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Will ASCI’s draft tips adversely affect the affect of an influencer
As influencers proceed to catch the eye on social media, the Promoting Requirements Council of India (ASCI) on Monday issued draft tips for influencer promoting on digital media. The rules require a disclosure label by the advertisers and influencers to be added to spotlight promoting content material. “The digital house is huge. Nonetheless, promotional content material is usually indistinguishable from common posts. The rules will assist shoppers establish promotional content material and in addition information digital influencers,” Subhash Kamath, chairman, ASCI, stated.
Business specialists consider that these tips will assist in selling transparency in the long term. Furthermore, these tips will align the Indian internet advertising trade with worldwide markets such because the UK, France and the US, amongst others. On the coronary heart of such tips is the necessity to retain the inclusivity of social media, Arijit Ray, chief government officer and founder, The Unlock Firm, instructed BrandWagon On-line. “Over time, manufacturers have come beneath immense strain from shoppers to not crowd the information feed with sponsored content material, typically attempting to go off with out the business tag. Throughout markets, shoppers have been demanding for transparency. They discover it troublesome to take care of a barrage of sponsored content material,” he added additional.
Based on digital advertising and marketing company AdLift’s current examine, India’s influencer market is estimated at $75-150 million a 12 months as in comparison with the worldwide market of $1.75 billion. For Prashant Puri, co-founder and CEO, AdLift, there must be a distinguishable mark to separate promoting. “As influencer advertising and marketing is rising, taking the next chunk of promoting income, there ought to be tips put in place to name out what’s an advert and what isn’t to keep away from any attainable dent within the trade,” he acknowledged. For Ashwini Deshpande, co-founder and director, Elephant Design – a design company, if influencers need to be adopted by their viewers, it’s obligatory for them to remain attention-grabbing, trustworthy, artistic whereas managing the artwork of storytelling to maintain shoppers engaged.
When contacted by BrandWagon On-line, influencers together with Dolly Singh, declined to remark.
Nonetheless, trade specialists opine that the rules have new and gray areas which require to be corrected. As an illustration, within the case of disclosure labels — the scale, font, positioning, standardisation throughout totally different platforms, amongst others. “Extra importantly, do these constructions additionally come into play and drive when celebrities and influencers get entangled with political events throughout election campaigns, amongst others or when politicians get entangled with selling manufacturers,” Prathap Suthan, managing accomplice and chief artistic officer, BangInTheMiddle, acknowledged.
It ought to be famous that each one stakeholders, together with trade, digital influencers in addition to shoppers can present their suggestions on the draft tips until March 8, 2021. Based mostly on the suggestions and inputs, ultimate tips shall be issued by ASCI by March 31, 2021. These tips shall be relevant to all promotional posts revealed on or after April 15, 2021.
Learn Additionally: ASCI points draft tips for influencer promoting on digital media
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There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the questionable existence of Xiaomi's sub-brand POCO lately. Obviously, there's no way for us to tell whether the brand is dead or not. Based on the recent chain of events, however, the industry analysts do believe that Xiaomi may soon pull the plug on POCO.
In case you're not aware of what going on with Xiaomi and POCO phone brand, then here's a quick refresher.
POCO, a brand that created waves around the smartphone industry across the globe, is all but dead at this moment. Yes, they're still supporting the POCO F1 with all the necessary software updates, but there's absolutely no word on the launch of a second smartphone.
And now that Xiaomi has launched the new Redmi K20 Pro, it makes little to no sense for them to bring a new POCO phone and kill their own K20 Pro in the process.
When the folks over at ET asked Xiaomi's India head and the international vice president, Manu Kumar Jain about this, he decided to remain tight-lipped on the matter. "We will not be able to answer it (question) right now. Whether the products are coming in brands or series...off course, we are working on something but what are those products and when will they come, we will not be able to share those details," he said.
Not just that, the point that POCO's head of product Jai Mani has left the brand, is also fueling the speculation. While he did not make an official announcement about him exiting the company, but his Twitter bio reads "Ex-PM POCO phone and Xiaomi India, which means he has left the company.
And when ET reached out for getting answers, a Xiaomi India spokesperson said, "For Poco, nothing changes because of an executive leaving and work will go on as planned." Yeah, so maybe the brand will continue to make phones. Perhaps they hit a roadblock and are dealing with it right now. Who knows?
Industry analysts, however, are quite positive about the end of POCO. They think both Redmi and Mi are now a definite positioning for Xiaomi and there's no need for a separate brand to take care of the affordable flagship range. That's literally what the new K20 Pro is all about.
Faisal Kawoosa, founder analyst at TechArc said, "It hadn't shown the results that Xiaomi could find it difficult to shut or defocus. So, a step towards clarity of purpose and positioning, and we might eventually see it dying with the time."
In a separate statement, Navkendar Singh, research director at IDC India said, "Poco was launched to give high end chosen few specs at mid-range prices, with clear compromises on design language. It was launched as an upgrade option for large Xiaomi base without breaking bank required to buy a flagship phone. It saw a mixed response really. But now, with this aggressive pricing of K series by Xiaomi with its absolute flagship specs, hardware, and design, the reason for the existence of Poco as a brand is in doubt."
As we mentioned earlier, it makes little to no sense for POCO to launch a new smartphone and have it compete with the K20 Pro. Yes, the POCO F2, if it ever happens, would be more affordable, but that would be a trouble for both the K20 and the K20 Pro. We doubt if Xiaomi will take that kind of a risk considering the fact that they've launched a high-end phone after a long time in India. Well, it looks like only time will tell if POCO has any future.

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[Infographic] Africa Mobile connections predicted to explode to almost a billion by 2017
September 24, 2013 Editor 0
A new infographic by InternetServiceProviders.org is predicting that Africa mobile connection will grow at a rate of 6.5% from 2012 to 2017 implying that the connections will go from 683 million in 2012 to 93 Million in 2017.
Currently Africa accounts for only 7% of the world’s internet users in the world, with most Internet activity and infrastructure concentrated in South Africa, Morocco, Egypt as well as smaller economies like Mauritius and Seychelles.
While the telecommunications market in Africa is still in its early stages of development, it is also one of the fastest-growing in the world. In the 2000s, mobile telephony in Africa has been booming, and mobile telephony is now substantially more widespread than fixed line telephony. Telecommunication companies in Africa are looking at Broadband Wireless Access technologies such as 3G and now 4G LTE as the key to make Internet available to the population at large. Projects are being completed that aim at the realization of Internet backbones that might help cut the cost of bandwidth in African countries which currently is a huge bottleneck in the adoption of internet services in the continent.
Who will be the next billion internet users and how will they look like?
The post [Infographic] Africa Mobile connections predicted to explode to almost a billion by 2017 appeared first on TechPost.
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The Northeast Iowa Food Bank, located in Waterloo, Iowa, serves an estimated 40,000 people annually, 40 percent of whom are children. The food bank was quickly running out of space to store food and, on occasion, had to turn away shipments of food because there wasn’t room to store them.
With a $25,000 grant from the Principal Financial Group® and the Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc., in the fall of 2012, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank moved closer to reaching its $6 million capital campaign fundraising goal in an effort to build a larger food bank facility.
The new building will be able to store 500,000 more pounds of food per year, which means more food for the hungry.
Barbara Prather, executive director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank says fresh, nutritious food is often more expensive for low-income people to purchase. It also takes dedicated space and equipment to safely store fresh food. Due to space and equipment constraints, the food bank hadn’t been able to provide as much fresh food as it would have liked.
Donations from The Principal and others allowed the food bank to build a 45,000-foot warehouse that includes:
“We now have a drive-in cooler and freezer to store fresh food, and our new facility will enable us to take this product and provide more of it to agencies, programs and people in need,” Prather says.
The new facility serves as a food warehouse and distribution center for Northeast Iowa. It will provide food to nonprofit agencies serving low-income people in a core 16-county service area. The food reaches children, seniors, families and disabled individuals receiving assistance from food pantries, emergency shelters, meal sites, low-income day cares, senior centers and residential facilities for the disabled.
“We believe in aiding programs that provide the most benefit to our employees’ communities and families,” says Mary O’Keefe, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at The Principal®. “By investing in the well-being of the community, we are investing in the future of our communities.”
With the addition of this new warehouse and distribution facility, the food bank anticipates distributing upwards of two million additional pounds of food within three years of the facility being fully operational.


