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A Century And A Half Of Falling Commodities Prices
April 23, 1999
Countries which produce commodities have watched in alarm as prices have plummeted recently. But that trend has a long history, according to figures developed by The Economist.
That venerable magazine first published its commodity price index in 1864 -- with figures stretching back to 1845. The magazine's editors think it is probably the world's first regularly published price index.
How have industrial commodities prices trended in the past 150- odd years?
- They have fallen by 80 percent since 1845 -- to a record low.
- Since its most recent high in 1995, the index has fallen by more than 40 percent in dollar terms.
The long decline in prices is the result of two factors:
- A shift in economic output from "heavy metal-bashing industries" to services and information technology means that any given increase in gross domestic product produces a smaller increase in demand for raw materials.
- Technological advances have increased the supply of commodities -- through higher rates of mineral extraction and greater crop yields -- while reducing demand, as plastic has replaced metal or fiber optics have replaced copper wire.
Experts predict that raw materials prices are likely to pick up when the world economy revives -- but not before next year. Over the long term, however, there is little reason to expect prices to reverse their historic declines.
Source: "A Raw Deal for Commodities," The Economist, April 17, 1999.
Browse more articles on Economic Issues


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Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform (UWP) idea is about tying all products across one single platform, allowing them to work in unison together for apps, services, and games. The relationship between Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile is important for UWP’s success, but Microsoft will also tie in the Xbox One and HoloLens into the UWP ethos.
We have already seen the company increasing the Universal Windows capabilities of its console and now a Redditor has managed to get UWP apps functioning on his Xbox One.
The Xbox One has been getting a number of additions in recent months to prepare it for the Anniversary Update that will bring UWP integration across all Windows 10 form factors. The console became a Windows device last November, while PC gaming via Xbox One streaming was introduced earlier in the year.
Just yesterday we wrote about Microsoft’s potential end goal of turning every PC into an Xbox and every Xbox into a PC. The latter will start taking shape next month when the Anniversary Update drops and introduces the Windows Store to the Xbox One. The Windows Store running means that regular Windows 10 applications will run on the console.
While the official roll out of that feature is expected next month, Redditor p4n0pt1c0n has found that his latest preview builds of Xbox One and Windows 10 PC allowed him to install some apps on the console.
The latest Xbox One update was rolled out a couple of days ago and p4n0pt1c0n says that when he installed some apps on his Windows 10 PC (running the latest preview build), he got a notification on the Xbox One saying the app was ready.
Exciting, but it is worth noting that opening the app did not work as it just stuck on to the loading screen, so it seems Microsoft has baked the feature template into latest previews, but not functionality.
“So I’ve just installed an app called CC Player Pro on my laptop (wanted to try it cause it is currently free as a part of MyAppFree deal), my xboxone was on at the time and I got a popup saying the app is ready… the app won’t run (it is getting stuck on loading screen), but clearly MS is working on bringing UWP apps to the new environment. I’ll try to take some screenshots later.”
As promised, he did return with screenshots, which you can see through this article.

domain: news


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According to a new report published by MarkWide Research, titled, “Black Tea Market – Tradition and Taste Redefined,” the global black tea market is set to experience sustained growth, driven by the enduring popularity of black tea as a beverage with rich flavor profiles and potential health benefits. The report forecasts a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.8% for the black tea market from 2023 to 2030.
Black tea has maintained its status as a beloved beverage across cultures, with its distinct taste and potential health-promoting properties. The global trend of seeking natural and functional beverages has contributed to the sustained demand for black tea, which offers a range of flavors and blends that cater to diverse consumer preferences.
The report highlights the role of black tea in promoting wellness and its potential antioxidant properties. The presence of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds in black tea has been associated with various health benefits, including heart health, cognitive function, and immune support. As consumers prioritize healthy lifestyles, the demand for beverages that offer both taste and potential health advantages has increased.
The report provides insights into the regional trends of the black tea market. Asia-Pacific is expected to lead the market growth, owing to the strong tea-drinking traditions in countries like China and India. The Middle East and Africa region is also anticipated to contribute to the market expansion, as tea is an integral part of cultural and social practices in the region.
North America and Europe are projected to exhibit steady growth as consumers in these regions continue to explore diverse tea varieties and blends. The growing trend of tea connoisseurship and the popularity of specialty tea shops are driving the demand for high-quality black tea products.
Key manufacturers in the black tea market are focusing on sustainable sourcing and innovative packaging to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Collaboration with tea growers and farmers is helping companies ensure the quality and authenticity of their black tea offerings.
In conclusion, the black tea market is poised for sustained growth as consumers continue to appreciate the rich flavors and potential health benefits of this timeless beverage. With its cultural significance and versatility, black tea is set to remain a staple in global beverage consumption.
About MarkWide Research: MarkWide Research is a leading market research firm dedicated to providing accurate and comprehensive insights into various industries. With a team of experienced analysts and a commitment to delivering high-quality market intelligence, MarkWide Research assists businesses and organizations in making informed decisions based on the latest industry trends and data.


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EA’s Frank Gibeau is such a tease.
EA has announced new social features to Origin including achievements and challenges with a new UI.
EA is suing Zynga for ripping off The Sims Social and infringing the copyright of the The Sims IP with The Ville.
EA’s press conference fell a little flat compared to the rest (although we loved the Sim City presentations!) with its emphasis on sequels rather than fresh IPs, but that said we have to admit that these sequels look awesome nonetheless.


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AMD's A620 motherboards, which start at $85, pave the way for budget-confined consumers to hop on the Ryzen 7000 train. While A620 is affordable, the chipset does come with certain compromises, such as the lack of processor overclocking. However, new evidence shows that the feature may be partially present on certain A620 motherboards.
Historically, AMD has never allowed processor overclocking on A-series chipsets. As a result, entry-level motherboards with A-series chipsets come with very humble power delivery subsystems and aren't suitable for overclocking missions. But, this is tech we're talking about, and there always seems to be a workaround. For instance, one particular A520 motherboard unofficially supported overclocking through BCLK adjustments. In addition, according to a report from MyDrivers, Asus' Prime A620M-A motherboard has processor overclocking to a certain extent.
The motherboard doesn't offer fully unlocked manual overclocking. Instead, Asus incorporated AMD's PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive) with the Prime A620M-A, a feature that shouldn't be present. PBO, which is entirely automatic, enables Ryzen processors to operate beyond their stock specifications. Whether PBO kicks in depends on various parameters, such as the processor's temperature, the type of workload, or the number of currently active cores. According to a screenshot, a Ryzen 9 7900 showed 9% higher performance in Cinebench 23 after reportedly activating PBO on the Asus Prime A620M-A.
MyDrivers also discovered that Asus's TUF Gaming A620M-Plus motherboard could support PCIe 5.0 on the primary M.2 slot. An HWiNFO64 screenshot seemingly shows that the M.2 slot can do PCIe 5.0 x4 speeds at 32 GT/s. However, the Chinese publication didn't provide any benchmarks to corroborate the findings, so throw some salt on the information until we get some hard proof.
The motherboard market is competitive, with vendors always look to one-up their competition by adding extra features. Usually, manufacturers aren't shy to promote the features since they ultimately add value to their products. However, sometimes, the vendors prefer to keep a tight lip, especially when the features aren't officially in spec. For example, Gigabyte didn't announced that its $78 A520M H motherboard supported BCLK overclocking. Likewise, Asus doesn't gloat about the brand's A620 motherboards allegedly arriving with PBO or PCIe 5.0 support, either. Rather, the information surfaced from an external source.
Over the years, we've seen AMD and Intel motherboards that shouldn't support processor overclocking come with some overclocking. Sometimes the chipmaker turns a blind eye, but they shut the feature down on other occasions with a simple firmware update. There are probably other A620 motherboards on the market that bring PBO support — we just don't know about them yet.
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text: Informative article from Kate Bernot (Ask Kate About Beer), columnist at The Takeout, on the recycling viability of beer cans with stick-on vinyl or shrink-wrapped labels. It goes pretty deep into the recycling processes and sustainability practices various breweries. Good news if you care about the environment is that there are so few of these cans out there that it’s probably viable for now. If more and more breweries start using them, though, it could become a problem. Best bet: peel or cut the label off if possible, before throwing that can in the recycling bin.


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Masan, one of the biggest Vietnamese retail companies, is expanding its foray into pharmacy retailing with the launch of a new chain called Dr Win.
At the end of March, Masan founded Winphar Corporation, which later adopted the name Dr Win. Masan previously entered the pharmacy category through the purchase of local chain Phano Pharmacy last year.
Masan introduced a retail model called CV Life (Convenience Life), which integrates services like pharmacies, banks, F&B outlets, telecommunication services and supermarkets. This model is a component of Masan’s Point of Life strategy and represents the retail giant’s entry into the pharmaceutical sector.
The pharmaceutical industry is perhaps the potential pie for Vietnamese giant retailers, as tough economic times force consumers to cut back on unnecessary spending and the severe impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. Moreover, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical market is mostly dominated by small and local pharmacies.
There are three significant pharmacy chains operating in Vietnam: Pharmacity, Long Chau (owned by FPT Retail), and An Khang (owned by Mobile World). Long Chau and An Khang have 707 and 520 stores nationwide respectively, while Pharmacity is the largest with 1126 pharmacies.
Mobile World recently closed a number of underperforming Bach Hoa Xanh grocery stores to concentrate on expanding An Khang, while Pharmacity plans to open 5000 pharmacies by 2025. FPT Retail also aims to open more Long Chau stores, as part of its expansion plan.


