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Consumer Sector Update for 06/17/2019: SFLY,BYND,BID,GRUB,DNKN
Top Consumer Stocks
Consumer stocks continue to straddle either side of their Monday starting marks, with shares of consumer staples companies in the S&P 500 falling just over 0.3% this afternoon while shares of consumer discretionary firms in the S&P 500 were ahead almost 0.1%.
Among consumer stocks moving on news:
(-) Shutterfly (SFLY) was little changed just before Monday's closing bell, overcoming a fractional decline this morning, that followed Aegis Capital cutting its investment rating for the personalized consumer products company to hold from buy.
In other sector news:
(+) Sotheby's (BID) raced almost 59% higher after the auction house agreed to $3.7 billion buyout offer from privately held BidFair USA, which is offering $57 in cash for each Sotheby share and representing a 61% premium to Friday's closing price. BidFair is wholly owned by media and telecom entrepreneur Patrick Drahi.
(+) Beyond Meat (BYND) rose over 11% after Bloomberg reported Friday a shortage of rival Impossible Foods' meat-free patties at several restaurant chains just as Impossible Foods has been expanding nation-wide at Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) Burger King outlets. The news service said it found only two locations each for Red Robin (RRGB) and White Castle selling the company's patties with no consensus on when those supplies will be replenished.
(+) Grubhub (GRUB) climbed 3% after Dunkin' Brands Group (DNKN) Monday said it was teaming up with the restaurant pick-up and delivery firm for its new Dunkin' Delivers service, starting with over 400 Dunkin' locations in New York City. Additional markets plan to be added in the coming months.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.


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Welcome to 2020, where investor expectations can safely be left at the front door. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unprecedented levels of volatility in equities, with investors enduring the fastest bear-market decline in history, as well as the strongest quarterly rally in 22 years. Frankly, no one knows what to expect next.
Perhaps the closest thing that can be offered as a guarantee is that long-term investors have a great chance to make money during periods of heightened volatility. That's because every stock market correction in history has eventually been erased by a bull-market rally. We may not know when corrections will occur, how long they'll last, or how steep the decline will be, but we do know that history is on the side of long-term optimists.
Best of all, you don't need a fortune to make one on Wall Street. Adding small sums of money to great stocks on a consistent basis can lead to significant wealth creation over time. If you have even $50 you can spare for investments that won't be needed to cover bills or emergencies, then you have more than enough to buy into these great stocks.
One of the smartest stocks you can consider buying with $50 is money-center giant Wells Fargo (WFC 0.81%). Although bank stocks are cyclical, which means they're liable to see interest income shrink and loan delinquencies rise in the near term due to COVID-19, Wells Fargo is uniquely positioned to thrive in the years to come.
First of all, investors should understand that public relations gaffes rarely, if ever, have a lasting impact on the banking space. Wells Fargo was hammered following its 2016-2017 admission that its physical branches opened 3.5 million fake accounts. While this has cost Wells Fargo in recent years, history has shown that consumers have short-term memories when it comes to their bank of choice. Wells Fargo has always had a knack for attracting more affluent clientele, and I suspect this will continue to be the case going forward.
Historically, Wells Fargo is also a money machine for investors. It typically generates some of the highest return on assets among major banks and has seen its bread-and-butter growth engine -- retail-banking loans and deposits -- headed in the right direction.
Investors can currently buy Wells Fargo at a mere 63% of its book value, which is the cheapest this company has been since at least the financial crisis. Wells Fargo isn't going anywhere, and long-term investors would be wise to grab this bargain while it lasts.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Another great way to put that Ulysses S. Grant $50 bill in your wallet to work would be to buy shares of brand-name and generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA 1.64%). Though Teva has had its fair share of issues in recent years, it's on pace for one heck of a turnaround, whether Wall Street is ready or not.
The biggest catalyst for Teva Pharmaceutical is CEO Kare Schultz. Schultz is a turnaround specialist who, in less than three years, has whipped Teva into shape. Under his leadership, Teva has trimmed $3 billion off of its annual operating expenses, as well as sold off non-core assets that, in combination with operating cash flow, have helped to reduce net debt by almost $10 billion ($34.2 billion to $24.3 billion). Though work is still to be done, Schultz has dramatically improved Teva's financial flexibility and positioned the company for mid-single-digit earnings growth for the foreseeable future.
Teva also stands to benefit from an aging global population. As one of the largest generic-drug companies on the planet, Teva's pricing power on generic drugs and volume sold should improve on an annual basis as brand-name therapies continue to push patients toward less-costly treatment options.
At less than five times Wall Street's projected earnings per share for 2021, Teva looks like a bargain for patient investors.
Long-term investors should also consider putting their $50 to work in telecom giant AT&T (T 2.31%). The company isn't going to offer the same high-paced growth rate as most tech stocks, but it'll certainly make up for it with a superior dividend. AT&T investors can expect to double their money with the dividend alone (if reinvested) about once a decade.
The interesting thing about AT&T is that it has some catalysts on the horizon. The company has begun rolling out 5G network upgrades and will likely continue doing so throughout the country in the months and years to come. While these are expensive infrastructure investments, the payoff will be worth it. The first wireless infrastructure upgrade in a decade should lead to a multiyear wireless-device upgrade cycle. And since AT&T Wireless' juiciest margins come from data consumption, this should lead to steady organic growth.
AT&T also has an opportunity to make inroads as a provider of streaming services. Following the launch of HBO Max in late May, AT&T managed to boost its combined HBO and HBO Max customers to 36.3 million. That's up approximately 1.7 million from where it began the year. AT&T is aiming to have 80 million streaming customers worldwide by 2025.
As I said, AT&T isn't going to deliver eye-popping growth -- but it's going to allow income seekers to sleep very well at night.
Finally, I'd encourage investors to consider putting their $50 to work in satellite-radio operator Sirius XM (SIRI 1.15%).
As some of you may already know, Sirius XM benefits from being the lone satellite-radio operator. This isn't to say that it's completely free of competition, but it does afford the company a long growth runway and provide cash flow protection that isn't available to terrestrial and online radio operators.
One of the unique aspects of Sirius XM is how the company generates money. Whereas most radio providers are ad-based businesses, Sirius XM derives most of its revenue from subscriptions. This is a key difference, because ad revenue tends to dry up during economic contractions and recessions. Comparatively, high-margin subscription revenue sees much less churn.
In the June-ended quarter, Sirius XM saw a 31% decline in ad revenue (primarily from its Pandora service), but reported a nearly 3% increase in subscription revenue from the prior-year period. This subscription revenue accounted for 84% of total Q2 sales.
Additionally, the beauty of Sirius XM's model is that some of its costs are relatively fixed. This is to say that transmission expenses aren't going to increase simply because it has more net subscribers. This would seem to be a formula for operating margin expansion over time.

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Awesome 9-Year-Old Girl Asks McDonald's CEO to Stop "Tricking Kids Into Eating Your Food"
At a recent McDonald's shareholder meeting, a nine-year-old girl named Hannah challenged McDonald's CEO Donald Thompson on why the fast food chain targets kids to eat their crap. She kept it real (and sweet!), prompting even Thompson to at least try to acknowledge her concern (while at the same time acting like Mickey D's is totally a healthy choice).
"My mom has taught me that there are things in life that aren't fair, like when your pet dies or you have to miss a special event because you have a cold," her epic speech began, "Something that I don't think is fair when big companies try to trick kids into eating food that isn't good for them by using toys and cartoon characters."
"It isnt fair that there are so many kids my age and younger that are getting really sick with diseases like diabetes and obesity. That is really sad," she continued, "It would be nice if you stopped trying to trick kids into eating your food all the time......Don't you want kids to be healthy so they can live a long and happy life?"
"We don't sell junk food, Hannah," said Thompson, "My kids also eat McDonald's." Then he said, "We sell a lot of fruits and veggies," mentioned apples and fat-free milk in happy meals, and something about kiwi on a stick.
Get 'em, girl!


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DOT Reports More On-Time Arrivals, Fewer Cancellations in April 2015
PHOTO: Hawaiian Airlines once again led the pack in on-time arrivals. (Courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines)
The U.S. Department of Transportation released on-time performance and cancellation figures for the country's leading airlines for this past April on Thursday and the data shows a considerable improvement over March.
According to the DOT's June 2015 Air Travel Consumer Report, 81.8 percent of reporting airlines' flights arrived on time or within 15 minutes of their schedule in April 2015, compared to 78.7 percent the previous month.
The mark also signaled an increase over April 2014, when 79.6 percent of flights arrived on time.
Cancellations were also down among the reporting carriers in April 2015. The 13 carriers combined to cancel fewer than one percent (0.9 percent) of their domestic flights over the course of the month, a significant improvement from 2.2 percent the previous month and a slight improvement from 1.1 percent in April 2014.
What's more, airlines received fewer consumer complaints and mishandled fewer bags in April 2015 compared to March 2015.
The 1,415 complaints the DOT received about airlines this past April were more than 300 fewer than it received the previous month. The agency also revealed that airlines mishandled luggage at a rate of 2.93 per 1,000 passengers in April 2015, which was up slightly from April 2014 (2.9 per 1,000 passengers) but an improvement from 3.42 per 1,000 passengers in March 2015.
In terms of on-time arrivals for this past April, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines led the reporting carriers, while ultra low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines and regional carrier Envoy Air once again finished at the bottom.
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December 17, 2012
- According to data from research firm Parks Associates, consumers have Apple devices on their holiday wishlists this year.
- Parks reports that 53 percent of prospective smartphone purchasers plan to buy an iPhone for the holidays, compared with 33 percent who indicated the same in the third quarter and 24 percent one year ago.
- “And when it comes to tablets, most of those surveyed said they’d prefer an iPad,” reports AllThingsD. “Following the iPad at 44 percent was Kindle Fire, with 24 percent of consumers expressing interest in Amazon’s touchscreen tablet.”
- “Twenty-one percent of those surveyed said they’d go with the Microsoft Surface tablet — down from the 45 percent who just a few months ago said they wanted the Surface — and the Google Nexus tablet came in last at 12 percent.”
- Additionally, Parks notes, “When presented with the iPad mini as a tablet alternative, many of those planning on purchasing other tablet brands opt for the iPad mini.” And among those planning on buying an iPad, 40 percent said they would opt for an iPad mini.
- The smartphone portion of the Parks survey focused on brands only, not individual models, so it is not clear which version (and price point) of iPhone is enticing consumers.