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Phishing overtakes viruses and TrojansJanuary 30, 2007
Securing consumer-friendly smart phonesOctober 17, 2006
Security firms squabble over mobile threatsJuly 24, 2006
Is your cell phone due for an antivirus shot?February 24, 2006
Especially a new one, like Kimmo Alkio, the chief executive of F-Secure. Alkio recently rejoined the antivirus vendor from fellow Finnish company Nokia.
Silicon.com caught up with Alkio to discuss the security landscape, how governments should handle hackers, the need for a dot-bank domain name and his company's much-criticized stance on the potential threat of mobile phone viruses.
Q: You've recently rejoined F-Secure, and it seems your arrival has coincided with a very quiet time for the security industry. Is this fair to say?
Alkio: The public perception is that this industry may have become less active because three, four years ago there were these very high-visibility public virus outbreaks.
What we are now seeing is that the number of attacks and the quantity of malware is actually increasing. We are getting 7,000 new samples per day but it is being driven by new forces. What we see now is there is a criminal element acting purely for financial purposes and trying to stay hidden.
Phishing is still a major issue. There are markets such as India where the amount of phishing attacks has grown by 96 percent year on year.
Are a lot of threats targeting emerging markets as businesses and consumers in the West start to wise up and protect themselves? Are the criminals just dusting off the same attacks and targeting new regions?
Alkio: In emerging markets, the level of security is not where it is in the Western world. If you look at India, the number of broadband users is going from 8 million to 20 million in three years. Look at these markets where you have this number of people coming onboard. It does change the threat landscape.
There are a lot of unprotected PCs, and online banking and e-commerce are growing. And we need to be very active in educating people.
These infected PCs in emerging markets are also being used in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting Western businesses and governments.
How big a problem are DDoS attacks today? There was a lot of talk about extortion a couple of years ago, with criminals threatening to take down businesses' Web sites if a ransom wasn't paid. Is this still a problem?
Alkio: DDoS continues to harass people across the world. But is it more, is it less? What we are seeing is it is taking up a lot of bandwidth, and we need to protect people.
I think there could actually be a big shift from commercial to political DDoS attacks, such as we saw recently with Estonia (and Russia). Anyplace where you have political instability you could see an increase in DDoS attacks in that region.
What about mobile phone viruses? It's a drum that you have banged very loudly--leading to suggestions you're overhyping the issue. What do you say to accusations you've been irresponsible?
Alkio: If one recognizes that there is a healthy probability that Internet threats could be similar on the mobile side to the PC side then it could mean we're at the stage now that PCs were at in the late 1980s.
The devices, particularly smart phones, are becoming used more like PCs. So with a little bit of predicting and visioning into the future, based on past experiences, I think there is a tremendous need to ensure there is mobile security in place.
Do you think you've been as clear as you could be with the industry, with the media and with consumers, that what you are doing is visioning and predicting a scenario that could happen?
Alkio: Independent of how we have communicated this in the past, we are making it very clear today that the threat level on mobile malware is not severe today. There are only 323 known malware (exploits) on mobiles and over 300,000 on PCs. No hype. Period.
And a lot of that mobile malware is just proof of concept.
Alkio: Absolutely. Made by hobbyists. That's absolutely where we are today. But what's happening now is mobile phones are being used to download content from the Web and are increasingly being used for mobile e-mail.
They are increasingly becoming professional devices and it is obvious that you have to put the protection in place if there are mobile viruses and malware. We are protecting today and pre-empting a future virus.
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Vegan bakeshop wins Leamington’s Reinvent This Space competition
The Municipality of Leamington has chosen a winner for its annual Reinvent This Space competition, and it’s a vegan bakeshop that’s expected to open this year.
“A community-focused plant-based bakeshop will be a fantastic addition to Leamington’s uptown,” said Mayor Hilda MacDonald, congratulating Alissa Enns. “Alissa’s passion for business and community, and her well-developed business plan really show the value she can bring to our community.”
Enns business will receive up to $15,000 in Community Improvement Plan grant funding to cover a year’s rent in an uptown Leamington location.
Judges evaluated the top three applicants in the competition which is an initiative by the Municipality of Leamington in partnership with Invest Windsor Essex.
“The Plant-Based Bakeshop will be a community-focused cafe that brings people together in unique and innovative ways,” said Enns. “The bakeshop will offer plant-based baked goods, specialty drinks including coffee, tea and smoothies, light meals such as soups, salads, bowls and sandwiches, and products from local vendors.”
All three applicants received in-depth mentoring from a panel of local business leaders throughout the competition.
It’s not the first time a bakeshop has won the competition. In 2019-2020, Christine’s Bake Shop took the final prize.


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MILFORD — After a century in business, Arciuolo’s Shoes continues to innovate.
“There’s a lot of tradition that goes into a business like ours but there’s also got to be constant updates as well,” said Matthew Joseph Arciuolo II. “The reason why we are still here and a lot of stores similar to us aren’t, is that we will keep our head on a swivel. We are constantly staying on top of what people are buying and making sure that we are as convenient and helpful as possible.”
Arciuolo’s is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. In addition to being


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Toyota and Suzuki partner on technology and vehicle development
20 March 2019
20 March 2019
Toyota and Suzuki have announced a new collaboration to share technology and bolster their electric and hybrid businesses.
In the latest example of vehicle manufacturers coming together to alleviate financial impacts of new technology development, the two companies say they have concluded a memorandum of understanding signed on 6 February 2017.
In addition to bringing together Toyota’s strength in electrification technologies and Suzuki’s strength in technologies for compact vehicles, the two manufacturers intend to grow in new fields, such as collaboration in production and the widespread popularisation of electrified vehicles.
The collaboration will see Toyota supply its hybrid system to Suzuki, while the smaller Japanese manufacturer will also use Toyota platforms to build two new electrified vehicles. Suzuki will share its compact platform, allowing the larger business to build two small cars for the Indian market.
Additionally, Toyota will adopt newly developed Suzuki engines for compact vehicles, which will be supported by the carmaker and its technology partner Denso and will be built at Toyota facilities in Poland.
Drawing upon Suzuki’s expertise in developing vehicles in India, there will also be joint development of a Toyota C-segment MPV with OEM supply to Suzuki.
Moving forward, insofar as Toyota and Suzuki continue to fairly and freely compete against each other, both companies intend to consider further collaboration to realise a sustainable future mobility society while respecting all applicable laws.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: ′When it comes to vehicle electrification, which is expected to make further inroads, hybrid technologies are seen as playing a huge role in many markets, as from before. Widespread acceptance is necessary for electrified vehicles to be able to contribute to the Earth’s environment. Through our new agreement, we look forward to the wider use of hybrid technologies, not only in India and Europe but also around the world. At the same time, we believe that the expansion of our business partnership with Suzuki will help give us the competitive edge we will need to survive this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation.’
Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki added his gratitude for Toyota allowing Suzuki to use its well-developed hybrid systems in its vehicles, which will allow the company to remain competitive in a changing automotive landscape.
In this new market, once fierce rivalries are increasingly making way for partnerships that will benefit each company, allowing them to share cost burdens and come to market quicker by decreasing development time.
Ford and Volkswagen (VW) are working together on commercial vehicles and are discussing the potential of sharing electric vehicle (EV) platforms, most notably VW’s MEB architecture. The German company has also said it is open to sharing the platform further and has partnered with autonomous start-up e.GO.
Toyota has also taken a small stake in Mazda as the two companies partner on EV development.


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Where will the cannabis industry be in a decade? You can bet that it’s going to look a lot different than it does now. More states could legalize adult-use recreational cannabis, and medical cannabis could be legalized at a national level…
These prospects translate to tremendous opportunities for investors with a long-term perspective. But what are the best ways to capitalize on those opportunities? Here are three top marijuana stocks to buy and hold for the next 10 years.
Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG) just might be the most likely to succeed with changes in the cannabis industry. Back during the gold-rush days, those who supplied picks and shovels to gold miners usually profited more than the gold miners themselves. Scotts is arguably the best picks-and-shovels cannabis stock on the market.
The company’s Hawthorne segment ranks as a leading supplier of organic and hydroponics products to cannabis growers. Hawthorne has more than doubled in size over the last three years. With the continued expansion of the U.S. cannabis market, the business could be in a position to deliver strong double-digit percentage sales growth year in and year out.
You might think that Scott’s core consumer lawn and garden business might be boring. However, the segment has generated sales growth of more than 35% over the last three years. That level of growth, fueled in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic, probably won’t be sustainable. Still, though, Scotts should be able to count on modest but steady growth for its consumer lawn and garden products over the long term.
Unlike many companies in the cannabis industry, Scotts is already profitable. It even pays a dividend that yields a little over 1%. Scotts Miracle-Gro just might be the safest marijuana stock to buy and hold on the market.
Innovative Industrial Properties
Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR) stands out as another profitable company that serves the cannabis industry. The company is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on providing real estate capital to cannabis operators.
It’s hard not to like IIP’s business model. The company specializes in sale-leaseback deals where cannabis operators sell their properties to IIP, and then IIP leases them back to the operators under long-term agreements. The cannabis operators get access to capital, while IIP gets a steady revenue stream.
This approach has enabled IIP to deliver fantastic growth. Over the last three years, its trailing-12-month revenue has skyrocketed more than…
Continue reading at THE MOTLEY FOOL


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Chevrolet could replace the Camaro with an electric muscle sedan
Will Chevrolet be completely re-thinking the muscle car?
Despite troublingly low numbers of sales, the Chevrolet Camaro is very much still with us. It seems that the sentimental value of the muscle car is enough to keep the venerable Camaro on the production line, at least for now. Sentimentality doesn't always win out though and, if reports from Automotive News are to be believed, the Camaro could be replaced by an all-new electric muscle sedan!
General Motors has previously hinted that an all-electric Camaro could be in the works for the future. What General Motors missed out though that makes these reports about a new electric sedan seem plausible is that a body style for this future Camaro EV was never publicly announced. This is a tactic that GM's Stellantis rivals Dodge has also done, where the brand stated that it would be attempting to "reinvent the muscle car" but made no mention at all of body styles. Perhaps both brands will be taking a similar tactic and re-inventing the muscle car as saloons, wagons or even SUVs? It's all up in the air as of right now.
Automotive News's report also mentioned that Chevrolet's current EVs (the Bolt and Bolt EUV) will both be retired after 2023 and 2024 respectively. The Spark and Trax are on the chopping block too along with the Buick Encore, whilst Cadillac's upcoming Lyriq, Optiq and Symboliq SUVs will replace the current XT4, XT5 and XT6 at some point after 2025. Perhaps the platforms of the three new Cadillac models will also be used for their Buick and Chevrolet equivalents?
Perhaps more importantly though, the axing of the Chevrolet Malibu will leave an opening in the model lineup for a mid-sized sedan. This could provide Chevrolet with an opportunity create a completely new fun and exciting sedan that could utilise electric powertrains and an iconic brand name in the same way that Ford has done with its Mustang Mach-E SUV. If that's the way Chevrolet wants to go with the Camaro, it's a move that could certainly pay off well.
For now, it's already been reported that the current-generation Camaro will soldier on until 2024 at least. That'll give fans of the car as it currently is a good few more years to cash in on a brand new example before the big changes happen. As for whether the rumours about an electric Camaro sedan are true, however, we'll probably have to wait a bit longer before we find out about that.