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Mobile survey platform VoxApp has raised angel funding from a group of Indian angel investors and some US based angels. VoxApp enable brands and research companies to conduct consumer feedback studies such as brand awareness and ad recall studies using the mobile phone.
The funding was raised from investors including Blume Ventures, Narayanan Shadagopan (MD, Pragati India Fund), Palaash Ventures, Sachin Bhatia (entrepreneur, co-founder – MakeMyTrip), US based investors Ramesh Haridas (CEO, Parakweet, NY), Vikas Taneja (MD, BCG Boston) and is backed by Sidharth Rao, CEO, Webchutney.
The startup was founded in 2012 by Madhu Sudhan, formerly Principal at Pragati India Fund with co-founders who have worked in Slideshare and SAP Labs. The company, head-quartered in New Delhi, has completed the beta launch of its enterprise product and is currently in the process of deploying it.
The startup said that it will use the newly raised funds for product development.
Blume ventures along with Mumbai Angels and Chennai Angels had recently invested in online personal care and beauty product portal Purplle, through a Series A funding.


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DON'T SHARE NUISANCE.
Gold prices at a new high of Rs 24,648
At the domestic spot markets, gold also touched a record high of Rs 23,690 per 10 grams on Tuesday.
New Delhi: Riding high on a firming trend overseas, gold futures for delivery in February next year reached a record high of Rs 24,648 per 10 grams ton Wednesday. In addition, strong demand at the domestic spot markets, where the precious metal also touched a record high of Rs 23,690 per 10 grams in Tuesday's trade in the national capital, also helped gold helped to to scale new high at futures trade.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for delivery in February next year, climbed Rs 228, or 0.93 per cent, to record level of Rs 24,648 per 10 grams, with a business turnover of 12 lots.
Similarly, the metal for delivery in October also shot up by Rs 242, or over 1 per cent, to reach a record high of Rs 24,048 per 10 grams, with a business volume of 3,903 lots.
The precious metal for delivery in current month August gained Rs 238, or 1.01 per cent, to Rs 23,790 per 10 grams, with a trade turnover of 74 lots.
Market experts said a firming trend overseas, where the metal soared to an all-time-high as concerns that slowing global economic growth may be boosting demand for the metal as a protection of wealth.
They said a firming trend on the domestic markets on the back of marriage season also supported the upside in gold prices at futures trade.
Meanwhile, gold rose by $ 39.80, or 2.46 per cent to $ 1,660.10 an ounce in Tuesday's trade at New York.
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Xiaomi 11T Pro: Indian launch date revealed for smartphone billed as 'The Hyperphone'
Xiaomi has decided to bring the 11T Pro to India, four months after its global launch. Incidentally, the first sighting of an Indian version of the Xiaomi 11T Pro appeared a few months ago, courtesy of the Google Play Console. The leak did not disclose when the device would arrive, though.
Xiaomi has now clarified that it will release the 11T Pro in India on January 19, less than two weeks after the debut of the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge. For reference, the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge and the Xiaomi 11T Pro share a few features, including a Samsung ISOCELL HM2 primary camera and 120 W wired charging. However, the Xiaomi 11T Pro has a 500 mAh larger battery than the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge and a superior telephoto macro camera.
Additionally, the Xiaomi 11T Pro utilises a Snapdragon 888 SoC, rather than the Dimensity 920 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus. Moreover, the Xiaomi 11T Pro will arrive in India with a new colour option, Celestial Magic. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has not confirmed how much the Xiaomi 11T Pro will cost in India. The company will sell the device directly and through Amazon, among other retailers.


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Banks are going to backdate the levying of the Intermediate Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) on foreign currency transactions that were done from 1 August 2020. IMTT, otherwise known as the 2% Tax, for forex transactions was announced in July but government had not started to collect the tax.
However, a recently gazetted Finance Act No.8 of 2020 advised that banks will be “deducting IMTT in retrospect, from all foreign currency transactions which qualify for IMTT with effect from 20 August 2020” according to NMB.
The tax-free threshold is for transactions of up to USD$5 whilst the maximum IMTT payable for forex transactions is USD$2000 for forex transactions exceeding USD$100 000.
It’s not the first time government has charged the 2% tax in retrospect. Just two weeks ago we saw EcoCash notifying its then Agents that government will start to collect tax on Agent to Agent transactions which were done l from 1 October 2018 to 1 June 20.


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Samsung has launched a 256GB microSD card -- the highest capacity in the market -- made out of 3D V-NAND that will allow consumers to store more UHD videos on their smartphones.
The 256GB EVO Plus MicroSD Card comes after the South Korean tech giant's 128GB PRO Plus MicroSD Card just six months ago.
The microSD card boasts a reading speed of 95MBs and write speed of 90MBs and will allow premium smartphones and tablets as well as drones and action cams to record and store more 4K UHD videos, the firm said.
The storage space allows for recording of a 12-hour 4K (3840x2160) video without stopping and is optimized for graphic-intense videos such as VR, the company said.
The card is IEC60529, IPX7 certified waterproof and is made to withstand x-rays and magnetic fields, Samsung said.
Sales will began in 50 countries sequentially starting with the US, China, Japan, and Germany with a limited 10-year warranty at a price of $249.99.
The card is made of Samsung's 3rd generation V-NAND that stacks cells in 48 layers.
Despite the general market slump, Samsung's semiconductor division contributed hefty profits for the first quarter of the year.
Samsung also successfully increased shipment to mobile from conventional PCs, faster than rivals SK Hynix and Micron, and has launched premium, high-memory products such as 256GB UFS in NANDs and an 18-nanometer DRAM.


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The Open Charge Alliance, a global consortium of public and private electric vehicle infrastructure leaders that promotes electric vehicle charging network interoperability, has launched its charter and issued a call for new international members.
ABB, Eaton, ESB, E-laad, Greenlots and other EV industry firms are current OCA members. The body previously operated under the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) banner. After generating what it calls “broad industry consensus” behind that protocol, the OCA now hopes to to promote and enable open, flexible electric vehicle charging networks for the next wave of EV adoption worldwide.
The OCPP has been operating for several years and is currently the accepted protocol in 50 countries and for more than 10,000 stations, the OCA says.
The biggest challenge facing EV adoption is no longer related to “range anxiety,” but rather stems from limitations in access to the public charging stations that line highways, streets and communities, the OCA says.
Many of these early stations are accessible only via proprietary, subscription-based networks. These closed networks generate frustration for EV drivers, who need and expect the same accessibility that they enjoy at the gasoline pump. That driver frustration translates to risk for charging station owners, who fear the financial burden of stranded assets if they are bound to proprietary EV networks, the OCA says. The back-to-back bankruptcies of Ecotality and Better Place have exacerbated these fears.
There is, however, a better way, according to the OCA. In many European countries like the Netherlands, EV drivers have use of all public charging stations. It is in the interest of the entire EV industry — from site host to drivers — to have the same easy access across all borders, according to the group.
The OCA will release the next version of OCPP in the coming weeks. OCPP v2.0 includes a more efficient, modern transport, with new messages supporting pricing, smart charging, and charging station health and maintenance, including device event notification and statistical reports. The OCA is currently developing a process for OCPP v2.0 compliancy and interoperability, in parallel with the last phase of protocol specification.


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Social Saturday 2017: shopping for social impact
Social Saturday 2017 will take place on 14 October, challenging consumers across the UK to support social enterprise by investing in products with a social impact.
The nation-wide campaign will encourage consumers, local authorities, and businesses to celebrate the impact of social enterprises, whilst promoting their various products and services.
“This year we’re asking consumers to swap their purchases for social enterprise ones,” said Peter Holbrook, CEO of SEUK. “The best way to support social enterprises is to buy from them – be that coffee, socks, sofas, chocolates, jewellery, or even changing where you get your bike fixed.”
Last year’s Social Saturday involved over 60 events across the UK, from Newcastle, Scarborough, and Norwich, to London, Bristol, and Oxford. Events ranged from woodland walks and community fun fairs to screen printing workshops, social enterprise lunches, and businesses networking sessions.
The campaign engages politicians alongside consumers. Last year, 17 MPs from across political parties visited social enterprises around the UK, including Caroline Lucas (Co-Leader of the Green Party), Ed Vaizey (Conservative MP for Didcot and Wantage), and Cat Smith (Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood).
Speaking at the launch to this year’s campaign, actor and SEUK patron Michael Sheen said: “We have a choice about where we spend our money and how that money gets used. We can choose to support social enterprises which make a difference on issues that matter to us.”
In 2016 Sheen attracted publicity supporting SEUK’s pop-up stall in London’s Borough Market. This year, he marked the launch of Social Saturday with a short video showing how everyday items (like socks) can deliver social impact.
Steve Murrells, Co-op Group CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Social Saturday – it’s a great way to let people know there’s a different way of doing business that meets the needs and expectations of consumers.”
You can find out more about Social Saturday 2017 here: socialsaturday.org.uk
Photo credit: Alex de Haas


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Imports fell nearly $1 billion in August 2020, leading to the largest annual trade surplus since 2014, Stats NZ said today.
The $1.3 billion annual goods trade surplus for the August 2020 year reflected a rise in exports and a fall in imports over the past months.
“The recent falls in imports and growth in exports resulted in an annual trade surplus not seen since the strong 2013/14 dairy export season, when product prices were high,” senior insights analyst Nicholas Cox said.
Exports rise in August
Higher exports of kiwifruit and aircraft helped boost the value of total goods exports by $349 million (8.6 percent) from August 2019 to reach $4.4 billion in August 2020.
Several of New Zealand’s main export commodity groups were up in value in August 2020 compared with August 2019.
Fruit rose $104 million (28 percent) to $470 million, led by gold kiwifruit (up $80 million or 48 percent). The rise was quantity-led, but the average unit value also rose, up 8.3 percent.
Exports of gold kiwifruit in the 2020 export season to date (March-August) were 29 percent higher in value and 18 percent higher in quantity than in the 2019 season. Exports of green kiwifruit were also up (by 7.1 percent in value and 3.2 percent in quantity).
“The increase in the value of kiwifruit exports in 2020 resulted from strong international demand, higher prices, and higher harvested volumes, particularly of gold kiwifruit,” Mr Cox said.
“The volumes exported are higher than in previous years, despite concerns earlier in the year of a potential shortage of labour during the harvest season in April and May.”
Dairy products were up $55 million (10 percent), and wine was up $30 million (18 percent).
The largest rise in total goods exports in August 2020 was for aircraft and parts, up $205 million.
“In August 2020, aircraft were sent to the United States for long-term storage as New Zealand’s border closure restricts international travel,” Mr Cox said.
Other contributors to the rise in exports in August 2020 were exports of live animals (up $77 million), mainly due to large shipments of cattle headed for China.
These rises were partly offset by falls in crude oil (down $39 million), fish (down $36 million), and mechanical machinery and equipment (down $22 million).
Monthly trade balance
The monthly trade balance in August 2020 was a deficit of $353 million. The average deficit in the previous five August months was $1.3 billion.