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In January 2010, Tata Teleservices added the largest number of subscribers to its network. According to the data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority India (TRAI) in January, the mobile phone operators signed up 19.9 million new subscribers. Out of them, TTSL added 2.98 million subscribers putting it ahead of other players including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and BSNL. TTSL accounts for 14.97% of the overall new subscribers. Bharti Airtel accounts for 14.31% and Reliance 14.08% respectively.
In January, the total number of wireless subscribers stood at 545 million which translates into a tele-density of 49.50. The total number of telephone connections touched 581.81 million including both wireless subscribers and fixed line.
In terms of market share, Bharti Airtel is the market leader accounting for 22.33% followed by Reliance with 17.72%, BSNL 11.95% and MTNL 0.90%.


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VPIRG and members of the Alliance for Clean and Healthy Vermont co-released a new report produced by national partners today that found that the lining of two out of three cans tested contain the toxic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA).
BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that negatively impacts our hormonal systems. Evidence suggests it may contribute to a host of harmful health effects including breast and prostate cancer, infertility, type-2 diabetes, obesity, asthma and attention deficit disorder. Other studies have demonstrated the capacity of BPA to migrate into food and then into people, raising concerns about exposures to low, but biologically relevant levels of BPA.
For the first time ever, this report also identified the replacement materials for BPA in can linings, and to what extent – if any — their safety has been studied.
“VPIRG has been one of the leading voices calling for a transparent and safe food system. This report shows we have a long way to go,” commented VPIRG Consumer and Environmental Advocate Falko Schilling. “We are calling on manufacturers to eliminate the use of BPA from food can linings and replace them with alternatives that have been proven to be safe.”
Buyer Beware: Toxic BPA & Regrettable Substitutes in the Linings of Canned Food was conceived and authored by the Breast Cancer Fund; Campaign for Healthier Solutions; Clean Production Action; Ecology Center; Environmental Defence (Canada); and Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families’ Mind the Store campaign. (The full report can be downloaded here.)
The report identified and analyzed the interior linings and lids of canned foods containing vegetables, fruits, soups, broth, gravy, milks and beans.
The findings were alarming:
- 100 percent of Campbell’s products sampled (15 of 15) contained BPA-based epoxy, while the company says they are making significant progress in its transition away from BPA. Upon learning about the upcoming report, Campbell’s announced yesterday they are eliminating BPA in North American cans by mid- 2017. While this is a step in the right direction, report authors state the announcement left out important details that we think would make this truly good news for Campbell’s soup lovers.
- Collectively, 62 percent of private-label, or generic food cans (71 out of 114) from retailers analyzed in the study tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins, including Albertsons (including Randalls and Safeway), Dollar General, Dollar Tree (including Family Dollar), Gordon Food Service, Kroger, Loblaws, Meijer, Publix, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart.
- BPA was found in private-label cans sold at both Target and Walmart, the largest grocery retailer in the United States. In their private label products, 100 percent of Target cans sampled (five out of five) and 88 percent of Walmart cans sampled (seven out of eight) tested positive for BPA-based epoxy resins.
- Discount retailers (commonly known as “dollar stores”) were among the laggards in transitioning away from BPA in can linings. Testing revealed that 83 percent of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar private-label cans (five out of six) and 64 percent of Dollar General private-label cans (nine out of 14) were coated with BPA-based epoxy resins. This is especially a problem because discount retailers are often the major retail outlet in low-income communities—which already face higher levels of BPA exposure. Broth and gravy cans were the most likely (100 percent of those sampled) to contain BPA in the can linings; corn and peas were the least likely category (41 percent of those sampled).
- On the positive side, Amy’s Kitchen, Annie’s Homegrown (recently acquired by General Mills), Hain Celestial Group, and ConAgra have fully transitioned away from BPA and have disclosed the BPA alternatives they’re using. Eden Foods reported eliminating the use of BPA-based epoxy liners in 95 percent of its canned foods and stated that it is actively looking for alternatives. Whole Foods has clearly adopted the strongest policy of the retailers surveyed in the report. Whole Foods reports that store brand buyers are not currently accepting any new canned items with BPA in the lining material.
What about the alternatives?
The report found that retailers and national brands that are phasing out BPA could be replacing it with regrettable substitutes. Identifying the safety of BPA alternatives is challenging, given the insufficient FDA review and approval of packaging additives and highly protected trade secrets in this product sector. However, the report found that:
- Aside from BPA, four major coating types were identified among the 192 cans tested including: acrylic resins including almost all oleoresin, polyester resins, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) copolymers. There were multiple formulations of these compounds found, but no way to determine the specific chemicals used or how they are produced.
- 18 percent of retailers’ private-label foods and 36 percent of national brands were lined with a PVC-based copolymer that is made from highly hazardous chemicals including vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. PVC is considered a regrettable substitute.
- 33 percent of retailers’ private-label foods and 51 percent of national brands were lined with acrylic based polymers. Of the cans tested, 39 percent had a polystyrene-acrylic combination, of concern because styrene is considered a possible carcinogen.
- Much more research is needed to determine the safety of these compounds, and what may be migrating from the “alternative” can linings into food.
The report includes numerous recommendations including:
- National brands, grocery stores, big box retailers and dollar stores should eliminate and safely substitute BPA from all food packaging and label all chemicals used in can liners.
- In conjunction with the report release, advocates have launched a national online campaign calling on Kroger and Campbell’s to eliminate and safely substitute BPA. Congress should adopt comprehensive legislation to reform the FDA’s fatally flawed system for reviewing and approving the safety of packaging material.
- Consumers should choose fresh or frozen foods, or only purchase canned food from manufacturers and retailers that fully disclose the identity and safety of their can linings. Look for food packaged in other materials such as glass and Tetra Pak containers.


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Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2 could premiere on Netflix in March 2016!
We might have some good news, Marvel and Daredevil fans!
According to a report from Comicbook.com, Marvel’s Daredevil Season 2 could be released in March 2016!
As of right now, it’s more rumor than anything at this point. According to the report, an Entertainment Weekly feature story on Daredevil and The Punisher indicated that the series could be available in March.
The Comicbook.com report mentioned that the release month was not an official announcement of the release date.
If you’re familiar with Netflix, you know they usually like to announce the release date for most of their original shows in a commercial or a teaser trailer. We haven’t seen a teaser for Daredevil yet, but we’ll be on the lookout.
As of right now, Netflix and Marvel have not commented on the rumor. As you may know, neither comment on rumors that often, so it’s possible this could all be much ado about nothing until Netflix chooses to spill the beans.
A March release for Daredevil wouldn’t be that surprising. Initially, we predicted Daredevil Season 2 would be released on Netflix in the middle of April 2016. That’s when the first season of the series was released, so it makes sense that the new season would have been released around that same time.
If EW is correct, though, it would seem likely that Daredevil Season 2 would be released at the end of March. House of Cards Season 4 is scheduled for a release on March 4. Netflix would probably like to avoid releasing new seasons of two of their most popular shows too close together.
Assuming that’s the case, Daredevil Season 2 would probably be released on Netflix in late March. That’s what seems to make sense.
Marvel’s Daredevil ranks in our rankings of the 50 Best TV Shows on Netflix and the 50 Best TV Dramas on Netflix! If you’re looking for a new show to watch on Netflix, check out the rankings for more great TV picks.


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Kellogg is opening a new store in New York that it hopes will become a hangout spot for millennials willing to buy cereal by the bowl and then lounge on a bean bag chair.
Cereal sales have been soft, and Kellogg Co. has tried to reach out to millennials before, such as pitching cereal as a late-night snack.
Cafe visitors pay up to $7.50 for a bowl of Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes or other cereal that can be topped with sea salt, candied cashews and about 30 other ingredients. The store also sells Pop-Tarts, coffee drinks and different flavors of milk.
The 5,000-square-foot store in Union Square opens Thursday. Kellogg's first store in New York closed this summer, a year after opening.


