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The top five cordless phones of 2015 include the Panasonic KXPRW130W, the Panasonic KXPRW120W, the Panasonic KXTG7873S, the Panasonic KX-TG9541 and the Panasonic KX-TG6512B, according to The Wire Cutter. These cordless phones all receive strong reviews for their functionality and useful features.
Panasonic’s KXPRW130W takes home top honors for its sophisticated smartphone integration features that allow iOS and Android phones to connect to the headset and make landline calls over a house’s Wi-Fi network. The phone also wins praise for its clear sound quality and ease of use. If the KXPRW130W is unavailable, the comparable KXPRW120W has almost identical features but lacks the KXPRW130W’s useful control buttons on its base. The phone’s connectivity range is also slightly shorter.
For those with poor cell phone reception at home, Panasonic’s KXTG7873S allows users to convert their cordless phones into smartphone headsets, making and receiving cell phone calls using their home phone lines. The device’s Bluetooth connectivity allows users to leave cellphones in areas that receive good reception and move all around the house using the cordless hand units.
Panasonic’s KX-TG9541 is the best choice for users who need two phone lines. The device connects up to six handsets, offers the ability to connect to smartphones and features a built-in answering machine.
For users who don’t need smartphone connectivity or other extra features, the Panasonic KX-TG6512B is a no-frills cordless phone that is functional and cheap. The phone offers a range of 158 feet and supports up to four handsets.


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Several Colby students who will participate in the Greenlight Maine Collegiate Challenge Nov. 16 at Thomas College are featured in a WABI-5 television news article about their business plans, the upcoming competition for $25,000 in startup funding, and the coworking space they share.
Four of the students featured are from Colby and are part of Jumpstart Maine, a group that fosters business ideas for college students working together in the Bricks Coworking & Innovation Space in Waterville’s Hathaway Creative Center. Nick Rimsa ’13, also featured, is a founder of Jumpstart.
At the statewide competition, Christian Krohg ’22 and Katie Dougherty ’22 will pitch their business Easy Eats, a food delivery system where students can place orders from local restaurants to be delivered to their dorm rooms by other college students. Torsten Brinkema ’22 will compete with Weart Apparel that he founded to support and share works of young artists through apparel items. Lastly, Joshua Kim ’22 will present Sklaza, an online market place specific to each college for students to exchange items.Read full article

domain: news


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Microsoft is on a new course today. They are throwing out the old Windows out of their homes now.
On Thursday, Microsoft has declared that it has already made its very first update to the Windows logo of the company after twenty-five years. This overhaul takes the well-known colored banner and makes it into a more window-imaged icon.
The new logo is not like the previous colored banner logo. Today’s Windows icon appears as a colored square that consists of four consistently even-sized squares and a tweaked typeface.
According to the general manager of Microsoft’s brand strategy Jeffrey Meisner, the . . . → Read More: Microsoft on with a new logo after 25 years


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Photo: Kim Bhasin Business Insider
Last month, The New York Times utterly destroyed Food Network host Guy Fieri’s new Times Square restaurant and caused a huge ruckus in the food world.The initial Pete Wells NYT review didn’t have a single good thing to say about the eating establishment. The New York Observer, New York Post, and TimeOut NY also trashed the place.
Fieri flew into New York to appear on the Today show to give his side of the story. He said that Wells had an “agenda” and just wanted to make a name for himself by bashing him.
Bloomberg’s Tom Keene came to the defence of Fieri’s food.
“This uproar is nothing but ‘an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterise themselves as intellectuals‘ pounding on the cuisine, the food, the diet of middle-class America,” he wrote, accompanied by a mostly positive review he posted on Facebook.
Oh, and it has a 2.5-star average rating on Yelp.
This is all in the two months that the gargantuan restaurant has been open.
So, today, four of us here at Business Insider headed over to Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar for lunch.
Photo: Alaina McConnell Business Insider
The verdict:Stop trashing Guy Fieri.
His restaurant isn’t terrible — it’s decent. It’s, at the very least, on-par with big chain restaurants like T.G.I. Friday’s, Applebee’s, or chilli’s — the sort of fare you’ll find in Times Square. That’s what’s popular.
They’re far from the pinnacle of American cuisine, but they do attract millions upon millions of eaters.
And that’s what Fieri’s restaurant is built to do.
It’s a venture that wants to appeal to the mass market — the Times Square tourist market — as evidenced by its 500 seats. Nobody should expect a life-changing culinary marvel from it.
The food was OK — definitely not the horrific, inedible trash-heap Wells described.
The experience was good too. During the day, there’s a relaxed atmosphere and a few TVs with Food Network and ESPN playing on the lower floor.
Business Insider Wall Street editor Linette Lopez even declared the restaurant a “perfect” place for Wall Streeters to go.
After the endless snarkbombs being lobbed at the restaurant, it was impossible to walk into that place with anything higher than rock bottom expectations.
Photo: Kim Bhasin Business Insider
But we were pleasantly surprised.
We were seated immediately — at 1 PM on a Thursday in a venue that’s so massive, seating is hardly an issue. We joined the slew of tourists and holiday shoppers on the lowest level of Guy’s cavernous three-story establishment, which, despite its healthy afternoon bustle, still felt empty.
The drink menu looked weird and a little gross — why would you put Goldschlager in a Manhattan? C’mon man — so we skipped the cocktails.
Instead, we went straight for the “Guy-talian Nachos” that Wells eviscerated as “deeply unlovable.”
Overall, the nachos were tasty and quickly devoured. The chips were crunchy even at the bottom and the combination of Italian turkey sausage, ricotta crema, and piquante peppers was pleasantly flavorful. Our only qualm was that the meat was served at room temperature.
Then the entrees arrived. The portions were enormous, and none of us even attempted to clean our plates.
“Out of the six absurdly-named Motley Que Ribs put on my plate, I could only eat three,” said Alex Davies, Business Insider’s transportation reporter. “They were standard ribs, exactly what I expected, but the sauce was too sweet and tangy.”
The Roasted Pork Bahn Mi sandwich was fine, too. The pickled veggies were crunchy and the pork was tender. The french baguette didn’t stand a chance against the fatty juices of the pork, though, and left us with a sticky, wet mess that even the oversized napkin couldn’t resolve.
The fries, however, were excellent — hot, crispy, and golden brown, just like the menu promised.
If only the Donkey Sauce could have followed suit (it was really just glorified mayonnaise with a special name).
Apart from the mediocre food, the decor was fine, the restrooms were clean, and the service was attentive and friendly.
The prices were steep — most of the entrees are between $20-$30, with the sandwiches in the upper teens — but what else could you expect from a restaurant in Times Square? You’ll get the same at the Hard Rock or Bubba Gump nearby.
Don’t worry, Guy, we agree with Keene when he wrote, “the place is brand new, ambitious and creates 150 to 200 jobs in the tourist nexus of New York City. Get over it Food Philistines.”
If, for some reason, we had to eat at a Times Square spot again, we’d be willing to go back to flavour Town.
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I am pleased to announce that the average number of unique visitors who are now checking out my website CharterWave every month is about 6,500—the highest total since the site launched back in 2006.
Now, while 6,500 monthly visitors may not sound like a lot compared with big-media websites, it represents absolute market penetration in the world of luxury yacht charter, which CharterWave covers. According to the most recent Superyachting Index, only about 2,500 luxury yacht charters are booked every year worldwide. That’s an average of about 200 per month, just a fraction of the 6,500 people now researching such vacations each month on CharterWave.
I’d also like to put the site’s readership in context compared with megayacht print publications. Boat International Media, which publishes the leading titles Showboats, Boat International, Meer & Yachten, Mer & Bateaux, Boat International China, and Boat International Russia, announced last month that it has a total paid circulation of 8,500 readers for all of them—combined. That means the monthly readership on CharterWave is now rivaling the paid print circulations for many of the world’s leading superyacht magazines.
It’s just as much a delight for me to see CharterWave building such a dedicated audience as it has been to win recent awards for the site’s editorial content and to welcome the financial support of ever more advertisers. Thanks to everyone who is helping CharterWave maintain its status as the world’s leading website dedicated to the luxury yacht charter industry.


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A global list of the world top 100 companies is on the verge of becoming an internet sensation, after its creators unveiled it in a new survey.
The global survey, released by technology-focused research company The Irish Tribune, revealed that Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon, Microsoft Corp, Twitter, Netflix and Airbnb are now listed in more than half of the most-visited countries in the world.
The top 100 list, compiled by the global consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers, was first revealed by The Irish Daily Times in March.
The data is based on a survey of more than 5,000 people worldwide.
“I have been using the internet since I was in grade school,” said Dr Mark Coggan, who led the study and published the results.
“We found that the internet is not just a tool but an enabler for communication and the sharing of ideas.”
The internet is the most important social media platform in the history of the planet.
It has become a key part of our lives.
“The Irish Tribune first published the list in March and has since revealed the full list online.
Dr Cogans research team used data from a survey that asked about what kind of company a person was most likely to work for.
The survey was conducted in December by Pricewater, a global consultancy, that also examined the most popular search terms in the country.
The list was ranked in order of how often a respondent used Google, the top social network and the most frequently searched for online.
The Irish Times asked participants if they would prefer to work at a “global” company, a “local” company or a “non-global” one.
More than half the respondents said they would like to work in a global company, according to the report.More:


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As tech giants like Google and Fb announce plans to turn out to be carbon-neutral companies by 2030, smaller corporations are doing the identical. The one distinction is that modern startups are taking intelligent approaches that search to be simpler than these carried out by giant, centralized corporations.
For instance, Ripple — a fintech firm that permits banks, cost suppliers and digital asset exchanges to ship cash utilizing blockchain — has dedicated to changing into carbon net-zero by 2030. To be able to meet this aim, Ripple has unveiled a set of initiatives pushed largely by blockchain know-how.
Ken Weber, head of social impression at Ripple, instructed Cointelegraph that Ripple focuses on decreasing its carbon emissions by making sustainable selections, buying carbon offsets and investing in carbon-removal applied sciences. One of many first initiatives that Ripple has dedicated to is a partnership with the Vitality Net Basis, a nonprofit group utilizing blockchain to speed up low-carbon electrical energy programs. The Vitality Net Basis and Ripple have created “Vitality Net Zero,” a brand new open-source device designed to allow any blockchain community to decarbonize by buying “tokenized” renewable vitality.
Tokenizing vitality attribute certificates
In accordance with Weber, Vitality Net Zero will allow Ripple to buy renewable vitality inside the USA, the UK and the Philippines. This shall be executed through tokenized vitality attribute certificates, or EACs, which function the corporate’s proof of buy for its renewable vitality procurement.
Jesse Morris, the Vitality Net Basis’s chief industrial officer, instructed Cointelegraph that the Vitality Net Zero software establishes digital identities for real-world belongings equivalent to large-scale wind and photo voltaic amenities world wide. As soon as these belongings are tied to a digital identification, that knowledge is anchored to the Vitality Net blockchain, which powers the Vitality Net Zero software. Digital vitality attribute certificates are then produced from this knowledge to signify renewable vitality.
Morris shared that Ripple and the XRP Ledger Basis, an unbiased nonprofit entity, would be the first organizations to make use of Vitality Net Zero to make sure offsets are bought for consumption on the XRP Ledger. “We’re utilizing a blockchain to resolve its personal issues in a way,” stated Morris.
Advantages of blockchain in attaining carbon neutrality
Curiously sufficient, blockchain getting used to realize carbon neutrality makes quite a lot of sense because of the transparency inherently baked into the know-how. Corporations like Google can declare to be eliminating their carbon footprints by buying high-quality offsets, but they aren’t revealing what, and for what quantity, these offsets are.
A public blockchain community will at all times have proof of the transactions happening. In accordance with Morris, the Vitality Net chain is an open-source structure, which means anybody can obtain a consumer and begin interacting with it or trying up transactions: “Open supply platforms are important for transparency and belief, which is the large distinction right here.”
Furthermore, an open-source framework permits for the complete blockchain ecosystem to benefit from the Vitality Net Zero software for decarbonization. Morris famous that this can be a aim, as the appliance is supposed to encourage different blockchain ecosystems to start out decarbonizing:
“Corporations like Google and Fb have spectacular sustainability targets and might make choices on find out how to obtain their objectives, however given the decentralized nature of blockchain communities, we will’t do this. Due to this fact, utilizing tokenized EACs throughout a blockchain community is a robust solution to get a decentralized ecosystem to buy renewables to offset vitality consumption.”
Tokenization and blockchain effectiveness?
Though the idea is smart — and has even been carried out by corporations exterior the blockchain house — tokenizing vitality attribute certificates and placing them on a blockchain community could also be difficult as a consequence of unclear rules and a scarcity of trade requirements.
Cameron Prell, a local weather markets lawyer and vice chair of the Sustainability Enterprise Working Group of the InterWork Alliance — a nonprofit group aimed toward creating international requirements round tokenized ecosystems — instructed Cointelegraph that understanding whether or not or not tokenization is efficient will depend on whether or not or not the belongings tie again to precise, credible, standardized carbon credit. Moreover, Prell talked about that these tokenized credit also needs to present higher liquidity and value discovery than commonplace carbon credit score devices.
In accordance with Prell, corporations that need to handle their transition to net-zero local weather commitments should deal with their tokenized, environmental knowledge as an asset with a market-defined worth proposition: “The institution and transactability of such worth would require standardization, asset classification programs, and generally-acceptable local weather accounting ideas.” He additional added:
“Tokenization thereafter empowers corporations a capability to cost, monitor and transact of their web zero efficiency, each to realize their targets in a reputable method, but additionally the flexibility to collateralize and safe ahead any variety of monetary devices to assist scale and finance these efforts.”
Whereas this can be the case, Weber stated that the corporate is buying tokenized vitality attribute certificates and holding them till they’re retired. “We aren’t trying to commerce or change them on a market in any method,” he stated.
Echoing Weber, Paul Gambill, CEO of Nori — a climate-change startup that leverages blockchain — thinks it’s vital to separate carbon credit from the tactic of cost or buying and selling mechanism. Gambill instructed Cointelegraph that Nori permits anybody to buy carbon certificates within the type of “Nori Carbon Elimination Tonnes” — nonfungible tokens which might be retired instantly by the patrons. The platform’s NORI token individually serves as the tactic of cost or buying and selling mechanism. In accordance with Gambill, this helps keep away from double-counting carbon certificates that always commerce fingers many occasions over in legacy carbon registries.


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During last semester’s Town Hall meeting, students raised questions about recycling practices on campus, specifically expressing concerns about the use of Styrofoam in the cafeteria. This article further explores those questions.
According to Tom Verrill, senior vice president for Financial Administration, Food Services uses 15 to 20 cases of Styrofoam products a week. The cafeteria recycles cardboard, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and as much food waste as possible, Verrill wrote in an email to the Accent. He explained that Food Services is always looking for better packaging options.
“Last week Teddy Kyriakidis, the Food Services director, met with the owner of the composting company we use,” Verrill wrote. “He informed him that he is working with some large distributors of compostable products to negotiate lower product pricing so that these alternatives can be more affordable. Teddy assured the distributor that we’d switch over if they could offer them at comparable pricing.”
According to Verrill, the university is committed to recycling and protecting the environment; however, such ideals can clash with the organization’s commitment to keeping costs as low as possible for students.
“The university is committed to doing what we can in the way of recycling and protecting the environment,” Verrill wrote in an email to the Accent. “We consider those efforts within the context of their cost, trying to balance the importance of environmental sustainability with the also important goal of keeping the cost of attending college as low as possible for our students.”
Student Association (SA) President Kenneth Bautista, senior business major, said SA Senate has headed an Eco Initiative Committee for the past two years. However, this year, Senate has not formed the committee, choosing instead to focus on other things.
Bautista said he made an effort to address some of the recycling needs on campus by speaking to Kyriadikis about the possibility of using recyclable to-go boxes in the cafeteria. His concerns centered around the Styrofoam containers, which he believes are used too excessively.
“So, I went to talk to them, and I came up with options of possible things we could do,” Bautista said. “And to be honest with you, I didn’t get the energy. … I brought up options of [how] we could do paper instead of Styrofoam, and instead of saying, ‘Okay, what can we do together?’ The reply was more of, ‘no.’ So, I don’t know what to do next in that area.”
Bautista said that Kyriadikis informed him prices of recyclable materials are much higher than what the cafeteria regularly uses, so Bautista offered to make up the difference with SA funds.
Additionally, in 2020-2021, the Eco Initiative Committee spoke to Village Market Manager Jackie Rose about the possibility of switching from plastic grocery bags to paper. At the time, the Village Market made no effort to implement any changes. According to Rose, the decision was made after researching effects on the environment to manufacture paper bags, plus ease of recycling plastic vs paper. However, in a recent interview with the Accent, Rose said that he is open to the idea of trying a paper bag option and seeing how it is received.
Rose explained that the cost of paper bags is much greater than plastic. As of 2022, plastic bags, according to Rose, cost 3.7 cents per bag, whereas paper bags cost 12-18 cents per bag, meaning that the Village Market would have to charge for them. He suggested that the best option for the environment in this case would be to buy reusable tote bags. Another reason the Village Market has not switched to paper bags is the size, according to Rose. He wrote in an email to the Accent that he has yet to find a paper bag that will accommodate the size of the deli to-go boxes. Rose said paper bags are definitely a possibility that he will look into, but the added cost is unavoidable.
“One thing we have discussed recently is that we probably need to do more to communicate to campus what we are doing to protect the environment and how students and employees can partner with us in that effort,” Verrill wrote. “For example, we are often surprised by the number of foam to-go boxes that return via the cafeteria tray line, having never left the dining hall. We need to help students understand better that this results in a substantial waste of foam, besides the fact that they are charged more for these containers.”


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New transaction data from PayPal reveals how small and medium-sized businesses benefited most from the record lows of the pound last year. While SMEs in the UK saw their international PayPal sales rise 10% year-on-year from January to June 2016, the rate of growth trebled to 34% year-on-year from July to December.
This it the first time that PayPal have released such figures, they saw an uplift in PayPal sales to online shoppers visiting from overseas, but the biggest impact was seen on small and medium-sized businesses. The amount international shoppers spent with UK SMEs rose 13% per transaction in the last six months of 2016.
“When the pound dropped and the buying power of international shoppers increased, we expected to see a surge in online exports. Of course lower prices played a major part in boosting international sales, but there were many other contributing factors. The small businesses that were best placed to benefit from the influx of international shoppers were the ones who had already adapted their online stores – for example by letting customers browse in their own language, and pay in their own currency.”
– Mark Brant, Managing Director at PayPal UK
PayPal’s data shows that tens of thousands of UK SMEs started to sell online to a new country between July and December 2016. The top 5 online export markets for British SMEs during that period were:
Customers from all five of the top markets are typically attracted to new and exclusive products that are only available from the UK. Fashion and sports were the two categories of online business that experienced the highest growth. Overall, there was a 49% year-on-year increase in fashion and sports goods sold to international shoppers.
If you want some advice on cracking international markets, PayPal’s PassPort website helps business owners better understand and target international shoppers through country-specific guidance and global sales tools.
This is not a surprise, our own domestic market is saturated to death, we go out of our way to target overseas markets, so much so when we run a facebook awareness ad we dont even include the UK anymore.
Our domestic market is dominated by US Corporations like Amazon and eBay who in turn mainly due to SMES (it is our own fault) become the shop window for UK Corporations like Argos. It is a battle to the bottom now, so SMES have been forced to look overseas more.
I do think the price of the pound has been played on a bit too now, it is costing more to get stock in and the benefits were always going to be short lived. We had a fair uplift for a period
Something like 80% of our own website sales are now overseas. Our most successful marketplace is now based overseas. UK market has just become low margin churn.
Comments are closed.


