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The countries of Western Europe are online powerhouses. But there are exceptions.
eMarketer estimates there are 22.4 million people online in Spain in 2009, and 26.4 million in Italy. Both countries rank among the top 15 worldwide in number of Internet users.
However, Spain and Italy do not approach the Internet penetration levels of other major European countries, such as the UK, France and Germany.
“Since relatively large numbers of consumers in Italy and Spain remain offline, only a small proportion of total advertising spending in the countries goes to the online channel,” says Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, Italy and Spain Online: Young, Affluent Users Dominate. “Many companies have not expanded their marketing strategies to include the digital channel.”
Many Italian and Spanish advertisers still reach their audiences through traditional media, mainly through TV and print.
Throughout Europe, marketers generally have a high level of confidence in the Internet and other digital channels. Almost one-half (47%) of marketers polled by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) said that online advertising was “essential,” while 41% said it was “a growing medium.”
But Europe’s online advertising markets are not all equally advanced. Internet use—and online advertising—have not taken off in Spain and Italy as rapidly as elsewhere in the region.
Online advertising in Italy is rising steadily, despite the gloomy financial climate. The “This Year, Next Year Worldwide Winter 2008” study by GroupM estimated that online ad spending would reach €730 million ($1.07 billion) in 2009, up 14.9% on its 2008 value of €630 million ($930 million).
But the Internet will still account for just a tiny fraction (7.5%) of total ad spending in Italy, according to GroupM.
The Spanish advertising industry has been hard hit by the economic crisis. JPMorgan estimated that total advertising spending in Spain would shrink by 9.2% in 2009, and return to very modest growth of 3.4% in 2010.
Fortunately for Spain’s digital marketers, the Internet is expected to buck this trend and post solid gains of 10% in 2009 and 18% in 2010.
“The brightest spot of Internet usage in Italy and Spain is among the relatively young, well-to-do population,” says Ms. von Abrams. “As a result, advertisers such as youth brands, banks, film studios, high-end beverages and vehicle manufacturers are finding an eager, devoted audience on the Internet.”
To see what lies ahead online in Italy and Spain, purchase the new eMarketer report, Italy and Spain Online: Young, Affluent Users Dominate.


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Glu Mobile, the mobile game publisher responsible for Kim Kardashian's smartphone game, has revealed plans for a Katy Perry game.
The game will take place in a "digital playground of global success and talent," suggesting that it will deal with fame and fortune within the context of the music industry. Players will be treated to Perry's "voice, likeness and personality" guiding them through this digital realm.
Perry's been very much in the public eye since her Super Bowl Halftime performance, which included a guest appearance from Missy Elliot, this past Sunday. Glu Mobile CEO Niccolo de Masi explains, "She is a cultural icon and we expect to translate key elements of her success into an innovative, highly entertaining mobile experience."
Image Credit: Christopher Polk


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SendCloud, one of the fastest-growing tech companies in Europe, announces its entry into the Spanish market with its all in one shipping software for e-commerce.
The Dutch scale-up has now closed a multimillion euro investment from leading Spanish venture capital firm Bonsai Partners and its current lead investors BOM and henQ in order to bring a solution to a recurring issue in the Spanish shipping market.
A problem-free shipping and returns process
Shipping is still the biggest hassle for Spanish online retailers. Sendcloud’s platform offers an innovative solution to save time and costs, delight customers and facilitate cross-border logistics. Through a single interface and without additional cost, online retailers can connect to carriers such as Correos, Correos Express, GLS and 20 other global carriers and their different shipping methods. This streamlined process reduces the cost of shipping for all online stores and helps them to meet consumers’ demands, enabling them to compete with larger e-tailers on a global scale.
Helping Spanish SMEs to compete online
Rob van den Heuvel, CEO of SendCloud:
The e-commerce industry is growing exponentially with consumers expecting even higher service levels when it comes to shipping. In order to compete, online retailers need to achieve the standards set by major ecommerce companies. Adding up the costs of logistics within e-commerce, which is on average over 20 percent of the total revenue and you can see how it might be difficult for retailers to compete on a global scale. By providing a smart and cost efficient e-shipping solution that relies on a big network of European carriers, we’re leveling the playing field for retailers and allowing them to provide a first class service to consumers. We’re excited to make our debut in Spain.
Andrés de la Morena, Partner at Bonsai Partners, said:
Shipping is a key feature for online retailers and partnering with SendCloud enables them to provide a customer experience similar to leading global ecommerce players. We are confident SendCloud has what it takes to become a European leader in its space given their impressive software platform, preferrential carrier agreements and international reach.
Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more European technology news.


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I'm (not) loving it!
Would you like to have a delicious burger with hair in it? Well, McDonald's has been taken to court for just that.
McDonald's has been taken to court in Hong Kong for allegedly serving strands of human hair inside its hot cakes, a news report said.
Securities trader Bobbie Chou claims he found three strands of hair inside his hot cakes after buying a takeaway breakfast at an outlet of the US fast food giant in central Hong Kong in July 2005.
The case was taken up by government hygiene inspectors who told a court Wednesday that they found a single 16 cm black hair in one of the cakes handed to them by Chou, the South China Morning Post reported.
McDonald's, however, denied the charge of serving substandard food to Chou, claiming through its lawyer that it was impossible for a hair to get into food because of the way it cooked its hot cakes.
Chou told the court the experience had put him off McDonald's hot cakes for life, the newspaper reported.
Magistrate Raymond Wong of Hong Kong's Eastern court is to deliver his verdict next week.


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Advent launches dealer program
KAYSVILLE, Utah—After four years of end user-direct sales, aimed at gaining respectability and product history, surveillance manufacturer Advent Systems has launched a certified dealer program.
“We’ve been around since 2004,” said Doug Reed, Advent president and CEO. “When we first began, our focus was on setting up a dealer network, so we went to ISC and ASIS and we discovered the dealers wanted more credibility and longevity, even though they liked our technology. Their first question was, ‘Who’s using your system?’ and when I said the shoe store down the street, that wasn’t quite what they wanted.”
So Advent, pitching a 64-channel DVR that can deliver 30 frames per second on every channel simultaneously at 704 by 480 resolution, set out to get some customers. The company now lists 37 youth corrections facilities here in its home state of Utah, along with all 21 driver’s license offices and nine DMV offices. They also recently installed at the McConnell Air Force base in Kansas and at the Sundance ski resort, but roughly 80 percent of its 700 or so deployed DVRs are in government use.
“So, we hit a point last year,” said Reed, “where we thought we had the credibility now. We’ve got the longevity now. We’ve got a lot of systems out there and we know what the issues are. It’s time to focus on the dealer program now.”
The company has roughly 20 companies signed up and is in talks with larger integrators like Stanley and Diebold, said Reed. And it’s getting out of the installation business entirely.
“Our focus is on the dealer,” Reed emphasized. “Even now, we’re pulling out the end users and providing that client to the dealers. They’re liking that.”
Admittedly still on the small side, at 15 employees, “as we set up that dealer network, we’ll grow,” Reed said.


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Aga launches latest model — but sales remain only lukewarm
Financial turmoil has apparently not quashed the demand for luxury goods in the Republic of Ireland, with Aga Rangemaster expecting record sales of its stoves this year.
The upmarket cooker maker said that it expected to sell 20,000 of its wood-burning stoves in Ireland in 2011.
But the same cannot be said for the rest of the world. “Things have been tougher than expected,” William McGrath, Aga’s chief executive, said. “The autumn has been very tough. We will, however, achieve profit growth this year, have a strong cash position and continue to take decisive commercial action to support our product development work. We are well placed when market conditions improve.”
He added that with autumn sales slightly below the previous seasonal peak, Aga Rangemaster expected


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UK startup Krush has set out to “revolutionise oral care” with its new sustainable, vegan-friendly toothpaste tablets.
Called Whitening & Remineralising Toothpaste Tabs with Blue Spirulina, the tablets are plastic-free, waterless, and free of palm oil. Claiming to be the world’s most sustainable toothpaste brand, Krush says that up to 240 gallons of water could be saved per person per month if consumers switch to the tablets.
Unlike many toothpaste brands, Krush’s tablets are vegan-friendly, since they have not been tested on animals and are free of animal ingredients. Many toothpastes contain glycerin, an ingredient sometimes derived from animal fat, along with animal-tested colours and preservatives. Since Krush tablets are waterless, they do not require any preservatives.
The toothpaste tablets are sold in recyclable and refillable containers, available either as a one-month trial tin or delivered on a subscription basis once every four months. As the tablets only contain active ingredients, with no water or fillers, they require much less packaging than conventional toothpaste. Krush is currently available via Sephora UK and Amazon UK.
In recent years, several brands have launched sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free toothpaste products. In 2020, Colgate introduced its vegan-friendly Smile for Good toothpaste in Europe, made from natural ingredients and packaged in a recyclable tube.
In the US, Jada Pinkett Smith has launched a vegan and almost entirely plastic-free wellness brand called Hey Humans, which includes an additive-free toothpaste. Meanwhile, actor and musician Lenny Kravitz relaunched his mission-driven vegan toothpaste brand TWICE earlier this year.
Expansion plans for 2023
Krush, which was started in 2021 by friends Carla Mackay and Donna Reid, says it is on a mission to innovate oral care and reduce plastic and water waste, one tab at a time.
“Since we started working on the first product it’s been a real journey! It was so important for us to get it right in terms of sustainability, but also the taste, user experience, and results. We’re delighted with the response to the launch of our Toothpaste Tabs and excited to expand the Krush range in 2023.”