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The streets of downtown Detroit will be free of cattle this year, and there won’t be any Jeeps flying through the windows of the convention center.
With the entire auto industry suffering, and Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. on government life support, this year’s North American International Auto Show will be a much more spartan affair with fewer elaborate displays, less glitz and none of the crazy headline-grabbing stunts of past years.
“Those kinds of things, it’s not the right year to do those,” said Doug Fox, who runs several Ann Arbor-area car dealerships and is co-chairman of this year’s show. “The money just isn’t there to be spent on those things.”
Several prominent automakers, including Nissan Motor Co., are completely skipping what has been one of the world’s most important auto shows.
That doesn’t mean there won’t be news. More than 6,300 journalists from around the world have signed up for the three press preview days starting Sunday, about 100 more than last year. Many will be reporting on Detroit’s economic woes and the auto sales slump that has hit nearly every manufacturer.
So far, the automakers have committed to revealing 50 new models. That’s down from 58 last year, but show organizers say there may be some surprises in store to boost the number.
Among the headliners are a new version of Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius gas-electric hybrid and Honda Motor Co.'s hybrid Insight, designed to compete with the Prius in the race to gain the gas mileage crown.
Chrysler will highlight new technology in its electric vehicle prototypes, while Ford Motor Co. will unveil its electric vehicle strategy and GM has promised a big surprise to take advantage of a worldwide stage Sunday.
“I cannot think of a more important, more newsworthy press conference at any auto show for any car company in the last 25 years of doing this kind of work,” said GM spokesman Scott Fosgard, who declined to give details of what’s planned. “No one company is going to have the world’s attention like GM at this time.”
Last year, Chrysler drove 120 cattle down the street in front of Cobo Center convention hall to promote a new version of its Ram pickup truck. In previous years, it has crashed a Jeep through the lobby’s plate glass windows.
But this year, with the Auburn Hills-based company forced to get a government loan to stay alive, there won’t be any stunts, the signs marking its exhibit will be smaller, and a wall of water that spelled out “Jeep” with droplets is gone.
“In the new reality, our press event this year will be more straightforward, reflecting our need to run more efficiently during a tough environment,” Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau wrote on the company’s Web site this week.
Also gone will be expensive food for the press, and displays will be scaled back, said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics of Birmingham, Mich.
“Giant spreads of shrimp, Coney Islands at General Motors, a lot of the expensive-to-set-up and expensive-to-tear-down stands, press conferences with multi-lingual translations,” Hall said of what’s been cut. “It’s going to be back to the cars and the business.”
GM, which also is taking government loans, eliminated thousands of square feet of elevated flooring and will merely have carpeting over concrete, focusing more on product and less on glitz. It also got rid of the second story of its massive display area.
Most of the cars GM is highlighting will be on turntables, but there will be fewer vehicles on display.
Timothy Peters, the Detroit automaker’s assistant director for auto shows and operations, said he knew in early 2008 there would be less money for the 65 auto shows GM generally attends each year.
Instead of spending 100 days setting up for the Detroit show, GM spent 70 days, saving labor costs.
Some of the materials being used for the GM display have changed, with the company using modular aluminum components for faster installation. A modular design also saves space on trucks and weight when it comes to shipping.
But some automakers that still have cash are keeping the glitz. Toyota still has an elevated floor, while Ford’s exhibit, seen last week, looked unchanged from the previous year.
Missing, though, are some prominent automakers, most notably Nissan Motor Co., which announced it was pulling out of the show last year because it had no new models to introduce. Also missing are Mitsubishi, Porsche and Suzuki.
But Fox, the show co-chairman, said some exotic automakers, such as Lotus, Morgan and Caterham, have taken part of the vacated space in the main exhibit hall, while others, such as Volkswagen, have expanded their displays. The show also will have a driving track for electric vehicles in the basement that will run by ponds with waterfalls and a forest of about 100 Michigan trees.
Fox said automakers have scaled back on everything from construction costs to spokesmodels, but they have done so in a way that the public won’t notice.
“You’re still going to have the most elaborate displays of anywhere in North America with observation decks and food service and refreshments,” he said.
Fox said downscaling might be a trend, with the industry emphasizing vehicles instead of show business, and that might not be a bad thing.
“That’s the way these shows started, and now we’re kind of going back to those roots,” he said.
Despite Michigan’s shrinking auto-dependent economy and nation-leading 9.6 percent unemployment rate, Fox said he is confident attendance for the public part of the show from Jan. 17-25 will be up this year over last year’s 700,000. Admission prices, at $12 for adults, are unchanged from past years.
“We’re trying to offer more value, and we think that with people staying a little closer to home, we are hoping and expecting higher attendance,” Fox said.
AP Auto Writer Kimberly S. Johnson contributed to this report.
On the Net:
North American International Auto Show: https://www.naias.com


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The US Congress is considering two new bill proposals on cryptocurrencies.
The objective of this proposal would be to promote fair and transparent virtual currency markets by examining the possibility of price manipulation.
The text of the proposal reads as follows
“It is the sense of Congress that virtual currency could have a significant effect on the economy, and regulation of them may be important to protect investors, deter bad actors, create market certainty, and ensure American competitiveness in an evolving global marketplace”.
According to the document, the President of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will be required to present a report, detailing the potential of price manipulation of virtual currencies, including methods, sensitive classes, effects, damage to investors and so on.
The second, H.R.923, is a Regulatory Act on the competitiveness of this market, also proposed by Soto. The objective is to promote the competitiveness of the United States in the evolution of the global market for virtual currencies.
According to the document, another report will be requested from the CFTC President, in consultation with the SEC and other federal agencies, to specify the means by which the country’s competitiveness in this sector can be promoted.
In addition, a new regulatory framework for exchanges is to be developed to include consumer protection, a federal licence and market supervision.
At the moment, these are only two proposals for legislation, which have yet to be examined and judged by Congress, but at least they show a clear interest on the part of the country in these innovative technologies.
Moreover, it is not certain that they will be approved and become fully-fledged laws because the process is long and complex and not at all predictable.
However, the US is proving to be an increasingly focused country on following the opportunities offered by these innovations, as demonstrated by the explicit reference to the US competitiveness in this sector in the H.R.923 proposal.


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Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of the major American gaming magazines and longtime GamePro competitor, has printed its final issue.
1UP.com has finally confirmed what many have speculated for months--that the company has been sold by Ziff-Davis to Hearst Corporation, one of the biggest media conglomerates in the US. Hearst Corporation already owns a gaming portal, UGO.com, and it seems as though the two sites will remain as separate entities for the time being.
While it hasn't been confirmed by Ziff-Davis or Hearst, Gamasutra has obtained an internal email sent to Ziff-Davis staff stating that the magazine will cease publishing as of is January 2009 issue. EGM was the longest-running multi-platform magazine still publishing, starting in March of 1989 while GamePro started in May (Nintendo Power began publication in the Summer of 1988). The loss of EGM leaves the US with only three monthly multi-platform videogame magazines -- GamePro, Game Informer, and Play. Reprinted below is a section of the email reportedly sent by Ziff-Davis CEO Jason Young.
"After a comprehensive process, this morning we completed a deal with Hearst Interactive, the owner and operator of UGO Entertainment. 1UP.com, MyCheats.com, Gamevideos.com, and Gametab.com will now all be part of the UGO Entertainment business. Many of our employees will travel with this business and become part of the UGO team.
With this transaction happening, we have also made the decision to discontinue publication of EGM. The January 2009 issue will be the final issue of the publication. With demand for print continuing to decline amongst both advertisers and readers and the content being produced by 1UP no longer available for use in the publication, it simply did not make sense for us to move forward with this business any longer."
The staff of GamePro extends its best wishes to the EGM staffers affected by the magazine's closure and 1UP's sale. Salud.
This story, "EGM closes, 1UP sold in Ziff-Davis shakeup" was originally published by GamePro.


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The Asian Shipowners’ Forum has announced its support for the Competition Commission of Singapore’s proposal to extend the block exemption for liner shipping until December 31, 2015.
Currently, liner shipping agreements including conferences, discussion agreements and consortia are exempted from competition laws in the majority of Singapore’s trading partners including the USA, Japan and South Korea.
Yuichi Sonoda, Secretary General of ASF said: “The ASF has its long-standing position that the antitrust immunity system is indispensable for the healthy development of shipping industry as well as the whole trading industry.”
The ASF and CCS are united in the view that the antitrust immunity system plays a significant role in stabilising freight rates while promoting vessel service and capital investment.
Commenting on the view that modern conferences and discussion agreements are vehicles for rate fixing among the shipping lines, Mr Sonoda added: “This is no longer so. The practices of shipping conferences in earlier years are no longer in existence today.
“Discussion agreements are non-binding and individual lines act independently to secure their freight to sustain their own shipping business.”


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Science is often used as a political and economic bargaining chip in international talks on food safety, as seen in the recent dispute about beef between Taiwan and the US, a former US official said recently.
“The issues of agriculture and food safety are often used as chips for politicians. Unfortunately, I don’t think these things will stop in the foreseeable future,” Joseph Jen (任築山), an undersecretary for research, education and economics in the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2001 to 2005, said in an interview on Friday.
“True science has been ignored so far,” said the 72-year-old scientist, who emigrated from Taiwan to the US in 1962 and retired last year as the dean of the College of Agriculture at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.
Political and economic factors are usually placed above food safety in most international agricultural negotiations because most countries send diplomatic officials, rather than scientists, to handle the talks, Jen said.
The recent dispute between Taiwan and the US over imports of US beef is just one example of the complexity that arises when science is mixed with politics, he said.
The legislature passed an amendment in January last year that banned imports of selected beef products from countries, including the US, with documented cases of mad cow disease in the past decade.
That meant that US beef products seen as posing potential health risks, such as ground beef and organs, were barred from entering Taiwan, in contravention of a bilateral beef trade protocol signed by the two countries in October 2009.
Tensions over beef arose again this January, when US beef products found to contain residue of ractopamine — a feed additive used to promote the growth of lean meat that is banned in Taiwan — were taken off the shelves of local stores.
The move prompted the US to call off a long anticipated meeting under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, an official framework for Taiwan-US dialogue on trade and economic issues in the absence of diplomatic ties.
Jen said Taiwan’s decision last year was not based on scientific research because the probability of contracting mad cow disease by consuming US beef was lower than being hit by a car.
As for this year’s dispute, Jen said Taiwan cited the EU’s zero tolerance policy on ractopamine to justify the ban and would wait for the conclusions of a meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July that will set maximum residue levels for ractopamine, before reconsidering the issue.
However, even then, politics and science are mixing because the EU and the Codex both have been heavily influenced by politics, Jen said.
“Its [the Codex’s] science is politically approved science, not the real science,” he said, calling the EU “the main culprit” of mixing science with politics, starting with its condemnation of US-produced genetically modified organism products.
Food safety is a complicated issue because many people and processes are involved in the production chain, said Jen, who received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural chemistry from National Taiwan University in 1960.
“The keys for modern-day scientists are ‘probability’ and ‘risk assessment,’ because there is no such thing as a ‘zero risk.’ There is no magic wand that can solve anything in a blink of an eye either,” he said.


