelli said it would be a challenge to get consumers to switch from a competitive smartphone platform, especially if they have been locked into apps and content on Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android or Apple's iOS. The Fire phone, like Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets, runs a forked version Android and does not come with Google apps like Maps and Gmail, though Amazon's Appstore has 240,000 apps and games. "I think it's absolutely a challenge," he said. "To get somebody to switch you need a piece of hardware that's notably better and arguably some other features that will get someone to go through the pain of moving from one [platform] to the other."
IBB Consulting analyst Jefferson Wang said that the "initial version of the Fire phone will be a niche product" but as Amazon addresses the gap in applications with other platforms, they could make a variant that appeals to consumers switching to their first smartphone, and makes good use of the MayDay button to ease that transition.
Going with AT&T exclusively "almost proves that they're viewing this as more of a niche device," Wang said. "They want to get good numbers but they want to learn a lot from this."
Mainelli added that until Amazon gets developers to "create something that people will get genuinely excited about around the cameras and the potentially the Firelfy stuff I do think it's going to be a small volume product." For people who are die-hard Amazon customers, it's a "great delivery device" of content, he said, "but the other phones in the market also deliver Amazon's content quite well."
Report: AT&T will be exclusive operator to offer Amazon smartphone
Amazon's smartphone play could be about removing friction from retail experience
Report: Amazon's 3D smartphone to use Omron's Okao Vision technology
Amazon likely to announce 3D smartphone at June 18 event
Report: Amazon to release 3D smartphone in second half of 2014
Phil Goldstein contributed to this article.


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Big Bets Return for Bad Stocks
The government’s campaign to stop the stock market slump, support the private sector and boost investor confidence has led authorities to relax many regulations originally aimed at reining in risk or curbing undesirable activity.
The securities watchdog’s recent announcement that it will encourage mergers and acquisitions (link in Chinese) to help cash-strapped listed companies has triggered a renewed hunt for so-called shell companies amid speculation that the official stance on backdoor listings is being softened. The notice is one of several released by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) in October to support acquisitions, including a pledge to fast-track small deals and allowing acquisitions if they provide additional financing to pay off a company’s debts.
- 1U.S. to Formally Request Extradition of Huawei’s Meng: Globe and Mail
- 2Apple Chief Counsel Accuses Qualcomm of Holding Phone-Makers for ‘Ransom’
- 3Update: China’s Economic Growth Dips to 28-Year Low
- 4Gallery: Demolishing the ‘Great White House’
- 5In-Depth: A Winter Storm Looms for China’s Tech Sector
- 1Power To The People: Pintec Serves A Booming Consumer Class
- 2Largest hotel group in Europe accepts UnionPay
- 3UnionPay mobile QuickPass debuts in Hong Kong
- 4UnionPay International launches premium catering privilege U Dining Collection
- 5UnionPay International’s U Plan has covered over 1600 stores overseas


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Ad-supported publishers and broadcasters are increasingly struggling to generate revenue growth in the face of the Google and Facebook duopoly, which accounted for approximately 99% of the $2.9 billion in year-over-year digital advertising growth in Q3 2016. It's no wonder that many publishers are adopting "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach by relying on aggregation platforms like Facebook and YouTube to generate video views and hopefully revenue from a slice of some of that video ad growth. Many experts agree, however, that relying exclusively on Facebook and Google/YouTube for video distribution is not a winning strategy and is ultimately a self-defeating proposition that is bad for monetization and bad for the brand.
Bad for Monetization
Premium publishers that go “all-in” on publishing via platforms like Facebook and YouTube lose out on generating user data that ad buyers find valuable and are willing to pay for. In contrast, this approach benefits aggregators like YouTube and Facebook, for a few reasons: they get premium publishers to fill their properties with content, in most cases for free, and they get access to user data which makes them more even more valuable to advertisers. It doesn’t take much to see that this is a bad deal for publishers who are literally giving away their content and audience data free of charge in the hopes of recovering some of the cost of running a publication online. Publishers would do much better by building a moat around their content and user data to negotiate top dollar from media buyers on their owned and operated properties. What media buyer representing Expedia or Toyota wouldn’t love to know how many times a user came back to publisher’s site to read an in-depth review of a product, service or location? These are strong indicators of intent and extremely valuable to media buyers.
Moreover, direct ads sold by publishers are also subject to downward pressure from Google and Facebook. Over time, direct sales efforts can and will be compromised with an "all-in" approach.
Why would media buyers engage in a direct ad buy with a local publisher's sales team when they can simply spend their dollars on Google and Facebook to get access to the same content and users at a cheaper price via algorithmically-driven programmatic ad sales?
One needs to look no further than recent reports which show a trend that CPMs are rising for some social media platforms -- leading to increased profits for them but not for their publishing partners.
Bad for Brand
Google and Facebook are the "big-box” stores of online content - there's a wide spectrum of content available on these platforms and not all of them share premium publishers’ dedication to journalism or to journalistic standards. Publishers that rely on a Facebook or Google-only strategy risk devaluing their content by placing it alongside other content of dubious and inferior quality. Think of the recent advertiser backlash highlighted by ads being pulled from Google and Youtube over concerns that ads were being displayed next to objectionable content. Google has responded that it is taking action over inappropriate content on its ad networks, but publishers still have to play by the rules set by Google. Ultimately the control is in the realm of Google, and not the publishers, even though it is their brand value, many decades in the making, that is being eroded.
Despite the costs associated with running an owned and operated website, the risk pales in comparison to the costs of ceding control of monetization and brand value to the tech giants of Silicon Valley.
The future of publishers squarely depends on which of the walled gardens they want to build their business on, or more accurately, for which they’re willing to be sharecroppers.


