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CROSSMARK Names New CEO
CROSSMARK, a sales and marketing services company in the consumer goods industry, has appointed Joe Crafton CEO. Crafton (left) was previously president of the Plano, Texas-based company.
Additionally, John Thompson, CROSSMARK’s CEO since 2010, now will concentrate mainly on acquisitions and strategic alliances as chief strategy officer of the company. Thompson remains a shareholder, serves on the board of directors and will continue to oversee the company’s international businesses.
Further, Ben Fischer maintains his role as COO but has taken on the additional role of president, in addition to other responsibilities.
The executives moves, which took effect Jan. 7, come in the wake of a majority investment in CROSSMARK by an affiliate of global private equity firm Warburg Pincus.
“We have charted a course for the future that positions us well to grow our business and better serve our clients,” explained Thompson. “I chose to create the new chief strategy officer role in order to better focus my efforts on external growth opportunities. Simultaneously, Joe and Ben will continue to develop and lead new initiatives that will continue to enhance service to our clients and customers.”
Crafton joined CROSSMARK in 1988, was elected to the board in 2000 and held a range of leadership positions before becoming president in 2010. Before coming to CROSSMARK, Crafton was a manager with Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble.
“For nearly 25 years, Joe has proven himself in a variety of CROSSMARK senior leadership roles in both the legacy sales agency business as well as emerging and innovative service businesses,” said Jim Neary, managing director at New York-based Warburg Pincus. “Under Joe’s leadership of the company’s marketing services division, CROSSMARK has become the North American leader of in-store marketing services.”
“We have great people and a strong culture of exceeding clients’ expectations with service excellence,” observed Crafton. “With the twin tailwinds of both outsourcing and shopper marketing, we are well positioned for significant growth.”


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NEW YORK (The Deal) -- With a pack of deals for makers of products for humans' furry friends, e-commerce players are also hitting the auction block.
Two of those companies up for sale are Foster and Smith, which does business as Drs. Foster & Smith and Tabcom, formerly Pets United LLC, , according to people familiar with the situation.
It's expected that both strategics and private equity firms will be interested buyers because of consumers' willingness to spend more on their pets.
Listed PetMed Express (PETS - Get Report) , the Pompano Beach, Fla.-based pet pharmacy retailer doing business as 1-800-PetMeds, at one point also considered a sale, according to sources familiar with the company, but is no longer formally on the market. PetMed Express has a market cap of close to $270 million, and revenue of about $230 million.
Drs. Foster & Smith declined to comment, while Tabcom and PetMed Express did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Drs. Foster & Smith, the Rhinelander, Wis.-based hybrid catalogue and e-commerce business that sells a wide variety of pet products, is one of the larger players in the sector.
The company has annual revenue of $250 million, according to a source, and is profitable. About half of Drs. Foster & Smith's business is generated online. It is a purveyor of pet food and treats, pet bedding, cages and crates, toys and grooming products. It was founded in 1983 by veterinarians Dr. Rory Foster, Dr. Race Foster and Dr. Marty Smith.
TABcom, based in Hazleton, Pa., was founded in 2002 by brothers Alex and Carlo Tabibi, and owns a number of websites and businesses, including 1800Petsupplies.com, Horse.com, Dog.com, Statelinetack.com, Garden.com, Ferret.com, Bird.com, Fish.com, PetFood.com, Bike.com, Ecopets.com, Greenhouse.com and Saddle.com.
In 2007, according to Inc. magazine, it was one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. with revenue of more than $60 million. Today, the company has about $85 million in revenue and is run by Glen Demeraski, its chief executive, who joined TABcom in 2009.
The online pet retailers join PetFlow, which has retained investment bank Lazard as its financial adviser in a sale of that business. New York-based PetFlow could either be acquired by another e-commerce player hoping to consolidate or by one of the legacy brick-and-mortar players such as PetSmart (PETM) or Petco Animal Supplies, a source said.
PetFlow and Lazard have not responded to requests for comment.
PetFlow generated $39 million in revenue in 2013 and expects to hit the $50 million revenue mark. The company has grown rapidly since it was founded by Alex Zhardanovsky and Joe Speiser in 2010.
By November of that year, it was doing $250,000 in revenue per month, and by May 2011, it was churning out $1 million in sales per month, according to CNN Money. By early 2012, PetFlow was closing in on producing $2 million in revenue a month, and was on track to generate more than $20 million in sales that year, according to prior reports from The Deal.
In 2011, PetFlow raised a Series B round of $10 million led by venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners. Prior to that, PetFlow had raised $5 million from investors.
More recent deals in the space include Chewy.com, which took outside capital and has revenue of more than $200 million, according to a source. That company is not currently for sale.
PetSmart on Aug. 19 announced it had acquired Pet360 Inc., a pureplay e-commerce player, for $130 million.
The pet sector has been active, but not so much on the retail side of the equation, aside from pressure applied by activist hedge fund Jana Partners LLC on PetSmart to explore a sale to private equity.
Most of the deals, not to mention initial public offerings, have been focused on the makers of pet products. Freshpet Inc., the Secaucus, N.J.-based maker of refrigerated fresh pet food, has filed for a $100 million IPO this year. Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd. is also likely headed for a public listing late this year. The Wilton, Conn.-based natural pet food business is said to have in the vicinity of $750 million in revenue, 20% Ebitda margins, and could achieve a $3 billion valuation, said one source.
In May 2013, Big Heart Pet Brands Inc., then known as Del Monte Foods Co., acquired Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc., a competitor to Blue Buffalo with $300 million in sales. That purchase from private equity firm VMG Partners was for $500 million, a source said.

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- The South32 share price is slumping today, trading 5.3% lower at $3.87
- The fall follows news the company’s battling COVID-19 induced labour shortages and supply chain challenges
- Partly as a result, it has revised its production guidance for financial year 2022
The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price is tumbling after the company released a report on its performance during the December quarter.
Within the report, the company detailed a labour shortage brought on by COVID-19, as well as bottlenecks in ports, limiting the movement of its products.
It also announced it has downgraded its Australian manganese production guidance for financial year 2022 and plans to update its metallurgical coal outlook in the future.
At the time of writing, the South32 share price is $3.87, 5.38% lower than its previous close.
Let’s take a look at how the 3 months ended 31 December unfurled for the metals and mining company.
South32 share price slips on COVID-19 impacts
The South32 share price is in the red this morning after the company announced its global portfolio is being impacted by the pandemic.
Labour availability has been hit by increasing case numbers and workforce restrictions, while port congestion and global freight conditions have been impacting its supply chain.
The movement of the company’s inventory, particularly that of its aluminium smelters in Southern Africa, has been slowed by the bottlenecking.
As a result, its aluminium inventory has built during the half year ended 31 December. South32 expects that will continue in the near term and is working to establish alternative shipping solutions and points of dispatch to minimise the impact. It stated:
We expect the working capital build to unwind once we realise the full benefit of our initiatives, and port congestion and general freight tightness is alleviated.
Revised financial year 2022 guidance and production update
The South32 share price is likely also being weighed down by changes to its production guidance.
The company has dropped its expected Australian manganese production for financial year 2022 by 9%. It states that COVID-19 and weather has impacted its production, stopping it from rebuilding its stockpiles before the wet season.
The company plans to provide an update on its metallurgical coal production guidance for both financial year 2022 and 2023 in its first half results.
It said it expects production may be impacted by additional COVID-19 workforce restrictions in New South Wales. Additionally, it believes its operating unit costs for the December 2021 half year will be around 20% above previously given guidance.
However, it’s not all bad news from the company today.
South32 upgraded its financial year 2022 production guidance for its Cannington mine by 5%. It’s on track to have completely transitioned to truck haulage by the June quarter.
Its South Africa manganese production also increased 7% in the half year ended 31 December.
Over that period, the company realised record aluminium pricing. It also saw a 4% increase in quarterly alumina production while Cerro Matoso’s payable nickel production increased 26%.
Right now, the South32 share price is 3% lower than it was at the end of 2021. Though, it’s 40% higher than it was this time last year.