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Bullish thoughts about Europe’s recovery
It’s easy to get pessimistic, looking at the economic outlook from the US, which has been a laggard during the coronavirus pandemic. The United States has a ways to go before a semblance of economic normalcy returns.
But I have been looking at a lot of European data and news flow the past several days. And what’s clear is that while the US is still hunkering down, Europe is now slowly emerging from lockdown. I think this presents the potential for better growth. So I want to outline what I’m seeing.
Some coronavirus data
A lot of this comes from the data, which show that Europe has flattened the curve. I have looked at data from a number of countries and they all show a retreat in the virus, even in Italy and Spain.
For example, writing this on Sunday, in Spain, the number of additional deaths due to coronavirus was 288 yesterday, the lowest count in 37 days. A total of 207,634 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Spain thus far. But, the number of new cases was 1,729, while 3,024 people were marked as recovered today.
The outlier is Sweden, which has been more relaxed about its lockdown. Swiss public news service SRF has some good charts for Switzerland.
In terms of new infections, they peaked a month ago in Switzerland, and have fallen precipitously.
The chart of coronavirus deaths looks similar with a two-week lag.
Hospitalizations and intensive care cases peaked about the same time as the death due to the virus. But the numbers are still high, showing how a large increase in cases could saturate a health care system.
In the end, the overwhelming majority of coronavirus cases in Switzerland can now be counted as ‘recovered’
This is the picture that has caused European politicians to green light relaxation of lockdowns.
Relaxation of lockdowns
My daughter, who is studying in Germany, told me she went Schaufensterbummeln (window shopping) in Cologne yesterday because Germany has allowed stores under a certain size to re-open. She wore a mask, didn’t enter any stores, and said the streets were moderately full during good weather. Her conclusion was that neither she nor most other people were prepared to return to stores yet. But she was wading in cautiously.
As Europe tries to restart businesses, it will be similar everywhere. We have already seen this in Wuhan. German public news service ZDF has a good compilation of where we are seeing lockdowns lessened and how. Here are businesses now open or opening shortly, according to ZDF.
Switzerland: Building and garden supply stores, hairdressers, veterinarians, dentists, cosmetic studios and tattoo parlours
Croatia: most stores, libraries and museums plus public transport
Czech Republic: business visitors from within the EU with proof of a negative Covid-19 test in the last 4 days can stay for up to 72 hours. Libraries, zoos, restaurants and cafes are re-opening.
Norway: nurseries and primary schools
Belgium: only on 11 May will the first shops open. A week later some classrooms will open. Restaurants won’t come back until the beginning of June at the earliest
France: Also looking at 11 May. But renovation of Notre Dame will re-commence Monday
We know about Danish schools re-opening as well.
Again, Sweden is a bit of an outlier here in that they have travel restrictions in place through mid- June and seem more likely to increase lockdown than to decrease it. On Friday, I said that I had been looking at this mid-June date as a bogey for a resumption of normality. That would give us 7 weeks to ramp up in Europe. I think that’s optimistic but doable.
Even after the lockdown restrictions start lifting, people will be hesitant. Some behavior will be sticky and things may never go back to normal for years. But, we could see Q2 in Europe better than expected if this relaxation of lockdowns comes together quickly.
The contrast to the US
The United States is both a laggard and a worst case for Covid-19 infections. The worst cases in Europe like Spain, Italy, the UK and France are not opening up yet. They have weeks of economic pain still to come. In Spain, for example, only now are children allowed to leave their house. And only once a day for an hour and within a 1 kilometer radius, at that. Starting on 2 May, Spaniards can go for walks and do exercise outdoors.
So, we should expect the US to either risk a second wave of infections or be forced to wait another few weeks before rules start relaxing.
The biggest favourable contrast for Europe to the US in restarting the economy is the lack of economic disruption because of the social safety net. I was looking for the link yesterday to a story in a Swiss paper I read, but I couldn’t find it. It outlined why they felt blessed to still have 2.9% unemployment because of Kurzarbeit, where worker hours are cut, the employer pays workers for hours worked, and the government picks up the tab for difference. Universal healthcare means this doesn’t enter the picture in terms of employer-employee relationships.
That’s going to mean that, as long as your company is still in business, you can return as if nothing happened. In the US, many of the mass of unemployed people will need to look for employment elsewhere. And finding another job will take time, adding a long on-ramp to the recovery once business even opens.
Numbers and changes
Again, post-lockdown, consumption behaviors will have changed. Absolute consumption levels will be lower, but the consumption mix will change. We know that people have been using online and delivery services more often during the lockdowns. This will continue to benefit the likes of Amazon ($AMZN). Media consumption benefits the likes of Netflix ($NFLX). But, a lot of this is priced in as these companies have outperformed on the stock market.
In German magazine Focus, they talk about more Germans paying with cards (link here in German). The same at German daily Die Welt, (link in German), where they say that now 60 percent of Germans are not using cash at all. That’s quite a contrast from days of old since Germany has been a laggard in accepting credit and debt card transactions. Winners: Euronet ($EEFT), Mastercard ($MA) and Visa ($V).
While researching this, I found gathering all the data across Europe in one place time-consuming and incomplete. This goes to the Achilles heel of Europe in terms of its balkanized consumer market vis-a-vis the US. Even so, as I look forward, I am more upbeat about the near term prospects of European economic recovery than I am about a US recovery.
Within Europe, there will be laggards though. Swiss daily Tagesanzeiger talked of there being a tussle and discounting war as Swiss companies fight over domestic tourists (link in German). For me, the obvious implication is that many tourists will go on holiday in their home country. And so, big losers are the likes of Greece.
SRF has a good article on Greece’s struggle with tourism (link in German). And it highlights that Greece is still in a Great Depression, having now been hit by three economic traumas back-to-back-to-back. As much as we have to be concerned about what a ‘peacetime’ Italy looks like, we have to also worry about what a post-crisis Greece looks like. I am not convinced the aversion to deficits and debts is over. And these will become an issue again for both of these countries.
The overall message here is hopeful though. Europe has been less aggressive with its stimulus measures than the US. But that’s in part because it hasn’t had to be as aggressive given how well the social safety net is performing. And the PMIs show a worse present economic situation than in the US. Most of this has been fully discounted by asset markets though.
I actually expect Europe to outperform the US over the short- to medium term as it exits lockdown in better shape. It’s over the longer-term and in transfer payments to help those hit hardest by the crisis like Spain and Italy where the worries are.
Expect more on this contrast in the coming days and weeks.
Comments are closed.


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Facebook given green light by state to acquire InstagramFacebook received approval from the California Department of Corporations for its planned acquisition of Instagram, helping clear the way for the world’s most popular social network to complete the purchase.
Facebook can issue shares to buy the mobile photo-sharing application, said Rafael Lirag, hearing officer at a fairness hearing in San Francisco yesterday.
The deal is “fair, just and equitable,” and a permit will be issued to enable the share transfer, he said.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted antitrust approval for the acquisition last week. The deal, which includes about 23 million shares and $300 million in cash, is valued at about $740 million.
Facebook is buying Instagram to bolster its presence on mobile devices, where it needs to boost advertising dollars.
Facebook gets more than half of its users from wireless devices such as smartphones and tablets, yet growth in mobile advertising has not kept pace with the surge in members.
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[NEWS IN FOCUS] It's spinoff time for LG Chem and battery unit


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Friday, August 29, 2014
115 Second Ave. storefront for lease
[EVG file photo]
An EVG reader who is looking for retail space found a listing for 115 Second Ave. (The PDF is here.)
[Click on image for more details]
The address is currently home to Moishe's Kosher Bake Shop. (The Moishe's website says it has been here since 1978; other sources date the bakery to 1972.)
The listing via Jud Leasing, and last updated on Monday, notes that this is a "great location for restaurant, fast food venting in place." The occupancy for a new tenant is "arranged."
In September 2012, The Local reported that Moishe's was going to renovate the ground-floor space, dividing the bake shop into three sections that would include a café. The floors above Moishe's, which previously had been for lease, were also set for a renovation.
However, there were never any work permits filed for the building, according to DOB records.