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In 2018, Money20/20 launched its first China show in Hangzhou, the birthplace of Alibaba and Ant Financial!
At last year’s show, we put the unique Chinese fintech market under the spotlight, bringing together more than 2,000 professionals from 53 countries, building bridges for partnerships that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise, and creating in-depth discussions on burning topics for Chinese and international audiences.
This year, the Money20/20 China 2019 edition is back in Hangzhou, at the International Expo Centre on December 4th – 6th.
Money20/20 is a global community where leaders from the fintech ecosystem can meet and share their visions. At Money20/20 shows, over 45% of our speakers are the CEOs/Founders of their organizations and over 65% are C-level executives. All are senior industry leaders shaping the future of fintech, payments, and commerce.
The Money20/20 China 2019 show will feature 300+ speakers, 100+ sessions, and a keynote stage with an audience capacity of 2,500+.
Over the past year, we have captured the latest trends from the Chinese and international fintech markets to shape the themes for the 2019 China show, as follows:
Many banks in China and globally are struggling to service customers effectively and efficiently across their physical and digital channels.
Key challenges revolve around the legacy core banking infrastructure, the need to improve UX (user experience), or the need to leverage customer data across all channels. Direct and indirect competition from digital-first companies is intensifying, as customer deposits and balances in current accounts become a key battleground. Uniquely in China, incumbent banks are partnering with technology giants and replacing core banking infrastructure with cloud technologies. But how will these Chinese technology providers fare with global banks as they extend their rich applications outside of China?
At Money20/20 China, we will explore partnership opportunities for suppliers and lessons from those banks that are transforming their core banking infrastructure, locally and internationally.
Chinese e-commerce giants, technology providers, and financial institutions are shaping the landscape and the future of the retail industry in China and the world at large. In addition to technology, business models and customer acquisition models have transformed dramatically.
Money20/20 China will shine a light on emerging commercial models, utilization of customer data for loyalty and credit scoring, and the innovative technologies creating seamless O2O (online-to-offline) experiences and fully integrated payments that are driving this evolution in China and around the world.
The concept of AI has existed for decades, but now, its applicability has exponentially grown to have far-reaching implications for the world around us. Tech decision-makers are looking for ways to effectively implement AI into their businesses and drive value.
Specialized development in image recognition, natural language processing (NLP), AI chip architecture, and machine learning (ML) are racing ahead in China and becoming mainstream in line with China’s ambitions (or magnificent blueprint) to become the world leader in AI by 2030 with a US$1 trillion AI industry.
Money20/20 China will bring together tech platforms utilizing advanced AI, the top AI rising stars in China, and innovation labs from around the world to understand how the financial services industry will harness these mind-blowing opportunities and how to address the ethical challenges, as the lines blur between humans and robots.
The next financial crisis will be a security crisis. As companies embrace open platforms and marketplace economics, the strategies for protecting data and complying with regulation become more complex, while cyberattacks are only increasing.
At Money20/20 China, we will explore new technologies that have the potential to mitigate risk, security, and fraud challenges across the financial services value chain. We’ll also compare China’s approach to other data privacy initiatives, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and analyze issues around cross-border data flows and the balance of utilizing data for the development of advanced technologies like AI.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has nurtured the largest fintech market in the world. Key financial regulators include the PBOC, China Banking Regulatory Commission, and China Securities Regulatory Commission. However, recent regulation addressing internet finance has brought peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders to a halt. The number of P2P lenders may fall by 70% this year, as regulators intensify their crackdown on riskier financing. What does the road ahead look like for these lenders and the industry as a whole?
At Money 20/20 China, we will explore the strategic move from a B2C (business-to-consumer )to a B2B (business-to-business) play, the adjacent products these lenders are exploring, and the ultimate market consolidation that will continue to take place.
Chinese Millennials and Gen Z are riding the great wave of wealth transfer with their boundless enthusiasm for the latest technology and SuperApps, such as WeChat and Alipay, which have integrated into their lifestyles. Today, the challenge for financial institutions is how to reach this empowered customer base with relevant and seamless experiences.
At this year’s Money20/20 China, we will connect the dots of digital identity, microinsurance, and wealth management technology to unfold the entire landscape. The advancements in technology and business model innovation are enabling a host of new products and strategies for financial companies to reach the next (b/m)illion consumers.
The dominance of tech giants, such as Tencent and Ant Financial in China, is well established. These companies have leveraged marketplace dynamics to achieve hyper-scale and now offer consumers a range of financial and non-financial services, both their own and from third parties, integrated via a frictionless payments layer.
However, there are new disrupters on the scene — ByteDance, the operator of Douyin and TikTok, is set to launch a messaging platform called FlipChat to challenge the dominance of Tencent’s WeChat. Competition between ByteDance and Tencent has been escalating, with the latter launching multiple, short video-sharing apps to regain market share in the all-important Gen Z segment. This demographic is turning away from the ‘incumbent’ tech giants to platforms with a greater focus on sharing personal life experiences as a way of self-expression, such as ByteDance and Xiaohongshu.
At Money 20/20 China, we will explore the economics of the platform play and identify the opportunities and challenges in the race to gain market share.
The Initial Coin Offering (ICO) bubble may have burst, but the hype around blockchain continues to grow and is now being driven by signs of real and sustainable value being created. Hear about some of the key examples of at-scale blockchain solutions, zoning in on scalability, interoperability, and commercial value in such use cases as cross-border remittances and supply chain financing. At the same time, the development and implementation of blockchain technology is interdependent with the development of other future technologies, such as AI, cloud, and quantum computing.
At Money20/20 China, we will explore how centralized and decentralized technologies can work together, the best way to utilize AI and blockchain in complement, and how businesses should overcome a siloed approach to technology implementation in the future.
The growth of mobile payments transforms the way consumers and businesses transfer value, unencumbered by legacy payment systems. Money20/20 China will explore the front-end propositions that third parties are building, examine the value chains of cross-border transfers, and identify the opportunities for domestic and international card companies to compete by addressing the regulatory and customer behavior challenges they face.
We’ll also cover challenges and opportunities in cross-border payments, including new commercial and collaboration models, with new approaches such as blockchain-based projects and open platforms.
As of October 2018, venture investment in China hit US$93.8 billion, US$2.2 billion more than the United States. The world of global venture capital is revolving, fuelled by an accumulation of eye-popping valuations in Asia. Where it’s previously been difficult for foreign startups to get Chinese funding, China’s venture capitalists are aggressively venturing abroad.
At the same time, international VC funds are taking an increasing interest in Chinese fintechs, with the offer of global expertise and access to overseas markets. Now that China has promised to give equal treatment to foreign and domestic VC firms, will we see greater cross-border collaboration or will the political implications of the US/China trade war artificially accelerate the ‘winter of capital?’ At the same time, which sectors and technology trends are drawing domestic and international VCs’ attention in China?
Join us at Money20/20 China to find more cross-border opportunities between capital and technology across China and the globe.
With a more cohesive regulatory framework designed to protect consumer interests and economic stability, China’s regulatory landscape could become easier for foreign companies and investors to navigate. At Money20/20 China, we will explore the current regulatory landscape in China and opportunities for international partnerships in the context of the global political climate.
While RegTech is still nascent in China, we’ll look at global efforts to upskill the regulator’s capability to keep up with new technologies and business models and, ultimately, improve the speed and accuracy of regulatory reporting. Through these comparisons, we’ll address what the opportunities and challenges are for development in China and how technology suppliers, regulators, and financial institutions can cooperate effectively together.
About Asia Blockchain Review
Asia Blockchain Review is the largest initiative for media and community building in Asia for blockchain technology. It aims to connect all blockchain enthusiasts on a regional scale and facilitate the technological foundation of blockchain through a range of group discussions, technical workshops, conferences, and consulting programs.
Our goal is to cultivate and encourage a collaborative community for our members to gather, share their experiences and endeavors in the blockchain space, and brainstorm the potential uses of blockchain technology.
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About NBR“Nightly Business Report produced by CNBC” (NBR) is an award-winning and highly-respected nightly business news program that airs on public television. Television’s longest-running evening business news broadcast, “NBR” features in-depth coverage and analysis of the biggest financial news stories of the day and access to some of the world’s top business leaders and policy makers.
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Even though Facebook often finds itself in hot water in Washington and the media, users don’t seem to care.
New leaked renderings of what the Google Pixel 4 probably looks like are published.
An Israeli cybersecurity company has reportedly developed spyware that can scrape data from the servers of Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft products, according to The Financial Times.
Just over a year after buying online pharmacy PillPack for $753 million, Amazon is engaged in a bitter battle with an incumbent player in the pharmacy industry, which sources tell CNBC is working behind the scenes to prevent the company from accessing important patient data.
Netflix says it lost subscribers in the last quarter partly due to not having enough big shows on its streaming platform. Julia Boorstin explains.
We discuss more about the wildly popular FaceApp and its recent growing number of privacy concerns. Ian Sherr, an Executive Editor at CNET, joins us with his analysis on the app.
Microsoft reported better than expected earnings and revenue thanks to the continue growth of its cloud computing business. Jon Fortt has more for us.
FaceApp is going viral but Washington is calling on an investigation regarding the protection of privacy. Andrea Day explains why this app is under scrutiny.
Netflix blames its content slate, regional price increases and a “pull-forward effect” of its strong Q1 growth for its first quarterly loss of paid domestic subscribers since 2011.
Dow component IBM posted better than expected earnings thanks to growth in its cloud operations. Josh Lipton has more for us.
Netflix reports a decline in subscribers which surprised investors. The streaming company blamed it on increases prices and content offering. Julia Boorstin reports.
A lot of fast food chains are going high tech in its strategy to get more customers, which includes the kiosk craze. Kate Rogers reports.
Shares of Netflix were down 11% after the company released its earnings report for its second quarter of 2019 Wednesday. The results showed a rare loss in U.S. subscribers and a large miss on international subscriber adds.
Amazon has built a huge advertising business. Here’s a little more about how it all works.
What type of regulations will Washington hand down on big tech companies like Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook? We speak with John Freeman, a Technology Analyst at CFRA Research, to get his insights.


