text:
Chipotle (CMG) on Tuesday posted a second-quarter earnings report that smashed Wall Street expectations, thanks to the mass return of customers after COVID-19 restrictions, and ongoing strength in digital sales.
Here’s what the California-based company reported, compared to Wall Street’s expectations, according to a Bloomberg consensus estimate:
Revenue: $1.9B vs. $1.88 billion expected
Adj. earnings per share (EPS): $7.46 vs. $6.54 per share expected
Same-store sales: 31.2% vs. 29.8% expected
The restaurant chain outperformed on all measures, even as it faces some scrutiny for raising prices to offset the impact of the labor shortage. Shares of Chipotle rose 1.5% in after-hours trading following the report, and up 14 percent year to date.
“We remain confident in our key growth strategies and believe they will help us achieve our next goal of $3 million average unit volumes with industry leading returns on invested capital that improve as we continue to add ‘Chipotlanes’,” Brian Niccol, Chipotle Chairman and CEO said in the release.
“Strong restaurant level economics combined with significant restaurant growth should allow us to optimize earnings power for many years to come,” Niccol added.
Dine-in customers returned strong, reflected in comparable restaurant sales that skyrocketed by 31.2%; however, digital sales did not take a hit from that rebound. The increasingly important segment accounted for 48.5% of sales, growing 10.5% from a year ago.
This year, the company plans to open approximately 200 restaurants, making significant progress this quarter with 56 new restaurants including one relocation; 45 of those locations included a drive-thru “Chipotlane.”
This comes as Wall Street is keeping a close eye on pent-up demand among Chipotle eaters this quarter, and the company’s efforts to innovate digitally.
Nicole Miller Regan of Piper Sandler & Co. reiterated shares of Chipotle as “overweight” with a price target of $2,100 in a note last month, amid optimism about Chipotle’s development pipeline with 200 new locations planned for fiscal year 2021.
“Although not specifically modeled, we are very encouraged by the ongoing supplementation of core new unit development with the build-out of next generation store/sales channels,” Regan said in a note last month.
Financial impact of $15 hourly wage
Labor availability and steeper menu prices are ongoing concerns for both Main Street and Wall Street alike. At the end of June, the company raised wages to $15 per an hour, which then was quickly followed by a 4 percent hike in menu prices. The move comes amid a broad labor crunch that’s driving up costs nationwide.
In the company’s forward-looking statements, Chipotle says it plans to keep an eye on “the impact of competition, including from sources outside the restaurant industry” — including “the increasingly competitive labor market and our ability to attract and retain qualified employees,” and the impact of its recent increase in hourly wage.
“We believe limited pricing in the last two years, rising wages, and generally rising consumer inflation expectations offer air cover, but Chipotle fairly directly tied additional price in the fall to resistance to the most recent round,” Jon Tower of Wells Fargo wrote in a recent note to clients. He remains “Overweight” on Chipotle with a price target change of $1,780 from $1,720.
BTIG Managing Director Peter Saleh told Yahoo Finance Live this week that while Chipotle may be the first to raise menu prices, it will not be the last.
“While they’re the ones who have actually announced it, the rest of the industry is moving in the same direction we believe as well,” Saleh said. “You’re going to just see more and more price increases to offset this [raising wages]. There is a pretty severe labor shortage.”
In general, Saleh says the average menu price increase per a year is “somewhere around” 2 percent every year, but expects “this year will be outsized” with the potential to be 3 percent or more at most fast food chains.
However, the analyst remains bullish on the stock, reiterating it as a “Buy” last month with a price target of $1,725.
In the second quarter, Chipotle noted food, beverage and packaging costs accounted for 30.4 percent of its revenue — a decrease of nearly 300 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2020, but was offset by the “benefit of menu price increases, as well as lower beef prices, partially offset by higher costs associated with new menu items, like quesadillas, and, to a lesser extent, avocado costs.”
Brooke DiPalma is a producer and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at email@example.com. Check out her latest:


text:
NEW DELHI (Commoditiescontrol) – The prices of sugar ended a tad up the in spot markets of Brazil, the world’s largest sugar grower and exporter, in the last session.
On Monday, crystal sugar at Sao Paulo market closed at BRL 89.26 (US$27.94)/ bag of 50 Kg, marginally up by 0.08 percent, against BRL 89.19 (US$27.68)/ bag of 50 Kg in the last trading session on Friday.
Prices fell by 0.71 percent compared to the previous Monday, on January 02, when crystal sugar settled at BRL 89.90 (US$27.37)/ bag of 50 kg.
In other Brazilian North-Northeast spot market crystal sugar closed flat at BRL 94.44/ bag 50 Kg.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015533)

domain: news


text:
The Best Last-Mile Warehouses Are Off The Market, But Grocers Are Still Hungry For The Leftovers
Consumers want alternatives to traditional in-store grocery shopping, like delivery and in-store pickup. Those new options require grocers not only to expand their existing supply chains, but also to build new distribution and fulfillment centers. Grocers are scrambling for industrial space, and with the majority of Class-A cold chain warehouses occupied, they are forced to build new spaces or find themselves scrounging for leftovers.
“In urban areas with dense populations, many companies are just taking what they can get for real estate,” Ware Malcomb principal Cameron Trefry said. “Most of the large, purpose-built cold storage warehouses are already taken, but these grocers still need more space. We’re seeing buildings that have never held food before being bought up, retrofitted and occupied at an astounding rate.”
Demand for industrial space has outpaced new construction for nearly a decade. That imbalance has only gotten stronger thanks to the growth of e-commerce. Grocers are feeling the crunch for warehouse space acutely — online grocery purchases are predicted to quadruple within the next five years.
Trefry said grocers are not pivoting away from storefronts toward a fully online strategy. Instead, consumers expect grocers to offer them a wide array of purchasing options, including home delivery and in-store pickup.
To serve customers on all fronts, Trefry said, grocers need to expand their existing supply-chain warehouses, find new fulfillment and distribution centers to organize delivery, and grow their storefronts to make room for in-store pickup. And because of the perishability of the goods they transport, grocers need to be conscious of the cold chain and, above all, close to their consumers.
“Everything is being driven by location,” Trefry said. “Every space along current trucking routes is being looked at as a possible logistics space for grocers, even old masonry buildings from the 1950s or disused gas station service centers if the location is right.”
These spaces often have footprints of only a few thousand feet, with clear heights of sometimes only 16 feet. This small format would be unthinkable for many of the purpose-built grocery warehouses of today. But it works fine for a high flow-through warehouse with little or no racking that will be serviced by a fleet of box trucks or vans rather than tractor-trailers, Trefry said.
Even if a grocery finds an appropriately sized space, it still has to work to make it suitable for storing food. These spaces may need to conform to U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration regulations, Trefry said, and retrofitting them for grocery use is no easy task.
Industrial space — and purpose-built cold-storage space — is coming to the market, as are new innovations for logistics. Trefry said that multistory warehouses could bring a novel solution to the crunch for grocery space, especially within the urban core, but cautioned that these spaces will be in extremely high demand.
“We have developed a multistory warehouse prototype for e-commerce distribution, and grocery could certainly fit into it,” Trefry said. “But the owners and developers of these multistory warehouses are going to expect large returns for expensive investments in land. Grocers are already moving to these smaller-format industrial locations, so multistory warehouses may not be where the industry is heading.”
Trefry will be speaking on a panel on grocery’s last mile, the evolution of consumer habits and innovations in industrial design at NAIOP’s I.CON West 2019, June 5-7 in Long Beach, California.
This feature was produced by Bisnow Branded Content in collaboration with NAIOP. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.