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With the rise of electric vehicles, the commodities that go into batteries, like nickel and cobalt, are becoming more valuable. Without getting too deep into the chemistry of a lithium-ion battery, a combination of elements make up the cathode portion of a battery, with lithium making up the anode. The larger the electrochemical potential difference between the anode and cathode, the higher the battery capacity. There are many types of ions that can be used in lithium-ion batteries, but nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) is the recurrent battery composition that produces the highest capacity -- something consumers prefer in their electric vehicles (EVs).
The prices of these commodities have continued to rise, causing EV manufacturers to raise the prices of their vehicles as well. With more EV manufacturers ramping up production, a supply crunch could cause these prices to rocket even higher. Will this cause consumers to switch back to petroleum-powered vehicles or will EVs continue their rise?
Commodity prices are rising
While Tesla (TSLA -1.05%) has announced plans to use iron and phosphate in its standard range vehicles, chemistry limits the capacity of these batteries. Long-range configurations use nickel and cobalt instead, and their prices have risen significantly over the past decade.
Despite the rise in commodity prices, the cost to manufacture these batteries has dropped substantially.
The drop in battery prices reached an equilibrium point around 2020. So as long as the rise in commodity prices doesn't outgrow the manufacturing efficiencies increase, battery margins should stay in the same place.
Rising demand will have dire consequences
However, this seems unlikely. While Tesla has the clear lead in manufacturing EVs, many more players are ramping up production. General Motors (GM 9.38%) plans to produce 400,000 EVs throughout 2022 and 2023; by 2026, Ford (F 2.12%) will be producing 2 million EVs per year. For context, Tesla produced 305,000 vehicles in Q1.
That's a lot of battery demand for relatively little supply. In 2013, the world's nickel production peaked at 2.6 million tonnes and hasn't eclipsed that threshold since. On the cobalt side, the Democratic Republic of Congo produced 70% of the world's cobalt supply in 2019. Unfortunately, there have been numerous cases of atrocious working conditions and human rights abuses in the region related to cobalt extraction and processing, making any interaction with these businesses an uncomfortable one.
This isn't good news for battery production. With stagnant nickel production and the world's cobalt supply controlled by one nation, prices will likely continue to rise. Unless more companies get involved in the mining process, the supply problem won't be solved. One potential company that may get into mining is Tesla. Elon Musk himself tweeted about the potential of Tesla getting into lithium mining if prices don't improve. While this may seem a stretch, Tesla has successfully pulled off other business pivots.
When will battery prices reach the breaking point?
One indicator of the impact of commodity prices will be Tesla's gross margins. As it is a relatively developed, solely EV automaker (compared to the other companies still trying to get their EV production to full capacity), commodity pricing pressure will impact its margins. However, Tesla could raise prices on consumers to offset the costs of batteries, which is already happening.
In one year, the Tesla Model 3 base price rose from $37,190 to $48,190. The trend toward more expensive EVs has begun due to higher commodity costs, and unless more supply fills the markets, it could worsen.
Right now, the demand for EVs has never been higher, for multiple reasons like record-high gas costs and less maintenance over the vehicle's life. However, even with rising EV prices, this demand hasn't fallen. If the current trend continues, there will be a crossover point where high gas prices are cheaper than even more expensive EVs. I don't know when this will happen, but it will be a tough day for consumers.
Investors can rest easy about EV battery prices right now, as consumers are footing the bill. But it could get ugly in the next few years with multiple companies stepping up their production.
However, all is not lost. New battery technologies are emerging with different chemistries, which could reduce reliance on certain materials. The race is on to prove these technologies, as the current industry state will not be able to support mass EV production from every manufacturer on earth.