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Published on March 24th, 2021 | by The GC Team0
John Lewis store estate shrinks to 34 as latest closures named
The John Lewis Partnership today named the department stores it will not reopen after the third lockdown, as it rebalances its store estate to reflect how customers want to shop.
Earlier this month the retailer warned that not all 42 department stores would reopen, as the business recorded a loss before tax of £517m for the year ended 30 January 2021.
The eight shops identified for closure include four ‘At Home’ shops in Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester and Tunbridge Wells and four department stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Sheffield and York.
The business said it will enter into consultation with the 1,465 affected Partners about the proposals. “Should we proceed, we will make every effort to find alternative roles in the Partnership for as many Partners as possible.”
The remaining 34 John Lewis stores will reopen from 12 April subject to Government guidance, with the exception of Glasgow, which will reopen from 26 April, and Edinburgh on 14 May.
This is the second batch of John Lewis stores to have their fate sealed by changing consumer shopping habits and the coronavirus pandemic. Last summer eight sites did not reopen after the first lockdown. All 16 stores were said to have been financially challenged prior to the pandemic.
The business expects 60% to 70% of John Lewis sales to be made online in the future but said the department stores remain critical to its future success. Having fewer bigger stores allows significant investment to improve the remaining ones.
Meanwhile, JLP is trialling the introduction of John Lewis shopping areas in its Waitrose supermarkets and will be testing new formats of smaller, local neighbourhood shops offering the best of the brand. The online customer experience at johnlewis.com will also be strengthened.
Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “Today’s announcement is incredibly sad news for our affected Partners, for our customers and for the communities we’ve served over many years.
“The high street is going through its biggest change for a generation and we are changing with it. Customers will still be able to get the trusted service that we are known for, however and wherever they want to shop.”
The Partnership also today confirmed plans to transfer the running of its Waitrose Distribution Centre in Leyland to XPO Logistics.


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|Bid||0.00 x 0|
|Ask||0.00 x 0|
|Day's Range||2.4000 - 2.5831|
|52 Week Range||1.4800 - 5.0000|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||2.55|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||N/A|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||N/A (N/A)|
|1y Target Est||N/A|
OTCQX:EMHTF) today announced that its 50%-owned joint venture for large-scale, low-cost, high-quality cannabis production, Pure Sunfarms Corp. (“Pure Sunfarms”), has entered into a credit agreement with Bank of Montreal (“BMO”) as agent and lead lender and Farm Credit Canada (“FCC”) as lender (together with BMO, the “Lenders”) in respect of a CAD$20 million secured non-revolving term loan (the “Credit Facility”). Pure Sunfarms intends to use the funds available under the Credit Facility to finance the final costs of converting its 1.1 million square foot greenhouse for cannabis production, the vast majority of which was completed in January of this year. The funds available under the Credit Facility may also be used for general corporate purposes.
OTCQX:EMHTF) today announced its cannabis joint venture, Pure Sunfarms Corp. (“Pure Sunfarms”), has through a competitive process been selected by and entered into a supply agreement with the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, operating as the Ontario Cannabis Store (“OCS”), to supply the OCS with Pure Sunfarms-branded cannabis products for the non-medical market in the Province of Ontario.
As we see an increase in agricultural technology being used to increase the yield, and quality, of cannabis products, companies across the space will have greater access to inventory to distribute their products. Considering the fact that legal marijuana is becoming a reality in a large portion of the United States, Canada, and abroad, investors that have historically written off cannabis companies, are now flocking in droves with excitement. Nabis Holdings (INNPF) (NAB), Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc (EMHTF) (EMH.V), Green Growth Brands Inc (GGBXF), and The Supreme Cannabis Company (SPRWF) are four cannabis companies worth keeping on your radar on Thursday.
OTCQX:EMHTF) has entered into a license with Indena S.p.A. (“Indena”) of Milan, Italy, bearing certain exclusivity rights in Canada to use Indena’s cannabidiol (“CBD”) extraction technology, and contract manufacturing services for CBD extraction. In addition, Emerald has obtained exclusive use of Indena’s proprietary Phytosome® technology for the purpose of developing novel cannabinoid-based products with superior utility, subject to a minimum volume agreement.
CORAL GABLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 4, 2019 / Marijuana stocks have managed to become one of the hottest topics in the news over the course of the past few years. The fact of the matter is that previously conceived notions on cannabis are being replaced by favorable public opinions supporting all possible uses of marijuana, namely as a means of treatment for patients suffering from a myriad of ailments. Global Consortium Inc (GCGX), Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc (EMHTF) (EMH.V), Trulieve Cannabis Corp (OTC PINK: TCNNF), and OrganiGram Holdings Inc (OGRMF) are four pot stocks looking to remain on high this month.
OTCQX:EMHTF) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Verdélite Sciences Inc. (“Verdélite”), which operates a 75,000 square foot indoor cannabis cultivation facility in St.-Eustache, Quebec, has entered into a release, discharge and transaction agreement settling all claims made by Pivot Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Pivot”) against Verdélite and its former shareholders, as described in Emerald’s most recent MD&A. The claims relate to a non-binding letter of intent which Verdélite and its former shareholders had previously entered into with Pivot with respect to a potential sale of Verdélite.
One of the best indicators to look for when investing in marijuana companies is looking into the innovative efforts taken by a given company to develop and distribute the best possible product for the market. As we continue to move through this new year, the hopes are that the cannabis industry will be able to see even more gains in the future. Nabis Holdings (INNPF) (NAB), Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc (EMHTF), Curaleaf Holdings Inc (OTC PINK: CURLF), and Wayland Group Corp (MRRCF) are 4 pot stocks gaining speed on Tuesday.
OTCQX:EMHTF) today announced that its joint venture partner, San Diego-based Emerald Health Bioceuticals (“EHB”), has launched its award-winning Endo products in Whole Foods Markets across the United States, highlighting the unique positioning and opportunity for this product line when it is launched in Canada in 2019. The joint venture, called Emerald Health Naturals (“EHN”), secured Canadian distribution rights for this product line that was developed to support the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), but which does not contain cannabis. Canadian retailers have not been announced.
OTCQX:EMHTF) announced that its 50%-owned joint venture focused on large-scale, low-cost, high-quality cannabis production, Pure Sunfarms, received from Health Canada its sixth amendment to its cultivation license for its 1.1 million square foot greenhouse in Delta, BC. The additional approximately 138,000 square feet brings Pure Sunfarms’ total licensed cannabis production area to approximately 825,000 square feet. The newly licensed area is expected to be fully planted and in production this week.
OTCQX:EMHTF) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated April 17, 2018 and November 19, 2018, it has closed its 51:49 joint venture (the “Joint Venture”) with San Diego-based Emerald Health Bioceuticals (“EHB”), called Emerald Health Naturals (“EHN”).
CORAL GABLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2019 / The beginning of the new year has already gotten off to a swift start for growth in the marijuana industry. With the new year in full swing, Leafbuyer Technologies Inc (OTC:LBUY), Emerald Health Therapeutics Inc (EMHTF), Tilray Inc (TLRY), and HEXO Corp (OTC PINK: HYYDF) (HEXO.TO) represent 4 pot stocks that are heating up on Tuesday. Leafbuyer Technologies Inc (OTC:LBUY) is a company you may not have heard of, but could greatly benefit from looking into.
CORAL GABLES, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2019 / The cannabis industry has been notoriously successful over the course of the past several years. With the recent increase in capital and sheer amount of businesses entering the market, the nascent sector has seen unprecedented growth. As public opinion surrounding cannabis becomes increasingly more favorable, the marijuana industry may begin to present an appealing opportunity for investors looking into space.
Investors (MJ) have even lost money in Aphria (APHA), Emerald Health (EMHTF), and Aurora Cannabis (ACBFF), which have lost 64%, 60%, and 37% during the same period, respectively. Analysts’ consensus target price for Supreme Cannabis remained unchanged month-over-month at 3.63 Canadian dollars. The stock closed at ~1 Canadian dollars on December 19, which was at a discount of nearly 72.5%.
OTCQX:EMHTF) announced that its 50%-owned joint venture for large-scale, low-cost, high-quality cannabis production, Pure Sunfarms, received from Health Canada the fifth amendment to its cultivation license for its 1.1 million square foot greenhouse in Delta, BC. With an added approximately 137,000 square feet (half of Quadrant 3), the total licensed cannabis production area is approximately 687,000 square feet. The newly licensed area is expected to be fully planted by the end of this week.
This has been a big year for production and product line expansion, but it doesn't necessarily make this marijuana stock a buy.
OTCQX: EMHTF) today announced that its joint venture, Emerald Health Naturals (“EHN”), has received product licenses and natural product numbers (NPNs) from Health Canada to sell its award-winning Endo product line of endocannabinoid-supporting nutritional products in Canada. The Endo product line has been designed to impact stress, anxiety, restless sleep, pain and other conditions using non-cannabis ingredients.
Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. (EMH.V) ("Emerald" or the “Company”) has entered into a binding term sheet with a single Canadian institutional accredited investor (the “Lead Investor”) under which the Lead Investor has agreed, subject to certain customary conditions, to purchase 4,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $2.70 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $10,800,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering may be increased by an additional 600,000 Common Shares for total aggregate gross proceeds of up to $12,420,000.
On November 29, Canopy Growth (WEED) entered an 18-month supply agreement with MediPharm Labs, in which the latter will supply up to 900 kilograms of cannabis extract to Canopy Growth and its subsidiaries for sale. Initially, Canopy Growth committed to a minimum purchase of 450 kilograms, which could later be extended to another 450 kilograms.
OTCQX:EMHTF) announced today that Dr. Avtar Dhillon, Executive Chairman, has been appointed President of Emerald and that Chris Wagner has stepped down as CEO. As Executive Chairman, Dr. Dhillon has been intimately involved in setting the Company’s strategy and overseeing its operations.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / Traders News Source, a leading independent equity research and corporate access firm focused on small and mid-cap public companies is issuing a comprehensive report on Emerald Health Therapeutics, Inc. (EMHTF), a licensed Canadian producer of cannabis. From an industry perspective, the recent legalization of cannabis sales for adult recreational use in Canada was a watershed moment for the entire industry and the Company.