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In recent months we have witnessed tremendous progress across the global cannabis industry. Despite the multitude of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the industrial hemp, and commercial cannabis sectors have thrived over the past 12 months. This has been reflected in policy and market developments that have set the table for fruitful growth in the international cannabis sector. Now, we’ll explore some of the recent developments seen in the last quarter and what they mean for industry movers and shakers in the emerging cannabis markets in 2021.
First things first, on December 2nd, 2020, the organization at the highest level of intergovernmental and global policy – the United Nations – voted to remove cannabis for medicinal purposes from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It’s no secret that many countries are facing an economic downturn as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This move to adopt cannabis reform measures from the United Nations could not have come at a more critical time for global economic development and the opening of new market sectors.
The global cannabis industry promises to be extremely fast-growing. As we have seen here in the United States, on both the commercial cannabis and industrial hemp sides, the industry is a job creator and generates desperately needed new tax revenue streams. To highlight this point, the State of Colorado experienced the highest sales revenues for adult-use cannabis last year since legalization occurred in 2012. This shift in global policy from the United Nation represents a seismic shift toward the further opening and institutional support of the international cannabis market and clears a path for the continued growth of the industry worldwide.
Next, we saw Mexico move toward legalizing the world’s largest market for legal cannabis. This would likely happen after November, as lawmakers may postpone the debate on a landmark bill that would decriminalize cannabis, citing inconsistencies that require further discussion. When this comes to fruition, Mexico will boast the largest country in the world, by population, to legalize cannabis nationally. Mexico has a consumer market of more than 125 million people and has just established rules and regulations that will allow for the creation of the country’s medical cannabis infrastructure. Mexico’s cannabis reform effectively sandwiches the United States between two nations with federally legalized cannabis.
While Mexico’s progress represents an enormous leap forward for the developing global marketplace and emerging cannabis markets in 2021, it may also put pressure on the Biden administration and the legislative branch of the U.S. government to address federal cannabis reform sooner rather than later.
This brings us to a historic vote by the United States House of Representatives to pass the Cannabis Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. While the U.S. Senate is unlikely to pass the Act in its present form, this piece of legislation will have huge consequences going forward. The MORE Act presents a very promising foundation and bright future for the commercial cannabis industry in the United States of America, while focusing especially on matters of social equity and racial justice which are aspects of the history of cannabis prohibition in the U.S. that must be addressed.
Alongside federal legislation, we also saw five states enact cannabis reform measures in the 2020 election – New Jersey, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and Mississippi. License procurement will be vitally important for businesses interested in establishing a presence in these emerging cannabis markets in 2021. GPS is offering license procurement consulting services to trailblazers looking to strategically grow their operations in these newly opened jurisdictions.
Additionally, cannabis stocks have performed well since the inauguration of President Joe Biden. At the beginning of February, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined with other Senators in a commitment to make federal cannabis reform a priority. Nevertheless, moving legislation through Congress relating to cannabis reform will take time. In the short term, we may see elements of the SAFE Banking Act – a piece of legislation that would make banking resources available to cannabusinesses, while also opening the cannabis market up to institutional investment- come into law.
As suspected, increased M&A activity is expected in the cannabis sector. In the past month, Ireland-based Jazz Pharmaceuticals moved to acquire UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals for $7.2 billion in cash and stock. GW Pharmaceuticals was the first company to receive FDA approval for a cannabinoid-based therapy, Epidiolex. In recent years, Epidiolex sales have hit approximately $510 million.
On January 15th, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the long-awaited final rule on domestic hemp production. While we are still waiting for the Food and Drug Administration’s policy on hemp-derived cannabinoids, the final rule from USDA provides concrete regulations on the cultivation, sampling, and testing of industrial hemp in the United States. The 300-page rule took into consideration public comments submitted by stakeholders over the last 18 months and sets the table for the 2021 production season and beyond. One of the advantages to having crystallized regulations is that it provides more assurance on the export of plant material to international markets. This of course is essential to fostering the continued growth of a global industry. More than likely, 2021 holds additional regulatory progress in the U.S. and abroad that will help mobilize capital investment and governmental support, all necessary ingredients to propel the cannabis industry forward.
The recent momentum we’ve seen in the industry opens bountiful new opportunities for those businesses, countries, and entrepreneurs who want to position themselves for future success in this uncharted territory. What keeps many on the sidelines is uncertainty, particularly with respect to domestic and international regulations. With the collective experience of our firm’s leaders, we are able to bring black and white to a grey world. We are here to guide you and provide you with the context necessary to navigate the emerging cannabis markets in 2021.


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Take a look at some of TKTK midday movers:
Macy's was the first big retailer to report, and its results this morning were certainly encouraging.
Macy's reported quarterly earnings and revenue on Wednesday that beat expectations by a mile.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors digested mixed signals from the Fed.
A whiff of Fed 'taper talk' and a 10-year note auction Wednesday should keep the stock market focused on interest rates.
Despite backlash, retailers such as Wal-Mart have been quick to offer associates pay benefits and other perks for giving up part of their Thanksgiving to work.
U.S. stocks climbed on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average extending its record rise, as Wall Street looked to earnings reports this week from retailers including Wal-Mart Stores and Macy's to get a read on consumer spending.
Along with Best Buy, JCP, Macy's and Kohl's, Target is the latest retailer to open earlier at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving this year.
The "Fast Money" traders share their final trades of the day.
The CEO of Staples says “we are gaining momentum” but retail analyst Brian Sozzi says don’t be fooled. Here are 7 red flags that suggest Staples may be doomed.
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed to higher open on Wall Street on Monday.
Some of the names on the move ahead of the open.
Stocks ride a strong tailwind into the week ahead, but the Fed could remain a source of nervousness if interest rates continue to rise.
The retail domino effect continues as Best Buy announced it will move its Black Friday open to Thursday, following several other retailers to do so.
The official "Squawk Box" blog looks at some deluxe apartments in the sky, the Twitter IPO, and one state's proposal to raise money via weed.
A casual investor would fancy that JCPenney is about to enter beast mode but here are the things you need to look at, says retail analyst Brian Sozzi.
To lure holiday shoppers retailers are marketing more showroom promotions to mesh online and in-store offers for a single shopping experience.
More retailers are shifting the start of the big holiday push to Thanksgiving, which casts Black Friday in a new light.
Stocks were slightly higher Monday, with the S&P 500 pushing to a fresh high, but gains were limited as investors digested a batch of mixed earnings reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy-setting meeting.
It's bad news for retailers and consumers: Those big tax refunds they're counting on to boost sales are going to take a little longer.


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Vineyard raises Hospiscare funds
PUBLISHED: 15:47 17 September 2012
A Topsham-based wine company has thrown open the doors of its flagship vineyard in aid of charity.
Pebblebed Vineyards held an open day at its new vineyard and winery in Clyst St George to raise funds for Hospiscare.
More than 300 people turned up to enjoy vineyard tours, wine tasting, a hog roast and teas and cakes – and more than £3,000 was raised.
Owner Geoff Bowen said: “Hospiscare looked after a good friend of mine very well a couple of years ago, so we’ve got very warm support for them. They do a fantastic job and we were pleased to open our vineyard for them.
“It was a really good day, and the weather was kind to us. We were just delighted with the number of people around the vineyard, and we’d be pleased to do it again next year.”
It has been a mixed year for Pebblebed, with the company’s new winery now open but the disappointing summer weather having an impact on the crops.
Geoff said: “It’s been a very difficult year in the vineyard agriculturally, but we do have a small but hopefully high quality grape, which for the first time will go through the new winery.”
The grapes will be harvested soon, and as in previous years Geoff is inviting local people and families to help out by picking a few grapes while having a look round and enjoying a cup of coffee.
Geoff is also hoping that the vineyard’s Dragons’ Den investor Duncan Bannatyne may make an appearance at some point.
Harvest dates will be revealed nearer the time at www.pebblebed.co.uk


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Google Unveils Next-Generation AI Model, Gemini 1.5
Last week, tech giant Google made several major announcements, including the rebranding of ‘Google Bard’ to ‘Gemini’, the launch of the Gemini Advanced app, and the introduction of a new premium AI plan. Building on these developments, Google has now unveiled its latest AI model, Gemini 1.5, which boasts significant upgrades compared to its predecessor.
Gemini 1.5 introduces a longer context window and improved understanding and performance. Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated that the first model of Gemini 1.5, called 1.5 Pro, achieves a comparable quality to Google’s most advanced large language model (LLM), 1.0 Ultra, while using less computing power, making it more efficient.
The new model is built on a revamped version of the Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture, enabling the AI to learn and selectively activate the most relevant pathways in its neural network. This enhances efficiency and effectiveness in processing large amounts of information.
One of the key improvements in Gemini 1.5 Pro is its processing capacity. The model can now handle up to one million tokens in production, a significant jump from the original 32,000 tokens for Gemini 1.0. This expansion allows Gemini 1.5 Pro to gather more information, resulting in better-informed responses.
Gemini 1.5 Pro also excels in processing various types of information, such as video, audio, and complex codebases. It can efficiently process codebases with over 30,000 lines of code or more than 700,000 words, making it suitable for developers and enterprises working with large datasets.
Google conducted extensive evaluations of Gemini 1.5 Pro to ensure its safety and responsible deployment. The model outperformed Gemini 1.0 Pro in 87% of the benchmarks used for developing Google’s LLMs. It also demonstrated strong performance in the Needle In A Haystack (NIAH) evaluation and Machine Translation from One Book (MTOB) benchmarks.
In a move to further enhance accessibility, Google is offering a limited preview of Gemini 1.5 Pro with a one million token context window to developers and enterprise customers through AI Studio and Vertex AI at no cost. Pricing tiers for wider release are expected to be introduced in the future.
With the introduction of Gemini 1.5, Google continues to push the boundaries of AI technology, providing users with more powerful and efficient tools for processing and generating information.