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Ivanka Trump's brand is shutting down its high-end jewelry collection in favor of focusing on more affordable jewelry instead.
"As part of our company’s commitment to offering solution-oriented products at accessible price points, we have decided to discontinue the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry collection," President of Ivanka Trump Abigail Klem told Fox News in a statement.
She added, "We will be focusing our efforts on existing and new categories that are most relevant to our loyal customers — including fashion jewelry, which successfully launched last fall with price points that are aligned with the rest of our collection."
Pieces in Trump's more affordable collection are priced under $100 and sold at retailers such as Lord & Taylor. The company's higher-end jewelry collection had items priced for thousands of dollars.
The decision comes after the Ivanka Trump brand saw a significant spike in online sales after some retailers announced they would stop carrying the brand.
Lyst, which monitors purchasing data from thousands of retailers, revealed that from January to February, Ivanka Trump sales increased a whopping 346 percent.
Trump announced in January that she would resign from her roles within the Trump Organization and her fashion brand, as she became more active in her father's presidency.


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Indian economy grows slowest in six quarters (Roundup)August 30th, 2011 - 6:42 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Despite a relatively higher growth of 3.9 percent in farm output, the Indian economy expanded only at 7.7 percent in the April-June quarter of current fiscal — the slowest in the past six quarters, against 8.8 percent in the like period of 2010-11.
Official data on the estimates of national income released Tuesday showed that the growth rate was pulled down mainly by comparatively lower expansion in manufacturing output at 7.2 percent, against 10.6 percent in the corresponding period of 2010-11.
The data released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on India’s gross domestic product (GDP) presented a mixed bag for the Indian economy that grew by 8.5 percent in 2010-11 and 8 percent in the year before.
The Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) had projected GDP to grow 8.2 percent in the current fiscal.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee termed the growth figures disappointing but said it came in the wake of global economic uncertainty.
“It is no doubt disappointing. We shall have to keep in mind that there are still some areas of uncertainty - uncertainty in global scenario, uncertainty of monsoon, but of course monsoon is not yet over, last leg is yet to be over,” Mukherjee told reporters here.
Tuesday’s figures showed a sharp fall in the growth of construction and mining sectors, at 1.2 percent and 1.8 percent in the quarter ended June, from 7.7 percent and 7.4 percent, even as the growth in services such as transport and trade was higher at 12.8 percent.
While agriculture grew at 3.9 percent, against 2.4 percent last year, electricity and gas expanded by 7.9 percent, against 5.5 percent, and financial services grew by 9.1 percent, as against 9.8 percent.
“There has been a significant downward revision in the GDP growth rate of first quarter of 2010-11 from the earlier 9.3 percent to 8.8 percent. This has pushed up the growth rate in first quarter of 2011-12 to 7.7 percent,” said Rajiv Kumar, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
He said if the economy had to grow 8.2 percent, according to the PMEAC projection, then the GDP would have to expand by 8.3 percent for the remainder of the fiscal.
“That would mean, agriculture growing at 2.7 percent, industry at 7.7 percent and service sector at 10 percent respectively. It is unlikely that these growth rates will now be achieved,” Kumar added.
Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry, too agreed that achieving an 8 percent growth target seemed improbable and said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should not increase rates again, something the central bank has done regularly since Jan 2010 to fight high inflation.
“Although CII expects GDP growth to recover in the second half, achieving the 8 percent target is tough. We would urge the RBI to refrain from hiking interest rates in the forthcoming policy, taking note of the weakness in the economy,” said Banerjee.
- Growth to dip below 8 percent after slow first quarter: Industry - Aug 30, 2011
- Indian economy grew 7.7 percent in first quarter - Aug 30, 2011
- PMEAC lowers 2012-13 GDP forecast to 6.7 percent - Aug 17, 2012
- Indian economy grows at a sluggish 5.5 percent in Q1 (Lead) - Aug 31, 2012
- Indian economy to grow by 6.9 percent this fiscal (Lead) - Feb 07, 2012
- Plan panel expects GDP growth in 2011-12 to slip from 8.5 percent (Lead) - May 31, 2011
- India to grow faster in 2012-13: Kaushik Basu - Jan 31, 2012
- Indian economy may grow at 8 percent in 2012-13: Rangarajan (Lead) - Feb 22, 2012
- India economy to expand 8.6 percent this fiscal (Roundup) - Feb 07, 2011
- Rising interest rates affect industrial output, lowest in over 2 years - Nov 11, 2011
- GDP to grow at 8 percent this fiscal, inflation high till September: FICCI - May 30, 2011
- Indian economy grows 8.2 percent in third quarter - Feb 28, 2011
- Indian economy's growth slows to 5.5 percent in first quarter - Aug 31, 2012
- Indian economy hit by high inflation, slowing growth (2011 in Retrospect) - Dec 28, 2011
- Indian economy to grow by 6.9 percent this fiscal - Feb 07, 2012
Tags: central statistical organisation, cso, downward revision, economic advisory council, electricity, finance minister, first quarter, gdp, gdp growth rate, global economic uncertainty, global scenario, gross domestic product, indian economy, monsoon, New Delhi, no doubt, pranab mukherjee, quarter ended june, quarters, roundup


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NEW YORK — Strong sales gains from newer merchandise categories and retail operations more than offset waning sunglass sales to propel Oakley Inc. to double-digit profit growth in the third quarter.
For the three months ended Sept. 30, the Foothill Ranch, Calif.-based sunglasses and accessories marketer said net income rose 10.3 percent to $13.5 million, or 20 cents a diluted share. That compares with last year’s earnings of $12.3 million, or 18 cents. Earnings per share missed the Wall Street consensus estimate by a penny.
Net sales for the quarter grew a commensurate 9.9 percent to $145 million from $131.9 million a year ago, as a 60 basis-point expansion in gross margin was negated by a 60 basis-point increase in operating expenses.
Oakley’s shares fell 2.9 percent, or 31 cents, to close at $10.35 in Thursday’s New York Stock Exchange session.
“Sunglass sales declined during the third quarter as many of our sunglass styles struggled to achieve the momentum we anticipated,” said chief operating officer Link Newcomb in a statement.
“Many U.S. retailers, including Sunglass Hut, entered the third quarter with higher inventory levels than planned due to the disruption in the early summer selling season caused by poor spring weather. International sunglass sales were also weaker than expected in southern European markets, where we continued to experience strong competition from fashion brands; In Japan, where the retail environment continued to be soft, and in the South Pacific region, where an acquisition involving our two largest customers caused what we believe to be a temporary disruption.”
Although global sunglass sales declined 9.6 percent to $77.7 million, that was more than offset by better sales of apparel, footwear, watches and other merchandise, which improved 31.9 percent to $50.6 million. Sales of merchandise other than sunglasses accounted for 32.6 percent of total revenues.
The company’s signature stores also contributed to the better top-line results, chipping in a better-than-expected $15 million, a 75.9 percent increase over the prior-year level.
Overall, for the first nine months of the fiscal year, Oakley saw profits fall 12.9 percent to $35 million, or 51 cents a diluted share. Net sales climbed 3.5 percent to $400 million.Addressing its full-year forecast, Oakley said it now anticipates earnings to finish at the low end of its previous guidance of 55 to 60 cents. For fiscal 2004, the firm said earnings are expected to increase 15 to 20 percent on net sales growth of about 10 percent.
@tradesy is turning the concept of a showroom upside down with its new space in Santa Monica. Here, the company plans to hold events, art exhibits and a showcase rare fashion pieces like this Louis Vuitton boxing set. Get all the details on Tradesy’s first showroom on WWD.com. #wwdnews
Spotted last night at the @erdem x @hm launch event: Kate Bosworth, Rashida Jones, Kirsten Dunst and Selma Blair. The party, which took place in LA, also marked the opening of their pop-up shop. “I was interested in creating a collection that wasn’t in any way disposable. It was about pieces you’d create and keep forever, things that have a permanence to it,” designer Erdem Moralioglu said. #wwdeye (📷: Katie Jones)
Renee Zellweger in yellow in 2001 and again in 2017. Chosen as one of the 12 @pantone Leading Spring Colors (and dubbed “Meadowlark”), it only makes sense that the bright hue stands the test of time and is making a resurgence this season, seen already on stars like @blakelively and @gigihadid. (📷: Donato Sardello & @rexfeatures) #wwdfashion #tbt
Dior’s 70th anniversary celebration continues with a new exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. “Christian Dior,” which is scheduled to run through March 18, takes a look at the founders tenure from 1947 to 1057 and feature 40 designs. Pictured here is an evening gown from the Ailée, fall 1948-49 haute couture collection. #wwdfashion (📷: Brian Boyle)
As one of the most recognizable models in the world, Christy Turlington Burns has an insider’s view of the fashion industry and the allegations of sexual harassment swirling around it. “I can say that harassment and mistreatment have always been widely known and tolerated in the industry. The industry is surrounded by predators who thrive on the constant rejection and loneliness so many of us have experiences at some point in our careers,” Turlington told WWD, along with her suggestions for how the modeling world should protect younger women and men. Read more on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: Tony Palmieri) #wwdnews
@asics America has tapped a new brand ambassador: famed DJ/record producer @steveaoki. This initiative is intended to set the tone for the new brand identity and philosophy and will include partnerships with influencers and in-store and off-line activations that will continue into next year. This is Asics’ most significant marketing effort in two decades, and is expected to attract younger consumers to the brand. #wwdfashion
24-year-old Jean Prounis is redefining the rules of jewelry. Formerly a studio assistant to Jemima Kirke and a design apprentice at Ghuran, she focuses on handcrafted subtleties and ancient goldsmithing techniques. “There was a really sterile feel in the environment and I wanted to have jewelry with character that shapes how you wear it everyday,” Prounis said. Each piece is hand made in New York, either by Prounis or three other jewelers in the district. #wwdfashion
“These collections continue to build on that vision, empowering differently abled adults to express themselves through fashion,” said @tommyhilfiger of his line of adaptive apparel, which launches today. The line consists of 37 men’s and 34 women’s styles based upon the pieces from the spring Tommy Hilfiger sportswear collection. #wwdnews


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Woman, 36, accused of defrauding Guelph company of $750K
Warren Letson, CTV Kitchener
Published Friday, March 17, 2017 9:22AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, March 17, 2017 7:16PM EDT
A woman has been charged after a Guelph business was defrauded of three quarters of a million dollars.
Guelph Police’s fraud unit arrested 36-year-old Laura Smeaton from Georgetown, after a fraud investigation. She was previously employed as a financial controller for Machine Control Systems in Guelph.
Police say the woman was in charge of a local company’s account, invoicing, payroll and banking. During a one-year period starting in October, 2012, officials say the woman misappropriated approximately $750,000, using the company credit card to conduct unauthorized transactions.
The suspect has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit card and fraud over $5,000.