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California organic grape sales have been strong this season, so much so that it’s factoring into an early end of the season for one grower-shipper.
Next year, Fruit World will double its production on Kyohos as the young vines continue to mature.
For Fruit World in Reedley, CA, organic Thomcord grapes, a hybrid of the Concord and Thompson grapes, had volume that was as expected this season. “The quality and flavor of the Thomcords was top-notch this year. We’re really proud of those grapes,” says Bianca Kaprielian of Fruit World. Strong sales helped push a two to three week early end to the season.
Its other specialty variety, the Kyoho grape, a Japanese variety, is in its second year of production. “The Kyoho vines are young, so not at peak maturity which means the crop was on the smaller side,” says Kaprielian. “The grapes' deliciously intense flavor was spot on and we had a really great response to them. Sales were strong.” Kaprielian notes that next year, Fruit World will double its production on Kyohos as the vines continue to mature.
The Fruit World team at the recent Organic Produce Summit.
Some early starts
Both the Thomcords and Kyoho grapes started the season seven to 10 days early this year.
Fruit World was also in production with organic red, green and black grapes from grower Pete Wolf. This year saw a lighter crop overall on these grapes and the early end is due to the combination of that lighter crop coupled with strong demand.
Strong sales helped push a two to three week early end to the Thomcord season.
“We believe the lighter crop set on Pete’s grapes was due to climate change and the fact that some of his vines are over 100 years old. They’re not prolific producers but they make up for it in flavor, which is why the sales are so strong,” says Kaprielian. “Pete’s heritage varieties have a depth of flavor and a wonderful crunch. Customers who know them come back.”
Kaprielian says also spurring sales this year could be its switch to paper tote bags and away from plastic pouch bags. (Totes were offered on the Wolf grapes while some clamshells were offered still on the specialty grapes.) “We decided to not do any more plastic pouch bags and wondered if we’d have any push back. But customers loved it,” says Kaprielian, who noted last year already the Thomcords in particular saw about 1/3 of the grapes move in paper bags while the remaining 2/3 in plastic clamshells. This year that percentage moved to more than 50 percent paper totes.
Supply chain concerns
That said, accessing paper totes was challenging. “Getting the totes made was a challenge. From paper to ink to stamp the bags, materials were in tight supply. We managed to get by, but definitely felt the supply chain issues,” adds Kaprielian.
Kaprielian says customers responded well to packaging grapes in paper tote bags over plastic bags.
As for pricing this season, it was strong and stable. “Pricing really stayed where it needed to be to match the additional costs of production we’ve seen in the last two years. It felt like we struck that balance between getting our customers a good price and our growers a good price,” says Kaprielian.
Looking ahead at next season already, along with doubling that Kyoho crop, Kaprielian notes more specialty varieties are being planted. “We continue to seek out some really unique specialty varieties and will start getting some of those into the ground to bolster our grape program. We want to have a small but mighty, primarily specialty, grape program.”


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Today, Burberry presented its Spring 2020 runway show in London. See every look from the collection in the gallery below.
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Plus, browse all of our images from the week in one place.
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Footwear brand Chupps raises $1.5 million from Green Frontier Capital, others
Direct-to-consumer footwear brand Chupps has raised $1.5 million (Rs 11 crore) in pre-series A round led by India’s first-ever green tech venture fund Green Frontier Capital.
Gunavanth Vaid from 4G Capital, Kaushal Vora from Genesis Packaging, Swanand Kelkar from Breakout Capital Advisors and Gaurav Mathrawala from Mathsons Re-insurance Brokers also participated in the funding round.
The investment will see Prof Soumitra Dutta, one of the founding advisors of Green Frontier join the board of Chupps.
The brand will utilise the funds to increase penetration, expand into new markets, and develop high-quality, fashionable, and sustainable products.
Commenting on the investment, Gaurav Agarwal, co-founder of Chupps in a statement said, Chupps, with its wide distribution network, in both, online and offline channels, and huge surge in export orders, Chupps is well positioned to take a market leader position. GFC’s core values of sustainability, is an ideal fit for us. The new funding from GFC will open-up many additional investment avenues in future since many funds are looking to invest in sustainable ventures such as ours.”
Sandiip Bhammer, managing partner of Green Frontier Capital added, “Chupps is clearly building a made-in-India brand with a global potential which its consumers will not only feel good about using today – because of their styling, comfort, or performance – but one which even future generations would relate to and appreciate.”
Chupps was founded in March 2021 by Gaurav Agarwal and Yash Mukhi. The brand’s products are currently sold through its website and online channels such as Myntra and Amazon, along with kiosks in malls, and departmental stores across India.
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Jul 03, 2013, 09.04 AM | Source: CNBC-TV18
Rajesh Jejurikar, chief executive (tractor & farm mechanization), Mahindra and Mahindra says the company’s tractor business has gained some market share in the last two months.
The company's total tractor sales, both domestic and exports, have grown by 17 percent at 27,748 units in June over the previous year, M&M said in a statement.
The domestic growth of 19 percent achieved during June 2013 is indicative of the positive momentum this year. The improved kharif crop output prospect is expected to spur the rural economy further, it added.
Jejurikar says the company is planning to launch new products in 2014. "We are not planning to take any price cuts in the near-term," he told CNBC-TV18 in an interview.
M&M stock price
On April 29, 2016, Mahindra and Mahindra closed at Rs 1331.75, down Rs 11.6, or 0.86 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 1441.45 and the 52-week low was Rs 1092.00.
The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 50.46 per share as per the quarter ended December 2015. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 26.39. The latest book value of the company is Rs 310.09 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company is 4.29.
Having launched its electric car 'e2o' in the UK,
The entry-level e2o City is priced at 12,995 pound
Religare recommended buy rating on M&M with a targ
Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) shares jumped nearly 9
Here are a few top buzzing midcap stocks picked by
Sudarshan Sukhani of s2analytics.com is upbeat on
Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com is of the view
Tata Steel, Hindalco, Axis Bank, Coal India and ON


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We are pleased to announce that planning permission has recently been granted for the new Center Parcs holiday village in County Longford, Ireland. Edmond Shipway will act as Project Manager, Cost Consultant and M&E Consultant on the largest scheme of its type in Europe.
The new holiday village has been designed to be concealed within a 395 acre site at Newcastle Wood near Ballymahon, and will bring together all the high quality features for which Center Parcs is renowned. These include 470 lodges and 30 apartments, a Subtropical Swimming Paradise, Aqua Sana Spa, shops restaurants and cafés as well as more than 100 leisure activities.
The development is also expected to provide a boost to the local economy by creating 750 jobs during the construction phase and up to 1,000 permanent jobs when operational. It is estimated that the new site will add €32 million (£25 million) to Irish gross domestic product (GDP) per annum, and around €1 billion (£775 million) over the next 20 years, making it the biggest private tourism development in the state.
David Stevenson, our Managing Director said; “I am delighted Center Parcs has received planning permission for its first venture outside the UK, having been given the opportunity to lead the design team in preparing what was a complex application. We all look forward to seeing work get underway.”


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ALLIANCE SELECT Foods International, Inc. swung to profitability in the third quarter of 2017, despite still encountering headwinds in the prices of raw materials.
In a regulatory filing, Alliance Select said it generated a net income attributable to the parent of $91,207, against a net loss of $1.02 million in the third quarter of 2016. Revenues picked up 29% to $18.42 million.
This brought the company’s nine-month revenues to $53.16 million, 16% higher year on year. Attributable profit accordingly rose to $383,360, against a net loss attributable to the parent of $2.28 million.
Bulk of the company’s revenues come from tuna and related products at 61%, while the remaining 39% come from the salmon segment. Alliance Select said it has seen increased market penetration through improved operational efficiencies as well as introduction of new products.
“While raw material prices remain volatile, we continue to rationalize operations while developing new business opportunities. Alliance Select’s significant progress in the third quarter is an indication to management to increase our efforts and momentum even further,” Alliance Select President and Chief Executive Officer Raymond KH See said in a statement. — Arra B. Francia