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Flipkart Plans To Sell Insurance, Awaits Regulator’s Nod
Flipkart wants to act as a corporate agent to sell life and general insurance as the homegrown online retailer continues to diversify its offerings, taking on platforms like Policybazaar and Bankbazaar that provide financial services.
Flipkart Group wants to introduce insurance as a category on Flipkart.com and will sell plans on behalf of insurers, documents filed with the Registrar of Companies show.
Solicitation and servicing of insurance policies through online channels has a huge potential and the company intends tapping the same to further both its top line and bottom line growth.Flipkart’s Filing With Registrar Of Companies
The company has sought approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, according to its September 21 filing. The rules for a corporate agency licence allows a company to tie up with up to three insurers across three categories. It could not be immediately ascertained whether Flipkart has received the regulator’s approval. The e-commerce company didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.
The Bengaluru-based company said it will offer end-to-end transactions—discovery, payment, delivery and post-sales services—on the platform but won’t itself act as an insurer or an underwriter. The company wouldn’t restrict itself to health, life and motor insurance and intends to get into various types of insurance solicitation and servicing.


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Nanjing, China [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] China Sunergy Co. Ltd. announced that it has entered into a wafer purchase agreement and a solar cell sales agreement with an unnamed U.S.-based photovoltaic products firm.
China Sunergy will use the multi-silicon wafers purchased from the firm to produce multi-silicon solar cells, which will then be sold back to the firm for incorporation into its downstream solar products. Based on the forecast provided by the U.S. based manufacturer, a total of 20 – 25 megawatts (MW) of solar cells will be supplied by China Sunergy throughout 2009.
The agreements may be replaced by an OEM tolling agreement between China Sunergy and the manufacturer, which is expected to come into force in April 2009. The parties expect that the OEM tolling agreement would not alter the basis of the purchasing and sales terms currently outlined in the existing contracts.
”The securing of this year-long agreement with our U.S. partner, especially during a period of instability within the solar sector, demonstrates that China Sunergy is able to execute on our strategy of signing financially profitable, mutually beneficial agreements with a diverse set of customers. We will continue to seek out additional suitable partners for our advanced solar products across a wide spectrum of geographies and industry segments,” said Dr. Ruennsheng Allen Wang, CEO of China Sunergy.


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Collegiate Pride Inc., a Pennsylvanian local screen printing shop has launched a unique style of face masks printed user’s own face named ‘happy face mask’. Previously Danielle Baskin, a Designer in San Francisco launched a cotton face mask that can be custom ordered with any image desired, including that of one’s own face and they are merely realistic.
Usually, around this time of year, Collegiate Pride Inc. remains busy in making thousands of shirts for camp and summer activities, but by the epidemic, that work has been hampered a lot. The store is happy to be able to create a product that is so high in demand right now and Danielle Stemple, Marketing Director says, “These things aren’t going away anytime soon.”
The masks are instantly produced using a digitized version of a quality image using a ‘direct to quality’ printer. The printer uses water-based ink and passes the mask over to create the image in about 10 seconds.
For this, a clear image is necessary for natural light and one can choose own style, realistic or cartoon, and the size of the mask. The cartoon version is a bit larger which creates a more exaggerated look.
This is a great way to make people delight in a dark time. The public response is the best part. Many do a double-take and then walk around to take pictures and ask where the mask comes from.


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CHICOPEE, Mass. – The owner of the Pride convenience store location that sold the winning Powerball ticket will donate the store’s share to charity, the Boston Globe reports. A single ticket won the $758.7 million Powerball jackpot on Wednesday.
Initially, the Massachusetts State Lottery indicated a Watertown convenience store had sold the winning ticket, only to correct that statement early Thursday to the Pride Station & Store in Chicopee, which is owned by Bob Bolduc. Bolduc owns the Pride chain and is a NACS member.
“We apologize for the confusion this created and remain thrilled that a jackpot winning ticket and two $1 million winning tickets were sold here in Massachusetts,” said Michael Sweeney, executive director for the state lottery.
Before the winner came forward, Bolduc told reporters yesterday that “we hope that they share it properly, also, because there’s a lot of needs in this area.” For his portion—around $50,000—Bolduc plans to donate all of it to local charities.
His 30 Pride locations in Connecticut and Massachusetts have sold winning lottery tickets before, including four $1 million tickets and a single $4 million ticket. “This location has had some big ones,” he said of the Chicopee store.
Bolduc also mentioned that the family business is already celebrating 100 years, so selling the winning ticket is icing on the cake.


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Who's passionate about healthy forests? Watch this video. It's in our blood. It's the backbone of our economy - it's no surprise that New Brunswick is the forestry hub of Atlantic Canada.
The forest and forest products sector employs 22,000 New Brunswickers with $2.2 billion direct and indirect GDP and more than $270 million in direct taxes. New Brunswickers are passionate about healthy forests, growing jobs and vibrant communities. JustAskJDI.com
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Oppenheimer Keeps a Hold Rating on Iqiyi (IQ)
Oppenheimer analyst Bo Pei CFA maintained a Hold rating on Iqiyi (IQ) today. The company’s shares closed last Tuesday at $19.31.
According to TipRanks.com, CFA is a 1-star analyst with an average return of -1.7% and a 50.0% success rate. CFA covers the Technology sector, focusing on stocks such as Tencent Music Entertainment Group, BlueCity Holdings, and Yalla Group.
Currently, the analyst consensus on Iqiyi is a Hold with an average price target of $21.44.
See today’s analyst top recommended stocks >>
Based on Iqiyi’s latest earnings release for the quarter ending September 30, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $7.19 billion and GAAP net loss of $1.17 billion. In comparison, last year the company earned revenue of $7.4 billion and had a GAAP net loss of $3.69 billion.
TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.
iQIYI, Inc. engages in the provision of internet video streaming services. It also operates a smart television streaming service and an entertainment-based social media platform, iQIYI Paopao. The company was founded by Yu Gong in November 2009 and is headquartered in Haidan District, China.


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Contract manufacturer Hi-P reported on Wednesday its second quarter net profit fell 18.7 percent on-year to S$12.28 million, despite an increase in revenue, as margins narrowed on more competitive pricing and a change in the product mix.
Revenue for the quarter rose 8.0 percent on-year to S$302 million, but the net profit margin fell to 4.1 percent from 5.4 percent in the year-earlier quarter, it said in a filing to SGX after the market close on Wednesday.
The gross profit margin declined to 9.8 percent in the quarter, from 12.2 percent in the year-earlier period, it said.
Other income increased by S$2.5 million on-year to S$4.8 million for the quarter, mainly due to higher government incentives granted to the group’s subsidiaries in China, the filing said.
Hi-P’s total selling, distribution and administrative expenses increased 12.2 percent on-year to S$19.6 million for the quarter amid higher staff costs stemming from annual salary increments and an increase in social security contributions imposed by local authorities, it said.
It also posted an income tax expense of S$3.8 million for the second quarter, for an effective tax rate of 23.5 percent, up from 15.0 percent in the year-earlier quarter, mainly on withholding tax paid on dividends declared by subsidiaries in China in the second quarter.
In its guidance, Hi-P said that it expected higher revenue but similar profit for the third quarter of 2018, compared with the year-earlier quarter. For the second half, it said it expected higher revenue and profit than in the first half. Hi-P said that it expected similar revenue and lower profit for 2018, compared with 2017.
For its outlook, Hi-P pointed to International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts for the global smartphone market to reach 1.46 billion units shipped in 2018, down 0.2 percent from 2017, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5 percent through 2022.
In the internet of things (IOT) segment, which Hi-P sees as a key growth avenue, the IDC forecast spending on IOT-related products to see a CAGR of 13.6 percent over the 2017-2022 forecast period, reaching US$1.2 trillion in 2022.
Hi-P’s Executive Chairman and CEO Yao Hsiao Tung had some words of caution.
“The market sentiment towards trade war has led to a more challenging business environment and difficult business conditions. In addition, we face rising competition, especially from emerging competitors in China,” he said in the statement. “While disruptive market trends such as IOT should benefit Hi-P, this advantage has been eroded by the adverse market sentiment.”
Yao added that Hi-P was seeking new customers as well as merger and acquisition opportunities in the medical and automotive industries.
Hi-P is a global contract manufacturer of smart phones, tablet computers and other consumer electronics.


