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Technically, they are not dead, yet.
Irrespective of whether Microsoft closes the Nokia deal or not, the Nokia brand will continue to survive, at least for another few years. But it is unlikely that we will see a new Nokia-branded phone again after the end of this year.
For BlackBerry, the picture is even better. Even if it is acquired by Fairfax, there is a chance that brand BlackBerry will survive for a while.
But, practically, Nokia and BlackBerry are finished. The BlackBerry and Nokia that you and I knew are gone. They had their glory days. They ruled the market. They sold products that millions used. Those days are gone.
So what killed Nokia and BlackBerry? I am sure books will be written on their demise and they will be held as examples of how empires crumble. But I can tell you in one line where they went wrong:
This is what I tweeted in June 2011. The ‘phone mode’ killed Nokia and BlackBerry.
When Apple introduced iPhone in 2007, it didn’t set out to sell a phone. Nokia and BlackBerry were making fantastic phones. They were unbeatable. So Apple changed the rules of the game. It side-stepped the battle. To take over the world, it didn’t create a phone that was also smart, something that BlackBerry, Nokia and even Microsoft were doing. It created a smart device that was also a phone.
The iPhone that Steve Jobs introduced in 2007 was a small and pocketable computer. It was not very powerful. But at its heart, it was a computer. Primarily it was meant to calculate and process data, the way computers do, to carry out tasks. It could run apps, or in other words programs. The fact that it could also connect to cellular network and make calls was just the icing on the cake.
A year later, Android not only followed in the footsteps of iPhone but also expanded on the idea of pocketable computers. It was even more flexible, like modern computers, and allowed a user to do more, the way computers do.
Since then, both Apple and Google have tirelessly worked to make iPhones and Android devices more and more powerful. They have added to what their devices can do. They worked to enable more powerful hardware in iPhones and Androids. Nowadays, a good Android phone or iPhone can handle many of those tasks that earlier required a laptop. You can browse web, edit office documents, edit images or videos, play 3D games and watch FullHD videos on an Android phone.
Recently, when Apple introduced iPhone 5, it said, “The A7 chip in iPhone 5S brings 64-bit desktop-class architecture to a smartphone for the first time.”
Think about “desktop-class architecture” that I have highlighted.
Nokia and BlackBerry failed to grasp this. Even years after iPhone was introduced, they were still trying to compete in the market with phones that have smart features. They stood no chance. They required small computers that could make calls.
Nowadays, calling or texting using cellular network is just one of the tasks people do with a phone. In fact, for many, these are very low-priority tasks. For most consumers, more important is how well a smartphone can tackle web browsing. Or how well it can play videos. Or how well it can run games. Or how well it can run apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. The devices sold by Nokia and BlackBerry excelled at making calls. But they were not very good at some of these other things.
BlackBerry realized this, albeit late, and tried to turn its fortunes around with BB10. Unfortunately, by the time BB10 came to the market in 2012, it was already too late for the company.
Nokia, meanwhile, tried to hitch a ride with Microsoft and went all out with Windows Phone. It could have succeeded but I have a theory why it has so far failed.
Microsoft is a company that thrives on the traditional computer market. The small and pocketable computers are a threat to its core market. So even though it developed Windows Phone to take on the iPhones and Androids, its heart has not been there. Windows Phone is utterly gimped and lacks in features. And Microsoft has been excruciatingly slow in updating the OS.
Compared to iOS and Android, Windows Phone still looks like a feature phone operating system. Yes, a feature phone OS that has a beautiful user interface and some smart functionality.
Unless Microsoft significantly overhauls the Windows Phone, it will not find any decent number of buyers in the market.
It is sad to see companies like Nokia and BlackBerry, the alpha dogs in their time, to go like this. Unfortunately, they had not only been complacent in the wake of iPhone, they utterly failed to understand the true nature of the device we called smartphone. They had it coming.


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domain: news


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MIDLAND, MI — Both the Midland Michaels store and the Saginaw Township Michaels store have been listed among 35 locations across the state known to have been affected by a security breach.
Michaels Stores Inc., seller of arts and crafts supplies and custom framing, in January "learned of possible fraudulent activity on some U.S. payment cards that had been used at Michaels stores," according to a company news release.
The Midland store, located at 909 Joe Mann Blvd., is thought to have been affected from May 8, 2013, through Oct. 7, 2013, Oct. 17, 2013, through Nov. 24, 2013, and Dec. 11, 2013, through Jan. 18, 2014.
The Saginaw Township store, at 3437 Tittabawassee, is thought to have been affected from May 8, 2013 through Oct. 8, 2013, Oct. 17, 2013 through Nov. 24, 2013 and Dec. 12, 2013 through Jan. 19, 2014.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette offered tips for customers affected by security breaches, such as those reported by Michaels and Target. Find those tips here.Since the announcement, Michaels officials say the company has worked with two security firms to conduct an investigation, along with law enforcement authorities, banks and payment processors.
"After weeks of analysis, the company discovered evidence confirming
that systems of Michaels stores in the United States and its subsidiary,
Aaron Brothers, were attacked by criminals using highly sophisticated
malware that had not been encountered previously by either of the
security firms," the release states.
"The company has now
identified and fully contained the incident, and the malware no longer
presents a threat while shopping at Michaels or Aaron Brothers," the
Here's what the investigation revealed:
customer payment card information was compromised, such as card number
and expiration date, but there is no evidence to suggest that other
customer personal information, such as name, address or PIN, were at
risk as a result of the attack.
- The attack targeted a
limited portion of the point-of-sale systems at Michaels stores between
May 8, 2013 and January 27, 2014. A small percentage of payment cards
used in the affected stores during the times of exposure were affected.
2.6 million cards may have been affected, or about 7 percent of payment
cards used as Michaels stores in the U.S. during the relevant time
- A list of affected stores and potential dates of exposure for each can be found here.
- Fraudulent use of a limited number of payment cards affected by the breach have been reported by payment card brands and banks to the company.
customers are always our number one priority, and we are truly sorry
for any inconvenience or concern Michaels may have caused," CEO Chuck
Rubin said in a prepared statement. "We are committed to assisting
affected customers by providing fraud assistance, identity protection
and credit monitoring services. Importantly, with this incident now
fully contained, we can assure customers this malware no longer presents
a threat to shoppers at Michaels or Aaron Brothers."
His statement continued, "In an era where very sophisticated and determined criminals have proven capable of successfully attacking a wide range of computer networks, we must all increase our level of vigilance. Michaels is committed to working with all appropriate parties to improve the security of payment card transactions for all consumers."


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Price Chopper building stores in Thousand Islands region and Pennsylvania
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Price Chopper is building new supermarkets in New York’s Thousand Islands region and in Pennsylvania, increasing the Schenectady-based chain’s store count to 132.
Price Chopper, owned by The Golub Corp., has broken ground on a 30,000-square-foot store in Alexandria Bay, New York, and a 50,000-square-foot store in Middle Smithfield Township in the Poconos in Pennsylvania.
The Alexandria Bay store will be the first in the chain to be connected to a boat dock.
The Golub Corp. had $3.6 million in sales as of April 2012, making it the 39th largest chain in the U.S., according to Supermarket News.
The company recently announced plans to spend $61 million renovating 11 stores in the Albany area, including turning its store on Route 9 in Latham into a prototype for the chain.
DeMasi covers real estate, construction, retail and hospitality.
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Maverik gas station and convenience store opened in Fort Morgan in the spring of 2013, and it has continued to be popular with travelers and locals both because of its proximity to Interstate 76 and the typically low gas prices.
Many local people likely have seen the recent construction going on. Maverik is making improvements to allow for customers with trailers or RVs better access to fill up their gas tanks.
On the north side of the convenience store, Maverik is adding two lanes with pumps that will allow customers to pull in to fill their tanks and then have easy access to Riverview Avenue and Main Street.
"We are adding two RV lanes, where pumps will be installed," said Lynn Rassmussen, executive director of operations for F.J. Management, Inc., which is the owner of Maverik and is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Times first reported on the proposed changes at Maverik in an Aug. 9, 2016, article. Fort Morgan Engineering/Public Works Director Brad Curtis presented to the Fort Morgan Planning Commission the company's plan for removing the previous seating area to the north of the main building and installing the drive-through lanes and more pumps, as well as some other work on the south. Those are the changes that are happening now.
The company hopes that the construction will be completed within the next 30 days, according to Rassmussen.
"Our store in Fort Morgan has been great," said Rassmussen. "We are really excited to have those drive-through lanes open for our customers."
With the success of the Maverik gas station and convenience store at the intersection of Main Street and Riverview Avenue in Fort Morgan, customers may start to see more of that brand in eastern Colorado, according to Rassmussen.
Jon A. Yamamoto: 970-441-5103, firstname.lastname@example.org


