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On Friday, the United States Department of Justice announced a series of carefully-considered recommendations with regard to how Apple should be punished as a consequence of the company’s participation in an ebook price fixing scheme.
“The court found that Apple’s illegal conduct deprived consumers of the benefits of e-book price competition and forced them to pay substantially higher prices,” said Bill Baer, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Under the department’s proposed order, Apple’s illegal conduct will cease and Apple and its senior executives will be prevented from conspiring to thwart competition in the future.”
According to one of the provisions, the DOJ wants Apple to stop preventing rivals like Amazon and Barnes & Noble from linking to outside ebook stores from inside of their native iOS apps.
Per the proposed settlement terms, Apple would be compelled to allow those links for at least two years.
The department’s proposal will also require Apple to terminate its existing agreements with the five major publishers with which it conspired – Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, which does business as Macmillan, Penguin Group, and Simon & Schuster Inc. – and to refrain (for five years) from entering new e-book distribution contracts which would restrain Apple from competing on price.
The DOJ also wants occasion audit to confirm Apple remains in compliance with the “new rules.”
The Department of Justice is asking the court to appoint an external monitor to ensure that Apple’s internal antitrust compliance policies are sufficient to catch anticompetitive activities before they result in harm to consumers.
The DOJ’s trial against Apple, which began on June 3, lasted for three weeks, and ended with the court determining that Apple violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Next Friday, August 9th, the court will hold a hearing on remedies.


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After prolonged bear market in 2018, this year has come up with many expectations of re-surge in the crypto market. Considering this year as an opportunity, major financial giants have launched their plans. Recently, largely famous stock exchange of Switzerland, ‘SIX Swiss Exchange’ has announced that it has scheduled the launch of its new blockchain-powered exchange, named SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), in the second half of 2019.
SIX has revealed that it will examine blockchain integration for its upcoming digital trading platform SDX. Here, the blockchain will be used to establish a connection between traditional finance and the technology of cryptocurrencies. The new platform is planned to operate parallel to the existing SIX platforms. The stock exchange’s CEO Jos Dijsselhof said that SIX has opted the technology to gain advantages such as time efficiency and improved security. He stated that the chosen technology could offer these advantages across all stages of stock trading and settlement. He notes,
“The fact is, it takes two days for the buyer of stock to become the owner. The trade itself only takes a fraction of a second, but after that payments have to be settled and titles transferred. If we put it all on our digital exchange, then the whole process takes only a few seconds. This makes the market more efficient, but at the same time also takes risks out of the system. “
Additionally, at a Swiss Finance Institute conference, SIX Group’s chairman, Romeo Lacher reportedly said that the firm is set to include more digital currencies to its exchange platform. He firmly asserts that the SDX digital exchange will completely replace the existing system in 10 years. He gave more details about the new launch. According to Lacher, the exchange will provide service for selected stocks in its initial stage. Following bonds and exchange-traded funds, stocks will be added once the platform starts operating fully. Later it will also enable tokenizing other securities and non-tradeable assets like paintings or vintage cars. Concluding, Lacher noted,
“We want to start with our own Security Token Offering. The supervisory board will probably decide (on the project)in late summer.”
Notably, the SIX’ newly announced SDX will work under FINMA’s regulation and supervision. SIX Swiss Exchange holds around 5.19 billion Swiss Francs (CHF) (~$5.18 billion) in daily turnover.

domain: news


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With its usual BlackBerry design, the Curve 9310 offers up a 3.2-megapixel camera, a portrait keyboard, and the BlackBerry 7.1 OS.
See manufacturer website for availability.
Top 3 news reading apps
With the latest tech, getting news delivered to your phone is easier than ever. Here's a roundup of apps that are customizable and useful for getting the news.


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According to the latest announcement, CoinEX, a legendary exchange platform announced that "We’ve recently noticed that nChain (https://nchain.com/en/), an influential company in Bitcoin Cash community, published an announcement of the creation of Bitcoin SV (https://nchain.com/en/blog/bitcoin-sv-launch/):
Bitcoin-SV (BSV) is the altered version of Bitcoin Cash protocols. BSV is likely to bring a potential fork of Bitcoin Cash by causing incompatibility with Bitcoin Cash network and therefore create a new cryptocurrency asset - Bitcoin-SV (Token: BSV). Should it happen, all Bitcoin Cash holders will then receive BSV assets against a 1:1 ratio on your BCH assets".
People can also sign up and make exchanges on coinex with many preferences after identity verification: https://www.coinex.com/account/signup?refer_code=pdsn9
However, that action has encountered a response from Craig Wright. He immediately responded to CoinEx's twitter with a completely different opinion from CoinEx. The question is what is true in the two options that the two sides raised. While Craig Wright, who is currently scheduled to release a beta version on August 29th and will be officially launched in November, CoinEX has made an immediate announcement on its home page.
So how is this problem?
Anyone can comment on this event in the comments section under this article:


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Indian firm opens diamond-cutting factory in Russia
MOSCOW: This is the second such factory that Choron Diamonds has opened in the Russian Far East.
A glittering inauguration ceremony was held in Vladivostok on the Pacific Ocean coast this week and those who attended included President's Representative to Far Eastern region Konstantin Pulikovski, Primorye regional governor Sergei Darkin, diplomatic officials and executives of the Indian, Russian and European diamond industries.
"We are the first foreigners in Russia to start this kind of venture in the country's highly monopolised diamond cutting industry," said Sunil Gandhi, president of Primorsk Diamond, the Russian subsidiary of his family concern.
"Around 150 Indian specialists will work in the factory in its first year of operation," Gandhi told IANS. He said he also planned to train Russian workers.
"We are planning to produce diamonds worth $15 million in the first stage. The target will be raised to $25 million subsequently. Sixty percent of the produce will be exported to Europe and the U.S. and 40 percent will be sold in Russia."
Twenty machines, each capable of cutting diamonds worth $2 million annually, will be installed at the factory, according to Gandhi.
Gandhi said his company decided to set up a factory in Vladivostok because of the city's proximity to Russian diamond mines, its location at the intersection of various highways as well as its developed infrastructure and cheap manpower.
He said raw diamonds would be bought from the Yakutia region near Vladivostok.
Gandhi's brother Rajesh Gandhi has been running a diamond-cutting factory in Yakutia, a Russian region between Siberia and the Far East, for three years.
Rajesh Gandhi said that the success of the Yakutia plant had encouraged the family to set up another base in Russia.
"It was not an easy decision to start a factory in this remote, cold place where winter rules for most part of the year with an average temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius," said Rajesh Gandhi.
He added: "But we have absolutely no regrets. We have reaped good results." Rajesh Gandhi said his family were the first Indian businessmen in the area.
India, with the world's largest diamond cutting industry, has lots of benefits for diamond-rich Russia as it can process small size diamonds, he said.
"We have many advantages here. Russians have a lot of love for Indians. We are liked by the local administration and ordinary people. And from the business point of view, we process 0.15 to 0.03 carat small diamonds that Russians or Europeans can not handle."
Rajesh Gandhi said: "We are planning to build a jewellery factory, and if every thing goes right we will hopefully have the plant ready by the end of the year."
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Pay rises are still falling behind despite the cost of living crisis intensifying and inflation rates going up further, analyses have shown.
22 Jan 2022
Segun Ogunlana is a social innovator, systemic designer and salesman. He is the founder of Avatar M&T, Afripreneur, AgentMe, Kanako and IjebuMarket. His interests are in infrastructure
18 Nov 2021
Wireless Trade Group (WTG) IT Solutions has reiterated its commitment to job creation through Independent Sales Agents (ISA).
1 Nov 2021
In everyday business environments, goods and services are exchanged, of which payments are not immediately received. Such sales are what are referred to as credit sales
8 Dec 2020
Nigeria must invest in young innovators to compete globally, experts have said. The experts, who spoke in Abuja recently ahead of the Strength Africa startup summit for entrepreneurs, regretted that Nigeria did not have the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Noting the importance innovation plays in the development of advanced…
19 Jul 2019
Mercedes-Benz has sold 1,134,729 cars from January to June this year. According to Daimler AG, the firm responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars sales, the brand continues to be the leader among the premium car brands in a highly competitive environment worldwide, despite ongoing model changes.
14 Sep 2018
Nike shares reached an all-time high this week as data pointed to an uptick in online sales following the sporting goods giant's envelope-pushing ad campaign featuring athlete Colin Kaepernick. Nike, a member of the blue-chip Dow index, finished at $83.47 on Thursday, its highest-ever closing price, prompting applause on Twitter from basketball star and self-professed…
9 Sep 2018
Any entrepreneur that wants lasting success in business must be out to make Customers rather than making Sales. When you make more Customers, you’ll definitely make more sales. Those who are only out to make sales at the expense of making customers don’t last in business. For every Customer that patronises you, he or she…
4 Sep 2018
Shares of Nike tumbled early Tuesday on worries the sport goods giant's new marketing campaign around Colin Kaepernick could harm sales. Dow member Nike fell 2.9 percent to $79.78 in mid-morning trading, the first session following news that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick would be featured in Nike's campaign to mark the 30th anniversary…
31 Mar 2017
Working with mid-size companies, we often hear the terms Sales and Marketing used together. In some ways, this is logical because the two need to work together. But in fact, they are two very different functions and require very different skills.
6 Jan 2017
To sell effectively especially in a recession you must identify your persuasive body language, which means, the way you move your body when you’re fully persuaded. Persuasion is contagious and can be passed from one person to another.
10 Apr 2015
KIA Motors Corporation has announced that its March 2015 global sales figures (export sales, domestic sales and sales from overseas plants) for passenger cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) and commercial vehicles, hit a total of 269,749 units sold.