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If you didn’t know, Mulberry’s in a pickle. The luxury handbag maker had a dismal year, crowned by a 17% fall in revenues for the six months to September 30th, to £64.7m. Of course, that shouldn’t come as a surprise, because Mulberry gave away a sneaky spoiler seven weeks ago in an effort to sweeten today’s headlines (look up to see how that worked out for them).
Mulberry’s woes stem from former boss Bruno Guillon’s pursuit of the mid-market, which left middle England aghast and reaching for her John Lewis silk handkerchief and assorted smelling salts. The handbag maker’s base fell through, and UK retail sales plunged 9%.
There are signs of an improvement, however. Mulberry chairman Godfrey Davis said revenues were up 8% on last year in the last nine weeks (he kept the figures to himself), with online sales up 18%.


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THE EUROZONE is set to start the new year the way it ended the old: the economy is strong but inflation is weak.
The region's fastest growth in a decade will be confirmed this week in a burst of data that should also show economic confidence at the highest since the


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GMC will unveil its mid-size Canyon pickup at the Detroit auto show this week – a bigger, stronger, more sharply styled successor to the under-achieving Canyon that faded away two years ago.
In fact, some analysts think that the 2015 Canyon along with its GM stablemate, the 2915 Chevrolet Colorado, could revive the sluggish mid-size truck segment.
The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier dominate the segment, which has been weakened by full-size pickups that don’t cost much more than the Tacoma and Frontier, can do more and get only marginally worse gas mileage.
Like the Colorado, the Canyon has the aggressive stance and styling of a full-size pickup, and will be available with a standard 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four or a 3.6-liter V-6 with 302 horsepower.
In 2016, the truck gets an optional 2.8-liter four-cylinder Duramax diesel engine.
Most models will come standard with six-speed automatics. A six-speed manual will be available in the base two-wheel-drive version of the truck with the 2.5-liter engine.
The Canyon will arrive at dealerships later this year in extended-cab and crew-cab models, as well as a crew cab with a longer six-foot bed.
It also can be ordered with two- or four-wheel drive and will have a maximum towing capacity of 6,700 pounds.
GMC says the Canyon will have the most horsepower in the segment and best towing capability -- a claim shared by the mechanically identical Chevy Colorado.
“Not everyone needs full-size capability, but they also deserve strength and true-truck attributes that come in larger models,” said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC marketing.
Like the larger Sierra, the Canyon will have triple-sealed doors for better aerodynamics and less cabin noise, active grille shutters and an aluminum hood.
In press releases prior to the show, GMC did not disclose pricing or estimated fuel economy for the Canyon.
It will weigh between 3,900 and 4,300 pounds, according to GMC.


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With the sudden pandemic outbreak in the US that led to stay-at-home orders and travel limitations, hotel stays declined says Maxwell Drever. By 2020 several hotel rooms remained empty. In the meantime, several communities all over the country have witnessed a lack of housing. And the process of renting has become highly steep.
Maxwell Drever says that low-earning households in most states usually spend over 30% of their earnings on rent. And in 2020, about 23% of the multifamily rental units had to rent more than $2,000 compared to 12% in the year 2017. Developing any new affordable workforce housing can result in specific challenges and complications. It’s because materials, land, and labor were high-priced before the pandemic outbreak. It is the reason why a few of the creative developers are considering the hotels. It seems to be a perfect match in the real estate domain.
Hotels faced ample challenges during the COVID-19 outbreak
The hotel industry got more affected by the pandemic than the retail real estate sector. According to the latest news reports, the hotel industry had witnessed a terrible year in 2020, the led to substantial job losses, low occupancy as well as hotel closers all over the globe. Naturally, it had massively affected the business. Even though the occupancy rate increased slightly as the year passed by, close to 44% of the hotels experienced occupancy in 2020, which was much below the 2019 statistics. And right after April 2020, close to 25% of the hotel rooms remained occupied. The experts anticipated that hotel occupancy might go up to 53% in 2021, but that will also be lesser than the pre-pandemic levels. As a whole, the hotel industry is anticipated to recover by 2024.
There are a few full-service hotels that start their break-even point at 50% occupancy, it doesn’t result in mortgage debt service expenses. Naturally, the majority of hotels are still beneath the break-even level.
The act of transforming distressed hotels into affordable workforce housing
Today, several developers see a potential channel of growth even in such a devastating scenario. And these buyers are actively trying to make the best of the crisis faced by the hospitality industry by capturing the foreclosed and struggling properties at a bargain price Maxwell Drever. These developers also intend to profit from the increasing demand for cheap housing from those households compelled to downsize because of the recession. The small but increased percentage of hotel conversions is a sign of the pandemic’s suffering on the hotel industry. Several properties got shut down or are witnessing massive losses because of a decline in travel.
Finally, Maxwell Drever says that converting hotels into affordable apartments is a wise decision. It is an intelligent move in a market scenario. Where the cost of studios in brand-new buildings has exceeded $1,000 every month. And all hotel rooms that got converted into new studio. Apartments today are competing by providing a discount of 20% on the rent. It allows a housing space for the people who are in need in this situation.


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One of the latest new features for YouTube Premium subscribers is a new 1080p tier with a better bitrate, and Google is now testing that feature with some users on Android and Google TV.
Back in February, YouTube was spotted testing a new “1080p Premium” tier that was exclusive to YouTube Premium subscribers. At the time, it was exclusive to iPhone and Apple TV. In April, Google officially announced the feature, explaining that it delivered 1080p content at a higher bitrate and that, yes, it was exclusive to Apple devices, but it would be coming to Android later on.
Now, it seems Google is further testing support.
Through the Android TV OS app for YouTube, the 1080p Premium tier was found to be live for one user on Reddit. The app, which would work on both Google TV and Android TV devices, shows “1080p Premium” alongside the standard 1080p option with the brief explanation that it brings an “enhanced bitrate.” Switching to that tier prompts users to upgrade to YouTube Premium if they haven’t already.
Beyond that, at least one user on Twitter saw 1080p Premium appear on their Motorola smartphone through the official Android app.
Many still falsely believe that this new 1080p tier as YouTube locking the quality behind a paywall, but that’s simply not true. Rather than making existing quality paid, this is an entirely new quality tier for YouTube that is exclusive to Premium members. The existing 1080p tier is unchanged, and still free for everyone.
Notably, it seems that YouTube has widely rolled out 1080p Premium over the past several days for iOS users and those on the web.
More on YouTube:
- Big YouTube Music web redesign takes after desktop YouTube
- YouTube Shorts might be coming to YouTube Music with ‘Samples’ tab
- YouTube drastically lowers requirements for video monetization
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Most of the nation's airlines are reporting second quarter profits this week, but in one respect the best report of all comes from an airline you never fly.
United Parcel Service, the largest package-shipper in the air, reported Thursday an $845 million profit, up 90% from the second quarter last year, on revenue of $12 billion, up 13% from year-ago levels.
UPS is getting most of its new business from the Asia-Pacific region but U.S. shipments are up, too. CEO Scott Davis says consumer shipments are up but it's business shipping that's driving the numbers.
The major passenger airlines are also hauling more air freight:
- Delta, up 22%.
- American, up 28%.
- United, up 51%.
- Continental, up 35%.
- US Airways, up 82%.
Most of these airlines are currently logging cargo sales measured in hundreds of million of dollars.