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[THE INVESTOR] The owners of South Korea’s top 10 chaebol groups saw their stock value rise by about 2 trillion won (US$1.7 billion) this month to reach 30.17 trillion won, industry data showed on Jan. 27.
According to Chaebul.com, which tracks conglomerates here, the figure was up 8.3 percent from 27.8 trillion won at the end of last year.
Individually, the value of stocks held by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee rose to 15.1 trillion won, up 11.5 percent from 13.6 trillion won at the end of last year. Lee, who has been hospitalized since 2014 after suffering a heart attack, has an estimated net worth of 78 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics’ shares increased to 43,050 won as of Jan. 24, up 11.2 percent from last year’s 38,700 won, despite the decline in its fourth-quarter performance attributed to falling chip prices and slowing memory chip demand.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo saw his stocks valued at 4.1 trillion won, up 11.7 percent from 3.6 trillion won last year. The automaker’s affiliates, auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis and steel manufacturer Hyundai Steel, logged record-high overseas orders and the largest sales amount last year, respectively.
LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, who inherited a large chunk of LG shares from late Chairman Koo Bon-moo, saw the value of his shares rise 7.7 percent to 1.9 trillion won from 1.8 trillion won last year.
Shares held by Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon rose to 649 billion won in value, up 9.3 percent from last year’s 553 billion won.
Hanwha Chemical recently confirmed the buyout of the group’s photovoltaic solar cells making unit Hanwha Q-Cells by merging it into a wholly owned unit.
Other chaebol group owners, GS Group Chairman Heo Chang-soo, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Doosan Group Chairman Park Jung-won, also saw a rise in the value of their stocks.
Meanwhile, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was the only chaebol group owner to see his value of stocks fall to 1.21 trillion won, down 5.5 percent from last year’s 1.28 trillion won.
By Kim Da-sol (firstname.lastname@example.org)


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The yellow label tells you in a glance that your Ladybug qualifies as a disinfection device for the EPA.
Vernon Hills, Illinois (PRWEB) April 04, 2013
LadybugSteamCleaners.com, an authorized Ladybug dealer that sells Ladybug steam cleaners online to consumers in all 50 states and to walk-in customers who visit their Chicago-area showroom floor, today announced that it plans to actively market the commercial-grade Ladybug Tekno 2350 vapor steam cleaner to grocery stores.
Ladybug is the nation's leading brand of steam vapor systems that help protect human health and the environment. TANCS®-equipped systems like the Tekno 2350 are lab tested and scientifically proven to produce better results than traditional disinfectants.
“This makes the Tekno ideal for grocery store cleaning staff to thoroughly clean, deodorize and maintain bakery exhaust hoods, deli slicing machines, meat department band saws, produce preparation tables, shopping carts, and dairy department steel shelving and walk-in coolers,” says V. K. Dunlop of LadybugSteamCleaners.com. “With simplified water-only protocols, there are no MSDS requirements to comply with or records to maintain.”
According to the Integrated Benefits Institute, exposure to cleaning chemicals is the largest contributing risk factor for occupational illness and injury.
Using ordinary tap water, the Ladybug Tekno 2350 with Ladybug’s proprietary patented Thermo Accelerated Nano Crystal Sanitation technology (called TANCS®) qualifies as a disinfection device for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, making it more suitable than traditional hard-surface disinfectants for many supermarket settings.
“While bleach has been trusted for years as the perfect disinfectant, bleach leaves as many live bacteria cells as dead cells,” says Dunlop. “But scientific testing has found that steam cleaners equipped with TANCS® kill the cells that are unreachable by bleach.”
Steam vapor systems like the Tekno 2350, which ships standard with TANCS®, proudly display a label that says “EPA Est. No. 82121-WA-01” in bold letters.
“The yellow label tells you in a glance that your Ladybug qualifies as a disinfection device for the EPA,” says Dunlop.
Located in Vernon Hills, Illinois, LadybugSteamCleaners.com is moving fast to educate consumers and businesses that finally, there's a feasible, environmentally friendly alternative to chemicals. For more information, call 1-877-840-2977. LadybugSteamCleaners.com is a proud member of the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, a nationwide effort to protect families from toxic chemicals. To stay safe and avoid toxic chemicals, keep abreast of the latest news with LadybugSteamCleaners.com’s Twitter account, @LadybugSteam.


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Öhlins Racing has been sold!
Kenth Öhlin, the owner of the brand sells Öhlins Racing to Tenneco Inc.
Öhlins Racing has been an integral part of the motorsport, motorcycle and automotive industry since 1976, when Kenth Öhlin founded the company and created his first legendary motocross shock. Since then, Öhlins have been setting global industry standards by offering state-of-the-art suspension technology to racing teams, OEM partners and aftermarket. With distribution in 50 countries and manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, Öhlins has managed to combine global reach with world class industry knowledge. Now it has been sold to Tenneco Inc.
Brian Kesseler, co-CEO of Tenneco, comments “Öhlins’ technology team will allow us to rapidly grow our premium product offerings for current and future customers, as well as help us win a larger share of business in developing mobility markets.”
Henrik Johansson, CEO of Öhlins, comments “Tenneco will help grow our business on a global scale. Tenneco and Öhlins have been working together for 20 years, delivering outstanding products for the intelligent suspension market. This is the beginning of something even bigger.”
Learn more: www.ohlins.com


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Nike dropped its lawsuit against Boris Berian, , a top contender for the U.S. Olympic Team in the 800 meters, with the move coming just a week before the start of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. As reported, Nike Inc. sued to prevent Berian from wearing New Balance merchandise...(6/24/2016)
Mossy Oak Properties, Inc. named its Agent of the Year award to Brad Hawkins of Mossy Oak Properties Dixie Land & Wildlife in Selmer, TN...
La Jolla Group has partnered with Hang Ten as their U.S. clothing licensee. The first collection debuted in Urban Outfitters stores in May...(6/24/2016)
The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association endorsed the Professional Bicycle Mechanics Association, which has been formed to represent professional bicycle mechanics...(6/23/2016)
Intova CEO Graeme Esarey is defending his title as 2015 winner of the Race to Alaska (R2AK) beginning today, when 65 teams began competing in what's billed as the longest human and wind-powered boat race in North America...(6/23/2016)
Registration is open for RISE: Retail Inspired Specialty Excellence, a retailer education program being co-hosted by Outdoor Industry Association, Grassroots Outdoor Alliance and Outdoor Retailer...(6/23/2016)
Yakima Products Inc. has partnered with Toyota to present its Road Warrior Program, which provides dealer training during more than 75 cycling, outdoor and automotive consumer events across North America...(6/23/2016)
Leatt Corporation has opened a seasonal partnership store with Surefoot, a global ski boot specialty store, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, to showcase its bicycle products to sporting enthusiasts...(6/23/2016)
The Federation of European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) renewed a pact with the European Commission, e-commerce sites and brand owners to fight rogue websites amid signs that online sales of counterfeit goods are worsening...(6/23/2016)
Leaders at The Sports & Fitness Industry Association and PHIT America refocus energy on addressing the mounting 'Inactivity Pandemic' among school-age children...


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On April 27, the High Anti-Corruption Court considered a motion by the lawyer of Odesa businessman Vadym Alperin to change the interim measure, and as a result, investigating judge Moisak refused the motion.
Let us remind you who Alperin is and where it all began.
“Godfather of smuggling”
In 2008, the whole country heard about Alperin for the first time, he was the owner of the ship “Faina,” seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
In November 2017, the president of the Institute of Law and Society, Yurii Karmazin, stated that Alperin was involved in a number of companies that allegedly imported goods to Ukraine at low customs duties. NABU detectives, who detained Alperin in November of the same year, were checking the information. The businessman allegedly tried to bribe a detective by offering USD 800,000 to close the case.
What are the details of the case?
According to the investigation, Alperin allegedly ran a criminal organization that was engaged in fraud during the customs clearance of imported goods at reduced prices. Alperin allegedly created two groups: the one in Odesa was receiving the goods, the other one in Kyiv was registering them on fake invoices with foreign companies. The NABU says that the losses from fraud amount to UAH 77 mln.
What are the results?
On April 16, 2020, due to violations of procedural obligations, the interim measure was changed, namely, the amount of bail was increased to UAH 76 mln.
Let us remind you that on April 6, Volodymyr Zelenskyy put into effect the decision of the National Security Council on sanctions against the ten largest smugglers of Ukraine, including Alperin.


