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Auckland's CBD could have 30 to 40 stores selling legal highs under an Auckland Council proposal to allow a higher concentration of outlets there than the rest of the city, says cannabis law reform advocate Chris Fowlie.
The Hemp Store managing director is challenging the plan, saying it allows a store selling pyschoactive substances to open within only 100m of an existing one in the city centre. He argues this will cause problems for businesses and the area's reputation.
Mr Fowlie is one of 1450 people and groups who will put their views to a council hearings committee from today about proposed restrictions on where the substances can be sold.
Last year, a new law cancelled all permits for selling substances until regulations were developed by the Health Ministry. This is expected around June but councils are working on a Local Approved Product Policy which says where products can be sold, once they gain Government-approved licences as being a low risk.
In 2013, Auckland deputy mayor Penny Hulse said it made no sense to regulate synthetic cannabis without a national "discussion" on legalising alternatives such as cannabis.
Mr Fowlie said if cannabis were made legal, its supply would come under the new Psychoactive Substances Act and the council's policy.
He said the policy would keep legal high stores out of Otara and Manurewa and most of Auckland's west and south by exclusion zones around schools and local shops and vulnerable communities based on social and economic deprivation ratings. However, the proposed policy had separate rules for the central city - the area inside the waterfront and the motorways - which was what the council did in its local policy for the sale of alcohol.
"We agree that the CBD should be treated differently because it is the entertainment hub. People come in here at night and weekends to enjoy themselves.
"But we disagree with the concept of exclusion zones based on a social deprivation index, which is not there in the alcohol policy."
Mr Fowlie said the council was trying to satisfy concerns raised by politicians and the Manurewa and Henderson local boards which did not want legal high outlets in their areas.
"This de facto prohibition will have the effect of encouraging alcohol use, 'tinny' shops selling cannabis and people getting into pills and potions.
"It will simply be exporting problems somewhere else, because people will travel across Auckland.
"We will have problematic customers from the rest of Auckland on our doorstep waiting to be served."
Mr Fowlie said the policy would allow outlets to open up at popular beach spots at Takapuna, Mission Bay or St Heliers. A concentration of outlets and problems could be avoided by restricting new city centre outlets to within 250m instead of 100m of an existing outlet.
Heart of the City central manager Tania Loveridge said some members expressed serious concerns about the return of legal highs, recalling aggressive and anti-social behaviour.
But the association was comfortable with a 100m rule because the number of licences was likely to be highly restricted.
Alcohol Health Watch adviser Amy Robinson questioned relaxing controls for this area, including 100m between retail outlets when 500m was proposed elsewhere.
Sale of legal highs
• 1454 written submissions on Auckland Council's draft policy on location of outlets
• 128 submitters for hearings starting today
• 73% of submitters support separate location rules for city centre
• 94% agree on banning sales licences in neighbourhood centres


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Here is your weekly briefing in Esports, brought to you by Rumble Gaming.
Overwatch league commissioner Nate Nanzer leaves for Epic Games
Nate Nanzer, announced on Friday night that he is leaving one of the most-hyped pro Esports leagues in the world to join Epic Games to work on competitive Fortnite. He was quoted saying “This has been the toughest decision of my life, because it means I won’t get to work with the best staff, players, teams, owners, partners, and fans in Esports anymore”. With that being said it makes you question whether or not the cost of business can be sustained with viewership and tickets especially as they move to expand to home cities meanwhile with epic’s Fortnite battle royale the competition has been less than stellar with inconsistent changes and tons of cheating.
Game breaking Apex Bug Instantly is killing Apex Players
Another game breaking bug has been found from reddit user “c_thunderhorse” where the player lands on the dropship and jumps into one side escapes and instantly dies. Respawn has yet to comment on the bug but they been evidently piling up especially as apex reports the lowest earnings for the second month in a row.
Echo Fox Announces Apex Legends Team
Echo Fox has announced their own Apex team consisting of previous H1Z1 pros Stormen, Clem and ZIki. Both clem and ziki used to play for Rouge and stormen for Vitality for the h1z1 pro league we are very excited to see how they perform in the upcoming tournaments.
Armani Sponsors Italian Esports Team Mkers
Armani Exchange has gotten into the Esports scene as jersey sponsor for Italian Esports team Mkers. They are the first fashion brand to collaborate with a professional Esports team We are proud to be the first e-sports team chosen by a prestigious brand like A|X Armani Exchange “It is a reward for all the effort sustained up until this moment, and it gives great credibility not just to us and the investors that believed in our project, but also to the entire Italian e-sports industry said Mkers CEO Paolo Cisario. The organization currently fields rosters in Starcraft II, Fifa 2019, Clash Royale, Street Fighter V, Rocket League, Gran Turismo Sport and Tennis World Tour.

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Zelda online dating game who is tyler harcott dating
The durable and incredibly popular Legend Of Zelda gaming franchise just celebrated its 30th birthday back in February.
The fantasy series and its questing, green-clad hero, Link, have been robbing players of productivity and quality time with loved ones since the first title in the series debuted way back in 1986 when home gaming was still, for all intents and purposes, in its formative stages.
It's not yet clear whether the upcoming Zelda game will cost a one-off purchase price, or will be free to play as with previous Nintendo mobile game Fire Emblem Heroes.
The first Legend of Zelda game, launched in 1987, was an early hit on Nintendo's iconic NES gaming system.
I make immersive theatre as well, I'm a big believer in immersive entertainment.
I think the fact that I can go home tonight and binge watch all of Master of None, and see one of the best comedy series that will be made this year without leaving my sofa, I think that means live entertainment has to do something more.
Nintendo are currently thought to be working on three new mobile games, including an app version of the life simulation game Animal Crossing which is planned for sometime this year.
Nintendo is rumoured to be developing a Legend of Zelda mobile app for Android and Apple's i OS operating systems.Dean is a writer, producer and a director who works in immersive entertainment.He creates a lot of escape the room games, including the Crystal Maze live experience and working on that Resident Evil VII haunted house: So, going back to getting big IPs to trust escape games, you definitely don't think it's a flash in a pan?According to Uproxx, however, the unauthorized game’s future looks bleak. “Nintendo’s legal team falling on this like a squad of Darknuts is probably only a matter of time,” writes Dan Seitz.


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Last week Mark Zuckerberg shared a story on Facebook on his five year anniversary to his wife Priscilla Chan. It was a story in which the multi-billion dollar Facebook founder owned up to a substantial martial faux pas – cutting his honeymoon short to return to work. Yesterday was the five year anniversary of Facebook's IPO.
We’ve all heard of silver wedding anniversaries before, as well as ruby, gold and even diamond.And when it comes to buying either your significant other or a happy couple presents, these offer some pretty obvious clues of what to buy.But not every wedding anniversary year – especially the earlier ones – has such a conventional theme. Did you know that your eighth anniversary theme is salt, for example, and the fifth, wood?If you’re stuck for gift ideas for these ones, never fear; we’ve got you covered.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for non-stop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For Twitter updates, follow @YahooStyleUK.Read more from Yahoo Style UK:Here’s why a man’s sleep pattern could be affecting his fertilityPrince Harry and Meghan Markle rumoured to announce engagement on August 4The Duchess of Cambridge was ALL mums at Pippa Middleton’s wedding
Wedding clothes are a strange thing when you think about it - one of the biggest outfits of your life is worn for a day, then put at the back of the cupboard and never put on again. Not for Carole-Ann and Jim Stanfield, who decided to wear their original wedding clothes to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. “When Hayley discovered we still had our wedding outfits, she said we should try them on to see if they still fit,” Carole-Ann told Metro.
In a recent US based survey by Laguna Pearl, it was said that women are just as bad as men when it comes to forgetting wedding anniversaries, although men are proving to still be the biggest culprits with 1 in 3 confessing that the date slipped their mind. When asked why the anniversary of their all-so big day was forgotten, 15% of women explained that it simply wasn’t important to them, in comparison to their male counterpart where 12% had the same attitude.
July 1st 2016 - 100 years on from one of the most gruesome battles The British Army has ever known. A battle that lasted months and that claimed the lives of almost 20,000 soldiers in the first day.
We all like to think that when we’re older we’ll be in rocking chairs, side by side, with ‘the one’.And it’s not a mere dream, it turns out, as one elderly Chinese couple have proven in an amazing photo shoot which celebrates 64 years of marriage. Wang Lijin and Huang Caozen met in 1952 after Lijin asked Caozen, a seamstress, to tailor a suit for him. And the rest is history. Science Explains What Really Stops You Cheating On Your Other Half Couple Responds Brilliantly To Trolls Who Body-Shamed Their Engagement Pictures
A photo of the card was shared on Twitter by royal photographer, Paul Ratcliffe, who had sent a card to Prince William and the Duchess to celebrate their anniversary on 29th April. “Lovely thank you card received from TRH The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge for their 5th Wedding anniversary,” he tweeted alongside an image of the card.
Who didn’t shed a tear when Kate floated up the aisle to marry William? Five years and two babies later the royal couple are still total relationship goals. Whether they’re sharing a private joke in the royal box at Wimbledon or playfully teasing each other over their archery/sailing/cricket skills (or lack of!), it’s clear a belly laugh and some good old fashioned banter is a huge part of Kate and William’s relationship.