text:
Article by The Economist
IN THE 1990s Snoop Dogg, a rapper, called cannabis “chronic”. The drug was illicit and cool. In 2016 Mr Dogg is a cannabis investor, and the drug is poised to earn another title: consumer staple. On November 8th four states, including California, voted to approve recreational cannabis use. Four other states eased rules for medical marijuana. About three-fifths of America’s population lives in states that now allow cannabis use in some form.
So pot entrepreneurs face the thrilling prospect of normality. This week industry leaders were meeting in Las Vegas to discuss how the sector might expand. They have in prospect a vast, partially established market. More than 32m Americans already use cannabis. As the business becomes more normalised, it is sure to attract new customers. “It’s not often that you see an industry and you know the inevitability of it,” says Brendan Kennedy of Privateer Holdings, a private-equity firm that specialises in cannabis. Last year legal sales reached $6bn, according to the Arcview Group, an investment and market-research firm. By 2020 Arcview expects legal sales to be more than three times higher.
There remains the dispiriting fact that, on a national level, marijuana is still illegal. Federal agencies have generally respected states’ cannabis rules, but Donald Trump’s enforcers may be more aggressive. Even if they demur, the federal ban makes business difficult. Few banks are willing to lend to cannabis companies that handle the plant directly. Firms cannot operate across state lines, nor may they deduct common expenses from tax filings, which squeezes their profits.
Nevertheless, startups are spreading like weeds. Many of them serve the cannabis industry without touching the plant itself—these firms benefit from the sector’s growth while avoiding its strictest rules. For example Kush Bottles, based in California, sells product packaging that complies with idiosyncratic state requirements. Older firms are eyeing the industry as well. Scotts Miracle-Gro, a publicly traded gardening company, reckons it can serve not just ageing green thumbs but young cannabis growers, too.
Other companies deal with the plant directly, whether growing, processing or distributing it. Many early entrepreneurs have exited, unable to survive tight rules and falling cannabis prices brought about by legalisation. Bigger firms with strong management have, unsurprisingly, fared better. A company called LivWell now has 14 dispensaries across Colorado, which legalised recreational cannabis use in 2014. Its founder used to lead a firm that sold baby products to Walmart.


text:
U.S. Sugar is moving forward with plans to fully integrate its business with Imperial Sugar after a federal court in Delaware denied the Justice Department’s challenge to the acquisition.
“The people of U.S. Sugar are pleased that the court’s favorable ruling will allow our acquisition of Imperial Sugar, including the Savannah Refinery,” said U.S. Sugar President and CEO Robert H. Buker, Jr. “As an employee and charity-owned company, this acquisition will be good for our current and future employees. We look forward to proceeding as planned with this acquisition, which will enable us to increase our sugar production, enhance the local Georgia economy and benefit our employees and customers across the country.”
The closing on the acquisition comes as good news to Savannah area business leaders.
“The Savannah Refinery and our City have long been intertwined and we look forward to U.S. Sugar officially becoming a part of our community,” said Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Hubbard. “We know that U.S. Sugar has a reputation for being a good corporate citizen, treating its employees well, and giving back to the communities it serves.”
Imperial Sugar, previously Savannah Sugar, is, like U.S. Sugar, a family-owned American company.
“By combining our collective strengths, talents and locations — we now become a truly great American sugar company that will better serve all our people, our communities, and our customers,” Buker said.
Buker added that U.S. Sugar intends to invest in upgrading Imperial’s Savannah Refinery and operations to reflect the technology and efficiency deployed at its Clewiston, Florida Refinery. The company plans to retain current employees at Imperial Sugar.
“We are excited about the opportunity to re-establish strong ties with both the people of Imperial and the community of Savannah,” Buker added. “For decades, there was a Clewiston to Savannah business connection and now both companies will be part of the same U.S. Sugar family.”
Prior to building its Clewiston refinery in 1998, U.S. Sugar for decades sold and shipped its raw cane sugar to the Savannah refinery it is now acquiring.
U.S. Sugar sustainably farms more than 230,000 acres of sugarcane in South Florida and owns and operates a short-line railroad, the South Central Florida Express, that facilitates sugar cargo shipping.
The presiding federal court in Delaware ruled against the Department of Justice in its challenge to U.S. Sugar’s planned acquisition of Imperial Sugar. U.S. Sugar attorneys successfully defended claims that the purchase would not hamper competition nor raise prices for customers.
U.S. Sugar is a recognized leader in farming and food production, owned primarily by its employees and charities set up by founder Charles Stewart Mott. The company farms more than 240,000 acres of the most productive farmland in the United States. Its consolidated, automated milling and refining facility in Clewiston is the world’s largest vertically integrated sugar cane milling and refining operation. It is capable of processing 42,000 tons of sugarcane per day and producing approximately 850,000 tons of refined sugar per year.
The company also grows citrus, sweet corn, green beans and other fresh produce.
Imperial Sugar is one of the oldest refined sugar processors and marketers in the United States to food manufacturers, retail grocers and foodservice distributors.
The cane sugar used in Imperial’s product is 100% natural, non-GMO, OU Kosher certified and gluten-free.