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Food bank loses its town 'warehouse'
Staff at Home Sense in Hartcliffe with produce that the store donated to Keynsham Food Bank
KEYNSHAM Food Bank has been forced to move its ‘warehouse’ out of town.
Since opening its distribution centres in 2013, the food bank has been hosted by Broadlands Academy, which has allowed it to store stock in a redundant classroom free of charge.
The arrangement had already been put under pressure by a significant increase in demand for the food bank’s services and the need for the school to enforce its safeguarding requirements.
But now that the school has been closed because of the coronavirus, the food bank has been forced to seek new premises.
A suitable alternative in Keynsham has yet to be found, so the ‘warehouse’ has been temporarily moved to a site in Longwell Green.
Food bank chairman and coordinator Alan Hale said: "We are extremely grateful to Broadlands. But the pressures upon us now dictate that we need a more flexible and accessible 'warehouse' unit.
“We would love to find something in town, but as yet we have been unsuccessful.
“So in the meantime we have had to rent storage accommodation at Lok'nStore in Longwell Green.”
Demand on the food bank has risen significantly because of the coronavirus outbreak. Prior to the week beginning March 17, the food bank had this fiscal year fed 1,149 attendees, including 514 children - 50% more than the previous fiscal year. But this last week the team have fed more than 100 people.
As some businesses are closing down for the duration of the virus, they have been offering food to the food bank - Priston Mill (due to a cancelled wedding), TK Maxx in Brislington and Home Sense at Hartcliffe, which has given more than 80 large carrier bags full of produce. A local Wetherspoons is also giving a consignment of food.
Keynsham Rotary Club has donated the costs of its cancelled dinner meeting to the food bank. Other members of the community have given individual cash donations.
Alan Hale continued: “The local community has been great, and many volunteers have come forward as some of our regular volunteers felt they had to step back because of their age in relation to the virus.
“We are hopeful that our move out of town will only be for a short period.
“Should any businesses or benefactors feel they can offer us accommodation in Keynsham or are willing to help with sponsorship of our current accommodation to some degree, we would love to hear from them.
“In the meantime, I would urge our generous community in Keynsham and Saltford to continue to donate food via the drop boxes at Tesco and Waitrose, because there are so many in food crisis at the moment.”
Athough the warehouse has moved, the two distributions in Keynsham and the one in Saltford remain open during their usual hours.
The food bank can be contacted on 0117 9837923 or via email@example.com. Donations can be made via bank transfer to sort code 60-12-11, account number 26641860.


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The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is supporting a new pilot scheme to improve recycling rates of food and drink packaging on-the-go.
#LeedsByExample is a campaign launched by environmental behaviour change charity Hubbub and recycling compliance scheme Ecosurety.
The campaign aims to improve recycling rates on the street, in local offices, shopping centres, universities and transport hubs through a partnership of large businesses, new technology and engaging communications activities.
The scheme will be piloted in Leeds City Centre from September 2018, running in conjunction with Leeds City Council. Results from the trial will be shared with the aim of inspiring a national roll-out of the most successful elements.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Improving recycling rates and making responsible environmental choices are a top priority for convenience retailers, with stores already playing their part in reducing the amount of plastic bags handed out through a nationwide voluntary charging scheme.
“We are contributing time and money to the #LeedsByExample pilot, because we want to explore the most effective ways of tackling the waste generated by food-to-go packaging, coffee cups and plastic bottles.”
The food-to-go industry is worth £17.4bn a year and this is projected to increase to over £23bn by 2022. Recent research by ReCoup found that only 42% of local authorities provide on-the-go recycling facilities.


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Over fifty percent of “consumers” in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), according to payments giant Mastercard, have already interacted with cryptocurrencies.
As part of its New Payments Index poll, the company claimed to have interviewed “more than 35,000 people “; with 51% of Latin American and Caribbean respondents claiming to have engaged in “at least one crypto-related activity in the past 12 months.”
In addition, “more than a third” of Latin American/Caribbean respondents had “made a payment ” using a stablecoin.
The survey also revealed that 54 percent of Latino and Caribbean consumers are “optimistic” regarding digital assets.
Sixty-six percent of respondents from Latin America and the Caribbean desired — more flexibility to use crypto and traditional payment methods interchangeably.
Moreover, 77% of those surveyed claimed they would be willing to utilise crypto more if they understood it better.
And 67% stated they would be willing to make or receive payments in cryptoassets provided tokens were backed by tradfi.
The poll suggests, however, that the region is an outlier. Globally, little more than a third of respondents indicated; they were “somewhat or very likely to attempt paying with crypto” in the next year. While fewer than six in ten said they “would feel more secure about crypto if it was issued or backed by a respected organization.”
Mastercard’s survey also revealed that digital payments are on the rise in Latin America, with 95% of respondents intending to utilise digital payment methods in the coming year. Almost one-third of respondents indicated that they have reduced their cash usage over the past year.
The survey’s results follow a flurry of investment in the region by Mastercard’s competitor Visa. This month, the latter launched a variety of crypto cards in Brazil and Argentina; in collaboration with significant local blockchain industry firms. More and more Latin Americans are interested in cryptocurrencies and want solutions that ease access to the crypto world.
He noted that Mastercard was currently developing “technologies to increase digital inclusion and relationships that assure operability and support.”


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Two new reports — from Forrester and Altimeter — show the organizational challenges to becoming digital. Barry Levine on February 22, 2019 at 6:36 pm From the Altimeter report CMOs need to become more involved in their company’s overall digital transformation, because they’re the ones who best understand the customer. That’s a key idea in … Continue reading Why marketers need to help manage digital transformations
Daniel Burrus — February 16, 2019 Follow @DanielBurrus — February 16, 2019 We categorize everything, from subgenres of music to which foods are the healthiest. But most categorization occurs between generational differences in the workforce and what success means to both, especially in manufacturing. The Change Curve of Manufacturing In recent years, the change curve … Continue reading Changes in Manufacturing: How Will Different Generations Adapt?
Columnist Lewis Gersh looks at the innovative ways digitally native vertical brands are creating “tactile extensions” to further their reach. Lewis Gersh on January 28, 2019 The measurement “90 percent” seems to come up a lot in my writings. One reason is obvious: For all the sturm and drang surrounding digital, more than … Continue reading The digital natives are restless
Julian Baring on December 6, 2018 People have been telling stories for thousands of years, and the elements of what makes a good story have changed precious little in that time. Through the stories we tell, we not only entertain and connect with others, but we also convey information about our own beliefs, tastes and … Continue reading The new best practices for digital brand storytelling
Dave Sutton — November 8, 2018 — November 8, 2018 StockSnap / Pixabay There is a common misconception that digital transformation involves nothing more than acquiring, configuring, and installing new technologies. You just roll out the systems, and the customer experience is miraculously transformed. You just flip a switch and all of your people line … Continue reading 5 Steps for Avoiding Mayhem in Your Digital Transformation
Kevin Joyce — October 31, 2018 — October 31, 2018 Last week we looked at digital transformation from a CMO’s perspective. This week we’ll look at what it takes to succeed at digital transformation and why some companies fail to reach the levels of success they expected. Of the many challenges currently faced by CMOs, … Continue reading Digital Transformation: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Ken Godfrey — August 16, 2018 — August 16, 2018 In last month’s post, we reviewed a number of examples of legacy firms who’ve made successful — and inspiring — digital transformations. Walmart, Pitney Bowes, JPMorgan Chase and the city of Cary, North Carolina. Despite their vast differences, we can learn from the common elements … Continue reading Inspiration for Your Transformation, Part II
Ken Godfrey — July 13, 2018 Digital transformation is a daunting challenge for any leader. In today’s volatile business climate, 9 out of 10 companies are thinking about digital transformation. But—even knowing they’re engaged in a battle for their company’s future—many leaders dread the prospect and hesitate to act. It’s like turning an ocean … Continue reading Inspiration For Your Transformation
Dave Brock — October 19, 2018 Follow @davidabrock — October 19, 2018 geralt / Pixabay Last week, I was sitting in the Gartner Sales and Marketing Conference. If you’ve never attended, it’s one you need to put on your future agenda. Even if you aren’t a Challenger fan, it is probably one of the best … Continue reading Transforming What We Do Is Not Optional!
New Rules, Tools For Managing Information In The Digital Age, Part III by Peter Friedman , Op-Ed Contributor, August 8, 2018 Whether driven by Facebook itself or government, clamp-down regulation isn’t the answer, as it tends to have negative unintended consequences. For example, in a well-intended effort to protect privacy, Facebook has now restricted companies … Continue reading New Rules, Tools For Managing Information In The Digital Age


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On November 6, Zhou Pingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Paul Ndungu Kamweru, Director of the Department of Asian and Australian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, etc. visited AVIC International Nairobi Global Trade Center (GTC)
AVIC International Kenya representative Ma Chengyuan and GTC project general manager Gong Yuxian accompanied the ambassador to the top of the GTC office building to understand the surrounding environment and location characteristics.
After listening to the general plan of the project and the introduction of the project under construction, Mr. Paul Ndungu Kamweru expressed his appreciation for the GTC project. He pointed out that the GTC project is a very important benchmark project in Kenya, which will bring more possibilities to Kenya’s socio-economic development and contribute to Kenya’s early realization of the 2030 vision.
GTC (Global Trade Center), invested and developed by AVIC International, is an urban complex project integrating luxury five-star international hotels, AAA super high-rise office buildings, high-end business apartments, and international boutique supporting commerce. After completion, it will become the highest in East Africa. Standard landmark buildings.
The GTC project not only lays a solid foundation for enhancing the brand image of Chinese and Chinese companies in East Africa and bringing follow-up development opportunities, but also interprets China’s strength in the context of the “Belt and Road” initiative. As the first Chinese company to create a business model of “investment + operation” in East Africa, the GTC project is a new attempt by a Chinese company to explore the African market.
The development and operation of the GTC project will increase more than 4,000 local jobs in Kenya, create business opportunities for the Kenyan economy, and improve the overall business level of Kenya.