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Reports of the death of Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory have been greatly exaggerated. Critics of RDRAM say product delays and high prices killed the mem-ory standard before it could take hold. They argue that new, high-performance versions of SDRAM such as PC-133 and the upcoming Double Data Rate are less expensive and easier to implement.
But industry analysts, Rambus and the technology's supporters (including Intel) say most of its troubles are behind it. Advocates expect prices to come down and deployment to increase this year.
"Rambus has been the great holy war of the DRAM industry," says Sherry Garber, vice president of Semico Research in the US. However, while RDRAM took some hits during that war, it's certainly not dead, she says.
In fact, Garber sees RDRAM becoming quite viable this year in the high-end PC market. It won't proliferate into the notebook, server, or low-end computer markets, but it will find its place in PCs for people who demand performance and who will pay upwards of $US2500 for a desktop computer.
RDRAM prices will drop some time later this year as more memory makers ramp up production, Garber says. But don't expect significant price decreases until 2001. And even then, it will still cost more than SDRAM, she adds.
Kevin Krewell, senior analyst at the Microprocessor Report, says he too believes RDRAM will gain acceptance with power users this year who care little about cost. For everyone else, it's still too expensive, he says, adding that it's likely to remain so because it costs more to make, it's a larger chip, and there are licensing fees attached.
According to memory manufac-turer Kingston Technology, at the moment a basic 128MB PC-133 SDRAM module sells for $US343, while a basic RDRAM 128MB module will set you back $US925.
But there's no denying that RDRAM provides performance advantages over standard SDRAM, Krewell says. That becomes important as processor speeds continue towards 1GHz, and memory bandwidth becomes a bottleneck.
RDRAM's architecture lets it run memory operations at speeds of up to 800MHz, while PC-133 SDRAM runs at 133MHz. RDRAM has a peak bandwidth of up to 1.6GBps, while PC-133 SDRAM can handle about 1.1GBps.
In real-world terms that means RDRAM should improve the performance of high-end applications such as streaming media, high-end gaming, and video editing, Krewell says.
And Intel will support RDRAM for high-end systems, says Intel spokesperson Dan Francisco, who expects RDRAM to succeed in the performance-computing category, but sees conventional SDRAM as the right choice for the mainstream PC segment for some time to come. To that end, he says Intel will continue to support PC-100 SDRAM with its existing 810, 10e, and BX chip sets, and its upcoming 815 chip set will support PC-133 SDRAM.
Intel does not expect RDRAM to impact the server industry, Francisco says. In fact, the company expects the upcoming DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM to dominate that market by 2001.
DDR SDRAM is based on existing SDRAM, but its modifications help it achieve essentially twice the data rate of 100MHz SDRAM, with peak bandwidths approaching that of RDRAM.
Despite these predictions Avo Kanadjian, vice president of worldwide marketing at Rambus does not agree "with anyone who takes the position that Rambus will be only in the high end". As memory manufacturers suchas Samsung ramp up their production of RDRAM in 2000, the prices will drop significantly, he says, with RDRAM working its way into the mainstream by next Christmas, though he doesn't expect RDRAM prices to drop as low as SDRAM prices. By the end of 2000, if RDRAM is down to a cost of 25 per cent more than SDRAM, it will be successful, he says.
Kanadjian says he expects RDRAM to represent about 15 per cent of the RDRAM market in 2000, and 50 per cent by 2003.
Bob Eminian, vice president of memory marketing at Samsung, says the company is currently manufacturing about 90 per cent of the world's RDRAM. Obviously, he wants the technology to succeed.
That said, however, Eminian is more cautious about projections for the coming year. He estimates RDRAM will make up from 7 to 10 per cent of the DRAM market this year. He doesn't project further than that, but says he does expect prices to drop and RDRAM to make it into some mainstream PCs by the end of the year.


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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has finally begun counting ballots cast by Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama, in one of the most widely-watched union elections in recent U.S. history.
Votes are being counted by hand in Birmingham, in front of a Zoom audience of reporters, union officials, Amazon representatives, and other observers.
Amazon is the nation's second largest employer, and has long taken an anti-union stance toward its workforce. Working conditions at Amazon are famously brutal, with serious injury rates that are double the warehouse industry average. If the union wins, it would be the first to represent


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SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon (AMZN) said it estimates to provide 25,000 permanent jobs in Spain before the end of 2025. It also plans to train 50,000 small and medium businesses and entrepreneurs to sell online, over the period. The company is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary in Spain.
Amazon has a workforce of more than 12,000 people in Spain. It plans to add 3,000 more permanent workers by the end of 2021. The number of logistics centres in the country will be increased to 40 by the end of 2021.
Also, Amazon noted that it is globally committed to operating 100% with renewable energy by 2030, although it is on the way to be able to achieve it before 2025.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
AMAZON-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de


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24th Jan 2023 07:53
(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London were expected to open flat on Tuesday, after data showed UK government borrowing continued to break monthly records.
UK public sector borrowing - excluding public sector banks - in the final month of 2022 reached its highest December figure since monthly records began in 1993, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Borrowing hit GBP27.4 million, which was GBP16.7 billion higher than the previous year, and GBP9.8 billion higher than the latest official forecast from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility.
Still to come in Tuesday's economic calendar, there are a slew of flash PMI releases from EU, UK, Germany and US.
In early corporate news, AB Foods left annual expectations unchanged after a positive Christmas for Primark, while Henry Boot predicted a slightly miss on annual pretax profit.
Here is what you need to know at the London market open:
FTSE 100: called up 5.7 points, 0.1%, at 7,790.37
Hang Seng: Hong Kong market shut for Lunar New Year holiday.
Nikkei 225: closed up 1.5% at 27,299.19
S&P/ASX 200: closed up 0.4% at 7,490.40
DJIA: closed up 254.07 points, or 0.8%, at 33,629.56
S&P 500: closed up 47.20 points, or 1.2%, at 4,019.81
Nasdaq Composite: closed up 223.98 points, or 2.0%, at 11,364.41
EUR: higher at USD1.0891 (USD1.0870)
GBP: higher at USD1.2405 (USD1.2368)
USD: lower at JPY130.07 (JPY130.62)
GOLD: higher at USD1,934.75 per ounce (USD1,922.40)
OIL (Brent): lower at USD88.05 a barrel (USD88.82)
(changes since previous London equities close)
Tuesday's key economic events still to come:
10:00 CET EU flash purchasing managers' index
09:30 CET Germany flash PMI
09:30 GMT UK flash PMI
09:45 EST US flash PMI
10:00 EST US Richmond Fed business activity survey
16:30 EST US API weekly statistical bulletin
08:55 EST US Johnson Redbook retail sales index
Consumer confidence in Germany improved at the start of 2023, according to the latest Growth for Knowledge data. GfK forecasts a reading of minus 33.9 points for its consumer sentiment tracker in February, up 3.7 points from a revised figure of minus 37.6 in January. "With the fourth increase in a row, the positive trend in consumer sentiment is consolidating. Even though the level is still very low, pessimism has eased recently", explained GfK consumer expert Rolf Burkl. The brighter outlook is mostly due to falling prices of energy, including gasoline and heating oil, GfK noted.
BROKER RATING CHANGES
Davy raises DS Smith to 'outperform'
Panmure raises Shaftesbury to 'buy' - price target 459 pence
Panmure cuts Unite Group to 'hold' - price target 1,038 pence
COMPANIES - FTSE 100
Primark-owner Associated British Foods said revenue in the 16 weeks to January 7 was up 20% year-on-year, reaching GBP6.70 billion from GBP5.57 billion. Trading at discount fashion shop chain Primark has been good across all markets, AB Foods said, and is ahead of expectations after a "very strong" Christmas sales period. It noted pricing actions in its Food businesses will lead to annual profit growth, but at a lower margin. AB Sugar's operating result is likely to be "broadly" in line with last year, owing to the reduction in UK sugar crop. Overall, AB Foods said its expectations for group annual results remain unchanged. It expects "significant" sales growth, with adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share to be lower than the previous financial year.
COMPANIES - FTSE 250
LondonMetric Property said it has added GBP2.4 million in annualised rent since September 30, having taken on 62 occupier initiatives. This includes lettings and lease re-gears on 24 assets, which amounted to GBP1.9 million, and rent reviews on 38 assets, adding GBP500,000 in rent. "We continue to see strong occupational activity across our portfolio from a very wide range of industries. This is allowing us to capture significant rental increases as well as negotiate longer lease lengths on shorter dated income," said Chief Executive Andrew Jones. A high number of rent reviews are expected to be settled in the next six to 12 months, with LondonMetric on track to capture GBP8 million in logistics rental reversion, as guided in its previous results.
Pub operator Marston's said like-for-like sales in the 16-week period to Saturday of last week were 13% ahead of the previous year, including the hit from Omicron. On a like-for-like basis, sales in the eight weeks to November 26 were 6.8% ahead of a year before, as previously reported. In the eight weeks after that, like-for-like sales were 19% ahead. The Wolverhampton, England-based pub chain also noted like-for-like sales were 4.5% ahead of financial 2020. the firm also noted its electricity costs are now hedged for the entirety of the current financial year to September. It left earnings guidance unchanged. "Whilst we still have certain cost challenges to navigate in 2023, we are well-positioned to continue to progress our strategy and are encouraged by the level of consumer resilience experienced to date," said CEO Andrew Andrea.
Henry Boot said 2022 was its best year ever at an underlying profit level, but a fall in the value of its UK commercial property investment portfolio will lead to pretax profit coming in "slightly" below market consensus of GBP48.1 million for the year. "It is too early to predict the outturn for 2023, however overall, the group expects this year to be more challenging than 2022," the builder and property developer said. The firm also said that HBD, alongside Barnside Group, completed the sale of East logistics scheme in Preston, in a GBP30 million transaction. This represents a premium of 10% to the last reported book value.
By Elizabeth Winter, Alliance News senior markets reporter
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