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A week after teasing its futuristic foldable smartphone, Samsung has announced the latest entry to its flagship Exynos 9 series of processors with the launch of the Exynos 9820 chip, as expected. The successor to the Exynos 9810 will be manufactured using an 8 nanometer LPP FinFET process which Samsung says will consume 10 percent lesser power than its predecessor.
The Exynos 9820 is made up of a new tri-cluster architecture that consists of two custom-designed cores, two high-performance ARM Cortex-A75 cores, and four energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores. All of this combined offers a 15 percent boost in multi-core performance and 20 percent boost in single-core tasks. The Exynos 9820 is thus 40 percent better in performance than its predecessor.
Computational cores aside, the Exynos chipset also houses the Mali-G76 MP12 graphics processor that uses double channels and additional execution units. This just makes room for 40 percent improvement in the graphics category when compared to the GPU used on the Exynos 9810 and is also 35 percent more energy efficient.
Samsung’s latest Exynos 9 series chipset comes with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for the very first time which will make artificial intelligence-based tasks easier to perform than the last generation Exynos 9 chip. Samsung says the Exynos 9820 offers up to 7 times more computing power to execute AI functions.
In terms of display, the Exynos 9820 renders support for 4K resolution of 4096×2160 pixels or a WQUXGA display with up to 3840×2400 pixels of resolution. For optics, the chipset will carry support for up to five sensors in total including infrared sensing elements for facial recognition. Both the front camera and rear cameras now support sensors of up to 22MP while dual camera setup will offer a maximum of 16MP units. Video recording on the Exynos 9820 will be compatible with 4K @ 120fps, 8K @ 30fps and 10bit HEVC/H.264/VP9 codec.
For connectivity, the Exynos 9 processor will be able to support 4G LTE with Cat.20 8CA, enabling a peak download speed of 2Gbps and upload speed of 316Mbps. Additionally, it comes with 4×4 MIMO, 256-QAM and Enhanced Licensed-Assisted Access (eLAA) technology. There’s a security chip that will be able to store personal and biometric information including fingerprint and facial scans.
The Exynos 9820 chip from Samsung is expected to enter mass production by the end of 2018 and will feature first on the Galaxy S10 smartphone, which is estimated to arrive sometime during the first quarter of 2019.


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It’s been called mysterious, secretive, and shadowy, but when it comes to the so-called shell company created by former president Bill Clinton as a vehicle for the delivery of consulting services, there’s a whole lot less there than meets the eye.
According to the Associated Press, in 2008, Clinton set up a limited liability company, called WJC LLC in Delaware. It was later re-incorporated in New York in 2009, and then returned to Delaware in 2013.
The Clintons had not previously disclosed ownership of WJC LLC, apparently because it holds no assets. But the AP’s revelation of its existence set off a barrage of media coverage practically asserting that the former president was laundering the profits of some illegal enterprise.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus promptly mounted his high horse and galloped into the fray. "The revelation that the Clintons had a secret shell company that went unreported on Hillary Clinton’s financial disclosures further demonstrates they are not giving voters the full picture of their wealth. Clearly, there’s a lot that they don’t want voters to see.”
Here’s the thing. If it were a shadowy shell company meant to hide transactions, one assumes the former leader of the free world would be smart enough not to use his own initials as the company name or, for that matter to incorporate it in the U.S. under his own signature, instead of Vanuatu or the Caymans. Putting that aside, the idea that an LLC, known as a “flow-through” or “pass-through” entity by the Internal Revenue Service, is somehow opaque or covert is misguided.
In a flow-through or pass-through business, the profits and losses of the company are passed directly to the individual owners, meaning that the business itself pays no corporate income tax. Any business profits are treated as income to the owners, and taxed as such.
Flow-through structures are very popular in the U.S. because of that tax benefit in particular, as it protects business income from double taxation. So popular, in fact, that they make up the majority of U.S. corporations. Another benefit, is that you get to write-off an enormous amount of “expenses,” including home offices, transportation (including leased vehicles), costs of travel and entertaining as it pertains to your business, and other business-related costs.
As a result, your “pass-through” income can be reduced dramatically before applying the usual deductions the IRS allows on personal income.
According to the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, flow-through companies “make up the vast majority of businesses and more than 60 percent of net business income in America. In addition, pass-through businesses account for more than half of the private sector workforce and 37 percent of total private sector payroll. Pass-through businesses are represented in all industries in the United States.”
The biggest scandal associated with this particular revelation is that the Clintons, who appear to stand a good chance of taking up residence in the White House again, remain so tone deaf when it comes to being transparent with the public. There is nothing even slightly illegal about the existence of WJC LLC, but the decision not to mention it in public disclosures of their finances is mystifying, regardless of the fact that it holds no assets.
Priebus, who trained as a lawyer, undoubtedly knows that it’s ridiculous to paint the most common business structure in the U.S. as somehow inherently suspicious. But his claim that the Clintons aren’t providing a full picture of their finances will only be amplified by the former first family’s decision not to mention it.
Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:


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Facebook unveils stock market flotation plans
Facebook said it would seek to raise $5bn, about half the amount many analysts expected.
It is still expected to be the biggest public sale of shares by an internet company.
The rise of Facebook, begun by Harvard University students, has been meteoric, attracting 800 million users in just eight years.
Facebook filed its intention to float with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the US stock markets closed.
The filing revealed that Facebook had revenues of $3.7bn in 2011, and that founder Mark Zuckerberg owns 28.4% of the company.
The story of the company was made the subject of a 2010 Hollywood film, The Social Network, and the firm has made the verb "to friend" a part of everyday language.
"The company does change when you go public”
Reports have suggested the company could be worth $100bn, roughly the same as US giants Amazon and McDonald's.
Facebook currently makes most of its money from online advertising.
"As it is not a paying service, you are not the customer, you are the product," explains the BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones.
"What Facebook is selling to the world is users' time and their attention, their likes and dislikes, all that time and data they pour into the site, so that they can be very precisely targeted with adverts matching our interests," BBC correspondent says.
Facebook, the facts
- 2004: Facebook set up as a network for students at Harvard University
- 2005: The network expanded to include high school students, attracting 5.5 million users
- 2006: Yahoo offered $1bn to buy Facebook
- 2007: Facebook reaches 1 million users in the UK with 50 million users worldwide
- By 2012 Facebook has 800 million users worldwide
Reports in January last year suggested a document sent by Goldman Sachs to its clients showed the firm made a net profit of $355m on revenues of $1.2bn in the first nine months of 2010. Subsequent estimates about its more recent profits range from $1.5bn to $3.5bn.
Releasing much more detailed information on its finances will become part of the Facebook's duties as a publicly listed firm.
"The company does change when you go public," co-founder of online travel site Lastminute.com Martha Lane Fox told the BBC.
"Whatever Mark Zuckerberg says about continuing to run the company for users, for employees, not for shareholders... it does mean there is a level of scrutiny and accountability not known in a private company."
- Google: raises $1.67bn for 7% of the company in 2004
- Rosneft: raises $10.4bn for 15% of the company in 2006
- Visa: raises $19.1bn for 50% of the company in 2008
- Agricultural Bank of China: raises $22.1bn in 2010 making it the world's largest IPO to date
Planning the IPO
"The major investment banks have competed to be selected as lead advisors given the status of the firm, and investors are sure to be equally eager to acquire a holding in the business."
Facebook is the latest in a series of online firms to sell shares to the public in recent months.
Online voucher firm Groupon went public in November 2011 and online games maker Zynga in December 2011.
Zynga's stock market value immediately fell below its asking price on the first day of trading, whilst Groupon only climbed past its offer price three months after the float.
Shares in the social networking site Linkedin fell below their May 2011 offer price after its shares became freely tradeable.
However stock market traders remain positive about Facebook's flotation.
"Facebook is worth the expected $80-$100bn valuation because we believe it is and will be the dominant social media platform globally," said Richard Nunn at Charles Stanley Securities.
"It has more than 100m more US users than Google did when it IPO'd, and Google is valued at $180bn, and most importantly for advertisers, the average dwell time of 6hrs 51m per month spent on Facebook trounces the competition by some way.'
**courtesy of BBC News Business**


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Around 22 percent of American adults use marijuana, which means about one out of every four people you know enjoys consuming cannabis now and then. You may be thinking, "Wait, I don't know anyone who uses marijuana! How can that be?" And the answer is, they're hiding it from you.
Civilized teamed up PSB Research to survey 1,000 Americans and 600 Canadians about issues related to marijuana. One of the topics we looked at was cannabis users who hide their consumption from people in their lives. So if you're wondering who's hiding their cannabis use for you, we can now tell you.
The most obvious people hiding their cannabis use from you is your family. About 33 percent of American and Canadian marijuana users say they hide their consumption from their children. 25 percent of Canadians and 20 percent of Americans say they hide it from their parents. And 19 percent of users from both countries say they hide their use from other relatives as well. All together, that's about 70 percent of users who hide their use from some members of their family.
But it's not just your blood relatives who are hiding it from you. If you have neighbors or are the landlord of a building, you probably know someone hiding their cannabis user from you. 30 percent of Americans and 27 percent of Canadian marijuana users say they hide their consumption from neighbors or landlords.
On the bright side, the people you're probably closest to are not likely to be hiding their cannabis consumption. Around 13 or 14 percent of Canadian and American marijuana users say they hide their cannabis use from their friends. And only nine percent of Americans and seven percent of Canadian users said they hide it from their spouse or significant other. Although that may just because they've already gotten caught!
Of course, not everybody is toking up in the shadows. 36 percent of Canadians and 32 percent of American marijuana users say they do not hide their consumption from everyone. Perhaps as marijuana becomes legal in more parts of the United States and the entirety of Canada, the stigma associated with cannabis use will decline and people will be less afraid of what people in their lives think about it.
Also, we didn't ask how many people conceal their marijuana use from law enforcement, but we're going to go ahead and guess that number's pretty close to 100 percent.


