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This’ll make Hump Day a bit more exciting.
The Dublin cocktail slingers of BAR 1661, the world’s first poitín bar, are making a trip Leeside for a unique boozy pop-up in Cork.
Set a reminder: It’s all happening at Cask on MacCurtain Street, kicking off at 7pm on Wednesday, February 5th, 2020, when the winners of Ireland’s Best Cocktail Bar 2019 will be mixing up a storm behind the bar.
Just like Cask, the BAR 1661 crew are big fans of Irish producers, regularly using ingredients such as Killahora Ice Wine, Achill salt and Kinsale Mead Co. mead in their creative cocktails.
Poitín (pronounced potch-een by the way) is one of the world’s oldest spirits – first distilled in the 6th Century, banned in 1661 by the British Crown and legalised again in 1997.
Interestingly, Ireland’s native spirit is now protected by Geographic Indicative Status, just like Champagne in France. BAR 1661 is the flagship for poitín, even creating their very own bottle Bán Poitín, a heady mix of potato, malted barley, and sugar beet.
Posting news of the event on Instagram, Cask revealed: “Since opening in Dublin last year BAR 1661 has taken the world by storm and swept the floor at the Irish Craft Cocktail Awards last month. As Ireland and the world’s first poitín bar it has the honour and responsibility of representing a whole category.”
“Like Cask they’re obsessive in their support of Irish products and produce. Owner Dave Mulligan has put together a phenomenal team and we’ve been naive enough to give them the keys to our bar for one night only.”
Word to the wise: You might want to book the morning off on Thursday.


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Nintendo's Pokemon Black/White
remains on top of the Japanese hardware charts after its very successful launch
, selling more units this week than the combined sales of all other titles.
For the week ended September 26, the popular DS duo sold 828,580 units, while Sega's debut Yakuza
title on the PSP, Black Leopard: A New Tale of Yakuza
, took the number two spot with 174,213 units sold, reports tracking firm Media Create.
follows in the footsteps of Sega's previous Yakuza
titles for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, featuring a new protagonist and marking the first time the series has appeared on the PSP.
Nintendo's Wii Party
found its way into the top three this week with 43,007 units sold, a slight bump from its 36,547 units sold last week.
Several other new titles debuted in the top 10 this week, including the visual novel Durarara!! 3-way Standoff
, Yeti's tactical strategy game Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi
, and Koei Tecmo's Winning Post 7 2010
Games falling from the top this week include Taiko Drum Master DS: Dororon! Battle With the Ghouls!!
and Super Mario Galaxy 2
, which hit the 11th and 12th spots, respectively.
Below are Media Create's top 10 sales chart for the week ended September 26, 2010.
|1||1||Pokemon Black / White||Nintendo||DS||828,580|
|NEW||2||Black Leopard: A New Tale of Yakuza||Sega||PSP||174,213|
|NEW||4||Durarara!! 3-way Standoff||ASCII Media Works||PSP||21,566|
|6||5||Monster Hunter Diary: Pokapoka Ailu Village||Capcom||PSP||18,652|
|7||6||One Piece: Gigant Battle||Namco Bandai||DS||14,339|
|2||7||Front Mission: Evolved||Square Enix||PS3||10,421|
|NEW||8||Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi - Wu-Hen||Yeti||PSP||10,240|
|3||9||Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tag Force 5||Konami||PSP||9,805|
|NEW||10||Winning Post 7 2010||Koei Tecmo||PS3||9,714|

domain: news


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How AMRs Are Changing Modern Warehouses
Autonomous mobile robots are a significant innovation in warehouse operations
- Autonomous mobile robots are smart robots that are more flexible and responsive with better navigational tools
- Locus Robotics deploys LocusBots, a type of AMR, that have started to work alongside humans safely
- Amazon also continues to test the safety and performance of AMRs so that warehouses keep becoming more efficient
- Connected warehouse equipment requires effective wireless network monitoring solutions
Today’s warehouses are changing rapidly with the incorporation of AI and automation tools. Robotics is now a huge sector, expected to reach nearly $210 billion by 2025. These facilities use robotics in the form of collaborative bots, sorters, pickers, transports, smart conveyors, and many other applications.
One innovation is particularly changing the way warehouses operate: the autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Let’s walk through how companies use and innovate AMRs, and what this means for warehouses now and in the future.
What is an AMR?
AMRs utilize robotics technology to create a more flexible option for a warehouse. They are smarter and more efficient than other types of robots, like automated guided vehicles, and can be used for many different cumbersome tasks.
Instead of depending on physical guides throughout the space, AMRs use smart sensors and processors to determine routes and move warehouse materials—they can sense obstacles in their path and avoid them. Many AMRs can actually learn as they go, remembering aspects of the environment around them, including locations and routes. These devices can also adapt their movement to be deployed in different areas from one day to the next.
Locus Robotics is one of the leading AMR solutions out there. The company’s intelligent automation solutions have been shown to boost productivity, reduce labor costs, and help companies scale. LocusBots work alongside humans safely and have an adaptable, lightweight design. These bots also deliver data reports and insights that help management make better decisions. Locus claims that their robotics solutions improve fulfillment productivity by two to three times.
Amazon improves its AMR safety
Another inarguable leader in robotics is Amazon, which has previously weathered some criticism over the safety of its machines. The company builds and designs robots that work with intelligent systems to improve warehouse operations, and Amazon now has around 350,000 robots working at their many U.S. sites. The company’s devices work next to human counterparts as well as completely independent of them.
This equipment moves products around all of the company’s fulfillment centers to increase productivity and keep costs low. AMRs and other robots are a significant factor behind Amazon's ability to deliver orders at record speeds.
Amazon uses AMRs in addition to smarter systems and software and machine learning to improve its warehouses. In a recent blog post, the company said that it continues to develop AMRs to create safer environments at its sites. They are testing these devices to see if they can navigate through warehouses with enhanced perception and safety solutions to work alongside more employees and take on bigger and bigger jobs.
What this means for the future
Some analysts worry that the introduction of AMRs and other robotics technologies will eliminate jobs in an already struggling economy. However, Amazon argues in its blog post that since the company started using robotics back in 2021, it's added over a million jobs around the globe and still deploy hundreds of thousands of robots. Nevertheless, the massive demand for online products accelerated by the pandemic has played a significant role in this growth.
We don't know whether these devices will eventually eliminate most warehouse jobs for humans. Despite Amazon’s recent numbers, one study claims that by 2030, robots could take over 20 million positions. At the same time, more of them will likely mean greater productivity, contributing to faster economic growth.
One thing is for sure in robotics: the industry will only continue to expand, and more smart devices and robots will be entering warehouses—and depending on consistent network connections—for years to come.
Why warehouses need better Wi-Fi monitoring
Warehouses now have far more connected devices moving throughout large spaces, whether they’re scanning, reporting, or receiving commands. Much of this equipment must stay connected to Wi-Fi at all times to keep processes moving. As a result, companies can't afford to fall behind in any part of the supply chain because of a poor wireless connection.
Wireless Network Monitoring from 7SIGNAL helps these organizations deal with issues quickly and avoid problems hitting end-users—robotic or human. Network engineers must have increased visibility into what's happening on the floor with connectivity at all times. And these insights also inform network design and expansion to accommodate growing connectivity requirements and more devices.
To learn more about wireless network monitoring, contact 7SIGNAL today.
7SIGNAL® is the leader in wireless experience monitoring, providing insight into wireless networks and control over Wi-Fi performance so businesses and organizations can thrive. Our cloud-based wireless network monitoring platform continually tests and measures Wi-Fi performance at the edges of the network, enabling fast solutions to digital experience issues and stronger connections for mission-critical users, devices, and applications. Learn more at www.7signal.com.