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The biggest luxury automaker in the world – BMW – has recently announced it was 30 years ago when it first used all wheel drive on a vehicle – the BMW 325i Allrad was then born.
Today about one in three models from its range are sold across the globe with the intelligent BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system. This is of course mostly due to the ever growing popularity of the X models – and the global popularity of SUVs and crossovers – but BMW also offers many all-wheel-drive versions to the models it sells, from the 1 Series to the flagship 7 Series.
The first ever all-wheel-drive model was the BMW 325i “Allrad” presented during IAA (Frankfurt Motor Show) way back in 1985 and its seemingly unchanged appearance fueled the surprise of the people that went on to test the new variant. Today, the regular xDrive all-wheel-drive system comes with the Integrated Chassis Management (ICM) system, which bridges the gap between the XDrive, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) or Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) systems for flawless driving dynamics and increased safety.
Back in the day, the 325i “Allrad” of 1985 was followed by the 1991 BMW 525iX and the automaker opened up a whole new chapter back in 1999 when it first introduced the X5 – named by the company as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). The xDrive system made its official debut on the BMW X3 and X5 back in 2003 and the all-wheel drive system made the jump to regular models back in 2009. Now the all-wheel drive package can be bundled with the latest eco-conscious technology in the form of the BMW X5 xDrive40e, which has a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
In other news, the automaker also recently launched the Grand Racing Legends documentaries in Romania, designed to celebrate two heroes from the world of motorsport – local legend Marin Dumitrescu who just turned 97 and paralimpic champion Alessandro Zanardi.


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Shares jumped 5.6% to $386.55 premarket as results beat analyst expectations.
"This marks the thirteenth consecutive quarter of 20% plus growth in earnings per share and our twenty second consecutive quarter of double digit growth," said Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Rhodes.
AutoZone has posted improved results of late as new stores in the U.S. and Mexico have improved its market share and its commercial business grows. The company's revenue growth have also beat analyst expectations in recent quarters as cost-conscious consumers maintain their vehicles longer to buffer high gas prices and unemployment levels.
Earlier this month, smaller rival Advance Auto Parts Inc.'s (AAP) fourth-quarter earnings rose 38% as the seller of automobile parts lowered overhead costs and saw revenue edge up.
For the quarter ended Feb. 12, AutoZone reported a profit of $166.9 million, or $4.15 a share, up from $148.1 million, or $3.34 a share, a year earlier. Revenue improved 8.6% to $1.8 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast per-share earnings of $4.04 on revenue of $1.78 billion.
Gross margin widened to 51.3% from 50.9%, primarily due to lower shrink expense.
Domestic same-store sales rose 5.9%.
Total auto-parts sales increased 8.6%, while domestic commercial sales jumped 25%.
Sales from its other businesses, which include the diagnostic-software unit Alldata and e-commerce, were up 11%.
AutoZone ended the quarter with 4,867 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico, a 4.1% increase from a year earlier.


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How well are you targeting your ads? Heather Vale of Performance Marketing Insider speaks with Ted Dhanik, President & CEO of engage:BDR. In this exclusive interview, the first of two parts on the topic of behavioral targeting, discover why engage:BDR is using data partners, why it’s better for advertisers, and how it works. Ted talks [...]
California Court of Appeal Email Compliance Ruling on the Issue of Identifying Sender in Body of Commercial EmailOctober 31, 2014 # 7:22 am # Legal Challenges, Specials # No Comment
The case is Roslowski et al. (“Plaintiffs”) v. Guthy-Renker LLC (“Guthy”). The gravamen of the allegations were that Guthy sent Plaintiffs unsolicited commercial email advertisements which, instead of identifying the sender as Guthy, indicated the sender was “Proactiv Special Offer,” “Wen Hair Care,” “Proactiv Special Bonus Deal,” “Wen Healthy Hair,” “Wen by Chaz Dean,” “Proactiv [...]
Google, as well as Yellowbook and Ziplocal, are being sued by a locksmith who does business in Northern Virginia and Maryland. The locksmith is citing multiple state and local laws, including the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) in the lawsuit, which is claiming $8.4 million in lost earnings and profit.
The main points made [...]
Spam Text Message, Robocalling and Mobile Cramming Defendants to Pay $10 Million to Settle FTC ChargesOctober 26, 2014 # 9:43 am # Legal Challenges, Specials # One Comment
A series of defendants will pay approximately $10 million to the Federal Trade Commission to settle charges that they operated a massive scam that sent unwanted text messages to millions of consumers, many of whom later received illegal robocalls, phony “free” merchandise offers, and unauthorized charges crammed on their mobile phone bills.
The settlement marks the [...]
One of the biggest parts of the new “Twitter Fabric” development platform is the new login system they are calling ‘digits.’ The system will make it so people don’t have to use unique IDs and passwords on every site, and they don’t need to have a social media account, which is what many sites are [...]
Google has officially announced the launch of ‘Inbox,’ which is an app that brings together all your notifications and other items into one place. It starts out by displaying your email in a quick and easy way, but it will also display pictures, reminders, flights, receipts, and just about anything else that you want to [...]
mSpy, developers of leading cell phone and desktop monitoring solution and their mSpy affiliate program become the largest on the market, as it sees an influx of new affiliate sign-ups. mSpy, which is positioned as the best parental control software and business monitoring tool, has launched its new affiliate platform with key updates to it, [...]
On October 10, 2014, a federal district court judge in the matter of Wagner v. Digital Publ’g Corp. ruled that a triable issue of fact on whether the “from” names, domain names and subject lines of four SPAM e-mails contained material misstatements precluded partial summary judgment on plaintiff’s state law claims.
Plaintiff Christopher Wagner sued multiple [...]
Snapchat has recently sold and launched their first live advertisement. The ad, which was for Universal Pictures upcoming horror movie, “Ouija” is said to have been seen by millions of people. This is a major milestone for Snapchat, which is used by many people but up until now hasn’t had a good monetization strategy in [...]
There is no doubt that the internet has helped to ‘shrink’ the world and allow people from diverse locations to interact with each other more easily. In addition to this, however, it has also helped brands and marketers to greatly expand their potential audiences.
According to a recent publication from Nielsen, in the UK there are [...]
Facebook launched a feature for organizing advertising campaigns earlier this year. It was called “ad sets” and allowed marketers to make adjustments to sets of ads all at once, rather than doing them on an individual ad at a time. While the idea is great, it had a lot of problems and limitations that really [...]
In what will undoubtedly be a surprising turn of events for many, YouTube has been bumped off the top spot for video views online. According to ComScore, Facebook displayed about a billion more video views than YouTube last month. The big move is primarily a result from Facebook’s fairly new ‘auto-play’ feature that has videos [...]
If you want to start getting traffic from Google and the other search engines, one of the most important things you need to do is target the right keywords. Keywords (or key phrases) are the things that people type into the search engines. Targeting them simply means optimizing your site in such a way that [...]