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Auto loans more popular than ever
Posted on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at 9:53:01 AM
If there were still any lingering doubts about consumer confidence in the auto industry, they've been put to rest. Outstanding auto loan balances climbed to $968 billion - the highest level ever recorded - in the third quarter of 2015, according to a press release from Experian Automotive, a group which tracks auto loans. That is a $98 billion improvement over last year's numbers, and represents an increase of more than 53 percent from the post-recession low seen in 2010.
Melinda Zabritski, senior director of automotive finance for Experian, said that "Continued growth in the automotive finance market is a clear sign of improved consumer confidence over the past few years." If drivers continue to stay on top of their auto financing payments as they have done so far, "the automotive industry can continue to flourish and grow for quite some time."
According to Experian, about 61 percent of the lending money taken was done so by consumers with prime or superprime credit ratings, that is, people with the highest chance of paying off their loans on time. That is good news for the auto industry, indicating that recent successes, like the 13.6 percent increase of light-vehicle sales in October reported by The Wall Street Journal, are all set to continue.


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The latest issue ofmagazine EGM has printed a rumor suggesting that Team Ninja is currently working on a PS3 exclusive game set in the popular DOA universe. No further details on the rumor were given, so we only speculate what Team Ninja (responsible for Ninja Gaiden and DOA games) is up to.
There are three obvious options; a new fighting game, a new DOAX volleyball game or a new Ninja Gaiden game. We don't think it would be a new Ninja Gaiden game though, Ninja Gaiden Sigma is nearing release and to release another one so quickly doesn't make sense. Unless it's Ninja Gaiden Sigma: Black.
Let the speculation continuein our friendlyforums. What would you like to see from Itagaki's crew?
Above:The PS3's Cell processor could revolutionize softcore porn tothe level of a fluffy cumulus cloud. Aahhh...
April 30, 2007


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Most recent insights More →
11 August 2020 — In this article, we analyze the success of Korean government’s immediate responses and make recommendations for Korean companies to leverage the crisis as an opportunity and fully utilize their potential.
15 July 2020 — South Korea has been known as a rapidly growing prosperous economy, home to global conglomerates called chaebols. However, actual opportunities and challenges of the South Korean market remain unknown to most foreign companies. Here we discuss recent developments in the South Korean economy, and what they mean in terms of opportunities for market entry.
6 July 2020 — Consolidating Reddal’s learnings in China from the past few years, this article shares some observations on the dynamics of industrial goods market segmentation. It offers a continuous and iterative approach for industrial players to respond to these changing market aspects by revising their brand portfolio strategy.
29 June 2020 — Based on Reddal’s work in China over the past few years and recent insights, this article shares different realities around Chinese consumers and shares potential actions to tap into uncovered consumer potential in China.


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Staff Writer for CinemaBlend.
While Fallout 76 may have gotten off to a rocky start, the team at Bethesda is clearly putting in the work to improve the game in many, many ways.
The issue has reportedly been resolved, but it was a scary day for many Xbox One users who discovered multiple problems were plaguing the console.
This week’s Mortal Kombat 11 livestream, known as the Kombat Kast, has been postponed to next week. Here's what we know.
Another shot has been fired in the PC platform war, as Deep Silver announces that upcoming first-person shooter, Metro Exodus, will now launch exclusively on the Epic Games Store.
An unexpected listing on several Czech retail sites seems to point to a possible Assassin’s Creed compilation heading to the Nintendo Switch.
The Anthem VIP demo hasn’t exactly gone off without a hitch but, according to BioWare Head of Live Service Chad Robertson, the team is working to address the biggest concerns as soon as possible.
Just a few days out from launch, GameStop canceled some pre-orders for the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3 special edition PlayStation 4 bundle. The company eventually explained what went wrong.
Exactly seven days after the launch of Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, a patch has been added to the game including a new opening movie boasting an appearance from Dan Smith of Killer7 fame.
According to Kingdom Hearts III head Tetsuya Nomura, the pre-launch leaks of Square Enix’s highly anticipated game may lead to changes in how games are released in the future.
At long last, Kingdom Hearts III is finally upon us and, based on some early reviews, it looks like the long, long, long, long wait has been well worth it.
Ubisoft recently rolled out the “Story Trailer” for upcoming FPS Far Cry: New Dawn and, from the looks of things, the insanity meter is about to get cranked all the way up to 11.
Nintendo is kicking off 2019 with major tournaments in both Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 and, whether you're a beginner or a pro, everyone is invited to get in on the action.
The latest free game through Twitch Prime is actually brand new, with members being able to play Pikuniku before it can be purchased on other platforms.
Fornite is a hugely popular game with a thriving business model based on microtransactions. According to a recent report, that's made it an ideal place of business for folks to launder money.
The Anthem demo is set to go live soon, giving players a chance to take the game's Javelins for a test drive. However, a few things will differ from the final game.
A new species of prehistoric shark has been discovered through rather incredible means and, thanks to the shape of its teeth, it has been named after the old-school video game, Galaga.
A North Carolina mom found out the hard way that you probably shouldn't give your kid free rein with a credit card if they're playing a game like Fortnite.
Resident Evil 2 is set to launch next week and, to get everyone ready for the zombie-infested romp, Capcom has released an interactive trailer that lets players determine what happens next.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
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Ford is recalling 16,091 F-Series pickup trucks over concerns of a defective brake transmission switch.
Read This Article
The 2013 Ford Escape comes with three engines, all of which the EPA says will get at least 30 miles per gallon or better.
Details about the UAW and Ford agreement are out, and one of the more feel-good stories of the historic accord is that Ford is adding jobs.
Car insurance companies use all sorts of programs to offer discounts to customers, and State Farm is no exception.


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It’s got a great chance of being one of the biggest releases on 2010, so perhaps it’s no surprise that two High Street retailers are focusing very heavily on Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy 2 ahead of its UK release on Friday.
HMV is offering the game for just 4.99 for those willing to trade in Super Mario Bros Wii or Mario Kart Wii. The deal is valid between Friday and Sunday this week.
In addition, GAME is offering a bundle including a pre-owned Wii console and copy of the game for just 129.99.
On top of this, the retailer is offering an additional 25 per cent on top of the normal trade-in price on a select number of Wii titles. This means that, for instance, anyone trading in Zelda Twilight Princess and Mario Kart Wii can grab Galaxy 2 for 4.99.
GAME’s deal is valid from tomorrow (June 11th) until next Wednesday (June 16th).
The game is widely available for around 30 online. It’s yet to be seen whether any supermarkets will target the release for aggressive discounting.


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- Event Coverage
Intel revealed more details of its upcoming 2nd generation Intel Core processor family codenamed Sandy Bridge at the first day of the Intel Developer Forum 2010. Slated to arrive in early 2011, Sandy Bridge brings with it features that promises to change the user's computing experience.
The R&D engineers at Intel's Labs came out to show off some pretty cool research on the eve of Intel Developer Forum. We have details of the demonstrations which show Intel's approach to solving everyday problems.
Join us as we report live from MSI's gathering of overclocking experts at its Master Overclocking Arena 2010 from the National Taiwan University Sports Centre.
The annual IFA consumer electronics trade fair officially opens on 3 September in Berlin, Germany but for international journalists, the show really begins from 1 September, when they are given sneak peeks of what would be showcased before the show. HardwareZone.com was on the fairgrounds to bring you some of these highlights.
Here's the second part of our COMEX 2010 coverage of the good deals to be had at the quarterly IT fair.
COMEX 2010 opened its doors today, heralding a weekend of wheeling and dealing. To make sure that you only get the best information, check out our showfloor coverage from Suntec Singapore!
Spanning a total of five show floors at Suntec City's Convention Centre, COMEX 2010 undoubtedly promises to be one of the biggest IT exhibitions this year. Before the show kicks off on the 2nd of September, here's a preview of some of the hot deals and gadgets you can expect to find at the show itself.
What's the Translucent Mirror Technology for DSLR cameras? At a recent workshop organized by Sony South East Asia, we managed to get some information. Hit the jump for the details.
We dropped by Fuji Xerox's office today for a sneak peep at their new Color 800/1000 Presses, both of which come with an option of a fifth print station - the clear dry ink station. So what's this clear dry ink all about? Hit the jump to find out.
As promised, here is the second and concluding coverage of Panasonic's Digital Imaging Seminar, held in Hokkaido, Japan. We've included a video interview with two executives from Panasonic Japan and some comparison test shots between the LX5 and LX3.
- Samsung refutes rumors of an earlier release for the Galaxy S8
- LG too adopts MST technology for its mobile payment service
- StarHub confirms DDoS attacks affected its home broadband service (Updated)
- OCBC now lets you pay anyone using Apple’s Siri and iMessage
- The Apple Watch Nike+ will go on sale this Friday, October 28
- The new Apple TV app puts all your movies and TV serials in one place
- Apple announces new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro featuring all-new Touch Bar
- Apple to introduce a 5-inch iPhone model next year?