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Betty White`s ad for senior citizens` checking accounts at Barnett Bank gets high ratings from advertising folk.
In the television commercial, the star of The Golden Girls TV series says coyly she`s going to bank at Jacksonville-based Barnett -- when she turns 55.
Celebrities are touting products for many of Florida`s companies and industries. If done correctly, a celebrity commercial quickly can increase awareness of a company`s product. But hiring a celebrity can cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, and it doesn`t necessarily ensure greater returns for the company, advertising executives say.
``There has to be a good fit between personality and company or product. You need to have that to be believable,`` said Pete Watson, account executive with The Martin Agency, which did the commercial for Barnett.
Roy Connors, partner in the Fort Lauderdale advertising firm of Forsyth & Connors, says the Betty White commercial works because of the natural tie-in with the show, which is situated in Miami.
``She`s a senior citizen, very recognizable, and it`s tied in with her character on TV,`` Connors said. ``It`s done very cleverly.``
Connors said there has to be a natural tie between the celebrity and the product being endorsed -- it shouldn`t ``be forced.`` Then it`s up to the advertising agency to make the consumer think of the product when he thinks of the celebrity.
Forsyth & Connors has done celebrity commercials for Pompano Park Harness Raceway in Pompano Beach.
One commercial compares Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, who won about 70 percent of his games, to racehorses favored at post-time finishing first, second or third almost 70 percent of the time at the track.
Another commercial shows Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle and Ford, both ``winners,`` going to the track to be winners. Connors said Ford and Mantle volunteered to do the commercials; they are friends of the track`s owner.
Steven Levitt, president of Marketing Evaluations Inc. in Port Washington, N.Y., said a celebrity is being incorrectly used in advertising if he has nothing to do with the product being advertised, if the viewer has to stop and think why the celebrity is on the screen selling the product, or if the celebrity is someone the audience doesn`t like.
``The most preposterous (example) was John Houseman when he was doing McDonald`s hamburger commercials. It made no sense to consumers,`` Levitt said.
Advertising executives say another flop has been Dinah Shore`s commercials for Glendale Federal. In the first commercial she did for Glendale, Shore was singing and dancing and didn`t say anything about Glendale Federal.
Mark Silverstein, advertising director in Florida for Glendale, said of that commercial: ``Some people loved it, and some people hated it.``
Said Connors, ``I don`t think (Shore`s) right for them. She`s a superstar with a lot of money. I`m not sure people can relate to her. Let me talk to someone who`s a business person struggling day to day, someone I can identify with.``
Glendale now has changed its commercials to Shore talking about Glendale`s loans. Silverstein said people now associate Shore with Glendale.
``It got the job done. It worked,`` he said.
Levitt said some companies make the mistake of choosing a celebrity whom the target audience doesn`t like. Catherine Deneuve, who was selling Whitehall Labs` Youth Garde moisturizing lotion, is such a star, Levitt said.
``She intimidates the American female,`` he said. ``She`s cold, impersonal, and women resent her beauty. They don`t feel they can emulate her.``
Levitt said there have been many effective celebrity commercials.
``There are some good choices, where the celebrity fits in with the product, (such as) Meredith Baxter Birney selling hair products. She`s American, in a popular TV series,`` he said.
James Garner is another star who, by the public`s perception, ``can`t do any wrong.`` Referring to the Mazda commercial that Garner does, Levitt said, ``You can believe he has fun driving a car. He doesn`t need to drive a Mercedes.``
Sometimes a more offbeat celebrity is used in a commercial for a dramatic effect. Network I in Fort Lauderdale, which since has merged with Metromedia in New Jersey, used to do a television commercial called ``Mr. Telephone.``
Comedian Martin Mull, dressed as a human telephone, proclaims that Network I is going ``to beat the pants off AT&T, MCI and Sprint.`` Then rocking back and forth in his telephone suit, he says, ``You`re probably saying, `Whoa ho, Mr. Telephone, that`s strong language.` ``
Clark Culbertson, whose Dallas advertising agency, The Richards Group, did the commercial, said the commercial became popular with college students who picked up on the ``Whoa ho.`` More importantly, the agency`s survey showed the commercial increased awareness of the company in the business sector.
``AT&T was spending five to 10 times as much in advertising. We had to have something that captured attention,`` Culbertson said.


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Oatly Group (OTLY) Receives a Hold from Nordea Markets
Nordea Markets analyst Nordea Markets initiated coverage with a Hold rating on Oatly Group (OTLY) on June 15. The company’s shares closed last Wednesday at $27.49.
Currently, the analyst consensus on Oatly Group is a Moderate Buy with an average price target of $30.60, a 9.3% upside from current levels. In a report issued on June 14, Morgan Stanley also initiated coverage with a Hold rating on the stock with a $29.00 price target.
See today’s analyst top recommended stocks >>
TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities.
Oatly Group AB is engaged in the food and drinks industry. Some of its products include Oat Drink, Chilled Oat Drink, Oatgurt, Creamy Oat, Icecreams, among others. It caters to Sweden, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, North America, Finland, and Other markets.


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Published: 06:00, 07 August 2020
| Updated: 14:32, 07 August 2020
A trip to the cinema, massage parlour or place of worship in Kent will need to be done with a face covering from tomorrow, as new mandatory rules come into force.
The government has expanded the list of places where face masks must be worn to slow the spread of coronavirus - and it covers almost every scenario imaginable.
The rules were already in place for people using public transport, shops and supermarkets.
But the updated guidelines expand on them to include entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres, bingo halls, and concert venues, as well as "other indoor tourist, heritage or cultural sites."
People visiting their barber, tattoo parlour or beauty salon are being told to keep their mask on at all times, except when it is necessary to complete a treatment.
All visits to community centres, places of worship and libraries will also need to be done so with face coverings.
And appointments with the vet and funeral directors will require a mask to be worn too.
Aside from the scenarios highlighted in the extensive list, the government is also 'strongly encouraging' members of the public to wear a face covering in all enclosed public spaces where social distancing looks to be difficult, or where people may come into contact with others they do not normally meet.
As with before, those who have particular disabilities and breathing conditions will be exempt.
Children under 11 do not have to wear a face covering, and parents are being told not to put face masks on children under the age of three due to a risk of choking or suffocation.
Although the updated guidelines include almost every public setting, face masks are still not required in bars, pubs and restaurants with a table service.
The guidelines also state that removing a face covering in order to eat and drink is permitted, but should be done in an area designed for eating and drinking, such as a food court.
It is fine to remove a face covering in supermarkets with a café or seating areas used for the purposes of eating and drinking, but it must be put back once leaving the area.
The police have been given enforcement powers for those who do not comply with the new rules.
Those without a valid exemption could be hit with a £100 fine.
Retailers are also being encouraged by government to help promote the use of face coverings in their premises, but some businesses have said they will not challenge customers who enter their stores unmasked.


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The coming week will see engine maker Rolls-Royce Holding PLC (LON:RR.), various retailers, a hotelier and housebuilders dominate the corporate reporting calendar with results and updates, all of which being industries that have suffered badly under the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
Later in the week, there will also be trading updates from the recruitment sector as fears over mass unemployment continue to rattle the UK.
JD Sports is back to the high street
The retailer is unlikely to cause any upsets with its figures, having said earlier this year that headline pre-tax profit is expected to be “in the upper quartile of current market expectations” at between £403mln-£433mln.
Analysts expect revenue of £5.8bn, broadly around consensus, alongside an update on current trading and on the recent CMA ruling on its Footasylum acquisition.
The sports clothing retailer recently bought back its camping arm Go Outdoors from administrators, though some analysts don’t expect a stellar return to the high street.
RBC Capital Markets said the FTSE 250-listed firm’s longer-term margin recovery prospects may be compromised by a shift to online shopping, while its usually young customer base may see their spending confidence decrease amid a tough job market.
All eyes on Halfords’ margins
The bike and car parts seller has already said that adjusted profit before tax for the year to end-March, 2020, would be at the upper end of the guided range of £50mln-£55mln.
The 23% sales drop in April, which topped the group's revised expectations, is estimated to have improved over the course of the past two months, although experts say investors should focus on margins.
“Sales are only one half of the equation and our real focus at these results will be cost control and cash conservation,” Hargreaves Lansdown analysts said in a preview.
“A large leasehold retail estate and accompanying staff costs mean some costs are unavoidable. But if the group can keep exceptional costs associated with moving to a socially distanced operating set up to a minimum it will have done well,” they added.
Whitbread updates as Premier Inn reopens
Premier Inn owner Whitbread PLC (LON:WTB) will issue a trading update for its first quarter on Tuesday, three days after its hotels will have reopened their doors following the lockdown relaxation on Saturday.
While the lockdown period is likely expected to see sharp declines, given most of its branches will have been closed, investors are likely to be more interested in the group’s trading outlook amid reports holidaymakers are rushing to get away after months at home, and likely have enough cash saved up to do so.
However, with international and business customers likely to be much less reliable while global travel restrictions remain, the company is unlikely to provide any firm guidance until things return to a more normal state.
Analysts at Jefferies have predicted that Whitbread will be one of the firms to recover fastest from the pandemic downturn, especially given the recent £1bn fundraising in May to shore up its balance sheet amid the pandemic closures.
The analysts expect Whitbread to reach 75% of 2019 occupancy by December and all of it by September 2021, while pricing will be restored by March 2022.
Shareholders may also be looking to see if the group will use the extra cash to target any strategic opportunities in the sector once the core business is back up and running.
Cash burn and engine flying hours on the cards for Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Holding PLC’s (LON:RR.) trading update on Thursday is the first time the engine maker has released news after the 9,000 job cuts it announced in May.
Investors will be eager to hear what engine flying hours (EFH) have looked like in recent weeks, considering the 90% drop in April and its impact on group revenues.
Another key aspect will be the group's free cash flow, according to Hargreaves Lansdown.
“This will largely depend on what Rolls Royce can do with its cost base and what expectations are for the recovery of its biggest end markets,” Hargreaves' analysts commented.
“We know the group expects ‘a significant net cash outflow in the second quarter’, but some colour on exactly what this will look like would be helpful.”
Persimmon and other housebuilders look to build on sector success
House prices appear to be holding relatively steady despite an initial slump in sales volumes as buyers were kept away by the lockdown measures, however, the pace of any economic recovery could still see them dip again.
Investors may seek any indication that the firm is looking to pursue opportunities in the sector, with peer Taylor Wimpey PLC (LON:TW.) having already raised around £500mln to buy up land. Persimmon may follow suit although it may be risky if the economy falters again.
There may also be an update on how the new socially distanced building sites have impacted costs, which could put pressure on margins.
For Barratt, UBS is expecting completions to be down 32% year-on-year to 12,237 alongside revenues of around £3.28bn, with margins coming under pressure from operational inefficiency due to pandemic disruption, resulting in a pre-tax profit of £516mln, down from £910mln in the prior year.
Meanwhile, the Swiss bank’s analysts are forecasting Vistry will see a 50% decline in completions in the first half of its current year to 1,376 units as a result of pandemic disruption, alongside revenues of £553mln and an operating profit of £43mln excluding joint ventures.
Recruiters called in for updates
The pair will be following up on a similarly synchronised quarterly update in April that showed how the coronavirus pandemic had taken a big bite out of market confidence.
As well as cancelling the final dividend of 9.4p per share for last year, PageGroup announced more stricter measures, looking to cut costs by 20-25%, versus a 15% reduction made at Walters.
Page’s dividend cut saved £30mln out of its £83mln of cash in the bank at the end of March while it also had a £30mln bank facility.
Robert Walters had £109mln in cash plus a £60mln committed loan facility at the end of the same period, with its eponymous chief executive saying he expected the second quarter to be “more challenging”.
The coming week’s UK macroeconomic data includes house price reports from Halifax and the RICS, plus the construction sector purchasing managers’ index survey from Markit.
Across the Atlantic, the ISM non-manufacturing survey and Markit’s services PMI on Monday and the continuing and initial weekly jobless claims data on Thursday will be the big focus. The Baker Hughes oil rig count is on Friday.
In Europe, there’s investor confidence and retail sales data on Monday, while the European Commission will release its economic growth forecasts on Wednesday.
Significant announcements expected for week ending July 10:
Monday July 6:
Economic data: UK construction PMI, US services PMI
Tuesday July 7:
Wednesday July 8:
Thursday July 9:
Trading updates: Rolls Royce Holdings PLC (LON:RR.), Persimmon PLC (LON:PSN), PageGroup PLC (LON:PAGE), Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTY), Workspace Group PLC (LON:WKP), Grafton Group PLC (LON:GFTU), Robert Walters PLC (LON:RWA)
Economic data: US weekly jobless claims
Friday July 10:
Economic data: US inflation