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Apple is cutting its orders for the iPhone 5c ahead of the fourth quarter, a new report from the Wall Street Journal claims. Citing people familiar with the situation, the WSJ says that Apple asked its two iPhone assembly partners Pegatron and Hon Hai to reduce the volume of orders for it lower-cost smartphone going into the end of the year, by under 20 percent and around one-third respectively.
The iPhone 5c reduction also comes alongside an iPhone 5s production increase, however, according to two Hon Hai executives speaking to the WSJ. Apple saw much higher than anticipated demand for the new gold-colored version especially, the report says, leading to an uptick in volume output for those devices. Still, the cuts for iPhone 5c orders seem to also include a 50 percent decrease in parts from at least one supplier, indicating Apple is possibly preparing to reduce volumes even further.
The new information from the Wall Street Journal backs up claims made earlier this week from analyst firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, which said that the iPHone 5s was outselling the iPhone 5c by a ratio of two to one. That also lines up with the live data being tracked by mobile analytics firm Mixpanel, which sees iPhone 5s adoption at just over double that of the iPhone 5c, a little over a month after launch.
The above lines up with anecdotal reports we’ve heard from various Apple Store and carrier retail employees that the iPhone 5s is hard to keep in stock, while the iPhone 5c remains readily available. At first, it was unclear whether or not this might be attributable simply to an abundance of supply of the lower cost device, but increasingly, it seems demand plays a role, too.
Apple still managed to sell 9 million iPhones in total during its launch weekend, however, and the iPhone 5c isn’t designed as a marquee or flagship seller. What’s more likely is that interest in the iPhone 5c burns more slowly, but perhaps more consistently – its target shoppers aren’t the type to rush out to a launch day celebration, and are much more likely to be swayed by in-store specials and carrier/retailer discounts as time goes on and their contracts run out.
We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on the matter, and will update if we hear more.


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Tech giant Lenovo, through its gaming brand Legion, is releasing new gaming devices equipped with the latest hardware from Intel and NVIDIA that are designed to provide a truly immersive experience for gamers.
The new gaming machines will come with Intel’s 9th Generation processor, whose specifications were revealed at the 2019 Game Developers Conference. Its key features include Intel Optane Memory H10 SSD which enables quicker system performance and responsiveness.
For Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan, the update of the Legion lineup bolsters the company’s goal of providing supreme performance. “Enhanced and realistic graphics are now the norm in PC gaming and those without the latest technology are simply unable to play. By providing the right tools, we at Lenovo are not only giving gamers the chance to play games, but we’re also giving non-gamers an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in a new environment,” said Ngan.
Ngan also adds that the devices will cater to gamers who want to share their experiences through online streaming. “Thanks to the booming popularity of eSports and gaming in general, video game streaming has become very lucrative and we recognize that a lot of people want to get in on it. The boost catered by Intel and NVIDIA will surely help produce popular content since they not only provide the power needed to play new and upcoming games, which people want to see, but also make the process a lot easier,” he said.
During Intel’s showcase at the GDC, the 9th Gen processors were revealed to deliver 34 percent faster video editing than the previous generation and are designed to run modern games like Hitman 2 at 10 percent more frames per second than the 8th Gen processors.
Lenovo’s upcoming Legion machines will also come with NVIDIA’s GTX 16 series graphics card which provides 1.4X more power efficiency than the previous generation. High quality streaming is assured through the card’s dedicated hardware encoders that deliver 15 percent improved efficiency and its optimization with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
Topping off the new features is the NVIDIA RTX 2060 graphics card. A true gaming beast, the card has up to 6X the performance of previous-generation cards and brings the power of real-time ray tracing and artificial intelligence for enhanced graphics.
A total of four Legion devices will be hitting Lenovo authorized resellers nationwide this June. These are the Legion Y740, Legion Y540, IdeaPad L340 Gaming, and Legion T530.


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President Barack Obama has appointed 18 executives to join an advisory group that aims to increase US exports. Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally is included in this group.
In a statement, Obama said that boosting these exports strengthens, as well as supports millions of good, high-paying American jobs.
The Export Council was created earlier this year by Obama. He set out a goal to double US exports within five years.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack revealed that agricultural exports rose by 19% during the first quarter. Obama is slated to give a report about the progress on boosting US exports.
He is also expected to discuss the 18 trade missions coordinated by the Department of Commerce, loans from the US Export-Import Bank that have supported nearly 110,000 jobs, and new agreements on exports of US agricultural products.
Obama is also expected to name members to the export council to join Boeing Co. CEO James McNerney and Xerox Corp. CEO Ursula Burns, who were chosen last March to lead the group.
The White House disclosed that the appointees to the council are the following: Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger; United Parcel Service Inc. CEO Scott Davis; MetLife Inc. CEO Robert Henrikson; Pfizer Inc. CEO Jeffrey Kindler; Verizon Communications Inc. CEO Ivan Seidenberg; Archer Daniels Midland Co. CEO Patricia Woertz; and UAL Corp. CEO Glenn Tilton. [via bloomberg]


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2012 Toyota Camry Demand in Russia Results in Second Shift
Demand has been so high that the Japanese company’s leadership has decided to add another shift starting this September, which will result in 600 new workers.
Demand for the 2012 Camry has increased 66 percent in the first quarter of the year compared to a year ago.
"Starting two-shift operations is a significant event for our plant," said Toyota Motor Manufacturing Russia (TMMR) President Yoshinori Matsunaga.
"Our employees’ commitment to Toyota principles in quality has resulted in us gaining Russian consumer trust and high evaluations for our Camry. It makes us at TMMR glad to be able to contribute to the economy of St. Petersburg and to its employment," Matsunaga added.


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Tuesday Losers: CommVault, Amedisys and Infosys
Among the biggest losers in Tuesday’s early trading are CommVault (Nasdaq: CVLT), Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED) and Infosys (Nasdaq: INFY).
|Top Percentage Losers — Tuesday, July 13, 2010|
|Company Name (Ticker)||Intra-Day Price|| Intra-Day |
|52-Week High||52-Week Low|
|Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED)||$26.89||-23.2%||$64.28||$24.66|
| CommVault |
|Infosys (Nasdaq: INFY)||$59.66||-5.0%||$64.50||$35.38|
*Table includes companies with minimum market capitalizations of $200 million and three month trading volumes of at least 100,000 shares. All percentage returns are listed as of 11:45AM Eastern Standard Time. Click on ticker symbols for up-to-the-minute price quotes and percentage gain data.
CommVault’s Dual Sales Problems
CommVault (Nasdaq: CVLT), which sells software to optimize and secure corporate databases, is in freefall today after the company pre-announced weak second quarter results Monday evening. Sales and service revenues were hit by a pair of factors: an unfocused sales force in North America, and delays in closing sales in Europe. The takeaway for other tech stocks is clear: North American demand for technology may prove robust, but those firms with a high degree of exposure to Europe may have reason for concern. Just a few weeks ago, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) told investors that European demand is faring well. For the real answer, we’ll have to await earnings reports from other tech blue chips, starting with Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), which reports after the close today.
Action to Take –> The fairly large shortfall for CommVault comes as a surprise, as the company had been delivering very steady quarterly results. Sales force issues take time to resolve, and it may be a few quarters before the company is back on track. CommVault is upgrading its core Simpana software platform, which may have led customers to defer purchases. And the company hints at a new market opportunity to be announced this fall. So even though shares are likely to be dead money this summer, they could perk back up in the fall. In the interim, the company is sitting on $4 a share in cash and could look to initiate a stock buyback while shares are in a funk.
Amedisys’ Summer of Woe continues
For home health care provider Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED), the hits keep on coming. Less than two weeks ago, we laid out the company’s horrid recent past, which saw its shares sharply fall.
#-ad_banner-#And they’re losing another -23% today after the company pre-announced weak second quarter results Monday evening. The company noted that second-quarter earnings per share would be around $1.15 a share, well below the $1.38 consensus. And this shortfall comes before any restrictions might come into play for Amedysis and its peers on the heels of a Senate investigation into home health care billing practices.
Action to Take –> Assuming quarterly profits fall to around $1 a share, this stock is quite cheap at seven times annualized earnings. But it’s premature to buy in until the full ramifications of the Senate and SEC inquiries have become clear. The same logic applies to rivals Almost Family (Nasdaq: AFAM) and Gentiva Health (Nasdaq: GNTV), which are also down more than -5% in Tuesday trading.
Infosys’ Rising Costs
Depending on your perspective, outsourcing jobs is a really good or bad idea. For workers, it means fewer onshore jobs. For investors, it’s a path to lower costs. Well, that math may need to be recalculated. As is the case with China, labor costs are steadily rising in India as well, according to outsourcing giant Infosys (Nasdaq: INFY). The company, which usually tops profit forecasts by at least +5%, only exceeded the consensus by a penny this time. A +14% year-over-year spike in labor expenses led to higher-than-expected costs. And it may only get worse, as the company has seen massive turnover in its workforce as employees jump ship to better-paying rivals.
This doesn’t spell the end of outsourcing, as labor costs are still relatively low, but when you account for all of the other expenses associated with outsourcing, the cost differential is starting to narrow, which has led many to speculate that many outsourced jobs may soon be insourced.
Action to Take –> Infosys typically generates very high profit margins. Rising wages should start to force margins back down, implying that bottom-line growth rates will lag top-line growth rates. You can already see it starting to happen. Sales are expected to grow +18% in fiscal (March) 2011 while EPS is expected to grow at about half that rate. With shares trading at more than 20 times fiscal 2012 profits, this impressive growth story may have hit a peak in terms of share price appreciation.