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March 31st, 2010
APR Motorsport is proud to announce a marketing partnership with VW Driver Gear for the balance of the 2010 Continental Tire Challenge. The partnership will start with the debut of the world’s first MK6 GTI racecar at the Barber Motorsport Park round of the Continental Tire Challenge series on April 11. “It’s exciting to have VW Driver Gear onboard”, said APR Director of Motorsport Jeff Mishtawy, “It is an honor to be representing the VW Driver Gear brand and to strengthen the ties between Volkswagen of America …
March 10th, 2010
After experiencing some tough luck in round 1 at Daytona, APR Motorsport rolled into Homestead ready to get their Street Tuner championship chase back on track. With the cars refreshed between rounds, the drivers eagerly climbed aboard the APR Motorsport Volkswagen GTI’s. Both the 171 of Mike Halpin and Mike Sweeney and the 181 of Kevin Stadtlander and Josh Hurley were able to lap consistently amongst the top ten cars, while the APR Motorsport crew dialed in both MKV GTIs.
Stadtlander and Halpin then climbed aboard their respective cars for the …
March 5th, 2010
APR Motorsport is proud to announce that veteran Continental Tire Challenge driver Daniel Orr will be joining Ian Baas in the Audi S4 starting at Homestead Miami Speedway. Daniel will be moving to the APR Motorsport team after driving in the ST class last year and making his GS debut at Daytona in a Camaro.
Jeff Mishtawy, Director of Motorsport for APR said, “I’m ecstatic to have Daniel onboard with us in the Audi. We took notice of his great run at Daytona and I’m looking forward to his feedback about …
March 5th, 2010
In 2009, APR Motorsport claimed their first podium finish of the year at Homestead Miami Speedway. This upcoming weekend, APR Motorsport returns to Homestead to once again battle for the top step of the podium in the Street Tuner class.
In Daytona both the 171 and 181 Volkswagen were able to battle in the top five before bad luck dropped them down the order. Now the team is focused on Homestead which is a track that the team believes suites the Volkswagen GTIs better than the first event at Daytona.
March 3rd, 2010
APR Presents Our 4.2L FSI V8 ECU Tuning Program for the Audi R8.


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The Vintage Wedding Dress Company is celebrating the launch of its new Decades Lace Collection with an exciting one-off event. Brides-to-be will have the opportunity to shop the brand's stunning new wedding dress range at the Sanderson Hotel in London on Wednesday November 17 - and will also receive an exclusive 10 per cent discount too!
The Vintage Wedding Dress Company's exciting Decades Lace Collection is inspired by iconic styles from the Twenties through to the Seventies, and each dress is produced using beautiful silk and French lace, stylishly supplied by the same company that deliver to international couture houses such as Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Decorative lace has been one of the biggest bridal fashion trends this year, and its popularity is sure to continue with The Vintage Wedding Dress Company's gorgeous new collection.
Join The Vintage Wedding Dress Company at the Sanderson Hotel on November 17 - book your one hour appointment now by calling 0207 242 4792. Places are limited.
Preview the Decades Lace Collection at www.thevintageweddingdresscompany.com


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KUALA LUMPUR – The Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s (KTMB) Customer Service hotlines 1-300-88-5862 and 03-22671200 will be temporarily shutdown for three days, from 10 pm on Friday (Nov 7) until 10 am Sunday ( Nov 9).
The temporary shutdown is to allow for upgrading work on the telephone call system and the relocation of the service centre to a new location.
KTMB in a statement today said that during the shutdown, the customer service call centre could be contacted by email at email@example.com.
However, tickets can still be purchased online and users of e-tickets can make transactions as usual and check the status of their tickets at the KTMB official website at www.ktmb.com.my or at the nearest KTM Intercity stations. – BERNAMA


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Adobe, a giant computer software company, will be releasing a free-to-use version of Photoshop that will be available on the web to everyone.
The software company has started testing the free version in Canada, according to The Verge. This service that Adobe calls “freemium” will, however, have some of its features walled and be exclusive to paying subscribers.
“We want to make Photoshop more accessible and easier for more people to try it out and experience the product,” said Maria Yap, Adobe’s VP of digital imaging.
According to The Verge, Adobe released the web version of Photoshop in October 2021, which is a simple version with basic editing functions compared to the app.
“I want to see Photoshop meet users where they’re at now. You don’t need a high-end machine to come into Photoshop,” Yap said.
Adobe wants to attract more people to use their services and in the end, get them to subscribe to the paid plan to enjoy the full features of the editing service.
However, there are other clones of photoshop that are free to use on the web like Photopea, which has almost all the editing features that Photoshop has. This move by Adobe might indeed encourage people to use their services more and ditch the clones, or it might be a complete failure because of limited features.
At the moment Adobe offers a 7-day free trial which automatically converts to a paid Creative Cloud membership when it’s over.
By Zintle Nkohla
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24/7 Wall St. has put together a preview of some of the companies reporting their quarterly results this week. We included the consensus earnings estimates from Thomson Reuters and the stock price and trading history, as well as added some additional color on each.
Be advised that the earnings and revenue estimates may change ahead of the formal reports, and some companies may change reporting dates as well.
Alcoa Inc. (NYSE: AA) will kick off the new earnings season on Wednesday. The consensus estimates call for earnings per share (EPS) of $0.23 and $5.81 billion in revenue. Currently Alcoa is in desperate need of a turnaround. Recently shares have crept to a new low on the year, after exploding in 2014. At this point Alcoa is trying new things to boost shares and broaden its business, such as looking into is 3D printing jet engine parts.
Shares were at $11.10 as trading came to a close on Thursday, in a 52-week trading range of $10.94 to $17.75. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $16.10.
PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) is scheduled to reveal its second-quarter results on Thursday. The consensus estimates call for $1.24 in EPS, as well as $15.80 billion in revenue. Pepsi is trying out a whole new brand of beverages that it is calling the “Stubborn Soda” lineup. The company is making the move towards a more craft soda, hoping to capitalize on a similar trend that is rising in popularity. Craft beers have steadily gained in popularity over the years, and Pepsi is testing out this trend within the soft drink business.
Shares were trading at $94.66 on Thursday’s close. The consensus price target is $106.15. The stock has a 52-week trading range of $87.46 to $100.76.
A. Schulman, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHLM) is set to report its fiscal first-quarter results on Monday. The analysts’ consensus estimates call for EPS of $0.77 and $608.97 million in revenue. This company supplies plastic compounds and resins for uses ranging from packaging to sports. It provides custom performance colors, including standard and customized colors, organic and inorganic pigments, high chroma colors in translucent or opaque formats, and special effects.
Shares were changing hands at $43.13 on Thursday’s close. The consensus price target is $51.33, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $28.67 to $48.96.
Container Store Group Inc. (NYSE: TCS) is scheduled to report its fiscal first-quarter results on Tuesday. The consensus analyst estimates call for a net loss of $0.13 per share and revenue of $173.56 million. The company engages in the retailing of storage and organization products in the United States. It operates in two segments, TCS and Elfa. Its retail stores provide various lifestyle products.
Shares of Container Store ended last week at $17.03. The consensus price target is $19.14. The 52-week trading range is $15.49 to $29.39.
NovaGold Resources Inc. (NYSE: NG) is set to share its latest quarterly earnings on Tuesday. The consensus estimates call for a net loss of $0.03 per share. The company explores and develops mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold, silver and copper deposits.
Shares closed most recently at $3.27, in a 52-week trading range of $2.33 to $4.40. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $4.14.
Barracuda Networks Inc. (NYSE: CUDA) is set to report its fiscal first-quarter results on Thursday. The analysts’ consensus estimates call for EPS of $0.08 and $77.25 million in revenue. The company designs and delivers security and storage solutions. It offers cloud-connected solutions that help its customers address security threats, enhance network performance and protect and store their data.
Shares of Barracuda were changing hands at $39.51 as last week came to a close. The consensus price target is $48.08, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $23.95 to $46.78.
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA) is set to share its latest quarterly earnings on Thursday. The consensus estimates call for $0.87 in EPS on $29.67 billion in revenue. The company operates a network of drugstores in the United States. It provides consumer goods and services, pharmacy, and health and wellness services through drugstores, as well as through mail and by telephone and online.
Shares closed Thursday at $85.81, in a 52-week trading range of $57.75 to $93.42. The consensus price target is $91.40.
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Two big Canadian retailers reported declines in their fourth-quarter profits on Thursday, just as U.S. discount giant Target is poised to begin opening stores here next month.
At grocery retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd, a $61 million restructuring charge cut the company’s fourth-quarter profit by nearly one-fifth.
Canada’s largest grocer says its net income was $143 million or 48 cents per diluted share in the three months ended Dec. 29, down 17.8 per cent from $174 million or 60 cents per share in the same 12-week period of 2011.
Revenue rose 1.2 per cent to $7.46 billion from $7.37 billion.
Canadian Tire posted lower fourth-quarter profit as a result of a $19.6 million restructuring charge and costs related to its acquisition of FGL Sports in August, 2011.
Toronto-based Canadian Tire said that net income fell to $163.1 million, or $2 per share, in the quarter, down from $166.3 million or $2.03 a share, in the year-earlier period.
Revenue rose 1 per cent to $3.16 billion, the company said.
Marco Marrone, chief operating officer of Canadian Tire Retail, said the company has been working for a number of years on ensuring the right assortment of goods and concepts, irrespective of competitors.
However, when asked during a conference call with analysts about what the Canadian chain has done to prepare for Target’s arrival, Marrone acknowledged that Canadian Tire certainly mapped anticipated openings by the competition to ensure their stores have the latest concepts and assortments.
“We are ready for the competition. We have been planning that for a while,” he said.
For the full year the company said net earnings were $$499.2 million or $6.10 per diluted share.
That was up 6.9 per cent from net earnings of $467 million or $5.71 per diluted share in the year-earlier period.
Annual revenue rose 10 per cent to $11.42 billion from $10.38 billion as the company reported the full-year impact of FGL results, compared with just 19 weeks in 2011.
Canadian retailers are facing slower growth in a lukewarm economy. Loblaw and Canadian Tire are also facing more competition from already-established rivals such as Sobey’s and Wal-Mart. On top of that, Target plans to open 130 stores in Canada this year.
“In general it’s a pretty tough environment and it looks like it’s going to get even tougher by the end of 2013,” Edward Jones analyst Bobby Hagedorn said, referring to the challenges facing both Loblaw and Canadian Tire.
For the full year, Loblaw reported net income of $650 million or $2.28 per diluted share on revenues of $31.6 billion, compared with net earnings of $769 million or $2.71 per share on revenues of $31.25 billion in 2011.
“The hard work over the last few years from the investment in supply chain, IT and focus on the customer is beginning to bear fruit,” executive chairman Galen G. Weston said during a conference call with analysts on Thursday.
“We should not underestimate the dynamics of 2013 with…the roll out of a competitor with potentially an additional 130 stores,” president Vicente Trius said. “We believe we are very well placed. We believe our strategy is working and we believe that we can see increased sales in 2013.”
Sales growth in the food and drug categories was partially offset by moderate declines in general merchandise. Apparel sales were flat, Loblaw said.
Financial services revenues increased 19.7 per cent on higher credit card transaction values, interest income, and PC Telecom revenues.
“It does seem like they are making progress on a few key categories and we saw some positive growth in food and drug which is good to see,” Hagedorn said. “We do think Loblaw’s is positioned pretty well to compete with Target, given the variety of chains they have.”
During the fourth quarter of 2012, the company announced a plan that reduced the number of head office and administrative positions. The plan affected approximately 700 jobs.
The Brampton-based grocer has about 500 pharmacies within its grocery stores, which operate under 22 different banners including Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, and Zehrs.
“Inside a mall, it would most likely be a specialty offering,” said Marrone, noting noting officials have been testing the idea of a kitchen store.
In urban areas, where real estate is pricey and limited, express stores of about 10,000 square feet are being planned, with first one expected by the third quarter. Current stores average about 32,000 square feet.
Marrone said goods for sale would be modified, depending on demographics, but the key would be to ensure convenience.
These stores would also serve as the pickup location for items purchased via a new e-commerce platform, called the digital catalogue, which launches its first phase next month.
Marrone noted that consumers are seeking information, and the catalogue, which would viewable on different devices, would include details about products as well as videos and stories submitted by customers.
The retailer plans to put 7,000 tablets in stores by year’s end, so customers and staff would be able to access the digital catalogue, eliminating the need for sales staff to leave the floor.
Currently, online purchases cannot be made on the website. Details are still being worked out, but home delivery may not be available in the initial phase.
“This is a tough quarter for Canadian Tire. The momentum in their core business slowed down. With the environment getting even more competitive, we would have liked to have seen better momentum,” Hagedorn said.
With files from Canadian Press and Reuters