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Have all automotive statistics at your finger tips:
Passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers.
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.
Make, Model, Version
NEW MODEL RELEASES, PRICES, SPECIFICATIONS, SALES, PARC
Festive season upshifts two-wheeler sales in OctoberDaily Stock Dish, 3 Dec '19
Headlines 3 Dec 2019
- Vietnamese automakers ask for additional government support
- Vietnamese car market sees slowdowns at year-end
- Hyundai global sales down 2.8% to 392,247 units in November
- Technology, regulation key to driving xEV adoption in Indonesia
- Inventory adjustment, slowdown dent two-wheeler November sales
- Kia India sells 14,005 units of Seltos in November 2019
The Indian festive season provided the much-needed stimulus to the languishing automobile industry. October sales data suggest the temporary arrest of sales paralysis.
There is much to cheer for the two-wheeler market as major players have raked healthy numbers and others have consolidated their stand. Here's a sneak peek at the growth of motorcycle manufacturers in October:
Manufacturer October 19 sales (two-wheeler units sold) Hero MotoCorp 1.284 million, Honda Two-wheelers 517,000, Bajaj Auto 463,000, TVS Motor Company 323,000 Royal Enfield 71,964.
Registers record retail sales during the festive period
The world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer reported record retail sales in the just concluded festive period, starting from Navratra till after Diwali.
The company's highest-ever retail sales in any single calendar month - 1.284 million - was recorded in October 2019.
Hero despatched 599,000 units of motorcycles and scooters. Due to the record retail off-take, Hero's inventory levels are now down to 30 days and future despatches are being planned in keeping with market demand, and an official said.
Sanjay Bhan, head of sales, aftersales and parts, Hero MotoCorp said, "The growth in retail sales during the festive period is in line with our plans. First-time buyers, who have always shown a strong preference for the range of products from Hero MotoCorp, have driven this growth. Specific markets such as Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - where the retail growth has been more than 15% - have also bolstered our overall retail growth during this festive season.
"Our motorcycle sales grew in double digits during this period, with a strong performance from our new range of premium motorcycles. The Pleasure+ scooter also generated substantial volumes during this festive season. We are optimistic about carrying forward the momentum in retail sales," he added.
Honda two-wheelers India sells over 500,000 units in October 2019
Riding on the back of strong festive demand from all the regions, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India crossed 500,000 sales mark in October 2019 - the highest for financial year 2019-20. Registering 7% growth over September 2019, Honda sold a total of 5,17,808 units in October 2019. While domestic sales grew 7% to 4,87,782 units, exports grew by 1% to 30,026 units in October'19.
Bajaj Auto's motorcycle sales down 14% in October, exports up by 3%
The festive season has failed to reverse the negative sales trend for leading bikemaker Bajaj Auto. The Pune-based company reported a 14% decline in its sales of motorcycles in the month of October this year, selling 242,516 units of motorcycles against 281,582 in the same month last year.
The company, however, witnessed a marginal rise of 3% in exports with a total of 156,397 units shipped to various countries during this period. In the commercial vehicle segment also, the sales declined with domestic and export delivery together falling 13% to 64,295 units.
TVS Motor sales down by over 18% in October, exports up 20%
TVS Motors registered sales of 323,368 units in October 2019 as against sales of 398,427 units in October 2018. The company has seen an uptrend in October sales over September and has significantly rationalised BS-IV stocks for the transition to BS-VI.
The company's total exports grew by 20% increase from 57,926 units in October 2018 to 69,339 units in October 2019. Two-wheeler exports grew by 22% increase from 45,319 units in October 2018 to 55,477 units in October 2019.
Sales dip 2% in October
Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler division of Eicher Motors, on Friday reported a 2% decline in total sales at 71,964 units in October.
The company had sold a total of 70,451 units in the corresponding month last year, Royal Enfield said in a statement.
Domestic sales stood at 67,538 units in October as compared to 70,044 units in the year-ago month, a decline of 4%, it said. Exports during the month stood at 4,426 units as against 407 units in the corresponding month a year ago, the company said.


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To celebrate the upcoming “year of the horse,” Ralph Lauren is releasing a limited-edition Chinese New Year collection that celebrates the designer’s equestrian heritage while paying homage to the Chinese culture.
Created in the traditional palette of the Chinese New Year, the line includes an array of items from the men’s Purple Label, women’s collection, watches, fine jewelry and accessories. Stock up on staples like polo shirts and shawl-collar cardigans, or splurge on something special like red crocodile diamond encrusted bracelets and hand-painted enamel Ralph Lauren Stirrup watches. But the real standout is the one-of-a-kind black alligator balmacaan coat, signed by the designer himself.
The products will be sold for a limited time across global flagship stores in January.


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Grocery store breaks ground in a Houston food desert
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In an effort to combat food deserts in Houston, city officials and Pyburns Farm Fresh Foods ownership broke ground on a new grocery store this week.
The store will be at the corner of Scott and Corder streets, near Highway 288 and the 610 Loop in south Houston. It will serve the South Union area and surrounding neighborhoods and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2015.
Pyburn’s owner John Vuong and his family own and operate 11 existing stores, nine of which are in Houston, and have “extensive experience operating in low- to moderate-income areas,” according to a statement from Mayor Annise Parker.
The city of Houston provided a $1.7 million performance-based loan for predevelopment, land acquisition, construction and equipment, and the project is expected to cost $3.7 million.
As part of the funding agreement, the store must create at least 25 jobs and be "designed to provide a shopping experience equal to that of grocery stores in high-income areas of Houston." There is also room for other development at the site and other funding options available, but the loan agreement “prohibits uses inconsistent with community revitalization, such as liquor stores and pay-day loan establishments.”
Despite the recent boom in development, Houston has fewer grocery stores per capita than most large cities in the country, and this is the first project targeting a Houston food desert, the statement noted.
“An estimated two-thirds of Houstonians are overweight or obese and a high percentage of them live in food deserts with no access to fresh food,” Parker said in the statement. “This forces families in these areas to rely on unhealthy processed or fatty foods from convenience stores and fast food restaurants. I am excited that we are able to take the first step to address this problem that impacts the overall health of our residents and am confident there will be additional opportunities for grocery stores in other food desert areas in Houston.”
Olivia Pulsinelli is the web producer for the Houston Business Journal's award-winning website. Follow her on Twitter for more.
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Consumer Confidential: Netflix price hike, AT&T-backed Kindle, Chrysler Ram recall
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Here’s your way-we-were Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:
-- Netflix is a very cool service. It’s also now a more expensive service -- and many of its 23 million customers aren’t happy. Netflix is raising its prices by as much as 60% for those who want to rent DVDs by mail and watch video on the Internet. The company is separating the two options so that subscribers who want both will have to buy separate plans totaling at least $16 per month. Netflix had been bundling both options in a single package, available for as low as $10 per month. New subscribers will have to pay the new prices immediately. The changes take effect Sept. 1 for Netflix’s current customers. Netflix isn’t changing the $8 monthly price for an Internet streaming-only option. Subscribers rankled by the latest price increase are venting their outrage in comments on Netflix’s blog as well as its Facebook page, where there are about 17,000 comments, mostly negative.
-- If you don’t mind ads with your literature, Amazon has a new deal for you. The online retailer says it’s struck a sponsorship deal with AT&T to sell a less expensive version of its Kindle 3G digital reader. The Kindle 3G, which allows users to buy electronic books without having to subscribe to a wireless network, costs $189. The AT&T sponsored device, which will include built-in ads on its screensavers, will cost $139. Amazon in April introduced built-in advertising from companies such as General Motors’ Buick, Procter & Gamble’s Olay and Visa on a different version of the Kindle, which competes with devices such as Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Apple’s iPad tablet. I’m thinking it’s nice that prices for these gadgets are coming down, but one reason I enjoy books is because they allow me to escape the commercial clutter of everyday life.
-- Chrysler Ram pickup trucks have a reputation for being tough. But maybe not tough enough. Chrysler is recalling more than 242,000 Ram trucks because of a problem in the steering system. The recall affects certain Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2008 to 2011 model years. The Ram is Chrysler’s best-selling vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a part near the left wheel can fracture and cause loss of steering control, leading to crashes. The problem happens mainly at low speeds when drivers are making tight turns. Chrysler says only a few minor crashes and one minor injury have been reported. Chrysler dealers will inspect the trucks and fix the defect for free if necessary.
-- David Lazarus


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Magnolia Bakery has announced that it will become the first business in New York City to install human-safe Far-UVC light to provide continuous in-store sanitization to increase protection for staff and customers. Magnolia Bakery is installing the sanitizing lights in its West Village (401 Bleecker Street) and Upper West Side (200 Columbus Avenue) retail locations as well as in its e-commerce production facility in Harlem.
“The safety and health of our employees and customers is our top priority,” said Bobbie Lloyd, chief baking officer for Magnolia Bakery. “We’ve instituted aggressive cleaning practices in all of the Magnolia Bakery locations that have remained open for takeout and delivery. With this new technology, we’re able to do even more to ensure the safety of our staff and customers. Healthe’s lights go above and beyond one-time disinfection, they continuously sanitize our locations while they’re in use, ensuring round-the-clock protection for our people.”
Healthe’s Cleanse Series is a suite of state-of-the-art, 24-hour round-the clock, continuous sanitization products that utilize UVA, UVC and human-safe Far-UVC light to inactivate viruses and bacteria on surfaces and in the air. Cleanse products are ideal for use in public-facing, high-traffic venues, including shops, restaurants and hotels.
Magnolia Bakery has chosen to install the following products:
- Cleanse Portal, a free-standing walkthrough arch that uses human-safe Far-UVC light to inactivate bacteria and viruses on skin, clothing and goods with a dosage requirement as low as 20 seconds. The Portal will be deployed at the entrance to Magnolia Bakery’s e-commerce production facility to sanitize employees and other personnel such as delivery drivers, as they enter and exit the facility.
- Cleanse Downlight, a ceiling light that incorporates human-safe Far-UVC technology to inactivate bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces exposed to the light. Downlights will be installed in Magnolia Bakery’s e-commerce production facility and in the Bleecker St. and Columbus Ave. retail locations.
- Cleanse Air-Sanitizing Troffer, which circulates room air through a HEPA-Carbon air filter and exposes it to UVA and UVC light capable of eliminating 99.99 percent of airborne pathogens in seconds. Troffers will be installed in Magnolia Bakery’s e-commerce production facility and in the Bleecker St. and Columbus Ave. retail locations.
“Magnolia Bakery is an iconic global brand, and we’re proud to partner with them to provide leading-edge solutions for supporting the health and wellness of their employees and customers,” said Khim Lee, CEO of Healthe. “Magnolia Bakery is setting the standard for how restaurants can continue to operate in a safe manner and serve their communities in the midst of this crisis. The Cleanse products also serve as an example of the kind of protective measures that other retail and office locations will take as they emerge from shutdowns into a new normal.”