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As if the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic haven’t been strain enough for many North Country businesses, the impact of last year’s fire-related closures in the Boundary Waters, as well as the effective closure of the U.S.-Canadian border going on nearly two years now, has piled the misery even higher.
Several economic development officials, a tribal chairman, and North Country business owners testified in a state House committee on Feb. 16 in support of legislation that would create the Canadian Border Counties Economic Relief Program. If passed by the Legislature, it could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for area outfitters, hotels, shops, and other businesses that have been impacted by recent closures.
The legislation (HF 2811), authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund of International Falls would provide up to $15 million in funding to help businesses in the region that can demonstrate significant losses as a result of the closures. Local wilderness outfitters, who saw what had looked to be an excellent summer whither in the face of widespread Boundary Waters closures, would be among the potential beneficiaries with both loans and grants.
While some businesses in the region have done fine, even thrived, during the pandemic, certain businesses, particularly those that rely on cross-border traffic, have been severely impacted. Among the hardest hit is the Grand Portage Band, located at the very tip of the Arrowhead. The band had just completed an expensive renovation of their hotel resort and casino when COVID hit. Given their location, about 45 miles southwest of Thunder Bay, Canadian guests have traditionally made up about 80-85 percent of the band’s customer base. When COVID arrived and the border shut down, their business dropped 90 percent, according to tribal chairman Robert Deschampe. It has yet to recover. While the border is technically open, the restrictions in place are onerous enough, particularly for discretionary crossings, that Canadian visitors are staying away.
It’s much the same at International Falls, where border crossings fell from nearly 400,000 in 2019, to barely 80,000 in 2020. Many retailers in that border city rely on Canadians for most of their sales, so the disappearance of Canadian shoppers has devastated retail stores, gas stations, medical providers, and restaurants. The fall-off in American-based traffic coming through town on the way to the border has also hit businesses hard. That undoubtedly contributed to the closure of the community’s long-time newspaper, The Journal, among nearly a dozen other businesses.
Imagine the impact, as well, at Ryden’s Border Store, a gas station and duty-free shop located about a quarter-mile from the border crossing near Grand Portage. The Ryden family has owned and operated the store since 1947, but they’ve never experienced the kind of impact the border closure had on their business, which went from a busy and thriving enterprise to nearly a ghost town when the border closed. They, like many of the businesses that would potentially benefit from this bill, have been devastated by events that have clearly been beyond their control.
It’s hardly unusual for the state to pitch in with financial assistance under such circumstances. In 2016, for example, when the walleye fishery on Mille Lacs Lake collapsed, the Legislature approved a $3.6 million aid package, including grants and loans, to help resort owners and other businesses in that area, who were severely affected by the steep decline in anglers. Ecklund’s bill is modeled on that earlier relief package.
For those businesses truly affected by these closures, Ecklund’s bill would be a godsend. At the same time, the closures last year didn’t affect every business in the region. In fact, some did very well and, quite frankly, don’t need additional support from taxpayers. Fortunately, the measure would require that businesses document a financial decline from 2019 of at least ten percent. Businesses that have truly been hurt by the closures will have no difficulty documenting that harm. Which is why we urge the Legislature to adopt Ecklund’s measure.
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IIMB-FTIL launches 'Vista online wars'
BANGALORE: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) in partnership with Financial Technologies (India) Ltd (FTIL) on Wednesday launched the "Vista Online Wars 2006", a series of real-time online games, an online offshoot of Vista, the largest management summit conducted by a B-school in India.
The online offshoot of Vista 2005 had met with tremendous success, seeing as many as 1.2 million hits in the run-up to and during the summit. Vista Online Wars 2006, the first commodities trading event conducted in India, will expand the breadth of its scope in the same.
The games and simulations in Online Wars will aim at providing an exposure to the world of commodities, foreign exchange trading as well as other asset classes, Jignesh Shah CMD FTIL said, kicking off the online games.
MCX, a group company of FTIL will conduct the "CommXpert" online trading exercise, which will give participants a ringside view into the world of commodities trading, he said.
After an online test to shortlist participants, Shah said there will be a round of simulated trading in commodities followed by an analysis of the trading strategies adopted by the participants, which will decide the winners of this event.
"The event will provide huge experimental learning benefits and generate a tremendous enthusiasm about this rapidly growing component of Indian financial markets," he said.
"Invites have been sent out 500 colleges in the country and top 25 B-schools in the world including those in the UK and US. About 4000 teams are expected to participate this year," Vikram Vaidyanathan, President Forum For Industrial Reaction said.
In the virtual battlefield, the teams will vie for a prize money of worth Rs two lakh, he said.
While Vista Online Wars 2006 will be a month-long event, the three-day flagship management event of IIMB, Vista 2006 will commence on October 13.


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Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant is celebrating a manufacturing milestone this week as the 100,000th Astra Sports Tourer leaves the production line in Cheshire.
2,100 people are employed at the plant, which is the only General Motors facility producing the Sports Tourer model. 92.5% of the cars built are exported from Ellesmere Port to Europe, as well as countries including Chile, Israel and South Africa. Within the first nine months of production, Vauxhall had also sold 6,316 Sports Tourers to buyers in the UK.
47 jobs per hour are currently being achieved on the production line, and the plant itself has strong environmental credentials. It was the first automotive manufacturing operation to receive ISO14001 certification (then BS 7750) in 1995 and has received numerous environmental awards.
The 100,000th car was driven off the line by Ellesmere Port’s longest serving employee, John Cooper. He joined the plant in 1967, just five years after the facility started production.
You can find out more about UK automotive manufacturing by downloading SMMT Motor Industry Facts 2011.


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Chocolate fans have been left furious after Toblerone increased the gaps between the bar’s iconic triangular peaks as a cost cutting measure to reduce the weight.
The change is only happening in the UK and was taken following the higher import costs for ingredients such as cocoa since the UK decided to leave the European Union.
The company that own Toblerone and Cadbury, Mondelez, denied that the change was due to ‘Brexit’, but pointed out the exchange rate was ‘not favourable’
The move by the company, formerly known as Kraft, has resulted in the weight of the 400g bars being reduced to 360g and the 170g bars to 150g, while the price remains the same.
Britains took to social media to voice their ‘disgust’ at the bigger spaces between the Toblerone peaks, although the packaging will remain the same size.
Comedian Ricky Gervais led the outrage, saying: ‘First Brexit and now this.’
First Brexit & Now This
Toblerone triangle change upsets fans https://t.co/u8vitSVUu0
— Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) November 8, 2016
One shared a picture of the new chocolate bar and said: ‘I’ve been to funerals less upsetting than this’.
Josephine tweeted: ‘First marmite, now toblerone. Brexit is taking away everything I love.’
— James Adams (@jamesradams) November 7, 2016
Alistair Calder wrote on Facebook, saying: ‘Utterly ridiculous decision!! Make it shorter or make it more expensive – much more honest.’
Dan Rickwood wrote: ‘Hi Toblerone, I am one of your biggest fans and love your chocolate, but I bought a 150g toblerone earlier only to be left upset disappointed and a little distressed!
Mondelez has not yet confirmed whether the changes to the Toblerone bar will be rolled out to other countries.
I love the British. ‘Yeah there’s a vote, but the toberlone has changed’ pic.twitter.com/839h75kv5s
— Josh Ashdown (@ashmore_) November 8, 2016
In a statement, the owner said: ‘Like many other companies, we are experiencing higher costs for numerous ingredients.
In other #toberlone observations – does anyone else injure their mouth from the pointy triangle every time they eat one? No, just me …..
— Charlie O’Brien (@charlie_radio) November 8, 2016
Toblerone was invented in Switzerland and is still made in the capital, Bern.