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Online shopping and e-commerce have become synonymous with industry giant Amazon. The company has worked hard to successfully position itself to be the leader in online retail. While the company has dominated the e-commerce industry for many years, it has also found success through its advertising capabilities.
We surveyed our team of Amazon experts to find out rising trends and their predictions for what’s in store for Amazon and other online marketplaces in 2022.
1. Attribution modeling becomes a larger focus
Andy Thompson, Director of Marketplace Services, predicts that multi-touch attribution modeling for Amazon media will be on the rise. He explains that this will help marketers better understand all the touchpoints a customer has with a brand before making a purchase on Amazon and give credit to the different touchpoints.
With the potential deprecation of the 3rd-party cookies, and app-based tracking challenges coming, 1st-party data will be king in digital media. Andy says, “Amazon’s closed loop in the product journey process creates a great alternative to take methods and models from old digital channels and apply them back into Amazon.” As Amazon expands its capabilities to provide more insights into the customer journey, more marketers will turn to Amazon’s solutions for attribution modeling.
2. Video fills the screen on Amazon
Video content is everywhere and for good reason: video receives 21.2% more interactions than a traditional image. For marketers, the importance of video will also extend to Amazon in 2022.
Ryan Wright, Marketplace Strategist, tells us, “Sponsored brand video will expand its footprint and become the ubiquitous advertising type on Amazon in 2022.” He explains that dynamic advertising hasn’t been a big part of Amazon’s advertising portfolio until recently. The rise of dynamic advertising on other platforms will be mirrored on Amazon, and it’s a chance to showcase creativity. He adds, “We’ve seen some great results on these ad types and continue to push them for all of our clients to use as soon as possible.”
3. Supply chain issues linger
Many brands faced supply chain challenges this year, and this is expected to continue in 2022. Because of this, inventory availability will continue to impact Amazon and other major e-commerce platforms. Brands are already preparing for what challenges may lie ahead and are looking for ways to successfully navigate these supply chain problems.
Where many brands struggle to adapt, Jamil Bhuiyan, Associate Account Coordinator, is finding opportunities. He explains, “As supply chain issues plague every industry, keeping inventory available and staying on top of opportunities to conquer when competitors fall flat from lack of supply will be a huge market factor for pricing and taking advantage of others’ missing opportunities.” He recommends using supply chain issues as a conservative strategy but also considers it an opportunity for big growth in competitor spaces. As you look for new ways to capture more market share in 2022, make sure to keep Amazon’s expanding advertising capabilities and SEO for Amazon top of mind.
4. Expansion of VR, AR, & mixed reality tech
Amazon and other online marketers will look for new ways to improve customer experiences and experiment with cutting-edge technology. With the growing popularity of Virtual Reality (VR) and other mixed reality technology, retailers might have more opportunities to get creative with improving the customer’s shopping experience while showcasing their products or service.
Jack Garcia, Account Manager, tells us what he’s looking forward to seeing in future applications of this technology. “I would love to see the expansion of VR, AR, or other mixed reality technology integrations. I saw an article about a major cosmetics brand letting people ‘virtually dye their hair.’ This concept has been floating around for a long time, and I was just waiting for it to become integrated with mainstream marketplaces.”
That time is here. It’s estimated that the global mixed reality market will reach 300 billion U.S. dollars by 2024, nearly ten times the current global market value. Given this booming popularity, we expect to see some major applications coming this year.
One of these applications involves a concept called “mass customization.” Jack refers to how Nike lets users customize shoes online as an example of this. The integration of mixed reality technology goes hand-in-hand with mass customization.
While technology companies and major social media platforms are investing heavily into the development and usage of mixed reality technology, Amazon and other online marketplaces may push the industry forward. Online retailers have the ability to leverage this technology to create a seamless shopping experience—one that begins with the discovery of a brand’s product and concludes with the purchase of that product—all without requiring the customer to leave the online storefront. If Amazon offers a streamlined way for sellers to use these technologies, we could quickly see mass adoption of mixed reality technology for advertisers.
5. Amazon shows its cards
“Amazon will begin to release more data and insights into brands and agencies than ever before,” Andy tells us. As a result, he sees Amazon pivoting away from the secrecy they’ve traditionally used towards their data. This shift will reward sellers already using Amazon Advertising and widen the competitive gap between brands just starting to advertise.
Andy continues, “Amazon will unleash a new wave of growth for brands already on the platform which will leave brands that are waiting to get on Amazon further and further behind.” Since new arrivals to the online storefront will have less 1st-party data to inform their campaigns than existing advertisers, they already have a disadvantage. Brands should find strategic partners to consult with so they can leverage their partners’ historical knowledge, or they risk wasting ad spend.
Use these tactics to succeed on Amazon and other online storefronts in 2022
Keeping these trends top of mind will give you a competitive edge at the onset of the new year. Get in touch with our team of Amazon experts to learn how we can help you stay ahead of your competitors in 2022 and beyond.


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Sony surprised us all this week by revealing its next-gen PlayStation VR controllers. It mentioned in the PlayStation Blog post that they’re being sent out to development partners imminently, which is perhaps why it decided to unveil them – there’s always a chance they’ll leak once they arrive in studios, right? To be fai
I want to be Freeman
It’s been fizzling, hasn’t it? For just over two years, Sony did an incredible job keeping PlayStation VR supplied with top-notch software, but the stream has definitely slowed. While there have been headline titles in holidays past, the Japanese giant is relying on legacy releases like Beat Saber and PSVR Worlds to flog its...
Will you be able to play Valve's new game on PlayStation VR?
Hell has frozen over, the world has stopped spinning, and Valve has announced a new Half-Life game. Out of nowhere, the company behind Steam and a bunch of influential titles has revealed Half-Life: Alyx, a virtual reality sequel to its seminal first-person shooter series. As Valve has a...
But not in the way you may hope
Those heading to Cologne for Gamescom 2016 this week are in for a treat: Half-Life 3 is on display. Well, it is – but not in the way that you'd think. A group of smirking Germans have paid for the embedded banner to hang outside the Kolnmesse Convention Centre, with the translation of the full text reading:...


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EA remain at No1 this week with ‘Titanfall’ (-28%) taking a second successive week thanks to the recent release of the Xbox 360 version
Titanfall makes it 3 weeks at No1 in total, the other coming at launch in week 11 on Xbox One). The highest new entry at No2 is EA’s ‘2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil’ on just 2 core versions of Xbox 360 and PS3. This is the 6th FIFA World Cup game from EA since they acquired the rights in 1996 and began tying in with World Cups from 1998 – those of you with maths skills will note that 1998 to 2014 is just 5 World Cups – the reason being that EA published 2 World Cup games around the 1998 event (‘Road to the World Cup 98’ and ‘World Cup 98’).
Warner drop from No2 to No3 with ‘LEGO The Hobbit’ (-12%) and EA’s ‘FIFA 14’ also drops one place from No3 to No4 (-8%). Ubisoft take the second highest new entry at No7 with ‘Trials Fusion’ and there’s a re-entry at No20 for Square Enix thanks to ‘Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’ which launches this week on PS4 - previously launched on PS3/PC back in September 2013.


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The list of speakers for THREADX 2018 – a new conference from the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) – continues to expand with the addition of Brandon Barber, Director of Manufacturing, Vapor Apparel; Mark Coudray, owner, Coudray Growth Technologies; and entrepreneur Mel Lay, SandiLake Clothing, who appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” THREADX, designed by and for garment decorators, takes place February 25–28, 2018, in Palm Springs, California.
Spandex, the one-stop supplier of innovative solutions to the digital printing and sign making industries, welcomed hundreds of visitors during a two-day Open House event at its premises in Bristol on 6th and 7th December 2017.
The Board of Directors at CS Labels have appointed Adam James as a Director of the company. Mr James has been promoted from Production Director to Operations Director and will join the Board.
As we approach the Christmas holidays most of us find ourselves reflecting on the year just gone and start putting into action our plans for the year ahead. Innotech Digital's sales manager Russell Alexander shares his thoughts on the past twelve months and why he's feeling positive for the coming year, which sees...
Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA, one of the leading international suppliers of printing inks for packaging applications and labels, has signed a contract to purchase family-owned Tupahue Tintas, one of the Brazilian market leader for flexo and gravure printing inks and varnishes located in Diadema (São Paulo).


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A Silicon Valley entrepreneur thinks there’s nevertheless an area for gas in the future — we need to supply it from the air in place of the ground. Rob McGinnis is the founder and CEO of Prometheus, a startup developing a gadget that pulls carbon out of the surroundings and transforms it into usable fuel. The idea is that the device might trap and convert extra carbon than McGinnis’ automobile might produce — essentially making fossil fuel-powered cars a carbon-impartial shape of transportation.
Prometheus is now receiving funding from the distinguished accelerator Y Combinator, which announced plans in October to start focusing its attention — and money — on improving carbon seize technology. “We have the conviction that it’s a worthwhile undertaking to cast off CO2 from the air and rework it into something else useful or parent out the way to keep it properly, long-time period,” Y Combinator CEO Sam Altman said in a blog published on time. “They may additionally appear like moonshots now, but we intend to try to provide you with technically feasible solutions at practical costs.”
For now, Prometheus is still inside the moonshot section. While McGinnis showed his prototype tool to a Bloomberg reporter in March, it hadn’t produce sufficient fuel to strengthen his Volkswagen Golf hatchback for even a mile. Still, that hasn’t discouraged the entrepreneur, who advised Bloomberg he believes he’ll be selling gasoline for kind of $3 in line per per gallon before the give-up of 2020.
The generation quarter changes hastily. It looks like each day, and a new device is being made available to the public. For the “techies” interested in the modern and best technological facts, a terrific tech news blog or internet site is an incredible way to stay knowledgeable. The great ones will record the modern-day happenings and advances within the tech international. This may be high-quality for people who care about such things.
It is important to find a nice tech information blog. Not all websites are well worth spending time at. Several of them can be a big waste of time and a virtual area. When searching out informative blogs or websites, whether or not they provide tech news or online game news, it is important to search for ones with positive characteristics. They must be well-written and updated regularly and correctly. Below, we will check what constitutes a first-class tech information website, after which we will provide you with considered one of our favorites.
WELL-written Any information or video game information blogs worth frequenting may be properly registered. While it doesn’t must be professionally written, it has to be easy to read and free from lots of typos.
Frequent Updates: A video game or tech information website that is not updated truly isn’t worth touring. Both industries change at a speedy clip, and news will become more quick. If the weblog or internet site creator no longer cares to replace their postings or content, it is not worth visiting their website. You might not get the maximum updated data.
Accuracy: One of the most important matters to search for in a tech news weblog or website is accuracy. It will help if you ensure that the facts provided are correct and sincere. You can do this by comparing what’s written with trusted information or enterprise assets. Once you can verify that the writer includes accurate information, bookmark the website to test again often for news and testimonies.