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When Google announced the fingerprint gestures for Pixel phones on launch, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P owners felt left out.
They were eagerly looking forward to have this cool way to access content and it is going to arrive with the Android 7.1.2. Nougat update.
The team at Google is currently working on a maintenance upgrade for Nougat. The new one is to be rolled out on Pixel phones as well as older Nexus devices. When Nexus 5X owners had the opportunity to download the latest update, they were pleasantly surprised to find that it had the fingerprint gestures incorporated in it. In Google’s blog, the update is an incremental maintenance that brings polishing and refinement to the Nougat operating system.
Nexus 5 owners had the opportunity to check the update before Nexus 6P users. They were pleasantly surprised to see that the settings had an option named “moves”. The feature is what they have been asking for a long time and when it’s available on an older phone, it’s no wonder Google will bring it to the newer Nexus phone as well.
By using Moves, one can make use of the fingerprint scanner in different ways. There are four different options available according to the screenshot posted by a user. By swiping on the sensor, it is possible to check the notifications in the smartphone screen. When you swipe in the back, it will pop up the display. When you double tap on the power button, it will open the camera instantly. The Selfie mode can be activated when using Google Camera by double twisting while the app is open.
The information was first spotted and posted by a person named Spannerphantom on the Reddit website. While there are only four moves in total, the true potential of the fingerprint sensor and the home buttons are being utilized by different manufacturers. It makes it easier for the user to access different phone functionalities without having to open up the screen manually. While Google has not announced the possibility of rolling out Moves features to Nexus 6P phones, they did confirm that Android 7.1.2 Nougat is coming to the phone and with it, there should be the simple yet useful features that you like to have on your phone.
Android Nougat is still being rolled out in phases with Samsung and Motorola phones getting them recently. More phones will be updated in the following months.


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$5.6 million set to slash wheelchair taxi waiting times
CLOSE to $6 million in funding is dedicated to slash taxi waiting times for Ipswich wheelchair users.
Wheelchair accessible taxi drivers are encouraged to prioritise bookings made by Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS) wheelchair users with a new $20 lift payment as part of the State Government's $5.6 million incentive.
"The new $20 lift payment is expected to give the drivers of wheelchair accessible taxis an added incentive to give bookings placed by TSS wheelchair users the priority we know they deserve," Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden said.
"It can take extra time for drivers to assist wheelchair users to board a wheelchair accessible taxi and the new $20 lift payment recognises that.
"The Lift Payment benefits drivers and people in Ipswich and Somerset who rely on a wheelchair for their mobility."
Mr Madden said by making the $20 lift payment available directly to drivers and operators of wheelchair accessible taxis, the government was ensuring there were no additional fare costs for TSS passengers.
Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the new lift payment applied to each eligible wheelchair accessible taxi trip involving the transportation of a TSS member travelling in a wheelchair.
"Queenslanders meeting the Taxi Subsidy Scheme's eligibility criteria also receive a 50% subsidy for taxi travel up to a maximum of $25 per trip," Mr Hinchliffe said.
He said the lift payment incentive package was part of the $100 million Industry Adjustment Assistance Package, which was passed by the Queensland Parliament before Christmas.
"Also included in the Industry Adjustment Assistance Package is a range of financial, advisory and incentive measures to help the taxi operators and drivers adjust to changes in the industry," Mr Hinchliffe said.
He said consultation on the next stage of personalised transport reforms was continuing with a meeting in mid-December of the Personalised Transport Industry Reference Group (PTIRG).
For more information on the Lift Payment, visit http://personalisedtransport.tmr.qld.gov.au/
For more information on the Taxi Subsidy Scheme, visit https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/disability/taxi-subsidy-scheme


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What you need to know
- Epic Games is warning Fortnite players to be careful updating to iOS 14.
- That's because of a feature that temporarily deletes apps to make space for the new software.
- If Fortnite is deleted from your phone, you won't be able to reinstall it.
Fortnite has warned its iOS player base not to update to iOS 14 without first freeing up plenty of space on their device, in case Fortnite is deleted in the process, rendering it unplayable.
Apple's iOS software has a feature that can temporarily delete users' apps to make space for a new software update if they don't have enough room. As Fortnite noted in a recent tweet:
This is because Epic Games breached Apple's App Store user agreement by changing its payment system within its iOS app, leading to the game being kicked off the App Store. Fortnite is currently banned from iOS, meaning new players cannot download the game or receive updates. Current players will not be able to re-download the game if it is deleted from their device. To this end, Fortnite is offering the following guidance:
The Epic Games lawsuit against Apple will next call on Monday, September 28.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.
Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9


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In pictures: General strike in Spain, Portugal
Spanish and Portuguese workers are staging the first coordinated general strike across the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday, shutting transport, grounding flights and closing schools to protest against austerity measures and economic reforms.
Picture editor's choice
Stunning images from Yas Marina circuit as British driver cruises home after Rosberg's car fails
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan celebrates her father’s birthday by gifting 100 surgeries to children born with cleft palates
Abu Dhabi’s latest retail destination, opens its doors to visitors with multiple new retail brands


text:
Bank of England will not ‘hold back’ on rate rise as another senior official hints that there will be soon be a hike
The Bank of England again warned that an interest rates rise is on its way as a senior official said it must not ‘hold back too long’.
Ian McCafferty became the latest member of the central bank’s rate-setting monetary policy committee to suggest that the first hike since 2007 is fast approaching.
He said a good reason ‘not to hold back too long’ was that ‘it will be critically important that rises in bank rate are delivered, as far as we are able, at only a modest, gradual pace’.
Hint: Ian McCafferty became the latest member of the central bank's rate-setting monetary policy committee to suggest that the first hike since 2007 is fast approaching'
Rates have been frozen at 0.5 per cent since March 2009, but increasing numbers of observers expect them to rise to 0.75 per cent before the end of the year.
‘The decision on when it will become appropriate to being normalisation is becoming more balanced as the economy has strengthened through the early summer,’ said McCafferty.
The pound rose above $1.70 to its highest level for more than five years as investors bet on an early rate hike.
A report by the CBI showed UK factories enjoyed another strong performance this month as the second quarter ended in style.
Katja Hall, CBI deputy director-general, said: ‘Growth is broad-based, with the recovery spreading its roots, and firms have high hopes for the coming quarter. However, the recent rise in sterling could impact on the resilient export orders we have seen lately.’
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text: Chinese company Meizu’s next flagship phone, the Pro 6 may come with a whopping 6 gigs of RAM, if a new report is to be gone by. As per the report (via Gizmochina ), the Pro 6 (which will be successor to Pro 5 launched last year) will have two variants. The top-end variant will come with more RAM (6GB) and more storage (128GB). The second variant will apparently have 4GB RAM and 64GB inbuilt memory. Meizu is expected to launch it in August.Should Meizu come up with something like this then it would join Vivo’s recently announced XPlay 5, which is officially the world’s first smartphone to come with 6GB RAM.The report further tips that the Pro 6 will rock a FullHD display and will be powered by Samsung’s top-of-the-line Exynos 8890 processor also found inside the new Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.It is said to include Meizu’s MBack 3.0 fingerprint technology, Flyme 6.0 OS, Hi-Fi 3.0, and fast charging support. It is said to also include a 3D touch-like display feature.To recall, Meizu launched the Pro 5 last year in September . The Pro 5 is the company’s first phone in its ‘Pro’ line up, and also its most expensive smartphone to date. Made out of Magnesium Alloy, the Pro 5 comes with the company’s characteristic mBack physical button on the front that doubles up as a fingerprint sensor.The phone has a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED 2.5D screen with a 1080×1920 pixels resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protective covering. It is powered by the Exynos 7420 processor and is available in two RAM variants: one sporting 3GB RAM and 32GB internal memory and another with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory. The phone supports expandable storage.advertisementIt sports a 21-megapixel camera on the rear along with a 5-megapixel camera upfront. It features a USB Type-C port and uses a 3,050mAh battery.


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Atomic Wallet, the famed noncustodial decentralized wallet, has been hit with a pretty staggering exploit, which has led users to report losses of entire portfolios of cryptocurrency.
This breach has, naturally, sent several shockwaves throughout the entire crypto community, as the fundamental premise for the wallet relies on the users assuming full responsibility for the security and storage of their assets. The losses from the heist have already skyrocketed to over $100 million, according to an analysis which was conducted by Elliptic.
This alarming figure has also highlighted the attack’s severity, which further compromised an estimated 5000 crypto wallets. Interestingly, despite the severity of the incident, the company has yet to dole out any explanation regarding the root cause of the losses.
Atomic Wallet Seems To Be Reeking Of Inaction
The inaction from Atomic Wallet has led to increasing concerns from several frustrated users who have been waiting for the clarification anxiously. Meanwhile, the last Twitter update from the company was on 7th June. The frustrated users of the wallet have already taken to Twitter to express their grievances at the way the company had been dealing with this issue. Ezra Carlson, a Twitter user, tagged the company asking why the company wasn’t providing anyone with a straight answer. The user further asked that the company should have warned others that it was not safe to use the wallet when it was being hacked, for they knew all about it.
On 3rd June, Atomic Wallet went on to acknowledge the many reports of compromised wallets in a tweet, but then completely downplayed the impact. They claimed that less than 1% of the user base had been affected by this hack.