text:
China News Service, June 22, according to the China-Greek Times, "The Best Destination in Europe" is a tourism website created to promote the development of European culture and tourism. Not long ago, the site selected two tourist destinations in Greece, Corfu and Previsa, as one of the safest tourist destinations this summer.
On May 18th, local time, Athens, Greece, the Acropolis was opened to the public to attract tourists to visit. On that day, Greek open-air archaeological sites and various theme parks resumed opening from that day.
The tourism website claims that Greece is one of the European countries least affected by the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, with a high tourism safety factor.
The famous "Lonely Planet" travel website also reprinted related articles, adding that "Greece's medical system has never been overloaded during the epidemic, and Greece has more beds per capita than many European countries."
The selected Corfu Island has been repeatedly selected as the best tourist destination by major travel magazines and websites. The "Best Destination in Europe" website praised: "If you want to have a holiday that combines relaxation, sunshine and nature, Corfu is the place to go."
If it is a family trip, Previsa is a good choice. The travel website stated that Previsa “has all the elements of a safe destination” and that the area “has 3 hospitals (including a university hospital) in the surrounding area and is only a 10-minute drive from Aktin Airport”.
On June 13, local time, Greek Prime Minister Mizotakis announced during his visit to Santorini that in the summer of 2020, Greece will give priority to health and safety and sincerely invite tourists from all over the world.
Mizotakis said that Greece is ready to greet tourists, measures to ensure that tourists maintain proper social distances are in place, and the safety and health of tourists "is our top priority." (Zhang Wei)


text:
Yes, you read that right – condoms for under 1p each.
Budget store Wilko is selling packs of ultra thin, extra safe and flavoured versions for 10p.
You get 12 in a packet so it’s a pretty great deal.
Of course, you can pick up condoms for free from a sexual health clinic but if you prefer a particular type or just want to buy them in store, Wilko has your back.
The condoms are only available in store, so don’t try stocking up online.
The deal was spotted and posted on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains Facebook page.
She posted a picture of the 12 packs, alongside three packs, which are are also 10p.
She added the caption: ‘Safety on a budget.’
The store confirmed that you can pick the condoms up nationwide, so find your local store on their website.
The price is only while stocks last so get in quick.
Poundland stock 12 packs of condoms for £1 but this is much cheaper.
The budget pound store does offer cut-price sex toys too though, so you can stock up on other things for the bedroom while you are there.
We reviewed the Poundland rabbit vibrator earlier this year and it was deemed to be a pretty good bargain for the £5 price tag.
It was rated three out of five.
They also sell a £1 bullet vibrator and a cock ring.
We all for making safe and enjoyable sex a little cheaper.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
Excel makes the top three in BSRIA Report
Excel Networking Solutions has risen to third place in the UK copper structured cabling market, as reported in the BSRIA 2011 UK Market Report.According to BSRIAs annual independent structured cabling report Excel’s market share for copper cabling systems increased from 8.6 per cent in 2009 to 11.2 per cent in 2010, placing it third in the overall market, with a revenue growth in the 12 month period in excess of 35 per cent. In addition, in the statistics shown for cable sales, Excel recorded first place with 17.90 per cent of the market, up from 14.10 per cent the previous year.
Mark Simmons, sales director, said, ‘We are delighted with the results. The BSRIA report provides us with a good measure of the size of the market and where Excel fits within it, so it’s very positive news.’
Excel has seen a very positive year all round, having introduced many new products and having launched an all-encompassing Encyclopaedia, which has become a strong reference tool for Excel customers.


text: Key takeaways for Q3 Criteo’s analysis of shopping data from Q3 2015 demonstrates that smartphones are increasingly becoming the purchase device of choice in a multi-device world: Mobile is becoming the preferred purchase device for cross device shoppers: 4 in 10 transactions now involve multiple devices. Cross-device purchasers are 20% more likely to complete the transaction on their mobile device than the average user. Apps can be your highest performing channel: Retailers focusing on app are finding gold. Conversion rates on app heavily out-perform even the desktop. Smartphones are the key for top quartile retailers: Top quartile is now generating almost 50% of sales from mobile, mainly due to much better optimization of smartphone conversion rates.


text:
There’s a new Fortnite update that’s gone live today, 3.48. Here’s what you need to know about the patch.
We’re less than three weeks away from Fortnite chapter 3 season 2. Overall, it appears as though most of the player base are happy with the season as a whole, especially with the new map and the sliding mechanic.
The lack of content in last two major Fortnite updates of the season hasn’t changed anyone’s opinion on the season, but hopefully we can see more map changes and new weapons being added to the game next season.
The final set of weekly challenges will release next week followed by the wild week challenges that’ll help players hit their level goals before the new season. There’s also been a couple of maintenance updates to address crashing and stability issues.
Xbox players have had issues with freezing at the loading screen and crashing when starting up a match, but these have finally been addressed in the maintenance patch that was released yesterday. We now have a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 update today (March 4th, 2022), v3.48.
What’s New in 3.48 Fortnite Update March 4th, 2022
Unfortunately, there’s nothing new that’s been added in the 3.48 Fortnite update. The Fortnite Status Twitter account states that the March 4, 2022 patch update addresses stability issues on PlayStation consoles and Android devices.
You can download the update before launching your game. We’ll update this to add the download size for PS4, PS5, and Android devices.


text:
Retailers up efforts to prevent fraudulent transactions, Adyen
60% of retailers in Europe saw an increase in fraud during the past year, according to a new report from Adyen.
The PayTech surveyed 5,000 shoppers and 500 retailers in the UK, Spain, France, Germany and the Nordics. More than 75% of retailers claimed they were prepared for fraud or had active prevention systems in place. The study also found that 55% of consumers would pay with cards more frequently if it helped to reduce the risk of fraud, while more than two in five would pay through an app if it did the same.
57% of retailers, meanwhile, are looking to implement fingerprint biometrics, and 56% are circling voice authentication. In addition, 31% are interested in the role that machine learning can play.
They also need to be aware of the legislative requirements to keep their customers safe and authenticate transactions. The EU’s Payment Service Directive 2 (PSD2) stipulates that transactions need to pass new stricter authentication standards, and implement 3D Secure 2.0 by 2019. More than 20% of retailers already comply with this standard, 27% are planning to adopt technology to comply in the next 12 months. 24% don’t have plans to adopt.
“As technology makes the shopping experience more engaging and convenient, it also powers the sophisticated fraudsters. Retailers need to walk a very fine line of doing everything in their power to help prevent fraudulent transactions and protect their customers, but they also don’t want to be overly cautious and decline legitimate transactions,” says Myles Dawson, UK Managing Director of Adyen.
“Payments technology is key in this regard. Machine learning and advanced data analysis plays a vital role in accurately identifying the shopper behind each transaction to reduce chargebacks and false positives.”