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The family of businessman Joram Kago, which owns Tuskys, is staring at the end of its business after 35 years as foreign-owned private equity funds compete to take over what is left of the supermarket.
The Nation has established that 10 private equity firms have tossed their hats in the ring as Tuskys looks for a strategic investor to pump in capital and rescue the ailing retailer from the jaws of death.
Sources close to the talks have revealed that all investors have given the retailer a non-negotiable condition that, for any deal to sail through, they must take over 100 per cent of ownership and management of the retailer’s stores in Kenya and Uganda.
Tuskys has already alerted the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) that it is engaging strategic investors, who will pump in the much-needed capital to rescue the company.
“The shareholders are evaluating offers from investors for injection of capital through sale of a stake in the business. The shareholders have continued to provide the necessary support and recapitalisation efforts are in high gear and running on schedule. As earlier mentioned, the shareholders met last July and unanimously agreed not to be the stumbling block to business recovery efforts,” the letter reads in part.
But any potential deal is already in turmoil as one of Tuskys’ shareholders, Yusuf Mugweru, has vowed to block any takeover because he has been excluded from the talks with investors.
Mr Mugweru says his siblings have not reached out to him about any sale of shares.
The fourth-born in Kago’s family argues that he will have to do his own due diligence on any investor looking to buy out the family business, but cannot as he has not been furnished with any information on potential deals.
“At this point in time, Yusuf Mugweru is fully unaware of any investor that has come forward, and in typical fashion they will confront him at the last moment and expect him to agree. Which of course he will not. He needs to do his own due diligence and take legal opinion on any contracts that have been signed,” Mr Mugweru’s lawyer Philip Murgor said.
Tuskys CEO Dan Githua was yet to confirm the identities of the potential suitors by the time of going to press.
Mr Kago started with a small shop in Rongai,Nakuru, and grew it into Tuskys, the largest retail chain in East Africa following the death of Nakumatt in 2017.
The Tuskys founder was a Nakumatt employee until 1985, when he retired and set up a mattress selling store with the help of his former employer.
When he died in 2002, his children took over ownership and management of the retail chain.
For such takeovers to succeed, the company being acquired must file an application with the CAK. If anyone objects to the proposed deal, the CAK will hear all the parties involved and then make a determination.
This means that Mr Mugweru’s opposition could stall any proposed takeover.
Mr Mugweru says he would be open to a takeover if his siblings fully account for Sh1.6 billion he claims was embezzled by his brothers Stephen Mukuha and George Gachwe in 2012.
Mr Mukuha and Mr Gachwe were charged with theft in 2015 and the case is still proceeding.
The chief magistrate’s court in 2017 gave the siblings time to settle the matter out of court but no deal was reached.
They were charged following a complaint to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations by Mr Mugweru.
Kago’s children have been in never-ending boardroom wars.
They are now cornered, as the business their father built from a small store in Nakuru is badly in debt and could go under if it does not get at least Sh6.2 billion to pay suppliers.
The Sh6.2 billion debt is owed to more than 200 traders, who have for the past three months restricted supplies to Tuskys.
More than 6,000 employees are hoping that Tuskys gets a new lease of life, as they risk being jobless at a time the coronavirus pandemic has already hit the economy hard and made alternative employment hard to come by.
In its letter to the CAK, Tuskys said that it has received the backing of some suppliers, who have pledged to furnish the retailer with stock worth Sh1.2 billion.
A new portal for suppliers is already in place, which will stop Tuskys from directly handling suppliers’ cash.
Money paid at the till will be deposited in an escrow account, from where suppliers’ dues will be sent to them and the balance left to Tuskys.
“This innovative trading platform has already been developed and 102 suppliers had already signed up for it by close of August 6, for the pilot runs. We intend to sign in 300 suppliers by the end of August, representing 90 per cent of our trade,” Mr Githua said in the letter to CAK.
The retailer has already reached a deal with some suppliers to repay the Sh2.4 billion debt in instalments over the next two years.
Currently, Mr Mugweru owns 17.5 per cent of the company through Mugweru Investments.
Credit: Source link


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New app launched to champion local independent businesses
- Credit: Archant
Independent shops in Breckland are fighting back against the national chains in an attempt to entice people back to their local high street.
More than 100 shops from the district's five market towns have joined an initiative which allows people to browse and buy online from local stores.
It is hoped ShopAppy - both an iOS and Android app and website - will encourage more people to visit their high street and realise the range of shops on offer.
Backed by Breckland Council, the project has been rolled out in Swaffham, Thetford, Dereham, Watton and Attleborough.
Keith and Sandra Sandle, who own the Swaffham board game shop Henchmans, have praised the initiative.
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Mr Sandle, who is the town's ShopAppy champion, said: 'For us it is all about a vibrant town. The more footfall the better and that is key.
'It is an online thing but the online interest delivers the footfall. It is giving us a broader range of exposure.'
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Shoppers are able to order their items and can then collect from either the shop itself or a designated collection point.
ShopAppy was launched by Jackie Mulligan in Yorkshire in 2016 and is now in 12 of the county's towns.
Dr Mulligan, who was speaking at the launch in Swaffham, said: 'We are fighting against a tide which is making people think they should shop using deliveries. Town's have started to lose their character.
'We wanted to address this and make it easier for people. The biggest impact ShopAppy has is first of all making people realise there are great shops and thriving businesses in their town.
'If everything is in one place that is the convenience everyone is looking for.'
William Nunn, Breckland Council leader, said he hoped ShopAppy could help stop the decline of the high street and make town centres the 'hub of the community'.
Kay Wells has owned the Market Cross cafe in Swaffham for 10 years.
'It is about getting people to think about supporting their local communities rather than national brands,' she said.
'We have so much in the town but people don't know it is there.'
For more information about ShopAppy and to use it visit www.shopappy.com or download the app.


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Fintech growth is unquestionable. However, long-term success requires collaboration and consolidation
‘Get big, get niche or get out.’ This old mantra for tech firms will ring very true for the fintech industry in 2018. A largely fragmented market, you could argue fintech is ripe for consolidation. While 2018 may not be a year of mass mergers and acquisitions, it will certainly be a year of increased collaboration as financial services companies and fintech businesses build closer ties. What will be key are dynamic and secure ecosystems.
In its Global Fintech Report last year, PwC highlighted some interesting findings. It revealed that 88% of financial services incumbents are increasingly concerned they are losing revenue to innovators, while 77% will increase internal efforts to innovate as a result. Around 82% expect to increase fintech partnerships in the next three to five years.
It’s not a surprising picture. It’s a standard response to disruptive technology, a sort of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ strategy. But what it does show is that there is increasing scope for volatility. As more fintech firms receive VC funding and more emerge offering nuances of existing services, will this just confuse the market? Will it make people nervous and send them scurrying back to known brands?
This potential for volatility makes ecosystems more important. A fintech firm with a secure ecosystem that embraces a variety of complementary services, is sure to hold greater sway than a start-up just offering a new take on just one service.
That’s not to say that fintech start-ups offering specialist services in 2018 will struggle. On the contrary, innovation will continue to thrive. It’s just that for start-ups to get a strong foothold in the market in the coming months they will have to consider how they fit within existing payment and financial management infrastructures. Are they open to partnerships? Can they work within existing ecosystems to offer a cohesive set of value-adding solutions?
Interestingly in Europe this year we could see a surge in fintech investment, as the European Commission is developing legislation designed to remove investment hurdles imposed by single member states. It’s part of the digital single market proposals. This means that, with new laws in place allowing fintechs to scale more easily across Europe, funding could balloon into billions of dollars – although as the EU is notoriously slow at ratifying laws, this could take a while to happen.
Nevertheless, the scene is set for substantial growth. What we don’t want, however, is wild and unfettered growth. We want innovation, of course we do, not just from new entrants but also existing fintechs and banks. But that innovation has to move the story forward and not just be a ‘me too’ challenger. At least not in isolation. That could be damaging. Innovation that works within or towards existing ecosystems will stand a stronger chance of adoption and go a long way to making this the most dynamic and fastest growing industry on the planet.


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The 'MyPhone': Age UK launch 'no frills' £55 mobile phone to make calls on the go easier for elderly just in time for Christmas
It's normally the children and teenagers asking for the latest mobile phone in their Christmas stocking.
But given the release of a new credit card-sized ‘My Phone’ aimed at the elderly, this year there will be many grandparents doing the same.
The ‘no-frills’ £55 phone, launched by Age UK in time for Christmas, has been designed to make phone calls easy for people unfamiliar with modern technology or with bad eyesight.
Scroll down for video
'No frills': The £55 mobile phone launched by Age UK is designed especially for elderly people who may find the modern technology of smartphones difficult
Rather than press numbers to make a phone call, the owner simply has to press a button featuring the names of their friends and family.
The phone can take up to eight numbers, which are chosen by the owner and programmed into the phone by the manufacturer when it is ordered.
The phones also have a button clearly labelled ‘answer’ and ‘on/off’.
Keeping up: The basic design will make it easier for elderly people to get in touch with loved ones
The basic format means that an elderly person can keep up with modern technology, without having to learn how to use a complex touchscreen smartphone.
They can contact loved ones when they are out and about, at the touch of a button and without the need to go through a phonebook.
The handset will cost users £55 alongside various 30-day rolling contracts, which start at £7.50 a month for 50 minutes’ talk time and rise to £15 a month for 500 minutes.
Alternatively customers can get the handset with a six-month bundle - 50 minutes each month - for a one-off fee of £87.50.
The phones, which come in 11 different colours, have a battery life of around five days – much longer than the average smartphone.
According to research by Age UK, seven in ten of those aged over 65 use a mobile phone. However this falls to just over half among those aged over 75.
Helena King, head of Affinity at Age UK, said it is ‘not surprising’ that some older people have limited experience of using mobile phones as most people over the age of 65 use a fixed landline as their main method of making and receiving phone calls.’
She said that the My Phone is ‘easy to use and means that people can contact their nearest and dearest at literally the touch of a button.’
The phone, which is made by a company called CyCell, is available through selected Age UK shops and can also be ordered by telephone and by post.
An Age UK spokesman said it hopes to sell 50,000 phones in the next year.
Helping hand-set: The phone can store up to eight phone numbers and has extra big buttons to help elderly people suffering with bad eyesight
VIDEO: Say HELLO to the MyPhone from Age UK...
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JD Sports Amsterdam flagship store launches
9th November 2016
Continuing our work with JD Sports, Rosie Lee have launched a further flagship store for JD Sports in Amsterdam.
Situated in the prime retail shopping street of Nieuwendijk, the 900m² store is spread over two floors and offers a unique shopping experience.
Rosie Lee created bespoke product displays for the premium store and launched the first campaign for the latest Nike Flash Pack release. A visual center piece was created in the mezzanine where an iridescent beaded plinth shimmered light on a suspended Nike shoe to bring to life the shoe’s unique waterproof technology. For launch day an experience was created on the ground floor where consumers could try on the Flash vest and have their photo taken with a camera flash. The flash made the scene come alive and users could then share their images online.