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Kawhi Leonard 6. No, Gay responds. Keisuke Honda 10. Jerseys Wholesale Megan Rapinoe nfl jerseys cheap 2. Louis Blues at Reunion Arena. Strat-O-Matic said it would allow fans, media and former players to help select the day’s pitchers and lineups, as well as follow the action via and on its various active social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. • Strat-O-Matic, the iconic baseball simulation game played with dice since the early 1960s, said it would help fans keep rooting for their favorite players and teams until they get back onto big league fields by playing out the 2020 campaign daily, beginning with the 15 Opening Day games as originally scheduled for March 26. Arizona Cardinals 9. Skates will be available for pick-up at your Home Rink the following week. In addition to supporting the trio of players, the Wholesale Cleveland Browns Jerseys campaign puts a spotlight on such new Nike Football cleats as Vapor Untouchable 3, Nike Force Savage Elite 2 and the Nike Alpha Menace Elite 2. It was a great, great job. Las Vegas Raiders 13.
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Strat-O-Matic said it would allow fans, media and former players to help select the day’s pitchers and lineups, as well as follow the action Wholesale Jerseys China via and on its various active social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The artists from around the globe, including streetwear designers, tattoo and graffiti artists and a jewelry designer, will each recreate Jerseys Wholesale 20 cards for Cheap Jerseys China a 400-card base set over the next year. And as an added present, ICH’s Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts division has extended its title sponsorship of the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial through 2015. Among the marketers that have activated or will activate around the 2018 NBA Draft: adidas, American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Cisco, Foot Locker, JBL , Kia, Mountain Dew , New Era, Nike, Panini America, Puma, State Farm, Tissot and Verizon. But I do know that you win as a team. • While it is on hiatus, the National Lacrosse League has unveiled two online content offerings: MLB Jerseys China on NLL’s YouTube Channel will replay complete games from the 2016 and 2017 seasons and a growing list of games from previous seasons. Becky Lynch 7.


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SINGAPORE-BASED startup MVLLABS, the company behind ride-hailing service TADA, on Thursday said it has raised an undisclosed sum in its Series A extension round led by South Korea’s Shinhan Bank.
International die-casting specialist Samkee Automotive and South Korean home living and furniture brand, iloom also participated in this round.
The completion of this extension round brings its total Series A sum raised to just under US$10 million, said MVLLABS.
The startup had previously announced its US$5 million in Series A funding in December last year, which was led by South Korean venture capital firm SV Investment.
The financing will be used to fund MVLLABS’s continued expansion within its existing markets and for development of the mobility ecosystem built on its blockchain protocol.
Similar to its Series A ambitions, the company said that this investment will allow it to capitalise on TADA’s growth, and will be used for developing competencies to deliver innovative new products and services based on MVLLABS’s blockchain.
“With Shinhan Bank’s retail financial service capabilities, such as our e-wallet, we expect to create greater synergies that will be a win-win for both Shinhan and MVL (MVLLABS),” said a Shinhan Bank spokesperson.
Chief executive of MVLLABS, Kay Woo, said: “We recently launched TADA Delivery in Cambodia to help businesses and our drivers tide through this Covid-19 season. This has demonstrated how we can use technology to be a force for good. We thank our investors for the trust and sharing the same vision of a fair, sustainable and equitable mobility ecosystem.”


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Sales of new cars in Britain may be under pressure but the market for parts is in ruder health. Euro Car Parts, the largest distributor of replacement components for cars and vans, reported profit up by a third in the first six months of the year.
Sales increased by 30 per cent to £164 million with sales to large customers such as Kwik-Fit, RAC and Halfords rising 150 per cent. The 34 per cent rise in pre-tax profit was driven by an expansion plan with ten new branches opening in the first half, which created 400 jobs.
The company said


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The digital and social media landscape in 2013 has continued to change rapidly. Whether it is e-commerce, mobile phone usage or video consumption, the market refuses to move at a leisurely pace. All of which puts more pressure on mid-market companies.
Bizrate has just conducted an online study of social image sharing sites like Pinterest and the data is electrifying if you are an online brand or retailer. The social image sharing site users are much more engaged than typical social media sites. They share more, they spend more.
The Facebook ad placement changes in February have been well documented by GigaOm and others indicating a number of important shifts in this critical space. Instead of relying on advertisers to bid their way to the best ad spots, Facebook is smartly using feed behavior to dictate what shows up.
The Pew Research Foundation came out with a recent study called the Rise of In-Store Mobile Commerce calling out the impact of mobile smartphones on holiday 2011 shopping. The numbers speak to the scary impact of the showrooming phenomenon.
Crowdsourcing Style In-Store, by Customers We all know about the impact that online user interfaces are having on style curation. Instead of relying on a bunch of stylists to decide what and how we wear our clothes, the internet is crowdsourcing style by customers and [...]
Showrooming is a phenomenon that will not go away. Target thinks they can somehow stem the tide of technological progress with the proverbial finger in the dyke. But this is not a dyke that is pluggable. The power is shifting to the consumer faster than the [...]
Internet User Defined In their press call last week, Google obfuscated the various definitions of an internet user in online terms. The WSJ takes a small swing at the debate. Billions of dollars swirl around these definitions. Here is a deeper look at the various definitions [...]
Rather than help switch me to a more efficient and better user experience online, catalog companies like Chefs want to use negative reinforcement psychology and systems to make me elicit their desired response. That will rarely work. According to EMarketer, retail apps may well cut [...]


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LAS VEGAS – With the holiday season in full swing, it’s hard to fathom that Medtrade Spring is but two months away, with an earlier-than-usual start on the leap year date of Feb 29, and running to March 2, 2016. Medtrade Spring will again be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
For HME providers looking to springboard into another crucial year, Medtrade Spring is the premiere opportunity to attend educational sessions covering topics such as audits, business operations, legal issues, Medicare, retail sales, marketing, strategic planning, and market trends.
“Hundreds of exhibitors and leading manufacturers will display and demonstrate some of the most innovative products in HME,” says Kevin Gaffney, group show director, Medtrade. “Don’t miss the chance to connect with industry professionals and gain valuable information to enhance your business strategies. It’s our hope that the earlier start date will provide that key bit of inspiration to power providers through the new year and on to Medtrade in the Fall.”
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THE Coca-Cola Company has won the legal battle with Bisleri International over the intellectual property rights (IPR) of mango drink Maaza, with the Delhi High Court refraining Ramesh Chauhanâ€™s packaged water company from using Maaza brand name in India.
Bisleri had sold the Maaza trademark to the worldâ€™s leading beverages firm back in 1993, but it retained the rights for overseas markets.
Since then, both the companies have been fighting a legal battle over the brand, with Bisleri accusing Coca-Cola of registering the trademark outside India and Coke alleging that Bisleri continued to use Maaza name in India.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr Chauhan said: â€œIt makes no difference to our business, because in any case we were not using the Maaza trademark in India. The trademark is already registered and is being used in various other countries such as the US, Canada and the UK.â€
Coca-Cola declined to comment on the development.
The company had also accused Bisleri of allowing third parties to make use of the formulation for making the mango drink and sell it under different names. Bisleri had denied this allegation.
The Delhi High Court had given a temporary order in favour of Coca-Cola in October last year, restraining Bisleri from using the trademark Maaza in India and also using the formulations behind the drink.
Every time an offender stealthily leaves India to take refuge in another country, the Government of India starts all over again with its strategy of bringing him back to the nation to make him stan More
Helplinelaw can set up your session with quality and experienced lawyers to discuss and resolve your legal matters. You can avail consultation in form of sending questions, phone call or webchat discussion More


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The truth behind the Consumerisation of IT is less glamorous than the hype suggests, says V3's technology editor, Dan Robinson
Big Data analytics can bring us more than just IT efficiencies and lower costs, says V3 special projects editor, Rosalie Marshall
We shouldn't need online petitions to demand recognition for Alan Turing, says V3 columnist Gareth Morgan
Constant connectivity must be considered a curate’s egg
Apple should stop wasting its money on lawyers fees and focus on product development
Hacktivists, businesses and law enforcement agencies all now face security uncertainties
The last time Microsoft made such a major overhaul of Windows, the result was Vista
We need to wake up to the fact that the next frontier of corporate espionage could be social networking
Potential long-term benefits of experiments justify time and expense of projects
Are firms right to enforce strict rules on what staff can and can't tweet?
Industry learns new Facebook facts
Apple's Jobs was wrong to dismiss firm as "slow"
Troubled BlackBerry maker should stop trying to serve both consumer and enterprise customers
China is the new frontier for technology innovation
Peer-led groups are the way to encourage a new generation of UK tech whizz kids, says Madeline Bennett
Thomspon has about as much chance at turning Yahoo around as his predecessor did, says Rosalie Marshall
LTE will save us, won't it?
Advertising basis for huge valuation fails to appreciate subtleties of human interaction
Smartphone makers face critical times as consumers take to the stores
The net neutrality debate is international, but policy should be drawn up at state level, argues Rosalie Marshall
Jobs' contribution to technology has been to make it more usable and accessible
Many observers suggest that Bartz was never suited to leading Yahoo out of the doldrums
Co-founder's second stint with the company brought an obsession with elegance and the user experience
Historian William Pickett on how the web has changed the world as it reaches 20-year milestone