text:
KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday said that it has approved the listing of Super Basmati Paddy Rice futures contracts on the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX).
The step has been taken to promote electronic trading of agricultural commodities through the platform of PMEX and to protect the interests of participants in the agriculture value chain (farmers in particular), according to a press release.
In August 2015, the SECP had approved red chilli futures contract, which after a successful pilot, was subsequently rolled out on full scale. In the current season, over 1,000 tons of red chilli has been traded through the electronic platform of PMEX.
Benefits of using PMEX platform include quality-tested product, swift payment within 24-48 hours, price transparency and guaranteed delivery and settlement through the exchange’s mechanism.
The SECP is fully geared towards bringing about reforms in agricultural commodity trading by encouraging traders to make use of PMEX platform as a modernised route for buying and selling agricultural commodities in Pakistan, it added.
For this purpose, the SECP has incorporated the concept of agriculture promotion companies in the Draft Companies Bill, 2016, which includes producer and collateral management companies and formulated draft collateral management and warehousing framework to facilitate formation of collateral management company and registration of accredited warehouses. The said framework shall be put forth for public consultation next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2016.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ


text:
Apple’s DRM-free music catalog is composed mostly of EMI artists, as a result of the agreement signed between both companies to offer high-quality songs without DRM, albeit at a premium.
Tom Neumayr, a spokesman for Apple, said that “iTunes Plus has been really popular with our users, and now we are making it available at an even more attractive price.”
Although Apple is offering DRM-free music from the EMI catalog, it has also indicated that it will add more music in the future. “We are adding around two million songs from independent labels in addition to EMI’s digital catalog, and we are in talks to make it possible to include more labels and artists under iTunes Plus,” according to Neumayr.
Not only have DRM-free songs been reduced in price, but they also maintain their higher quality AAC encoding at a transfer rate of 256 kbps, over 128 kbps for DRM-enabled AAC songs.
Amazon MP3 recently opened its DRM-free music store. Amazon sells its music for prices that range between 89 and 99 cents, although analysts say they don’t think it will challenge Apple in the long term.


text:
Apple grower morale in the Tasman and Nelson regions of the South Island is at its lowest in years, with the prospect of another year of low returns.
The of Pipfruit New Zealand chair Ian Palmer, who is also an Upper Moutere orchardist in Tasman, says returns for some growers are likely to be below the cost of production, for the third time in the past five years.
He says the Tasman and Nelson regions produce most of the traditional varieties for the European market, like Braeburn and Jazz.
He says growers are trying to hang in there, but it's more challenging this year.
Mr Palmer says the Tasman and Nelson regions need to look at adding another apple variety to what is currently grown there to improve the situation.


text:
Netflix is a company that began to work as a DVD rental company delivering materials by mail in 1997, and today it is a global Internet entertainment service with more than 110 million users in 190 countries. It encompassess more than 140 million hours of telecasts and films, including original series, documentary and feature films.
Netflix had started broadcasting since 2007 in the USA, at the international level - since 2010. The first original series debuted in 2013, and it became the global company in 2016, almost 20 years after the launch of Netflix.
Over the next decades, Internet entertainment can completely replace TV, the company does everything possible to maintain leadership in this industry, offering the widest range of entertainment and impressions.
The last year was one of the most successful in the history of the company. Due to large investments in the expansion of the audience in 2016, the fruits of this work have pleased not only investors but also the users as well. Their service is adaptive to the interests of each unique user.
This year the company plans to spend $ 8 billion on content development, namely about 700 original series and films. Also, $ 2 billion will be spent on marketing, which is 50% more than last year.
Netflix began to show steady growth from the beginning of last year, exceeding revenue forecasts from the end of 2016. Also it is worth to note the growth of dividend payments to investors, which obviously pleases the investor himself.
Preliminary, we can expect the continuation of a positive trend in the company's revenues, so Netflix will not only update a maximum of 333.65, but will continue the general bullish trend.
Last week ended with consolidation within the limits of 1,234-1,232. The price has not been able to determine the direction; geopolitical moods and dubious data of macrostatistics do not allow the USD to strengthen, the same can be said about the Euro.
The week is preparing a lot of volatile news and literally marathon performances by FRS members throughout the business week. On Monday, the US will start the retail sales index for March, there will be also the NY Empire State manufacturing activity index for April, the retail sales volume for March, and the inventory volume for February. Also today the most volatile will be the speech of the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - Rafael Bostic.
On Tuesday, we will find out the inflation indicators in Italy, the economic sentiment of ZEW and the index of the current economic conditions of ZEW in Germany and the EU as a whole for April. The USA will also publish the number of building permits issued in March and the volume of construction of new homes for March. The volume of industrial production for March will be published as well. Then there will be the marathon of the FRS’s speeches: the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, John Williams, Federal Reserve Chairman for Supervision Randal Quarles, and the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Charles Chalas Evans will have a speech.
On Wednesday, attention will be paid to inflation in the euro area and the meeting of the Eurogroup. It is also a very important day for the ECB, which will show the rights of Mario Draghi with his optimistic forecast. The United States will publish a "beige book" of the FRS, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, William Dudley and Randal Quarles of the FRS will address. We also will find out the weekly changes in crude oil reserves in the United States.
Thursday will be pleased with the meeting of EU finance ministers, where they promulgate further plans based on inflation data. The Philadelphia FRS will publish an index of manufacturing activity and an employment index for April.
On Friday there will be a meeting of finance ministers; and the Central Bank of the G-20 (G-20) in Washington will take place as well. The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Charles Evans will discuss monetary policy at a conference in Chicago. The speech of member of the FRS John Williams will finish the trading week. Traditionally in the evening Baker Hughes unveils a change in the number of drilling rigs in the States.
The Canadian USD also deserves attention this week. The volume of foreign investment in Canadian securities in February and sales in the manufacturing sector in February could help the Canadian dollar to strengthen on Tuesday. But the most volatile will be Wednesday - the publication of the Bank of Canada's monetary policy report, which will be accompanied by a statement of the Bank of Canada, during which we will find out the decision on the interest rate (which in turn should remain unchanged). On Thursday, Canada announces its NFP (a change in the number of non-agricultural workers from ADP). And on Friday inflation for March (month / month and year / year), retail sales index (which directly affects GDP) and volumes of them will become known. The reporting is described in detail in the EUR / USD pair.
It is a powerful week for the Canadian dollar, the opportunities to continue strengthening are more than enough!
In the coming week, news, events and reports that traders often use to analyze the market and trade fall into the background, because
the period of quarterly reports of the world's giants has come.
It is difficult to overestimate the influence and interest that these companies represent in the modern world - it is very difficult. They develop very quickly, with each passing year making giant leaps forward.
And this factor, of course, affects the profits of these companies.
International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) for the first quarter of 2018 is expected on Tuesday. The new Chinese tariffs may affect the company's profit and further development potential, but experts expect that the profit in this quarter will be higher than all forecasts and they predict an increase in the share price to 170.00.