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Nike agrees £400m 12-year kit deal extension with English FA, second only to Adidas' Germany sponsorship
Nike has reportedly agreed to a £400m extension to its relationship with England's Football Association (FA) in what is one of the biggest national kit deals in history.
Nike will supply England's kits until 2030
The US sports brand will be the official kit supplier for all of England’s national teams after agreeing to a 12-year extension with the FA, the biggest deal in the governing body’s history.
The current contract with the FA is set to expire after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, meaning the new deal will see Nike continue to supply England’s kits until 2030.
According to reports from Sky News, the new deal marks a modest improvement on the existing arrangement and, for the first time, includes several contingency clauses, including a financial penalty if the senior men's team fail to qualify for major tournaments.
The agreement also offers incentive payments if the team reaches the latter stages of major tournaments- semi-finals or beyond- from 2020 onwards.
An official announcement is still pending, however if the figures are correct the deal would rank second only to the German national team’s kit sponsorship with Adidas.
When broken down annually over the duration of the contract, the deal is significantly less lucrative than the brand’s agreements with the likes of Barcelona who have a £900m deal with the Oregon-based company.


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February 15, 2012
Brazilian wood and metal products company Duratex plans to raise BRL100m ($
Brazilian wood and metal products company Duratex plans to raise BRL100m ($58m) through the sale of convertible debentures to its shareholders. The 2017 bonds would be linked to inflation and pay a fixed rate of 6%. The month-long subscription period begins today. The bonds are convertible at the holder’s discretion for 10 shares at BRL12.87 per share. Itau is managing the sale. The sale follows the issue of similar bonds as part of a BRL273m financing package with BNDES announced last month.


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Amazon is to acquire Madrid based BuyVIP.com, a fashion and lifestyle online buying community with more than 6M members in Spain, Germany and Italy. BuyVIP offers members time-limited campaigns from top fashion and lifestyle brands at low prices, generally 30 to 70% below the retail price..
BuyVIP was founded in 2006 with the launch of its German and Spanish websites at the same time. It is rumoured the price paid is somewhere between $60M and $80M. The transaction is expected to close in Q4.
Source: Press Release
USA, San Francisco, CA
- Amazon buys online music retailer Amie Street Posted on September 8, 2010
- Amazon acquires online retailer Woot.com June 30, 2010
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RCom to transfer its wireless business Reliance Telecom to Aircel
It said in a statement,”The demerger and vesting of the wireless business undertaking of Rcom and RTL to Aircel and DWL will provide in opportunity to strenghten their telecom folder in terms of shareholder, equity and customer base.”
After announcing it's clear interest in merging with Maxis' Aircel, now the Anil Ambani-backed Reliance Communication has announced to transfer its wireless telecom business Reliance Telecom to Aircel and its subsidiaries.
It said in a statement,”The demerger and vesting of the wireless business undertaking of Rcom and RTL to Aircel and (Dishnet Wireless-Aircel) DWL will provide in opportunity to strenghten their telecom folder in terms of shareholder, equity and customer base.”
Turnover of the wireless business undertaking of RTL as on March 2016, stood around Rs 10,605 crore, which is around 48% of the total turnover of Rcom.
Consolidation of the wireless business undertakings, will provide an opportunity to Rcom in acquiring equity interest in Aircel.
Further, it will also help in expanding the business of Aircel and DWL in growing markets, thereby creating greater value for the shareholders.
It stated that the combination of Rcom and RTL along with AL and DWL, is a strategic fit for serving existing market and for catering to additional volume linked to new consumers.
There will be no change in the shareholding pattern of the Company, RTL and DWL pursuant to the Scheme.
Towards consideration of the transfer and vesting of the Wireless Business Undertaking of Rcom and RTL, including agreed capex as currently proposed, AL will issue and allot to the Company, 15,950,000,000 fully paid up equity shares of AL aggregating to 50% of the fully paid up equity share capital of AL on fully diluted basis.
After completion of the Scheme, AL and DWL will be operated and managed jointly by Rcom and the existing shareholders of AL as a joint venture company.
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With Nordstrom Inc. (ticker: JWN) stock now down more than 30 percent in the past three years, the Nordstrom family may be taking its ball and going home. On Tuesday, CNBC reported the Nordstrom family, which owns 31.2 percent of the company they founded, is on the brink of a deal with private equity firm Leonard Green &…
It’s been a tough year for the U.S. retail sector, and the athletic apparel business is no exception. According to Bernstein analyst Jamie Merriman, patient Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) investors will eventually be rewarded for weathering the storm. Under Armour (UA, UAA) investors, on the other hand, may have even more pain ahead.
Hurricane Irma was by many measures one of the most devastating hurricanes to ever hit the state of Florida. However, trading action on Wall Street this week suggests insurance investors had feared Irma’s wrath would be a lot worse.
According to a new in-depth report from Bernstein, electric vehicle investors are positioned for some huge returns over the long term. Unfortunately, it may take up to 40 years for electric vehicles to gain 60 percent of the global auto market share.
After more than a six-month search, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE: TEVA) has chosen former H. Lundbeck CEO and renowned turnaround specialist Kare Schultz as its new CEO. Investors seem happy with the prospect of Schultz at the helm, sending TEVA stock 17 percent higher Monday.
Cruise stock investors are monitoring Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose closely to determine just how much of an impact the two storms could have on revenues and profits. A handful of cruises have already been canceled during what is typically one of the busiest times of the year in the cruise industry.
It’s been less than a month since Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) took control of Whole Foods Market, but Kroger Co (KR) already appears to be feeling the Amazon squeeze.
Streaming video content is a major growth opportunity for Facebook Inc (Nasdaq: FB) in the years ahead. However, gaining TV advertisers’ trust may be a more difficult task than it seems.
Just when it seemed like expectations for Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) couldn’t get any higher, equity research firm D.A. Davidson has set two new price targets for the AMZN stock that represent new high water marks on Wall Street.
The latest projections show Hurricane Irma on track to make landfall in or near Miami on Sunday morning. Irma’s impressive strength and projected path have investors looking back to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 for any indication of how the storm could impact the stock market, particularly when it comes to insurance stocks.


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Every Filet-O-Fish sandwich served in the U.S. is made with Alaska pollock from the largest MSC certified fishery in the world.
More meat and bacon for less Filet-O-Fish at McDonald's
Monday, May 13, 2019, 00:40 (GMT + 9)
The McDonald's group shared their plan to reduce their evening menu: starting 1st of May, Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwiches, Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwiches, Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, Filet-O-Fish and premium salads will not be available from midnight to 5 a.m., according to the company. Signature Crafted Recipes were also on that list. Other late-night menu items, including Big Macs, Quarter Pounders and McNuggets, will still be available.
"We are going to simplify what is served after midnight so that customers can get the most popular favorites," said Andrea Abate, spokesperson for McDonald's.
The Filet-O-Fish, also known as the Fish-O-Filet, is a fish sandwich sold by the international fast food restaurant chain McDonald's.It was created in 1962 by Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchise owner in Cincinnati, Ohio, in response to falling hamburger sales on Fridays resulting from the Roman Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays
McDonald's wants to reduce the "complexity" of the menus and operations of the store, analyst Kevin Ozan said at a conference last month. He added that the company's new additions, breakfast all day, fresh meat and premium sandwiches, have "created a little bit slower drive-thru times."
The news indicates that McDonald's is betting to simplify its night by offering more meat with bacon to the detriment of the fish option which is not a encouraging news for our sector.
It is currently sold as the BK Big Fish sandwich in the United States and Canada. Internationally the fish sandwich is also known as the BK Fish, BK Fish'n Crisp burger, Fish King and Fish Royale in those markets.
We will have to see if this is just a passing signal for night owls or a sad general trend in the market. A few months ago Mc.Donald's of Mexico relaunched his offer of Filet-O-Fish of 390 Kcal. although, since 25 percent of the annual consumption of said product was made during the Lenten season, this situation reflects dangerous "peaks" in a production and marketing model that seeks stability in demand and automation in the process.
Between the fanatics of the meat and those who render adoration to vegetarianism, there is a "hybrid" segment that consumes fish as a healthier and lighter option when it comes to touring this emblematic fast food chain. Will they have guaranteed access to the famous Filet-O-Fish or will they have to migrate to BurgerKing that has created the "Premium Big Fish" of Alaska Pollock of 510 Kcal?


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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) is actively encouraging companies to adopt the latest technology in their manufacturing processes to stay competitive.
Mida chief executive officer Azman Mahmud said companies must think ahead and welcome advancements in technology which would benefit their businesses in the long term.
“Industry 4.0 or smart manufacturing is crucial. The message here is that we urge companies to adopt, and adapt to, these new technologies.
“This will make them more efficient and help them compete with other companies around the world that also use new technologies,” he said at Mida’s Open Day.
Industry 4.0 commonly refers to the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector by promoting automation and computerisation.
The term was coined by Prime Minister Najib Razak to encourage industries to move into computerised manufacturing to cut labour, reduce resources and ensure sophisticated accuracy in production and manufacturing systems.
Azman said Malaysia would head towards becoming a high-income nation as more companies used technology in their everyday business processes.
“There will be more job opportunities for skilled workers as advancements in technology will create a demand for new job skill sets.”
The Mida Open Day and Career Fair was held yesterday in conjunction with Mida’s 50th anniversary.
It specifically targeted those seeking senior management, executive and supporting staff jobs in technical industries.
“The emphasis now is on embracing the digital future and nurturing local businesses to become global champions by integrating into the international supply chain.
“This will create even more skilled jobs,” Azman said.


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Earlier this year, the Avalanches returned with their first new album in 16 years, Wildflower. Now, they’ve announced the reissue of their seminal debut album, 2000’s Since I Left You, on vinyl. The reissue is out January 27 via Astralwerks. It will be available on standard black vinyl and a limited edition of 5,000 colored vinyl, which is exclusive to independent record stores. Before the release of the reissue, fans can vote on the color (either red, blue, clear, or gold) they’d like to see the limited edition vinyl pressed on, and pledge the local record store they want the vinyl stocked at. You can vote here. The winning color will be revealed on November 29.
In other Avalanches news, the band also today released a new video for Wildflower’s “Because I’m Me,” featuring Camp Lo. Directed by Greg Brunkalla, the video features a performance on a subway platform backed by trumpets with breakdancing and an inflatable heart. Watch it below.
Read our feature “The Avalanches: The Snow Must Go On.”