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The Viet Nam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) has assured HCM City it will ensure sufficient supply of rice to keep its prices stable.
Truong Thanh Phong, general director of Vinafood 2, said the company would build one more warehouse to add to the one in Binh Chanh District which has a capacity of 4,000-5,000 tonnes.
It also has a warehouse each in Long An and Tien Giang Provinces that will supply rice to the City in an emergency.
The HCM City Food Company (Foodcosa), a member of Vinafood 2, said the company would buy rice from the winter-spring crop to ensure adequate supply and keep prices stable during the rest of the year.
Huynh Cong Thanh, director of Foodcosa, said this year the company would join the City’s price-stabilisation programme by supplying 2,500 tonnes of normal rice and 500 tonnes of fragrant rice.
He suggested that rice sold under the programme should be 10 per cent lower than the market price.
Phong urged authorities to allow Vinafood 2 to open selling points, especially in Districts 7, 9, 12, Thu Duc, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Binh Chanh, and Can Gio.
Foodcosa hoped City authorities would allow and create favourable conditions for it to build more warehouses in Cu Chi and Can Gio.
The People’s Committee said outlets selling rice under the programme should be quickly opened in industrial parks and export processing zones where a large number of workers live.
Nguyen Thi Hong, vice chairwoman of the People’s Committee, called on companies that had joined the programme to work together closely to distribute products.
The City was encouraging them to expand their networks, especially in remote areas like Can Gio, she said.
Moreover, they should supply rice directly to kitchens contracted to companies there, she added.
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The majority of the coverage around fake news has focused on its political influence, but this has begun to seep over into the corporate world. In the lead-up to the US presidential election, Trump supporters called for a boycott on Pepsi products over a quote its CEO never actually made. Twitter uses claimed Indra Nooyi, CEO of the soft drinks manufacturer since 2006, told Trump fans to “take their business elsewhere.”
In order to uncover more about the potential damage fake news can cause, we analysed the response to the Pepsi incident to understand: what effect does fake news have on corporate reputation? Can fake news impact on a company’s stock price? And how should media monitoring and analysis companies handle fake news?
What effect does fake news have on corporate reputation?
As this specific fake news story was very US-centric, we can analyse the immediate impact it had in Pepsi’s home market. During Q4 2016, Pepsi’s average sentiment score was slightly above neutral (5.5*), indicating that the company was generally perceived positively in this market.
However, on 13 November The Last Refuge published a widely shared piece stating that Pepsi’s CEO had told Trump supporters to “take their business elsewhere”. The timing of these reports directly correlate with a sharp dip in public sentiment towards Pepsi. This trough represents a 35 per cent fall below the average US sentiment score during Q4 and shows it was significantly ahead as the single most damaging incident for Pepsi during this period. This shows there was a clear impact on Pepsi’s domestic reputation, but how did the issue filter through to the company’s international reputation? If we extend the timeframe to look at Pepsi’s global sentiment trend across the full year, it is clear that despite the fake news incident only relating to a political issue in one country, it had such a significant impact that it was still the most negatively impactful event for the company throughout 2016. To put this into context, the second worst dip in sentiment was on April 18, when Pepsi announced their sales had fallen for the sixth straight quarter, which might be expected to draw more widespread concern and negative coverage. Due to the geographically targeted nature of the fake news incident, the global negativity on November 13 was softer compared to the impact in the US alone. However, the fake news related lowest point in Pepsi’s year was still 19.5 per cent below the company average. This shows that not only can fake news affect reputation; it can actually be the biggest single driver of negativity towards a company.
Daily US sentiment score for Pepsi Q4 2016


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PATA advances ‘Next Gen’ agenda to India
The Pacific Asia Travel Associaiton (PATA) is looking to explore opportunities for closer cooperation in line with PATA Next Gen principles in India. Last week, PATA’s Chairman, Joao Manuel Costa Antunes held a dialogue with India Minister for Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai and Rajen Habib Khwaja, Secretary of Ministry of Tourism in India.
“Now with more than 200 members from all sectors of the travel and tourism industry, it has successfully established itself as a leader, advocate and a catalyst for the responsible development of the Indian travel and tourism industry,” said Antunes. He further added that, it should be a priority in India and throughout PATA to cultivate new blood to sustain the industry and embrace Next Gen initiatives.
The Executive Committee of PATA India organised an event to honor the Chairman at the Le Meridien, New Delhi. India’s Secretary of Tourism, Rajen Habib Khwaja who is also the Chairman for PATA India chapter along with Vice Chairman Vikram Madhok welcomed Antunes to India at the dinner.


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See how long it took to create Gabrielle Union’s 2021 Met Gala Dress
Gabrielle Union At the Met Gala 2021 it caused a sensation – and only for a low price of a breathtaking 1,400 hours to achieve its optical perfection.
In an interview with 2021 Met Gala: Live From E! On Monday September 13th, the actress spoke exclusively about the work behind her incredibly stunning look created by the designer Iris van Herpen.
“We’ve been working on it since April,” Gabrielle told E! News. And while the star added that it took “1,400 man hours” to assemble, the star also explained what the dress meant to her, and this year’s Met Gala theme was about the history of American fashion.
“It’s about change,” she said. “What is needed in America, what is needed in fashion, and with every step this dress changes and you see different colors. You see different textures and that’s what it should be about.”
The dress designer’s team also broke down the meticulously beautiful details behind the construction of the ensemble in an Instagram post showing the actress in motion on Sept. 13.


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You may recognize me from the information I send out in my effort to keep you informed about what is happening in the local real estate market. I just wanted to take a moment and let you know I value you and your good will. Check out the following report:
Real Estate Market Update for Greater Hamilton & Burlington June 10th, 2019
Home sales are up and so are the prices according to the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) MLS® statistics:
Summarized from the foregoing chart, the average sale price for residential properties in the Greater Hamilton real estate market increased by 0.9% to $593,702 in May 2019 from May 2018.
This market growth comes after a balancing-out year in 2018 that followed heightened market activity and a huge spike in real estate prices in 2016-17. The current increase of 0.9% is a return to average growth rates.
May statistics report 1,344 sales of residential properties located in Hamilton, Burlington, Haldimand and Niagara. That’s a 10.9% increase in sales from May 2018, a 9.6% increase over April 2019, and a whopping 30.2% increase over March 2019.
In Hamilton, the average sale price in May 2019 was $546,779 with 1,430 new listings and an average of 25.7 days on the market. The highest average May 2019 sale price was in Flamborough at $930,977 and the lowest was in Dunnville at $395,343.
Burlington average sale prices declined to $733,410 in May 2019 compared to $774,758 in May 2018.
I have 3 “takeaways” from the RAHB statistics.
First, the double digit increase in the number of home sales this 2019 Spring over 2018 indicates that we are in the midst of a very busy real estate market.
Second takeaway is that Burlington sale prices have levelled off.
Third takeaway is that the supply of homes is keeping up with demand. While prices have increased slightly over last year, buyers needn’t worry that prices will soar in the near future.
Your business is important to me. Even if you are not planning to buy or sell a home right now, I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have about your home, real estate or the community. To set up a meeting or just to ask a question, I can be reached at 905.320.8273.
Thank you for your time.
Brian Lewis, Broker, Sutton Group About Town Realty Inc., Brokerage. Office 905.681.7900 or email Blewis@Sutton.com


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MG will stop UK productionFri, 23, Sep 2016
MG will stop making cars in the UK this year after its owner, SAIC Motor, decided to move final assembly of the MG3 from Longbridge, central England, to China. The company estimates 25 jobs will be lost.
Aston Martin loses product development exec to DysonThu, 22, Sep 2016
Aston Martin's former product development director has moved to Dyson, adding substance to reports that the consumer electronics maker is developing an electric car. Ian Minards started as Dyson's global product development director this month.
VW faces tougher U.K. scrutiny as lawmakers call for actionThu, 01, Sep 2016
The U.K. must set strict timelines for VW to recall rigged diesel vehicles and compensate their owners, a parliamentary committee said. VW is only just beginning to recall cars in the U.K. where about 1.1 million vehicles were found to contain "cheat" software.


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Guatemala coffee sales dip 4 percent in crop cycle
Guatemala's coffee exports fell by 4 percent between October and May in the current crop cycle compared with a year earlier, said the nation's coffee association, Anacafé.
Sales in the period came to 2.2 million 60-kilo bags, down from 2.3 million a year earlier.
The biggest drop came in May, with a year-on-year fall of 10.4 percent.
Source (in Spanish): El Periódico


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Chinese online payments giant Alipay is offering US merchants the ability to accept payments from Chinese shoppers via a new service called ePass. The service lets retailers add Alipay as a checkout option and includes access to a “fast, reasonably priced” door-to-door shipping service. “Alipay ePass makes it simple for Western brands and retailers to profitably access the world’s largest ecommerce market,” the company says.
- From the high street to the handset: How banks can stay connected to consumers in the smartphone era
- British Airways owner IAG launches mobile pay on new airline Level
- Heat become first NBA team with mobile-only entry
- What code is running on Apple’s Secure Enclave security chip? Now we have a decryption key…
- Digital payment platforms primed to topple cash


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Facebook on Wednesday fielded a plan to tighten Mark Zuckerberg's grip on the helm as the booming social network reported stellar profit.
Japanese video-game maker Nintendo Co. reported a 24 billion yen ($216 million) loss for January-March Wednesday, bigger than the loss it reported the previous year.
Television viewers are turning their noses up at using mobile devices to enhance their favourite programmes, according to research carried out at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).
A draft version of a Senate bill would effectively prohibit unbreakable encryption and require companies to help the government access data on a computer or mobile device with a warrant.
Members of the public are being sought to take part in a new study by the University of Southampton to understand people's perceptions of automated vehicles.
Twitter on Tuesday added a button that lets people easily share 'tweets' in direct messages.
As mobile and wearable devices such as smartwatches grow smaller, it gets tougher for people to interact with screens the size of a matchbook.
Google is previewing the next version of its Android operating system two months ahead of schedule in an effort to get the upgraded software on more mobile devices.
Google on Wednesday began delivering "blazingly fast" articles to smartphones and tablets in a stepped-up challenge to Facebook to be the leading mobile news hub.
Epson has today announced the third generation of its Moverio smart glasses for Augmented Reality. On display at the Mobile World Congress starting today in Barcelona, Spain, and available in selected markets from later ...


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DiGi iPhone 4 Promotion At RM43/month – DiGi slashes price for their monthly iPhone 4 plans again which makes it the lowest at only RM43/month. They have reduced the monthly subscription by RM10/month at all packages. With the latest promotion, you can an extra RM240 worth of savings.
The promotion is valid from 3 October to 31 December 2011.
However, iPhone 5 or the iPhone 4S is about to announced on tomorrow. Could it be a clearance to welcome the new iPhone? Will know soon. Really excited for the Apple event tomorrow. Are you?