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CFD Trading is illegal in Germany, The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) of Germany aims to limit the marketing, circulation of and trading in financial contracts for difference (CFDs) as an extent to protect retail depositors. Contracts through an extra payments responsibility, such as margin, will soon not be accessible to retail customers.
BaFin Bans CFD Trading In Germany
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On Thursday BaFin published a draft General Administrative Act regarding the issue. When the rules are sanctioned, they will obtain effect within 3 months of that time.
BaFin head Elisabeth Roegele said that, “In the situation of CFDs with an extra payments obligation, the risk of loss for the depositor is countless. For customer protection causes, we cannot receive that”.
As stated by the regulator, trading of leveraged is, in economic expressions, a method of speculation on credit. Monetary CFDs with an extra payment obligation might result in price gaps and often necessitate depositors to pay more than they have originally invested. The alteration to be paid can sum to multiples of the margin they have place. Security tools, for example margin call and stop-loss orders, are not operative in limiting customer losses. Actually, they could lead to rises losses since depositors’ positions could be powerfully closed at extremely poor values.
As a consequence, the regulator is considering it is greatest to prohibit financial CFD trading overall. The regulator eminent that CFDs have a benefit over direct investments, however CFD providers mark almost completely retail customers, the draft project read. Numerous studies have revealed that the mainstream of active CFD traders mislay their money.
The regulator lists numerous main risks relates with CFD trading – the difficulty of presentation calculation, assumption on credit, absence of transparency in the calculation of original where there are gaps of price, no limitation of the risk of loss through stop-loss orders, and no limitation on the risk of loss over the margin call process, amongst others.
In the case of CFDs, leverage fast results in mislaying control over the development of marketplace and creates it all but impossible for a regular retail depositor to anticipate the possibility of losses and, therefore, probabilities of achievement, BaFin’s draft project read. For every CFD position, the depositor only has to put down a section of the contract importance as a margin on their CFD trading account and are thus exposed to the financial significances of the speculation through an investment amount, of which they really only have to tear down a small percentage themselves.
In trading of CFD, depositors trade on the price movements on original financial tools, before buying the tools themselves. They make profit from the change between the sell and buy values. The German representatives treat CFDs as a subsection of results.
Formerly this year, The Times of Israel named BaFin press officer Anja Schuchhardt as saying the Germany regulator was allowing for probably execute a ban on trading in CFDs and binary options. No details were presented at the stage. Moreover, Die Welt cited Roegele as saying that ban of binary options and margin trading in the country is probable because of their risky nature.
Europe eyes stricter financial markets regulation
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In the previous few months, financial trading marketplaces have been the target of the specialists of a number of countries, chiefly in Europe. Simply this month, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the two important forex regulatory destinations in Europe, broadcast they are to change the standards for important forex trading situations. Both authorities are set a new leverage limit of 50:1. They are together banning bonuses and other profits to endorse risky trading tools. Whereas the new necessities set by the CySEC sounds rather commendation, the UK regulator uses a more required tone. The variations were activated by the references and rules of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) as of mid-October in respects to binary options and forex regulation.
Previous this year, numerous financial regulators also launched an occurrence against binary options. Belgium barred from 18 August the spreading through online channels of over the counter binary options, CFDs with leverage and spot forex. France as well barred in current times the online publicity of “very risky and abstract monetary deals”, for example binary options, CFDs and forex with a leverage larger than 1:5. For now, the Netherlands has also declared that it reflects ban on the promotion of such instruments, calling them as toxic investment products for customers.
Israel, which is not an EU member formal, also executed a ban on trading in binary option gadgets in the nation. Lately, the Israeli regulator as well said it is to ban the promoting of binaries to retail customers abroad, which would put an end to main brokers will not be capable to work locally-based call centers.