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Silicon Valley has managed to break apart the long-locked cable TV bundle. On Thursday, The Federal Communications Commission okayed a proposal to let cable TV customers swap out their Comcast or TWC cable boxes for third-party boxes and applications.
Naturally Apple's choice of optical audio-out cable is going to be a pain. Obviously, its not going to be one I'd just have around, that is not the Apple way! Rather than pay $30 plus at an Apple store or hifi audio boutique, this $6 cable does just fine for me.
If you want to use an Apple laptop or Airport Express as a streaming audio source, this cable will come in handy.
Charter Communications plans to acquire Time Warner Cable in a $78.7bn deal. The acquisition follows an earlier attempt by Comcast to buy TWC, a plan foiled by regulators worried about lack of competition in the market for high-speed internet.
The combined company will be the second-largest U.S. cable operator and the largest in Southern California. It will be the third-largest pay TV company in the U.S. behind Comcast and the planned AT&T-DirecTV. It would be the biggest player in such major markets as New York and L.A. Overall, the combined cable company would have 23.9 million total subscribers in 41 markets, compared with Comcast’s roughly 27 million customer relations as of the end of the first quarter.
Tl;dr together they will account for 34 percent of the US cable market, and still not be as big as that beast, Comcast, with 42 percent. Read the rest
In this anti-cable TV campaign from the early 1970, theater operators agitate against the prospect of competition in their customers' own living rooms. The strategy: present its own prime product—movies for mature audiences—as something no-one would want to see at home. Brilliant!
"Monsters do have their place. In the zoo. In nightmares. In the deep. In your favorite horror movies. But not in your living troom, on your TV! Don't let pay TV be the monster in your living room. Pay TV and cable TV companies are seeking the right to charge you for the very programs that you now get free. If you want to stop pay TV and save free television ,sign the petition in the lobby of this theater. Let your lawmakers know how you feel in the fight against pay TV and cable TV."


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Amazon will launch a new 48-hour event that gives Prime members early access to holiday deals.
The Prime Early Access Sale is similar to Amazon‘s Prime Day event, which is Amazon’s biggest sales event of the year. Now, with this latest addition of deals – it’s almost as if Christmas is coming twice!
The 2-day event runs from October 11 through October 12.
Deals will drop throughout the event. Amazon suggests keeping an eye on their Prime Early Access Sale page for updates.
Here are some other tips Amazon has offered to score the best deals:
How do I find the best deals?
As part of the new deals event, Amazon will introduce a new Top 100 list of some of the season’s most popular products. The list will be released the day of the event on October 11. More details to come as we get closer.
How do I find out when deals drop?
You can get ready for Prime Early Access Sale by setting up personalized deal notifications and creating shopping lists. If you’re not already a member, join Prime or start a free 30-day trial ahead of the event to participate.
- Set up personalized deal notifications: Prime members can subscribe to receive deal alert notifications related to their recent Amazon searches and recently viewed items. All they have to do is visit the Prime Early Access Sale event page on the Amazon app between now and the event to create deal alerts. Once Prime Early Access Sale begins, members will receive push notifications on any available deals.
- Create deal lists with Alexa: Busy Prime members who don’t want to miss a deal can add products to their Wish List, Cart, or Save for Later list. Alexa can notify members up to 24 hours before eligible deals go live on items they’ve added to their lists—and even offer to purchase the deal once it’s available.
You can learn more about Prime Early Access Sale, here.
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Retail security personnel could soon be equipped with body worn cameras capable of facial recognition as violence towards staff continues to escalate. Technology company Reveal has unveiled the world’s first…Read More
Body Worn Camera
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One of the most significant days in the Amazon calendar is fast approaching. Prime Day is an annual sales holiday exclusively for members of its Prime subscription service. Initially launched…


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Just two days after Larry Kudlow, the new White House economic advisor, said President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs against Chinese imports were just a negotiating ploy, which calmed financial markets, Trump upped the ante, causing panic once again.
Trump threatened to levy tariffs on an additional $100 billion worth of Chinese imports, on top of the $50 billion he had already planned.
That latest threat, plus an unexpectedly weak jobs report, sent stocks falling Friday, with the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 both dropping more than 2%.
Analysts at Moody’s Investors Service say the latest proposed tariffs, which are “much larger in magnitude than the measures implemented so far …. could carry more material macroeconomic effects if fully adopted.”
What’s been implemented so far are U.S. tariffs on $14.9 billion of Chinese exports to the U.S., representing 0.71% of total Chinese goods exports and 0.13% of Chinese GDP, according to Moody’s. The tariffs range from 10% on aluminum exports to up to 50% on washing machines.
China has responded by imposing tariffs on about $3 billion of U.S. exports, representing 0.21% of total U.S. goods exports.
Now Trump is threatening 25% tariffs on billions of dollars more of Chinese exports to the U.S., which creates “increasing uncertainty [that] will weigh on business investment and potentially on firms’ decisions on where to locate portions of global supply chains,” according to Moody’s.
The conservative Tax Foundation says a 25% levy imposed on $150 billion worth of imports from China “is equivalent to nearly $38 billion tax increase on American firms and consumers in 2018” and “could potentially claw back many of the benefits that businesses and households expected to see” from the sweeping tax overhaul passed in December.