text:
You know how painful it is to make a huge payment that seems to empty your pockets and your bank balance? Perhaps that’s how the folks at Alibaba, China’s biggest e-commerce company, feel today having just paid Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) “approximately US$7.6 billion” to buy back half of Yahoo’s formerly 40 percent stake in the firm. It’s been in the works since May of this year, and today it’s finally all wrapped up.
The announcement explains:
The initial repurchase of shares, which represented one-half of Yahoo’s 40 percent stake in Alibaba Group on a fully diluted basis, was valued at approximately US$7.1 billion. Of this, Yahoo received approximately US$6.3 billion in cash and US$800 million in preference shares in Alibaba Group. Concurrent with the initial repurchase, Alibaba Group paid Yahoo a one-time cash payment of US$550 million in connection with the amendment of their existing technology and intellectual property license agreement. Under the terms of the agreement with Yahoo, Alibaba Group has the right to repurchase one-half of Yahoo’s remaining stake upon a qualifying initial public offering in the future.
So there’s an incentive in there to go for a major Alibaba Group IPO – including all its sites, like China’s huge Taobao and Tmall online stores – which is rumored to actually be in the cards in a few years’ time.
Alibaba’s founder and CEO, Jack Ma, said:
The completion of this transaction begins a new chapter in our relationship with Yahoo. We are grateful for Yahoo’s support of our growth over the past seven years, and we are pleased to be able to deliver meaningful returns to our shareholders including Yahoo!. I look forward to working with Marissa Mayer and her team in our continued partnership.
Indeed, that’s a huge profit for Yahoo (which is now down to a 20 percent stake in Alibaba), which bought its huge slice in the fledgling e-tailer back in August 2005 for a mere $1 billion.
Alibaba “financed the transaction with a mixture of cash on hand, senior debt and the issuance of convertible preference and ordinary shares.” It’s believed that China Investment Corp (CIC) helped out to the tune of $2 billion. The company points out: “The new equity financing was completed at a valuation of approximately US$40 billion.”


text:
Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited (Devondale Murray Goulburn) today announced a $5 million partnership with CowBank that will further strengthen its support of young farmers entering the dairy industry. ‘Next Generation Herd Start’ is an innovative program designed to assist dairy farmers to establish a commercial dairy herd even if they have limited capital.
Next Generation Herd Start allows young farmers to lease-purchase a herd from CowBank with support from Devondale Murray Goulburn. The program will be of benefit to young dairy farmers who have the skills, drive and passion to build a dairy farming operation but may not have the financial means.
Devondale Murray Goulburn’s Executive General Manager Shareholder Relations, Robert Poole, said the development of Herd Start is representative of the company’s commitment to supporting the next generation of Australian dairy farmers.
"Devondale Murray Goulburn is passionate about supporting Australian farmers to grow their milk production," Robert said. "Growth in milk production supports the Australian dairy industry and helps our co-operative to deliver on our strategy of increased farmgate prices."
"We are often asked how young farmers can get their start in a dairy business. To support the next generation of dairy farmers, we are partnering with CowBank to provide talented and passionate dairy farmers with an opportunity to grow their herd and establish their own dairy business even if they have limited capital," he continued. "We believe in Australian dairy farmers and that’s why we’re looking to support standout performers with this exciting industry pathway."
CowBank Managing Director, Rod Banks, said the initiative will benefit young farmers who may not have the capacity to receive herd finance due to lack of equity.
"CowBank is very proud to be partnering with Devondale Murray Goulburn in this Australian first which creates an achievable route to dairy business ownership," Rod said.
As part of a pilot program, Devondale Murray Goulburn will support between 12 and 15 Herd Start farmers during the next year. Those interested are encouraged to speak with a member of the Devondale Murray Goulburn Field Services team or contact CowBank.
Subject to the success of the pilot program, Devondale Murray Goulburn and CowBank expect to provide the Herd Start program as an ongoing opportunity for talented and motivated farmers to progress to dairy business ownership.
The Next Generation Herd Start program forms part of Devondale Murray Goulburn’s broader Next Generation suite of initiatives designed to support its supplier-shareholder’s business growth. Further details about Herd Start are available by clicking here.
Media contact: Tim Muir, Communications Manager, +61 447 500 422


text:
Law firm mergers are up 47% over 2010 for the first half of 2011, Altman Weil Merger Line reports. But they involve mostly small firms. Eight-six percent of mergers involved firms of 20 lawyers or less, up from 63 percent in 2007. As well, the merger of 3,500-lawyer DLA Piper with its 600-lawyer Australian affiliate, DLA Phillips Fox, was completed on May 1, 2011.
The minster can now expect to receive a “daily barrage” of criticism due to the highly politicized nature of the file, analysts say
Kinder Morgan Inc., the Houston-based parent, is expected to reduce indebtedness by about US$2 billion
Costco customers in Southern Ontario are now able to shop for non-perishable groceries online and get free delivery on orders over $75
U.S. begins probe into whether uranium imports threaten national security