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How are South Jersey farmers weathering the impact of COVID-19?
It's been one year since COVID-19 disrupted our lives, dramatically changing the way we live, work and play. This article is one in a series of stories detailing South Jersey's adjustment to the pandemic.
Come spring and summer, South Jersey farmers hope for perfect seasonal weather for their crops, but in 2020 they faced another uncertainty — the coronavirus pandemic.
Many farmers saw the impact coming because New Jersey's restaurants were closed for inside dining for three months in the spring due to a state-wide gubernatorial stay-at-home order. At the same time, most schools also closed and were not serving lunches.
And when restaurants did open their doors, seating was restricted by the state to 25 percent of seating capacity, reducing commercial demand for Jersey Fresh produce and other farm products such as milk and farm-raised clams and oysters.
So how did farmers cope?
"Demand shifted during and after the shutdown to the fresh market because people still had to eat and were cooking more,” said Ed Wengryn of the New Jersey Farm Bureau.
“This saved farmers in New Jersey. Some fared very well, some fairly well and others got by, but we don’t know of any farmer — large or small — who went out of business because of the COVID situation. Farmers are resilient and adapt to change."
Wengryn said farmers funneled more products to consumers via food stores, municipal and county farmers markets, farm stands and other direct sales from farms like pick-your-own operations and community supported agriculture programs, or CSAs.
With lower commercial demand — and before realizing individual consumer demand would increase — some farmers planted less, while others pivoted the marketing of their businesses to meet consumer demand.
In addition, crop insurance and CARES Act funding helped to offset reduced income for some farmers.
Pivoting to where the consumers are
To better accommodate the fresh market and survive, farmers shifted marketing strategies, including the owners of Lone Wolfe Farm in Pemberton Township.
Sandy Wolfe and husband Rick were worried they would be unable to sell enough of their produce — and not just because of the limited restaurant market. They normally provide the Robin’s Nest in Mount Holly with a wide range of in-season produce weekly, they said.
The couple plants white corn, tomatoes, beets, cucumber, baby watermelon, strawberries and asparagus and raise greenhouse flowers annually on their 75-acre farm, which also has a peach orchard.
“We didn’t know if the state would even let farm stands open, if the public would even risk coming to a farm stand like ours and we also wanted to let the the public — our costumers and potentially new customers — know we were there,” said Sandy Wolfe.
“So what we did was to add more produce and offer delivery or pick-up in the spring when people were afraid to go to a grocery stores and immediately loaded a lot of information onto our Facebook page and into our website to make it more active,” she said.
“My husband spent hours doing it and by April we started to get tons of orders on the phone, website and Facebook. Some customers came from more than 15 miles way to pick up orders for several families,” she recalls.
Her farm also trucked their produce and flowers to an outdoor market where they are traditionally a vendor in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
“It was a good financial year, which was a big surprise. By July people were coming to the stand,” she said.
Wengryn said dairy farmers eventually were able to handle higher consumer demand for milk since schools were closed but not until manufacturers of packaging were able to switch from pint and half-pint cartons to larger containers for grocery and convenience stores.
Big crowds at the farmers markets
The Duffield Farm and its year-round farm market in Sewell, meanwhile, had a record year in everything from white corn to peaches.
“We had the best year ever to be honest with you. A lot of people supported us and we were just slammed we were so busy and had to have limits at times on how many could be in the market ,” said David Duffield Jr., whose staff also handled online orders for pick-up and instituted delivery service he said were implemented quickly in the spring in response to virus concerns.
“We were even able to do about 42 percent of our annual hayrides,” he recalled.
The Durrs in North Hanover said they suffered some losses in their floral business but compensated for much of that in retail and wholesale produce.
James and Lisa Durr operate one of the largest family farms in South Jersey, encompassing 1,600 acres in North Hanover and Chesterfield. They raise a wide variety of vegetables, other produce and flowers and nursery plants for local markets. They grow for commercial markets ranging from wholesalers to supermarkets, caterers and even other farmers who resell them.
“The flower market itself collapsed,'' said James Durr, whose farm is one of the largest suppliers of fresh flowers on the East Coast. "In New York City, weddings and other parties were cancelled or postponed through summer and some of the caterers and wholesale florists are now gone (out of business).
“But our business with supermarkets recovered,” he continued.
Produce sales and craft wreaths and centerpieces made by Lisa Durr helped to offset major coronavirus-related losses in flower sales that started as they do every spring with pussy willows. “Overall, business was down 20 percent (from 2019),” James Durr said.
In addition, many of their 30 full-time workers contracted COVID-19, which also presented difficulties, he said.
“We had to quarantine them for 14 days in my housing I provide for them and we took care of them because I love my men, most of whom have been with me for 20 to 25 years,'' he said.
"Only one [farm worker] was hospitalized for two weeks,” he explained, adding that hiring seasonal labor was a bit more of problem last year but not as much as he had anticipated when the virus struck.
The Durrs also are among the vendors at the Burlington County Farm in Moorestown, where Lisa Durr, son Zachary and other workers wait on customers.
Every Saturday the market was mobbed as were many other local farm markets in the region.
“It was an exceptional season at the market. Many of the the vendors reported it was their best season ever in individual sales,” said Mary Pat Robbie, director of the county department of resource conservation who oversees the Burlington market. “We set up a one-way route for then to follow around the market, everyone had to wear masks and we encouraged social distancing."
Robbie said the pandemic made people focus on buying local and getting it fresh. "They were more comfortable knowing where the produce came from and in buying it outdoors," she said.
Would New Jersey's shellfish crops be under water?
Aquaculture farming takes place in bay and seashore counties, where the clam industry thrived, but its oyster counterpart struggled.
“Oysters are a high-end, more expensive product usually served at restaurants raw on the half shell, Rockefeller or in oyster stew," said Ned Gaine, owner of Bay Ridge Oysters. His oysters are raised along the tidal shoreline of Delaware Bay on 800 state-leased acres in Cumberland County and in Middle Township, Cape May County, and also elsewhere in Atlantic County. .
"With clams you can either get them at a restaurant or buy them to take home and eat on the half shell or steam them to open, but most people don't buy oysters because they don't want to or have no idea how to shuck one,” the farmer added, referring to the oyster's more intimidating, gnarled shell.
While the farmer survived despite sales that fell by 80 percent as Eastern Oyster demand plummeted, Gaine said he is more concerned for the future of restaurants than farmers.
"My No. 1 issue is supporting restaurants,'' he said. "They need more help than we do.
We have not lost any aquaculture farms that I know of, but we have lost restaurants (to COVID-19)," said Gaine, a supporter of the Restaurants Act fiscal stimulus pending in Congress.
Matt Williams of South Bay Shellfish raises his Eastern Oysters in parallel rows in the tidal flatlands near Gaine's farm. Both farmers employ a sophisticated farming technique found off the Normandy coast of France.
South Bay Shelfish is a commercial farm that Williams said recovered somewhat later in the year though sales were off 40 percent.
"Last spring was really bad until restaurants reopened indoors in June,'' Williams said. "Usually we sell 5,000 oysters in April and 10,000 in May and supply Steve and Cookie’s restaurant in Margate and Cape May Fish Market, but we sold none in April and only 200 in May.”
“To get around this we got a retail license and sold oysters out of the back of a truck on a farm my brother rented. We did pretty well with that and got by for the year.”
Farmers look to the future
The peach season also suffered last year, but not because of COVID-19. An April frost killed many peach blossoms at many South Jersey orchards.
“We had a total loss but were saved because we had some crop insurance and we didn't have to spray or hire labor," said Stacey Holtzhauser, who farms with husband Tom and son Tom Jr., in Mullica Hill and usually supplies the Blue Plate restaurant in that town with seasonal peaches for the unique dishes chef owner Jim Malaby creates.
But as the world begins to open up a bit, farmers are hopeful about this year.
“Things are perking up. I’m an optimist. I think we will be able to start selling lilacs and peonies by mid-April,” James Durr said.
With New Jersey restaurants now at 35 percent capacity and likely to reach 50 percent in the near future, even oyster farmers are optimistic about their future.
Carol Comegno loves telling stories about South Jersey history and our military veterans. Her book, “The Battleship USS New Jersey: From Birth to Berth” is the definitive history of the battleship. If you have a story to share, call her at 856-486-2473 or email email@example.com.