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Legendary motorcycle company Harley-Davidson has issued a recall for more than 29,000 motorcycles. The recall includes a “do not ride” notice to both owners and dealers because the defect is dangerous and could cause a motorcycle accident.
The problem is with the clutch in some 2014 touring models. A spokesperson said that the hydraulic system has the potential to lose its ability to generate sufficient life to disengage the clutch. The clutch is required to change gears on the motorcycle and a malfunction could be very dangerous if the rider is traveling at a high speed or in a heavily trafficked area.
The recall impacts bikes that were manufactured between May 3rd and October 14th of this year for both touring and custom bikes in a certain category. At the time that the recall was issued by Harley-Davidson the government was still shut down so the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration was not operating to monitor the recall. The motorcycle company says that they issued the recall in compliance with NHTSA’s standards. Proactive safety measures and recalls like this one are a good sign coming from companies and may help consumers have more confidence.
Car and motorcycle manufacturers have a responsibility to provide a reasonable safe vehicle to buyers and to warn them of any dangers that drivers and their passengers could face. When a vehicle malfunctions because of a product defect and causes an accident, the victims have a right to seek compensation from the manufacturer of the vehicle.
Source: Reuters, “Harley-Davidson recalls over 29,000 motorcylces to fix clutch issues,” Oct. 16, 2013.


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Due to the spread of coronavirus and in accordance with the health policies and recommendations issued by the Argentine national government and the City of Buenos Aires,as organizers of the event we are forced to postpone the largest international exhibition of the motorcycle industry of our country, with new date to confirm. We are aware of the importance that an event like Salón Moto has for the industry and its fanatics, but, from the Chamber of Motorcycle Manufactureres (CAFAM) and Messe Frankfurt Argentina, after evaluating all the possibilities carefully, we consider that the postponement is the most appropriate decision. The doors of the exhibition will be opened again as soon as the conditions are given.
What you should know...
When? To be confirmed.
Opening hours? Thursday from 3 to 10 pm | Friday from 2 to 10 pm |
Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 10 pm.
Where? La Rural Trade Center - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Salón Moto is an event open to the general audience. Access is subject to a fee. For children under 7 years old, submitting ID, access is free of charge.
The Organizers reserve the right of admission and permanence at the exhibition grounds.
A view of 2018 edition
In just a few minutes you can view the greatest moments of Salón Moto 2018. Experience in advance what you will enjoy in the next edition.
Participating motorcycle brands in 2018
Selected sectors in 2018
Second edition confirmed!
After the success of the 1st Salón Moto, the organizers announced the next edition on October 22-25, 2020 in La Rural Trade Center. Save the date...We await you with much more surprises and news.
Absolute record: 60,000 people visited Salón Moto
The international event had its first edition in Argentina and finished with a very successful summoning. The exhibition was the place chosen by the brands to carry out more than 50 launchings, 23 conferences and different tests in an outdoor track. Two-wheel fans are very happy.
The opening had the outstanding participation of Argentina's Minister of Transport, Bach. Guillermo Dietrich, and Argentina’s Minister of Production and Labor, Bach. Dante Sica; the president of CAFAM, Eng. Lino Stefanuto; Messe Frankfurt Argentina’s President and CEO, Fernando Gorbarán; Messe Frankfurt Argentina’s Vice-president and CFO, Nadina Sansolini, officials, CAFAM’s members, journalists and business professionals of the sector.


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The Google Pixel 8 Pro was announced last week and is now accessible through platforms like Best Buy. As we went in with many kinds of tests, durability was yet to be done. Well, JerryRigEverything set up a durability test for Google 8 Pro.
This durability test demonstrates the Pixel 8 Pro’s capacity to withstand a variety of challenges, including being bent. Although Google hasn’t always performed well in the bend test, the Pixel 8 Pro did. When he attempted to bend it, the only actual result was some creaking from an old wooden chair. That’s very impressive for Google, and thankfully, it fared far better than the iPhone 15 Pro Max did.
Why these durability tests are significant
Many people ponder the purpose of these durability tests. Since it’s quite improbable that you’ll break your phone or set it on fire, We never truly know, though, what might happen to our phones here. We might drop them next to an open flame or wind up sitting on them. It will be interesting to see how well these phones withstand the torture test.
Google has committed to updating the Pixel 8 series for the following seven years, or until 2030. It’s conceivable that many people will keep their phones for a long period. A durability test on a device that will be updated in the next 7 years is a big deal. You can view this whole process in the YouTube video. it performed very well specifically in bending test that is pretty rare for Google phone.
RS News or Research Snipers focuses on technology news with a special focus on mobile technology, tech companies, and the latest trends in the technology industry. RS news has vast experience in covering the latest stories in technology.


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OwnBackup hires Courtnee LeClaire as CMO and Alyssa Lahar as CPO
OwnBackup announced that Courtnee LeClaire has joined the company as Chief Marketing Officer, and Alyssa Lahar has joined as Chief People Officer.
“I am very excited to welcome Courtnee and Alyssa to our team,” said Sam Gutmann, CEO at OwnBackup. “Both of these roles are critical to our success as we continue to grow and work toward our mission of helping customers own their data on any SaaS platform.”
Courtnee LeClaire comes to OwnBackup with over 25 years of marketing experience for some of the world’s foremost brands, including Disney, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, Intel, and Apple. Most recently, she served as CMO for Livongo, a rapidly growing digital health company which she helped lead through a successful digital health tech IPO, followed by the largest digital health acquisition in history by Teladoc Health.
As Chief Marketing Officer, LeClaire will be leveraging her capacity for storytelling and brand building to help OwnBackup differentiate themselves in a rapidly growing SaaS industry.
Alyssa Lahar joins OwnBackup from ZoomInfo, where she spent the past three years scaling the company from 950 employees to over 3,000 and leading the organization through a successful IPO. Alyssa spent the first 19 years of her career at Dell EMC in a variety of roles within their Human Resources organization.
As OwnBackup plans to once again double the size of their team this year, Lahar will be focused on the development and advancement of our Human Resources strategy which will include efforts to attract, retain, and develop the industry’s best talent.


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Uber Undercuts Ex-CEO, Other Early Investors In Power PlayUber is curbing the power of former CEO Travis Kalanick and taking on Japan's SoftBank Group as a major new investor as the ride-hailing service tries to recover from internal strife and a myriad of legal headaches.
Uber, Lyft Drivers Racking Up San Francisco Traffic ViolationsTwo thirds of all the tickets handed out for traffic violations in San Francisco between April and June were given to Uber or Lyft drivers.
New Uber CEO Apologizes To London Users For Company's MistakesThe new CEO of Uber offered contrition for past mistakes on Monday, just days after London’s transport authority said it would scrap the company’s operating license.
Uber Losing Its License To Operate In LondonUber’s license to operate in London won’t be renewed because its practices endanger public safety and security, regulators said.
Driver Jailed For Stealing $25K In Food Deliveries, Rides On UberEATSA 25-year-old former Uber contractor has been sentenced for using the ride-hailing service’s internal system to issue more than $25,000 in free rides and food deliveries for himself, his friends and family.
Feds Launch Investigation Of Uber's Alleged Tracking Of Lyft DriversThe Justice Department in Manhattan is investigating whether Uber illegally used software to track drivers for Lyft, its main ride-hailing competitor, to gain an advantage in attracting and recruiting drivers.
House Passes Bill To Speed Deployment Of Self-Driving Cars
Former Expedia CEO Officially Takes Helm Of UberNew Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will begin work with an employee meeting Wednesday morning at the company's San Francisco headquarters.
Uber's Pick For New CEO Brings Skills, ExperienceFor a surprise choice, Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi appears to check the boxes needed to tackle the massive job of leading Uber.
AP Sources: Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi To Lead UberExpedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has been named Uber's top executive, taking the difficult job of mending the dysfunctional ride-hailing giant and turning it from money-losing behemoth to a profitable company.
Uber Reportedly Putting Oakland Building Up For SaleAfter much fanfare over a plan to take over the old Sears building in uptown Oakland, Uber is now reportedly looking to sell the building.
GE's Immelt Among Finalists To Lead Uber, AP Sources SayFormer General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt is among the finalists being considered to run ride-hailing company Uber, two people briefed on the search said Monday.