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Key Topic – China Beef Access
UPDATE: This issue gained further attention following the recent meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On May 11, the Trump administration announced through the U.S. Department of Commerce that following one more round of technical consultations between the United States and China, China is to allow imports of U.S. beef on conditions consistent with international food safety and animal health standards and consistent with the 1999 Agricultural Cooperation Agreement. According to the announcement, this process is to be completed as soon as possible and no later than July 16, 2017. USMEF issued the following statement in response to the announcement:.
USMEF welcomes today’s announcement that the United States and China have reached a high-level agreement that will allow U.S. beef to reenter the Chinese market after a prolonged absence of more than 13 years. USMEF and its members greatly appreciate the efforts of the Trump administration and officials at USDA and USTR that made today’s announcement possible..
UPDATE: On June 12, U.S. beef was added to the list of products eligible for export to China. Details are posted in the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library and in the Export Verification Program administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng issued the following statement:
USMEF is pleased to see these important steps completed that will soon allow U.S. beef shipments to China to resume, ending a suspension that has lasted more than 13 years. We thank our U.S. government officials for their tireless efforts on this issue, and now look forward to exporting U.S. beef to this very important market.
It is important to note that the market-opening agreement includes requirements that will involve a period of adjustment for the U.S. industry. Meeting these requirements will add costs and this will mean that U.S. beef is priced at a premium compared to other suppliers in the market. With that said, China holds exciting potential for the U.S. beef industry and for buyers in the market who have waited a very long time for the return of high-quality U.S. beef.
We advise USMEF members to be upbeat about the market opening, but to be very cautious about making any volume or value projections on beef exports to China. Due to the China’s restrictions on the use of synthetic hormones and beta agonists, as well as its traceability requirements, we expect initial volumes to be fairly small. If you receive an interview request on the China market opening, please contact Joe Schuele at the Denver headquarters (email@example.com or 303-226-7309).


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Apple's iPhone 6 recently broke sales records, with over 10 million units being sold in a matter of days. This was a big win for Apple, but it's also a huge opportunity for a much lesser-known company: DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that Apple is now allowing users to easily set as their default search tool in iOS 8.
Sometimes described as the "anti-Google," DuckDuckGo has gained traction because it claims to never track user information. Its rise mirrors that of Ello, similarly known as the "anti-Facebook." Will privacy be the issue that brings Google and Facebook to their knees?


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In March, Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) interviewed about 1000 enterprises throughout the country in order to find out how they assess the prospects for the development of their business for the next three months.
The survey was conducted in two areas: a qualitative assessment of the current business and the expectations of entrepreneurs regarding the prospects for the development of their business for the next three months.
The consolidated indicator of the business climate increased by 5 points compared to February and amounted to 65 points, which assesses the state of the business climate in the country as positive. This figure is 2 times higher than the crisis period of April last year.
In the sectoral context, the indicator of the business climate in the field of agriculture increased by 13 points and amounted to 81 points, services showed a slight decrease by 1 point compared to the previous month and amounted to 58 points in March, the construction and industry grew by 2 points and amounted to 67 and 54 points, respectively.
The increase in the consolidated indicator of the business climate is associated with the growth of the following components of the indicator:
The indicator of the current business state in March increased by 3 points and amounted to 47 points.
The share of respondents who noted the current state of their business as good remained at the same level (41%). The demand for goods / services improved in 40% of enterprises (in February 37%), while the number of employees increased in 28% of enterprises (in February 20%).
The sentiment of agricultural entrepreneurs improved significantly from 50 points in February to 70 points in March.
Last month, slight declines were noted in industry - 38 points (39 points in February), construction - 42 points (45 points in February) and services - 36 points (43 points in February).
Service sector representatives associate the poor state of business with a decrease in demand for goods and services (21%) and difficulties in paying for loans (21%).
An indicator of expectations for business development prospects in March of this year increased by 6 points and amounted to 83 points, which reflects the expectations of entrepreneurs’ ambition to develop their business the next 3 months.
83% of respondents estimated that their business prospects will improve (79% in February). The number of entrepreneurs who expect that the demand for goods and services will improve was, like last month, 73%.
Unlike the current state of the business, representatives from all spheres have optimistic expectations:
- construction - 94 points;
- agriculture - 93 points;
- services - 82 points;
- industry - 71 points.
Most of the representatives of the enterprises indicated the need for further support of their business. The entrepreneurs concerned problems: the provision of credit funds, the allocation of land plots, a decrease in tax rates and a decrease in interest rates on loans.
In general, the relationship between the values of the current situation and expectations means that, according to the estimates of business entities, a positive trend in economic development will continue in the next 3 months.
The results of the study indicate a consistent economic recovery from the consequences associated with the coronavirus pandemic and adverse natural events, the reforms carried out in recent years in the field of improving the business environment and creating a favorable business climate.
Feruzbek Davletov, CERR