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Taiheiyo Cement Corp is set to raise its stake in South Korean firm Ssangyong Cement Industrial Co. Ltd. to more than 33.3 per cent in the next fiscal year, according to local press reports.
Taiheiyo has already acquired a 30 per cent stake in Ssangyong, whose importance is growing for the Japanese firm as an export base for the key United States market.
According to the paper, Taiheiyo will spend around 1bn yen to purchase Ssangyong shares to raise its stake.
Taiheiyo officials could not be immediately reached for comment. Officials at two of Ssangyong’s major creditors said they were unaware of the news.


text: Anna Wintour has held the position of editor-in-chief of the United States edition of Vogue for more than two decades, and with the relaunch of the magazine's website, also unveiled were a series of photographs paying tribute to the frontwoman in charge's first ever cover of the fashion bible. American model-of-the-moment Gigi Hadid had the honor of replicating the November 1988 number's cover shot which marked Wintour's first publication behind Vogue US. The nineteen year-old beauty is captured by her countryman Sean Thomas to recreate the windswept dawn image originally shot by noted German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh starring Israeli model Michaela Bercu. From the contagious smile to the sandy blonde tresses, both mannequins bear striking similarities, but instead of the ten-thousand-dollar Christian Lacroix jacket donned by Bercu twenty-six years ago, the recreated images see Hadid wearing a sweater collaboration by former CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Dana Lorenz of Fenton/Fallon and Andrea Lieberman of A.L.C. with her acid wash blue jeans instead.


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There's an unfortunate lack of details on this one at the moment, but it looks like BMW
has something a little special in store for China at the Shanghai Motor Show next month. It will be showing off its new 5 Series "New Energy Vehicle," a plug-in hybrid that, as previously suggested
, will be exclusive to the Chinese market. That will presumably be somewhat similar to the company's ActiveHybrid 5 concept pictured above, which it first showed off last year but still hasn't put into production. As Motor Authority notes, however, the New York Auto Show actually coincides with the Shanghai show, so there's a chance that BMW could be set to provide an update on the ActiveHybrid 5, or possibly introduce a North American counterpart to the New Energy Vehicle.


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(ANIMAL NEWS) McDonald’s has announced that it will ask the company’s pork suppliers to phase out the use of cramped sow gestation stalls. While the Humane Society of the United States is applauding this animal friendly decision, those within the pork industry are worried that bigger pig pens will create safety issues for both pigs and farm workers. As a $97 billion industry in the U.S., this new decision will have far reaches within the pork industry. Read more on the response to McDonald’s new announcement. — Global Animal
CNNMoney, Aaron Smith
McDonald’s said it will get its pork suppliers to phase out the use of immobilizing cages for pregnant pigs, a move that was applauded by the Humane Society of the United States, but not the pork industry.
“McDonald’s believes gestation stalls are not a sustainable production system for the future,” said the fast food chain in a press release. “There are alternatives that we think are better for the welfare of sows.”
Animal activists oppose the use of gestation stalls, which are cages that keep individual sows in close confines while they’re pregnant.
“Confining pigs in gestation crates is arguably the cruelest practice in factory farming,” said Josh Balk, spokesman for the Humane Society of the U.S. “These are iron maidens that are barely larger than the pigs’ own bodies.”
Balk said that at the farms that use gestation stalls, sows spend most of their lives in the confining cages, where they have no room to move. He said that a better alternative is the use of large pen areas that “allow pigs to be more like pigs.”
Balk added that the European Union and eight U.S. states have already banned the use of gestation stalls.
But the pork industry doesn’t see it that way. Dave Warner, spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council, said that, contrary to popular opinion, pens aren’t necessarily better than the stalls.
“Pens have some real problems,” he said. “Let’s say you put ten pregnant sows in a pen. They get mean.”
The sows often bite each other, resulting in painful injuries, he said. When a farmer enters a pen to care for an injured sow, they’ll attack the farmer, too, he added.
“When a worker goes into a pen with ten pregnant sows, there’s a worker safety issue,” he said.
John McGlone, director of the Pork Industry Institute at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, said that scientific studies of pens and stalls have determined that their impact on the pigs’ quality of life is essentially the same. But he acknowledged that it doesn’t matter, as far as the perception is concerned.
“What we have here is a situation where the science says the two systems are equal, but the public perception is bad,” he said. “Some people have an ethical problem with placing a sow in a situation where she can’t turn around or socialize with other animals. You cannot convince the majority of people that it’s OK to house sows in crates.”
Pork is a critical ingredient in many of McDonald’s (MCD, Fortune 500) menu items, including the McRib, the Angus Chipotle BBQ Bacon and the Angus Bacon & Cheese sandwiches.
For a major pork buyer like McDonald’s to shun the use of gestation stalls is no small matter. According to the Humane Society of the U.S., leading pork-producing states like Iowa, where pork is a $4 billion industry, as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma and North Carolina, do not ban the use of gestation stalls.
U.S. pork production is a $97 billion industry, directly supporting 35,000 full-time jobs in 2007, according to the most recent statistics from the National Pork Producers Council. In that year, nearly 21 billion pounds of pork were processed from about 105 million hogs.
In addition to supplying domestic consumers and companies like McDonald’s, U.S. pork is a major export industry, accounting for $3.1 billion worth of exports in 2007, according to the council. Japan is the biggest importer of U.S. pork, followed by Mexico, Russia and China.
McGlone and Warner both said that the cost of switching from stalls to pens depends on how much time is required. Farmers generally change their equipment every 10 years, so if McDonald’s was willing to be flexible with the conversion time, it would soften the financial hardship, they said.
But if not, it could drive small farmers out of business, said Warner. Even still, he said he prefers that businesses guide the market instead of the federal government.
“This is a business decision that they made,” said Warner, referring to McDonald’s. “We have no problem with that. It is the free market, and it’s not the federal government dictating.”


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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Wednesday issued its annual report on enforcement of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFPB is required to submit annual reports to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a task previously assigned to the FTC. The Bureau’s first report to Congress was submitted last year and the CFPB’s second report is due on March 20, 2013. To assist the CFPB in preparing its report, the FTC’s letter summarizes its own recent work on debt collection issues.
“The FTC remains vigilant in taking action against debt collectors who use illegal methods when collecting from consumers,” said Charles Harwood, Acting Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
In the last 12 months, the FTC noted that it brought or resolved cases against four operations that allegedly used deceptive or abusive tactics to intimidate consumers:
- Defendants in the Forensic Case Management Services, Inc. case, who did business as Rumson, Bolling & Associates, settled charges with an order banning them from future debt collection activity. They allegedly threatened bodily harm to consumers, desecration of their deceased family members, and death to their pets if they did not pay. They also allegedly retained more fees from their clients than they had agreed to take. The Commission will collect more than $1.1 million.
- In the Luebke Baker case, the FTC settled with defendants that allegedly masked their identities using caller ID, falsely told consumers that magazine debts are exempt from statutes of limitations, and illegally threatened to garnish wages, among other violations of federal law.
- In the Goldman Schwartz case, the defendants’ allegedly illegal behavior included using insults, lies, false threats of imprisonment, and false claims of affiliations with attorneys and law firms, as well as charging unauthorized late fees and attorneys’ fees. Litigation continues.
- In AMG Services, Inc., the FTC alleged that a payday lender collecting on its own behalf charged inflated fees and made false threats that it would have consumers arrested, prosecuted, or imprisoned for failing to pay. Litigation continues.
The FTC also said that it had engaged in actions against three phantom, or scam, debt collection agencies. In each case, the defendants allegedly worked closely with overseas call centers; engaged in a scheme to defraud consumers, often for payday loans; and collected money that either wasn’t owed, or was never applied to the consumers’ actual debts. The American Credit Crunchers defendants were required to turn over approximately $170,000. Litigation in the other two cases continues.
In other debt collection and FDCPA regulation action, the FTC noted that it joined the CFPB and the Department of Justice in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court over attorneys fees awarded to prevailing defendants in FDCPA cases brought by consumers. The FTC’s research and policy activities over the past year included the agency’s recently announced debt buyer study, The Structure and Practices of the Debt Buying Industry.
- Collection Law Overview: A Look at the TCPA
- The Debt Collection Compliance Handbook
- Ask the Attorney Webinar Transcript – October 2012
- CFPB Examination Manual Sections Applicable to Debt Collectors


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The year of Pokemon continues. 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic franchise, and Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are celebrating in multiple ways, including a Super Bowl commercial, a Nintendo 3DS bundle, an augmented reality mobile game, and an arcade fighting game on Wii U. But today comes the most surprising (and amazing) announcement yet: Pikachu is going to star in a detective game. (The concept was hinted at several years ago, but this is our first real look at it).
The game — which loosely translates to Great Detective Pikachu — stars everyone's favorite electric rat as a crime-solving gumshoe, complete with a deerstalker hat a la Sherlock Holmes. He even talks, because it's hard to interrogate criminals if you only say "pika." Unfortunately, there's no word yet on if or when the game will be available in English, but it's launching soon in Japan, hitting the Nintendo 3DS as a digital download on February 3rd.


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Welcome to the Blockhead Business newsletter, your go-to source for industry developments, news and insights in the world of digital assets.
Asia-led and global in scope, we bring you a weekly roundup of the most important business and economic developments in the industry, along with expert analysis and commentary from top professionals in the field.
Whether you're a fund manager, professional investor, or simply interested in the world of digital assets, our newsletter is your essential guide to navigating the future of finance.
CAPITAL FLOWS IN GLOBAL MARKETS
Bitcoin's Rally Still In Play
Bitcoin's rally this year has received a lot of attention. However, the coin's price appears to have hit a wall at US$28,000, a significant trading mark it has been hovering around for days.