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Cyber criminals develop service to protect themselves from scammers
Cyber crime is a competitive business, particularly for those who buy and sell their dubious services via online marketplaces.
But that competition can lead to the scammers being scammed. So called 'rippers' seek to defraud other criminals by selling dumps of fake social media credentials or invalid credit card details, or taking money without delivering the promised goods.
Needless to say this doesn't go down all that well in the criminal fraternity and experts at cyber security company Digital Shadows have discovered and mapped a fast-growing service called Ripper.cc that cybercrime backers have created to blacklist the frauds and fakers in their midst.
There have been previous attempts to disrupt the activity of rippers before with the use of forum blacklists and of escrow services to protect payments. But the Ripper.cc service takes a professional approach with a sleek web interface helping criminals to create and add to the service's list of ripper profiles. It offers helpful Jabber, Chrome and Firefox extensions that actively flag -- within the browser -- anyone matching a Ripper.cc profile in forums or other communications criminals rely on.
There's also an ironic commitment to 'transparency' with Ripper.cc's operators taking pains to explain why their service can be trusted, including open-sourcing their code and crowdsourcing new features from users.
Digital Shadows' analysts conclude, "Ripper.cc is another example of the industrialization of hacking and the growing professionalism of cybercrime. If such a service becomes successful, it enables cyber criminals to significantly reduce the risks associated with rippers and the overall cybercrime economy can become more profitable allowing for further growth."
You can find out more in a paper published on the Digital Shadows blog.


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Apparently most of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 critics who panned the new half-tons' conservative design strategy deserve to eat some crow. According to Automotive News, the fact that GM's twin pickup trucks have lost marketshare should not be the key to assessing the success or failure of the new pickups. With transaction prices of the pickups at $5,000 more per vehicle than last year, these two trucks have played a major role in providing the new GM with solid profits.
But some dealers are worried that the drop in marketshare and GM's reluctance to put more incentives on the hoods of the trucks means some customers will turn to a competitive dealer, especially when those competitors offer segment-exclusive technology and cool features the GM twins lack. The article speculates that the next generation of GM 1500s could make use of more lightweight materials, offer eight- and 10-speed transmissions and more fuel-efficient powertrains. Some of the more aggressive federal fuel economy regulations don't go into effect until the 2019 model year, right about the time the next-generation Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra are due.
Whether GM is willing to concede any more marketshare (remember, Ram outsold Chevrolet in March, 2014 for the first time) or is able to pick up a few percentage points with more incentives remains to be seen. GM seems to have done pretty well designing and producing more $40,000-plus trucks for customers, but to stay in the black it will need to address its market-share slip soon, and that could mean better pricing and bigger deals. Summer and fall pricing will be key.


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Foot Locker is working with Adidas to increase the sale of products from the German sportswear company at its stores, as Nike reduces its presence at the retailer.
The strategic deal between Foot Locker and Adidas follows record results for the former in FY2021, but an expectation of lowered revenue for the fiscal year ahead.
- As part of the partnership, Foot Locker will lead Adidas’ basketball category.
- There is a target for the deal to generate $2 billion in total sales by 2025.
- Adidas is expected to generate up to $105 million in revenue in 2022 from the deal.
Foot Locker generated $2.3 billion in sales in Q4 2021, a 6% increase year-over-year. Total sales reached $9 billion in 2021, a 19% uptick compared to FY2020. The company projects its revenue to drop in FY2022 due to expectations that it will not sell as many products from its top vendor, Nike. The Oregon-based retailer is selling more of its products directly to consumers.
As a result, no single vendor will represent more than 55% of Foot Locker’s supplier purchases beginning in Q4 2022, compared to 65% in Q4 2021.
Adidas is expecting a favorable FY2022 with sales projected to increase between 11% and 13%. Brand Finance’s annual review revealed that Adidas’ brand value grew 2% to $14.6 billion — the second-most valuable sportswear and athleisure brand behind Nike at $33.2 billion.
Adidas projects its net income to grow to between $2 billion and $2.1 billion in FY2022.


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Double Loop Games has closed $8 million in Series A funding to bring to market its first mobile game title.
The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2019 by Emily Greer, former CEO of games publisher Kongregate; and Shelby Moledina, former WB Games director of product and DeNa executive producer, who share a vision to create social and accessible games for all types of players.
“Games bring us moments of joy, essential social connections, and are part of the fabric of our everyday lives — and this past year has made it clear that our relationship to games will only increase,” said Greer, CEO, Double Loop Games. “At Double Loop, we think about how to entertain and create meaningful and charming experiences for anyone that likes to play games as a personal hobby or a social outlet, regardless of whether they self-identify as gamers.”
The upcoming game is described by Double Loop as an “innovative hybrid puzzle game with a deep social world.” Financing is led by Hiro Capitol, with its co-founder Cherry Freeman joining Double Loop’s board of directors.
“Mobile game growth has been remarkable in the last 12 months, most notably with casual online games with deep social play,” said Freeman. “As a group of games and tech entrepreneurs at Hiro Capital, we admire Double Loop’s mission to build games for everyone that are artfully crafted, delightfully accessible and socially engaging.”
Double Loop is currently hiring several key development positions, with a soft launch for its first game expected later this year.
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As sales of consoles stagnate across the board, Microsoft is looking to energise sales of its console, with a new Xbox 360 4GB + Kinect bundle for $99 upfront, subsidised by a $15 monthly subscription.
...of Android flagships, Yahootastrophe, and Microsoft vs. cancer
Microsoft acknowledges new Surface Pro 3 battery issues
surface pro 3
Apple iPhone 7 Plus: Unboxing and first impressions
Honor 8, a $399 phone that aims to disrupt high priced tradition
The HP Pavilion x360 has everything you need and won't break the bank
hp pavilion x360
Microsoft Corp. plans a hefty subsidy on its next generation gaming console, the Xbox 360, when it hits store shelves this fall, according to industry estimates. The company provided little financial information when it unveiled...


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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (March 12, 2009)—Tire Company Solutions (TCS) has announced a tire dealer stimulus program that involves giving away its Tire Power 7.0 software suite to 25 new dealer customers who may have the need but not the funds to buy the product.
The company said the idea behind the promotion is "to springboard dealers into increased profitability" and prove it´s possible to thrive in this economy.
TCS said the promotion will run March 15 through May 15.Interested parties can contact TCS at (888) 449-8473 or download a form from www.tcstirepower.com to apply for the program. TCS said it will select the recipients based on various criteria, which it did not detail.
“Our primary motivation has always been to assist and grow the tire industry by easing the burden of day-to-day business operations and equipping every employee to sell more tires and provide superior customer service," said Shawn Puckett, vice president of business development. “We strive to be the best at improving the dealer's business in all areas. The most essential tool in today's tire business is the IT infrastructure. We are giving this tool away as a means to improve the most essential part of their business in an economy that settles for nothing less than the best.”
The giveaway follows a similar “stimulus” announcement by ASA Tire Systems Inc. of Nashua, N.H., which is offering $1 million worth of technology solutions to dealerships.
TCS said another ongoing philanthropic effort it is undertaking is distributing vouchers to potential clients and affiliates redeemable for a donation to various tire dealer association scholarship funds. Each voucher turned in to the TCS booth at trade shows and virtually at TCS virtual education days yields additional dollars given to the state associations' scholarship funds.


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The Yakuza franchise has a history of prompting some pretty spectacular PlayStation 3 bundles – but this latest redesign isn’t to our tastes. The custom console comes with a gold DualShock 3 controller, a copy of Yakuza 5, an 8GB USB drive, and a beach towel. Yeah, we don’t get the significance of the towel either. It'll launch on 6th December in Japan for ¥37,800.
Meanwhile, Sony has also announced a bundle for Fist of the North Star: Ken’s Rage 2. Again, it will include a redesigned console, a Big Dipper-decorated DualShock 3, and a copy of the game. Pre-orders will also receive a smartphone case and a costume code for Kenshiro. It'll release on 20th December for ¥33,170.
We don’t know about you, but we don’t think the new PS3 Super Slim lends itself to system makeovers very well at all.