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A couple of years back the market was caught up in the hype around crypto currencies to the extent that we saw companies such as Long Island Iced Tea Corp renaming themselves to sound as though they were involved in blockchain when in fact they had little or nothing to do with it; Long Island became Long Blockchain Corp; many of these concepts, however, fail to be enduring in nature.
Now it would seem that every company wants to espouse its proficiency in AI with management teams eager to explain how they have been investing in it for many years. What is becoming clear however is that there will be clear winners and losers as AI becomes more mainstream and this may well turn out to be a sink or swim moment for many market participants.
Although AI has only recently captured investors’ imaginations, those at the forefront of the field started investing significantly in the concept many years ago. Microsoft’s announcement in January of a further £10bn investment in Open AI, the firm behind ChatGPT, adding to the $1bn it invested as far back as 2019 and an additional $2bn in 2021, kick started the hype. Prior to this announcement and the release of the product for everyday use, Google was always believed to be in the driving seat - however their knee-jerk reaction to Microsoft’s presentation of showcasing their competitor, Bard, backfired as incorrect answers about the James Web Telescope appeared on the first demonstration via Twitter.
Google Cloud Platform has long espoused that AI was the key differentiating factor between their offering and that of Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon Web Services. While it is true that Google has invested heavily in AI, if employee numbers are anything to go by, Amazon, who has kept tight lipped about its proficiency has out invested all its major cloud peers by a significant amount, and all the cloud hosting players from IBM to Microsoft are informing their clients how they have integrated AI into their offerings and to what extent this is going to continue.
Last week Google relaunched its Bard offering, with much greater success and informed developers that it is already embodied in Gmail and a partnership with SAP for AI powered analysis. Meanwhile Palantir Technologies announced that its AI platform would enter the market later this year and that demand was “without precedent”; both companies saw their share prices spike upwards in the days that followed.
The announcement from Palantir was particularly interesting as it primarily works with governments and corporations with sensitive data and networks, suggesting that some of the concerns over AI security are being overcome. However we expect that regulation will be forthcoming given that more malign parties are likely to look to piggyback on AI for new and more sophisticated ways to accessing data and systems.
The importance of having a credible answer to the arrival of AI in the mainstream is best embodied by the example of Google after its embarrassing initial launch of Bard. In the weeks that followed, Samsung announced that it was exploring using Microsoft’s Bing with its ChatGPT functionality as its primary search engine on its telephones, and given this, investors should look at the likely winners and losers should this type of disruption permeate further.
Should Apple choose to follow Samsung and look at using Bing rather than Google as its primary search engine for iOS the impact is likely to more disruptive to the status quo. Microsoft has signalled its intention to use AI to take market share in digital advertising. It comments that it sees every one-point share gain in search advertising represents a $2bn revenue opportunity for its advertising business; suddenly the $10bn investment doesn’t seem so outrageous. Google’s revenues from iOS are estimated by Barclays to be in the region of $85 billion, with gross profits of around $60 billion, and given their dominance, it is easy to see where Microsoft has set its target.
Diving into the UK competition and Markets data, one can find that despite its dominance, 85% of Googles revenues come from the top 5%-10% of advertisers (just 15k companies). This picture is likely to be similar in the US, so the number of clients that would have to switch to primarily using Bing as their source for marketing dollars is relatively small to have a meaningful impact on both companies. While these two battle it out, ironically it is Apple who is likely to end up as the big beneficiary as it can use the increased competition to drive up the traffic acquisition costs (TAC) charged to Google. A 5% increase in the TAC rate would reduce Google’s operating income by 3% at no cost to Apple which already receives more than a 40% TAC rate. Google has would have little option but to bend to Apple’s demand given the risk of Microsoft being prepared to pay more to drive scale and profitability to Bing.
The ramifications of AI, however, reach further than just the major cloud companies, and while almost every company is now talking about AI, there are definite winners and losers from this new arms race - investors are rapidly looking for the second derivative beneficiaries and those most exposed.
The semiconductor chip maker Nvidia has led the way, widely seen as the primary beneficiary of the extra computing power needed. Microsoft has announced that it will partner with Advanced Micro Devices to develop AI chips, but security companies such as Palo Alto and many more have ridden this wave.
The punishment for not having a viable solution or being seen as having a business model that is under threat by the solutions offered by AI tools is also very apparent.
The online education company Chegg will be by no means the last to fall foul of this trap as students turn to chatbots for answers rather than subscribing to Chegg’s study services and advice, but became the harbinger of how investors are likely to react if you don’t have a answer to the problem. For investors, identifying and avoiding those companies that do not have the ability to adapt and embrace the change is almost as important as finding those which are the primary beneficiaries.
We started this article pointing out that many products have their moment in the sun and then fade as investors move onto the next big thing, however, we would argue that AI is a more long-lasting change and will simply become more and more embedded in everyday life as it develops. Given that even ChatGPT is already two years out of date as it only uses public data prior to 2021, there is plenty of room for development to come and despite the movement in share prices to date, only time will tell whether we are only just on the cusp of a new mega trend. If Bill Gates is to be believed artificial intelligence is a revolutionary as mobile telephones and the internet.
WARNING: All information about the VT Tyndall Global Select Fund(‘The Fund’) is available in The Fund’s prospectus and Key Investor Information Document which are available free of charge (in English) from Valu-Trac Investment Management Limited (www.valu-trac.com). Any investment in the fund should be made on the basis of the terms governing the fund and not