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EvoNexus continues to innovate, this time on a global level.
It’s created a “MarketLink Program,” which will enable global leader Murata Electronics and pSemi, (a Murata company), to hand-pick tech companies that dovetail with their strategic areas for potential partnerships. Both are sponsors of EvoNexus.
Applications came from as far as India and Israel to receive support in the form of product development, manufacturing support, licensing, channels-to-market, investment and other forms of collaboration. Applicants ranged from early-stage startups all the way to early-growth companies that are in revenue.
Companies developing innovative tech in the areas of 5G, the IoT, digital healthcare, energy, and mobility were invited to apply.
More than 100 companies, in total, applied for the 15 slots to meet with Murata and pSemi executives. The next step is the selection of 15 companies. They will get a private, one-hour virtual meeting with the execs.
There was no cost to apply.
Murata is a global leader in the design, manufacture and supply of electronic components, wireless connectivity, sensors and power and battery technologies.
Murata’s innovations are used in a wide range of applications, from mobile devices, automotive, wireless connectivity, healthcare devices and tools, energy and industrial.
Murata Manufacturing is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components and devices, communication modules and power supply modules.
pSemi Corporation is a Murata company that drives semiconductor integration. pSemi builds on Peregrine
Semiconductor’s 30-year legacy of tech advancements and strong IP portfolio, but with a new mission: to enhance Murata’s world-class capabilities with high-performance RF, analog and mixed-signal tools.
With a strong foundation in RF integration, pSemi’s product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, antenna tuning and RF front-ends.
These semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare.
pSemi’s HQ is in SD. It also has offices around the world.
More About EvoNexus
EvoNexus is the brand of a tech startup incubator. Its original incubator is in SD and it has another incubator in La Jolla. It also has branches in OC and Silicon Valley. (The Silicon Valley operation is on the campus of Franklin Templeton Investments in San Mateo.)
The incubators let companies stay for up to two years.
It’s launched around 230 tech startups, with a survival rate of over 85%, since the first incubator started in 2010.
Two years ago, it started taking a very small percentage of equity (1%) in the startups it accepts, and that equity is reinvested in EvoNexus, a non-profit corporation, as a pay-it-forward to the next generation of startups.
The 1% will get diluted over time, EvoNexus co-founder Rory Moore said. So, therefore the organization still need to secure sponsorships to cover their operating expenses.
Companies that graduated from EvoNexus have secured over $2 billion in venture funding and outcomes, including 28 acquisitions.
The incubator is supported by corporate investors, including some of the largest multinational corporations in the world.
In other EvoNexus news, the application period for the first cohort of its virtual 5G incubator goes through October 9. Quinn Li, SVP and global head of Qualcomm Ventures, is the lead for Qualcomm Ventures in the 5G program. Li has an M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering and an MBA from Cornell University.
See recent article about this program here.


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If we’ve learned one thing about penny stocks in 2022, it’s that speculation reigns supreme. The slightest whimper of “potential” or a rumor of what “could be coming” has played a big part in the stock market of today.
Thanks, in part, to the meme stonk rally of 2020 and 2021, social media and peer-to-peer sentiment-based trading have become a strategy traders use. But if you want to become part of the “in crowd” before the party starts, what are ways to find names for your penny stocks list?
Some are turning to the options market. Believe it or not, even though penny stocks are cheap, many have options for derivatives trading for even cheap. Today’s article isn’t about finding options to buy. However, as many readers have requested, we will look at the options chains of a few stocks under $5 to see if there’s any truth to “whale trades” coming before a bullish wave in the market.
How To Find Penny Stocks To Buy
Today’s article focuses on irregular options volume and unusual options activity. A quick disclaimer here: nothing that happens in the options market is guaranteed to translate into the stock market. However, since this “follow the money” trend is apparent, let’s see if any of today’s unusual options activity holds weight for traders.
4 Penny Stocks With Unusual Options Activity, Time To Buy or Avoid Entirely?
1. Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU)
Current NU Stock Price: $4.17
Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU) has long been touted as Warren Buffett’s bet on Bitcoin. Despite his cohort, Charlie Munger calling BTC “stupid and evil,” the Oracle of Omaha seems to find some potential in the fintech company. Based on the most recent quarterly filing for Berkshire Hathaway, the company has a 2.3% stake in Nu.
Something that may be attractive to Buffett and the market at large is the exponential growth the company has undergone. Nu posted Q1 revenue growth of 226% at $877.2 million. That also far-surpassed analyst estimates of $653.4 million. In a quarterly update, Nu Founder and Chief Executive David Velez also said, “This is the strongest quarter in Nu’s history. We reached nearly 60 million customers and a record-high activity rate of 78%.”
Is NU Stock A Buy?
Although there haven’t been any new updates, a quick look at the options market shows that some may be speculating on a bullish move. Looking at the December 16th $7 Calls, you’ll see where the interesting activity is. As of this article, there’s a minimal volume in the options for that expiration. However, at the $7 strike, more than 4,000 contracts were traded today. Is this a bullish bet or a hedge against a larger downside bet? That’s a question to keep in mind because the put side of this chain shows significant open interest at the $5 and $4 strike puts as well.
2. Shift Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SFT)
Current SFT Stock Price: $1.09
Another fintech company, Shift Technologies (NASDAQ:SFT), has also turned heads in the stock market this week. It has been on the list of “short squeeze stocks” to watch, thanks to mounting short interest in the name. Today, data from Fintel.IO shows the current short float percentage of SFT stock sitting at 24.35%. Meanwhile, participation in the upcoming Wells Fargo Bricks to Click Digital Conference may be at the top of mind for some.
Shift announced the acquisition of Fair Financial Corp.s listing marketplace technology this quarter. Not much has been touched upon since and could be a source of this speculation right now. In May, Shift reported the deal that it said would welcome new members to its team and speed up its “vision of becoming the destination marketplace for car ownership.”
Is SFT Stock A Buy?
There seems to be some speculation in the near term compared to NU stock. In this case, the SFT options chain shows unusual activity in the July 15 $2.50 calls. More than 4,600 contracts are traded as of this article compared to just 430 contracts showing for open interest. With the upcoming conference next week, it will be interesting to see what the company discusses.
3. Traeger Inc. (NYSE: COOK)
Current COOK Stock Price: $4.81
We’ve discussed numerous household-name stocks that became penny stocks this year. Traeger Inc. (NYSE:COOK), in particular, was one of our featured posts discussing the topic of “will it become a penny stock” this year. When the COOK stock update was posted, shares were trading at over $6.70. This month, the grill and smoker company hit fresh lows of $3.85. But late-June action could be showing a turn in the tides. COOK stock has rebounded the last few days and reached highs of more than $4.80 on June 23rd.
Other than price action, traders may look at COOK stock’s short interest. Fintel data shows the current short float percentage sitting above 14% right now. Something that may be at the top of mind for traders is how Traeger will turn things around this year. Despite beating estimates for Q1 earnings, the company posted lower revenue guidance, taking precedence over the earnings beat.
Management hopes that new platforms launching, including its Timberline and Timberline XL grills, will bolster growth as the company expands its reach with retail partners.
Is COOK Stock A Buy?
Against a bearish market backdrop, some are bullishly speculating on COOK stock. Specifically, the $5 strike Call options for the July 15th expiration are gaining the most attention. There were 919 contracts open today but more than 1,600 in volume. Will the mix of short interest, consumer spending for stay-at-home summertime entertainment, and a hopeful turnaround in the company’s financial stance fire up COOK stock, or are the embers completely extinguished right now?
4. Vroom Inc. (NASDAQ: VRM)
Current VRM Stock Price:$1.49
Like Shift Technologies, Vroom Inc. (NASDAQ:VRM) focuses on the auto retail industry. The company provides an eCommerce platform for buying and selling used vehicles and recently posted more robust than expected earnings for the first quarter.
Vroom beat on earnings per share estimates as well as sales estimates, achieving $923.77 million compared to $878.13 million expected.
“As we look forward, we intend to prioritize unit economics over growth, reduce operating expenses, and focus on four key initiatives to build a profitable business. I would like to thank all of our Vroommates and our third-party partners for their support in serving our customers,” explained CEO Thomas Shortt in his Q1 update.
Meanwhile, we’ve also got some short squeeze attention on the stock. Right now Fintel data shows the short float percentage for VRM stock sitting slightly above 30%.
Is VRM Stock A Buy?
Considering the options activity today, it looks like some bullish speculation might be at play. The July 15th $1.50 and $2 strike Calls saw a higher volume than open interest on June 23rd.