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Gold prices held their ground in Pakistan on Saturday; however, continued to trade near record highs marked earlier this week as the precious metal's appeal as a hedge against a depreciating rupee remained intact.
Data released by All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association showed that the gold price (24 carats) remained unchanged at Rs214,600 per tola and Rs183,985 per 10 grams, respectively.
The price of gold rose by Rs5,100, or 2.43%, per tola during the week ended April 8.
The precious commodity explored several new peaks and touched an all-time high of Rs217,000 per tola; however, the meagre recovery of the Pakistan rupee against the dollar during the last two sessions pulled the prices of the yellow metal down.
The yellow metal is often hailed as a hedge against inflation and the commodity's rate is hovering around a historic high after Pakistan’s monthly inflation in March soared to an all-time high level — 35.4% — from a year earlier.
Gold price moves in line with the rupee-dollar parity as the country meets almost all its gold demand through imports, and traders follow its international price in setting rates in the country.
Jewellers import the metal against the US dollar and UAE dirham before converting its price into rupees.
The association also mentioned that the price of gold is Rs7,000 per tola “undercost” in Pakistan, compared to the Dubai market, showing that the Pakistani gold market was currently cheaper than the global.
Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market remained unchanged at Rs2,450 per tola and Rs2,100.48 per 10 grams.
In the international market also, gold price remained unchanged at $2,008 per ounce.
In some US states, a family of four needs at least $100,000 to get by; find out
"President Erdogan called on Tesla to establish its seventh factory in Turkey," Turkish officials said
Bernie argues that if technological advancements result in increased productivity, benefits should be shared with...
UAW strike began just after midnight on Friday following failed last-minute negotiations before the contract's...
Petrol price rises to Rs331.38 per litre
On Sept 7, PIA had grounded five out of its 13 leased aircraft due to prevailing financial crunch


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Visa has announced that it will power real-time P2P transfers for the global remittance firm, Remitly, via its Visa Direct platform. Remitly users in the United States can now send funds to eligible Visa debit cardholders across the globe, including Ghana, and these funds would be settled directly into their bank account.
The pair-up, according to Remitly, will simplify the complexity of moving money across borders and eliminate the delays in getting money to receivers. Remitly noted in a release that it intends to use Visa Direct to “unlock more choices for its customers to send cross-border payments in real-time.”
“Our highest priority is to create the best possible money transfer experience for immigrant communities and their families around the world. Our customers have unique money transfer needs including a need for more choices in how they send and receive money,” said Matt Oppenheimer, Remitly CEO and co-founder. “This collaboration with Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments, helps us meet this need with instant scale, security and reach that will help us continue to improve our service.”


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CVS Health Corporation (CVS) reported better-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2018 but revenue fell short of estimates, sending the stock falling 7.3% in premarket hours on Wednesday.
Net revenues grew 12.5% year-over-year to $54.4 billion, helped by increases in pharmacy network claims and prescription volumes in the Pharmacy Services and Retail/LTC segments, as well as the addition of Aetna.
Net loss attributable to CVS Health was $419 million, or $0.37 per share, in the quarter compared to a net income of $3.28 billion, or $3.22 per share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS totaled $2.14, beating consensus estimates.
Revenues in the Pharmacy Services segment rose 2.2% year-over-year helped by higher pharmacy claims volume. Total pharmacy claims processed were up 5.6%, on a 30-day equivalent basis, mainly due to net new business and the continued adoption of Maintenance Choice offerings.
In the Retail/LTC segment, revenues grew 5.4%, helped by an 8.6% growth in prescription volume along with branded drug price inflation. The LTC business has been facing industry-wide challenges, including lower occupancy rates in skilled nursing facilities and customer bankruptcies, which have affected its growth. These challenges are expected to continue in 2019.
In November, CVS completed its $70 billion acquisition of Aetna, and created a new segment named Health Care Benefits, which is equivalent to the former Aetna Health Care segment. Revenues in the Health Care Benefits segment for the period from November 28 to December 31, 2018 were $5.54 billion.
For the full year of 2019, the company expects GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $4.88 to $5.08 and adjusted EPS of $6.68 to $6.88.
Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) reported first quarter 2023 earnings results today. Sales rose 2.5% year-over-year to $13.2 billion. Net income attributable to Tyson was $316 million, or $0.88 per
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) this week reported its first revenue decline in more than three years, even as the high inflation continues to squeeze customers’ spending power. Sales of the
Chipmaker Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) has reported lower earnings and revenues for the first quarter of 2023. The company also provided guidance for the second quarter of 2023. At $9.5


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GSMA, WCO sign agreement to combat mobile device fraud
The Global System for Mobile telecommunications Association (GSMA) and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) have agreed to collaborate in the fight against the counterfeiting and fraudulent trading of mobile devices.
The partnership will focus on the integration of the GSMA’s mobile device database with the WCO’s IPM mobile platform that will give customs officers global, real-time product information on devices enabling them to assess the authenticity of device shipments as they cross borders. The move is intended to improve cross-border trade procedures, assist with the rapid detection of counterfeit goods and secure the international trade supply chain.
Chief Executive Officer, GSMA, John Hoffman, said the trading of counterfeited mobile devices is a global issue that has a number of severe consequences to its victims, such as safety concerns related to the release of substandard devices, as well as an impact on the reputation and revenue of rights holders.
Hoffman said the collaboration with the WCO will allow customs officers to access the most accurate information available on bonafide devices, helping in the fight against the trade of counterfeit devices.
The GSMA administers the allocation of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEIs) numbers via Type Allocation Codes (TAC) and runs the world’s authoritative database of registered devices.
The WCO’s IPM web and mobile platform is a global security gateway that allows customs officers to verify the authenticity of products online. It also allows manufacturers or rights holders to share relevant product information, which is made available in real time to customs organisations and can be added to their consignment checking procedures.
Secretary General, World Customs Organization, Kunio Mikuriya, said the integration of the GSMA database into our IPM platform is an important step in the fight against counterfeit and illicitly traded mobile devices.
“We are very proud to be able to work in partnership with the GSMA as well as manufacturers of mobile devices, making available to customs officers around the world, through our IPM platform, information and product details that can effectively assist our day-to-day operations,” he said.
The partnership will combine GSMA device data with rights holders’ interfaced data pools, as well as the unique information a rights holder has uploaded into IPM, enabling customs officers to scan and verify the IMEI codes of mobile devices and make instant and informed decisions.


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|GDP||1.4% growth for the year; a 2% pace in '17 More »|
|Jobs||Hiring slowing to 150,000/month by end '16 More »|
|Interest rates||10-year T-notes at 1.4% by end '16 More »|
|Inflation||1.8% for '16, up from 2.4% in '17 More »|
|Business spending||Flat in '16, after drop in '15 More »|
|Energy||Crude oil trading from $40 to $45 per barrel in Sept. More »|
|Housing||Prices up 5% on average in major metro areas More »|
|Retail sales||4% growth in '16, compared with 4.8% in '15 (excluding gas) More »|
|Trade deficit||Widening 4% in '16, after a 6.2% increase in '15 More »|
Feeling more confident about the economy, the job market and their own financial stability, shoppers dialed up spending in June. The third consecutive month of gains marks a strong end to the second quarter of 2016, though challenges remain as retailers grapple with changing industry trends—more online shopping, free shipping demands, etc.
See Also: All Our Economic Outlooks
Healthy consumer spending has retailers on solid footing going into the second half of the year and the all-important year-end holiday shopping season, barring any big political or economic shocks. Leading the charge: Online retailers. For 2017, we expect the steady pace of retail sales growth to continue, with total sales gains on a par with this year’s 4% clip.
Retail and food service sales surged 0.6% in June compared with the month before, and the industry overall posted a solid 2.7% rise in revenue compared with the same period in 2015. Nonstore retailers emerged the clear winners as more and more consumers turned online to shop. Online retailers, including online marketplaces such as Amazon and Etsy, plus retailers with e-commerce sites—Walmart, Target and others—posted a whopping 14.2% gain over the same month a year ago. Expect a spike in July’s numbers as well, thanks to Amazon’s second successful Prime Day and the countless other retailers vying for clicks with online discounts.
But online sellers weren’t the only retailers busy ringing up sales in June. Health and beauty supplies continue to be a bright spot for the industry, with receipts up 8.4% from last year. Moreover, a more robust housing market is boosting sales for sellers of building materials and garden supplies. Residential construction remains steady; we expect construction of single-family units to increase 14% from last year. New housing developments, along with eager home sellers prepping existing homes to go on the market, spell welcome news for home and garden suppliers.
June wasn’t rosy for all retailers. Electronics sellers struggled to post gains. Sales were flat compared with May, and revenues were down 4.7% versus June 2015. New products will help. Revenue from wearable technologies such as computer-enabled watches and rings, plus emerging technology such as smart home devices and drones, will help nudge up consumer electronics sales by 1.2% this year versus last year, according to the Consumer Technology Association. Heading into 2017, more shoppers will also shell out for ultra-high-definition televisions, virtual reality headsets and 3-D printers.
Meanwhile, department store woes continue as they struggle to draw people into their stores while also drawing more folks to shop electronically via improved mobile sites and apps.