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|Bid||11.36 x 46000|
|Ask||11.42 x 42300|
|Day's Range||11.38 - 11.54|
|52 Week Range||8.85 - 11.64|
|Beta (3Y Monthly)||0.73|
|PE Ratio (TTM)||22.33|
|Forward Dividend & Yield||0.25 (2.12%)|
|1y Target Est||11.29|
DXC Technology's (DXC) professionals and Microsoft's engineers will jointly develop the global Microsoft Azure Digital Transformation Practice to facilitate clients' conversion to Azure public cloud.
Infosys' (INFY) first-quarter fiscal 2020 results benefit from broad-based growth across industry segments, service lines and geographies.
The market logged its fourth straight day of gains on Friday, fighting its way a little deeper into record-high territory for the last three. It all feels a bit artificial, but it's not a train anybody dare risk jumping in front of.Source: Shutterstock Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) did more than its fair share of heavy lifting, up nearly 2% after the Federal Trade Commission settled its anti-privacy claim against the company for an affordable $5 billion. More importantly, the settlement puts the nagging matter in the past. Infosys (NYSE:INFY) logged the best gain for the day, however, up more than 6% in response to an impressive first quarter.Weighing the market down more than any other name was Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). Shares of the healthcare company fell 4% on new accusations that it knowingly lied about the cancer risks related to its talc products. It has prompted a criminal probe.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 10 Stocks Driving the Market to All-Time Highs (And Why) As the new week's trading action gets going, however, its the stock charts of Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Lowe's (NYSE:LOW) and Edison International (NYSE:EIX) that merit the closest looks. Here's what's most noteworthy about each. Edison International (EIX)Like most other utility names, Edison International investors enjoyed a fruitful June. Unlike most utility stocks, however, EIX has continued to charge higher in July, avoiding the slowdown that has adversely impacted other names in the business.Shares have finally hit a headwind at fairly well-established technical resistance. And, they're now officially overbought. If traders can pull off a miracle and continue to march higher, however, there's little left to hold the move back until much, much higher. Click to Enlarge * The ceiling in question is right around $71, marked in yellow on both stock charts. That's where Edison peaked in October, and where it stopped advancing last week. * Still, the volume behind the recent rally has been abnormally high. It has been induced by headlines related to last year's wildfires in California, but there's a horde of buyers amassing all the same. * Should EIX manage to break out, there's not another established technical ceiling in place until 2017's highs near $82. Lowe's (LOW)The recent rally from Lowe's is a rather significant, given it has only been in place since late May. Shares are up 16% in just that eight-week stretch. There's room and reason for LOW to continue moving higher, however. In fact, it's more likely to do that -- in spades -- than not. * 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 and Beyond Click to Enlarge * It's apparent on the daily chart, though more so on the weekly chart, that the rebound was prompted by an encounter with a rising support line that extends back to 2017's low. * The same weekly chart also illustrates where the most likely upside targets are. There's a horizontal ceiling near $118, marked in red, then there's the upper boundary of the rising trading channel. * Although the past couple of months have looked and felt overly bullish, the advance is still in its infancy. We don't yet have a MACD crossover on the weekly chart, and we're nowhere near close to being stochastically overbought. Netflix (NFLX)A month and a half ago, Netflix was on the verge of a serious meltdown. A horizontal floor was crumbling, and the 200-day moving average line (plotted in white on both stock charts) was under attack as support. And, both were happening right after NFLX bumped into a horizontal ceiling, plotted as a white dashed line on both stock charts.The stock ended up evading disaster, pushing up and off the 200-day moving average line after all. But, last week, that technical ceiling once again came back into play. It not only capped the rebound effort, but appears to have rekindled the selling. Click to Enlarge * Friday's 1.9% slide was not only a pullback on a day the overall market tide was bullish, it took shape on a suspiciously high level of volume -- particularly for a Friday. * The previous technical floors are still floors. That's the horizontal floor at $342.20, plotted in yellow, and the 200-day moving average line currently at $338.17. * The narrow trading range is well established. Having been in place for a while, any break outside of it could set up a prolonged move to make up for lost time as pent-up action is unleashed.As of this writing, James Brumley did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. You can learn more about James at his site, jamesbrumley.com, or follow him on Twitter, at @jbrumley. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dependable Dividend Stocks to Buy * 10 Stocks Driving the Market to All-Time Highs (And Why) * 7 Short Squeeze Stocks With Big Upside Potential The post 3 Big Stock Charts for Monday: Lowe's, Netflix and Edison International appeared first on InvestorPlace.
A trifecta of perfection: We had record highs in the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq today. Shareholders in the PowerShares QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ) have little to complain about as tech stock continues to mash out higher highs over the past few sessions.Source: Shutterstock That's as FAANG stocks mostly lag and while rate cuts are likely.That said, it's not expected to be an amazing quarter when it comes to earnings. Companies are warning about their upcoming results, while analysts' estimates are looking at year-over-year declines for many names.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBlame it on tough comps from tax cuts, tariff wars or what have you. It's not a perfect operating environment and with stocks near all-time highs, investors are either willing to overlooking a few quarters of underperformance and pay a higher valuation for earnings or they area simply too optimistic. We'll know soon enough when we start seeing these companies report. Facebook SettlementFacebook (NASDAQ:FB) shares spiked into the close on Friday, ending the session higher by 1.8%. Reports surfaced moments before the close that the company had come to terms on a $5 billion settlement with the FTC. The deal is expected to have some other privacy restrictions as well. * 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 and Beyond While $5 billion is a lot of cabbage, it's roughly the same amount that FB set aside to pay for such an event. Clearing this obstacle removes an unknown event for investors, who like clarity and having uncertainty removed. Movers in the Nasdaq TodayIllumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) shares sank more than 15% on the day after the company warned about its upcoming results. This caught investors way off guard, considering the company just beat and raised estimates a few months ago. It's not a good look for the genomics company, as it now hovers in no man's land. (Here's the trade setup for ILMN stock now).One could argue that it also weighed on Invitae (NASDAQ:NVTA), although the company's $50 million acquisition could be what's shaking up the stock price. Down 1.75% on the day, it's at least worth pointing out.Square (NYSE:SQ) stock jumped almost 4% on Friday, giving it a 10% gain over the past few days. The stock has seen some positive analyst commentary over the past few days, with the latest coming from Citigroup on Friday. While the stock is running into some resistance, many have it on breakout watch.JB Hunt (NASDAQ:JBHT) caught a big bid on Friday, rising over 6% on the day. However, currently trading hands for around $93 apiece, shares are well off the 52-week highs near $130. Be careful with this one, which reports earnings Monday.The $45 billion technology consulting company Infosys (NYSE:INFY) reported earnings on Friday. Shares hit new 52-week highs on the day, despite missing revenue estimates and reporting in-line earnings results. Better-than-expected guidance and an increase in its capital return plan likely helped, though.Memory and memory equipment stocks were also in focus in the Nasdaq today, as Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX), Western Digital (NASDAQ:WDC) and Micron (NASDAQ:MU) all put together a strong session. Micron is flirting with prior resistance, but a move over $44 to $45 could trigger a breakout. All About AmazonShares of Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) slipped 30 basis points on Friday after the company lost its court case against the Pentagon. The $10 billion cloud contract will now go to either Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) or Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). But that's far from the only reason Amazon stock is in the news day.First, the company's much-discussed Prime Day is set to start next week. Prime Day will kick off on July 15th and run through the 16th. The made-up shopping event isn't unlike Alibaba's (NYSE:BABA) Single's Day, while Amazon now attracts others competitors into mix as well. Companies like Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), Target (NYSE:TGT) and Walmart (NYSE:WMT) will be running specials too, trying to keep customers away from the e-commerce juggernaut.As the smart-speaker battle heats up, Amazon is reportedly looking to better its game. The company wants to roll out a high-end Echo device, which could arrive next year. Further, Amazon is also working on an Alexa-powered robot. Codenamed Vesta, the devices apparently will not be ready for mass production this year. * 7 Stocks to Buy for Monster Growth in the Second Half of 2019 Last but certainly not least, Amazon's game-streaming Twitch platform logged more than 2.7 billion hours worth of streaming in the second quarter. For the industry, that accounted for more than 70% of the total. The next closest was Alphabet's (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) YouTube Live at 735 million hours and 19.5% market share. It was Twitch's second-biggest quarter ever.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long AMZN and GOOGL. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Stocks to Buy for Less Than Book * 7 Marijuana Stocks With Critical Levels to Watch * The 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 and Beyond The post Nasdaq Today: Amazon Prime Day; Facebook Settles With FTC appeared first on InvestorPlace.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 12, 2019 / Infosys Ltd. (NYSE: INFY ) will be discussing their earnings results in their 2020 First Quarter Earnings to be held on July 12, 2019 at 5:30 PM Eastern Time. ...
BENGALURU, India , July 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- "We had a strong start to FY 20 with constant currency growth accelerating to 12.4% on year over year basis and digital revenue growth of 41.9%. This ...
Infosys stock is hitting new highs on Friday, despite the company's somewhat disappointing earnings results. Here's how to trade it now.
Infosys (NYSE: INFY ) reported first-quarter revenues grew year-on-year by 10.6% and revenues grew by 2.3%. The company's first quarter digital revenues were at $1.1 billion, which is a year-over-year ...
BENGALURU/MUMBAI, July 12 (Reuters) - India's second-biggest software services firm, Infosys Ltd, raised its revenue forecast for the year on Friday, betting on upbeat client demand for its new-age digital services such as cloud, data and analytics. Infosys, based in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru, lifted the revenue forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2020 to between 8.5% and 10% on constant currency basis as its first quarter net profit beat analysts' estimates.
Infosys' (INFY) first-quarter fiscal 2020 results are likely to be driven by strong digital growth and large deal wins. However, elevated expenses are a burden on the company's bottom line.
India is the world's largest democracy and its economy has been growing rapidly over the past few decades. As a country, it also holds the second-largest native population behind China. Not surprisingly, India has produced a number of billionaire businessmen and businesswomen.
BENGALURU, India , July 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY) (NSE: INFY) (BSE: 500209), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, will announce results for the first ...


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Latest News Updates
Gold jewellery demand down by 24% in the UAE
Demand for gold jewellery fell by 24 percent in the United Arab Emirates year-on-year in the second quarter of the year, according to a report by the World Gold Council (WGC), mainly due to the introduction of a new 5 percent value-added tax (VAT) in January that was applied to a variety of goods and services, including gold jewellery.
“VAT in both UAE and Saudi Arabia has played an important part in the softness this year,” Alistair Hewitt, United Kingdom-based director of market intelligence in the WGC told Zawya in an email interview last Monday. The World Gold Council (WGC) said in its Q2 2018 report that gold demand fell by 10 percent year-on-year in Saudi Arabia, where VAT was also introduced in January.
UAE gold jewelry demand fell by 23 percent in the first quarter year-one year, while demand rose 16 percent in the fourth quarter of last year ahead of the introduction of VAT, according to previous reports published by the WGC.


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By FRANK SWERTLOW
L.A.’s nasty ’90s a time of recession, aerospace layoffs, natural disasters and riots are fading into memory. These days, with the economy and stock market surging, wealthy Angelenos are on a spending spree reminiscent of the high-flying ’80s, according to shopkeepers, car dealers, real estate brokers and others working the high end of the market.
“The rich are buying huge,” said Linda May, a broker in the Beverly Hills office of Coldwell Banker/John Douglas Co. “Everybody has loosened his belt. L.A. is soaring.”
One way to soar is to buy a Ferrari, the Italian stallion that can easily zoom past the 150 mph zone that is, if you can get one. “We are pre-sold through the entire summer,” said Bryant Kraden, a salesman at Ferrari of Beverly Hills where a top-of-the-line four-passenger 456 model sells for $230,000. “Why spend this kind of money? It’s a wonderful reward for success.”
So are diamonds. The 70-carat blue diamond created by Harry Winston for Gloria Stewart in “Titanic” was subsequently sold to an undisclosed buyer for $20 million. A similar sized white diamond, not as rare as Stewart’s, sold for $10 million.
“Business is up more than 50 percent,” said Armand Espanol, the manager of Winston’s Beverly Hills store. “People are calmer.”
Unlike previous spending sprees, however, this one is not fueled by Middle East oil money or Japanese real estate fortunes. The boom of ’98 is all American and mostly Angeleno.
“I did a survey of how many homes sold over $5 million during the last three years,” said John Bruce Nelson, of John Bruce Nelson and Associates, a Beverly Hills real estate company that specializes in multimillion-dollar deals. “Two years ago, there were 30. Last year, there were 40, and this year we’ve already had 30. How many were bought by foreigners? One, Dodi Fayed. The rest are Americans, principally local people.”
May agreed. “No Middle Easterners, Japanese or foreign investors,” she said. “It’s investment bankers, entertainment executives, lawyers.”
So far this year, sales of L.A. County homes in the $1 million-plus category are up 30 percent over the like period last year, said John Karevoll, financial editor of Acxiom/Dataquick Information Systems Inc. in San Diego, which maintains a nationwide database of home sales.
He said the highest price was fetched for a home in Malibu, which sold for $12.3 million last month.
“People have made a lot of money in the stock market,” May said. “In the early ’90s, some people experienced a loss of 50 percent in their equity. It’s come back. People are buying and selling.”
And shopping. At Louis Vuitton in Beverly Hills, the biggest sale so far this year was $50,000 in custom luggage. “It was sold to someone in Beverly Hills,” said Ron Michaels, the manager of the French leather-goods store.
Dawn Moore, managing director of Cristolfe, the French flatware company, said her biggest sale this year was $270,000 to an Angeleno.
High-end men’s wear is also booming. Stores like Armani on Rodeo Drive are jammed. Neiman Marcus is selling a custom-tailored Brioni suit for about $10,000. Even so, Amy Vizek, manager of Ermenegildo Zegna boutique on Rodeo Drive, said many men these days are careful not to flaunt their wealth.
“They want quality but no logos,” said Vizek, whose suits start at $1,500. “We have men who insist we take off any labels you can see. Less is more.”
Some Angelenos, of course, still want to be loud. They confidently smoke $25 Cubans and drop by smoking shops like Dunhill or cigar bars like the Grand Havana Room.
For many of these people, you are what you drive. Rolls Royce of Beverly Hills sells five Bentley models, starting at $205,000 for the Arnage and moving to $400,000 for the Mulliner Azure. Rolls, itself, only has one model available, the $216,400 Silver Seraph.
“People are not blas & #233; about their toys anymore,” said Derek Tracy, manager of the Rolls dealership.
Mike Gerrity, of North Hollywood-based Legendary Motorcycles, said lawyers, accountants, doctors, actors and entertainment technicians are becoming more adventurous when it comes to what they drive. They’ll spend $15,000 to $60,000 for customized Harley Davidson bikes.
“It’s boys and their toys,” he said. “They are trying to recapture their youth. In the past, they all played golf or skied. Now executives go riding on weekends to places like the Rock Store in Malibu Canyon. But it’s an extension of their business.”
Gerrity said many of his clients are buying expensive Western wear and horses. “They want to be cowboys,” he said. “They collect vintage guns and saddles and paraphernalia. It’s not uncommon for someone to spend $25,000 on a quarter horse.”
The opening of the Getty Center underscores the arrival of Los Angeles as an art center. Yoram Gil, who operates Alter & Gil Inc., a private art dealership in Brentwood that caters to wealthy clients, called the Los Angeles art market “vivacious, exciting and excitable.
“A lot of people think they need an important work of art in their homes,” he said. “They will pay good prices for important names, often as much as $5 million.”
Wealthy Angelenos, however, are buying more than just expensive homes and luxury keepsakes. It is not uncommon for parents to spend $15,000 a year for private schools like the Brentwood School or Harvard-Westlake.
Catherine Painvin, who designs children’s clothes for the French boutique Tartine et Chocolat, which has just opened on Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, said her clients like to take care of their youngsters. Cotton dresses at her shop sell for $99. Silk ones go for $300.
To keep youthful, wealthy Angelenos turn to a list of high-priced surgeons. It is not uncommon for patients to spend $25,000 for facial surgery and liposuction.
Todd Person, owner of Metabolic Project in Westwood, offers a less-severe alternative. He sells home gyms to wealthy clients. Outfitting a top-of-the-line gym, complete with the latest audio and video equipment so you can watch TV or listen to tunes while you sweat, costs as much as $60,000.
“People are looking for the Fountain of Youth,” Person said.
Marshall Blonsky, a New York University professor who studies semiotics non-verbal communication, such as the way people dress said the burgeoning materialism of the late ’90s represents the unveiling of a new order replacing the old guard that recalled the bleak days of the Great Depression.
“Today, you need stuff and above all, you have to show your stuff,” said Blonsky, a longtime student of L.A. culture.