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UK Safari users have been given the go-ahead to sue Google for continuing to drop cookies on their devices even after they had refused permission through their browser settings.
It was revealed in 2012 that Google bypassed the setting in Safari which instructed sites not to drop cookies, enabling it to deliver personalized ads. The FTC in the US fined the company $22.5M for the practice, with millions more in additional fines levied by 38 US states. There was no government action in the UK, but a group of British iPhone users took Google to court, seeking compensation for breaching their privacy.
Google had attempted to have the case dismissed, claiming that there was no case to answer as the plaintiffs had not suffered any financial harm, but the UK’s Court of Appeal has rejected this argument, allowing the case to proceed …
The BBC reports that the court considered the case to “raise serious issues” which justified a trial.
They concern what is alleged to have been the secret and blanket tracking and collation of information, often of an extremely private nature… about and associated with the claimants’ internet use, and the subsequent use of that information for about nine months. The case relates to the anxiety and distress this intrusion upon autonomy has caused.
The Google Action Group, a non-profit formed to manage claims in the case, said that millions of Britons would now be eligible to sue for compensation: anyone who had used Safari on a Mac, iPad or iPhone between summer 2011 and spring 2012.
Dan Tench, one of the lawyers acting for the claimants, said that he looked forward to holding Google to account.
Google, a company that makes billions from advertising knowledge, claims that it was unaware that was secretly tracking Apple users for a period of nine months and had argued that no harm was done because the matter was trivial as consumers had not lost out financially. The Court of Appeal saw these arguments for what they are: a breach of consumers’ civil rights and actionable before the English courts.
One of the claimants in the case, Marc Bradshaw, described it as “a David and Goliath victory.”
Update: Those wanting to join the case can do so at googleactiongroup.com. Note that at the time of writing, the site was not yet live.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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The Bentley Hybrid Concept is set to debut at the Beijing Auto Show on Sunday, April 20th highlighting the first-ever Bentley plug-in hybrid model.
Set to be available to the public beginning in 2017, the Bentley Hybrid Concept will be based on the Mulsanne and will be the introduction of a
The 2014 BMW M235i and the Lexus IS F don't really compete with each other, but that didn't stop Roman and Nathan from pitting the two cars against each other in a drag race. The Lexus IS F has a 5.0L V8 that put out 416 horsepower with 371 lb-ft
The 2014 Denver Auto Show is about to open its doors to the public this afternoon, April 9th at 5:00pm. One of the vehicles on display is the 2014 Jeep Cherokee - 2014 Rocky Mountain SUV of the Year. This announcement came at the annual Charity Preview Party on April
The 2014 Denver Auto Show is about to open its doors to the public this afternoon, April 9th at 5:00pm. And the 2014 Lexus IS sedan has claimed the 2014 Rocky Mountain Car of the Year award, announced at the annual Charity Preview Party.
The all-new Lexus IS can be have
The Chevrolet Equinox and its sister vehicle GMC Terrain were the only two of nine midsize SUV's to earn the Insurance Institute for highway safety's top safety rating. The test, which constitutes 25% of the vehicle's driver's side front end ramming into a 5-foot barrier at 40 mph, aims to
TFLcar weighs the pros and cons of a traditional naturally aspirated V8 versus a new turbocharged I6. Nathan brought a 5.0L Japanese V8. Roman chose the latest iteration of the 3.0L German turbocharged straight six. The eight cylinder is powering the 2014 Lexus IS F, and the straight six is
Lexus has slipped a bit in popularity as rival automakers have introduced alluring entry level luxury sedans. But Lexus is holding its own in the growing entry luxury market with its posh, decently priced 2014 Lexus ES 350.
Starting Retail Price
As Tested Price
HP / Lb-Ft
2014 Lexus ES 350
268 / 248
The Chevy Cruze has been a hugely successful car for General Motors so the introduction of the new 2016 model promises to be a big deal. We caught video of the 2016 Chevy Cruze testing in Colorado. They had quite a fleet of vehicles all covered in camouflage parked in
If you visit any Cars and Coffee event around the country, you will likely never predict which cars you will see parked next to each other. That is the beauty of the automotive hobby. Perhaps, an Ariel Atom next to a Mitsubishi Evolution and a BMW 635csi? How about a
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll be seeing this week on TFLcar and TFLtruck. We've got a video review of the Cadillac ELR, some prototype hunting with Nathan, and a little fun in a Maserati. And for you truck fans, we've got a special video with the Ford f-150
Ford recalls have been issued for roughly 434,000 vehicles in two separate recalls announced today.
The vehicle affected in the first recall is the Ford Escape for model years 2001 through 2004. The problem occurs when rust causes a separation of the lower control arm from the SUVs subframe. If this
Dodge plans to unveil its newly refreshed 2015 Dodge Charger and 2015 Dodge Challenger at the New York Auto Show next week.
What are they going to look like? Well, the image you see above with the Super Bee logo on the Challenger's instrument cluster are all they're giving us so
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis has been completely redesigned and it throws down the gauntlet directly at the feet of its competitors, posing a solid challenge to all luxury comers.
There's a choice of either a 3.8L V6 with 311 horsepower and 293 lb-ft of torque or a 5.0L V8 with 420
The 2014 Toyota Highlander is all-new this year with 270 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5L V6 hooked up to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The engine has been used in other Toyota products and it's got plenty of power to move the 2014 Toyota Highlander around with
Camouflaged prototype vehicles are usually not very difficult to identify. There are other support vehicles give clues to the manufacturer and there is chatter online that helps as well. This one is another story. These images were submitted by a viewer, and the front lights and the shape do not
Scat Pack upgrade plans were announced for the Dodge Charger, Challenger, and Dart back at SEMA last November and now Dodge has gone ahead and given us the details on just exactly what those upgrades will include.
Whatever they have planned for the Dodge Dart is still under wraps, but there


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Small Giant Games reveals a new event called Empire of Sand for its popular franchise Empires & Puzzles. The event will begin on June 29th and will end on July 13th, introducing seven new heroes to the game and power-ups that grant exclusive power.
On top of the new heroes and power-ups such as Sand Trap and Magic Lamp, players can also expect a new quest with 60 stages of varied difficulties to enjoy with more crafting & battle items, more ascension items and Class Emblems added as rewards.
“Events are a crucial part of Empires & Puzzles. We love engaging our players with new challenges and introducing new gameplay modes and heroes they can enjoy” said Timo Soininen, CEO of Small Giant. “We are incredibly proud of our team that continuously provides our fans with new stories and heroes within our game.”
Empires & Puzzles successfully blends approachable match-3 battles with deeper gameplay elements including hero collection, base building and social alliances. Since its launch in 2017, the game has reached the #1 grossing games position in 66 countries on the App Store and 34 countries on Google Play.
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New phones from HTC with Sense 3.5, such as the HTC Rhyme, will now recieve an extra 3GB of space on top of the 2GB default on Dropbox thanks to a partnership between HTC and Dropbox.
The extra storage will be given when the phone is connected to the service. This means that any upcoming HTC phone with their Android skin, Sense 3.5, will have the ability to sync up to 5GB of files and photos from the phone to the cloud. Users can also get up to 8GB of extra storage by asking friends to get Dropbox.
When Pocket-lint asked about the possibility of Dropbox storage on HTC Windows Phone 7 devices, the company said that the OS already has deep integration with Skydrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage solution which can handle up to 25GB of files.
There is no word on whether old Sense users will get 3.5 and/or Dropbox storage upgrades, but the deal does put HTC in a competitive space with Apple’s iCloud and Microsoft’s Skydrive.