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Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has found itself in legal trouble after being accused of infringing on a patent linked to its blockchain technology by blockchain-based software business Veritaseum Capital, which is now seeking $350 million in damages, as reported by Cointelegraph.
According to Cointelegraph, Veritaseum claims Coinbase infringed on its cryptocurrency payment transfer technology patent, known as the “566 Patent,” in a lawsuit filed on Thursday in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware by the law firm Brundidge & Stanger.
According to Veritaseum, the patent centres around “new devices, systems, and techniques” that allow parties to “enforce value transfer agreements” with “little or no trust” in each other, and Coinbase allegedly leveraged this for several of its blockchain infrastructure services, “Defendant’s infringing activities include but are not limited to its website. Coinbase Android mobile wallet iOS mobile wallet its Coibase Cloud, Coinbase Commerce APIs, Query and Transact, Participate, Delegate and Validator software, Coinbase Pay, Coinbase Wallet, and Coinbase Operated Public Validators.”
The law firm further stated that the patent is applicable with proof-of-stakes (PoS) and proof-of-work (PoW) blockchain.
Cointelegraph further noted that Veritaseum clarified that Coinbase had gained the $350 million figure by infringement due to which Veritaseum sustained damages as a direct and proximate result. The attorneys also stated that Veritaseum had sent a letter to Coinbase. It read, “Defendant had prior knowledge, should have known, or at least been willfully blind of the ‘566 Patent.”
Earlier in July, Vertiaseum’s “Coinbase: Forensic Analysis & Deep Dive’ report suggested that there might be other “centralised and decentralised digital asset exchanges” that enroll “unlicensed patented IP” from Veritaseum including Coinbase, Cointelegraph noted.
(With insights from Cointelegraph)


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CHICAGO — In the spring of 2020, when the pandemic dropped the bottom out of the drycleaning industry, owners dreamed of the day when society would reopen, business would pick back up and thin
David LaChapelle, Andy Warhol: Last Sitting, November 22, 1986, chromogenic print.
ASKING WHETHER NYC
For nearly a century, LEGO has been a major player in the world of toy design. Now the company is entering the home goods arena. As House Beautiful reports, adult LEGO fans can furnish their hom
After negotiations failed to reach fruition, Disney networks including ESPN have gone dark on YouTube TV.
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By Liz Jones For The Daily Mail
Published: 17:24 EST, 22 December 2021 | Updated: 17:24 EST, 22 December 2021
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Many companies offer health insurance and retirement plans, but did you know that there's a company in Memphis that lets parents take their baby to work with them? The "Infant at Work" program


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New Delhi: The 27th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council (GST Council) on Friday deferred the decision on imposing cess on sugar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. He went on add that the Council referred the issue of giving 2 per cent incentive for digital payments to a 5-member committee. The all-powerful GST Council has also okayed a plan to change the GST Network into a government-owned entity.
The finance minister, who chaired the meeting through video conferencing, said the blueprint for the introduction of simplified return filing has been decided. Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said the new system of single monthly return for GST to come into force in six months.
There was no unanimity in the Council over the issue of digital payments. Jaitley clarified that a majority of states backed the idea of giving a 2 per cent incentive if all payments are paid digitally or through cheques, others were in favour of a small negative list and so the matter will be referred to a five-member group of state finance ministers.
Clarifying on conversion of GST network or GSTN into a fully owned government company, the Finance Minister said the Council has agreed to a plan of buying out the stake of private companies. He elucidated that the Centre will acquire the 51 per cent stake held by private firms and afterwards the central and the state governments will hold a 50 per cent stake each in the entity.
Worth mentioning here is that the Centre wanted to impose a sugar cess of maximum Rs 3 on each kg sold by sugar companies. It was likely to help garner Rs 1,540 crore that would be paid to cane farmers on behalf of sugar mills.
The revenue collection from GST has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in April, signifying stabilisation of the new indirect tax regime that was rolled out in July 1 last year.


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Hostile bid schizophrenia rightly raises eyebrows
It’s hard to surprise the seasoned M&A set. But Alimentation Couche-Tard’s sale of Casey’s General Stores stock, even as it launched a $1.9 billion hostile offer for the rival convenience store chain, baffled more than a few on Wall Street. Whether Couche-Tard’s bid and Casey’s subsequent lawsuit succeed or fail, the tactic could leave its mark on the dealmaking rulebook.
Couche-Tard’s interest in Casey’s began quietly last September when the Canadian company, which operates nearly 6,000 stores, started buying shares in U.S.-based Casey’s. It began private entreaties to Casey’s management in November. And by the beginning of April, Couche-Tard had accumulated nearly 2 million Casey’s shares, or a 3.9 percent stake — short of the 5 percent holding it would have been obliged to disclose publicly.
That’s when Couche-Tard’s maneuvering became perhaps too clever. It made public its interest in Casey’s and offered to buy shares at $36 apiece. Casey’s shares surged past the 14 percent premium on offer to more than $38 — and Couche-Tard unloaded nearly its entire stake. Assuming an average purchase price of $31, Couche-Tard pocketed more than $14 million on the trade. The twin moves don’t have to be completely contradictory — Couche-Tard may consider Casey’s a buy at $36 and a sell at $38.43 — but the apparent schizophrenia still rightly raised eyebrows.
Casey’s has filed a lawsuit, alleging a “classic pump-and-dump” scheme — a claim Couche-Tard says is without merit. Whatever the outcome, the Canadian company’s trading must surely have influenced Casey’s share price. Peddling what amounted to some 17 percent of Casey’s daily trading volume as the market digested the hostile offer could well have restrained the heights the shares might have otherwise reached as investors anticipated a deal at a higher price.
Couche-Tard is still acting like it wants to own Casey’s. It nominated a slate of nine independent directors last week. But the market is understandably skeptical. Casey’s shares are trading at a small discount to the bid price. Couche-Tard may or may not have broken the law, but the company at least appears to have exploited a loophole. It may for now have a better chance of provoking regulators to reform takeover rules than of buying Casey’s.


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Eating at Pfeiffer Dining Hall is an experience everyone on campus has had at some time. However, taking food to go is also becoming a common experience.
Blair Stairs, general manager of Simpson Dining Services, said students do steal food from Pfeiffer, and some have even tried to take food in bulk.
“We have on occasion observed customers filling containers on the salad bar and/or taking food out of Pfeiffer in large quantities,” Stairs said.
Pfeiffer isn’t the only place students steal food.
“We have … observed customers trying to take food and beverages out of the Storm Street Grill without paying for it,” Stairs said.
Freshman Kent Efkamp has seen people steal food from the Grill. While he has never stolen anything himself, he understands why people do it.
“The food is too expensive,” Efkamp said. “Besides, it is easy to do.”
Freshman Kelsey Bolton, a work-study student at the Grill, said she understands why food gets stolen, but she doesn’t like it.
“I understand that people feel the food is too expensive,” Bolton said. “However, I don’t think they realize prices may go up if they continue to steal.”
Economically, prices at both the Grill and Pfeiffer could go up if food continues to be taken.
“Food is not supposed to be taken out of the dining hall,” Stairs said. “If food is taken out of the dining hall in large quantities, the cost of food will increase. At this point, I do not feel we have a major problem with large quantities of food leaving Pfeiffer which could significantly impact meal prices.”
When someone is caught taking food out of the dining areas, Stairs said they’re usually cooperative.
“When we observe [stealing], we talk to the customers and reiterate the food policy,” Stairs said. “Most of these customers have been cooperative and understanding of the situation.”
Food is stolen because many feel the prices are unnecessary and there is barely a punishment even if a student is caught.
Stairs said it’s not considered stealing if a customer is seen eating a small piece of food while leaving Pfeiffer. There is also a difference between stealing food and wasting food.
“Stealing and wasting food are two separate scenarios,” Stairs said. “If a person is stealing food, the intent to do so is evident. However, wasting food can be a function of our eyes are bigger than our stomach. The person may not be intentionally wasting food.”
Stairs said this is the continual difficulty while being in charge of an all-you-can-eat operation.
“In an all-you-care-to-eat venue such as Pfeiffer, customers are allowed to choose food from a variety of food stations,” Stairs said. “When an all-you-care-to-eat venue is experienced for the first time, people tend to take more food than they can consume. I believe there is a learning curve involved. I tend to see less waste later in the school year than at the beginning.”
Also to help keep down food waste in Pfeiffer, some foods are portioned out. Stairs reiterates the buffet-style dining experience by saying customers can always come back for more.