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Shares of Tesla Inc. is entangled in a sell-off in technology as well as a number of other companies and industries, but that doesn’t mean investors should shy away from the “very attractive entry point” that the pullback has created.
That’s from CFRA analyst Garrett Nelson, who said in a note Tuesday that although Tesla
shares “recently sold,” the company is “one of the market’s most compelling growth stories – an investment with the same long-term payback potential as tech disruptors.” like (Apple Inc.
) or (Amazon.com Inc.
) many years ago.”
Tesla stock has lost 44% this year, compared with a roughly 21% drop for the S&P 500 index.
But it’s still the best-performing automaker stock in Nelson’s displays, with other major automakers falling about 52% on average, the analyst said.
“Tesla was unfairly punished by the market and the company was not credited for some of the key positives in the story,” said Nelson.
That includes “exceptional” earnings and operating performance, potential production growth from the company’s new plants in Austin, Texas and in Berlin, Germany, and “improved balance sheets.” substantial and an impressive future product delivery system”.
Markets may also be underestimating the role of record-high gasoline prices in driving electric vehicle sales, he said. Tesla could also surprise the market by bringing its Cybertruck electric pickup truck and Semi commercial electric truck to market earlier than expected, Nelson said.
As of now, Tesla stock is down 33% in Q2 and has lost about 30% since the CEO’s arrival. Elon Musk has bid on social media company Twitter Inc.
In his note, concerns that Twitter would be “too distracting” for Musk and Tesla were “overblown,” Nelson said in his note. Musk has surrounded himself with a “highly capable” executive team at Tesla and has been able to balance growth at both Tesla and space company SpaceX for several years, along with his other companies, analysis said.
Musk talked about the state of the US economy and the possibility of a recession. Earlier on Tuesday, The Tesla CEO said that a recession “is inevitable at some point.”


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The Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award recognizes a retail leader that has led their company to outstanding business success and innovation, and, who has consistently demonstrated community commitment and support. The recipient is a role model because of their exceptional leadership within the corporation, in the retail industry in Canada, and in the community at large, through personal and/or corporate philanthropic activities.
Mr. Wood’s extensive knowledge of the Giant Tiger business, customer-centric approach, and deep passion for the company’s core values of supporting Canadians and communities make him the ideal person for this prestigious retail award.
“RCC is excited to recognize Paul Wood for his continued success in an ever-changing retail sector. His leadership at Giant Tiger has been outstanding in helping the organization grow roots in communities across Canada. Giant Tiger has achieved continued success by working to help Canadians make every hard-earned dollar work even harder,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada.
“Throughout the last 61 years, Giant Tiger has been fiercely committed to our communities, and making a positive impact on our neighbours, our friends, and our families. From our relationships with local charities, to our corporate partnerships with national organizations, Giant Tiger has always championed doing good for the greatest number of people,” said Paul Wood, President and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “This, paired with our core purpose of making it easy and fun for all Canadians to shop smart, and save smart every day, will continue to drive our business forward for many years to come. I am honoured to be recognized for doing what we value most at Giant Tiger.”
Giant Tiger joins an impressive list of past recipients from across Canada that includes: The Home Depot Canada, London Drugs Limited, Groupe Dynamite, Leon’s Furniture, Harry Rosen, Canadian Tire, Aritzia, Indigo Books & Music, Staples Canada, Costco Wholesale Canada, La Senza, and most recently, Best Buy Canada.
The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award will be presented to Mr. Wood at RCC’s Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on May 31, 2022 at the Toronto Congress Centre, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET. For more information visit: https://retailawards.ca/register-now/.
The Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala will close the first day of Canada’s biggest retail event of the year, RCC STORE 22, which will feature more than 75 speakers and attract more than 2,000 retail leaders from across North America.
SOURCE Retail Council of Canada


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The federal government’s website where Americans can go to order 4 free at-home rapid COVID-19 testing kits is now up and running.
Americans are encouraged to order the tests for future use, “when you need them.” The test kits will ship in 7-12 days via the USPS, so if you need a test more quickly you’ll need to visit a local testing center or pick one up at your local pharmacy.
Clicking “order free at-home tests” on the website will take users to a U.S. Postal Service website where they can place an order. The only information needed to place an order is your name and address, but users can add their email address to get updates on their order.
The White House said Friday, Jan. 14, that it had 420 million tests under contract and that it will continue awarding contracts to additional manufacturers “over the coming weeks.”
The tests being sent through the program are all rapid antigen tests authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. People who order them will not be able to choose which brand of test they receive.
You can skip visiting the official site and go direct to the United States Postal Service where they handle shipping. Place Your Order for Free COVID-19 Tests here.


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Hand sanitizer is seen between a cocktail and a beer tab at The Instiution bar in Christchurch, New Zealand, last week. | Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
While Mayor Lori Lightfoot is supportive of the plan, city officials are exploring changes to it. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17, and it’s unlikely a meeting would be called earlier to take up any changes.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday said he’ll sign legislation that will legalize “cocktails-to-go” to aid ailing business owners during the pandemic.
What that will look like in Chicago — a hotspot for COIVD-19 — and when that may happen remains unclear.
While Mayor Lori Lightfoot is supportive of the plan, mayoral aides says they are exploring changes to it. That’s allowed under the legislation, which gives municipalities local control to either opt out or make changes.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for June 17, and it’s unlikely a meeting would be called earlier to take up the plan.
Under the measure — which passed with bipartisan support in both the Illinois House and Senate on Saturday — restaurants and bars would be able to sell cocktails in sealed, tamperproof containers. Any alcoholic beverages transported in a vehicle would have to be placed in the trunk or in an area inaccessible to the driver.
Those picking up the alcohol would also be carded. The measure changes the Illinois Liquor Control Act to allow bars and restaurants to sell the cocktails for one year. But many hope that will be extended.
The governor said he is eager to sign it into law.
“I’m so glad that that passed,” Pritzker said during his daily briefing. “And I’ll sign it as soon as it comes to my desk.”
It’s a direct effort to try to help the more than 300,000 people who are unemployed in the hospitality industry right now. Under Pritzker’s reopening plan, bars and restaurants won’t be able to reopen until the fourth phase. The state is set to enter the third phase of reopening on Friday.
That leaves little options for restaurants and bars to make money during the summer when most establishments experience peak business.
“The City is exploring local legislative amendments to the Municipal Code to permit the sales of mixed cocktails to-go for delivery and takeout in Chicago,” Lightfoot spokeswoman Anel Ruiz said in a statement. “We look forward to working with aldermen, industry leaders and other stakeholders in this latest effort to provide a new stream of much-needed revenue for the hundreds of bars, breweries and restaurants across Chicago who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.”
Bill sponsor State Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, said he believes Lightfoot could clear up some concerns with a simple ordinance that would limit the number of cocktails-to-go and ensure the beverages won’t be consumed in the public way.
Zalewski said any follow-up issues could also be cleared up during the November veto session.
State Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, who sponsored the measure in the Senate, said the mayor and her team are working on folding cocktails-to-go into their plan for sidewalk cafe service. It would be offered up as an option since bars will not reopen immediately.
The city has jurisdiction over “walk-ups,” she said.
The measure is for bars, taverns and restaurants, but not for brew pubs and craft distilleries. That was intended to not blur the lines of three tier-system of producers, wholesalers and retailers.
There are some specifications for the actual mixed drink as well.
“It’s a commercialized standard of pre-packaged, in a rigid container. It can’t have foam in it. It has to be protected. It can’t be tampered with in transport to the house,” Zalewski said during the House debate.
The measure had bipartisan support in both chambers. State Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville, noted a local chamber of commerce survey found 40% of restaurants in his area “are in the verge of collapse.”
“This is one small step that we can do to help them keep their businesses going,” Wehrli said.
There was even a push for the legislation to become law for longer than a year.
“As long as the packaging is safe, I’m hoping that this body will extend this past the year,” State Rep. Allen Skillikorn, R-Crystal Lake, said. “That seems to be a common sense idea that could really help our restaurants, especially right now. “


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Dave Lewis to be replaced by Walgreens Boots Alliance executive Ken Murphy.
Forever 21 operates more than 800 stores in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Sports Direct also says it has received a payment notice for US$749 million after an audit of its taxes in Belgium.
Sears will consider bids for its assets, including a last-ditch US$5 billion proposal by chairman and controlling shareholder Eddie Lampert.
The lenders would make a so-called "credit bid" by using their senior secured notes in the Asia business rather than cash, and win ownership of the unit during an auction next month in New York.
John Lewis has joined the "Bright Future" project which offers slavery victims four-week paid work placements that can lead to a permanent job.
The South African company has informally sounded out potential buyers for Pepco including private equity firms, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the plans aren’t public.
Tesco’s grocery home-shopping business performed strongly, with transactions and basket sizes growing during the quarter, the company said.
The creators of HBO's popular TV series, 'Westworld', Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, will adapt William Gibson's book, 'The Peripheral' into a series for streaming outlet Amazon.
Marc Lore says future acquisitions will likely be in the US$50 million to US$300 million range, and could go higher,
US gunmaker American Outdoor Brands said Thursday that retailer bans on assault-style weapons would have minimal impact on profits, but warned that firearms demand remained sluggish amid a gun glut.
In what would be one of its biggest overseas deals, the US retailer is looking at buying new and existing shares in Flipkart.