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Northamber Plc, the UK wholesale distributor of computer and telephony equipment has reported net profits for the 14 months to June 30 up 24.0% from last years 12 month period at 5.8m pounds on revenue that rose 34.8% to 314.0m pounds. At the pre-tax level, profits were up 42.4% at 7.9m pounds. Earnings per share rose 22.8% to 16.7 pence.
This article is from the CBROnline archive: some formatting and images may not be present.
CBR Online legacy content.


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Mercier Seeks Strategic Alternatives NEW YORK — Gurwitch Products, which produces and markets high-end cosmetics under the Laura Mercier Cosmetics and Skincare line, has hired Financo Inc. as financial adviser to assist in a recapitalization or sale of the company.
"We are reviewing many global opportunities to continue to grow our business," said Janet Gurwitch, chief executive officer of Gurwitch Products, in a statement.
"My board and I believe we should explore all of the options available to maximize our potential," she added.
While strategic alternatives could include a recapitalization or possible sale, there are no assurances there will be a transaction.
Since its founding in 1995, Gurwitch Products LLC has grown into a company that produces and markets Laura Mercier cosmetics, skin care, bath and body and fragrance. The Laura Mercier brand is believed to generate between $60 million and $90 million in annual volume, according to a market source. The products are sold in more than 400 points of sale in 22 countries.
"We believe that Janet Gurwitch and her team have put together a global brand. This is a luxury, high-end brand, which we believe will be very attractive to both strategic as well as financial partners," said Gilbert Harrison, chairman of Financo.
One financial source who specializes in tracking luxury brands observed: "Some of the strategic players that are considered buyers include L'Oréal, Shiseido, Estée Lauder, Clarins and Elizabeth Arden. Also included as possible buyers are LVMH [Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton], Chanel, Yves Rocher, Limited Brands and Sisley."
The Laura Mercier business is 51 percent owned by The Neiman Marcus Group. The chain also has put its Kate Spade unit up for sale. — Vicki M. Young and David Moin
Beyoncé Visits Robinsons-May LOS ANGELES — A crowded department store, plenty of pushing and shoving and a virtual river of tears. What may sound like the quintessential holiday shopping experience was actually an appearance by Beyoncé Knowles at the Robinsons-May Lakewood Center store Sunday afternoon.
Knowles stopped by to promote her second fragrance for Tommy Hilfiger, True Star Gold, resulting in all the commotion, as 3,000 fans tried to catch a glimpse — or, better yet, a photo — of the superstar.
"I think that all anyone really wants in life is to have people understand us for who we actually are, despite everything," says Ruth Negga. The actress talks "Preachers" season 2 and more on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: Dan Doperalski)
"That's something that resonates with me too because I'm so locked into a number. If I go over that number it completely ruins my day so it's nice to get detached from the number on the scale." - Chelsea Handler on Kelly LeVeque's book "Body Love." #wwdeye (📷: John Salangsang)


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PRO Evolution Soccer, or better known as PES, longtime rival to EA Sports’ dominant FIFA game, marks the end of an era as developer Konami announces that PES is being renamed to the more generic “eFootball” moniker.
It was believed that the producer of the eFootball series, Seitaro Kimura, intended to make the game available on all platforms, including mobile devices.
In an interview with IGN (Imagine Games Network), Kimura stated that the company had been planning the move for about two years to coincide with the transition between console generations, given that Konami already has a mobile game called eFootball PES that has received a lot of positive user feedback over the past couple of years. years.
“I believe we have already proven that this framework can be successful on mobile devices. By applying the same model across all platforms, we hope more football fans can play this game on consoles as well,” Kimura told IGN.
eFotball will launch this fall on a variety of platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam for PC. This marks an intriguing redesign of PES, which has always been in the shadow of EA Sports FIFA, and moves away from the traditional annual paid-to-play model to a free-to-play model.
What’s new in eFootball 2022?
Recently, on June 2, Konami launched the official update of eFootball PES 2021 to eFootball 2022. While it was a brilliant idea to take it to the next level by competing against the world’s number one football game, EA Sports FIFA, many users have complained, stating that they prefer to play to the old version of eFootball PES.
Perhaps this was due to the introduction of additional aspects such as new commands, modes, graphic resolution, difficulty and gameplay. New additions include player development (training) and style management in the game plan.
According to Konami’s official website, Konami.com, their goal was to replicate the perfect football experience, from the fans in the stadium to the grass on the pitch.
Konami said they’ve returned to the drawing board for all of the gameplay, including new levels of excitement throughout, including how player signings and development are handled.
Similar to the FIFA Ultimate Team variant, Konami also included “Dream Team” in the latest release. This mode allows you to use both in-game currency and real money to assemble the best team and climb the online rankings.
Gameplay and controls
Control buttons, joystick, player appearance and crowd in the stadium look the same as in previous versions of the game mechanics. In addition, everything has been completely changed, including the camera angle, goal celebrations and player actions.
eFootball also introduced several new features, including Stunning Kicks. They allow players to maintain control of the right trigger and apply extra power on passes and shots.
Sometimes the ball will come out of a player’s toes if the player takes too long to prepare.
Defense, on the other hand, still needs a lot of improvement, especially in the area of shoulder changes and hand grips. It looks like the AI defenders keep leaving on their own, allowing the opponent to score easy goals. This may be an issue that Konami should fix in future updates.
Konami has included additional commentators from different languages and countries in order to increase the realism of football matches and attract more users. This upgraded version of eFootball also offers users different graphic resolution ranges, from the lowest 15fps to the highest 60fps.
Konami says the game was developed using their own football engine, which uses Unreal Engine as its base. The company has even brought in professional soccer players such as Andres Iniesta and Gerard Piqué as consultants to develop offensive and defensive gameplay.
Therefore, on an electronic platform, users can have a clear and unambiguous impression that they are participating in real football matches. With all its tactical flair and strategic depth, this game is sure to win the hearts of football fans all over the world.
Konami is making significant efforts to improve the game, which lacks additional game types and game features, among other things. Future updates, including a big patch coming with Season 2 (next updates) for eFootball, will add more improvements to the game and fix more bugs.