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U.S. Economic Data Mixed This Week
- Retail sales provided the most positive piece of economic news in the United States this week. Sales topped expectations in July and, coupled with upward revisions to prior months, suggest a stronger pace of consumer spending than originally believed.
- Housing starts in July were a disappointment, however, as both starts and permits fell on the month. Starts have fallen in five out of seven months this year.
- Industrial production growth also came in below consensus in July, with much of the weakness concentrated in motor vehicles & parts.
U.S. Economic Data Mixed This Week
Economic data in the United States this week started out on a solid note with a robust retail sales print on Tuesday. Retail sales rose 0.6 percent to kick off the third quarter, topping expectations for a 0.3 percent gain. The strength in retail sales was broad based, with motor vehicle and parts dealers’ sales increasing 1.2 percent and building material & garden equipment & supplies dealers’ sales increasing 1.2 percent after registering a 1.1 percent gain in June. Even department stores sales, a sector that has been negatively affected by the eruption of online sales, posted a strong 1.0 percent increase for the month.
Perhaps equally as important, both June and May’s data were upwardly revised, signaling that growth in July was faster off a higher base. This signals that, not only was personal consumption growth likely stronger in Q2 than initially reported in the advance GDP release, but expectations for personal consumption growth during Q3 are likely to be revised higher as well. For more on the consumer sector, see our Topic of the Week on page 7.
Despite a robust reading on home builder confidence on Tuesday, housing starts data released the next day for July were a disappointment. Starts declined 4.8 percent in July and have fallen in five of the past seven months. However, much of the weakness has been in the multifamily component, which should not be surprising given slowing fundamentals. Year-to-date, single-family starts are up 11.0 percent compared to the first seven months of last year. However, single-family starts still have not risen nearly as much as builder confidence has, reflecting the greater difficulty builders are having obtaining lots and labor relative to past cycles.
The minutes from the July FOMC meeting suggested that the Fed remains on track to announce balance sheet normalization plans at its September meeting. The message in the minutes on inflation was mixed. On the one hand, "many participants" noted that much of the recent decline in inflation had probably reflected idiosyncratic factors. On the other, "several" participants indicated that the risks to inflation were tilted to the downside, while participants "differed" in their assessments of whether inflation expectations were well anchored. The inflation readings over the next few months will likely determine whether or not the Fed elects to once again cap the year with a December rate hike.
Like housing starts, industrial production growth in July was underwhelming. Manufacturing output, which comprises three quarters of total industrial output, fell 0.1 percent on the month. The automobile sector was a key driver of the miss, with monthly output declining 3.6 percent. Seasonal factors can sometimes wreak havoc on the July figures in this sector due to summer shutdowns at auto plants, but the fourth decline in five months suggests a genuine downward trend in production rather than just seasonal noise. Through the monthly volatility, manufacturing production as a whole is up 1.3 percent on a yearover- year basis, consistent with our forecast for modest but steady growth in the sector more broadly.
New Home Sales • Wednesday
The modest rise in new home sales in June was encouraging, with a 0.8 percent increase to a 610,000-unit pace. Revisions to earlier months removed 27,000 sales, however, which dulled the June reading. On the bright side, some readings suggest inventory pressures eased slightly. Inventory of homes for sale rose, and the median price fell 4.2 percent—which resulted from a shift toward lower-priced homes benefiting first-time homebuyers. Most of the increase in June was for homes that had not yet started construction.
Construction of new residential homes provided a major boost to economic growth in the first quarter, but was softer in Q2 GDP. Much of this data story resulted from unusual weather patterns and the associated correction. Residential investment in the third quarter should be more supportive to GDP growth, as demand for new homes remains solid.
Previous: 610K Wells Fargo: 617K Consensus: 610K
Existing Home Sales • Thursday
Persistently lean inventories continued to restrain resales in June, with existing home sales falling 1.8 percent to a 5.52 million-unit pace. We noted last month that the housing market appears to be woefully out of balance. Would-be homebuyers face a dearth of available inventory, particularly at lower price points. Developers are optimistic about demand for new stock, but available lots are lacking amid increasingly prohibitive construction costs, which are exacerbated by a shortage of construction labor. These pressures not only inhibit new home sales, but existing homeowners are understandably reluctant to put their homes on the market and risk not finding trade-up homes in their price range. Home prices continue to reach record highs.
July may have proved more conducive for homebuyers as pending sales rose in June, which tend to lead existing sales by 1-2 months.
Previous: 5.52M Wells Fargo: 5.49M Consensus: 5.56M
Durable Goods • Friday
The headline reading on durable goods orders in June was skewed to the upside by the notoriously volatile aircraft component, which bumped the monthly gain to 6.4 percent in June. Boeing orders were down in July, which suggests headline durable goods orders growth will likely follow suit. Excluding transportation, orders rose 0.2 percent in June while May was revised up to 0.6 percent. Core capital goods, ex aircraft, fell 0.1 percent after a strong May gain. Core goods shipments were also soft in June, and both were running at the softest 3-month annualized pace of 2017.
Worth noting is that looking beyond the aircraft component, factory sector conditions have been largely stable in recent months. Our call for a slow and steady positive trend continues to play out in the data.
Previous: 6.4% Wells Fargo: -6.1% Consensus: -5.8% (Month-over-Month)
You Can Go Your Own Way
- For the past several years, the world’s major central banks have broadly embraced very accommodative monetary policy. More recently, policy has started to go in different directions.
- In this week’s Global Review, we break down the latest figures on inflation for the United Kingdom and Canada and the second quarter GDP number for Japan, and we consider what these numbers mean in the context of monetary policy for these different corners of the global economy.
Central Banks No Longer All on the Same Page
Japan’s economy expanded at an annualized pace of 4.0 percent in the second quarter, and in so doing it extended the number of consecutive quarterly expansions to six—the longest winning streak in more than a decade.
Domestic demand picked up substantially in the second quarter as growth was driven by consumer spending as well as business fixed investment spending. Both components posted their largest quarterly increases in years and together boosted the headline GDP growth rate offsetting a modest drag from trade.
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is not quite in synch with the world’s major foreign central banks at present. The Fed is in a rate tightening cycle, the Bank of Canada raised rates in July with another hike expected this year. The European Central Bank is widely expected to announce plans to dial back its asset purchase program as early as this autumn. Despite this backdrop, which can be collectively described as "less accommodative," the Bank of Japan has not budged in terms of its intended course.
At its July meeting, the BoJ made no change to that stance and even lowered its inflation forecast. As we describe in the international outlook section on the next page, CPI figures for July will print next week. With inflation still well-below target, we do not expect the BoJ to signal any substantive change in its comprehensive package of monetary policy accommodation.
Another consideration on the topic of large central banks is the Bank of England. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is also in a situation where a rate hike could be justified. Indeed, in the past few meetings, there has been growing dissent with some members expressing a desire to raise rates sooner rather than later. The main catalyst for this pressure to hike is the fact that inflation is running a little hot. This week brought the latest reading for CPI inflation in the United Kingdom, and we learned that the year-over-year rate of inflation held steady at 2.6 percent, just shy of the consensus expectation for 2.7 percent. Some of the upward pressure on prices has to do with the marked depreciation of sterling in the wake of last year’s Brexit referendum.
The MPC looks for this pass-through effect to continue to push inflation higher in the coming months and to peak at around 3 percent in October before the effect begins to fade. If the U.K.’s economy picks up over the next 18 months as we expect, the BoE could raise rates as soon as next spring.
We mentioned earlier that the Bank of Canada (BOC) is expected to raise rates again this year. The BoC targets inflation between 1 percent and 3 percent and as close as possible to the midpoint of that range. We learned this week that CPI inflation for July increased to a year-over-year rate of 1.2 percent from 1.0 percent the prior month. The BoC’s three remaining meetings are in September, October and December. The September meeting occurs just before the FOMC meeting that month, so we expect the October meeting to be the first realistic opportunity for the BoC to hike rates.
Germany ZEW • Tuesday
Recent market uneasiness regarding a potential slowdown in the German economy will probably be put to the test when the August ZEW index is released on Tuesday. Although the current situation index slipped marginally, from 88.0 in June to 86.4 in July, data on the German economy have remained relatively strong lately. Thus, an improvement in the August reading will help cement the notion that the German economy remains in good shape. Meanwhile, the ZEW expectations index has weakened since June. After a 20.6 reading in May, the index printed 18.6 in June and 17.5 in July. This weakening probably helped to make the case of a slowdown in the German economy. Thus, a rebound for this index in August would be a positive sign for the German economy as well as for the Eurozone economy. On Friday, we will also get the release of the IFO business climate, current assessment, and expectations indices. This overall index recorded a series high in July.
Previous: 86.4 Consensus: 85.3
Eurozone Manufacturing PMI • Wednesday
Another index that has contributed to the view that the German and the Eurozone economies were slowing down was the Markit Manufacturing PMI index for July. After hitting an index high of 59.6 for Germany and 57.4 for the Eurozone in June, both indices came down marginally, to 58.1 in Germany and 56.6 for the Eurozone, in July. Thus, the release of the preliminary August Markit manufacturing PMI on Wednesday has the potential to move the market as a further decline in the index will help cement the slowing-down view while a recovery will tend to confirm what other data on the region have been indicating.
Markets will also have an opportunity to look at the service side of the economy, both in Germany and the Eurozone, when the services PMIs are released on Wednesday. This index hit a series high in April for the Eurozone while it has been trending down since June for Germany.
Previous: 56.6 Consensus: 56.3
Japan CPI • Thursday
After the strong Japanese Q2 GDP reported last week, the release of the CPI number for July on Thursday will carry a little more weight than normal in a country that has had its issues with keeping inflation close to or above its pledged target of 2 percent. The yearover- year CPI rate has stabilized at 0.4 percent since April of this year and our forecast July is for the rate to remain unchanged at 0.4 percent.
Thus, as we argued on our report "Q: What G-7 Economy had Fastest GDP Growth in Q2? A: Japan," which is available on our website, we do not expect the Bank of Japan to change its view regarding monetary policy any time soon even if other developed countries’ central banks have either started to take monetary accommodation away or are moving in that direction.
Previous: 0.4% Wells Fargo: 0.4% Consensus: 0.4% (Year-over-Year)
Point of View
Interest Rate Watch
It Is Beginning to Feel Like August
Hot, muggy weather and daily thunderstorms are not the only things August is known for. Financial market volatility also tends to increase and did once again, as new questions about U.S. political leadership and the future course of fiscal policy have been added to questions about an impending shift in monetary policy, both in the U.S. and abroad, despite persistent low inflation around much of the globe. As if this were not enough, Thursday’s dreadful terrorist attacks in Spain reminded everyone of the ever present geopolitical concerns hanging over the global economy and financial markets.
Bond yields pulled back, as stock prices sold off on Thursday. Economic data have, for the most part, come in on the strong side. One notable exception is motor vehicle sales and production, which have weakened due to an onslaught of used vehicles hitting the market and some deterioration in household finances. Home sales and new home construction also remain disappointing, largely due to supply constraints and the winding down of the apartment boom. Inflation remains perplexingly low, despite a tightening labor market and weakening dollar.
Bond yields declined this week, as rising geopolitical concerns and Thursday’s sharp sell-off in equity prices triggered a flight to safety. Minutes from the Fed’s September FOMC meeting raised additional doubts about whether the Fed will raise the federal funds rate again in 2017 but appear to confirm that most FOMC members remain firmly committed to beginning to draw down the Fed’s balance sheet this fall.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen should provide some additional insight into the Fed’s intentions when she speaks at the Kansas City Fed’s annual Jackson Hole shindig, which is focused this year on "Fostering a Dynamic Global Economy." Her remarks will center on promoting financial stability. The Jackson Hole conference will be the highlight of a light week of economic data but likely will not change views on the timing of the Fed’s next move or give new insights into the Fed’s plans for unwinding their balance sheet.
Credit Market Insights
Mortgage Credit Growth Continues
Recently released data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) showed a 0.3 percent increase in the Mortgage Credit Availability Index for July. Updated underwriting standards for adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have pushed their availability closer to that of traditional mortgages, helping drive the increase for the month according to the report.
Both fixed and adjustable mortgage rates have increased over the past year; however, adjustable rates are typically lower than fixed rates. As home prices continue to climb while inventories remain low, this rate differential could be pushing borrowers to forego fixed rates for lower adjustable rates. The MBA’s Mortgage Application Survey supports this shift, with ARMs at 15 percent of the total value of loan applications for the week of August 11th, up 28 percent year-over-year.
While mortgage credit continues to grow, mortgage delinquencies are maintaining their downward trend, now at only 1.5 percent of balances at least 90 days past due in Q2, compared to almost 9 percent in 2010. Lower delinquencies may position borrowers to better withstand rate increases on the horizon, especially for those with ARMs sensitive to interest rate changes. We look for one more Fed rate hike in 2017 and three in 2018. Data to be released next week on new and existing home sales should reinforce the extent to which mortgage credit growth is displayed in the housing market as of late.
Topic of the Week
Consumers Tap Rainy Day Fund
Consumer confidence surged after the surprise U.S. presidential election result last fall. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index soared roughly 25 percent between October 2016 and March 2017, with much of the gain coming in the expectations component. This shift in sentiment suggested consumers were poised to ramp up their spending in the first half of the year. Despite the gain, real personal expenditures growth was ho-hum in the first half, continuing to trudge along at roughly 2.5 percent year-over-year (top chart). Was the surge in confidence a false start?
To keep consumption growth humming along, consumers dipped into their savings. The personal savings rate fell from 5.7 percent in September 2016 to 3.8 percent in June 2017 (bottom chart). Consumers had been keeping their powder dry heading into the end of last year and evidently felt confident enough to alter their saving behavior in the wake of the election. This drawdown can only keep growth going for so long, however, and if employment growth gradually slows over the next year, as we expect, it will take fatter paychecks to keep growth steady in the consumer sector.
Wage growth has been a perennial challenge in this cycle, and with slack in the labor market continuing to diminish, continued weak income growth presents a significant risk to the outlook. Personal consumption accounts for about 70 percent of GDP, making it far and away the largest component of the economy. As a result, the outlook for the consumer will play a key role in driving economic growth in the quarters ahead. For now, our outlook is for personal consumption growth to be more or less stable during the second half of the year. Retail sales kicked off the third quarter on a positive note, and average hourly earnings growth was solid in July, encouraging signs for second half activity.