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Last spring, LVMH, Prada Group and Cartier (Richemont) announced a union around a blockchain project called aura. The consortium is now verifying the integration of the OTB Fashion Group as a fourth founding member.
OTB Group: New luxury and premium brands for the Aura blockchain.
As the concepts of second hand use and traceability gain a place in luxury strategies, homes are being regulated. Last April, when the launch of Aura was announced, the three entities that then headed the project mentioned the possibility of other players in the sector joining the initiative: it is now over with the arrival ofOTB.
More than just a stakeholder, the Italian fashion group – that includes the brands Diesel, Maison Margiela, Marni, Viktor & Rolf or even Jil Sander He was introduced here as one of the founding members of Aura. Unrepeatable and tamper-resistant, this solution secured by ConsenSys and Microsoft technology is intended to act as a passport over the entire product lifecycle, from source to (re)sale, including possible repairs.
Initiatives are already in place in many homes.
On the occasion of this integration, the consortium has also reported on the progress of several projects within it in recent months. houses Bvlgari, Cartier, Hublot, Louis Vuitton and Prada Among the first homes that absorbed some of the functions inherent in the aura.
LVMH, Prada Group and Cartier also announced that they are accelerating the consortium’s roadmap by, among other things, implementing Aura Light, a SaaS solution for brands wishing to engage in a blockchain project without acquiring the in-house resources needed to develop their own solution.
Among the projects under publication, the founding members finally mentioned the development of NFT (non-fungible code), without further details.
“Unapologetic pop culture trailblazer. Freelance troublemaker. Food guru. Alcohol fanatic. Gamer. Explorer. Thinker.”


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Korea-Myanmar venture to build 500-Acre Garment Zone
Myanmar Times reports that Myanmar-based Olympus Asia Group and Korea’s Panko Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding on August 20, 2016, and these are looking for land in Yangon, Bago or Ayeywarwady regions.
A Korean firm and a local company have teamed up with a view to building free-on-board (FOB) garment factories on 500 acres of land through a 50-50 joint venture.
Olympus Asia Group CEO U Okkar Zaw Naing said the factories would operate under the FOB model, and would focus on creating jobs for local people.The vast majority of Myanmar’s garment factories operate under the cut-make-pack system, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.Under the CMP model, a foreign buyer with financial backing and technical expertise will contract a garment factory, usually in an emerging market, to carry out their labour-intensive work.
Under the FOB system, on the other hand, foreign retailers place orders from well-financed factories with technical expertise. Most factories in Myanmar lack access to financing and do not have enough skilled workers to operate under the more profitable FOB model.The project will start within one year and it will take three years to build the required infrastructure, said U Okkar Zaw Naing. This time frame is based on the time it took for Panko Corporation to build a similar zone in Vietnam, which was launched in 2013 and completed this year, he said.
The project will include an international-standard wastewater treatment plant; generate its own electricity; and include dormitories for employees. The companies will produce their own cotton and buttons in Myanmar, as well as producing clothes for export.U Okkar Zaw Naing believes the integrated factories will create between 40000 to 60000 job opportunities for Myanmar people. The company will also offer training and competitive salaries, he said.
“Now we have signed, the project can start within one year. We are looking at three places for the project, in Yangon, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions, but have not yet made a decision,” he said. “It will depend on which place is best in terms of electricity, employees and logistics costs.”Myanmar’s garments industry has great potential, but its development will require foreign investment, he added, and without good local business people, foreign companies cannot invest.
The industry is growing fast, and is a priority sector for the government. However, for foreign companies sourcing from Myanmar, there are a host of challenges including underage workers, unsafe factories and high logistics costs.For companies building new factories in Myanmar, infrastructure is a major challenge.“Our partner company has asked us to build our own substation for electricity, because power here is not reliable,” said U Okkar Zaw Naing.
Choi Yung Joo, chair of Panko Corporation, said, “Myanmar has the potential to develop its textile industry and we are sure this project will contribute to development.”The government welcomes foreign companies that can create job opportunities while protecting employee rights, said U Phyo Min Thein, chief minister of Yangon Region.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the investment he said, “Industries create job opportunities … We will support opportunities for all people according to the rule of law.” Olympus Asia Group, which was formed in 2010, is also working on a wastewater management project in Mandalay.