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NEW YORK — Still trying to convey a more cohesive and updated image among furriers, the Fur Information Council of America held Fur fashion week in a variety of showrooms last week.
The four-day event centered on showroom appointments instead of a group runway show — the preferred venue in recent years. The 10 companies that signed up for this year’s edition, which was billed as “An Intimate Affair with Fur,” opted for still-life displays or informal modeling, to various degrees of sophistication and success. That casual approach mirrored the week’s most popular styles — lightweight pieces, especially jackets that can be easily thrown on — and, unlike traditional long mink coats, aren’t limited to frigid winter days.
Carmen Marc Valvo, Adrienne Landau, Jerry Sorbara and Jekel of Paris, a newcomer being sold at The Global Fur Group, showed some of the more stylish pieces. FICA’s executive director, Keith Kaplan, said, “Smaller pieces — capelets, short cropped jackets and boleros — did very well. Versatility was a key factor. Women are looking for something that would be great to wear with a pair of jeans walking down the street and something they can wear over an evening gown. Accessories, especially scarves and hats, were also popular. They provide luxury for not a lot of money.”
That’s just the type of alternative sale the industry is looking for. Increased demand for fur from consumers in Russia and China has led to higher prices for all types of fur skins, Kaplan said. Another factor is that more ready-to-wear designers are using fur for outerwear and trim.
Last winter’s unseasonably warm temperatures took a toll on the fur business. Retail sales for 2005, which are still being compiled, are expected to be off compared with the $1.8 billion generated in 2004, Kaplan said. That figure includes independent fur stores and leased salons in department stores.
To try to jazz up the assortments in those stores, Kaplan is enthusiastic about attracting younger designers to the business. “Most of the craftsmen in the back rooms are in their 60s. There is a tremendous opportunity for these kids. All this innovation has resulted in creative possibilities that didn’t exist 10 years ago,” he said. “It’s almost as though as an industry we’d forgotten a generation.”This year the International Fur Trade Federation attracted 35 students to its annual design competition, compared with seven last year, Kaplan said. Offering more fur-related courses and seminars is making fur design more popular in design schools, said Kaplan. He added that Parsons The New School for Design now has a full fur workroom for students.
The dominance of family-owned fur businesses even played a hand in his reaction to being named Fur New York’s Man of the Year. “This is really heartwarming. It’s a sign of acceptance in an industry that has been family-based for so long.” he said.
The Global Fur Group’s director, Christina Nacos, is testimony to that. Last week she greeted guests in the company’s newly opened showroom at 150 West 30th Street, while her father, Thomas, the company’s founder, looked on approvingly. In the past year or so, he has been trying to stay in the background more to let his daughter run the showroom, he said. The Global Fur Group now houses Zuki International and Natural Furs International, the maker of Feraud and Krio.
@margotrobbie steps out onto the red carpet wearing @miumiu. The actress is nominated for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role” in “I, Tonya” at the #SagAwards. (📷: Stewart Cook) #wwdfashion
For @massimogiorgetti of @msgm, the Nineties are his favorite decade. “They had a huge impact on my personal growth. What I like of the Nineties is that they are not so precise in terms of style as other decades…there was actually a bit of everything,” he said. As seen on MSGM’s Spring 2018 show: tie-dye and a bit of grunge, two styles that are synonymous with the decade #wwdfashion #wwddecades (📷: @kukukuba)
Breaking News: @hedislimane joins @celine as its new artistic, creative and image director. One of fashion’s preeminent image-makers and trendsetters, Slimane is to join the LVMH brand on Feb. 1 and unveil his first fashion proposition for men and women next September during Paris Fashion Week. It marks a major homecoming for Slimane, who cemented his reputation – and influenced men’s tailoring for more than a decade – as the designer of Dior Homme between 2000 and 2007. He went on to reinvent and ignite the house of Yves Saint Laurent, which he rechristened Saint Laurent, between 2012 and 2016 – all the while maintaining a close relationship with the Arnault family, which controls LVMH and Dior. Read the full exclusive story on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion
“Personally I believe the Eighties have been the richest and more vivacious period for international fashion,” Giorgio Armani said when asked what his favorite decade of fashion is. It was a moment of disruption and experimentation and only thinking back to the first years of that decade is always an emotion for me, for what they have meant to me and my work.” The influence is clear in @giorgioarmani spring 2018 collection, pictured here, which was full of bright colors and unexpected prints. Read more about which decades designers loved most on WWD.com #wwdfashion #wwddecades (📷: @aitorrosasphoto)
For Lady Gaga’s only Italian show on her “Joanne World Tour,” the singer wore a range of @versace_official outfits. The standout piece: this custom-made bodysuit inspired by the brand’s spring 2018 collection. #wwdfashion (RG: @ladygaga)
@_camillaruth_ is expanding on the wellness-craze concept with @westbourne – a new NYC restaurant that’s both a healthy-minded café as well as a business that gives back to the community. Marcus works with the Robin Hood foundation to give back to The Door, a non-profit providing youth development services, and also hires employees through The Door. Read our full interview with Marcus on giving back through food on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)


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Exactly what happened is unclear; perhaps the photographer was simply trying to take Bieber's car keys away.
Frozen tundra: As the world gets warmer, parts of North America could get those frigid “polar vortex” conditions more often, a new study says.
If the trend continues, the only thing colder than our winters will be Justin Bieber's record sales.
That's a lot of cheap: Dollar General has raised its takeover bid for rival Family Dollar in a new proposal aimed at easing antitrust concerns.
The new bid is $9.1 billion, which would buy a coffee mug with “Great Minds Have Messy Desks” on it for every man, woman and child on Earth, with enough left over to give a bag of stale Halloween candy to everyone in China.
— Mark Carlson, Herald staff
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Database software company MongoDB (MDB) reported results ahead of analyst expectations in the Q1 FY2023 quarter, with revenue up 57.1% year on year to $285.4 million. Guidance for next quarter's revenue was $280.5 million at the midpoint, which is 1.24% above the analyst consensus. MongoDB made a GAAP loss of $77.2 million, down on its loss of $63.9 million, in the same quarter last year.
Is now the time to buy MongoDB? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free.
MongoDB (MDB) Q1 FY2023 Highlights:
- Revenue: $285.4 million vs analyst estimates of $267.1 million (6.86% beat)
- EPS (non-GAAP): $0.20 vs analyst estimates of -$0.10 ($0.30 beat)
- Revenue guidance for Q2 2023 is $280.5 million at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $277 million
- The company lifted revenue guidance for the full year, from $1.16 billion to $1.18 billion at the midpoint, a 1.37% increase
- Free cash flow of $8.44 million, down 49.8% from previous quarter
- Customers: 35,200, up from 33,000 in previous quarter
- Gross Margin (GAAP): 72.5%, up from 69.9% same quarter last year
"MongoDB began fiscal 2023 with terrific first quarter results, highlighted by revenue growth of 57% year-over-year, driven primarily by 82% Atlas growth. MongoDB enables developers to build mission-critical applications that drive better user experiences, enable new capabilities and improves operational efficiency, and our Q1 results give us increased confidence in our ability to capture the large market opportunity over the long term," said Dev Ittycheria, President and Chief Executive Officer of MongoDB.
Started in 2007 by the team behind Google’s ad platform DoubleClick, MongoDB offers database-as-a-service that helps companies store large volumes of semi-structured data.
Data is the lifeblood of the internet and software in general, and the amount of data created is growing at an accelerating pace. Likewise, the importance of storing the data in scalable and efficient formats continues to rise, especially as the diversity of the data and associated use cases expand from analyzing simple, structured data to high-scale processing of unstructured data, images, audio and video.
As you can see below, MongoDB's revenue growth has been exceptional over the last year, growing from quarterly revenue of $181.6 million, to $285.4 million.
This was another standout quarter with the revenue up a splendid 57.1% year on year. But the growth did slow down compared to last quarter, as the revenue increased by just $18.9 million in Q1, compared to $39.6 million in Q4 2022. We'd like to see revenue increase by a greater amount each quarter, but a one-off fluctuation is usually not concerning.
Guidance for the next quarter indicates MongoDB is expecting revenue to grow 41.1% year on year to $280.5 million, in line with the 43.7% year-over-year increase in revenue the company had recorded in the same quarter last year. Ahead of the earnings results the analysts covering the company were estimating sales to grow 30.1% over the next twelve months.
In volatile times like these we look for robust businesses with strong pricing power. Unknown to most investors, this company is one of the highest-quality software companies in the world, and their software products have been the default standard in critical industries for decades. The result is an impressive business that is up an incredible 18,152% since the IPO. You can find it on our platform for free.
You can see below that MongoDB reported 35,200 customers at the end of the quarter, an increase of 2,200 on last quarter. That's in line with the customer growth we have seen over the last couple of quarters, suggesting that the company can maintain its current sales momentum.
Key Takeaways from MongoDB's Q1 Results
With a market capitalization of $16.1 billion, more than $1.82 billion in cash and the fact it is operating close to free cash flow break-even, we're confident that MongoDB has the resources it needs to pursue a high growth business strategy.
We were impressed by the exceptional revenue growth MongoDB delivered this quarter. And we were also excited to see that it outperformed Wall St’s revenue expectations. Overall, we think this was a strong quarter, that should leave shareholders feeling positive. But the market was likely expecting more and the company is down 1.62% on the results and currently trades at $237.24 per share.
Should you invest in MongoDB right now? It is important that you take into account its valuation and business qualities, as well as what happened in the latest quarter. We look at that in our actionable report which you can read here, it's free.
One way to find opportunities in the market is to watch for generational shifts in the economy. Almost every company is slowly finding itself becoming a technology company and facing cybersecurity risks and as a result, the demand for cloud-native cybersecurity is skyrocketing. This company is leading a massive technological shift in the industry and with revenue growth of 70% year on year and best-in-class SaaS metrics it should definitely be on your radar.
The author has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.


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* By Sudhir H. Kalé, Ph.D.
The casino industry in Macau grew from US$2.77 billion in revenues in 2002 to over US$45 billion in 2013. Then, in 2015, revenues fell precipitously to under US$29 billion, a fall from which casinos are still reeling.
In 2009 two very senior casino executives predicted casino revenues to top US$100 billion by 2020. Now that we are approaching the cusp of the new decade, a figure of US$35 billion seems more realistic.
Macroenvironmental factors (such as “tigers and flies” campaign, restrictions of Union Pay credit card withdrawal, and tightening of credit in China) aside, the casino industry in Macau, has partially been a victim of its own success. The years from 2004 (when Sands Macao opened on the Peninsula) to 2013 were marked by a building flurry with scant regard for customer retention. The number of casinos in Macau increased from 15 to 35 during this...
AstroPay is the pioneer payment solution for thousands of consumers in Latin America, Asia and Africa, who want to purchase online on international sites, that helps merchants access new markets through its main product, AstroPay Card.
Gaming suppliers, like all areas of the industry, have felt the pinch from the Covid-19 crisis, though their growing digital businesses have proved a bright spot and helped offset the impact of the crisis.
Consolidation of the bases and advancement in adversity was the thrust of Macau Chief Executive’s policy address for 2021, though it gave little away when it came to the current pillar of the economy - the gaming industry.
While nowhere in the world has escaped the economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, Macau has been hit harder than most, with forecasts for gross domestic product to shrink more than 50 percent this year.