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Nearly 1,900 veterinarians with shares in Professional Veterinary Products (PVP) could lose their investments as company officials weigh the prospect of filing bankruptcy or selling assets to a competitor.
According to reports, Oct. 13 marks the final workday for PVP’s staff, which at one time numbered 360 employees. This final act culminates months of layoffs for workers of the animal health products distributor, based in Omaha, Neb. A website that reviews employers reports that 36 PVP staffers were let go in February.
Requests for comment from the VIN News Service of PVP’s top officials, including CEO Steve Price, were not immediately returned.
Yet as PVP treads water financially, many of its shareholders and veterinarians who rely on its services have no idea that the company is floundering, let alone insight as to what’s causing its demise. Among the shocked and dismayed is former CEO and founder, Dr. Lionel Reilly.
Reilly, who retired from PVP in January 2009, after 26 years with the company, spoke yesterday to the VIN News Service from his home in Elkhorn, Neb.
“For every year I was there, this company was profitable,” he contends. “I would have never suspected this. Apparently, some investments were made in a certain business segment that went wrong. Now either someone’s going to buy the company or it’s going into bankruptcy. By next week, we’ll know a lot more.”
Reilly was purposefully vague and declined to give further details considering he has a vested interest in any bankruptcy proceedings — his retirement funds are at risk with the company. According to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), PVP entered into forbearance on July 12 with Wells Fargo, its lender. The agreement ends on Aug. 31.
PVP was founded in 1982 by a group of veterinarians who created a model whereby the company would be jumpstarted by the investments of practitioners using its services. The company wholesales and distributes pharmaceuticals and health care supplies to licensed veterinarians, carrying roughly 20,000 products with distribution centers in four states. At the height of its success, 2,000 veterinarians had each purchased one $3,000 share, creating $6 million in capital for PVP. In return, shareholders received discounted goods from the distributor and annual rebates.
Though PVP is a private company, it is obligated to provide financial statements to the SEC because it has more than 500 owners.
The company’s most recent quarterly report filed June 1 shows net sales and other revenues increased by $13.5 million as of April 30, 2010, while the cost of sales increased by $13.4 million, resulting in gross profits of 0.8 percent. Further details reveal that the company's operating loss for the nine-month period ending April 30, 2010, increased to $9.1 million compared to a loss of $4 million for the same time the previous year, while interest expenses increased and interest income decreased.
Net loss increased by $4.4 million to $7.3 million compared to a $2.9-million loss for the same period the previous year. The net loss increase was primarily due to a surge in the cost of sales and decrease in gross profit.
The report cites litigation expenses and costs totaling $2.6 million as adding to the deficits.
It appears that the expense relates to litigation brought by IVESCO LLC, a competing distributor in the animal health arena.
An SEC report shows that PVP recently settled a lawsuit filed by IVESCO in April 2009 in United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. IVESCO alleged that PVP conspired with departing IVESCO employees to “take over or steal” the company’s swine business. IVESCO accused PVP of conspiring to unfairly compete, tortuous interference with business expectations between IVESCO and its customers and employee relationships, aiding and abetting an alleged breach of duty by former IVESCO employees, in addition to other allegations.
PVP attempted to enter the swine health arena just before last year’s swine flu pandemic set in.
Additional SEC reports show that PVP terminated its vice president of operations Jaime Meadows on June 30 after six months on the job, but that he recently signed a parachute clause with the company that hinges on its sale. According to the filing, Meadows will stay on with PVP until June 1, 2011, or when the company is sold, whichever comes first. PVP also has agreed to pay Meadows a severance package and his medical insurance for a year.
PVP’s Chief Financial Officer Tara Chicatelli left the company on May 10. The details of her departure were not reported, and the VIN News Service has been unable to reach her.
Despite the public nature of the SEC statements, it appears that many with a stake in PVP have not seen them. Last Friday, a message board discussion surfaced on the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for the profession.
The gist of the query: Does “anyone know anything” about the state of PVP?
A dozen responding comments, some relaying information from PVP board members, have VIN members increasingly incensed and worried, with an apparent lack of formal correspondence from company officials adding to their anxiety.
PVP spokeswoman Cindy Christensen reported to the VIN News Service that communications were sent directly to shareholders concerning PVP’s financial difficulties. She declined to elaborate about the company’s financial woes due to its private status.
But Dr. John Tomlinson Jr. and others on VIN stated that they’ve received nothing in terms of direct communication from PVP. For his lack of knowledge, Tomlinson blames himself for not keeping a closer eye on his investment.
“I wouldn’t manage my clinics like this,” he acknowledges.
The practitioner from West Virginia purchased his share of PVP in 2001. Tomlinson reports he contacted the company on Monday and was told he could not sell it.
“I made some calls to my neighboring clinics that I know are shareholders as well to let them in on the financial circumstances (of PVP),” he says. “We feel like that over the course of last year, there has been no transparency. It’s ludicrous that there’s been such a lack of information to the shareholders.”
Former CEO Reilly expressed sadness concerning the financial state of the company.
His voice solemn, he spoke of the employees: “To see people who counted on us for a good, safe work environment with fair salaries and good benefits treated like this is awful. All of my good friends will probably lose their jobs.”
The prospect of closing shop appears in sharp contrast to where PVP stood earlier this decade. In 2005, the Society of Human Resource Management named PVP as one of the top small- to medium-sized companies to work for in America.
“When you work for 26 years to build a successful company and see it turn out this way, it’s just terrible,” Reilly says, acknowledging that distributors positioned to buy PVP likely will wait until it clears bankruptcy in order to rid the purchase of lingering debt.


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It will debut one year after the marque's first all-electric model.
Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed to Road & Track that the successor to the best-selling Urus SUV will arrive for model year 2029 and it'll be all-electric. The unnamed SUV's debut is slated for one year after the marque launches its first all-electric model, which is expected to be a supercar.
"In '28 and '29 we will have our first two BEVs," Winkelmann said. "We will have a fourth model, so today we have three models. It will be the first one to be completely a BEV car in 2028. And then in 2029 there will be the new Urus."
These two EVs are vital for Lamborghini as they'll play a major role in reducing the automaker's emissions by around 80% compared to current output levels. Of course, Lamborghini is not done improving the Urus, which launched for the 2018 model year. A plug-in hybrid version is due in 2024 and more electrified models are coming.
"This year and next year we are going to hybridize all of our lineup," the CEO added. "The first one is the positioning car, so the real Lamborghini, the tip of the spear of our lineup."
Yes, Winkelmann is referencing the upcoming Aventador successor, also a PHEV. The Italian automaker, very conveniently, just revealed details about that successor's new naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. It'll boast a tri-motor plug-in hybrid system producing a grand total of 1,001 horsepower.
Codenamed L545, the engine is also the lightest and most powerful V12 Lamborghini has ever built. Even without electrification, it pumps out 814 hp and 535 lb-ft of torque.
As for the Lambo's pure battery electric Urus successor, it's still too early to know which platform it'll utilize. We wouldn't be surprised if parent company VW Group supplied an architecture once again. The Urus rides on VW's MLB Evo platform which also underpins the Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga. The upcoming Premium Platform Electric (PPE) modular platform is one candidate since it'll underpin the upcoming Macan EV and Audi RS6 e-tron, the latter shown here in spy shots.
The Urus successor is still several years out but the powers that be in Sant'Agata are already plotting what could be the ultimate all-electric SUV.
Join The Discussion