text:
A version of the Opel Mokka, called the Mokka Moscow Edition, has been officially presented to the public, in a premiere, during the 2014 Moscow Motor Show.
The German based automaker Opel has already announced its plans to introduce the brand new Opel Mokka Moscow Edition during this year’s 2014 Moscow Motor Show and now the model in question is being placed into the spotlights once again, this time with the help of its official presentation, which has been made during the Russian automotive event, just a few hours ago.
According to the car manufacturer, the new Opel Mokka Moscow Edition is basically a concept crossover, despite sounding like a new special edition, coming in with unique styling on the exterior and in the cabin, where we can see black plastic body cladding, the aluminum underbody guards, the orange exterior, the special graphics on the roof and on the hood and the new two-tone alloy wheels. The cabin of the model has received the special floor mats, the orange contrast stitching on the blue and orange premium leather seats, the unique orange trim and so on. It remains unknown what is powering this one-off vehicle, so chances of hearing about it in the future are quite high.


text:
What to do when the countries around you move up the value chain? Taiwan’s new government must find out fast. Finbarr Bermingham reports.
Many of those who grew up in the west through the 1980s and 90s will be familiar with the ‘Made in Taiwan’ logo which adorned plastic toys, bicycles, textiles and a huge number of early home computing products. For a country that is between Belgium and the Netherlands in terms of size, Taiwan’s omnipotence was remarkable.
A couple of generations later, and the country remains extremely reliant on exports – but they aren’t the growth engine of the economy they once were. Taiwan is now the world’s 19th largest trading nation, ahead of India, Australia and Brazil. And while many toss it into the “Asian tigers” grouping used to depict the exporting powerhouses of East Asia, Taiwan’s exports dependence dwarfs even its local peers.
Japan, China and South Korea’s dependence on foreign trade in 2015 (calculated by adding total imports and exports, then dividing by GDP) was 32%, 41% and 80% respectively. Taiwan’s trade dependency, on the other hand, is 110%; an astonishing statistic. It means that when trade suffers, the impact resonates throughout the island nation – which is exactly what’s happening now.
2015 was the worst year for Taiwanese trade since the global financial crisis. The total value of its merchandise trade dropped 13%, with exports dropping 10% and 15% respectively. April delivered further bad news, when exports dropped for the 15th month in succession (double-digit export contraction has become the norm across Asia this year, alas).
Energy prices are a factor here: while Taiwan is an importer of energy, it also exports a substantial volume of plastic and petrochemical-based goods, the prices of which have taken a hit over the past two years. But inarguably, the greatest challenge facing Taiwan currently is a macroeconomic one, which is almost entirely out of its hands. “Mainland China and Hong Kong are now Taiwan’s largest trade partner, taking more than 38% of Taiwan’s exports. In 2015, Taiwan’s export to China and Hong Kong dropped 13% and 11%, respectively. In the first quarter of 2016, Taiwan’s exports to China and Hong Kong dropped 17% and 14%, respectively. Taiwan’s exports to China may continue to drop on a yearly basis. The plunge in Taiwan exports can be attributed to China’s economic slowdown,” Kate Chen, an analyst at the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), tells GTR.
Another problem stems from the island’s noisy neighbour. China’s industrial development means that it now represents competition for some of Taiwan’s high-tech exports, where it previously provided a huge export market for the products.
“A lot of Chinese companies are moving up the value chain and are competing on the kinds of goods that Taiwan used to sell to China. High-end microchips, etc. Taiwanese companies are suffering as a result of this,” says Gareth Leather, Asia analyst at Capital Economics, emphasising that the problems from China are certainly grave, but that the fundamental issues with Taiwan’s trade economy are structural.
“It’s tricky because what Taiwan needs, given the rising competition from China, which is unlikely to go away, is wholesale industrial restructuring, which is not easy to do overnight: it will take a long time. Even if you have the right policies in place, it’s going to be a struggle for them,” Leather tells GTR.
Top of the inbox
Over the eight years the Kuomintang (KMT) held power in Taiwan, relations grew closer. Political tensions eased and the pair became close trading partners (although Leather says that contrary to popular belief, the share of GDP taken by trade with China actually declined over the two terms). This thawing culminated in the signing of the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, which reduced tariffs bilaterally and which was hailed as the most significant agreement between the two countries since the acrimonious split in 1949.
The KMT was ousted in an election in January 2016, with Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) voted in as president, assuming the reins at the end of May. Tsai ran on a pro-independence ticket and spoke out against the ECFA and in favour of diversifying Taiwan’s trading partners. Fortunately for her, this correlates with the advice being given to the incoming Tsai by many respected analysts.
Win Lu, the head of financial services at KMPG Taiwan, tells GTR that the new government needs to pursue stronger relations with the Asean nations, and that the government should encourage Taiwanese manufacturers to follow their Korean and Japanese counterparts in moving their production hubs from China to the trading bloc. Again, rather fortuitously, the government has come at a time when there is another trading bloc being negotiated that is very open to including it as a member: the TPP. The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei is lobbying hard for Taiwan to be included in the world’s biggest trade deal, with the Taiwanese government doing the same. Op-eds have appeared in the US financial press, authored by US or Taiwanese policymakers, calling for its membership in the second round of TPP entrants (other possibilities include South Korea).
Elsewhere in this supplement, you can read about the potential benefits of the TPP for Vietnam, a country significantly further back in its development than Taiwan. Indonesia has voiced an interest, but Taiwan’s market economy makes it a more realistic candidate and one which should gain the support of other members without too much hassle.
For a country that has few trade agreements in place (ECFA, along with deals with Singapore and New Zealand, are the main ones), TPP comes at a perfect time. Research from the Chung-Hua Institution of Economic Research (CIER) estimates that the TPP would increase Taiwan’s GDP by 2%, create more than 60,000 new jobs, and save around US$1.5bn in duties.
Such studies are rarely accurate, but as Taiwan looks to diversify from China, membership would be crucial. Joshua Meltzer of the Brookings Institute says: “Left out, Taiwan will be harmed by these FTAs’ trade diversion effect – whereby Taiwan’s exports lose out in FTA markets due to increased competition from imports from other FTA partners. The recent successful completion by Korea – a competitor with Taiwan across a range of products – of FTAs with the EU and the US provides a useful example of some of the costs to Taiwan of not participating in these Asian FTAs.”
For the US, onboarding Taiwan to its flagship trade agreement would go some way to strengthening its hand in the region. In April, the Taiwanese government rejected membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), after China – the main shareholder and controlling power – asked it to apply under the same terms as Hong Kong (China still claims ownership of Taiwan).
“Taiwan would only apply for AIIB membership if we could do it with equality and dignity. We feel very sorry about Mr Jin’s stance that Taiwan should apply for membership under China’s umbrella. It’s completely unacceptable,” said deputy finance minister Wu Tang-chieh at the time.
The incoming government is unlikely to take a more conciliatory tone, which leaves the TPP as the main multilateral option for Taiwan. While it will not act as a panacea for all of Taiwan’s trade woes, it should offer a long-term alternative market – one which is likely to prove much less belligerent and volatile than its old foe to the immediate west.