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WASHINGTON — The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the global voice for the technology sector's leading companies, issued the following statement from vice president for government relations Vince Jesaitis applauding the Senate Finance Committee’s vote to approve bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to reauthorize the U.S. trade promotion authority (TPA):
“The Senate Finance Committee took an important step forward today to help American tech companies be more competitive overseas. As ITI has previously stated, this TPA bill passed today by the Finance Committee makes important advances in the over-arching framework through which our government looks at trade. In particular, it reflects the changes and advances in the technology sector through updated standards that will allow the Internet and digital trade to thrive. America’s worldwide leadership in technology is not a given, particularly if our companies are not competing on a level playing field. This bill sets the standards, and gives the U.S. Trade Representative additional tools to ensure our sector can, and will compete on a level playing field. We thank Chairman Hatch, Ranking Member Wyden, and all the senators that helped move this bill one step closer to the President’s desk.”
Last week the leaders of ITI and seven other technology industry trade groups joined together in a statement of support for the legislation, and ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield explained how specific provisions in the bill would benefit the digital and Internet economy.
# # #


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Wayne Community holding free seminar on increasing sales
Published in News on January 24, 2005 1:57 PM
The Business and Industry Center of Wayne Community College will offer a free seminar next month on successful sales strategies.
"Time-Tested Ways To Increase Sales" will be held on Thursday, starting Feb. 17, from 1-4 p.m. in Room 145 of the Dogwood Building on the college's main campus.
Interested people should register by Feb. 15 at 735-5151, ext. 334.
Tim Dannelly, a seasoned salesman and sales manager, will review proven methods for netting higher gross profit and closing more sales.
He will discuss helping sales professionals recognize the basic principles for generating new sales while retaining loyal customers.
Other Local News
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A TikToker claimed that his college recently had an “Asian food night,” but the scallion pancakes served were far from traditional.
There are a couple different ways to make scallion pancakes, but it typically consists of scallions, oil, and flatbread dough. Some websites compare the consistency of a scallion pancake to a croissant or pita bread, but the outside is typically crispy with a savory middle. And even though the dish shares a name with American pancakes, the two foods are entirely different.
But the scallion pancakes served to Winston (@winstonhsiao) appeared to be of the American variety.
“They literally added scallions to the normal pancakes they make for breakfast,” reads text across the screen.
Indeed, it looked like the school served American pancakes infused with scallions, with cilantro thrown on top.
“They took the name scallion pancake way too seriously,” Winston captioned his video. “Everyone was so excited too.”
The TikToker said in a comment that this occurred at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts. The video has gained 1.6 million views since posting Thursday. In the comments, several TikTokers expressed their disappointment with the school’s take on a traditional Chinese dish.
“IS THAT AN AMERICAN BUTTERMILK PANCAKE,” one person wrote.
“They did not do any research beforehand,” said a second person.
“Straight to federal prison,” wrote a third.
“Misunderstood the assignment,” said another.
Others, meanwhile, noted separate instances where their schools have similarly messed up foods.
“My high school used to serve ‘chicken and waffles’ and it was chicken tenders in [an] ice cream waffle cone,” wrote one person.
“My uni served ‘bao buns’ at mine but it was SOUTHERN BISCUITS with pork in them,” wrote another.
The Daily Dot has reached out to @winstonhsiao via TikTok comment.
Today’s top stories
|‘Fill her up’: Bartender gives woman a glass of water when the man she’s with orders tequila shot
|‘I don’t think my store has even sold one’: Whataburger employees take picture with first customer who bought a burger box
|‘It was a template used by anyone in the company’: Travel agent’s ‘condescending’ out-of-office email reply sparks debate
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Ford plans to lobby Trump to soften gas-economy guidelines that hurt profits by forcing automakers to construct more electric automobiles and hybrids than clients need. Be part of our rising list of subscribers to receive Plug’n Drive’s e-newsletter and hold up to date with the latest electrical car news. Tesla launched the automotive new electric vehicles at evening, the X mannequin, a cross-over that provides extra space than the sedan fashions and the company’s unique sporty Roadster. They damage profits by forcing automakers to build more electric vehicles and hybrids than are warranted by buyer demand, he said.
The council’s aim is to promote electrical vehicles (EV) as a viable transportation different to conventionally fuelled automobiles. Electric automotive company NextEV has unveiled its new model, NIO, and its electric supercar, the 194mph NIO EP9, claimed to be the world’s fastest electric car. Wolverhampton council has now stepped in to ask … Read the rest
Keep updated with news on electric car and associated trade information from local, nationwide and world sources. There’s additionally a blue mode” characteristic that puts the automobile into gasoline conservation mode thus using more energy from the battery to run the electric motors. Car and Driver’s annual 10-Finest Vehicles checklist is a worthwhile advertising device for automakers, and an fascinating read for followers and automobile homeowners.
Because of the electric drivetrain X mannequin, smart car can tweak the torque of every wheel to easily adapt to changing driving situations. BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Firm and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the highest-powered electrical car charging community in Europe. Will probably be made in Austria and go on sale in 2018, however Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth says he needs the following technology of electric vehicles to be constructed … Read the rest


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(MENAFN) In accordance to a report gathered by home information system Property Check, the Dubai house sector registered its sturdiest commencing to a calendar year, with 12,119 product sales deals up until eventually now.
The firm said, this was a 17.7 for every cent increase in trading in comparison to 2017, which was the last most effective starting to a year.
According to the organization, the Dubai authentic estate industry also posted a report 6,346 promotions the past month, which was 43.5 for every cent greater than any other record registered in February. February transactions also surged 9.9 for each cent on a month-to-month foundation.
Dependent on Zhann Jochinke, main functioning officer of House Observe statement, “Dubai continues to be incredibly inexpensive by intercontinental criteria with a lot of European markets raising obstacles to exterior financial investment, coupled with climbing interest costs and inflation headwinds dampening the post-Covid restoration.”
Lawful Disclaimer: MENAFN offers the facts “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any duty or legal responsibility for the accuracy, material, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or trustworthiness of the details contained in this article. If you have any issues or copyright issues linked to this posting, kindly speak to the company higher than.


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WELCOME TO The THE INTERNET OF THINGS REPORT
Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
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Recent years have seen the proliferation of IoT devices across the world, and the number of connected IoT devices is projected to amount to 75.44 billion worldwide by 2025. These devices offer improved connectivity to make homes more efficient and life much easier. However, their mode of functioning (data collection) is also their main security threat, and the fact that they run on limited resources makes it hard to secure them. Recently, a hacker released more than 515,000 Telnet credentials be...
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VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) announced says it is starting the push to increase capacity at the container handling facilities.
The plan includes improvements at existing terminals, as well as expansion at Roberts Bank. In exploring expansion at Roberts Bank, the Vancouver Port Authority will be working with the Corporation of Delta, Tsawwassen First Nations, the community as well as the provincial and federal governments.
“The Vancouver Port Authority is pleased with the response of those at our initial meetings,” says captain Gordon Houston, president and chief executive officer of the VPA. “Key stakeholders recognize the role of the port as a vital economic driver for British Columbia and all of Canada.”
A recent study of the contributions of the Port of Vancouver’s container business on the B.C. economy estimates 11,979 jobs and $646 million in wages.
Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry. All posts by Truck News


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Microsoft, owners of Azure, one of the world’s top three leading cloud companies, has announced that it is the winner of a multi-billion-dollar deal that will provide the Pentagon with cloud computing services.
The software giant was made the winner of the Joint Enterprise Defence Infrastructure (JEDI) after a fierce competition between themselves and other top cloud providers. This includes the firm’s rivals, Amazon Web Services (AWS).
What does the new role entail?
As part of the US’s Department of Defence (DoD), the Pentagon is looking to upgrade its computing capabilities, including updating its power, flexibility and data handling. The DoD also wants to introduce more Agile ways of working.
Microsoft’s new responsibilities will also include replacing the old computer systems, which are currently made up of a number of different structures, with one single Azure cloud platform.
The new platform will be able to handle huge amounts of data daily.
Fighting off the competition
In discussing being picked by the pentagon, Microsoft said in a statement, they are “proud” to have been chosen and its hopes to “satisfy the urgent and critical needs of today’s warfighters”.
It was first thought that Amazon would come out on top of the bid to win the cloud contract. However, President Trump has supposedly publicly shot down and questioned the company and its CEO Jeff Bezos.
Amazon now has 10 days to decide if they want to challenge the decision and have a re-match.
However, the Department of Defence commented on the choice, saying it chose Azure after much consideration. It says that offers were treated and evaluated fairly.
Microsoft has been offered $10 billion ($8billion) and a 10-year contract.