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|By PR Newswire||
|January 11, 2014 09:00 AM EST||
AIRPORT CITY, Israel and MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Jan. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SodaStream International Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA) has signed actress Scarlett Johansson as its first-ever Global Brand Ambassador. Johansson, a Tony winner and four-time Golden Globe nominee, will become the face of a new marketing campaign for the world's leading home carbonation system. The multi-year partnership will kick-off when SodaStream premieres its first ad featuring Johansson during Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, February 2, 2014.
"We are thrilled to welcome the remarkably talented Scarlett Johansson into the SodaStream family," stated Daniel Birnbaum, CEO of SodaStream. "Scarlett is a long-time user and genuine fan of our products, a role model for healthy body image and a champion for environmental responsibility, making her the perfect choice for our global ambassador. She truly embodies our brand values and we are honored to have her join our team."
Johansson believes that being healthy is about commitment, determination, and self-empowerment. These core values emulate SodaStream's mission to revolutionize the beverage industry by empowering people with easy-to-use, fun ways to enjoy better-for-you, better-for-the-environment bubbly beverages.
The actress has loved sparkling water since childhood, which led her to discover SodaStream. Now a loyal user for years, Johansson has a soda maker in her home and is an enthusiastic fan of the brand.
"I've been using the SodaStream products myself and giving them as gifts for many, many years," said Johansson. "The company's commitment to a healthier body and a healthier planet is a perfect fit for me. I love that the product can be tailored to any lifestyle and palate. The partnership between me and SodaStream is a no brainer. I am beyond thrilled to share my enthusiasm for SodaStream with the world!!"
SodaStream empowers consumers to create their own carbonated beverages at home, just the way they like them. SodaStream soda mixes are available in over 100 flavors, and generally contain 2/3 less sugar, 2/3 less calories, no high-fructose corn syrup and no aspartame. With an innovative re-usable bottle, the SodaStream system drastically reduces the waste created by plastic bottles and cans; a true revolution in the way people consume carbonated drinks. The company is confident that in her role as Global Ambassador, Johansson will help consumers embrace home soda making as the future of the beverage industry.
SodaStream International Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA) is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of home beverage carbonation systems, which enable consumers to easily transform ordinary tap water instantly into carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Soda makers offer a highly differentiated and innovative solution to consumers of bottled and canned carbonated soft drinks and sparkling water. Our products are environmentally friendly, cost effective, promote health and wellness, and are customizable and fun to use. In addition, our products offer convenience by eliminating the need to carry bottles home from the supermarket, to store bottles at home or to regularly dispose of empty bottles. SodaStream products are available at more than 60,000 retail stores in 45 countries around the world, including over 15,000 retail stores in the United States. For more information please visit www.sodastream.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of management. Such statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to: our ability to expand into our target markets, including the United States; our ability to continue to develop or maintain our presence in retail networks; our ability to develop and implement production and operating infrastructure to effectively support our growth; the success of our marketing campaigns and media spending in terms of increased sales or increased product and brand name awareness; our ability to maintain our customer base in markets where we have an established presence; the risks associated with our reliance on exclusive arrangements for the distribution of our home beverage carbonation systems and consumables in each of the markets in which we use third-party distributors; our ability to compete effectively with other companies which currently offer, or may offer in the future, competing products; potential product liability claims if any component of our home beverage carbonation systems is misused; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; our being found to have a dominant position in certain markets which may place limits on our ability operate; risks associated with our being subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates; our potential exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities; our products being subject to extensive governmental regulation in the markets in which we operate; adverse conditions in the global economy which could negatively impact our customers' demand for our products; and other factors detailed in documents we file from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
About the Super Bowl ad production:
Director: Bryan Buckley
Creative Director: Alex Bogusky / David Littlejohn
Copywriter: David Littlejohn
Art Director: Stephanie Galabert
Yonah Lloyd +972-3-976-2462
Chief Corporate Development and Communications Officer
SOURCE SodaStream International Ltd.
DevOps Summit 2015 New York, co-located with the 16th International Cloud Expo - to be held June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY - announces that it is now accepting Keynote Proposals. The widespread success of cloud computing is driving the DevOps revolution in enterprise IT. Now as never before, development teams must communicate and collaborate in a dynamic, 24/7/365 environment. There is no time to wait for long development cycles that produce software that is obsolete...
May. 6, 2015 01:45 AM EDT Reads: 4,474
“The year of the cloud – we have no idea when it's really happening but we think it's happening now. For those technology providers like Zentera that are helping enterprises move to the cloud - it's been fun to watch," noted Mike Loftus, VP Product Management and Marketing at Zentera Systems, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
May. 6, 2015 01:30 AM EDT Reads: 3,526
SYS-CON Events announced today that AIC, a leading provider of OEM/ODM server and storage solutions, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. AIC is a leading provider of both standard OTS, off-the-shelf, and OEM/ODM server and storage solutions. With expert in-house design capabilities, validation, manufacturing and production, AIC's broad selection of products are highly flexible and are conf...
May. 6, 2015 01:15 AM EDT Reads: 5,890
“We help people build clusters, in the classical sense of the cluster. We help people put a full stack on top of every single one of those machines. We do the full bare metal install," explained Greg Bruno, Vice President of Engineering and co-founder of StackIQ, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 15th Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
May. 6, 2015 01:15 AM EDT Reads: 3,740
SYS-CON Events announced today that Gridstore™, the leader in hyper-converged infrastructure purpose-built to optimize Microsoft workloads, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Gridstore™ is the leader in hyper-converged infrastructure purpose-built for Microsoft workloads and designed to accelerate applications in virtualized environments. Gridstore’s hyper-converged infrastructure is the ...
May. 6, 2015 01:15 AM EDT Reads: 5,332
“We are a managed services company. We have taken the key aspects of the cloud and the purposed data center and merged the two together and launched the Purposed Cloud about 18–24 months ago," explained Chetan Patwardhan, CEO of Stratogent, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at 15th Cloud Expo, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
May. 6, 2015 01:00 AM EDT Reads: 3,133
of cloud, colocation, managed services and disaster recovery solutions, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. TierPoint, LLC, is a leading national provider of information technology and data center services, including cloud, colocation, disaster recovery and managed IT services, with corporate headquarters in St. Louis, MO. TierPoint was formed through the strategic combination of some of t...
May. 6, 2015 01:00 AM EDT Reads: 2,256
SYS-CON Events announced today Sematext Group, Inc., a Brooklyn-based Performance Monitoring and Log Management solution provider, will exhibit at SYS-CON's DevOps Summit 2015 New York, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Sematext is a globally distributed organization that builds innovative Cloud and On Premises solutions for performance monitoring, alerting and anomaly detection (SPM), log management and analytics (Logsene), search analytics (S...
May. 6, 2015 12:45 AM EDT Reads: 4,267
"Blue Box has been around for 10-11 years, and last year we launched Blue Box Cloud. We like the term 'Private Cloud as a Service' because we think that embodies what we are launching as a product - it's a managed hosted private cloud," explained Giles Frith, Vice President of Customer Operations at Blue Box, in this SYS-CON.tv interview at DevOps Summit, held Nov 4–6, 2014, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA.
May. 6, 2015 12:30 AM EDT Reads: 3,761
DevOps is a seismic change for organizations that offers great potential but comes with technical and cultural implications that can be difficult to navigate. In his session at DevOps Summit, Jeremy Steinert, DevOps Services Practice Lead at WSM International, will discuss best practices for successful DevOps deployments that create accountability, ensure secure access controls and create buy-in at all levels. He will include specific examples of successful DevOps deployments and the results a...
May. 6, 2015 12:30 AM EDT Reads: 1,672
SYS-CON Events announced today that Stratoscale, the new data center operating system, will exhibit at SYS-CON's 16th International Cloud Expo®, which will take place on June 9-11, 2015, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY. Based in Herzeliya, Israel, Stratoscale is redefining the data center, developing a hardware-agnostic, software platform hyper-converging compute, storage and networking across the rack or data center. The self-optimizing platform automatically distributes all physical...
May. 6, 2015 12:30 AM EDT Reads: 2,100
ScriptRock has been included in the list of "Cool Vendors" in the "Cool Vendors in DevOps 2015" report by Gartner, Inc.* ScriptRock provides visibility into the configuration state of an organization's IT environments, enabling the continuous delivery of mission critical services. For enterprises where downtime is not an option, ScriptRock's system-wide overwatch offers the assurance that misconfigurations and anomalies are caught before they affect the business. By satisfying this fundamental ...
May. 6, 2015 12:30 AM EDT Reads: 824
Puppet Labs on Wednesday released the DevOps Salary Report, based on salary data gathered from Puppet Labs' industry-recognized State of DevOps Report. The data confirms that market demand for DevOps skills is growing, and that DevOps engineers are among the highest paid IT practitioners today. That's because IT organizations today are grappling with how to be more agile and responsive to the business, while maintaining the stability of their infrastructure. DevOps practices, such as continuous ...
May. 6, 2015 12:15 AM EDT Reads: 2,367
In a world of ever-accelerating business cycles and fast-changing client expectations, the cloud increasingly serves as a growth engine and a path to new business models. Dynamic clouds enable businesses to continuously reinvent themselves, adapting their business processes, their service and software delivery and their operations to achieve speed-to-market and quick response to customer feedback. As the cloud evolves, the industry has multiple competing cloud technologies, offering on-premises ...
May. 6, 2015 12:00 AM EDT Reads: 3,165
SYS-CON Media announced today that Blue Box as launched a popular blog feed on Cloud Computing Journal. Cloud Computing Journal aims to help open the eyes of Enterprise IT professionals to the economics and strategies that utility/cloud computing provides. Blue Box Cloud gives you unequaled agility, without the burden of designing, deploying and managing your own infrastructure. It’s the right choice when public cloud just won’t do. Blue Box Cloud is a managed Private Cloud as a Service (...
May. 6, 2015 12:00 AM EDT Reads: 1,994


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The Caribbean island of Dominica is no stranger to natural disasters. In recent years, the island has been hit by multiple hurricanes, causing widespread damage and economic hardship. However, the people of Dominica have always been resilient, and have worked hard to rebuild their homes and businesses.
Now, Dominica is facing another challenge: the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused a sharp decline in tourism, which is one of the island’s main sources of income. As a result, many businesses have had to close their doors, and unemployment has spiked. The yuan pay group is one of the most authentic platforms that you can use for gaining information about BTC trading.
However, there is a ray of hope for Dominica. Recently, the country has begun to explore the use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to boost its economy. And, there’s a good chance that Bitcoin (BTC) could play a major role in this effort.
Here’s how BTC could make a great impact on the economy of Dominica:
- BTC Could Help Attract More Tourists to Dominica
As mentioned earlier, tourism is one of Dominica’s main sources of income. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism has declined sharply in recent months. In fact, many hotels and resorts on the island have had to close their doors due to a lack of business.
However, BTC could help attract more tourists to Dominica. How? By making it easier for people to book travel and accommodation on the island. For example, there are already a number of hotels and resorts that accept BTC as payment. And, if more businesses on the island start to accept BTC, it will become even easier for tourists to pay for their travel and accommodation with cryptocurrency.
In addition, Dominica could also become a popular destination for “crypto-tourists.” These are people who travel to locations where they can spend their cryptocurrency. For example, there are already a number of businesses in Puerto Rico that accept BTC as payment. If Dominica becomes a crypto-friendly destination, it could attract a new type of tourist that is interested in spending their BTC.
- BTC Could Help Boost eCommerce in Dominica
Another way that BTC could help the economy of Dominica is by boosting eCommerce. Currently, eCommerce is not very popular on the island. However, this could change if more businesses start to accept BTC as payment.
If BTC becomes a more widely-accepted form of payment for online purchases, it will make it easier for businesses to sell their products and services to a global audience. In addition, it will also make it easier for consumers to purchase goods and services from Dominica-based businesses.
- BTC Could Help Increase Foreign Investment in Dominica
Currently, Dominica is not a very attractive destination for foreign investors. However, this could change if the country becomes more friendly toward cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
If Dominica becomes a more welcoming environment for crypto and blockchain businesses, it could attract more foreign investment. This, in turn, would create new jobs and help boost the economy.
- BTC Could Help Reduce Remittance Fees
Another way that BTC could help the economy of Dominica is by reducing remittance fees. Currently, when people send money to Dominica from abroad, they have to pay high fees. However, if BTC becomes more widely accepted in the country, it could make it cheaper to send money to family and friends who live on the island.
In addition, BTC could also help reduce the cost of sending money back to family and friends who live abroad. Currently, many people who live in Dominica have to pay high fees to send money back to their home countries. However, if BTC becomes more widely accepted in Dominica, it could make it cheaper to send money abroad.
- BTC Could Help Improve Financial Inclusion in Dominica
Finally, BTC could also help improve financial inclusion in Dominica. Currently, there are many people on the island who do not have access to traditional banking services. However, if BTC becomes more widely accepted, it could provide these people with an alternative way to store and use their money.
In addition, BTC could also help reduce the cost of sending money to family and friends who live outside of Dominica. Currently, many people who live in Dominica have to pay high fees to send money back to their home countries. However, if BTC becomes more widely accepted in Dominica, it could make it cheaper to send money abroad.
Overall, BTC could have a positive impact on the economy of Dominica. However, it is important to note that the country will need to become more friendly towards cryptocurrency and blockchain technology before any of these benefits can be realised.