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There is a raising concern about the quality of air we breathe in and naturally the market for Air purifiers are gaining momentum too. While at home and work the standard Air purifiers can be installed, what about the time you spend outdoor? while at public places? in transit? Young women wrapping their face with their duppatta / scarves or men using handkerchief or bandana to stay clear off pollution while driving is a common sight in urban cities of India but the reality is they can only ward off the bigger particulate matter and dust in the air and not the finer particles or allergens. Even most of the commercial air purifier masks that is available in the market does not do their job pretty well.
Atlanta Healthcare, one of the pioneers in air purifier segment in India are bringing in a military grade mask to the country from a part of the world we usually don’t associate for manufacturing but known for its university. Cambridge Mask Co is based out of the English city of the same name and it’s founder and CEO of the company Christopher Dobbing is making them in England and even selling the masks in China, something of a rare reverse flow into the dragon’s market.
So what is special about the Cambridge mask? The company claims carbon filters, as used by the British military and sewn into the masks, eliminate 99 percent of viruses, bacteria, and pollution. Dobbing also mentions that the carbon material they use us 100 times more expensive than other carbon cloths and also is more effective in dealing with wide array of pollutants.
Starting at Rs 1799 and available in five different sizes – XS, S, M, L and XL and in three variants plain, one-side valved and double side valved the Cambridge Masks is in a different league compared to the cheap, disposable masks. Foremost, these masks can be used for around 200 hours ( 3-6 months on an average) depending on the pollution level and can be hand cleaned and used.
The entire mask is a filter, with triple layer filtration including a special carbon fiber. The mask meet N99 standards which means it can consistently remove more than 99% of solid particulate matters including fine particles up to 0.3 micron or level below PM 2.5 and even PM 0.3. The company also claims it can kill an average of 99.77% of bacteria and viruses.
While it does its job allegedly pretty well, the Cambridge Masks looks good too. The masks are available in funky designs to make it a fashionable wear for both adults and kids. The company also says it can customize the prints for bulk corporate orders. Atlanta Healthcare are working on making the masks available easily not only online but also across the counter at medical shops and supermarkets.
The Cambridge Mask does sound an interesting proposition in theory and the masks I saw does look appealing. How does it fare? Well, I cannot comment on that since I have not tried it yet but with the technology they boast about and the carbon mesh I saw in the mask, it should make us breathe easy.


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As demand for John Deere construction equipment increases around the globe, the US-based manufacturer Deere & Company has entered into a strategic supplier agreement with Wacker Neuson to initially provide compact excavators in China, Southeast Asia and Oceania. The models will range from 1,700-7,500 kg and are specifically designed and manufactured for customers in the growing Asia Pacific market. The two companies said that this partnership aims for a long-term collaboration in key growth markets.
“In partnering with Wacker Neuson, John Deere is leveraging the experience and success of their innovative and strongly customer-focused products to help us further develop our position in the Asia Pacific region,” said David Thorne, senior vice president for sales & marketing at John Deere Construction & Forestry. “These excavators are purpose-built to meet the demands of customers, and will be John Deere branded and sold through John Deere dealers.”
Both companies further highlighted that while they are committed to a long-term collaboration, the agreement currently will run for five years and can be extended in five-year increments. The initial rollout of four compact excavator models is expected to begin in early 2019, and will predominantly be sourced from the new Wacker Neuson factory in Pinghu, China. Service and support of these machines will be offered through the John Deere dealer network.
Deere and Wirtgen
Deere has also completed its acquisition of Wirtgen Group last year - a major move that will expand Deere’s reach in construction equipment to more customers, markets and geographies.
“The Wirtgen Group will enhance the size, scale and stature of our construction equipment business and will help Deere continue its global growth,” said Samuel R. Allen, Deere & Company’s chairman and chief executive officer.
The Wirtgen Group has a global footprint with approximately 8,200 employees and sells products in more than 100 countries through a large network of company-owned and independent dealers. The Group has premium brands across the entire road construction sector spanning milling, processing, mixing, paving, compaction and rehabilitation. Its product portfolio is complementary to Deere’s existing construction equipment offering and establishes Deere as the industry leader in global road construction.
Mr Allen said the acquisition aligns with Deere’s long-term strategy to expand in both agriculture and construction -- the company's two global growth businesses.


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Bitcoin's total market value passed $1 trillion for the first time Friday as the leading cryptocurrency traded at new record highs above $53,697.65, per the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index.
- The price of bitcoin rose to a new all-time high of $53,739.48 Friday morning as its total value past the 13-digit landmark, up roughly 3.6% in the last 24 hours.
- Bitcoin has gained nearly 80% year to date, and the bullish market cycle isn't showing signs of peaking.
- "Sure there are speculative excesses, like in all bull markets," Bloomberg senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone told CoinDesk in an email. "But the bitcoin tide is rising on the back of it becoming a global digital reserve asset."
- The trillion-dollar market value comes after a flurry of new institutional investor interest from public companies like Tesla buying $1.5 billion in bitcoin, leading financial institutions like Deutsche Bank and BNY Mellon announcing crypto custody offerings, and bitcoin-laden business intelligence company MicroStrategy flush with $1.05 billion in fresh cash to buy even more of the cryptocurrency, per CoinDesk's prior reporting.
- Bitcoin had a market value of $178 billion a year ago, according to TradingView data.
The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, institutional digital assets exchange. Bullish group is majority owned by Block.one; both groups have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary, and an editorial committee, chaired by a former editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, is being formed to support journalistic integrity.


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WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Patent settlements between branded and generic drug companies, sometimes called “pay-for-delay” deals, aren’t going away any time soon.
(THE NEWS: Report: Banning 'pay for delay' settlements likely won't happen. For the full story, click here)
Critics of the deals already have had a tough enough time getting them banned. The apparent absence of language banning the deals from the final version of the Senate appropriations bill, not to mention the Republican majority in the House next year, makes a ban unlikely to happen. And in September, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a ruling it had made in favor of the deals in a case over a settlement between Bayer and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries subsidiary Barr Labs concerning a generic version of the anthrax treatment Cipro (ciprofloxacin).
The Federal Trade Commission and members of Congress, including Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., had fought long and hard against the deals, with the backing of advocacy groups and The New York Times’ editorial board, contending that they cost consumers $3.5 billion a year and cause generic drug launches to be delayed by an average of 17 months longer than when no settlements are in place.
Supporters of the deals, on the other hand, pointed to a report by RBC Capital Markets showing that generic drug companies prevailed in 76% of cases in which a settlement was reached, but only 48% of cases that went to trial. They even considered the term “pay-for-delay” a misnomer because it would be illegal for a generic drug company to delay launch after the branded drug’s patent had expired, and most of the settlements allow generic launch months or even years ahead of patent expiration.


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Electric Vehicles, An Unstoppable Market Force
Worldwide increase in demand for EV’s.
The Nissan Leaf is the world leader in number of cars on the road and increase in sales but all makes are up. Although total numbers are small, less than million worldwide, EV’s arre coming on market in a world dominated by ICE’s for a hundred years. The infrastructure for EV’s is just beginning and the technology is in it’s infancy. What is evident is that there is a market demand for EV’s and that demand is growing as consumers become familiar with EV’s, the number of models grows and the infrastructure comes on line.
Battery costs are falling more rapidly than predicted.
In 2007 lithium-ion batteries were priced at US$1000 per kWh. By 2014 the price ha fallen to US$300 per kWh. This has been due to increased demand and technological improvements in both the batteries and the manufacturing process. At this pace the US$150 price should be reached within the next few years as Tesla and Nissan bring their mass battery production facilities on line and further improvements are made to the batteries themselves. EV’s will be price competitive with ICE vehicles when the US$150 range is reached. At that same time consumers will be over the range phobia that has held up sales, the EV’s offered will have increased range and probably recharge more quickly. Those that own or rent a living space that makes charging at home possible will find it hard to resist a vehicle that is much cheaper to operate than an ICE vehicle.
Environmental benefits of EV’s will lead to faster adoption.
Mass adoption of EV’s would lead to less environmental devastation caused by fossil fuel extraction and transport, less smog in densely populated areas and cooler cities as well as other benefits. Certainly there is an environmental impact to manufacturing EV’s but the vehicles themselves have far fewer parts than ICE vehicles and therefore manufacturing impact should be less and the battery manufacturing process can be made nearly pollution free if we wish it to be. A recent study at Michigan State University found that EV’s produce only 20% of the heat that ICE vehicles produce. This translates to cooler cities and lower air conditioning costs.
Will other technology jump ahead of EV’s?
Toyota is pushing hard for hydrogen fuel cell powered EV’s but to date they haven’t solved all the technical problems needed to make the fuel cells practical and cheap and the infrastructure is a long way behind the battery infrastructure. But in the end there will be room for both formats. The biggest breakthrough that put a stop to individually owned EV’s is the driverless vehicle movement. If we all have multipurpose hand held device and a driverless vehicle can be summoned with the push of a button to drive us to our destination it would seem far cheaper to have the vehicles owned by a transportation company and just call a car as needed. Of course these vehicles are likely to be either battery or hydrogen EV’s.
Cleaner transportation is inevitable.


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| Nov. 8 2022
CKGSB’s Business Conditions Index, reflecting confidence levels in China business, reveals some small signs of improvement.
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