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The iPhone 6S was still on sale as recently as 2018, when the company was launching the advanced iPhone X and with the iPhone 8
was still on the market.
The iPhone X look: For those who didn't like how the iPhone 8
immediately looked outdated because of the iPhone X, you'll be happy to know that all three new iPhones have the almost bezel-less screen-and the notch.
All the listing show the devices running on the Apple's latest iOS12 OS and a comparison table between the iPhone 8
Plus and the iPhone 11,6 suggests that the A12 Bionic might be shipped clocked at 2.49 GHz, up from the 2.39 GHz on the A11 Bionic.
iPhone XR: 90 minutes longer than iPhone 8
Plus -- 25 hours (talk time), 15 hours (internet use), 16 hours (video playback), up to 65 hours (audio playback)
Battery life claim: 1.5 hours more per day than the iPhone 8
The devices that were launched alongside it, the iPhone 8
and 8 Plus, rose 50 per cent in September of that year.
Meanwhile, the reports noted the iPhone 8
would continue production as part of Apple's lower-end lineup.
IPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus - Maurizio Pesce - Wikimedia commons On the September 12 of this year, Apple had its press event in Cupertino, California, where it announced six new devices: iPhone 8
, iPhone 8
Plus, iPhone X, Apple Watch 3, Apple TV 4K and the Apple AirPower charger.
Apple launched three iPhones including iPhone X, iPhone 8
and iPhone 8
Plus at an event on Apple's new campus, at the Steve Jobs Theater here.
Apple's iPhone 8
may already be the most leaked iPhone in history and we have learned a huge amount about what this potentially game changing phone will deliver.
While it discounted the more mainstream iPhone 8
and iPhone 8
Plus, it eliminated the iPhone X from its lineup.
Just after releasing the price of this year's iPhones, Cook revealed the price drop in the previous generations of the phones, like iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8
but there was no mention of the iPhone X.


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This morning, Nike unveiled the new set of NFL Uniforms as part of their "Elite 51" series. In 2010, some really wacky re-designs hit the web. Those turned out to be fakes. The new Nike uniforms aren't really all that dramatically different, especially from a Patriots perspective. In fact, the team with the most dramatic re-design was the Seattle Seahawks... but it was known heading into today's event that they would be making dramatic changes. So without further ado, the new uniforms:
And the Patriots unis:
The Patriots have apparently opted to stick with the traditional collars, while some of the other NFL teams have "modern" collars which I don't find too appealing. Overall, the biggest difference in these uniforms is the material and technology, not the appearance (although I think that will change over the coming years).
The new jerseys will be available for pre-sale on April 15th, and will be on sale April 26th and 27th.
UPDATE: Here's a better look at Wes Welker modeling the new Patriots uniform:


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Yet Another Bailout for Faraday Future
Faraday Future, the contentious automotive startup that always seems to find (and then lose) sizable amounts of cash, has announced it has once again managed to secure new funding. According to its press release, Faraday says will receive $225 million in bridge financing via a funding round led by Birch Lake Associates.
While the bulk of the cash will go towards paying off vendors, some of which have filed lawsuits, around 40 percent will be left over to help get the FF91 to market and prove the company can actually build a car. The strategy seems risky, but it may be Faraday’s best bet at this point.
“As part of the vendor program, Birch Lake has also provided financing to FF for the company to pay all past due amounts for approximately 60 percent of FF’s vendor base, including smaller vendors who are owed less than $20,000,” the company explained. “FF’s larger suppliers and vendors have the opportunity to benefit in the vendor trust program by exchanging unsecured trade claims for trust interests that will hold a secured claim equal to all vendor claims in the trust and will include a repayment schedule to be completed during 2019.”
Faraday is valuing its intellectual property, which is easily its biggest asset, at $1.25 billion. It’s also planning a separate vehicle run in China with the V9, after The9 decided it was willing to contribute up to $600 million in a joint venture. The duo claim they’ll be able to build 300,000 cars per year. Some of that initial cash is supposed to go into the FF91, too.
“Having worked closely with the Faraday team to accomplish a complex restructuring, we are more confident than ever that FF is well positioned to embark on the next stage of its success. We are excited to establish this bridge financing facility and move quickly to raise the additional capital to help Faraday redefine mobility,” said Jim Nappo, managing director of Stifel Nicolaus & Co. — the company in charge of its its equity capital-raising program.
We’re not sure what to say. Faraday’s ability to find funding is downright miraculous, but everything always seems to go sideways in the end. While FF has made real progress on its flagship SUV, we’ve only seen prototypes and incomplete production models/testbeds thus far. The company has also lost key staff members over the last few years and its technology, while still impressive, isn’t quite as cutting edge as when the FF91 first saw the light of day.
[Image: Faraday Future]
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"Faraday is valuing its intellectual property, which is easily its biggest asset, at $1.25 billion" Can anyone articulate what technology they have that could possibly be this valuable? I'll wait here...
"to help Faraday redefine mobility" So far their definition of mobility has been "walking", and I'm not expecting that to change anytime soon, if at all. Though like SlowMyke stated, they may be "perp-walking" before it's over.


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Covered California will kick off open enrollment Wednesday with the launch of a new comprehensive marketing and outreach campaign as well as upgrades to the consumer shopping experience for those seeking health insurance.
“While we know there is confusion because of the uncertainty in Washington, we want people to know that Covered California is rock solid,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We’re offering stability, choice and affordable options in 2018 in the face of uncertainty in much of the country.”
Open enrollment is the one time of year when anyone who needs health insurance can enroll without needing to meet special qualifying conditions. Covered California’s open-enrollment period will continue for three months, while open enrollment in 42 other states will end on Dec. 15.
“While we encourage all consumers to sign up by Dec. 15 to get coverage that starts on Jan. 1, we will continue with open enrollment through Jan. 31 to give our consumers time to explore their options, change plans if they need to and shop for the health coverage that’s right for them,” Lee said.
A new analysis by Covered California shows the importance of going to http://www.CoveredCA.com to shop and compare, because some changes in 2018 rates may work in the consumer’s favor.
“For the 1.1 million Californians who enroll with us and get financial help, on average the price they pay will actually go down — even though their underlying rate is going up,” Lee said. “And Californians who are uninsured need to see if they, too, can get great coverage that costs them only a small fraction of the health plan’s regular rate.”
The analysis looked at the real-world impact on the price consumers will pay after the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) surcharge, which will increase the amount of financial help available to consumers.
Among the findings from the analysis:
- The average price subsidized consumers will pay for coverage will go down by about 1.5 percent from 2017 to 2018 — a decrease of $9 per month or $108 per year. As a result, Californians receiving financial help will be paying at least $118 million less for their coverage in 2018 than they did in 2017.
- Subsidized consumers who keep their existing plans will be paying on average $115 per month for coverage that has a monthly total premium of $579, which is an average monthly savings of more than $450 per month.
- Everyone who does not receive financial help — representing about 15 percent of those enrolled through Covered California and the 1.1 million Californians who purchase directly from their plan “off-exchange” — can avoid paying the CSR surcharge by switching tiers or purchasing a near-mirrored Silver plan off-exchange.
- In 2017, unsubsidized Californians paid on average $115 less per month, or $1,380 less per year, because the state’s consumer pool is one of the healthiest in the nation, with costs approximately 20 percent lower than those in the federally facilitated marketplace. Consequently, unsubsidized Californians saved more than $1.3 billion in 2017 thanks to the state’s healthy risk mix.
The complete analysis can be found here: https://www.coveredca.com/news/pdfs/CoveredCA_Affordability_Delivered_11-2017.pdf.
Research commissioned by Covered California this summer indicates that consumers are very familiar with Covered California, with 96 percent of those surveyed having heard about Covered California and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, there is some concern about the future due to ongoing discussions at the federal level.
“The distant thunder in Washington is causing concern among Californians,” Lee said. “We want to make sure they know Covered California is stable, offering the same quality coverage in 2018 that we have offered since we opened our doors in 2014.”
In an effort to carry that message to Californians, Covered California will launch its new statewide advertising campaign on Wednesday with the message “Life can change in an instant” to drive home the message that anyone can find themselves suddenly needing health insurance.
“We all know someone who was suddenly injured or who received an unexpected diagnosis. Our new ads show incidents Californians can relate to — cutting your hand in the kitchen, slipping on stairs or falling off a ladder — to drive home the value of health insurance,” Lee said.
The ads were shot with the help of actors wearing helmet cameras to capture the incident from the viewer’s first-person perspective.
The advertising campaign, which includes ads in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese, can be viewed here: https://vimeopro.com/coveredcanews/instant-tv.
In addition to television, the campaign message is also integrated in all advertising mediums, including radio digital, out-of-home (billboards, bus shelters and convenience store posters) and print advertisements, all of which promote the need for and value of having health insurance, as well as tailored messages reminding Californians how to sign up for coverage.
On Wednesday, Covered California will begin a bus tour to promote open enrollment across the state, with stops at enrollment locations where murals will be painted during open enrollment to promote health and draw attention to locations where individuals can enroll in coverage and get the care they need.
“Covered California is part of the fabric of California in communities all across the state, and community art is increasingly part of that fabric as well,” Lee said.
All artwork is consistent with local city ordinances and reflects the communities and activities of the diverse people of California, promoting health and attracting attention to locations where individuals can enroll. (More information about mural locations and artists will be shared with the media in the days ahead).
Lee said shopping and enrolling in coverage is easier than ever this year due to upgrades to the online experience:
- For the first time, Covered California’s website, www.CoveredCA.com, is mobile-friendly, enabling consumers to shop, find local help, enroll and manage their account on a cell phone or tablet.
- The application for health coverage has been simplified for easier navigation.
- Upgrades to the website make it easier for consumers to find resources and in-language phone support in 12 languages on the homepage and under a new “Contact Us” page (https://www.coveredca.com/find-help/contact/).
The upgrades and new advertising begin as Covered California starts its fifth open-enrollment period with current membership of about 1.3 million enrollees.
Since 2014, more than 3 million people have purchased health insurance through Covered California, and nearly 4 million have enrolled in the state’s Medi-Cal program. Together, the gains have cut the rate of the uninsured in California by more than half.
Consumers interested in learning more about their coverage options should go to www.CoveredCA.com where they can get help to enroll. Free, confidential help is available at more than 800 storefronts statewide or by working with more than 17,000 certified enrollers who can assist consumers in understanding their choices and enrolling, including individuals who can assist in other languages. In addition, consumers can reach the Covered California service center by calling (800) 300-1506.