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Pork pie problem: UK food traditions to lose EU support
Tue., Aug. 9, 2016
BUILTH WELLS, Wales – Welsh farmers like Rees Roberts, who has 1,000 acres with sheep, cattle and crops, can expect to earn a premium on their meats thanks to a certificate of regional authenticity.
But that marker of distinction – the same kind that ensures Champagne can only come from the French region of the same name – is granted by the European Union and is now at risk after Britain voted to leave the 28-country bloc.
The certificates, of which there are 73 across Britain for goods like Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies, not only help farmers earn more but also shape rural communities’ identities. Add to that the loss of $3.97 billion in EU subsidies for U.K. farmers, potential new tariffs and fears that agriculture will not be prioritized in trade talks with the EU, and the decision to leave the 28-nation bloc promises to be painful.
“The voters weren’t thinking it through,” said Roberts, 65, as he discussed the uncertainty with fellow farmers at a fair in the village of Builth Wells.
For Welsh farmers, EU membership cushioned against tough times. Sheep flocks have fallen in size by 20 percent since a 1999 peak, while farmers’ real annual average incomes have tumbled nearly a third since 2003 to 22,500 pounds, or $29,250, according to government figures. The potential loss of preferential trade with Europe has left Wales rushing to export its lamb and beef to the United States, with the government submitting a 1,000-page proposal to the U.S. Agriculture Department last month ahead of upcoming trade talks in April.
The move was driven in part by concerns that negotiations over the next two years on Britain departing the EU will prioritize London banking jobs, while downplaying the needs of those in the hinterlands without the posh salaries.
“There are many concerns of how influential agriculture will be in these negotiations, both in terms of trade and direct financial support when compared to the powerful sectors such as financial services,” said Dai Davies, chairman of the Welsh meat promoter Hybu Cig Cymru.
Davies was at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells– among the largest agricultural fairs in Europe – to listen to farmers’ concerns and answer their questions. A sense of seriousness and urgency dominated the mood, despite the sheep shearing contests, food stalls and a folk rendition of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”
Even though Wales is a net beneficiary of EU support, it voted to leave the EU by 53 percent to 47 percent, a fact that reflects the complexities of global trade.
Many people in rural Britain, including Wales, are against the EU because the open borders required by membership challenges their sense of national identity. In some voters’ minds, globalization is synonymous with regulations, immigrants and the loss of jobs to low-cost countries in Eastern Europe or China. Those emotions come even though the union also has carved out markets for goods linked to Britain’s heritage.
Listening to Davies was Roberts, who said he worries that the terms of foreign trade will change, causing him to lose some access to the EU’s 508 million residents.
He hopes that the U.K. will settle on a new trade agreement with the EU similar to Norway’s. That would give them access to the EU’s single market but require the U.K. to keep receiving EU migrants, something many of those voting to leave are against. Some U.K. farmers do depend on migrant labor to pick their produce.
“Accepting the migrants wouldn’t be a problem for me,” said Roberts.
Next to him was John Foulkes, who has a flock of 3,000 and estimates that the protected geographical indicator for Welsh meat adds a 2.6 percent premium to the 80-pound price he charges for a typical lamb.
The protected status for “West Country Beef and Lamb” is a standard of quality and authenticity – for example, sheep have to get at least 70 percent of their food by foraging the hills of this corner of Britain. Many such markers could no longer be valid internationally, depending on how Britain leaves the EU, since it is the bloc that has enshrined them in international trade deals. To regain them, Britain might need to introduce its own protections and likely has to renegotiate trade deals, not just with the remaining EU countries but also other nations that Britain had deals with through the EU.
Most purveyors of products with EU protected status described the post-Brexit environment as hazy. Some have safety in trademarks that are internationally recognized regardless of EU membership, while others worry about the damage to Britain’s brand on the continent and the complex network of trade deals that extend from the EU to Asia and South America.
Stilton cheese enjoys trademark protections dating back as far as 1966 that should ensure its gourmet status, said Billy Kevan, dairy manager at the cheese maker Colston Bassett. He expects cheesemakers to be fine, but said a major unknown is whether European public opinion turns against Stilton as a means of protesting the Brexit vote.
Some British cheesemakers cannot easily sever ties with the continent. One of the leading exporters of the protected Stilton cheese is Tuxford & Tebbutt, which is owned by Arla Foods, a company based in Denmark.
Stilton cheese can only hail from three counties in England, making it a vital industry in those communities. Tuxford & Tebbutt employs 100 people in Melton Mowbray, a town of 25,000 where the local pork pies also enjoy protected status.
Stilton generates $78 million a year for the community, the pork pies another $78 million and an additional $91 million comes to the community through food tourism, said Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the United Kingdom Protected Food Names Association.
The Melton Mowbray pork pies could lose their EU protections, O’Callaghan warned, which could expose many of the bakers to cheaper copy-cat competition.
“It means that anybody could make a Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, for example in Poland – not use the proper recipe, so make it in hoops, not using cured pork, use less than 30 percent pork, make a cheaper imitation,” he said. “Now that’s going to cost us jobs.”
For Scotch distillers, the big risk is not so much in the trademark but losing trade deals with countries like Colombia, South Africa and South Korea that had been agreed on as part of the EU.
David Frost, the president of the Scotch Whisky Association, is a former government official responsible for trade policy and EU issues. He said the British government lacks enough negotiators to swiftly set up new trade deals if Brexit leads to the end of trade agreements with these emerging economies.
And that could hurt one of the few British industries that by its name can’t possibly be outsourced overseas, said Frost. “We’re rooted in Scotland – and we always will be.”
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After tons of spy shots, the new 2012 Mercedes Benz C-class has unofficially revealed itself by way of leaked brochure images. The same happened in the past with the Mercedes Benz E-Class and CLS-class as well. As you can see in the images, the headlights of the new C-class are much similar to the artist impression posted by Auto Bild Germany a few months back. The new headlights take inspiration from current Mercedes Benz E-class and add a bulge on top of the current C-class’ headlights design. The bonnet and front bumper too get slight tweaks to gel with the rest of the facelift.
At the back, the new C-class taillights that are similar in shape to the current model but have rearranged elements and an all-LED treatment. The rear bumper, again, is redesigned. The fact that these are leaked brochure images means that the 2012 C-class’s official unveiling isn’t too far away. More images in the gallery, even more on Auto Bild.


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Last week, we covered the latest news in the point of sale security market — Visa and MasterCard forming a group of retailers, banks, credit card providers and financial institutions with the goal of pushing improved security technology.
While the Target breach is enough to understand why this kind of focus is needed, a recent study by McAfee highlights that this is important because criminal activity is growing. The report found that the number of malware samples that were found in 2013 tripled the number found in 2012.
The study also examined the increase in POS malware attacks. The numbers show that criminals are becoming more sophisticated than ever and are constantly looking for new ways to bypass the security systems. Merchants are facing three new threats every second.
"Detailed research of the high-profile [fourth quarter] credit card data breaches found that the POS malware used in the attacks were relatively unsophisticated technologies likely purchased 'off the shelf' from the Cybercrime-as-a-Service community, and customized specifically for these attacks," the report reads.
The news of the massive Target breach has meant different things to both sides of the incident. First, it has highlighted the impact that an unsophisticated attack can have on a business, as it was able to affect nearly 110 million customers. However, it was a positive outcome for the criminal element that has seen how effective these kinds of attacks are.
Every merchant is going to need to pay attention to the growing challenges of the business landscape. With the help of a credit card payment processor, any retailer can be ready for the future.


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OAK BROOK, Ill. – A few years ago, fast-food chains were embroiled in a battle over value, each chain offering better deals at lower price points. But, when those offerings pulled in discount-seeking customers without translating that to brand loyalty, many QSRs trimmed their value menus—a strategy that backfired for many chains, Nation’s Restaurant News reports.
“They moved away from value and it hurt them,” said Bonnie Riggs, analyst with The NPD Group. “They needed to refocus on value.”
Fast-food chains have taken notice and many are revamping their value menus. Earlier this year, McDonald’s debuted a new value menu with $1, $2 and $3 options, while Taco Bell put seven additional items on its Cravings Menu, including Nacho Fries for $1. Jack in the Box added a Value Done Jack’s Way menu with $1 and $2 items, plus $3 and $4 meal combos.
While QSRs are concerned that value menus drive customers to order only lower-price-point items, but NPD found that on average, 72% of customers who bought from the value menu also purchased items from the regular menu. “The initial hope was to get new and lapsed users visiting again because of the value proposition, but that didn’t happen,” Riggs said. “Instead, heavier users and families with kids took advantage of the value menu.”
“It was a successful pricing strategy for these three brands,” Riggs said. “Chains need a value proposition to stay competitive with these offers.”


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It’s been 20 years since the Nike Zoom Flight 95 first landed at retailers. And over the last two decades, the shoe has ascended to legacy status, heralded as one of the best and most progressive basketball sneakers of its era.
Designed by Eric Avar, the time-honored Nike Basketball designer, the Nike Zoom Flight 95 re-enters the sneaker landscape in celebration of its anniversary. The futuristic design that baffled many upon its initial release, remains a figure for innovation today with nostalgia abound for 80’s babies.
Said to release this week at select retailers, keep your eyes peeled to Nike Sportswear retailers as the Nike Zoom Flight 95 is touching down soon.


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'Avatar' DVD, Blu-ray release date set
3D version expected to be released next yearThe home video release of "Avatar" will befit the highest-grossing movie of all time.
Fox Home Entertainment will roll out the home video in three phases, beginning with the release of the movie -- alone, with no extras -- in 2D on DVD and Blu-ray on Earth Day, April 22. A four-disc 2D release with numerous extras follows in November, and a 3D version on Blu-ray arrives next year.
With Earth Day, "Avatar" can be tied to a major marketing initiative that will underscore the environmental themes in the movie. Director James Cameron and producer Jon Landau will appear at a media event in Los Angeles this month to kick off the marketing effort. The release also comes on a Thursday, not the traditional Tuesday home video release.
The movie heads to every major country between April 21 (starting with France) and May 6 (finishing with Italy). It also will be available in China, Russia and Brazil, all of which have major piracy problems, on the same day as it is put out in North America.
The decision to release the movie without any trailers, commercials or extras on April 22 is unusual. It is being done, according to a Fox spokesman, to give Cameron and his team the greatest possibly "bit" capacity to present "Avatar" with enhanced video and audio.
The decision to hold off on the 3D version was made in part to allow for growth in the installed base of 3D TV sets, with a new generation just coming to market.
"Avatar" could challenge "The Dark Knight's" record of 3 million videos sold (including 600,000 on Blu-ray) on its first day.
"Avatar" opened Dec. 18 in theaters and has grossed more than $2.6 billion worldwide. It continues to play around the world, although it lost many of its 3D screens on March 5 when Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" opened. Fox also is considering a late-summer 3D rerelease in theaters.
Carl DiOrio in Las Vegas contributed to this report.