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Through a comprehensive holiday marketing campaign, Mindgruve drives record sales at Sunfood.com
SAN DIEGO,CA – January 29, 2010 – Over the 2009 holiday season, San Diego-based digital media agency, Mindgruve, helped release new products, launch social media efforts, and unleash email and internet marketing campaigns that resulted in record sales for client, Sunfood.com.
Starting in early November, Mindgruve helped introduce a series of new products and sales, all supported by email and paid search efforts, that engaged and activated Sunfood’s community. “The results were better than we could have expected. Our community responded to everything we were doing,” stated Brian Bowers, Sunfood’s Director of Product Development. He continued, “by providing organic and recycled material clothing, gift cards and unique holiday gift packages, customers saw the opportunity to promote and share their raw lifestyle with pride.”
As Sunfood’s product offering grew, so did their marketing efforts. Targeted and timely emails were sent to promote deals that ranged from store-wide sales to special discounts on new products. Additionally, the Sunfood.com homepage was regularly updated with banner ads highlighting unique and new offerings. Finally, Sunfood launched a social media effort through Facebook and Twitter, to help guide gift purchases and share specials with their audience.
“We knew the Sunfood audience was hungry for more – more information, more products, more interaction – so when we provided it through our efforts this holiday season, the results were obvious. Sales for November and December jumped 32% from last year, with an over 50% surge between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We also saw a 55% increase in site visits and a 22% increase in page views,” explained Chad Robley, President of Mindgruve.
Sunfood continues to see these numbers rise as they add more exclusive products, such as Maqui Berry Powder, and interact with the Sunfood community through social media channels.
Sunfood is the world’s leading provider of high-quality superfoods, including sustainable, organic and raw products. Distributing over 700 different products, their website has become the nucleus of the growing superfood global community. Sunfood also provides staff experts, educational materials and various other tools used for integrating the health benefits of superfoods into their patrons lifestyles. www.Sunfood.com


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It's Microsoft versus Google again, and a big-time backer for J.C. Penney.
The Dow Industrials rose 24 points yesterday, the Nasdaq gained 20, and the S&P 500 added 6 points – its fifth straight advance.
A federal judge has ruled that Microsoft (MSFT) owes less than half of the royalty payments sought by a unit of Google (GOOG) in a closely watched patent trial. Motorola Mobility had been seeking more than $4 billion a year in payments; the judge awarded it $1.8 billion.
Billionaire investor George Soros has given a big vote of confidence to struggling retailer J.C. Penney (JCP): He's acquired a nearly 8 percent stake – more than 17 million Penney shares. Soros describes it as a passive stake, meaning he's not seeking to buy the company.
Tax-free internet shopping is in jeopardy after the Senate last night passed a procedural measure that is likely to lead to state taxes being placed on all online purchases. EBay (EBAY) has been lobbying against the bill, while Amazon (AMZN), Wal-Mart (WMT) and Best Buy (BBY) have backed it.
Meanwhile, Amazon.com says its quarterly net fell 37 percent from a year ago as it continues to spend heavily on new warehouses and digital content. But sales jumped by 22 percent.
Starbucks's (SBUX) coffee is hot; its stock today, not so much. Profit rose a better-than-expected 26 percent but its forecast for the current quarter was disappointing.
The airline reservation firm Expedia (EXPE) reported a big loss, due to one-time items. But the stock is set to take off on strong revenue growth. Bookings for hotel rooms surged.
Shares of H&R Block (HRB) are set to tumble after the company said it processed few tax returns than expected. Rival Intuit (INTU), maker of Turbo Tax, slid 11 percent yesterday after issuing a similar warning.
And Yahoo (YHOO) Chairman Fred Amoroso is stepping down and will not seek re-election to the company's board. He's the eighth director to leave Yahoo's board in the past 15 months.
–Produced by Drew Trachtenberg
16 Big Bubbles That Are Getting Ready To Burst
Market Minute: Judge Rules on Closely-Watched Microsoft-Google Patent Trial
What the experts say: "The cost of college textbooks has been rising at almost twice the rate of general CPI inflation for at least the last 30 years," according to Mark J. Perry, American Enterprise Institute. "As Glenn Reynolds reminds us, 'a process that cannot go on forever, won't,' and the college textbook bubble is certainly one of those processes."
Warning stat: First tier cities Beijing and Guangzhou saw home prices rise 3.1 percent in February, the biggest jumps in the country. Meanwhile, entire towns will go up in China with no inhabitants. These are China's notorious "ghost cities."
Warning stat: The "crypto currency" now trades at $63 -- double what it was at the beginning of March.
What the experts say: "In hindsight, the people who bid the price of Bitcoins up to $30 in 2011 may not have been so crazy after all. It just took the broader market, including me, a couple of years to catch up with them," according to Ars Technica's Timothy B. Lee.
Warning stat: Investors recently bid a record $3.16 for each dollar of the $2.011 trillion in bonds the U.S. government auctioned in 2012, Bloomberg says.
What the experts say: "Long-term interest rates are now unsustainably low, implying bubbles in the prices of bonds and other securities," warns economist Martin Feldstein. "When interest rates rise, as they surely will, the bubbles will burst, the prices of those securities will fall, and anyone holding them will be hurt."
Warning stat: American farmland prices continue to grow at a blazing hot double-digit rate. An industry group recently forecast that values could surge 15 percent to 20 percent in 2013.
What the experts say: "It doesn't have all the hallmarks of a bubble," according to Robert Shiller. "One of them is most people have never heard of it. In my view of a bubble, it's something that gets people excited. Well, some people are excited, but most people don't even know about it."
What the experts say: "The real question in my mind is, 'Are we possibly off to the races again?'" asked economist Robert Shiller. "I think in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, we might be seeing something pretty big developing. People there are very speculative-minded."
Warning stat: Health care spending has grown 2.5 times faster than incomes over the past 30 years.
What the experts say: "The health care system in the U.S. reminds us somewhat ominously of the bubble in housing finance, a 'public/private partnership,'" says Citi's Steve Wieting. "Housing consumption still receives strong tax preferences, as does health insurance (reflecting underlying health care consumption). Most aptly, prior to quasi-nationalization, housing GSEs earned private profits from public subsidies for housing, as do U.S. health care providers."
Warning stat: Europe stabilized after ECB president Mario Draghi said, "Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. And believe me, it will be enough."
What the experts say: "To us the key word about the post summer 2012 Euro Area asset boom is that most of it is a bubble, and one which will burst at a time of its own choosing, even though we concede that ample liquidity can often keep bubbles afloat for a long time," warns Citi Chief Economist Willem Buiter.
Warning stat: Prices are up 47 percent year-over-year, and are sitting at an 8.5 year high of $432 per 1,000 board fee.
What the experts say: "Signs of a housing bubble in the world's most populous nation may force the Chinese government to take measures to 'draw air' out of the rising housing market and to clamp down on construction lending, which would likely put a significant dent in the demand for building materials such as Lumber and Copper," according to Mike Zarembski, OptionsXpress.
What the experts say: Jeff Gundlach notes that not only have wages not increased commensurate with tuition inflation, wages have actually been falling. "What have all these soaring tuition costs got you?" asked Gundlach rhetorically.
Warning stat: Craft beer production surged 15 percent year-over-year in 2012.
What the experts say: Boston Beer Co. founder Jim Koch says most stores have reached their limit for carrying new breweries, and that too many breweries are making similar beers without adding anything to the market.
Warning stat: Canadian home prices mirrored the U.S. housing rally. However, Canadian prices never fell. A recent Canadian Housing Affordability study says the country's home market is 10 percent overvalued.
What the experts say: "I worry that what is happening in Canada is kind of a slow-motion version of what happened in the U.S," said Robert Shiller.
What the experts say: "What we find is that Bernanke does not have nearly as great a track record on inflation as he thinks he has. Greenspan could not see that the housing market was an inflated bubble. Evidently Bernanke cannot see that the stock market is an inflated bubble."


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Apple, in its typical cryptic way, announced Wednesday that it was holding a press event next week on "education." It's anyone's guess what Apple will be announcing at the event scheduled for Jan. 19 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. But if a recent report is accurate, Apple will be pulling the wraps off a new initiative into digital textbooks. If that's the case, Apple's choosing a good time to focus on that market, according to Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst with the Enderle Group.
I love my iPad, IMHO, ebooks are not that great for school, I prefer a physical book... renting textbooks saves money on my textbooks every semester.


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The Week in Cleantech: Sept. 23 – 29
The cleantech space produced several new financing rounds, partnerships, and acquisitions last week. Here’s a recap of some of the top deals:
Khosla Ventures announced that it would invest a further $50 million privately into publicly-traded biofuel maker KiOR. The company has missed production targets in the past but the investment is intended to help the company double capacity. KiOR’s stock price jumped 50 percent on the news.
Local foods start-up Good Eggs raised $8.5 million in a Series A round led by Sequoia Capital and joined by Baseline Ventures and others. The round will fuel expansion beyond the company’s current coverage areas of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and New Orleans.
Synthetic biology-to-chemicals start-up Synthace raised £1.3 million in seed money from Soffinova Partners‘ Green Seed Fund and angel investors. The company indicated that the funding would help it demonstrate production of chemical products prior to approaching the chemical industry to form partnerships.