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At Sprechen we've always got an eye on future trends in digital marketing so that we can make sure we are doing the best job possible for our clients. This week we've been pondering hashtags, in particular 'hijacking' them to spread the word about your product, brand or event. It's a risky strategy and one that both the good and bad influencers on the internet are equally engaged in. ISIS are renowned for hijacking hashtags to spread their beliefs as far and as wide as possible.
Innocent drinks (the people behind those rather nice smoothies) started their own hashtag #nationalpenguinawarenessday where they stated they had never and would never use penguins in their drinks. Well, obviously, but it caught the imagination of people around the world and raised their profile. That's not technically a 'hashtag highjack' though, that's just creating a good hashtag.
L'Oreal managed to use the #hottestdayoftheyear hashtag combined with some fun pictures of cute animals playing or splashing in water to boost their profile on Twitter, a lovely example of a successful hashtag hijack.
What about when it doesn't go so well? Here's an example of a hashtag hijack gone wrong - an America pizza company decided to use #whyistayed to market their product, but their tweet of " #whyistayed - you had pizza" attracted attention for all the wrong reasons when it turned out it was already being used to highlight awareness of domestic abuse.
There's also a screenshot supposedly from British favourite Homebase using the hashtag #RIPPrice (in relation to the American singer Price who had passed away the night before) just to promote their brand. No connection to Prince, just a complete shot in the dark. The original has been deleted but we can't believe anyone on their digital team can have been quite o stupid... can they?!


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Over the past two days during previews for the Detroit auto show, automakers unveiled nearly two dozen new luxury models or concepts, with all expressing confidence that luxury vehicle sales would ignite this year.
"We see success…in every direction we look," said Johan de Nysschen, head of Audi's American arm, which is planning to build a factory in the United States to meet growing demand.
Luxury cars and trucks — those costing at least $35,000 — account for about 13% of the U.S. market. While new vehicle sales have bounced back to 13 million a year, the rebound has been fairly slow, driven by shoppers who've literally worn out or outgrown their current rides. But luxury cars are forecast to grow more than 10% in 2012, outpacing the rest of the market.
For that money, buyers increasingly expect technology that can't be found in everyday vehicles — from in-car WiFi internet hotspots to night vision displays to entertainment systems that can link over Bluetooth with up to 10 devices simultaneously. Raw horsepower has given way to refinement; the push to eliminate noise in interiors has gone so far that in some BMW latest models, the stereo system recreates engine noise, synchronized with the motor's RPMs.
The most notable unveiling at the Detroit show this year belonged to an American-built luxury car: the 2013 Cadillac ATS, an all-new small car that General Motors wants to take on the world's most popular luxury sedan, the BMW 3-Series. BMW's also renewed the 3-Series this year, with BMW execs expressing confidence that they can hold off any comers.
Yet the real battle among luxury brands lies with SUVs, which turn out to be as attractive to customers in Europe and China seeking spacious rides as they are here. The combination of fuel costs and toughening regulations have forced automakers to find ways of powering them with smaller, more efficient engines.
This week alone saw the reveal of the Buick Encore, the U.S. version of the Audi Q3 and a refreshed Acura RDX — all smaller SUVs powered by engines with fewer than six cylinders. Porsche will join the crowd with its own small SUV next year called the Cajun; and even Bentley, the British builder of six-figure sedans, will fashion its own SUV within a few years.
The other driver behind the luxury push: the rebound of Japanese automakers, following a year marked by the deadly earthquake and tsunami. Toyota's Lexus division, which lost its spot as top-selling U.S. luxury brand to BMW in 2011, will roll out nine new or updated models this year. It showed off the LF-LC concept, the most attractive version of a new, aggressive style that had only sparked comparisons to the Predator movies to date.
But the most stunning concept at the show belonged to Acura, thanks to Honda's decision to revive the NSX supercar in 2015. It's impossible to say how much of the concept will survive to production, or whether the performance of a gas-electric hybrid can match the NSX of the '90s — but it shows that Honda, like the rest of the world's auto industry, can't imagine a future without luxury shoppers holding its keys.


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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will likely start selling a low-cost iPhone in the December quarter, according to well-known Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. He believes that the device will add 12 million units to the company’s December quarter results.
Munster previews results from Apple
Tomorrow Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will release the results from its June quarter, and Munster is in line with consensus, expecting 26 million iPhones to have been sold during the quarter. That number is flat with last year’s June quarter iPhone sales.
Gates Capital Management's Excess Cash Flow (ECF) Value Funds have returned 14.5% net over the past 25 years, and in 2021, the fund manager continued to outperform. Due to an "absence of large mistakes" during the year, coupled with an "attractive environment for corporate events," the group's flagship ECF Value Fund, L.P returned 32.7% last Read More
Munster expects Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s September quarter to only see sales of 24 million iPhones, which is significantly lower than the same quarter last year when there were 26.9 million iPhones sold. According to Munster, this September quarter estimate depends on the company shipping its iPhone 5S in the second half of September.
Apple’s place to improve around the holidays
According to Munster, the fourth calendar quarter of the year is where things will pick up for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). He’s expecting the release of a low-cost iPhone to enable the company to sell 62 million iPhones—well ahead of Wall Street consensus, which is for 50 million iPhones during the December quarter. However, it should be noted that the Wall Street consensus does not make the assumption that there will be a low-cost iPhone rolled out in time for the holidays. This is why Munster has added 12 million iPhones onto his estimate.
He did say that 62 million might be a bit off though if cannibalization from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s low-cost iPhone is a problem. He assumed a 50 percent cannibalization factor from the release of the lower priced model. He said that might be too aggressive since we don’t know when the device will be out. He said if they add in the cannibalization factor, it would bring his core estimate for iPhones in the fourth quarter to 56 million. It’s also important to note that his estimate includes expectations that the iPhone 5S will be out by the end of the year.


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Episode 198: Nick Watts and Tim Harkins from Hook Studios in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Posted on Mar 19, 2015
Here's one for the motion makers and digital developers of the world, featuring Nick, a partner at Hook, and Tim, Associate Motion Director.
Hosted by Dan Balser, Advertising Department Head at The Creative Circus in Atlanta, this is a biweekly conversation about advertising. But it's not just about the industry; it's about the people in it.


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OCZ Storage Solutions, a Toshiba Group Company and provider of high-performance solid state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced the expansion of the Company's ShieldPlus warranty to 66 new countries including Australia, Japan and Thailand making its award-winning warranty coverage available in 99 countries.
ShieldPlus is an industry-leading approach to service that provides peace of mind with an elite, worry-free customer service experience which eliminates all the hassle and cost surrounding traditional warranty claims consumers often have to deal with. In the unlikely event that a drive needs to be replaced, customers just need to go to support.ocz.com and supply their drive's serial number without the necessity of an original purchase receipt. If the drive is deemed defective, OCZ will provide a pre-paid return label saving the customer potentially expensive shipping fees. Additionally, ShieldPlus's advanced product replacement coverage ensures that the drive will be shipped as soon as possible even before OCZ receives the faulty drive.
"It has always been important for OCZ to provide high-caliber products and service and our ShieldPlus warranty raised the bar for end-user support," said Alex Mei, CMO. "We are pleased to announce that key regions such as China, Japan, and Australia can now partake in ShieldPlus, furthering our commitment to reduce hassle, minimize downtime, and provide top-notch service to the masses."
As of now, ShieldPlus is available for product lines released after July 2014, which includes the ARC 100 series, the Radeon R7 series, the Vertex 460A series, the Vector 180 series, and the Trion 100 series.
For a full list of eligible countries, please visit http://www.ocz.com/shieldplus.
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“We put a lot of influence into the game before we even got noticed worldwide. A lot of people were picking off of us and taking all of our creativity,” says Quavo.
When an opportunity arises to get creative with their brand, Huncho looks for the Migos to pounce. Mountain Dew is the latest to be added to the group’s laundry list of partnerships, as the 27-year-old crafted a new track “Position to Win” to star in the brand’s “Do the DEW” campaign commercial, which should land on streaming services soon.
Check out the complete interview with Quavo here.