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Consumers are expected to do more of their holiday shopping online this year, eschewing the in-store doorbuster sales that have drawn crowds in years past.
That doesn’t mean shoppers won’t have questions along their buying journey. And, since they’re likely shopping from the comfort of their couch, rather than in a store staffed with associates to answer questions, it’s a safe assumption that contact center volume will likely see a serious spike over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend.
StellaService collects customer service performance data from retailers on a daily basis, and increases its sample over the four-day holiday shopping weekend. In 2013, StellaService placed five calls each day to 60 of the most popular online retailers, amounting to 1,200 calls during the four-day shopping bonanza.
Considering historical retailer performance, what should shoppers expect when they dial their favorite shop with a question?
Last year, high-end apparel retailer Net-A-Porter set the bar for Phone support by averaging 19 seconds over the four days to connect StellaService Analysts to a live agent. The average for the top 5 performers in the study was 24 seconds over the four day time period.
What’s more, all of the top performers had 100% Issue Resolution – a metric that measures whether a customer service agent solved the customer’s questions in full.
Looking at all companies measured on Black Friday specifically, the average time to reach a live agent for the set of companies was was 2 minutes, 16 seconds. The top five performers that day – Dillards.com, Net-A-Porter.com, UnderArmour.com, JCrew.com and Modcloth.com – averaged about 23 seconds.
Average time to reach a live agent on Cyber Monday was slightly longer at 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The top five performers on Monday – Dillards.com, UnderArmour.com, Net-A-Porter.com and Overstock.com – answered phones in an average of about 19 seconds.
Unfortunately, not all consumers experienced speedy service last year. The bottom 10 performers averaged 5 minutes, 39 seconds. And, one retailer averaged more than 11 minutes to connect customers to a live agent.
Previously on Bright:
- Cyber Monday Recap: Top Retailers Used Ship From Store To Speed Delivery
- StellaService Study: Did Leading Retailers Deliver By Christmas as Advertised?
- Retailers, Here’s How to Deal with the Influx of Tweets Over the Holidays


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Global specialty bebe stores says it recently was successful in blocking an attack on its computers that operate the payment processing system.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved the National Futures Association (NFA) prohibition of credit cards to fund retail Forex accounts.
Centre Des Monuments Nationaux (CMN), which conserves and restores historic monuments in France has inked a deal with JCB International (JCBI). The partnership will support the CMN’s development of digital tools for the iconic World Heritage sites such as the Arc de Triomphe and Villa Cavrois, which will open its doors in June 2015.
The Cambodian cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards is soaring by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.31% since 2009.
NY-based Shield Cards says it is currently manufacturing a new method of protection that does not necessitate replacing the user’s wallet or passport holder. Shield Cards are lightweight, economical, and can fit in any wallet or card carrier.
The world’s largest bitcoin payment processor has integrated with a mobile investment platform available worldwide. The deal between BitPay and DriveWealth will become the first financial services company to allow users to fund their account with bitcoin.
Seal Beach, CA-based MagTek has unveiled the QwickPAY Pro payment solution for retail and restaurant owners’ iPads. It is available for free in the App Store, and it works with MagTek’s Made-for-Apple certified mobile card readers, secured by MagneSafe.
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 321,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%, will undoubtedly send the stock market to record highs today. The news from the BLS dovetails with the marked increase in payment card spending showing up on the nation’s top four networks in 2014.
U.S. Bank’s Elavon and Bank of the West have extended their 21-year referral agreement for merchant services through 2021. Referrals for new business will be marketed through Bank of the West’s 22-state banking network of more than 650 commercial office and retail branch locations.
San Jose-based SLI Systems found Cyber Monday (Dec 1) realized nearly 30% more online shopping activity than any other shopping day during the 2014 Thanksgiving-to-Cyber Monday holiday timeframe. The study spanned all e-commerce segments from apparel to electronics and included 100 of the Internet Retailer Top 1,000 retailers.
Nearly eight out of ten respondents in a recent poll expect holiday sales to be better than or the same as last year, supporting the National Retail Federation’s forecasting that holiday sales will increase by 4.1% this year. Hiring seasonal employees is another indicator of a positive outlook for the holidays.
Despite the Republican rantings, via Roger Ailes’ Fox News, that the country is on the wrong course, a new poll shows half of American’s predict that their financial situation will be better at this time next year and well beyond their personal status at the end of 2008.


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Independent may sell Irish title
Troubled Independent News & Media is considering a £25m sale of its tabloid Irish Daily Star - one of the jewels in the crown of its newspaper empire - held in a joint venture with Express owner Richard Desmond.
Independent: The newspaper group will sell-off assets
IN&M, struggling to complete a massive debt refinancing, made it known to potential buyers late last week that it would consider offers for the daily title, which sells about 105,000 copies, and its sister publication, the Irish Daily Star Sunday, which sells 60,000.
Though it is nominally modelled on the downmarket British tabloid Daily Star, the paper, which employs about 100, has less focus on celebrities. A sale would be expected to attract considerable interest and the fact that IN&M is considering offloading such a trophy asset underlines the debt problems it is facing.
The Irish Daily Star is published by Independent Star Limited, which was set up in 1988 by the Express group and IN&M's then chief executive, Sir Anthony O'Reilly.
The value of IN&M's stake is about £12.5m, valuing the whole business at £25m, although it is unclear whether Desmond would sell his shareholding.
IN&M said on Friday that it had further extended an agreement on a £175m bond until July 24 to give it more time to restructure its debt.
The company, whose biggest shareholder is O'Reilly, also owns The Independent, The Independent on Sunday and the Belfast Telegraph.
IN&M is in talks with banks and bondholders on sorting out its debt and has indicated that it might hold a rights issue and sell assets.
However, the group's second biggest shareholder, Denis O'Brien, is said to oppose the rights issue plan.
IN&M said it has sufficient funding to meet its day-to-day cash requirements.
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I've never seen a fit pic taken in a mirror and thought, "That phone isn't fashionable enough." Yet, here we are.
Samsung's collaboration with Thom Browne on the Galaxy Z Flip has leaked in a bizarre promo video. To see it, you first have to watch a model in an immaculate Thom Browne suit walk for 90 seconds until he reaches some sort of magical waterfall. Laughs echo in the background, as well as thoughts of "I'm not ready," until the phone magically appears — meaning the phone is the key to... confidence?
The Browne effect — Browne's signature red, white, and blue stripe runs the length of the Z Flip's rear. That's the only addition we know for now, but the motif also appears on a Galaxy Watch band and Galaxy Buds case. No pricing details have been announced either, but we can probably expect it to cost something more fashionable, i.e. more than the Z Flip's rumored $1,400.
Expect more details this week — You wouldn't know it by the commercial the aired during the Oscars, but Samsung hasn't even officially announced the Galaxy Z Flip yet. That will change tomorrow at the Galaxy S20 launch event.


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Joe Cantrell made a hobby out of browsing local stores and going to Wal-Mart to get the cheapest prices for its products through ad matching, according to television station WXYZ. However, last week, Cantrell took a trip to Wal-Mart's San Tan Valley, Ariz., location, where an employee stopped him and told him he wasn’t allowed to ad match. Cantrell got upset and complained to management. Upon his return trip four days later, he was placed in handcuffs by local law enforcement.
"When I left, he turned around and called the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and said he felt intimidated and threatened," Cantrell told WXYZ. "I was upset, but never once did I say anything to the gentleman."
The former wrestler says he was "handcuffed, humiliated and embarrassed in front of everybody at Wal-Mart," but the deputies quickly released him.
The customer was released by the cops, who realized Cantrell was not a threat. Nevertheless, he says he's facing charges of threatening, intimidation and disorderly conduct.
On top of all that, he will no longer be able to pursue his hobby -- Cantrell has been slapped with a lifetime ban from Wal-Mart.
The ban is baffling when you consider what the retailer says about ad matching on its official website: "We're committed to providing low prices every day. On everything. So if you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, tell us and we’ll match it. Right at the register."
Wal-Mart sent ABC15 the following statement Tuesday:
"We make every effort to make sure our customers have a good experience in our stores. As in previous situations, we attempted to work with this customer. However, in this situation, the associate felt unsafe and so we contacted local law enforcement. We are continuing to cooperate with law enforcement on their investigation."


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THIEVES stole cosmetics and two small flatscreen television sets from the Co-op in Alcester Road, Studley.
Two women and a man went into the store at 6.20pm last Thursday, say police.
Officers are now appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them.
The offenders are described as Asian and aged in their 20s.
The man is about 5ft 9in and was wearing a black T-shirt, navy-blue jeans, a denim jacket and white trainers.
One of the women is 5ft 3in, with long, dark hair tied in a bun.
She was wearing a black T-shirt, navy-blue jeans and flip flops.
The other woman is 5ft 5in with very long black hair tied in a ponytail.
She was wearing a yellow cardigan and ankle length, flared denim skirt.
Police believe one of the women had the television sets hidden beneath her skirt, causing her to waddle as she walked.
Phone police on 01789 762 207 with information.


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Menu items will include specialty sandwiches and paninis, items from the three Big Green Egg grills on-property as well as other prepared foods and takeaway items.
“Chop Shop is more than a store. It is a way for us – farmers and a butcher – to reconnect people in our community with local, handcrafted food,” said Rusty Bowers, Chop Shop co-owner, in a prepared statement. “With the addition of the patio, our guests can enjoy a nice casual lunch in addition to shopping for humanely and sustainably raised meats or specialty provisions all in one place.”
The 1,500-square-foot patio will also serve as a private and public event space for pop-up dinners and cooking classes.
Chop Shop also has plans to open wine shop Pour House in an adjacent building.
•Savory Gourmet Market is set to open at 50 Canton St. in Alpharetta, Scoop OTP reports. The market, which will sell meats, cheeses, to-go meals, pizza and more is owned by Adam Hyzdu, who also owns Mari's Cucina and Social House in Johns Creek.
•The owner of popular Japanese restaurant Wagaya is slated to open a new Japanese concept in the Hanover West Peachtree building in Midtown, What Now Atlanta reports. Wagaya, which opened its first location in Home Park on 14th Street in 2015, also has a location in Emory Village. Wagaya owner Takashi Otsuka is also planning to open sake and robatayaki concept Chirori in the former Better Half space in Home Park this summer.
•Johns Creek steakhouse Viande Rouge is converting to a Mexican restaurant, Scoop OTP first reported. The eatery, which closed May 11, announced on its Facebook page that it will reopen as Mexican concept One41 this fall. The team behind Viande Rouge also owns Italian restaurant Trattoria 141, also in John Creek.
MORE DINING NEWS:
Read more stories like this by liking Atlanta Restaurant Scene on Facebook, following @ATLDiningNews on Twitter and @ajcdining on Instagram.