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Iran has announced its plans to introduce a direct shipping line to Latin America and South Africa in the upcoming months.
The new shipping line will be launched with the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and will support the development of Iran’s non-oil trade with the nations in the stated regions.
Iranian Chamber of Cooperatives (ICC) non-oil trade and export development committee head Babak Afghahi said that the line will link southern Iranian ports to the ports of South Africa, and then, to Latin American countries, including Brazil.
Afghahi said: “With the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, considering the capacity of Iran’s cargo export to the mentioned destinations, the chambers of commerce across the country, the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) of Iran, and other export bodies have been informed about the new development.”
As informed by IRNA, in the first six months of the past Iranian calendar year from 21 March to 22 September 2019, the Islamic Republic’s dealings with South Africa reached nearly $43m.
In the same period of its preceding year, the numbers stood at $27m.
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Over the past few years, Iran has been introducing a number of direct shipping lines to its main trade destinations to expand non-oil trade.
Earlier this month, Iran-Syria Joint Chamber of Commerce head Keyvan Kashefi declared the launch of a direct shipping line between Iran’s southern port of Bandar Abbas and Syria’s Mediterranean port of Latakia.
Iran has also established five direct shipping lines to Oman and is currently preparing to launch direct routes to Qatar, Russia, India, and Turkmenistan.


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Creative production company, iam8bit, holds an official Power Rangers art tribute show in anticipation for the upcoming Power Rangers film opening later in March.
iam8bit, a production company best known for its limited edition pop culture themed merchandise, opened its *May the Power Protect You: A Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Monsters Show” on Saturday, March 18th at its Los Angeles, CA location.
The officially licensed show boasted over 30 artists paying tribute to the monsters and evil-doers of the iconic television series. Artists included Goñi Montes, best known for the popular helmet variants for the BOOM! Studios Power Rangers comic and previous TokuNet Artist Feature; Nan Lawson, Gerald de Jesus, James Gilleard, and Tracy Tubera.
The show was free to the public and had available bar and other refreshments, along with a projector screening classic episodes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
At the front of their Los Angeles, CA location, attendees and fans were welcome to purchase iam8bit’s officially licensed Power Rangers merchandise previously announced back in November 2016. The merchandise included enamel pins, coloring books, pencils, and a pre-order for the special remastered single LP vinyl. The cover artwork for the vinyl, created by JC Richard, was also available as a screenprint and featured in the tribute show.
The *May the Power Protect You show will continue to be on display until March 26th. The iam8bit Los Angeles location is at 2147 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, 90026.


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Access your Pro+ Content below.
Dell filing reveals poor state of the PC industry
This article is part of the MicroScope issue of April 2013
Dell has revealed the dire state of the PC industry, poor take-up of Windows and the need for the company to invest in research and development (R&D). The company’s chairman, Michael Dell, is battling to win over the hearts and minds of Dell shareholders, in a bid to reprivatise and reinvent the company and faces a battle with US billionaire investor Carl Icahn and private equity group Blackstone in a bidding war over the computer company he founded. In one of the filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which was sent to staff, Dell noted that the company would be hiring additional R&D, services and sales personnel to extend the depth and breadth of its capabilities and to increase the number of customers to whom such services and solutions are provided. In a letter to employees, he stated: “Dell’s strategy of becoming an integrated provider of end-to-end IT solutions is expected to require additional investments in converged infrastructure solutions, software, cloud solutions, application development and ...
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Dell has revealed the dire state of the PC industry, poor take-up of Windows and the need to invest in research and development


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Experience management software firm Qualtrics International Inc. saw its stock fall in extended trading today after reporting a second-quarter loss that came below expectations.
The company reported a net loss of $279.2 million for the quarter, resulting in a loss before certain costs such as stock compensation of four cents per share. Revenue jumped by 43% from the year ago period, to $356.4 million. The results were therefore a mixed bag, with Wall Street analysts looking for the company to break even on lower revenue of just $345 million.
Qualtrics’ stock came crashing down in the wake of the report, falling by as much as 10% at one stage, only to reclaim some of that lost ground. The stock was down just over 5% at the time of writing, having made an impressive 8% gain during the regular trading session.
Qualtrics, which is a subsidiary of German enterprise software giant SAP SE, has created a cloud-based platform that enterprises use to collect feedback from employees and customers. The platform is especially popular with human resources departments, as they can use it to obtain feedback from their employees on topics such as the effectiveness of training programs, onboarding processes and more. Product teams also use Qualtrics’ platform to assess customer satisfaction and try to pinpoint new market opportunities.
Given the unique nature of its software, Qualtrics sees itself as the pioneer of an emerging “experience management” industry, and it says it’s becoming more important for enterprises.
Qualtrics Chief Executive Zig Serafin (pictured) backed up this claim, pointing out that the company once again posted strong revenue growth of more than 40%. “We continue to see robust demand for our experience management platform as companies look to Qualtrics to help them navigate the uncertain macro-environment and win in their markets,” he added.
Qualtrics is certainly in demand, with subscription revenue for the quarter rising by 47% to $300.6 million. In addition, the company said, it had total remaining performance obligations of $1.79 billion, up 38% from a year earlier. Qualtrics’ RPO represents all contracted future revenue that has not yet been realized, including both deferred sales and noncancelable contracted amounts to be invoiced in future.
Looking to the third quarter, Qualtrics said it expects adjusted earnings of between two and four cents per share on revenue of $358 million to $360 million. Wall Street’s consensus is for the company to break even on sales of $359 million.
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Bank of Ireland debit and credit card spending in August 2023 was broadly flat with a 0.4% increase, compared to July’s spending according to the latest Bank of Ireland Spending Pulse.
There was a 19% spending spike at tourist attractions and 11% at amusement parks during the final few weeks of the school holidays. With back to school spending, bookstore spending shot up by 39%, shoe store outlay rose by 11% and children’s clothes went up by 5%.
Spending in the accommodation sector throughout August dropped by 4%, while social spending also fell by 8%.
Pub spending dipped by 4% and people spent 3% less in fast-food outlets.
Popular European destinations all recorded spending drop offs, such as France -20%, Portugal -18%, Italy -16%, Greece -15% and Spain -13%.
Leitrim was the only county to report a monthly spending spike of more than 2%. Donegal, Laois, Longford, Mayo and Wicklow were the only other counties to record positive spends.
Jilly Clarkin, head of customer journeys & SME markets at Bank of Ireland said: “We saw in July that people flocked indoors to escape the wet weather, and hope sprung that a brighter August would spark a spending rebound. However, a mixed month weather wise saw flatlined spending across a variety of sectors, although tourist attractions proved popular and families ‘suited and booted’ the kids for the return to school.
“The Bank of Ireland Spending Pulse painted a mixed picture over the summer months, with a drop in June being followed by a slight hike in July, and a clear levelling off in August. Given that September last year was somewhat gloomy on the spending front (-8% compared to the previous month), retailers nationwide will be hoping for sunnier spending times on the horizon.”


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Tidal now offers a free tier with limited interruptions and other trade-offs that may persuade you to upgrade to one of the two paid tiers with HiFi audio support.
Jack Dorsey's Square is acquiring a majority stake in Tidal for $297 million. Tidal will continue to operate independently under Square after the deal is completed.
These days there are more streaming music services than you can shake a stick at, but the choices narrow down considerably as you search for truly high-quality audio options.
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android


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Temporary Insolvency Measures to end
The Government has announced that the temporary insolvency measures brought in during the Coronavirus Pandemic are to be phased out from 1 October 2021. The temporary insolvency measures, contained in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, are to be replaced by new legislation and new protections for businesses.
Companies in financial distress because of the pandemic have been protected from creditor action since June last year, through temporary measures in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020.
This was to ensure that viable businesses affected by the restrictions on trading during the lockdown periods were not then forced into insolvency. Now, as the economy returns to normal trading conditions, the restrictions on creditor actions will be lifted.
However, new measures will be brought in to help smaller companies get back on their feet in an effort to give them more time to trade their way back to financial health before creditors can take action to wind them up.
The new legislation will:
- Protect businesses from creditors insisting on repayment of relatively small debts by temporarily raising the current debt threshold for a winding up petition to £10,000 or more.
- Require creditors to seek proposals for payment from a debtor business, giving them 21 days for a response before they can proceed with winding up action.
We will see these measures in force until at least the 31 March 2022.
The protection from eviction for commercial tenants will continue until 31 March 2022. The government then intends to introduce a rent arbitration scheme to deal with rental debts which have arisen as a result of the pandemic. The Government announced:
‘Businesses should pay contractual rents where they are able to do so. However, the existing restrictions will remain on commercial landlords from presenting winding up petitions against limited companies to repay commercial rent arrears built up during the pandemic.
Continuing the restriction on winding up, in respect of commercial rent only, supports the announcement on 16 June that commercial tenants will continue to be protected from eviction until 31 March 2022, whilst the government implements a rent arbitration scheme to deal with commercial rent debts accrued during the pandemic’.
The changes will be brought into force in England by the ‘Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Amendment of Schedule 10) Regulations 2021’ (SI 2021/1029), which comes into force on 29 September 2021 (under Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, ss 20(1)(a), 25(1)). Regulation 2, the main provision in these Regulations, substitutes into the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 a new Schedule 10.