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Cory Gardner Says He Will Vote To Confirm Trump Supreme Court Nominee - Business Insider
Cory Gardner says he will vote to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee - Business Insider: Charles Davis
Sen. Gardner previously argued that Supreme Court vacancies should not be filled during an election year.
Survey: 85% of Americans are paying more for groceries during pandemic - Business Insider: Irene Jiang
Groceries are getting more expensive, and experts say consumers are right to be nervous about the future.
Why Microsoft is spending $7.5 billion to buy a video-game publisher - Business Insider: Ashley Stewart
At $7.5 billion, Microsoft will spend as much for ZeniMax as it did for GitHub — implying the importance that Microsoft places on the games business.
The rise of at-home fitness and future of gyms and boutique studios - Business Insider: Jennifer Ortakales, Mary Hanbury, Hillary Hoffower
While gym revenues tank, the at-home workout market is booming, as evidenced by cycling and running app Zwift's recent $1 billion valuation.
William B. Crews, a PR official at NIAID, has been reportedly moonlighting as an anonymous blogger at RedState, making outlandish claims about Fauci.
Miranda Kalinowski said Facebook looks for people they call "builders," or employees who go beyond what's expected of their work.
Eviction startup gets gig workers to help landlords kick people out - Business Insider: Aaron Holmes
Civvl encourages gig workers to apply, advertising the job as the "FASTEST GROWING MONEY MAKING GIG DUE TO COVID-19."
Database of top recruiters for Wall Street traders, dealmakers, bankers - Business Insider: Alex Morrell, Reed Alexander, Shayanne Gal
Business Insider compiled a database of more than 80 Wall Street recruiting firms and 350 headhunters that source front-office talent.
Here are some of the biggest revelations that came out of the leaked FinCEN reports - Business Insider: Yelena Dzhanova
A BuzzFeed report revealed files showing JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank facilitated the movement of criminal money even after getting caught.
American millennials are flocking to Colorado as the pandemic wears on - Business Insider: Hillary Hoffower
They said they all fell for Colorado's charm for the same reasons: job opportunities, good weather, accessibility, and plenty of outdoor activities.
Posted using Partiko Android


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TheStreet.com's DAILY BULLETIN
October 28, 1999
Market Data as of Close, 10/27/99:
o Dow Jones Industrial Average: 10,394.89 up 92.76, 0.90%
o Nasdaq Composite Index: 2,802.52 down 8.95, -0.32%
o S&P 500: 1,296.71 up 14.80, 1.15%
o TSC Internet: 706.49 down 16.66, -2.30%
o Russell 2000: 416.77 up 0.98, 0.24%
o 30-Year Treasury: 97 09/32 up 22/32, yield 6.323%
Companies in Today's Bulletin:
In Today's Bulletin:
o Internet: priceline.com Bidding for a New Source of Revenue: Licensing Its Business Model
o Wrong! Dispatches from the Front: Amazon Conference Provides Little Confidence
o Evening Update: Amazon Slumps After Hours; Harmonic Buys C-Cube Unit for $1.7 Billion
o Bond Focus: Bonds Bounce Ahead of ECI, GDP
TheStreet.com on Fox News Channel
Charles Carlson, co-manager of the Strong Dow 30 Value fund and author ofbest sellers "Buying Stocks Without a Broker," "No-Load Stocks" and "TheIndividual Investor Revolution" will be joining this week's "Word onTheStreet" panel as it tackles the reconstitution of the Dow and how itwill affect the individual investor.
Plus, Carlson will do the "Drill" with Herb and Cramer and Adam's back tobutt heads with "Chartman" Gary B. Smith.
"TheStreet.com" on Fox News Channel airs Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ETand Sundays at 10 a.m. ET.
FNC is Fox's 24-hour cable news channel. To find Fox News Channel in yourarea, call your local cable operator or see our "TSC on Fox" page atwww.thestreet.com/tv (look for the yellow box in the upper right hand corner).
Also on TheStreet.com:
Power Lines: Does Buffett's MidAmerican Maneuver Mean the Electricity Business is Sexy Again?
Don't bet on it -- the purchase says more about Warren's friendships than it does about the state of American utilities.
Brokerages/Wall Street: Rubin Receives Royal Reception From Salomon Traders
The deferential response the ex-Treasury secretary received could suggest Citigroup employees' desire for a leader they can trust without equivocation.
Trade Winds: Indonesia Faces a Long Road to Stability, Let Alone Prosperity
The new government is a welcome change for the troubled country, but the recent economic crisis exposed deep structural flaws in its financial system.
View From the North: WestJet Aims to Be Canada's Answer to Southwest
The regional upstart went public in July, and with the company's strong revenue and earnings, its stock is poised for continued solid performance.
Internet: priceline.com Bidding for a New Source of Revenue: Licensing Its Business Model
10/27/99 3:41 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- When
announces its third-quarter results, expected Thursday afternoon, some analysts will be looking to see how a new source of revenue will be affecting the company -- revenue coming from licensing the broad-based patent that is the company's business model.
Back in 1998, priceline.com patented a buyer-driven form of commerce that had its share of skeptics. In this year's second quarter, the company generated $112 million in revenue by matching airline tickets and hotel rooms with bids from its customers. Increasingly, the company is looking to the patent itself as a source of revenue.
"We would like to work with other companies," says Mari Shaw, a priceline.com patent litigator with
Morgan Lewis and Bockius
. "But we have intellectual property, and we should be compensated for it."
Earlier this month, priceline.com showed how earnestly it will enforce that patent when it sued
Web site for allegedly infringing it.
Even though it is caught up in other legal snarls, Microsoft is still a risky adversary to take on. But if priceline.com prevails, as many legal experts believe it will, the patent could mean more revenue growth for the company. Sara Zeilstra, a
Warburg Dillon Read
analyst, says she's confident she'll raise her revenue estimates for the company if priceline.com outlines more specifics of licensing deals in the company's conference call Thursday. Zeilstra rates the stock strong buy. Her firm hasn't done underwriting for the company.
Moreover, much of the revenue generated from licensing agreements will fall directly to the bottom line because the costs to maintain them are minimal, says Richard Zimmerman, an analyst at
Janney Montgomery Scott
. That should boost priceline.com's margins.
"From what we've seen so far, licensing can be a big part of the business," says Zimmerman, who rates the stock buy and whose firm hasn't performed any underwriting for the company. "Anything that is licensed will be gravy."
Analysts are expecting a loss of 10 cents per share for the quarter, according to
Thompson Financial/First Call
. Year-ago results weren't available.
So far, priceline.com has licensed its patent to
, a unit of
, according to company press releases. priceline.com recently announced it would license the patent to an online grocer start-up called
Priceline WebHouse Club
. Analysts say they don't expect to see any substantial impact on the company's income statement until the fourth quarter at the earliest.
Details have been sketchy on how much revenue these deals will bring in. Outside of Alliance, which along with its affiliates will pay priceline.com $1.5 million for a license of an undisclosed length of time, no numbers are available. priceline.com wouldn't comment further on the licensing agreements.
priceline.com says it talked with Microsoft for eight months in hopes of working out a mutually beneficial agreement, including a possible joint marketing deal and licensing agreement. During that time, priceline.com provided Microsoft with confidential information. Then, priceline.com alleges Expedia launched its own competing service.
"priceline believes Microsoft is infringing its patents and is using other information that Microsoft got under the mistaken belief there would be a joint effort to work together," says Evan Chesler, head of
Cravath Swaine & Moore's
litigation department and lead attorney for priceline.com in its lawsuit. Microsoft couldn't be reached for comment.
On Oct. 13, priceline.com filed its suit, which also charges Microsoft with violating the
Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act
. priceline.com is seeking a permanent injunction, as well as actual and punitive damages.
Attorneys watching the case say priceline.com's chances of emerging victorious are good. "Given the breadth of the claim, it's not going to be tough to do," says Jordan Sigale, a patent attorney with
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
. priceline is protecting a patent that is "a piece of land larger than North America."
Microsoft's most likely course is to argue that priceline.com's patent on a method of business isn't valid. But in 1998, in a similar case between
State Street Bank
, an appeals court held that business methods could be patented. In fact, two-thirds of patent suits where the defendant claims the patent stake isn't valid are upheld on appeal, estimates Mark Radcliffe, a patent attorney with
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich
The next step is in Microsoft's hands. The company needs to respond to the suit, and then there will be a discovery period, which stretches on for years, Chesler says. During that period, Microsoft is free to continue promoting its rival service.
And meantime, priceline.com will have the legal threat to any company that resists licensing its patent.
Wrong! Dispatches from the Front: Amazon Conference Provides Little Confidence
James J. Cramer
10/27/99 6:26 PM ET
Lot of angry analysts on this
call. My partner,
, is frantically trying to short some stock as one FOA -- that's Friend of Amazon -- after another questions whether the company has any plan to make money, or at least stem the losses or do something that resembles a business.
Jeff, who can spot a downgrade 10 miles away with his eyes closed, expects at least a couple tomorrow. He tells me that he was only able to sell about 1,000 shares short before the market collapsed into the low 70s. It is a point of pride with him, even though we won't make much money.
Jeff's always thinking about potential problems way in advance. The company is doing one of those "Who knows?" things that never inspire much confidence.
Of course, this is a work in progress. Maybe there will be some dynamite guidance off-line.
But right now, it looks like the only thing that is going to get dynamited is the stock -- tomorrow morning!
James J. Cramer is manager of a hedge fund and co-founder of TheStreet.com. At time of publication, his fund was short Amazon.com. His fund often buys and sells securities that are the subject of his columns, both before and after the columns are published, and the positions that his fund takes may change at any time. Under no circumstances does the information in this column represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. Cramer's writings provide insights into the dynamics of money management and are not a solicitation for transactions. While he cannot provide investment advice or recommendations, he invites you to comment on his column at
Evening Update: Amazon Slumps After Hours; Harmonic Buys C-Cube Unit for $1.7 Billion
10/27/99 9:39 PM ET
posted a third-quarter pro forma operating loss of 26 cents a share, 2 cents better than the 22-analyst
First Call/Thomson Financial
estimate of a 28-cent loss but wider than the year-ago loss of 8 cents a share. The company said revenues rose to $356 million from $154 million a year earlier. Amazon warned that gross profit margins are likely to fall as marketing expenses rise in the fourth quarter, although revenue should be significantly higher than the third quarter's.
reported on Amazon's results in a
story this evening. The stock was suffering in after-hours action (see below).
agreed to buy the
for about $1.7 billion in stock, in an effort to strengthen its video, voice and data delivery over different networks. C-Cube shareholders will receive 0.5427 shares of Harmonic stock for each share of C-Cube.
night. It crushed all other issues traded on
, on a whopping 436,788 shares. It led
. Why? The company released third-quarter results that beat expectations, but it said fourth-quarter losses might expand because of increased marketing spending.
Island ECN, owned by Datek Online, offers trading, mainly in Nasdaq-listed stocks, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. Prior to Sept. 15 Island offered trading from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EDT
MarketXT, formerly Eclipse Trading, offers after-hours trading to retail clients of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter's (MWD) Discover Brokerage and Mellon Bank's (MEL) Dreyfus Brokerage Services. Clients can trade 200 of the most actively traded New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market issues, 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT Monday through Thursday. Prior to Oct. 11, MarketXT traded issues from 6 to 8 p.m. Need more information on the ins and outs of after-hours trading? Click here to see how the rules change when the sun goes down.
In other postclose news (earnings estimates from First Call/Thomson Financial; earnings reported on a diluted basis unless otherwise specified):
Earnings/revenue reports and previews
posted first-quarter loss of 15 cents a share, narrower than the two-analyst estimate of a 20-cent loss but down from the year-ago 4-cent profit.
posted fourth-quarter earnings of $1.08 a share including gains. The single analyst expectation was $1.09 a share, while the year-ago figure was 41 cents a share including items.
posted a fourth-quarter loss of 5 cents a share, matching the 10-analyst estimate but down from the year-ago profit of 3 cents.
posted first-quarter earnings of $1.30 a share, beating the three-analyst estimate of $1.28 but down from the year-ago $1.48.
posted a fourth-quarter loss of 54 cents a share, wider than the four-analyst estimate of a 52-cent loss but narrower than the year-ago $2.19 loss.
posted third-quarter earnings of 2 cents a share including a gain on investments. The seven-analyst estimate was for a loss of 7 cents a share, while the year-ago earnings were $1.95 a share, also including gains.
posted third-quarter earnings of 29 cents a share, in line with the 11-analyst estimate and up from the year-ago 26 cents.
posted a third-quarter loss of 36 cents a share, narrower than the two-analyst expected loss of 78 cents and the year-ago loss of 39 cents. The company said per-share figures were computed on a pro forma diluted basis, assuming conversion of preferred stock from the original date of issuance and giving effect to the 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected in connection with ImageX.com's August IPO.
reported fourth-quarter earnings of 64 cents a share, beating both the four-analyst estimate of 59 cents and the year-ago 45 cents.
posted third-quarter earnings from core operations of $1.77 a share excluding items, missing the four-analyst estimate of $2.06 and the year-ago $2.01.
reported third-quarter operating net of 9 cents a share, beating the five-analyst expectation that the company would break even and the year-ago break-even result, which the company notes was antidilutive.
reported third-quarter earnings of 1 cent a share including a gain. The single-analyst estimate was for break even results, while the year-ago earnings were 64 cents a share.
reported a second-quarter loss of 18 cents a share, narrower than the two-analyst estimate of a 27-cent loss and the year-ago 29-cent loss.
U.S. Food Service
posted a first-quarter profit of 23 cents a share, beating the 12-analyst estimate of 22 cents and the year-ago 18 cents.
posted third-quarter earnings of 66 cents a share, beating the seven-analyst estimate of 57 cents and the year-ago 42 cents.
reported a third-quarter loss of 14 cents a share, narrower than the two-analyst expected loss of 21 cents but wider than a year-ago pro forma loss of 4 cents a share.
In other earnings news:
Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
said it signed a five-year memory chip supply deal with
. Though terms were not disclosed, the deal was structured similarly to a pact Micron reached with
that analysts estimated to be worth up to $20 billion over five years, according to
Offerings and stock actions
priced the 6.25 million-share IPO of
at $13 a share, above the expected range of $10 to $12.
said it bought back 3.5 million shares, or 11.7% of its outstanding common stock.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
priced 10 million shares of
at $18 a share, above the expected $15-to-$17 estimated range.
El Al Israel Airlines
said it agreed to purchase three 777-200ER aircraft from
for $400 million. El Al also said it plans to buy three or four A330's from
for about $400 million but that a further two-week evaluation was required.
A unit of
was awarded a major U.S. military communications contract for Asia and the Pacific region that could be worth up to $4 billion over 10 years.
Bond Focus: Bonds Bounce Ahead of ECI, GDP
David A. Gaffen
10/27/99 5:40 PM ET
After a strong advance in the morning, Treasuries rode the wave through the rest of today's session, getting a brief bounce after a well-received two-year Treasury note auction.
The market's been cautious for the last week in anticipation of tomorrow's
Employment Cost Index
report, and analysts believe today's activity was a response to the market's innate negativity.
"I think we're just going to move whatever direction" the ECI says, said Gib Clark, manager of government trading at
Zions First National Bank
in Jersey City, N.J.. "There doesn't seem to be any support to buy the market, and it seems like most of the selling is done in the near-term."
Lately the 30-year Treasury bond was up 21/32 to 97 8/32, near its highs of the day, dropping the yield 5 basis points to 6.33%.
The Treasury sold $15 billion in two-year notes at its regular monthly auction this afternoon at a high yield of 5.395%. Prior to the auction, the note's yield rose as high as 5.99%, and the wide difference (as these things go) means traders bid aggressively for the new issue. The two-year note reacts to expectations of
policy, and many analysts now feel the market has priced in a rate hike to 5.5%.
"It was a very strong two-year auction," Clark said. "It caused a pop in the market. We just got close to 6% and that seemed like a good value."
Analysts weren't worried about the consequences of rallying a day before a potentially negative number for the market. Tomorrow's third-quarter ECI figure, an important wage inflation indicator, may set the tone for Treasury trading leading up to the Fed's Nov. 16 policy meeting. The consensus estimate, according to
, is for a 0.9% increase in the ECI. A larger figure could cause the long bond's yield to head toward 6.5%. A figure that falls short of expectations may not be enough to stave off a rate hike, but it would ease the market's fears of growing inflation.
"I'll look at the price behavior after release of the number," said Richard Schwartz, senior vice president at
New York Life Asset Management
. "If it's at 0.9% and that takes the market
higher, it's a message that we'd gotten oversold, and there was enough bad news already built in. But if it trades off it tells you that investors or market participants are looking for a way out."
Not to be forgotten, third-quarter GDP figures are also slated for release tomorrow. Subject to two subsequent revisions, this figure is expected to show an economic growth rate of 4.7% during the third quarter, compared with 1.6% rate of growth during the second quarter. Inventory buildup and strong consumer spending has likely kept the economy growing steadily, despite a widening of the trade deficit during the quarter.
The market reacted positively to the September
figures released this morning, although bonds had already been rallying. New orders for durable goods fell 1.3% during September, after a 1% rise in August.
But bonds were moving up coming into the U.S. open, supported by rallies in European bond markets. Eurozone money supply grew at a 6.1% annual rate in September, and that got the other bond markets convinced the
European Central Bank
will act to fight inflation and raise interest rates at its Nov. 4 meeting .
This afternoon, the Treasury announced a surplus of $56.4 billion in the month of September. The government closed out fiscal 1999 with a budget surplus of $122 billion, compared with $69 billion for fiscal 1998.
The fed funds futures contract listed on the
Chicago Board of Trade
was lately pricing in a 72.9% probability of a
rate hike, from 5.25% to 5.5%, at its next meeting. Yesterday, the November fed funds contract was pricing in the same chance of a rate hike.
TO VIEW TSC'S ECONOMIC DATABANK, SEE:
James J. Cramer will be participating in
New Economy Conference Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Millennium Broadway. He'll be part of a panel titled "Barbarians at the Temple." The panel will begin at 3 p.m. EDT.
Copyright 1999, TheStreet.com