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Baidu has turned to the financial industry to bolster its consumer finance business. The Chinese search giant confirmed that it has sold a majority share in its Financial Services Group (FSG) business to a consortium of private equity firms in a deal worth $1.9 billion.
The business is in the consumer finance space and its services include credit and wealth management. Its competition, beyond traditional financial businesses, includes digital efforts from the likes of Tencent and Alibaba.
The deal — which had been speculated at the end of last year — sees FSG renamed to Du Xiaoman. The group of investors is led by TPG and The Carlyle Group, and it will pay around $1.06 billion for a majority stake. A further $840 million will be given to Du Xiaoman.
Following the transaction, Baidu will own 42 percent of the business, which will operate independently. Guang Zhu, who had been Baidu senior VP and GM of FSG, will become Du Xiaoman CEO.
It’s fairly common for China’s tech giants to incubate business which, when ready, are they spun out to raise capital from segment-specific investors. Indeed, JD.com — Tencent’s e-commerce partner — brought in a range of investors when it granted its financial services division independence via a spin-out two years ago.
Alibaba itself has long-courted investors for Ant Financial, its affiliate division that runs its Alipay mobile money business, its digital banking arm and other financial services. Ant was valued at $60 billion when it raised over $3 billion in 2016 and now the business — which is reportedly closing in on an IPO — is said to be raising as much as $10 billion more at a valuation that could hit $100 billion.
Outside of finance, Baidu’s iQiyi video streaming unit operates independently of the business in a similar model to Du Xiaoman. iQiyi raised over $1.5 billion from a clutch of private equity firms in 2017, before going on to list on the Nasdaq this past March. That’s very much the blueprint in this strategy.
“This transaction marks another milestone for Baidu to incubate new businesses with large opportunities and strong synergies with Baidu’s core business, on the heels of iQiyi’s public listing,” Robin Li, Chairman and CEO of Baidu, added in a statement.
But Baidu has also offloaded businesses that it deemed to be fringe. In food delivery for example, a space where it was outmanoeuvred by the competition, it sold its Waimai business to Ele.me, and then later sold its Ele.me shares to Alibaba when the e-commerce firm moved for a full buyout.


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Singapore Post has appointed Mr Sam Ang, group CEO of Famous Holdings and SingPost executive vice-president, as chief executive of Quantium Solutions with effect from last Friday.
With this appointment, Mr Ang will lead both SingPost's e-commerce logistics arm and freight-forwarding operations as well as oversee SP Parcels. This is in line with the company's integrated delivery strategy, said SingPost in a statement yesterday.
Mr Ang will report to Mr Mervyn Lim, who is covering group chief executive officer until a new chief is appointed.
Said Mr Lim: "SingPost remains committed to developing and strengthening the company's end-to-end e-commerce logistics business and capabilities.
"Sam brings with him 35 years of experience in the logistics sector that will help pave the way for SingPost to drive synergies and efficiencies between two of our important businesses - e-commerce logistics and freight-forwarding - as we build out our integrated network."
Sam brings with him 35 years of experience in the logistics sector that will help pave the way for SingPost to drive synergies and efficiencies between two of our important businesses - e-commerce logistics and freight- forwarding - as we build out our integrated network.
MR MERVYN LIM, covering group chief executive officer, on the appointment of Mr Sam Ang.
SingPost will officially launch its $182 million regional e-commerce logistics hub later this year to create capacity for further growth in e-commerce logistics. The new hub will improve SingPost's speed to market as it brings its e-commerce logistics capabilities, comprising Quantium Solutions, SP Parcels, Famous Holdings and SP Commerce, all under one roof, said the company.
Mr Ang is a veteran in shipping, ocean and air freight forwarding as well as logistics management, with 35 years of experience.
He joined SingPost a year ago from DHL, where he was CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for South-east Asia. Under his tenure, DHL Global Forwarding Singapore was awarded the best performance station in South-east Asia in 2004 and the Asia-Pacific country of the year award in 2005, among other awards.
SingPost shares yesterday ended two cents lower at $1.495.


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For this reason I saw the main factory courtyard, the entrance for many of our visitors and staff, as the prime place to start a whole new area of the factory garden. ??Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, indicated that Trump could walk away from the debate if Fox won't exclude Kelly. But in a free society like ours, with an open marketplace of ideas, our founders expected the true to prevail over the false.wholesale cheap fitflops online malaysia


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Maven Magazine will be holding the second leg of their Beyond The Blush Beauty Mall Tour. It will be this Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Glorietta 3 (ground floor). Attendees will be treated to a day of pampering, pro-advice and beauty freebies. The first 100 mavens to pre-register will get an exclusive loot bag.
The sale opens at 11am while workshops are scheduled at 1pm. All attendees are required to bring their copy of Maven Magazine's August-September issue.
To all those coming on Saturday, see you there!
For more information, please visit their Facebook page here.


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* Q1 EPS 52 cents; Wall St. estimate 50 cents
* Revenue rises 6.3 pct to $2.92 bln; estimate $2.74 bln
* Shares rise 6.4 percent to new year high
By Paul Thomasch
NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Omnicom Group Inc (OMC.N) on Tuesday said quarterly profit slipped, but stronger-than-expected revenue growth and upbeat comments about the state of the advertising business lifted shares 6 percent.
Omnicom, home to a host of advertising, media and public relations agencies, including BBDO Worldwide and DDB Worldwide, benefited from stronger revenue in the United States, Africa and the Middle East. Europe, however, remained a weak spot.
While executives noted that the overall 6.3 percent increase in revenue was aided by easy comparisons from a year ago when spending on advertising and marketing was tanking, they also said business was on the upswing. Sports marketing and public relations, in particular, have bounced back, they said.
"The general business environment continues to stabilize and improve, and as we look at individual countries and regions, we are cautiously optimistic about continued growth," Chief Executive John Wren said on a conference call after the earnings were announced on Tuesday.
Omnicom, whose clients include Anheuser-Busch, McDonald's and Pfizer, said first-quarter income fell to $163.4 million, or 52 cents a share, down from $164.5 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier.
The results were slightly higher than the 50 cents-a-share profit that was expected on average by Wall Street analysts, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Revenue rose 6.3 percent to $2.92 billion, due to solid international sales outside of Europe. Like profit, revenue also surpassed expectations.
Organic revenue, a closely watched industry benchmark that excludes foreign currency impact and recent acquisitions, rose 2.1 percent. That marked a sharp improvement from the fourth quarter, when organic revenue declined 6.3 percent.
Shares of Omnicom, one of the bellwethers for the advertising industry, rose $2.59 to $43.71 in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Earlier, they touched a new year high of $43.91.
Growing confidence about the health of advertising helped lift other media stocks as well. Interpublic Group (IPG.N), another major advertising holding company, rose 7.3 percent; New York Times Co (NYT.N), Gannett Co (GCI.N) and McClatchy Co (MNI.N), all of which depend on advertising sales, were all up more than 2 percent. (Reporting by Paul Thomasch, editing by Maureen Bavdek)


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San Francisco, California, USA
London, United Kingdom
Uber is disrupting the transport industry through it's cashless and easy to use apps that are now available in over 35 cities today.
David Rohrsheim, General Manager of Uber Australia, will be presenting on Uber's history and it's now rapidly expanding global presence.
Lectures will occur every Friday from 5-6pm during semester 2 at the PNR Lecture Theatre 1 (Farrell Lecture Theatre) in the Engineering Precinct at the University of Sydney.


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Something good's coming from the heatwave that's dried out most of the country, with the nation's main supermarket supplier of chillies saying that those grown during this fierce and spicy UK summer will end up tasting fiercer and spicier too.
This is according to the battered taste buds of chilli farmer Salvatore Genovese, who says that varieties grown here over the unusually dry and warm summer months could end up being around 20 per cent hotter than usual. Genovese explains that the stresses placed upon plants grown during drought periods appears to make them "angry" – and angry plants produce hotter fruits as you might expect.
Genovese supplies a million chillies a week to the UK supermarkets, including the Guinness-certified world's hottest Carolina Reaper; so if you want to prove something and possibly trigger a fit or a stroke, late-summer 2018 is the time to give a Reaper a try. [The Times]


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CSX said it expects revenue to fall as much as 2% in 2019, well below a previous forecast of an increase of 1% to 2%.Marketsread more
Challenging conditions in the U.S. housing market, along with tighter currency controls by the Chinese government, cause a stunning drop in foreign demand for American homes.Real Estateread more
The growth in net interest income, a main engine of the industry's profit, looks to slow to a halt in the back half of this year.Banksread more
Amazon also said that on Monday and Tuesday it sold more Amazon devices — like the Echo Dot, the Fire TV Stick and Alexa Voice Remote — over a two-day period than it ever has...Retailread more
The news comes after eBay announced a strategic portfolio review on March 1.The Faber Reportread more
If the S&P 500 climbs another 4%, it will have doubled the peak reached in the previous bull market, Michael Santoli notes.Trading Nationread more
The "'Cadillac tax," set to go into effect in 2022, is unpopular with both Republicans and Democrats, who say it punishes the middle class.Health and Scienceread more
Ascending triangle patterns have been appearing across the stock market, and they tend to be precursors to higher prices, says Miller Tabak's Matt Maley.Trading Nationread more
Netflix reports earnings Wednesday as it loses licensed shows to rivals launching their own streaming services.Technologyread more
Hedge fund manager Kyle Bass reportedly thinks that U.S. interest rates will plummet toward zero in 2020 as the economy heads for recession.Hedge Fundsread more
Shares of beauty and wellness products company Nu Skin tanked on Wednesday after the company said China's crackdown on health products is weighing on sales.Investingread more
Eldorado Resorts and billionaire Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Golden Nugget casino and Houston Rockets basketball team, are both actively considering a bid for Caesars Entertainment, people familiar with the talks told CNBC.
Despite other published reports of Caesars' board being on the verge of approving a move to put the $24 billion company up for sale, a person close to the situation said, the board has made no decision, though it is open to the prospect of a sale if that's the most expeditious way to create value.
Both prospective buyers are performing due diligence, reviewing non-public information in Caesars' books and data room, the people said.
Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn has increased his stake in Caesars and now owns more than 28%, including swaps, a person familiar with his investment said. In a deal with Caesars, Icahn added three new directors to the board. Those directors are getting up to speed, reviewing strategy and the company's standalone prospects, a person said.
Earlier this week, Jefferies gaming analyst David Katz cut the price target on Caesars by $1 to $10, citing poor weather in the first quarter combined with a challenging winter on the Las Vegas Strip. But Katz points out, "We remain confident in the long term earnings potential of the properties and the embedded advantages within the Caesars Rewards program as the leadership and ownership structure of the business are resolved."
Shares of Caesars are down 15 percent over the past year, but the stock has gained 36% since January, bringing its market value to $6.2 billion. On Thursday, shares were trading up nearly 3% at about $9.33.
By comparison, Eldorado has a market value of $3.7 billion. Its stock is up more than 33% since the start of the year.
Investors are expecting an announcement from Caesars within the next five days, as Icahn has placed an April 15 deadline for Caesars to either to hire a new CEO of whom he approves or to add another new Icahn appointee to the board.
CEO Mark Frissora's last day at Caesars is April 30.