text:
A Cornish company has received interest from around the world for its novelty wedding vending machine.
Autowed is an 8ft (2.4m) tall pink machine compared by the makers to "a parking meter mixed up with a Cadillac".
But it has caught the imagination of people around the world after a video was posted on the internet.
Requests for machines have come from as away as Russia and Brazil, Falmouth-based inventor Concept Shed said.
For £1 it plays a specially composed intro version of the Wedding March and asks customers to select their type of union. Bride and groom have the option of pressing one on a keyboard for "I do" and two for "Escape".
Purchasers get a wedding receipt and two plastic rings in an egg-shaped plastic capsule.
Previous inventions by the Cornwall firm include an animatronic Frankenstein's monster.


text:
Oklahoma lawmakers OK bill expanding strong beer, wine sales
Oklahomans could buy cold strong beer and wine at grocery and convenience stores under a sweeping overhaul of the state's alcohol laws approved by the Legislature that hinges on voters approving a state question in November.
The Senate voted 33-12 on Thursday for the 285-page bill by Oklahoma City Republican Stephanie Bice. The House later approved the measure on a 52-45 vote.
The bill allows strong, cold beer and wine to be sold at grocery stores and convenience stores beginning in 2018.
Currently in Oklahoma, strong beer and wine can only be sold in package stores. The bill would also allow package stores to sell products other than alcohol.
The bill is a companion measure to a proposed state question on the November ballot to loosen Oklahoma's alcohol laws.


text:
Nintendo Japan has one of the biggest RPGs of the generation coming out early next year in The Last Story, and they're not disappointing with the packaging. In Japan today, Nintendo detailed a special bundle version and some bonus goodies that RPG fanatics are instantly looking forward to.
As previously detailed, The Last Story is due for release in Japan on January 27 (international release plans have not been announced). The game is priced 6,800 yen ($82), making it a bit on the expensive side of first party Nintendo releases, but still far lower than the 8,800 yen ($106) of a game like Final Fantasy XIII.
In addition to the software only release, Nintendo and Mistwalker are readying a "Special Pack." This combines the game, a white Classic Controller Pro and a white Wii. The Wii system is standard fare, but the box the bundle comes in is definitely not!
All early buyers will get a bonus item called "Elements of The Last Story." This combines a mini soundtrack CD with a visual book.
The Last Story is drawing attention in large part because of the names behind it. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi is the game's director, marking the first time he's fully directed a game since Final Fantasy V. Nintendo also revealed today that Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu is doing the music. This isn't as big a surprise, as Uematsu has done the music for most of Sakaguchi's recent titles, including Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.


text:
New York (CNN) Barbie isn’t one to be pigeonholed into a profession just because she’s a woman. She’s had 200 impressive careers on her resume — doctor, astronaut, computer engineer, CEO, and even presidential candidate.
For International Women’s Day on March 8, Mattel (owner of the Barbie brand) hopes to inspire young girls to embrace the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by honoring a group small group of STEM pioneers with their very own Barbie doll.
Among them are the Wojcicki sisters – Susan (longtime CEO of YouTube), Anne (CEO of home DNA testing company 23andME) and Janet (professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco ).
Susan Wojcicki announced in February that she was “stepping back” from her leadership role at YouTube after nearly a decade leading the video-sharing platform.
Wojcicki has been involved with YouTube’s parent company, Google, since its inception, when its two founders worked out of her California garage building a search engine. She then became Google’s 16th employee and has been with the company for almost 25 years.
The group also includes female STEM pioneers from around the world such as Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist and educator from the UK; Antje Boetius, German marine researcher and microbiologist; Li Yinuo, co-founder of ETU Education, a school startup in China that offers more personalized education; and Katya Echazarreta, an electrical engineer who has worked on five NASA missions and the first Mexican-born woman to travel to space.
“Our parents encouraged independence and the belief that we really could be anything we wanted to be when I grew up, but the most important thing was to pursue a passion,” Anne Wojcicki said in a statement. “I hope sharing our stories will encourage young girls to try something new, face something that might scare them, and see challenges as exciting opportunities.”
Mattel said the unique dolls are not for sale and will be gifted to the women who inspired them.
According to Mattel, Barbie herself has had more than 40 different STEM careers, including astrophysicist, space scientist, doctor, and robotics engineer. While women in the real world make up half of America’s workforce, they still make up less than a third of the STEM workforce.
“STEM is a field where women are severely underrepresented, and we hope honoring these seven leaders in science and technology will encourage girls to follow their passion in this field,” said Lisa McKnight, vice-president. executive chairman and global head of Barbie & Dolls with Mattel, said in a statement.
Barbie STEM models are the latest in an effort by Mattel to champion the achievements of leading women in all professions. For example, the company honored TV producer and writer Shonda Rhimes with her very own Barbie doll last year and style icon Iris Apfel in 2018.
Mattel’s push to expand into Barbies based on extraordinary real-life women has helped boost the market for Barbie collectors, said Jim Silver, a toy industry expert and CEO of Toys, Tots, Pets & More, an industry review website.
“The collector market for Barbies has been strong for many years, but Mattel has turned to many other models,” Silver said. “The change has been hugely popular with their collector fans and has also brought widespread attention to models who should be honored and who often don’t get the recognition they deserve.”
Famous British primatologist Jane Goodall also got her very own Barbie in 2022 as part of the Inspiring Women series of Barbie dolls which are based on women who have been leading figures in history. The Barbie Jane Goodall was for sale. The Inspiring Women Barbie series, priced at $35 for the doll, is typically sold at Amazon, Walmart, and Target stores.
— CNN’s Brian Fung contributed to this story.