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Clear and present danger
Defective products aren't just an inconvenience; they have the potential to kill.
For example, there's the 4000 kilometres of substandard electrical cables installed in up to 40,000 homes across Australia between 2010 and August 2013. The cables, sourced from the now defunct Infinity Cable Company, are a ticking time bomb. They have poor-quality plastic insulation, which is expected to become prematurely brittle in 2016, and if disturbed could electrocute someone or cause a house fire.
Then there's Samsung's recall of 144,000 washing machines due to their potential fire risk. In early 2015, Emma Jordan's newly built house was badly damaged when her Samsung washing machine caught alight. Prior to the incident, she hadn't heard anything about the recall. Yet more than 200 fires and other incidents have occurred since 2013 as a result of Samsung's washing machines, according to the office of the NSW minister for Fair Trading. With many more machines at large, the incidents may continue if they aren't repaired.
The list of recalled products goes on. In November 2015 alone, there were 56 product recalls across Australia, from ginger marmalade with glass fragments, to models of the Nutriblend and NutriInfusion which may have the potential to cause a fire if spilled liquid enters internal parts of the blender. In 2014, there were just over 500 recalls nationwide.
What's the responsibility of a company to the consumer?
Thankfully, there are systems in place that ensure the majority of products sold on the market are safe. But product recalls will happen, and when they do, you'd probably expect that there are robust processes requiring companies do everything within their powers to remove the products from consumers' homes.
But it may surprise you to learn there isn't much onus on suppliers to make sure their product recalls are effective. In fact, there's no recall standard in Australia that suppliers or companies need to adhere to, and there are no benchmarks that a recall process needs to meet.
To put things in perspective, Samsung spent around $13.5 billion globally on advertising and sales promotion in 2014. Samsung wouldn't disclose how much it has spent on its washing machine recall so far, but it appears to be more cautious about where it spreads the word. For example, while Samsung has run a recall campaign across print, online and radio, it stopped short of a TV ad – an advertising medium it's not been shy in using to promote its products.
Product recall guidelines not mandatory
Australian recall guidelines exist, but they're not mandatory and suppliers don't necessarily comply. In fact, the minimum requirements for a product recall can pretty well be met by notifying the Commonwealth minister for consumer affairs, issuing a recall notice and hoping consumers hear the message.
The good news is that if the regulator responsible for overseeing the recall, such as the ACCC or local fair trading agency, deems that the supplier hasn't taken sufficient action, it can intervene. But Steve Hather, an expert in the field and co-author of the international standard on product recalls (ISO 10393:2013), told CHOICE that while regulators have the "power to force companies to conduct recalls and can dictate how that recall should be conducted, the reality is this rarely happens".
There's no recall standard in Australia that suppliers or companies need to adhere to, and there are no benchmarks that a recall process needs to meet.
Nevertheless, Australia's product recall system is regarded as one of the best in the world, alongside those of New Zealand, the United States, Canada and the European Union, says Hather. There's a strong regulatory environment in Australia that requires companies to take action if there's an issue of consumer safety, which puts Australia in good stead internationally, he says. It also looks likely that we'll adopt the international standard on consumer product recalls, which Hather argues would provide for more robust protocols.
But as it stands, there's room for improvement.
How effective are product recalls?
The ultimate goal of a recall is to retrieve as many of the shoddy products from consumers and the marketplace as possible. However, the retrieval rates of many recalled products can be low, and average out at around 56%.
Take for example the recall of over 400,000 electric blankets which began in 2010. Despite the blankets posing fire and electrocution risks, as of April 2015 only 12% had been returned. Or look at Samsung's washing machine recall which began in 2013. By November 2015 only 65% of the machines had been repaired, refunded or replaced - and this figure was boosted significantly through the intervention of the ACCC and CHOICE. Back in July, Hather believed Samsung had done more than many companies would and that its retrieval rate wasn't bad. Since then, he's come out saying Samsung's recall strategy seems to be fundamentally flawed and that it appears to be more of public relations exercise than one of public safety. So the question remains, with over 47,000 machines still in consumers' homes, should we be demanding more?
Why are some recalls more effective than others?
Return rates can vary widely and ACCC data suggests that while return rates are usually above 50%, they can be as low as 5.3%. So why are some recalls more effective than others?
In part, it depends on the type of product being recalled and how much it's worth. But other factors – such as how dangerous it is, how easily it can be returned or fixed, and how well the recall is communicated – also play a role.
- Toys have notoriously low return rates. Overall, the volume of recalled toys returned by consumers ranges from 0% to 20%. The return rate is low, largely because many recalled toys are low-cost goods and it's hard to trace the owner.
- Cars have return rates as high as 97%. They are high-value products, but also owners are easier to trace through the national motor registry database, NEVDIS.
Communicating a recall to consumers
The key to an effective recall hinges on how well it's communicated to consumers. And once a product is on the market, getting it back is no easy task. There are requirements on how the recall notice should look and what needs to be included under Australian Consumer Law, but the law doesn't extend to how the company should advertise or communicate the recall.
Direct contact with consumers, rather than newspaper announcements and the like, is by far the most effective means of getting in touch. To do this, ownership needs to be traced. Major retailers can often access this sort of information through warranty registrations, or even loyalty programs. Another option, though with potential privacy implications, would be to access customers' details through credit and debit card sales' records.
Beyond trying to contact consumers directly, the ACCC's guidelines suggest that communication should be targeted at the type of consumers who most likely purchased the product. Hather says the guidelines are "good" in many ways, but there are gaps. The guidelines suggest a broad range of communication methods, but don't give any advice on how to implement them, he says.
If product makers are serious about getting the message out, why not amplify it on television?
"I think there is still a view in Australia that sticking an ad in a newspaper is all that is needed," he says. "This is the least effective means of communicating". It's a similar finding to that of the ACCC in its review of the product recall system back in 2010. The research found that newspaper advertising alone was not sufficient.
Social media can be effective but it's something that few brands use, according to Hather. And if product makers are serious about getting the message out, why not amplify it on television?
Conflict of interest?
In most cases, the company supplying the defective goods is responsible for administering the recall. A supplier may not mind spending big to spread a positive message about its product, but does it really want to pay a lot to spread a negative one?
"Many companies will want the least amount of publicity as possible about a recall," says Hather, who's been involved with the prevention and management of dozens of product recalls. Some companies try to bury the recall message on their website, he says, which flies in the face of ACCC guidelines suggesting brands should display the recall notice prominently on their homepage.
Recall cost to companies
There are not a whole lot of consequences that would make companies tremble in fear at the thought of having to recall a product. A company may be liable for any injuries, deaths or damages as a result of its faulty product. However, it won't be fined simply because its product has to be recalled unless a mandatory safety standard was breached, the product was banned, or the company fails to notify the Commonwealth minister for consumer affairs within two days of becoming aware that a person suffered serious injury, illness or death as a result of using its product.
Perhaps the biggest consequence for a brand is the cost associated with a recall – the direct costs and those to its reputation. Patties, following its frozen berry recall, estimated a $1.5 million loss in earnings. However, the costs incurred by suppliers isn't information that is routinely reported to the ACCC and, depending on the product, the costs can vary.
If the recall turns into a crisis, the costs can be large. For instance, when GlaxoSmithKline received a threat of intentional contamination of its Panadol products back in 2000, which required a recall of Panadol products from shelves nationally, it cost the business around $100m.
What are your rights to a refund with a product recall?
Are consumers entitled to a refund if a product they've bought is recalled? Once again, the answers are vague. The ACCC says on its recalls website, that "a right to a refund is a complex issue in law and the ACCC is not able to provide legal advice". It recommends looking at the consumer guarantees section of Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
Companies can decide what remedy they offer consumers when recalling a product as long as it fixes the problem, but that latitude doesn't diminish their obligations under the ACL. Under the ACL, if the problem constitutes a major product failure, the consumer has the right to choose between a refund or a replacement. An unsafe product, according to the ACCC, constitutes a major failure.
What's the best way to find out about product recalls?
If you want to stay on top of which products have proven unfit for the marketplace, sign up for recall updates from the ACCC's product recalls website. The ACCC also has a smartphone app which provides up-to-date information on product recalls.
Want help returning a faulty product?


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Subway® to sponsor E4 smash hit The Big Bang Theory
Channel 4 has announced a new partnership with Subway® stores that sees the brand sponsor all episodes of E4's award-winning US smash hit series The Big Bang Theory, from Thursday, 1st February, 2018.
The partnership will run for twelve months and also includes sponsorship of brand new The Big Bang Theory prequel series Young Sheldon on E4.
This marks the first time Subway® - which boasts a position as "the world's largest Quick Service Restaurant" - has invested in TV sponsorship with Channel 4 and the deal, negotiated by 4Sales' Nations and Regions team in Manchester and Mediacom Scotland, extends to All 4 and repeat shows on E4.
To celebrate the launch of the sponsorship, the Subway® brand has created four different idents, produced by creative agency McCann London, around space and science, staying true to the themes of The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory is E4's most popular show, with series 11 currently averaging 2.3 million viewers an episode and an impressive 23.7% share of 16-34 year olds – the digital channel's key demographic.
Rupinder Downie, Partnership Controller, Channel 4, said: "The Big Bang Theory provides the perfect environment to showcase the Subway® brand to E4's biggest 16-34 year old audience right across the year, with fans looking forward to the much anticipated launch of Young Sheldon".
Sacha Clark, Marketing Director Subway® UK & Ireland, commented: "We are really excited to be working with Channel 4 as sponsors of The Big Bang Theory through 2018 and beyond. It's a programme with a large and dedicated fan base, and with the launch of Young Sheldon it is going from strength to strength.
"Tonally the show is a great fit with the Subway® brand, with research showing that it is one of the most popular programmes among our customer base. We are confident that through this association we will drive brand affinity and deliver our key messages consistently and with impact over the next 12 months".


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Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ telephones are actually reportedly receiving a brand new update. The update rollout has begun in Germany, and it brings enhancements in facial recognition and full display screen navigation gestures. While solely customers in Germany are receiving the update at present, different areas ought to begin getting it quickly. The screenshot shared of the update means that it’s 260MB in dimension, and the firmware model for the newest Galaxy Note 10 sequence update is famous to be N975FXXU2BTB5, N975FOXM2BTB3, and N975FXXU2BTB3.
A Reddit user has shared a screenshot of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 receiving a brand new update. The update dimension is at 260MB, and the safety patch remains to be at February 2020. The translated changelog suggests optimisations in facial recognition and full display screen and navigation gestures. As talked about, the update is rolling out through OTA for customers in German. If eligible customers have not obtained a notification, then they need to examine manually in Settings to see if the update has arrived or not. Even although the update dimension is reasonably small, it is suggested to put in it underneath a robust Wi-Fi connection and whereas the telephone is on cost to make sure a easy set up course of.
To recall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ obtained the secure Android 10-based One UI 2.zero updates final 12 months in December, and the primary nation to start the roll out was then reported to be Germany as properly. The update introduced alongside enhancements in UI, system-wide darkish mode and the improved Digital Wellbeing app as properly.
This post was last modified on February 28, 2020 2:26 pm


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SOUTH KOREA: GM plans to use Daewoo as in-house coachbuilder - report
GM Daewoo Auto & Technology is forging a unique identity as a builder of mainstream vehicles for other brands, Automotive News Europe reported. At full stream, GM Daewoo plans to export 60% of production from South Korea. Of that, 70% will be marketed as brands of General Motors-allied companies.
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text: The nation is in debate over whether or not Australia Day should be celebrated, as several major retailers have claimed they would not be selling any Australia Day products. Bunnings, Australia’s biggest hardware and garden centre chain, has stated that stores are free to celebrate the national day in any way they choose to. Ben Camire, Director of Store Operations, said of the situation that the company recognizes that Australia Day means different things to different people and that they want to respect everyone’s point of view. In response to the conservative outcry against their decision, Woolworths claimed that there has been a decline in the demand for the products in recent years. Coles, however, will be selling a limited range of Australian-themed summer entertaining merchandise in celebration of Australia Day.