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On a foggy and showery afternoon on Wednesday, Girma Wegderes, 53, was busy at his work place at Colonial Parking, on Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington D.C., attending vehicles coming and…
As newer and polished taxis compete for customers with the blue & white taxis, the public and the drivers seem to have made up their mind on the qualities of each, reports BEZAWIT ADMASU & SAMUEL GETACHEW, FORTUNE STAFF WRITERS
As the number of private satellite TV stations has increased in Ethiopia, the services of cable guys has also registered a rise. Despite the simplicity of installing some satellite TV stations, people still opt to pay an increasing service fee for cable guys, reports, TSGAB BIRHANE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER.
Though a number of large scale construction projects, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, are taking place with the primary involvement of foreign contractors, local companies are not benefiting in terms of the transfer of technology or knowhow, according to Samson Berhane, Fortune Staff Writer. This is despite the fact that such process is a key element of the government’s second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII).
Landscape gardening is a thriving industry worldwide, used to beautify and maximise the potential of outdoor space. In Ethiopia, however, the sector is still very much in its infancy, with no official standards and no direct qualifications. As the economy in Addis Abeba continues to grow, however, so too does the demand for quality landscaping services, reports Samson Berhane, Fortune Staff Writer.
Although the New Year is a time for festive cheer, profiteering often shoves this aside. This is especially true of the butchers, whose living peaks on the mornings of holidays and often revolves around hustling and bargaining. Many of the younger butchers learn the trade as they go, which can lead to mistakes and conflict. Despite the troublesome nature of many of the butchers, they are an integral part of the festive season, reports Mikiyas Tesfaye, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER.
The regional disturbances in the Amhara and Oromia regional states has also now begun to affect the prices of grains and vegetables at the markets in the capital. This is influenced by two main factors – the disruption on the roads, with many trucks refusing to travel certain routes, and the shortage in supply that this has created. With the New Year’s festivities just around the corner, such price increments could be further exaggerated over the coming weeks, reports DAWIT ENDESHAW, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER.
Ethiopia’s campaign at the Rio 2016 Olympics had everything a thriller movie screen writer could dream of – underdogs, activists, record breaking performances, clouds of suspicion and maladministration. Elshadai Negash…
All over the world, interior design, as a standalone industry, has exploded over the past few decades. Not only for aesthetics, but also to make the best use of space and light, interior design is an art from in its own right. Despite this, it is only recently that the sector in Ethiopia has really begun to take hold, in both the corporate and domestic sectors. With young, energetic and ambitious individuals leading the way, the future looks bright, reports TSGAB BIRHANE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER
Shopping is a major feature of the holiday seasons in Ethiopia, and in the capital, Addis Abeba, an early kicker of this trend has been exhibitions. Those organised at the city’s single centre designed for the purpose – the Addis Abeba Exhibition Centre – located at the heart of the city in Meskel square, have become a key landmark in heralding the approaching holidays. Organising one of these holiday events is become less and less inviting, with increased competition pushing up the price of the winning bids. On the contrary, both exhibitors and visitors are not so enthusiastic about the events of late. Fortune staff writer Samson Berhane chose to visit the New Year’s Exhibition, currently being held at the Exhibition Centre, while trying to understand the vibe and dynamics surrounding the event.
Ethiopia was suddenly swarmed with new digital TV viewing options earlier this year, with four new private channels launching in close succession. Although incredibly popular, they have also received a mixed reaction, with many unhappy about the focus of some of the newcomers on dubbed foreign media. One issue that has not been given so much thought is advertising revenue. With new channels comes new options, with companies keen to take advantage of the new platforms they have to promote their businesses, according to Nardos Yoseph, STAFF WRITER
An outdated directive, which gives an unfair advantage to the private, or ‘special’, bus line companies above the cross country bus owners’ associations, is being addressed in a bid for enhanced equality, reports Nardos Yoseph, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER. The ability of these ‘special’ companies to determine their departure points, destinations and prices, gave them an unfair advantage in the market. With a huge increase in the number of companies operating in this sector, moves are now being made to enable fairer competition.
All over the world, weddings are big money spinners for those involved in the industry, and Ethiopia is no different. One key element of all weddings, and Ethiopian weddings, in particular, is music. With the end of the Orthodox Christian Lenten fast signalling a surge in festivities, the demand for DJs and sound systems is on the rise. In addition to the huge increase in work, price increments are also witnessed at this time. With a slow period soon to follow, DJs and sound men work as much as physically possible to help them through the rest of the year.
Life coaches, personal trainers, career advisers – are all common services in many countries, with their popularity firmly established within society. For Ethiopia, however, such an approach to psychologial stability and well-being is relatively new, reports SOLIANA ALEMAYEHU, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER. The sector does not come without controversy either, with many unregistered and uncertified individuals chancing their arm. This can be dangerous, according to some experts, though others firmly testify to the great benefits that can be garnered.
Inspired by the negative connotations often attached to ‘Made in Ethiopia’ products overseas, these entrepreneurial sisters are determined to change perceptions, with an unwavering focus on quality, reports NARDOS YOSEPH, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER. Though initially solely concentrating on leather products, due to its established high standards, the wider vision is to diversify as the company evolves. The new Axumite – ‘Made in Ethiopia’ – brand has been developed to act as an umbrella company for a variety of quality producers, with its first shop having recently opened it Piassa. Though there are many challenges ahead, the passionate sisters are determined to stay true to their objectives and breakthrough in this challenging market.
With the Ethiopian Easter fast approaching, the various cattle markets in Addis Abeba are becoming busier and busier. The current drought being experienced in parts of the country has had an impact on both the cost and availability of livestock, with traders paying large amounts on feed. As the remaining market days diminish, both buyers and traders prepare to bargain on the price of this traditional festive treat, reports DAWIT ENDESHAW, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER
With Easter and the following peak wedding season on the horizon, the demand for both honey and butter increases exponentially. This sees the various outlets – including in Merkato, as well as door-to-door traders – vying for business. Sales have, however, so far been slow, and high prices are putting off some buyers, reports TESFA MOGESSIE, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER
Reports are in, shareholders have assembled and pocketed their dividends. It is now opportune time to look at the whole industry’s performance throughout last year. SOLIANA ALEMAYEHU, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER checks up on performance and efficiency of the industry that seems to exhibit all the clichés: first-come-first-served, the struggling middle class, and last but not least, last but not least.
The number of cinemas in Addis Abeba is growing faster than the number of movie goers, yet only one stands out for it consistent Box Office offerings. NARDOS YOSEPH, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, delves into the business aspects of this form of entertainment and the struggle to remain competitive.
Life as a street vendor may seem hard but it actually pays to be mobile, bringing the market to passers-by who may welcome the convenience. MISAK WORKNEH, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER takes to the street to explore the business of vending, its tribulations and solutions.
Waking up and smelling the coffee can be taken literally in Ethiopia, the land where it originated. MISAK WORKNEH, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, chats over a cup of Ethiopian coffee and finds that the cultural habit is also extremely good business.
Lifestyles are indeed changing and city stores are ablaze as couples spend in readiness for Valentine’s Day. SOLIANA ALEMAYHU, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, explores with providers of various gifts and services, the high price of romantic love
Young men organised in car wash microenterprise initiatives around Addis seem to be doing well. MISGANAW GETACHEW, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER talks with some of them. They are employed, living independently off the streets, and aspire to move into small business.
The rise of mega regional blocs threatens the relevance of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and this is not good news for poor countries like Ethiopia, argues TAMRAT G. GIORGIS, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER. However, the agreement reached for advanced economies to immediately end agricultural subsidies on agriculture – and in two years for developing countries – is “the most significant outcome.”
Collectively meeting the costs of funerals is the main rationale for the traditional Ethiopian Iddir. Modern funeral service providers have not replaced Iddirs but are supported by them in urban environments. MISGANAW GETACHEW, FORTUNE STAFF WRITER, explores the business side of saying farewell.
With a reformist administration in charge of the executive, there has b...
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Who it is that midwifed the rapprochement between E...
Desert Locusts have been costly to combat, because efforts are made aft...
A recent photo between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and George Soros...
The future is bleak. Millennials and younger generations who will inher...
There is heated debate on the propriety, decency and morality of breast...


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Robbie Williams will be performing an exclusive gig at The Apple Store on Regent Street in London on December 17th. Doors will open at 8:45pm, but only winners of a competition that Apple is running will be able to gain access.
iTunes LIVE from London with Robbie Williams
Thursday, 17th December. Doors open at 20:40
Apple Store, Regent Street, 235 Regent Street, London


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Independent used car dealers are enjoying unusually strong late summer retail sales, according to the latest research by CAP Automotive.
In a survey of 98 dealers across Britain, 67% reported that August brought an increase in used car sales compared with July.
What’s more, only two members of CAP’s Dealer Insight Panel predicted a ‘slight decline’ in trade over the next quarter, with the rest expecting to at least maintain their current level.
Mike Hind, of CAP (pictured), commented: “It is clear that the UK car market in general is leading the way when it comes to the recovery of consumer confidence.
“This is, of course, helped by the fact that so many consumers are contrasting the returns they will get from a typical savings account with the benefits they’ll get from replacing their car.
“Dealers are still crying out for good part-exchanges and are prepared to offer very good prices for the best examples.”


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RDP Marathon, the Canadian press manufacturer acquired by Drent Goebel in 2005, has officially changed its name to Drent Goebel North America Inc. The company is located in Montreal.
“Since the acquisition, the integration process of both companies’ engineering and sales operations has proceeded very smoothly,” says Rob Teunissen, CEO of Drent Goebel, headquartered in Eerbeek, Netherlands. “Both Drent Goebel and RDP customers have embraced the benefits of this acquisition and with a new year upon us, the timing is right to consolidate our image as one group.”
Huib van den Heuvel, technical director for Drent Goebel, has relocated to Montreal and will be president of Drent Goebel North America, where he will manage the USA and Canadian operations. Eric Short, founder of RDP Marathon and now responsible for North American sales and marketing, will oversee Drent Goebel’s existing sales organization in the USA and Canada.
Drent Goebel specializes in customized web offset printing presses for printers of label and flexible packaging, direct mail, commercial printing and business forms, paperboard, and security documents including banknotes and stamps.