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FCC chairman: Sirius-XM merger no cause for worry
Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, September 27, 2007
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Broadcasters nationwide need not worry about local advertising revenue disappearing if the proposed takeover of XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. goes through, the FCC's chairman said Thursday.
The National Association of Broadcasters, which counts Walt Disney Co.'s ABC division and radio station owner Clear Channel Communications Inc. among its members, opposes the estimated $4.7 billion acquisition and says combining the nation's only two satellite radio companies would create a monopoly.
Speaking before hundreds of broadcast executives and on-air personalities at a broadcast association conference, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin said there is a "higher burden" to examine the transaction carefully.
"I would be concerned if they were trying to become a local broadcaster," Martin said.
- GrubHub and Yelp Expand Reach to Offer Delivery to Over 80,000 Restaurants Wibbitz
- Young entrepreneur Blake Pyron heads to UN Fox4
- Lyft Testing Netflix-Like Subscription Packages for Riders Wibbitz
- Lexus Is Getting Into the Luxury Boat Business Fortune
- Start-Up Offering to Preserve & Upload Your Brain, But There's a Catch Buzz 60
- Amazon Unveils 'Spheres' Green Space In Seattle Associated Press
- Tariffs could affect Maine businesses WMTW
- Triad CEO provides tips on how women can maximize business potential, finances WXII
- Lending business changes policies in wake of Florida school shooting Fox5Atlanta
- The Booming Business of eSports Cheddar TV
- Inside essential oils marketing, a billion-dollar wellness business with plenty of critics Mic
- Millennials fell for scams more than grandparents last year Fox29
- International reaction to Trump's tariffs Euronews
- EXCLUSIVE: Facebook Takes on LinkedIn With New Jobs Tool Cheddar TV
- Amazon Acquires Smart Doorbell Maker 'Ring' for a Reported $1 Billion Wibbitz
- Apple Admits it Uses Google's Cloud for iCloud Wibbitz
- A look into the shipping container home business Fox29
- Airbnb Appeals To Luxury Market With 'Airbnb Plus' Buzz 60
- The Shocking Amount Americans Spend on Impulse Buys in Their Lifetime Buzz 60
- US Marijuana Job Growth Could More Than Double By 2021 Buzz 60
But NAB Radio Board Chairman W. Russell Withers Jr. said it seems like that's what XM and Sirius are doing, because they are offering up-to-the-minute weather and traffic reports for local markets. The reports are accessible nationally.
Sirius announced in February that it would acquire XM for $4.7 billion. The Justice Department's antitrust regulators and the FCC must both sign off on the deal.


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Soft drinks manufacturer Clearly Drinks Group has secured the backing of private equity firm NorthEdge Capital as consumer demand for flavoured water grows.
The Sunderland-based business, led by CEO Finn O’Driscoll, specialises in sugar-free products and flavoured spring water, with brands including Perfectly Clear, 1870 Mixers and Northumbria Spring, which are sourced from an on-site spring.
It also operates as a contract bottler, manufacturing a range of international client brands.
Clearly Drinks revenues grew 14.4% in 2016 to £13.5m, with operating profits nudging up to £933k, according to Companies House accounts.
“It’s an exciting time for the flavoured spring water sector, and we’ve seen strong growth from our existing sugar-free and naturally flavoured product lines as consumers seek healthier beverage options,” O’Driscoll said.
“This investment will allow Clearly Drinks Group to accelerate new product development, expand into new international markets, and grow our sales force accordingly. Our marketing strategy is clear – we look forward to working with the NorthEdge team to take Clearly Drinks Group to the next level of development.”
The investment would drive the Clearly Drinks branded offer across several soft drinks categories, spearheaded by Perfectly Clear water, he added.
Clearly operates from a 60,000 sq ft site, with a 70-strong workforce.
The deal – for an undisclosed stake – was led by NorthEdge partner John Rastrick, investment director Tom Rowley and Nicola McQuaid.
“As more and more health-conscious shoppers look for alternatives to calorie-packed beverages following the pending introduction of the sugar tax, the demand for sugar-free, naturally flavoured products will continue to grow,” said Rastrick, who will join the Clearly board, along with McQuaid, as a non-executive director.
“Clearly Drinks is well placed to be at the forefront of that movement, and we are looking forward to working with the firm’s experienced management team to convert the pipeline of exciting new product development opportunities in this evolving market.”
The deal is the fourth investment from the £315m NorthEdge Capital Fund II. Peter Cheung, chairman of ex-NorthEdge portfolio company Accrol Group plc, which listed on AIM in June 2016, will join Clearly as chairman as part of the deal.
NorthEdge was advised by Grant Thornton, Bond Dickinson, CIL, Henderson, PwC and Syngroup. Clearly Drinks was advised by Livingstone Partners, DWF and Saffery Champness.


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Big data analytics represents a fundamental part of the modern enterprise’s business strategy.
Industry analyst Curt Monash mentions DataStax as a company breaking new ground with big data technology.
DataStax partnered with Databricks, the company founded by the creators of Apache Spark, to build a supported, open source integration between the two platforms.
Snippets from employee ratings give an idea of where you can ride this technology trend—and have fun, too.
DataStax is the company behind the open source database Cassandra, which powers companies from eBay Spotify and Netflix through to water utility software company i20 Water and sports e-commerce house Wiggle in the UK.
DataStax joins Microsoft, Oracle, and others adding in-memory features to their database management systems.
DataStax has added an in-memory computing feature in the latest version of its Apache Cassandra-based NoSQL database, as part of a drive to increase the performance of online applications.
Alliances with Accenture and Google unveiled by DataStax prove Apache Cassandra’s growing stature in the enterprise.


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Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Come Out & Celebrate The Sale Of The One-Millionth Hot Dog At The D TODAY!!
A Detroit staple and birth-place to the world-famous Coney Dog, American Coney Island’s (ACI) location at the D Las Vegas will celebrate the expected sale of its one-millionth signature dog on Tuesday, July 25. One lucky customer will receive a year of free Coney Dogs to commemorate this landmark moment for the restaurant, which has become a favorite for Las Vegas visitors and locals. Third generation co-owner Chris Sotiropoulos – whose grandfather Constantine "Gust" Keros started the business in 1917 – will be joined by the D’s CEO Derek Stevens to salute the milestone and declare the occasion “American Coney Island Las Vegas Day.”
Family owned and operated since day one, American Coney Island has continued its tasty tradition in Las Vegas by serving mouth-watering Coney Dogs at the D Las Vegas, its only location outside of Michigan. The beloved dish grew in popularity from its secret family “Coney Island Chili Sauce” recipe, which comes topped with mustard and sweet chopped onions.
To celebrate the company’s 100th year in business, American Coney Island will also offer commemorative t-shirts designed by Detroit-native and Grammy Award-winning artist Kid Rock.
Tuesday, July 25
Estimated sale of the millionth Coney Dog to take place between noon – 2 p.m.
American Coney Island – Stage will be set up outside of the restaurant
the D Las Vegas
301 Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Posted by Carole9073


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The new rumor for Apple is that they will now launch 3 new iPhones in September of this year. Multiple new sources, including Per TechCrunch and Bloomberg report are reporting that the company is anticipated to introduce an updated iPhone X, a bigger iPhone and an iPhone 8 that will feature an iPhone X design.
Apple has been building anticipation that the updated iPhone X will be powered by Apple’s latest A12 chip with a 5.8-inch OLED screen. The latest chip will ensure faster processing speed and will significantly enhance camera performance overall. The bigger phone is rumored to also feature a larger display that will be 6.5-inch display along with a stainless-steel edges feature. It will also have 2 cameras on the back with an OLED display.
The iPhone X inspired iPhone 8 is expected to be the cheaper version this season. The device is likely to have aluminum edges instead of stainless-steel edges as found in iPhone X. Moreover, it is anticipated to have a single camera on the back and a 6.1-inch LCD display.
Expanding iPhone’s Stock
Apple’s fortunes are obviously tied to their iPhone product, which is by far is its biggest revenue big hitter.
The company has sold over 41.3 million units of iPhones within the past 2-3 years. The 3 new devices promise strong growth prospect for Apple, prior to the upcoming holiday season. Although none of the devices will be completely new like the iPhone 6 or iPhone X, the upgraded internal features are expected to attract new customers this holiday season.
Services to Boost from Steady iPhone Sales
Further, steady volume of iPhone sales ensures continuing demand for Services, which has emerged as the new cash cow for the company.
Apple Music has been one of the biggest new growth areas in services within the past few years. The company is gaining market share against Spotify in the United States market. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been outstandingly consistent. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we’re willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.