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By Peter Nurse
Investing.com — Stocks in focus in premarket trade on Tuesday, August 17th. Please refresh for updates.
Home Depot (NYSE:) stock fell 3.4% after the retail giant missed estimates for U.S. same-store sales for the first time in seven quarters, as the surge in demand for home-improvement products during the pandemic waned. Rival Loews (NYSE:) stock fell 4.6% as a consequence.
Walmart (NYSE:) stock fell 0.8% despite the world’s no. 1 retailer raising its annual U.S. same-store sales forecast after beating estimates, buoyed by customers buying additional back-to-school products after a prolonged period of online learning. The company reported a sharp slowdown in online sales growth, a key indicator of its ability to compete with Amazon (NASDAQ:).
Alibaba (NYSE:) ADRs fell 3.5%, Tencent Music (NYSE:) stock fell 5.2% and JD.com (NASDAQ:).ADRs fell 3.7% after Chinese regulators issued a new draft of rules designed to stop unfair competition on the Internet. The rules prohibit various strategies aimed at creating self-contained ecosystems on the web, one of the pillars of the investment case for all three stocks.
Roblox (NYSE:) stock fell 6.3% after the online video gaming company’s second-quarter bookings missed expectations, even though its daily active users rose 8% in July from the prior month.
Porch Group (NASDAQ:) stock rose 0.7% after the online marketplace beat expectations for its second quarter, reporting a strong gain in revenue and a smaller loss than expected.
Spirit Airlines (NYSE:) stock fell 4.7% after the airline said the canceling of more than 2,800 flights in late July and early August cost it about $50 million.
- BHP Group (NYSE:)ADRs rose 6.6% following the company’s decision to end its dual-listing as well as its deal to merge its petroleum assets with Woodside (OTC:).
Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.


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Ford Recalls 2,600 Focus Electric Vehicles Over Faulty Powertrain Control Module Programming0
Ford is recalling roughly 2,600 Focus Electric hatchbacks over an issue that could cause the cars to cease delivering power to the wheels while on the road.
The problem: the affected Focus Electric vehicles have a problem stemming with faulty programming of their powertrain control module software. The loss of power will result in a “Stop Safely Now” waning message to be displayed on the dashboard. While the power is no longer delivered to the wheels, the vehicle’s braking and steering systems remain functional, allowing drivers some driver assistance while pulling off the road.
Affected vehicles: Focus Electric hatchbacks manufactured at Ford’s assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan. The vehicles were built between September 15, 2011 and August 8, 2013. Most of the vehicles were sold in the United States, but some have been sold in Canada.
Number of vehicles potentially affected: 2,600
The fix: a reprogramming of the powertrain control module at a Ford dealership.
Contacts: not available at time of publication.
What to do: contact a Ford dealership’s service department for more information and to see if your vehicle is affected.
“We have identified an issue and are taking quick actions in the best interest of our customers”, said Ray Nevi, the assistant director at Ford’s Automotive Safety Office, in a company press release. “Our intensive investigation and testing has identified the area of concern and we are moving as quickly as possible to repair vehicles for our customers. In the meantime, it is extremely important that affected customers not ignore this recall and immediately contact their dealer.”
The recall comes on the heels of another recent one surrounding the lack of a door chime on the Focus Electric and C-MAX vehicles.


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Shoppers are looking for both affordability and sustainability. Thomas Harms, global retail leader at EY Germany, believes retail has an opportunity to deliver both.
With consumer spending under increasing pressure, many are finding it hard to square their need to live affordably with their desire to live more sustainably, especially as they feel sustainable goods are still too expensive.
In the latest edition of the EY Future Consumer Index – the 10th in the series – affordability has retaken top place in consumer priorities, over concerns about the planet.
But are consumers simply giving up on sustainable product choices in search of lower prices or are they finding more cost-effective ways of achieving sustainable living?
Saving money and the planet
Many consumers are returning to cost-saving routines learned during the pandemic, with 66% seeking out value-for-money options and 21% switching from brands to private-label alternatives.
However, shoppers aren’t simply abandoning sustainable living; the reality revealed in our research is much more nuanced.
Affordability and sustainability are actually becoming mutually supportive behaviours, with more than half of consumers saying that living more sustainably is a guiding principle of their daily routine.
Shoppers want affordable products that won’t harm the planet. And the cost-of-living crisis is encouraging many planet-friendly behaviours.
“For retailers, some effects of this shifting environment are already evident with basket sizes reducing across all categories as consumers look to economise”
For example, an overwhelming 87% are making an effort not to waste food and 36% say they will buy more second-hand products.
A rising proportion prefer to repair items rather than replace them. And conspicuous consumption is in retreat, with consumers expressing a declining interest in the latest fashions and tech.
For retailers, some effects of this shifting environment are already evident with basket sizes reducing across all categories as consumers look to economise.
However, we’re seeing examples of grocery retailers acting as consumer champions and challenging brands to resist price increases – a stance that’s gained wide publicity and which consumers will notice and remember.
The pandemic encouraged many parts of daily life to become ‘digital-first’ and, as consumers look to control their finances, they’re turning to digital experiences again – substituting rather than sacrificing their lifestyles.
It’s an opportunity for retailers to engage their customers in unique ways, to test or create digital product lines and, in turn, capture more consumer data.
About two-thirds of consumers remain happy to share their data for personalised offers and deals.
But in return they want personal value and data security: 72% worry about sharing their personal information. Capitalising on these trends will help retailers forge deeper customer relationships.
Overall, the latest EY Future Consumer Index shows consumer resiliency in the face of a shifting economic and cultural landscape. Here are four retail opportunities to be addressed:
- Develop new service-based repair-and-reuse or hire offerings – providing consumers with alternatives to always buying new, for example, by showcasing new services through in-store events, in turn driving traffic and creating new uses for space.
- Make more by selling less – reducing package sizes to include less product at a lower price or removing packaging altogether, enabling consumers to buy smaller amounts as they rein in their spending and shorten their replenishment cycles.
- Enhance digital services – providing insights to shoppers on what they already own, for example, children’s clothes that could be handed down to younger siblings.
- Push private-label products more actively – reflecting consumers’ renewed quest for value for money by recommending healthy, sustainable and less expensive options from the private-label range.
Read the latest EY Future Consumer Index research in full.
Thomas Harms, global retail leader, EY Germany


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Robot Aiways Carl introduced autonomous charging an electric carApril 17, 2020
It became known that the Chinese automaker Aiways, which is engaged in the production of electric cars, recently patented an intelligent mobile robot in Europe and China.
The main task of the robot is to charge electric vehicles in the parking lot. Masters called this robot Carl. It can have its own battery with a capacity of 30 or 60 kW * h, and is able to recharge the car with any known standard charging port. He charges the electric car in a fairly short time, where it took 50 minutes for 80% of the charge.
According to the automaker, the driver, leaving his electric car in a public parking lot, can call a robot to him through a mobile application. Carl is easy to find a car by GPS coordinates and connects his charging cable to it, then after charging is completed, he returns to his base station. “From now on, charging will look for the driver, and not him,” commented the vice president of international operations of the company commented on the main idea of the technology.
- Volvo and Geely refuse to organize a joint venture
- New Genesis eGV70 spotted in tests
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 price published
- New Hyundai Tucson crossover launched into production
- Nokian Tires completes construction of a test track in Spain


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Last fall, Google’s philanthropic division released Flu Trends, a tool that purportedly predicts regional influenza outbreaks 7-10 days faster than traditional methods. The bio-surveillance tool relies on the fact that people use Google to search flu-related terms well before calling their physicians.
Now, a study of similar methodologies appears to show that the Mountain View-based company’s omnipotence extends to the prediction of economic trends as well.
Hal Varian, an economics professor at UC Berkeley who moonlights as Google’s chief economist, and Hyunyoung Choi, a Google employee tested the hypothesis that variations in search frequency for certain phrases improves the accuracy of econometric models used to forecast retail and home sales, among other things.
Such data are available to the public through Google Trends, which enables interested parties to access reports on search volumes for particular categories and terms. The reports are updated daily.
The scientists found that addition of such information improves the predictive value of the standard models used to forecast car and truck sales by 18%.
Similarly, search volume on terms like Hong Kong and other ports of call carried out in Australia, India, the UK and the US can foretell bumps in tourist volume to these locations.
The tool still needs refining, however. The scientists showed for example that searches for real estate agents are better predictors of future home sales than those for home financing.