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Facebook unveils “Instant Games” that allows users to play games on Facebook Messenger App or to play on their news feed itself.
The gaming feature could be a go toward eventually monetising Messenger, which now desreves more than one billion users but it is lesser than the native Facebook App.
Facebook product manager, Alissa Ju said “This new games experience allows people to easily discover, share, and play games without having to install new apps.”
Instant Games is initially launching in only 30 countries with 17 Games available including “Pac-Man” from Bandai Namco, Taito’s “Space Invaders,” Zynga’s “Words with Friends” and King Digital’s “Shuffle Cats Mini.”
The director of global games partnerships at Facebook, Leo Olebe said “The primary way that we expect people to be interacting with Instant Games is through Messenger, especially at first.”
Olebe said “a platform inside of Messenger” and the first time for mobile devices Facebook has developed the games.
The concept of “Instant Gaming” is much similar to that of “Instant Articles,” which is faster loading an articles or pages without sending link to websites.
As far as revenue on games is concerned, Olebe said there will be no immediate step to draw revenue from the Instant games.
He also added “Right now it’s still early in the process, monetisation will come later down the road,” and Facebook wants “to drive the engagement in the overall experience.”
The new Instant Games allow user to invite and share scores with the friends and also users can protect themselves by unwanted notifications.
Leo olebe concluded that “The games are not designed to reward people for getting an increasing number of folks to play.”
This will surely reach the younger demographic once its stepped into all the countries.


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Are electric cars safe enough now to become a major mode of transportation in the US? Before spending a lot of money on an electric automobile, it is prudent to explore some safety concerns.
Problems with Electric Cars
Since hybrid and electric automobiles first hit the road many years ago, there have been numerous safety concerns. The vehicles’ battery life has improved, allowing them to travel further. Currently, the Tesla Model S long range has a 379-mile range. Tesla Model 3 range is 348 miles. The i-range Pace’s is 292.
These vehicles are examples of greater driving ranges seen in recent years, raising public interest in these vehicles.
Despite its popularity, there have been several safety issues and negative news around it. In terms of general safety, electric vehicles must still adhere to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Every new electric car will include standard safety features like seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes.
EVs are quiet: Generally, electric vehicles are quieter than gasoline-powered automobiles. This is dangerous since people cannot hear these vehicles as easily as ordinary cars. A pedestrian, cyclist, or motorbike rider may not hear the approaching vehicle, triggering an accident. The number of nighttime pedestrian incidents involving electric vehicles has increased in recent years.
An electric car’s safety argument is that it does not utilize gasoline or diesel fuel and does not have a tank full of a highly flammable liquid that could explode on contact or when set on fire. This is valid. But Li-ion batteries can overheat, catch fire, and even explode. Because Li-ion batteries must be so compact to fit into a vehicle frame the size of an average sedan, they can be risky.
Overcharging: Li-ion batteries can be damaged by faulty voltage regulators, alternators, or chargers. Overcharging can lead to overheating and fire. Many electric vehicles have built-in driverless technology. In some situations, the car can be put on autopilot. Of course, this is risky since some people may misuse this power.
Several lawsuits have been brought around the US against electric vehicle manufacturers for safety issues and personal injury caused by car accidents. Suits against electric vehicle manufacturers include:
A faulty touch screen that sometimes fails to control the vehicle. The issue with safety is that certain models use the touchscreen to manage several safety, navigation, and communication devices. If the screen doesn’t operate due to a software fault, it could be dangerous.
After a crash and fire, automatic doors would not open, trapping and burning the person inside.
Software issues cause vehicles to lose speed or stop lights as battery levels drop.
A defective or missing speed limiter allows the driver to speed. In this example, a teen’s parents had installed a speed restriction on his automobile to limit his driving speed. The limitation was mistakenly removed, allowing the son to reach 116 mph, lose control of his vehicle, and die in the accident.
Electric Car Makers Say Their Cars Are Safer
In response to these concerns and litigation, electric vehicle makers claim their vehicles are safer than gas or diesel automobiles. They claim electric vehicles have fewer collision-related burns than gas automobiles. Also, auto-pilot manufacturers like Tesla claim their vehicles are safer because computers react faster than humans in certain scenarios.