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The vessel carrying 1,500 tonnes of garbage from the Philippines has finally arrived in Canada just ahead of Canada Day.
The garbage, which has been at the centre of a diplomatic dispute between the two countries, was originally expected to arrive on June 20th but had to be transferred to a larger vessel earlier this month.
The Danish ship, the Anna Maersk, pulled into GCT Canada Delta Port around 7:00 AM in the morning on Saturday.
“Our role as a port authority is to facilitate the safe movement of goods within the Port of Vancouver. We are not involved in the logistics of cargo movements, and in this case, it is the government working with a shipping company and a terminal,” said Danielle Jang from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
“The plans for where the shipment goes and how it is disposed of once in Canada is also a decision that is being made by the government.”
From Delta Port the trailers containing the trash are expected to be shipped out by truck and eventually taken by rail to the Burnaby Waste-to-Energy facility, where the garbage will be incinerated.
According to Environment Canada, the federal government will be taking on the costs associated with the shipment and the garbage disposal operations.
Chris Allan, the Director of Solid Waste Operations for Metro Vancouver told The Post Millennial that the plant should begin receiving containers within two days of the ship’s arrival.
“The federal government has hired a private logistics company to handle the shipping and transport of material to our Waste-to-Energy Facility,” said Allan.
“The logistics company will be paying the prescribed rate of $250/tonne as outlined in our Tipping Fee Bylaw.”
Currently the Anna Maersk sits docked at the Deltaport Terminal waiting to be unloaded


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Turning her restaurant into a pantry, and now exploring meal kits, a young restaurateur fights back with innovation and grit
Photo: Grace owner, Angie Murphy
ANGIE MURPHY THOUGHT the worst was over for her brand-new restaurant when the work on Dundas Place finally ended in December. After almost nine years working in other kitchens, she fulfilled a dream by opening Grace last summer.
Named after her grandmother, it was an immediate hit with fans of great cuisine made from local fare. Still, it was a tough start with six months of construction right outside her front door at Dundas and Clarence.
Those months are now known as the good old days.
“We’d had such a great response in our first year. A lot of people have invested in me. There was no option to give up. We had to try a Hail Mary to keep things going, to keep our supply chain of more than 100 suppliers intact,” says Murphy.
After two weeks of quarantine and brainstorming, she launched her first Hail Mary on March 30. With a reduced staff of four (down from 17), the restaurant transformed into Grace Pantry. They took orders and packed locally sourced food for weekly pickup or delivery.
“The first week, we had about 90 orders. The second week, it jumped to more than 200. People wanted farm-fresh meats and a lot of flour and yeast. We sold 80 packs of yeast the first day.”
To make it work, she and her skeleton staff transformed the dining room into a staging area. As numbers grew, delivery became impossible, so the service transformed almost entirely to pick-up. Delivery is still available for a fee, if needed.
“After the first couple of weeks, the rules changed and we could include alcohol with the orders.That blew it wide open. We realized it was a viable way to keep the business going.”
Murphy hired a few people back and was up to seven staff when the next phase of reopening kicked in. But as we’ve come to understand, operating a restaurant at less than full capacity while offering a full menu isn’t a great business model.
In late June, the restaurant opened a patio – Grace Veranda – available Thursday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sittings are 90 minutes with a three-course prix fixe menu. The next idea will be meal kits: more than a grocery order but based on that model.
“The meal kit idea could be an opportunity we wouldn’t have considered,” Murphy says. “There are lots of talented people in the restaurant business, but they tire of the late hours and working weekends. If you have people creating meal kits, they can work during the day. We’re going to explore it.”
Murphy’s mother, Ruth Ann, began sewing face masks, which are for sale with Pantry orders. And the restaurant has just unveiled its first-ever merch: t-shirts from Antler River Press that read, “Supporting Local Will Be Our Saving Grace.” Christopher Clark


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Click to viewNintendo has just announced that it and 54 game software companies are filing a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against companies that import "R4 Revolution for DS"-type devices, using the Unfair Competition Prevention Law as the legal grounding. Nintendo is asking for the cease of marketing, sales and importation of these Chinese-made devices. The R4 allows easy software piracy by fitting right into the DS's cartridge slot. Data is stored on a Micro SD and downloaded from websites via a flash drive, and the R4 has a small slot that the Micro SD card goes into. In a statement released today, Nintendo announced that these R4 devices "allow illegal uploading from the internet", adding that "it is causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook." In conclusion, Nintendo adds that such devices hurts the growth of the entire game industry and steps must be taken regarding the legality of R4 carts. It's important to note that this legal injunction is for Japan only.
Back in November 2007, Nintendo announced that it was "keeping a close eye on the products and studying them." Earlier this spring, Nintendo apparently pressured Akihabara retailers to stop carrying the popular R4 carts.
Hit the jump for a list of some of the companies who along with Nintendo have filed in this suit.
Arc System Works
Bandai Namco Games
The Pokémon Company


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Ulysse Nardin just launched a new rabbit-themed watch to celebrate the start of the new year.
The only minor issue is this watch is actually more expensive than most everyday cars.
READ MORE: Daniel Craig is busy solving crimes while wearing Omega watches in his post-007 career
2023 is the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
And that is the reason behind the intricate handmade design on the dial of the watch.
CHECK THIS OUT!
The dial was handmade by Ulysse Nardin and it features two rabbits looking at the sunset.
The design is amazing and it is nicely executed, too.
The 40 mm rose gold case complete the package.
We can certainly see how this quirky and unique piece might entice collectors.
Then again, watch collectors routinely splash a lot of cash on timepieces that look like a work of art.
And, to be fair, you need a lot of money for this watch because it costs – wait for it – $45,900.
About the Chinese zodiac / lunar calendar
As opposed the ‘traditional’ zodiac with a sign for each month, the Chinese use the lunar calendar that assigns an animal to each year.
It’s a twelve-year cycle and that means that the next Year of the Rabbit after 2023 will be 2035.
There are twelve signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Several watch manufacturers celebrate the Chinese zodiac with limited-edition pieces, so we can definitely expect more similar watches in the coming months.
High-end watch brands like Chopard, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin do this every year.
Budget watch makers do this, too.
Last year, both Casio and Swatch released Tiger-themed watches.


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Like the New York Times and Wall St. Journal before it, Bloomberg has just announced that it has also heard that 100 product designers are working on a ‘wristwatch-like’ device at Apple. Some are referring to it as an iWatch, some as iJewelry. This rumor seems to keep growing legs, and this time around there seems to be two names attached to the project.
According to Bloomberg:
Apple’s James Foster, senior director of engineering, and Achim Pantfoerder, another manager, are part of the efforts to introduce a wristwatch-style computer, according to the people. Apple has worked on wearable devices for tracking fitness in the past and never brought them to market, said one of the people.
Kicking tires on an idea is one thing; releasing a product to the buying masses is something else entirely. I have a hard time believing this one. It wouldn’t be the first time I called B.S. on something only to have it happen, but is Apple really working on a Power Glove, Minority Report, watch of the future that controls devices, displays information, and does everything else we’ve seen in science fiction the last two decades?
It’s a neat idea, but I’m not sold. We should also point out that these mainstream media agencies seem to be getting worse and worse at running Apple rumors that turn out to be nothing.


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The Mac maker said it plans by next month to release to the open-source community the technology it calls Rendezvous, which allows networked devices to automatically find each other.
"If you don't have it proliferate, it's the sound of one hand clapping," said Brian Croll, senior director of worldwide product marketing for Apple's software unit.
The technology, which isthe new version 10.2 of Mac OS X, can be used to simplify network printing, file sharing and other communications tasks. Apple uses Rendezvous in its iChat program to allow people to see a list of other people on their local computer network who they might want to chat with. It has also to add the technology by early next year to iTunes, which will allow Mac owners to stream music files stored on other Macs on the same network.
By releasing the code to the open-source community, Apple is hoping that the technology will find its way into other peripherals and devices, thereby making Rendezvous-equipped Macs more useful.
Specifically, Apple is releasing the core technology needed to allow devices to discover each other, as well as its specific implementation of Rendezvous in Mac OS X. However, device makers will still need to do their own work to adapt the technology to their particular product.
Simply offering Rendezvous to the world won't necessarily make it a success. The Mac maker says it is doing more than just throwing the source code over a wall; it plans to work with developers who want to add the technology.
"I think this is probably the No. 1 new technology that we are out there evangelizing for the developer community," Croll said.
Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark have already pledged to include Rendezvous in future printers.
Apple executives say there is strong interest from developers who want to include Rendezvous, but the company declined to say what types of uses were being contemplated beyond networked printers. In theory, the technology could be used in consumer electronics in a home network, such as an Internet stereo that could grab music files from other Macs on the network.
With the release of Mac OS X 10.2 comes an update to, the open-source core that sits at the heart of Mac OS X. The face-lift to Darwin includes, among other things, version 4.4 of FreeBSD and the latest version of the Internet Protocol as well as Apple's Open Directory effort.