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The cost of chargers for iPhone smartphones in Russia has more than doubled, according to a study by the analytical company Mobile Research Group. In February, the adapter cost customers 1990 rubles, and at the moment the cost has risen to 4500 rubles. The charger market is down 40% in volume and 30% in value compared to 2021.
Since the end of February, chargers for Apple smartphones have risen in price by 1.5-2.5 times. Now the adapter is available in the Svyaznoy chain of stores at a price of 4499 thousand rubles, in Re: Store - 3490 thousand rubles.
High prices for original accessories are due to the lack of competition from "gray" stores, explains Nikita Goryainov, editor-in-chief of iPhones.ru. He adds that the profit from the sale of imported adapters will be negligible.
Other Apple accessories have also risen in price. The price of a wipe for cleaning the screen has risen from 1990 rubles. up to 2500-3500 rubles.
Last year, consumers purchased a significant number of accessories, so the demand for them decreased in 2022. Retail chains have raised prices for related products in order to earn extra money, said Denis Kuskov, CEO of Telecom Daily. He says that iPhone owners continue to use chargers from old gadgets after purchasing a new one.
Goryainov says that there are Apple gadgets that have not risen in price in recent months. For example, the AirTag tag is sold at the same price as in January-February - 2990 rubles. However, the device is not popular among users. The cost of cases for the iPhone 13 is still around 5 thousand rubles.
The drop in sales was the only reason for the rise in price of chargers, said Eldar Murtazin, an analyst at Mobile Research Group. At the expense of the total margin, sellers expect to compensate for the profit they received less.
The original adapters for iPhone and non-branded have risen in price. Sales of chargers in the first half of 2022 decreased by 20% compared to last year, said David Borzilov, MegaFon's sales director. MTS announced a decrease in demand by 6%. In monetary terms, the market increased by 12%, the operator's representatives reported.
According to Kuskov, accessories sales will continue to fall in the second half of this year. This is due to the durability of chargers, the ability to recharge smartphones with a USB-C port from any suitable device, and the likely transition of Apple to this standard with the iPhone 14.