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Thomas Cook customers to wait two months for holiday refunds following travel company collapse
30 September 2019, 13:37
The travel agent giant collapsed earlier this month an ruined thousands of people's holidays.
Thomas Cook's liquidation has left tens of thousands jobless and hundreds of thousands stranded abroad as a result of the airline and travel agent's collapse.
The terrible news has affected people far and wide and national frustration towards the company has been aired everywhere, with many out of pocked by thousands.
And a week on, hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers have been hit with the information that they'll have to wait ANOTHER week before their refund process can even begin, with them unlikely to receive any money back until December.
On Monday 23rd of September the travel giant announced its closure after a bid for millions in funding didn't work.
Nine thousand UK staff lost their jobs with no warning and other travel companies have been helping with getting them re-employed.
It's estimated around 150,000 Thomas Cook customers were abroad when the company went under and have been getting flown back by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with costs of around £60 million in public money.
Around 60 per cent of those abroad have now been brought home with the remaining holidaymakers expected to be back in the country by October 6th.
As the main focus was getting those stranded abroad back home, the CAA had told passengers to wait until that was all sorted, then the refunds could begin.
They said: "The CAA will be launching a service to manage all refunds on Monday 30 September, once the flying operation has progressed."
However, their website was updated this morning and states: “We are developing a simplified, online refunds form that will be available on 7 October.”
This means that more than half a million travellers who paid by other means have now been told they cannot start applying for a further week.
The CAA’s chief executive, Richard Moriarty, said that around 100,000 bookings made by direct debit should be refunded within two weeks and customers will have the money paid direct into their bank accounts.
Mr Moriarty said: “Refunds of bookings made by other payment methods will take longer as we do not yet have all of the information we need from Thomas Cook."
They've criticised the travel company for poor quality of passenger data, saying it's a big part of the delay".
The CAA chief executive said: “This will be three times larger than any refund programme we have managed before, and we are implementing new systems to enable us to process these refunds as quickly as possible.
“We hope to pay refunds within 60 days of receiving a valid refund form.”


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The Charlotte Chamber touted the launch of the 2013 Power Up Entrepreneurship Challenge at a luncheon Tuesday, detailing the competition that recognizes promising entrepreneurs and small businesses in the chamber.
The winner of the challenge gets a $25,000 grant from Duke Energy as well as a package of business services valued at more than $200,000, said Brett Carter, the Charlotte Chamber's Duke Energy Chair.
"This is a big deal for us," said Carter. "We believe this is a huge part of keeping our small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in Charlotte."
Last year's winner was InfoSense, a company that uses patent-pending technology developed at UNC Charlotte to detect blockages in pipelines. The technology is now being used in 30 states around the U.S.
Applicants will compete within their regional chamber chapters, and the winner from each chapter will compete at the grand finale will be Nov. 14.
The winner will get: a $25,000 business grant from Duke Energy, a marketing support package from Boone Oakley, a legal support package, and a mentor from the chamber's board of directors.
Finalists will also get a package of business services.
Click here for the application and a calendar of upcoming Power Up events.
- be a Charlotte Chamber member in good standing.
- be a for-profit company.
- have $1 million or less in total revenue for most recent fiscal year.
- have a principal location in the 16-county Charlotte region.
- not be a franchise.
- have a primary business focus in one or more of the following: energy, information technology/big data, health care, financial services, life sciences/medical devices, transportation/logistics, manufacturing, professional services, tourism/sports or creative.