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How financial advisers can improve the customer experience through technology was the key theme at ANZIIF’s conference in Auckland two weeks ago
In case you haven’t noticed, the modern consumer is looking for two things: digital solutions and giveback options
New data from a real estate agency shows house prices have stopped rising in November.
The number of New Zealand homes valued at over $1 million has skyrocketed within the last three years, new research shows.
A major bank launched a new payment solution yesterday, enabling its customers to now pay in store with just a tap of their Android phone.
Governor Graeme Wheeler has said as long as there is still an imbalance between demand and supply “there is a significant risk of further upward pressure on house prices”.
The non-executive director will bring 27 years experience across business, retail and investment banking and wealth management.
The online home loan marketplace has announced a virtual identification system to fully digitise the mortgage application process and aims to bring the banks on board
The major bank has received the award for the third year running
The largest home loan lender has reduced two of its 'special' fixed interest rates
AIA Group and Zurich Insurance have lobbed bids to buy Sovereign and CommInsure


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Consumer optimism and an easing of geopolitical tensions have cruise ship giant Carnival moving full speed ahead.
The No. 1 cruise line operator
But Carnival and other operators likely will order fewer ships in coming years, due in part to the weaker dollar and a slowing of the industry's blistering pace of shipbuilding, Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison told CBS MarketWatch's Alexis Christoforous.
Arison was in Jacksonville, Fla., recently for the inaugural voyage of his company's newest ship, the Carnival Miracle. The 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle is the 20th new ship for Miami-based Carnival Corp., built at a cost of $375 million in Helsinki at Kvaerner Masa-Yards.
Arison said Carnival Corp., which operates 12 cruise lines, has been taking delivery of a new ship, on average, once every four weeks and has 10 new ships on order. But that rate will slow, not only for Carnival, but also for other cruise line operators, beginning next year and continuing in 2006 and 2007, Arison predicted.
In January, Carnival ordered a new ship from state-controlled Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri at a cost of about $570 million. The same month, Carnival's Cunard line launched the world's largest cruise ship, Queen Mary 2, on its maiden voyage, carrying 2,600 passengers who paid up to $48,000 for the trip.
The weakening dollar has had what Arison calls a dramatic effect on the cost of building new ships, because most are built in Europe.
But, he added, the weaker dollar "has a two-sided effect. For our day-to-day business, for our quarter-to-quarter business, it's positive. For every 10 percent weakening in the dollar, it brings about 2 percent to our bottom line, because we have euro- and pound-related revenues and expenses."
Last month, Carnival reported that since the first of the year, bookings are up 59 percent over the same period last year. The company said it sees first-quarter net revenue rising 5 to 7 percent, up from an earlier forecast of 2 to 4 percent. Carnival said it anticipates per-share earnings of 21 cents to 22 cents for the first quarter, up from the previously announced range of 17 cents to 20 cents a share.
Arison said bookings are up on all of Carnival's lines, across brands and throughout the world.
"The buildup in Iraq was negative for leisure travel in general," he said. "Despite that, booking are very good and our capacity increased 17 percent."
Carnival has boosted its use of U.S. ports, as have other cruise operators, to encourage passengers who otherwise might eschew cruising because of the need to fly to the port of departure.
"The more we can bring our ships to our customers, the less expensive it will be for their vacation and the less hassle they'll have with airports," Arison said.
Another damper cruise lines have faced is the pesky, fast-spreading stomach virus that can quickly ruin a cruise for passengers and dent value for shareholders.
Arison pointed out that cruise operators, unlike other institutions, are required to report the illness outbreaks to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, but the mild virus is common in the general population.
"It's not a cruise issue, it's a general health issue," he said.
Arison also said that because bookings are stronger, he anticipates prices for cruises also are likely to rise.
Last year, Carnival acquired U.K.-based Princess Cruise Lines, edging out rival Royal Caribbean Cruises
"We've said we anticipate our growth from here on in will be organic," Arison said. "We have 12 very powerful brands worldwide and we don't necessarily think we need more brands. But we do believe the growth potential of many of those brands is very big."
Carnival shares added 19 cents on Thursday to close at $45.60.


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News: DRIVE Expo 2022 — What You Have to Look Forward to
Diamond Standard announced that its 2008 Dodge Ram bumper (CH1002383DS) is the first aftermarket bumper to pass Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing.
"To receive the distinction as the first aftermarket bumper to pass IIHS testing is an honor that validates the single-minded purpose of Diamond Standard: not only manufacturing the safest parts available, but precision parts using correct material, tool building, stamping and process controls," said Mike O’Neal, president of Diamond Standard.
“We wish to thank Adrian Lund and Joe Nolan of the IIHS for making the beautiful facility at Ruckersville available for these tests,” said Geoff Crane, Diamond Standard business development manager. "IIHS is no stranger to Diamond Standard, and we’ve sought their counsel on testing development, design and expertise and incorporated it into the multitude of quasi-static and dynamic tests conducted by MGA Research for Diamond Standard structural bumper components front steel bumpers, brackets, high strength steel/aluminum reinforcements and absorbers."
"[The test outcome] is what we expected," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "It shows that aftermarket parts can be reverse-engineered without compromising safety."
From a safety standpoint, aftermarket bumpers need to perform in the same manner as original bumpers and service part bumpers in a crash, Diamond Standard says. Diamond Standard’s printed policy on part replacement continues to be either OE or Diamond Standard only.
“The two vehicles had similar crashworthiness measures in the 40-mph offset frontal test, and both would receive an overall ‘good’ rating for frontal crash protection,” said Joe Nolan, chief administrative officer of IIHS.
Diamond Standard claimed that using its 2008 Dodge Ram bumper in a repair would generate a cost savings of $141 compared to using its OEM counterpart.
“We’re proud of the certified quality and crashworthiness of our Diamond Standard bumpers," said O’Neal. "Yet, the one thing that makes me the proudest is that the Diamond Standard Bumper is made in the USA. Never underestimate the quality of the American worker,”
“Diamond Standard structural parts are built to a standard, which is the OE part," said Crane. "Our job as a manufacturer meaningfully associated with quality parts is to replicate the safety and crashworthiness criteria of OE service parts. Dynamic and destructive comparative testing by industry experts proving equal functional performance is a demonstrated core competency of our company and an assurance to the industry and vehicle owner that use of certified Diamond Standard parts provide an acceptable alternative part without compromising safety and damageability,”
Diamond Standard parts are available through limited quality distributors nationwide including the AQRP program at Keystone, an LKQ company.
CAPA Releases New Bumper Standard, Enlists IIHS for Crash Tests
Visit the Diamond Standard Parts website to see crash test footage and analysis


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Welcome to Dongguan Zhixin Hardware Products Co., Ltd.
The venue was in Shanghai Lighting City.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, in the black electricity market led by color TVs, the industry reshuffle caused by competition between products and brands has basically ended.
Enterprises should identify this circle, contact such people, and let the bathroom brand know more or less for the needs of the crowd, in order to really promote sales.
On September 8, the reporter learned from the US group that the company's first open innovation platform, Mei Chuang 1.0 (open.midea.com), was officially launched recently." Hu Ziqiang said.
After the hardware and electromechanical brand has gained market advantage, is it comfortable with the status quo? The new products are still being cultivated.
In 2013, the domestic LED application market output value was 208.2 billion yuan, and it increased to 275.7 billion yuan in 2014, a year-on-year increase of 32.4%.
Sweep, Follow us


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Keep Your Personal Information Safe Online
The Internet provides unprecedented levels of connectivity and information across many channels, such as email and social networks, and it also helps us accomplish everyday tasks like paying bills, filing taxes and much more. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), which encourages you to always pay attention when you’re sharing information on the internet.
NCSAM is a reminder that emerging cyber threats require shared responsibility to help create a safer cyber environment. Each week of October has focused on a specific cyber security theme; this week focuses on the need to develop cyber security education programs to help train the next generation.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests the following tips to help keep you and your information safe online:
- Set strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
- Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
- Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
- Be cautious about what you receive or read online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Learn more about National Cyber Security Awareness Month and find out about all of the safety themes highlighted this month.


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European shares in worst 1-day fall for 19 mths on Fed, China
LONDON, June 20
LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - European shares posted their steepest one-day fall in 19 months on Thursday, hit by the prospect of reduced U.S. monetary stimulus and fresh signs of sluggish Chinese economic growth.
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 2.9 percent to 1,146.22 points after the Federal Reserve said late on Wednesday stronger U.S. growth meant it would be likely to reduce its hefty asset purchases this year.
The Fed's quantitative easing programme (QE), along with similar moves from global central banks, have helped drive a 20 percent European equity rally in the past year in spite of a shrinking domestic economy and falling earnings expectations.
"The market has had its safety blanket taken away," Chris Wyllie, chief investment officer at wealth manager Iveagh, said.
Shares in financial services firms and banks , which are highly sensitive to trends in global markets and have been among top gainers in the past year, shed 3.6-3.7 percent as global bonds and shares fell.
Mining, auto and consumer goods stocks ended down between 3.5 percent and 4.2 percent as data showed factory activity in China, the world's top consumer of metals and a key client of European exporters of consumer goods, pointed to a sharper second quarter slowdown.
- Confusion as search for Malaysian jet spreads across SE Asia |
- Malaysia military source says missing jet veered to west |
- Toddler found with heroin at New Jersey daycare center
- Special Report: How China's official bank card is used to smuggle money |
- UPDATE 1-Missing Malaysian plane last seen at Strait of Malacca-source