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|Ringing the bell for retail|
|Written by By Andy Butcher|
|Monday, 20 April 2009 10:31 AM America/New_York|
‘Fresh recruits’ give stores a new face and focus, defying economic downturn
Undaunted by the challenge of the economic downturn, a wave of newcomers to the industry is ringing the bell for Christian retailing.
Among those bringing a new face to the industry is a Canadian trio whose made-over Bell Tower Books is trying to reach beyond traditional evangelical circles by opening up a lounge to the local arts community and carrying some popular general market titles like those featured on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show.
“God is sending in fresh recruits, charging up the whole team like in a basketball game,” said CBA President Bill Anderson of the industry’s new arrivals, reporting an average of 15 new trade association members a month. “One of the main characteristics I observe is their conviction that God has called them. They have a realistic sense of optimism, and a sense of need for more Christian retail stores.”
Leading the way at Bell Tower Books is Dave Sohnchen, who was manager of the former Christian Publications outlet in Kelowna, British Columbia, that was bought out by Jim and June Brown last year.
The 4,000-square-foot store celebrated a grand re-opening in March, unveiling The Belfry—an informal upstairs meeting area where “bell ringers” who pay a $60 annual subscription can meet and borrow books and other resources supplied by the store’s management team, free of charge.
“I knew that things needed to change somewhat in terms of how we did business,” said Sohnchen, whose store’s new mission statement is summed up as CHIME—communal, holistic, integrated, missional, engaging. “We are trying to engage our culture,” he said.
Meanwhile, New York City’s famous Brooklyn Tabernacle has given new life to its bookstore operations, closing the two former Timeless Treasures locations and replacing them with Bell Tower Christian Gift & Bookstore.
The store is a member of the Munce Group, where sales and service coordinator Danielle Woods said though times were tough, “the rate of retailers looking for marketing help is relatively steady, if not growing.”
Newcomers were motivated by ministry, she told Christian Retailing. “Christian retailers want to keep their doors open so that the lost and hurting can walk through them. What characterizes the average new Christian retailers is an evangelistic heart.”
That is the case with Patricia Hill, whose Christian Books and Gifts ... And Then Some in Philadelphia, is due to open June 1 after two years of preparation. Leaving the corporate world after more than 30 years gave her the opportunity to fulfill the long-held dream—shared with her pastor husband—of opening a Christian store.
The new business would be able to put valuable resources in the hands of church members, she said, and reach out to “those who maybe grew up in church but are not there now, and maybe they will be led to go back to the house of God.
Hill said she was not discouraged by the financial crash that had occurred since she started planning the new store. “We are walking into this knowing where the economy is, so there’s no way to go but up. That’s the way I see it. I know that this is God’s will.”
Nor did last fall’s slump deter Dan and Dayna Panella, who were in negotiations to buy Vine & Branches Christian Bookstore in Lodi, Calif., from Phil Biddle. The pair decided “there would be no better time to buy the business,” said Dan Panella. “I felt that if there is any place people are going to be spending money it should be at a place like this, because hopefully they would be focusing on God instead of the latest video game or whatever.”
With a grand re-opening at the end of March, the 4,400-square-foot store has been given a fresh logo, reorganized with a more contemporary look and re-stocked to reach younger consumers. “We didn’t want people to think that all we sold was Bibles, especially if they had never been in the store before,” Panella said.
Opening Abundant Life Christian Store in Aiken, S.C., at the beginning of the year was a “leap of faith” for Kay Mortimer, an accountant who decided to venture into Christian retail after learning that Haven of Rest, a Christian store that had served the city for almost 20 years, was due to close with the owner’s retirement.
While some Christian products can be bought at places like Wal-Mart, Mortimer said she believed Aiken still needed “a place where the focus is the Word of God and His kingdom.” Customers of the former store a couple of blocks away have welcomed the new business, she said. “I believe the support is there. We are trusting that God is leading us, and He wouldn’t lead us down a path to failure.”
Although the new direction of stores like Bell Tower Books has been welcomed by many, with Sohnchen reporting a good number of first-time visitors, not everyone is impressed. Bell Tower’s new approach was criticized in an e-mail sent to churches in the area that warned the store’s Web site included Wiccan and gay and lesbian materials.
“Anybody who has come to us directly with criticism or concerns have had them quickly put to rest,” Sohnchen said. “We just open up our hearts and what we believe God’s vision is for this store. When they hear and see it, they immediately say, ‘Yes, I get it.’”


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The electric vehicle (EV) sector saw widespread losses yesterday following news that a government plan set to offer incentives for the indus
Dec. 21, 2021
The electric vehicle (EV) sector saw widespread losses yesterday following news that a government plan set to offer incentives for the industry is poised to fail at the senate. Rivian, NIO, Nikola, and more all finished down for the day. Even industry giants such as Tesla and General Motors saw shares in the red by close of business.
So what exactly happened?
The U.S. President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan, aimed at sustainably developing the country’s infrastructure, had sought to incentivize people to buy EVs by offering large tax benefits of up to $12,500 per vehicle purchased.
The proposed bill took a costly hit yesterday, however, as leading Republican senator Joe Manchin declared his opposition to the bill. While this doesn’t necessarily mean the bill is doomed, it’s likely that it will undergo serious revisions in an attempt to pass through the senate.
This set off a cascade of stock falloffs throughout the EV industry, with almost every major player taking a hit. The bill would have spurred a huge demand for EVs in the new year and would also have added significantly to the nationwide charger infrastructure. With these investments now up in the air, uncertainty is rife across the EV space and some investors appear to be panic selling
Are EV stocks still worth investing in?
Yes. The world is accelerating rapidly towards an electric future. This very minor setback doesn’t change the monumental shift that is already happening in the automotive industry. Currently, EV purchases account for approximately 26% of new sales in the global market, and this is only set to increase as more and more countries roll out plans to phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
Almost all major auto companies are rowing in behind the move towards zero emissions. The suspected failure of President Biden’s bill is certainly a road bump for the United States’ adoption of EVs, but the change is coming and it can’t be stopped. EV stocks are going to continue to increase in value over the next 10 years as demand grows stronger. Volatility is expected, and investors should try to get comfortable with days like yesterday – we’re likely to see plenty more of them over the next few years.


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On last nights Apple earnings call, CEO Tim Cook suggested what the company may be working on next. He said that the world was on the cusp of “major, major changes in media that are going to be really great for consumers”. What’s more, he thinks that Apple will be a part of it.
Apple to enter the TV industry?
Apple is of course well known for closely guarding its new projects, but when discussing future products, the Cupertino-based company is occasionally straight-talking.
For example, regarding the Apple Watch, Cook was once asked about Google Glass, and responded that “I think the wrist is interesting. The wrist is natural”, while largely dismissing Google’s head mounted product. And just a year later, Apple has released the Apple Watch to a fairly good start.
Consider Apple Pay, too – in April 2014, Tim Cook said to the Wall Street Journal:
“I think it’s a really interesting area. We have almost 800 million iTunes accounts and the majority of those have credit cards behind them. We already have people using Touch ID to buy things across our store, so it’s an area of interest to us. And it’s an area where nobody has figured it out yet. I realize that there are some companies playing in it, but you still have a wallet in your back pocket and I do too which probably means it hasn’t been figured out just yet”.
Later that year, Apple announced Apple Pay, which has gone on to become one of the most popular digital wallets, and in the midst of trying to revolutionise the way we pay.
In April this year, Apple announced that Apple TV users could pick up a subscription to HBO Now for just $15 a month to receive all the network’s content without a cable subscription.
And when he was quizzed about the topic during the earnings call, Cook said there should be more to come. As for the company’s HBO deal, he said “We are marrying their great content, our great product and ecosystem. There is a lot of traction in there, where could it go? I don’t want to speculate, but you can speculate“.
Cook said the company wants to give customers something they wanted, but with Apple’s ease of use. HBO Now, as well as the popularity of TV streaming services such as Netflix, looks like bad news for the traditional TV industry. Perhaps Apple wants to get in on the action.
And in March this year, it was widely reported that Apple plans a web-based TV streaming service, that will be based around a new Apple TV set-top-box that the company may be unveiling in June at the World Wide Developers’ Conference (WWDC)
Larry Banks is a keen follower of technology and finance. He has worked for a variety of online publications, writing about a diverse range of topics including mobile networks, patents, and Internet video delivery technologies.