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- Victory for Merkel Over Fiscal Treaty (FT)
- Everyone wants a mediterranean colony: China's NDRC Delegation Visit Greece to Boost Economic Ties (Xinhua)
- As Florida votes, Romney seems in driver's seat (Reuters)
- Greece’s Papademos Seek On Debt Deal by End of Week (Reuters)
- Banks Set to Double Crisis Loans From ECB (FT) - as Zero Hedge predicted two weeks ago
- S&P: Doubling Sales Tax Won’t Help Japan Enough (Bloomberg)
- Toshiba cuts outlook after Q3 profit tumbles (Reuters)
- Blackrock’s Doll says Fed’s QE3 is Unlikely, In Contrast to Pimco’s Gross (Bloomberg)
- Asia Is Not Facing ‘Hot Money’ Risk: IMF’s Singh (CNBC)
- Australian Economy a Pillar of Strength, PM Says (Herald Sun)
- Obama: U.S. May Explore Free Trade With Georgia (Bloomberg)
Overnight Press Digest
* The Federal Trade Commission intensified its crackdown on the booming debt-collection industry, announcing a $2.5 million settlement with a company for allegedly coercing borrowers into paying debts they no longer legally owed.
The settlement with Asset Acceptance Capital Corp, one of the nation's largest buyers of soured consumer debts, is the second-biggest penalty ever levied by the FTC against a debt collector.
* Avon Products Inc fired its vice chairman in connection with probes into possible bribery overseas and improper disclosures to Wall Street analysts in the United States, as the company's investigation into possible corruption overseas reaches higher into the ranks of its executives.
* Carnival Corp estimated on Monday that the wreck involving its Costa Concordia cruise ship off Italy's coast will lower net income by $155 million to $175 million in fiscal 2012.
Passenger bookings fell in January, but the cruise-ship operator added that it doesn't expect the accident to have a significant impact on its business in the long term.
* Banks in the United States kept credit fairly tight in the final months of 2011 even as demand for loans increased, putting a brake on the slow economic recovery.
* Kweku Adoboli, the UBS trader accused of making unauthorized transactions that cost the lender as much as $2.3 billion, pleaded not guilty to fraud and false accounting, clearing the way for an autumn trial that could prove embarrassing for Switzerland's largest bank.
* Leaders of 25 European Union governments agreed Monday night on what some billed as a historic pact to move to closer fiscal union and signed off on the details of a permanent bailout fund for the euro zone -- yet Greece's looming debt restructuring threw a shadow over the summit.
The leaders discussed Greece but provided no further clarity on the eventual outcome of an issue that was creating increasing nervousness in financial markets Monday.
* State attorneys general have until Friday to join a potential national settlement of alleged foreclosure abuses, according to a document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The deadline, set by negotiators trying to pull together an agreement with the federal government, states, and five major banks, is the latest sign that the finish line is in sight for what has been a bruising, yearlong haul.
* The Federal Trade Commission signaled on Monday that it would continue to crack down on debt collectors who harass consumers for money they may not even be legally obligated to pay.
In the second-largest penalty ever levied on a debt collector, the FTC said that Asset Acceptance, one of the nation's largest debt collection companies, had agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty to settle charges that the company deceived consumers when trying to collect old debts.
* A former UBS trader, Kweku Adoboli, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of fraud and false accounting that led to a $2.3 billion trading loss at UBS last year.
Standing in a glass-walled box in a London court, Adoboli, 31, pleaded not guilty to each of the four counts. He faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the two counts of falsifying accounts and two counts of fraud by abuse of position.
* After years of studying the Indian market, Starbucks Coffee said on Monday that it would open its first store here by September through a 50-50 joint venture with Tata Global Beverages, a unit of the largest business group in India.
* The Treasury Department is investigating a report that Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, bet against homeowners' ability to refinance their loans even as it was making it more difficult for them to do so, Jay Carney, a White House spokesman, said on Monday.
* All but two European Union countries agreed Monday to new and tougher measures to enforce budget discipline in the euro zone, but the bloc still showed few signs of producing a comprehensive solution for the sovereign debt crisis or a credible plan to revive fragile economies across Europe's weakened Mediterranean tier.
* A Japanese auto supplier, the Yazaki Corp, agreed to pay one of the largest ever antitrust fines, and four of its executives will serve up to two years in prison for price-fixing and bid-rigging, the Justice Department said on Monday.
Yazaki, based in Tokyo, agreed to a $470 million fine for engaging in three conspiracies that began as long ago as 2000 and continued until 2010, when the government's investigation into the matter began.
* Gannett on Monday reported a 33 percent drop in fourth-quarter net income, saying profits were weighed down by reorganization costs and other charges.
The media company, which publishes USA Today and owns a network of broadcast, digital and other publishing properties, said it earned $116.9 million, or 49 cents a share, in the three months ended Dec. 25. That was down from earnings of $174.1 million, or 72 cents a share, in the period a year earlier.
European economic highlights:
- Eurozone Unemployment Rate 10.40% - in line with expectations. Consensus 10.40%. Previous 10.30%. Revised 10.40%.
- Germany Retail Sales for December -1.4% m/m -0.9% y/y – lower than expected. Consensus 0.8% m/m 0.9% y/y. Previous -1.0% m/m 0.8% y/y. Revised -1.0% m/m 0.9% y/y.
- Germany Unemployment Change for January -34K – lower than expected. Consensus -10K. Previous -22K. Revised -25K.
- Germany Unemployment Rate s.a. for January 6.70% - lower than expected. Consensus 6.80%. Previous 6.80%.
- France Producer Prices for December -0.1% m/m 4.7% y/y – in line with expectations. Consensus -0.1% m/m 4.7% y/y. Previous 0.4% m/m 5.6% y/y.
- France Consumer Spending for December -0.7% m/m -3.1% y/y – lower than expected. Consensus 0.2% m/m -2.1% y/y. Previous -0.1% m/m -2.1% y/y. Revised 0.1% m/m -1.9% y/y.
- Italy Unemployment Rate s.a. for December 8.90% - higher than expected. Consensus 8.70%. Previous 8.60%. Revised 8.80%.
- Italy PPI for December 0.1% m/m 4.0% y/y – higher than expected. Consensus -0.1% m/m 3.7% y/y. Previous 0.2% m/m 4.5% y/y. Revised 0.3% m/m 4.7% y/y.
- Norway Credit Indicator Growth for December 6.7% y/y – higher than expected. Consensus 6.5%. Previous 6.6%.
- Norway Retail sales - vol s.a. for December -0.3% m/m 2.6% y/y – lower than expected. Consensus 0.2% m/m 2.3% y/y. Previous 0.1% m/m 0.9% y/y.
- Switzerland UBS Consumption Indicator for December 0.92. Previous 0.81. Revised 0.78.
- UK GfK Consumer Confidence Survey for January -29 – higher than expected. Consensus -32. Previous -33.
- UK Net Consumer Credit for December -0.4B – lower than expected. Consensus 0.4B. Previous 0.4B.
- UK Net Lending Sec. on Dwellings for December 0.7B – lower than expected. Consensus 0.8B. Previous 0.6B.
- UK Mortgage Approvals for December 52.9K – lower than expected. Consensus 54.0K. Previous 52.9K. Revised 52.6K.
- UK M4 Money Supply for December -14.5% m/m -2.5% y/y. Previous -0.6% m/m -2.6% y/y. Revised -0.5% m/m -2.5% y/y.
- UK M4 Ex OFCs 3M Annualised for December -0.8%. Previous 3.70%. Revised 3.2%.