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RecordTrend.com is a website that focuses on future technologies, markets and user trends. We are responsible for collecting the latest research data, authority data, industry research and analysis reports. We are committed to becoming a data and report sharing platform for professionals and decision makers. At the same time, we also provide daily information briefings on financial technology. We look forward to working with you to record the development trends of today’s economy, technology, industrial chain and business model.Welcome to follow, comment and bookmark us, and hope to share the future with you, and look forward to your success with our help.
The following is the Fintech Daily Information Briefing on [December 01, 2021] recommended by recordtrend.com. And this article belongs to the classification: Fintech Daily Briefing.
. The European regulation on the supervision of commercial crowdfunding service providers (ECSP) was officially implemented
On November 10, 2020, the European regulation on commercial crowdfunding service providers (ECSP) came into force. After a 12-month transition period, the rules have been officially implemented on November 10, 2021. They are applicable to the whole EU region and are part of the European Commission’s financial technology action plan. The regulations have formulated unified regulatory rules for investment and lending crowdfunding within the EU, which not only improves the scale of innovative financing, but also provides more protection for crowdfunding platform investors.
. South Korea has launched the mydata financial data service pilot since December 1
On November 30, 2021, the Korea Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced that it would carry out the mydata financial data service pilot from 16:00 on December 1. It is reported that 17 institutions participating in the pilot (including banks, financial investment institutions and bank card companies) have completed the closed test. From the end of 2021 to the second half of 2022, it is expected that 46 institutions will join the plan, covering many fields such as large science and technology enterprises, financial science and technology innovation enterprises, insurance companies and credit investigation institutions. All along, FSC has been making active efforts to effectively protect data privacy while optimizing personal financial data access management. To this end, FSC has successively launched measures to expand the scope of mydata data data types, simplify personal authentication process, and strengthen consumer protection. FSC expressed the hope that relevant institutions will pay close attention to and solve possible problems during the trial operation stage, and prepare for the full start-up of mydata service on January 1, 2022.
. India’s online payment platform simpl completed round B financing of USD 40 million
Recently, India’s online payment platform simpl announced the completion of round B financing of US $40 million. This round of financing is jointly led by the new investor Valar ventures and its existing investor ia ventures, with the participation of the venture capital Department of LFH investment group. Simpl was founded in 2015 to build a mutual trust financial trading platform based on intelligent algorithms, provide users with online payment, order management and other services, ensure account security, and improve user information according to transaction records, so as to improve user transaction limits.
. David Marcus, head of Facebook’s encryption business, will leave at the end of the year
On November 30, David Marcus, head of encryption business of meta (formerly Facebook), announced that he would leave the company at the end of the year and Stephane Kasriel would replace him as head of Novi financial products. It is reported that after two years as president of PayPal, Marcus joined meta in August 2014 and was initially responsible for the company’s messenger service. In May 2018, he left messenger and founded Facebook’s financial projects department. The Department announced the cryptocurrency projects Libra and Calibra digital wallets in June 2019.
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SAN JOSE, CA – July 07, 2015 — /BackupReview.info/ — Dropmysite has recently launched cloud-based backup for Microsoft SQL Database. Microsoft SQL is the preferred database for Windows hosting vendors and as result of this new launch Dropmysite now supports backup for all popular variants of hosting solutions — Windows and Linux. Dropmysite now offers database backup of MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB and MS-SQL.
Through its MS-SQL backup, Dropmysite aims to provide their highly reliable website and database backup solution to all windows hosting vendors. “Even though most hosting customers still prefer My-SQL over MS-SQL, there is a steady demand for MS-SQL databases among our customers and partners,” says Ridley Ruth, COO of Dropmysite. “This launch will allow us to capture the 20% of hosting customers who still opt for windows hosting and we will provide the same one click restore functionality our MySQL, PostgreSQL and MongoDB customers have come to rely on.”
The solution is designed to be simple and intuitive. Features such as single sign-on will be provided to the windows hosters and Dropmysite partners. The backup for the Microsoft SQL database will be completely automated and the user can store multiple copies of the database. The minimum backup frequency is daily and there is also an option for an On-Demand backup as with other databases. The solution is now available to all existing Dropmysite customers and partners at no extra cost.
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Just four to five years ago, telemedicine was only recommended to employers who were very large or had a highly rural workforce, according to Cynthia "C.J." Marks, Area Vice President and Market Leader at Teladoc.
Month: July 2015 Blogs
A new consumer group is driving the future of health care, Jean Hippert said at The Alliance Learning Circle on The Changing Health Care Consumer on July 16 at Monona Terrace in Madison.
On April 17, 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released proposed rules under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) that provide guidance regarding the extent to which employers may use incentives to encourage employees to participate in wellness programs.


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The National Stock Exchange (NSE), the largest bourse in India, has witnessed a 25 per cent increase in active investors with the Western region recording the highest growth of 32 per cent in cash market participation.
Participation of retail investors from Maharashtra, who are actively trading in the equity market, has increased 38 per cent in the last one year, the NSE said in a statement. All states, except two, have reported hefty rise in equity market activities by such investors in the last one year, it said.
There are around 2.5 crore registered clients across the exchanges, it said.
Preliminary data suggests that Maharashtra has recorded the highest increase in active retail clients. Total number of retail clients traded last year surged 38 per cent on the NSE. In value terms, however, Gujarat topped the chart and witnessed the highest jump of over 50 per cent, it said.
Not only in the number of people participating, in value terms also, Maharashtra remains the highest volume contributor in the cash segment, the average turnover of which rose to a new high of Rs 18,000 crore a day. Other traditional major cities like Kolkata, Delhi, among others, also continued to grow, NSE said.
Nifty has returned over 25 per cent to investors since the Modi government assumed office last May. The index even reached a peak level 9,119.2 during the period.
The retail growth in the cash market was also fuelled by the fact that 12 IPOs were launched during the period. Several offer-for-sale from companies like Coal India, REC and SAIL have also seen good responses from retail segment. Retail interests were also seen growing in the stock associated with the mid-cap segment. On an average, the CNX Midcap has outperformed the Nifty.
Leading the pack
* Preliminary data suggests that Maharashtra has recorded the highest increase in active retail clients.
* Nifty has returned over 25 per cent to investors since the Narendra Modi government assumed office last May.


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Euroland remains in the doldrums and a slow recovery is predicted due to persistently sluggish consu...
Euroland remains in the doldrums and a slow recovery is predicted due to persistently sluggish consumer spending.
Farida Hasan, global economist at Henderson, says: "We have downgraded our forecast for the Eurozone area because employment growth has been less sanguine. Although companies have restructured they are still under pressure to reduce costs because of the strength of the euro."
Although the strong euro has made imports cheaper and given consumers increased purchasing power, according to Hasan, the strength of the euro has not helped the consumer as much as it was once thought.
She says: "The European consumer is more focused on the labour market and is not confident to spend money until employment growth picks up. There is also speculation that the ECB will cut rates because of weaker domestic demand. She thinks the ECB will be forced to cut rates as inflation decreases.
"On the corporate side there is still pressure on margins, and companies still need to reduce costs. Companies are facing increasing competition from Asia, with its relatively stable currencies and low costs. Euroland exports are expensive compared to its Asian counterparts."
According to Jonathan Asante, chief economist at Framlington, the outlook for the European economy continues to disappoint.
Asante says: "After several months of strength, economic indicators are starting to decline. We cannot see any improvement in the short term, with European goods looking increasingly unattractive to overseas buyers due to the strength of the euro. Consumer confidence in Europe also remains fragile as employment recovery remains fragile. This means a consumer-led recovery is unlikely."
Hasan warns that Italy is lagging behind the most in Euroland. Domestic demand is poor, exports have come under pressure because of the currency and companies have not been able to reduce costs. France has also been disappointing. Although the outlook is improving, consumer demand is not picking up. Corporations in France have been in debt and have not been able to reduce spending.
However, Hasan thinks Germany is showing more signs of improvement than other Euroland countries, with companies making good progress in reducing labour costs. Germany will also benefit the most in terms of exports when the euro weakens.
According to CDC IXIS Asset Management, the manufacturing data for France and Germany suggests the recovery continues to take shape, although slowly. The disappointing economic indicators for manufacturing are only temporary because US indicators still point to an acceleration in demand that will benefit European manufacturers. Also, a closer look at European production and orders data shows that trade between domestic manufacturers is still rising.
The view at CDC IXIS is that in Germany, the increase in the production of intermediary goods and the decrease in the production of consumer goods show recovery is still limited to the manufacturing sector. CDC IXIS thinks an export-driven recovery in Germany will spread to the rest of the economy. The decline in the dollar which has been the greatest risk to this scenario, seems to be now less of a threat. European exports will generate investment which will generate employment thereby underpinning consumer spending.
Hasan says: "The major driver is global demand exports have been disappointing but as the euro weakens we may see some improvement." Structural reforms to implement change have come to a standstill in many countries such as Germany and Italy. She does not expect the situation to improve for the next year. Henderson currently has reduced its exposure to Euroland.
However, Asante thinks despite the gloomy economic outlook there are some bright spots. Framlington is currently favouring the telecommunications equipment sector which is benefiting from telecoms spending. Stocks include Ericsson and Vosloh as well as the German railway infrastructure company and Bank Austria.
Partner Insight: For Blackfinch, the arrival of its IHT portfolio services was a 'natural evolution' in the group's offering and points to an established track record of returning cash to investors.
Senior Managers Regime
Interest rate outlook unchaged
FCA made demands last week


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On September 5, 2017, the CFPB entered into a consent order with Zero Parallel, LLC (“Zero Parallel”), an online lead aggregator based in Glendale, California. At the same time, it submitted a proposed order in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, where it is litigating with Zero Parallel’s CEO, Davit Gasparyan. Zero Parallel and Gasparyan agreed to pay a total of $350,000 in civil money penalties to settle claims brought by the CFPB.
In the two actions, the CFPB claimed that Zero Parallel, with Gasparyan’s substantial assistance, helped provide loans to consumers which would be void under the laws of the states in which the consumers lived. Zero Parallel allegedly facilitated the loans by acting as a lead aggregator. In that role, Zero Parallel collected information that consumers entered into various websites indicating that they were interested in taking out payday or installment loans. Zero Parallel then transmitted consumers’ information to various online lenders which evaluated the consumers’ information. The lenders then decided whether they wished to make the loans. If they did, the lenders purchased the leads from Zero Parallel and interacted directly with consumers to complete the loan transactions. (More on the lead generation process in our previous blog postings.)
In some cases, the lenders who purchased the leads offered loans on terms that were prohibited in the states where the consumers resided. The CFPB claims that such loans were therefore void. Because Zero Parallel allegedly knew that the leads it sold were likely to result in void loans, the CFPB alleged that Zero Parallel engaged in abusive acts and practices. Under the consent order, and the proposed order, if it is entered, Zero Parallel will be prohibited from selling leads that would facilitate such loans. To prevent this from happening, the orders require Zero Parallel to take reasonable steps to filter the leads it receives so as to steer consumers away from these allegedly void loans.
The CFPB also faulted Zero Parallel for failing to ensure that consumers were adequately informed about the lead generation process. This allegedly caused consumers to get bad deals on the loans they took out.
Consistent with our earlier blog posts about regulatory interest in lead generation, we see two takeaways from the Zero Parallel case. First, the CFPB remains willing to hold service providers liable for the alleged bad acts of financial services companies to which they provide services. This requires service providers to engage in “reverse vendor oversight” to protect themselves from claims like the ones the CFPB made here. Second, the issue of disclosure on websites used to generate leads remains a topic of heightened regulatory interest. Financial institutions and lead generators alike should remain focused such disclosures.