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A British doctor presented a visual overview in order to explain the spread of cholera in Soho: his thesis wasn’t endorsed, but his map changed the world.
In this issue: David Chipperfield meets Renzo Piano; Lina Ghotmeh Architecture’s Stone Garden in Lebanon; the work of British artist Rachel Whiteread and more. Browse the gallery and discover the contents of the April issue.
Feel less lonely, tell yourself in the sudden and unexpected quarantine and show that distance can be a new form of closeness. These are some of the reasons behind two illustration calls in Coronavirus times: the French “Coronamaison” and the Italian “Stay Close(d)”.
The architectural photographer’s pictures, taken exclusively for Domus around the outer ring-road of the Italian city, capture the outskirts that we can no longer look at.
Dyson designed and put into production a ventilation machine to support the fight against the Covid-19.
Guided by Carlo Ratti, an interdisciplinary team of researchers in continuous expansion provide a not-profit alterative to the tents currently used in field hospitals during the medical emergency.
Fashion brands are producing hospital gowns and masks, fragrance companies are making hand sanitizers, the automotive sector is dealing with surgical devices or parts for hospital machinery. We are at war, yes, but now we can count on new allies.
From cruise ships transformed into floating quarantine sites to the hospital ship in Genoa: The Coronavirus pandemic turns an unexpected architectural archetype into a symbol.
Whether we live in a shared apartment, in 35sqm, in the middle of nowhere, alone or in company, we are “locked inside”. Ideas, projects and stories for an ongoing journal about living in the age of Coronavirus.
The editorial director of Domus responds to Marcus Fairs, founder of the online magazine, who had proposed to substitute the Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone in Milan, postponed due to the Coronavirus, with a Virtual Milan Week.
From Cattelan to Adrian Paci, over a hundred artists have been called to create original drawings that can be downloaded for free and coloured. A way to express creativity in times of quarantine.


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Just off the plane from her trip to New York Bridal Fashion Week, Ramsey Sims of I Do Bridal Couture is bursting with inspiration and new offerings for the Baton Rouge brides who will be tying the knot in the next year. And while some classic bridal elements hold year after year, with two royal weddings in the recent months, Sims says this year the elements that serve to complete brides’ looks are slightly different than in the past.
We broke down her recommendations into five simple tips for soon-to-be brides, and anyone who loves bridal. And for more wedding inspiration, check out inRegister’s 2018 Weddings issue here.
1. Ornate floral
Calling to mind the beauty and elegance of nature, flowers have long been a cornerstone of any and every wedding celebration. This year, Sims says the earthy element is taking on a whole new personality as it works alongside more minimal looks to add much-needed romance.
“The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the trends we saw this year is floral,” says Sims. “I love the soft jeweled floral designs I saw for headbands and jewelry, as well as the incorporation of different florals into veils. It really helps to add texture and interest to a bridal look.”
2. Light lace
Designers are turning traditional lace on its head, with larger floral designs that aim to deliver a more effortless look than dense laces of the past.
“There are so many ways to incorporate lace into your look,” explains Sims. “This year it is all about the romantic, softer laces that really add an ethereal element.”
3-D floral embellishments and allover detailing are just some of the ways that Sims says she saw lace incorporated. And for brides who are opting out of a veil altogether, Sims suggests getting creative with elements like headbands and belts that offer the same effortless floral feeling.
3. Toned-down sparkle
“Bridal accessories are not as bling-y as they have been in the past,” explains Sims. “This year, everything is more subtle.”
Just like Meghan Markle’s simple but elegant look this past June, Sims says bridal fashion is dialing back the bling to deliver more royally inspired looks. However, while the now Duchess of Sussex’s look was decidedly minimal, she still donned some sparkle with a diamond tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II. Sims says that brides in the coming year will likely work to emulate the same look with jeweled headbands and earrings.
4. Pearly whites
And we’re not just talking about smiles. Sims says this year, pearls are being taken from bodice to veil to offer the subdued embellishment that is so big this year.
“We saw so many pearls when we were in New York,” says Sims. “They adorned everything from headbands to crowns to veils. I love this trend especially for our Southern brides.”
5. Custom creations
In addition to all the creations Sims and her team saw during their time at NYBFW, she says she is working with a few brides on custom pieces to complete their wedding day look. Not only does this feature ensure that a bride doesn’t share her look with anyone else, but it also allows the bride to incorporate snapshots from her and her groom’s love story into her attire. From first-date flowers to landmarks from trips together, the options are endless for brides who are looking to get creative.


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Vodafone says its on track as new customers and low churn boost business and boss signals potential deals ahead
- Blue-chip listed Vodafone recorded a 3.7% year-on-year rise in organic revenue
- There was a large growth in consumers using the M-Pesa money transfer service
- Its UK division was buoyed by a 1.9 percentage point fall in customer churn rates
Vodafone is on track to meet its full-year guidance following healthy customer and sales growth in the UK and Africa, the telecoms giant said on Wednesday.
The blue-chip listed business recorded a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase in organic revenue for the final three months of 2021 as its customer base expanded and remained more loyal.
Vodafone is also pursuing mergers with rivals in multiple European markets, encouraged by more favourable signals from regulators, its chief executive has revealed.
Growth: Vodafone's recorded a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase in organic revenue for the final three months of 2021 as its customer base expanded and remained more loyal
African mobile arm Vodacom saw the biggest growth in service revenues, jumping 11 per cent, thanks to a substantial upsurge in mobile customers and those using its M-Pesa money transfer platform.
In South Africa, the group gained 1.7 million prepaid and 82,000 mobile contract customers, posted a strong boost in financial services revenue and had its recently-launched VodaPay' super-app' downloaded more than 1.4 million times.
Its UK division also witnessed a significant leap in the number of mobile contract customers, which it attributed to its new 'Vodafone EVO' flexible contract, healthy sales of iPhones and a positive Black Friday campaign.
Trade was further bolstered by a 1.9 percentage point fall in customer churn rates, greater roaming and visitor revenues, and its broadband customer base surpassing the one million mark.
This helped offset a decline in business revenue after the termination of an unprofitable contract with a major multinational, as well as difficulties getting other multinationals to renew contracts.
By contrast, Vodafone's largest market of Germany achieved record-high loyalty rates in its business segment. On top of that, it revealed a 378,000 increase in Internet of Things connections on the back of hefty demand from the car industry.
Domestic strength: Vodafone's UK division witnessed a significant leap in mobile contract customers, which it attributed to its new 'Vodafone EVO' flexible contract, healthy sales of iPhones and a positive Black Friday campaign
Its service revenue in the country grew by 1.1 per cent despite more onerous Covid-19 restrictions causing store footfall to decrease to half its pre-pandemic levels, and drops in DSL broadband and television customers.
The firm has upheld its annual guidance for adjusted underlying earnings of €15.2billion to €15.4billion and a minimum of €5.3billion in free cash flow.
Nick Read, its chief executive, said: 'Our team has delivered another solid quarter, demonstrating the sustainability of our growth strategy and medium-term ambition.'
He added that the group was focused on enhancing its 'commercial momentum' in Germany and utilising EU recovery funds, whilst 'creating value for our shareholders through proactive portfolio actions and continuing to improve returns at pace.'
Though Vodafone's shares closed trading 3.4 per cent higher on Wednesday, they have performed poorly over the last five years as it has suffered from a huge debt pile and poor profitability.
Upbeat: 'Our team has delivered another solid quarter, demonstrating the sustainability of our growth strategy and medium-term ambition,' said Nick Read, Vodafone's chief executive
Read told reporters that Vodafone was in talks about possible mergers with other mobile operators across Europe, or failing that, a potential tie-up with a telecoms tower company.
'We are active on a number of fronts and we are seeing good engagement from our counterparties which confirms that we have a series of potential opportunities to shape the business with stronger assets in healthier markets,' he declared.
A report in Spain said Vodafone was talking to MasMovil there, and other reports have previously linked the company with Hutchison's Three in its home market.
Read said an industrial merger with a like-minded operator such as Orange or Deutsche Telekom would be the 'ideal option' for the Vantage Towers business he spun out last year.
The chief executive's comments come amidst reports that Swedish hedge fund Cevian Capital is pressuring for major changes at Vodafone after buying an undisclosed stake in the Berkshire-headquartered group.
According to the Financial Times, the activist investor wants the firm to include more board members with experience in the telecoms industry, a more aggressive restructuring of its portfolio, and to consolidate its presence in markets like the UK, Spain and Italy.
Insurer Aviva and education publisher Pearson have also been the subject of targeted campaigns by Cevian, which tends to invest in companies that it believes are undervalued and often pushes for changes at the management level.
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Given talk of activist investor pressures, Vodafone is clearly focused on getting the right message to the market to show it isn't sitting on its hands.'
Yet he remarked that telecoms suffers from being a 'pedestrian sector,' and warned that 'activists don't like to wait around, preferring to look for the quick wins to help drive up business value.
'That could create a culture clash, so expect some fireworks between Vodafone's management and Cevian if it does decide to take a more aggressive approach to pushing for change.'