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Retail news round-up on March 6, 2015: Apple Pay hit by fraudulent transactions, high street sales fall in February and DFS sets share price at lower end of range.
Apple Pay hit by fraudulent transactions
The Apple Pay mobile payment service has been hit by a wave of fraudulent transactions using stolen credit-card data from a series of breaches at retailers, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The fraud stems from breaches at retail giants including Home Depot and Target Corp. The majority of unauthorized purchases have been for big-ticket items at Apple’s own stores.
High street sales fall in February
High street sales fell last month as the cold weather put consumers off shopping and offset the Valentine’s Day boost from sales, reports City AM. Mid-market retailers recorded a sales drop by 0.2% year-on-year, despite easy comparatives on last year due to the flooding, according to figures from BDO.
The fashion sector was hit hardest with a 0.6% decline despite Valentine’s Day promotions helping to drive a 2.2 per cent uplift in fashion sales in February.
DFS sets share price at lower end of range
DFS has set its share at the lower end of the marketed range in a move that reduces the value of the company to £543.2m.
The furniture retailer floats today and expects to raise gross proceeds of £98m from the issue of new shares, which will be used to reduce debt..


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Trump bans TikTok, USA President has signed an executive order prohibiting any transaction or business with ByteDance, the Chinese developer of TikTok, from 45 days.
“The United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security,” Trump said in the text of the executive order, which would eliminate the application in the United States if it does not change hands.
The Trump administration maintains that TikTok poses a threat to US national security and is seeking to force its sale to a US company such as Microsoft, which has shown interest in the popular social network.
“Data collection (from TikTok ) threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party to access personal and private information of Americans, potentially allowing China to track the locations of federal employees and contractors, create personal information files for blackmail and corporate espionage” the order states.
Trump assured that TikTok creates “real risks” for the United States, which is why Trump bans Tiktok from doing any business, a move that may force ByteDance to sell its social network in the next 45 days.
This period goes a little beyond the date of September 15 that Trump marked TikTok this week to sell his business or leave the United States, where according to the Government it has more than 175 million downloads.
“I don’t care if it’s Microsoft or another big company, a safe company, a very American company has to buy it,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.
- What did Trump say at the press conference for SpaceX launch?
- Trump threatens to ban TikTok video app
- Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook will not hide posts of Donald Trump
Microsoft announced this Sunday that it is following negotiations with ByteDance for the possible purchase of TikTok in the US and promised to complete the operation no later than next September.
The Trump Administration, as well as important Democratic leaders, have insisted that the widespread use of TikTok puts the privacy of American data and national security at risk, since it is exposed through ByteDance to instructions and government intervention Chinese.
In addition to TikTok, Trump also banned this Thursday for similar reasons business or transactions from 45 days with the Chinese technology company Tencent for its WeChat application.


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What is in this article?:
- California almonds headed for third consecutive year of record production.
- Almond growers preparing for a harvest that is expected to be earlier this year, possibly in the first or second week of August.
- Cooler temperatures in late June are helping nuts to size and also giving a boost to the hulls.
- To reach a 3-billion pound crop, another 200,000 acres would be needed.
“Our focus has been nitrates,” Cameron said. He said almonds are “highly efficient” in nitrate usage, “and very little leaves the root zone.”
Firebaugh grower Chester Andrew said he and others have no desire to use more nitrogen than is needed. “Fertilizer is very expensive, and any way you can cut cost is good,” he said. “But I still want maximum production also. So we spoonfeed that along with calcium and potassium and micronutrients like zinc and iron.”
Both growers said they use micro or drip irrigation, which is growing increasingly common throughout the industry.
Andrew and others say this year was one of the best for pollination. The USDA said the bloom period was shorter than last year, but “excellent weather made up for the shorter overlap.”
The USDA and growers say the Nonpareil variety, which represents about 35 percent of California’s total production, is expected to off by about 7 percent.
Andrew said sales of almonds have been boosted by health claims. “It’s not just a snack nut,” he said. “It can be used to enhance flavor and because of its health qualities.”
Pat Ricchiuti, who heads P-R Farms in Clovis, said, “It seems like just yesterday that we passed the billion-pound mark.” In fact, it’s been 10 years since that mark was hit at a time when some in the industry questioned whether such high production could be sustained.
Ricchiuti is among those who gravitated to almonds in part because the harvest is mechanized, in sharp contrast to the labor demanded by tree fruit acreage that he left behind.