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Davanti Tyres: New winter & run-flat ranges, Shanghai sales office
By the time Tyres & Accessories caught up with Davanti Tyres towards the end of CITExpo, the team was looking back at a full year of trade fairs – the Shanghai show was the company’s last major exhibition for 2016. Yet although Davanti Tyres is now taking a breather from the show circuit, its work promoting the brand continues.
“After our UK launch last year we’re taking Davanti to other markets and looking for new partners,” shares Peter Cross, Davanti Tyres’ general manager. “At present we’re beginning to identify potential partners, and will make announcements on these going forwards.”
Negotiations with potential partners include discussions with those in countries with legislation covering tyre use in the cold months of the year – Cross says we can expect to see winter products enter the Davanti portfolio in the first half of 2017. “We’re already selling in four European markets – Cyprus, Spain, Portugal and Greece – but a lack of winter products has held us back from launching in other countries. Next year we’ll launch in northern and central markets, in the countries that have winter tyre regulations.”
The winter range that Davanti Tyres anticipates will give it a foot in the door in these markets is Wintoura, which will be available in four patterns: Wintoura for the high performance category, Wintoura Van, Wintoura SUV and, covering the UHP segment, the Wintoura +.
A further expansion of the Davanti product portfolio is about to occur with the introduction of run-flat tyres. Cross reports that production of these began in October, and the new tyres are run-flat versions of two existing patterns, the DX390 and DX640. “We’re initially launching our run-flat offer with six sizes for 16 and 17-inch rim diameters, and next year we will move into 18 and 19-inch sizes.”
In addition to news of the Davanti winter and run-flat ranges, the general manager mentioned another project that Davanti Tyres wasn’t promoting at CITExpo, a project that was still in its infancy at the time. “Development meetings will soon start for the all-terrain category,” he shares. “The plan is to launch these products in 2017, although we’re so early in the development cycle that we can’t say exactly when.”
Last but not least: Alongside promoting the Davanti range and holding discussions with potential distributors, Peter Cross and his colleagues had another important reason for their presence at CITExpo in the final week of September – the Davanti Tyres team was in Shanghai to celebrate the opening of a new office in the city, and held a launch party to mark the occasion. “The new office will house our global sales team,” comments Cross. “Six people work out of the Shanghai office at present, all global sales staff, and all office branding is Davanti.”


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Companies’ desire for efficiency is the key motivating factor behind the adoption of innovative technologies such as augmented reality (AR), robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT), new research has found.
According to the Digital Transformation & Next-Gen Business Technologies, 2022 Report, conducted by a cloud-based accounting software platform, bluQube accounting softwareNearly two-thirds of companies (65 percent) now cite the need to increase efficiency in their organization as a key motivator for adopting digital technologies in their organization, compared to 44 percent who highlighted cost savings.
The desire to improve efficiency and productivity was reflected in the technologies that are becoming more and more important in companies. According to the study, nearly a third of business leaders (30 percent) now say they use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, which can save significant time by automating tedious processes like data entry.
Unsurprisingly, cost savings remain a key factor in why 44 percent of companies are turning to technology, and nearly four in 10 companies (39 percent) emphasize a desire to provide a better experience for their customers, which drives awareness the technology business owner highlights correlation between technology and better customer outcomes.
Remarkably, nearly a third (32 percent) of business leaders said that improving sustainability within their organization is the top reason for adopting technology, as environmental concerns continue to play a growing role in the broader offerings of businesses.
The forced shift to teleworking due to the Covid-19 pandemic has also led to a surge in technology investment. Nearly one in three companies (32 percent) said that supporting the transition to remote work was the area where digital transformation has delivered the most tangible benefits, and according to the study, remote work led to more than three quarters (76 percent) of the Companies presenting plans to invest and implement new digital technologies.
Looking at the other end of the scale, the study also identified a number of barriers that prevent organizations from embracing further digital transformation. Fears over digital security breaches, which have plagued a number of high-profile companies in recent years, were cited by 35 percent of respondents – the most popular option, followed by concerns about costs (34 percent) and lack of time to implement and train staff (32 percent).
simon kearsley, CEO of bluQube bluQube Accounting Software, commented: “Digital transformation projects are no longer limited to a handful of forward-thinking companies – they are actually being carried out in varying capacities by the overwhelming majority of companies across all sectors.
“It is encouraging to see that factors such as efficiency and service quality stand alongside and even above financial factors for companies when it comes to investing in technology. Businesses that focus on using technology in a way that allows their people to spend more time on business-critical, strategic tasks, rather than just saving costs, are highly likely to grow and prosper in terms of profits, reputation, and the happiness of their people for years to come .”


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Procter & Gamble is expecting the effects of restructuring Olay in the U.S. and Chinese markets to continue through the duration of the year.
In the U.S., P&G has said it’s working to focus on its Regenerist products with a plan that included stockkeeping unit cuts, and in China, is in the midst of a counter reconciliation.
“Olay is stabilizing,” said P&G chief financial officer Jon Moeller on the company’s earnings call Tuesday. “We’re going to annualize, coming up here in the not-too-distant future, the sku cuts that we made in the U.S., we annualize those in the back half. And we’re just in the middle of redoing our entire counter system in China…that includes some reductions in the number of counters to be more relevant in the channels that we want consumers shopping for Olay in, and to have better overall shopping and consumer experience. So, I expect that those two items, the sku reduction in the U.S. and a counter rationalization or redesign in China, will continue to put some pressure on Olay, call it through the balance of the fiscal [year].”
In addition to continuing to work on Olay, P&G said it sees hair care and men’s grooming in the U.S. as two potential areas for expansion.
“Hair care and baby care, two of our largest categories, were both up 2 percent but below the rates of market growth in these categories,” Moeller said. “These businesses, along with the grooming business in the U.S., represent notable opportunities for further top line acceleration.”
In grooming, P&G grew organic sales by 3 percent during its past two quarters, Moeller said. “There [are] opportunities as we increase our relevance from a relevance standpoint…as we increase innovation across each of the tiers of the business, whether that is disposables, midprice systems like Mach3 or at the high-end.
In hair, Pantene and Head & Shoulders were both up midsingle digits, but other, smaller brands are still a challenge, according to Moeller. “We have some issues…with some of our smaller brands, like Herbal Essences, for example, and we have a whole new program…coming to market in the second half of the year,” he said.
Moeller also singled out China as a growth driver, saying that grooming was up 17 percent for the quarter there and that the entire personal-care business, driven in part by SK-II, was up 10 percent.
For its first fiscal quarter, P&G reported $2.76 billion in net earnings for the quarter, a 5 percent increase from the prior year. Net sales remained constant, at $16.5 billion. Diluted net earnings per share were 96 cents, up 5 percent, and core earning per share was $1.03, 5 cents above analyst consensus of 98 cents.
Net beauty sales were down 1 percent, but organic beauty sales were up 3 percent for the quarter. P&G said that SK-II helped drive growth in the skin and personal-care segment, while Head & Shoulders and Pantene both posted midsingle-digit organic sales growth, offset by growth in smaller brands.
P&G is projecting 2 percent organic sales growth for 2017. Headwinds from foreign currency exchange rates and minor brand divestitures are expected to drop sales growth by about 1 percent. Core EPS is expected to be in the midsingle digits, compared with fiscal 2016 core EPS of $3.67. P&G’s sale of 41 beauty brands to Coty Inc. is expected to have a positive impact on EPS, according to the company.
Asked by a William Blair analyst about direct-to-consumer sales and sustainability, and whether P&G needed to accelerate its focus on those internally or via M&A, Moeller said that the company is “going to look at all [factors] that enable us to improve our sustainability.” He continued, “I don’t think anything is required from an acquisition standpoint, but I also don’t want you to think that we’re not very open-minded in our pursuit of this objective, because we are.”


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One of the region’s leading names in seafood has been nominated in the Fishmonger Of The Year category in the Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2015.
Based on Kings Road in Harrogate, Ramus Seafood Emporium is now hoping to one better.
Jonathan Batchelor, managing director of Ramus, said: “We’re delighted. The nomination shows that customers have really responded to the quality and breadth of our new Wild Catch range and the seasonal recipes in our cookbook FORTY, which we published to celebrate our 40th anniversary last year.”
Established by Chris and Liz Ramus in 1974, the renowned shop and seafood supplier opened the doors of its first shop on Otley Road, Harrogate in 1975.
With its reputation building and Harrogate clamouring for Ramus’s fresh fish and lobster, the company moved to new premises on Kings Road in 1983.
Able to supply both its loyal Harrogate customers, as well as many of the finest restaurants and professional kitchens, Ramus’s reputation continued to grow beyond the town and across the whole of Yorkshire.
In 1999 Ramus moved from a partnership to a limited company, with directors Jonathan Batchelor and Tony Rushton taking a share of the company and securing its future.
Ramus Seafood Emporium was one of 12 category winners and 23 commended following a day’s intensive judging by leading speciality retailers and key industry figures - along with mystery visits conducted throughout December by Nigel Barden and Elaine Lemm.
The regional champions will be announced next month with the overall winner finally revealed at the Farm Shop & Deli Show on Monday, April 20 at Birmingham’s NEC.
For more information about Ramus Seafood Emporium, visit www.ramus.co.uk