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H&M has sent customers as they tease news a massive sale is on the horizon.
According to The New York Times, the price drop is to enable the brand to sell off the whopping £3 billion worth of unsold clothes they have accumulated over the past three months.
The sale will include everything from dresses to accessories, which have yet to be snapped up.
But that is not all, slashes prices will also hit festive garments, such as Halloween costumes and Christmas-themed products.
It has been reported the sale is the companies plot to combat the alleged 62 per cent drop in profits over recent weeks, which is believed to have risen by almost 10 per cent over the past 12 months.
It is hoped the reduced price tags will help the company solve the issue.
Speaking to the BBC about the plan, a spokesperson said: “We take a long-term view that, together with our knowledge and experience enable us to navigate through times such as this.
"We hope to go back to healthy growth in both sales and profitability."
This news comes after the company revealed their plans to cut back on opening new stores, which has recently seen New Look and Select close down.
The company, which also look after Cos as well as & Other Stories, have strived to put more emphasis on their e-store and online site.
Customers cannot wait for the sale, although specific details of when the reduction will take place has yet to be revealed.
One social media user tweeted: “For the past three three months i’ve been stalking this $30 pair of shorts at H&M and waiting for them to go on sale. TODAY IT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!! $10 MY GUY!!!!!”, while another wrote: “The rumoured H&M sale of all the unsold clothes is the best news to wake up to on a Thursday morning, just got paid and ready to blow it all away.”


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A new proposal hopes to repurpose USPS infrastructure to help fight food insecurity in L.A.
The vegan patty is now in restaurants in three U.S. cities, and it could be the next step in nudging die-hard meat fans toward more sustainable fare.
A new photography book visualizes what those 19th-century routes look like today.
In five minutes, mRelief helps users learn whether they qualify, and how to claim benefits.
A startup debuted a bracelet to protect newborns from hypothermia.


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After last month's move by Apple to ban apps that mine cryptocurrency from its ecosystem, Google is now following suit with an update to its Play Store developer policies. The search giant has officially barred crypto miners from its digital marketplace in addition to several more categories of restricted apps. The ban, however, does not apply to "apps that remotely manage the mining of cryptocurrency." Google also forbids apps that serve distracting ads to users after each tap and those that misrepresent their true nature.
Other categories of newly banned content include "apps that appeal to children but contain adult themes," with Google warning to remove the accounts of those that distribute "content with child sexual abuse imagery." Last November, Google-owned YouTube also announced improvements to its platform as part of an effort to purge the video-sharing site of child-inappropriate content.
Finally, apps that "facilitate the sale of explosives, firearms, ammunition, or certain firearms accessories" are also banned as well as apps that offer a similar user experience to existing apps on the Play Store.
The new changes mark the latest in a series of crackdowns on cryptocurrencies enforced by tech companies. Last month, Google began restricting ads that promoted initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets, and cryptocurrency trading advice. Earlier this year, Facebook also banned ads for the same types of content.
Via: Android Police


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NEW YORK -- American Apparel said Monday it plans to lay off workers and shutter stores with weak sales.
The Los Angeles-based company hopes to slash $30 million in operating expenses over the next 18 months. A spokeswoman declined to comment on the number of stores that will close and the number of employees who will receive pink slips.
“We are committed to turning this company around,” Paula Schneider, the retailer’s newly-named chief executive, said in a statement. “Today’s announcements are necessary steps to help American Apparel adapt to headwinds in the retail industry, preserve jobs for the overwhelming majority of our 10,000 employees, and return the business to long-term profitability.”
Most layoffs will be in the head office and at retail locations, a source with knowledge of the plans told The Huffington Post.
The company's stock price plunged nearly 11 percent by Monday afternoon on news of the cost-cutting measures.
The announcement comes amid a desperate attempt to turn the struggling retailer around. In April, the company laid off 180 workers, mostly in its manufacturing segment.
Over the past five years, American Apparel has lost more than $300 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Former CEO Dov Charney, the company’s longtime figurehead and co-founder, was largely to blame for what Schneider called “steep losses.” He was fired last year, in part due to employees' allegations of sexual harassment. But the retailer said it is still fending off about 20 lawsuits filed by Charney, who had hoped to wrangle his way back into the company.
This post has been updated with additional information about the layoffs.


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A U.S. trade bill targeting Chinese imports goes against international rules and Beijing will not adjust the value of its currency to try to bridge a trade deficit that is Washington's problem to fix, China's commerce minister said on Wednesday.
"We follow the rules of the WTO, but we have no obligation to follow domestic laws or regulations in any specific country that go beyond international rules," Commerce Minister Chen Deming told a news conference on the sidelines of an annual meeting of parliament.
He said China had done a better job of bringing balance to global trade than the United States, bringing its trade surplus down to 2.1 percent of economic output in 2011 while the trade deficit of the United States was 4.8 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Chen said it was clear that the United States had a responsibility to close its own deficit.
"Why did the U.S. have a $700 billion overall trade deficit? Why did China have an overall trade surplus of only $150 billion but a trade surplus of $200 billion with the United States?" Chen responded rhetorically to a journalist's question.
"Every man, free from prejudice and armed with common sense economics can come to the right conclusion," Chen said.
Chen's comments come a day after the U.S. Congress passed the bill that Obama is set to sign into law. A U.S. court ruled in December that the U.S. Commerce Department did not have authority to impose countervailing -- or anti-subsidy -- duties on goods from "non-market economies."
U.S. imports from China were a record $399.3 billion in 2011. Washington said the U.S. deficit with China reached a record $295 billion, but China's data showed only a $202 billion surplus. China says the difference is caused by U.S. statistical methodology which includes part of Hong Kong's trade data in the calculations.
China's total trade surplus shrank 15 percent in 2011 versus 2010 to $155 billion, largely as a result of stalling demand in its two biggest markets with the European Union hobbled by a debt crisis and U.S. consumer spending below par.
China has pledged to balance the trade account and wants to ramp up imports to support an expansion of the domestic economy and drive consumer demand.
Chen said Chinese exports increased by an estimated 7 percent in the first two months of this year from year-ago levels, while import growth was likely above 7 percent.
The government's 2012 target is 10 percent growth in both imports and exports. Chen said "trade growth in the second half would be faster than the first half" of the year.
The consensus view of a Reuters poll is that China's annual export and import growth enjoyed a sharp rebound in February from a year earlier, primarily on seasonal factors.
CHINA REJECTS TRADE CRITICISM
Chen said U.S. criticism of China was unfounded.
"The U.S. government had subsidized its companies, like the three big automakers ... but China did not criticize these moves or start massive countervailing actions against such moves," Chen said.
Chen added that China's yuan exchange rate was now close to its fair value, and China had no intention to let the yuan appreciate sharply.
Asked about a World Trade Organization (WTO) Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance meeting that would discuss the relationship between exchange rates and trade, Chen said the yuan should not be what he called an "academic discussion."
"I have noticed that the U.S. trade representative and treasury secretary have noted to the Congress that they would use the meeting, as well as other events, to push forward yuan reform," Chen said.
"When I heard about this, I thought I heard wrong. They should push the U.S. dollar reform since the U.S. trade deficit is about 4.8 percent (of GDP)," he said.
"China believes all countries should maintain the basic stability of their exchange rates, against the background of global financial crisis," he said. "Any country's measures to devalue its own currencies or force other countries' currencies to appreciate is not appropriate," Chen said.
China's growing manufacturing strength has been coupled with a rising trade surplus that has exacerbated friction with the United States and other trading partners.
The Obama administration recently announced an Interagency Trade Enforcement Unit that will police compliance with trade rules by America's trading partners, including China.
Chen said China was willing to talk to the body.