text:
Walmex Announces an Agreement to Sell Suburbia to El Puerto de Liverpool
Aug 10, 2016
OTC Disclosure News Service
Mexico City, DF, Mexico
This release includes additional documents. Select the link(s) below to view.
Agreement to sell Suburbia to El Puerto de Liverpool.pdf
Copyright © 2016 OTC Markets. All Rights Reserved
The above news release has been provided by the above company via the OTC Disclosure and News Service. Issuers of news releases and not OTC Markets Group Inc. are solely responsible for the accuracy of such news releases.


text:
"No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”
Capital Factory, Austin -- Senator Cruz addressed the central economic questions of the next decade at an Austin-based start up incubator today:
- His first job was in the tech industry working for his father.
- The internet has been transformational in terms of speech.
- "Don't mess with the internet."
- The worst thing that could happen to the internet would be for politicians to come in and regulate it.
- First Principle: No internet sales tax.
- "A perfect storm of Washington lobbyists."
- Supported by big retail.
- "That is a terrible idea."
- Second Principle: Stop foreign governments form censoring the internet.
- Don't hand the internet off to an international cartel.
- Third Principle: Stop the Federal government from excessively regulating online.
- We would quickly come to regret that decision.
- Rotary phones regulated; smartphones not.
- Taxi's vs. Uber and Lyft.
- "This whole net neutrality fight is a fight between big boys."
- "It's not a good thing when the Federal government comes in and dictates pricing and terms of service."
- Fourth Principle: Our constitutional rights don't end when we go online.
- Pass a permanent ban on internet access taxes.
- There's a lot more big companies on the other side of the net neutrality debate than there are on his.
- Quotes scripture to make an economic point to a room full of tech people.
- Personal Note: How I LOVE this man!!!


text:
Apple WWDC 2018 roundup
Some of the key announcements from Apple’s CEO Tim Cook during WWDC 2018 included:
iOS 12 – the new operating system for the iphone will feature a raft of stability and performance improvements. Apple reported that iOS12 will allow for up to 40% faster app launch, up to 50% faster keyboard display and up to 70% faster camera usage. Other features of iOS12 will include Siri Shortcuts, which will allow users to create custom voice commands and routines, group FaceTime calls and ARKit 2.0, an improved version of their mobile augmented reality platform.
Digital wellness – in the future, Apple devices will have a new screen time feature that generates reports on your device usage, be that a weekly report on the total time spent on your device or a custom report on how long you’ve spent on an individual app. The ability to more tightly control children’s screen usage is also on its way, with parent being able to set “allowances” and dedicated time limits.
Memoji – users will be able to create personalized animated emojis of themselves (or anyone else) to use across photos, videos, or FaceTime calls.
iOS apps for Mac - Apple is adding four new apps to the Mac: Apple News, Voice Memos, Stocks, and a Home app for controlling smart devices.
WatchOS 5 – New features for Apple Watch users will include reminders to begin or stop a workout based on their activity level along with walkie-talkie mode to help you talk with fellow Apple Watch users!
Apple TV: Apple’s streaming box is getting a major sound update with the addition of Dolby Atmos, which will make Apple TV 4K the only box that's both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos certified. Where customers have already purchased titles that support Dolby Atmos from iTunes these will automatically be upgraded to support the new audio format.
So if you were waiting for Apple to launch a new iphone, apple watch or other device, you might be left feeling a little disappointed. However, with no new launches on the horizon, there’s nothing to hold you back from shopping Apple’s range of existing products!
Here we look at where to buy some of the most popular Apple products our customers have been buying from the UK…
Apple Watch Series 3 – The latest release of the Apple Watch is proving to be a big hit. There are plenty of style options and colourways available but we particularly like this sporty Nike+ model with Space Grey Aluminium Case.
Apple Watch accessories – One of the things Apple did launch at its recent conference was new straps for the Apple watch. So if you want to get your hands on the latest looks for 2018, head over to Apple’s official store.
iPhone X – currently Apple’s most advanced iPhone model, the iPhone X is the smartphone of choice for diehard Apple fans.
Apple Homepod – Apple’s version of the smart home speaker comes in a sleek design in a choice of white or space grey and of course means you can have Siri as your on-call assistant at home!


text:
News by Topic
- Search Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Loyalty Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Social Marketing
- Viral Marketing
- Trends & Ideas
- Internet Marketing 101
Accenture: Retailers gaining confidence but could saturate marketplace
An encouraging report and a warning are the takeaways from the latest Accenture Globalization Index. Key findings from Q1 2013 include more stores 'opening' new online retail outlets - many moving in to new countries or regions to engage more shoppers.
The Accenture Globalization Index indicates retailers are gaining confidence in the global economy - not only are many doing well in their home countries, but an increasing number are pushing into new markets, using the Internet to open stores across the globe.
"This quarter, the Accenture Globalization Index shines a light on two trends: the growing appeal of smaller format stores and the increasing number of international moves by emerging market-based retailers," said Christoper Donnelly, Accenture Retail, Global Managing Director. "Retailers are rethinking their investment in opening large stores in new markets, especially when they already have too much space in their home market. Instead, retailers are choosing to enter new markets with smaller format and temporary stores (pop-ups) to gauge consumer interest in the brand and the potential success of a permanent store presence."
Key findings include:
• Q1 2013 saw retailers move into 25 new countries; Q4 2012 saw fewer than 20 new market entries
• Mature market entries included Canada, The Netherlands and France
• Emerging market entries included Brazil and Chile as well as The Philippines and Malaysia
• Grocery brands are pushing fastest into these new markets
• No new brands entered the US market during Q1
"We believe the growing number of emerging market-based retailers expanding internationally suggests both a growing confidence amongst those retailers and, potentially, the early warning signs of saturation in some emerging markets," said Donnelly
Of those pushing into new markets, the report underlines that most brands expand when they are at the saturation point in their home market.
Image via Shutterstock
- Study: Retailers aren't ready for next-gen tech
- Expert Advice: Invest in Near Field Communications
- Top struggles for email marketers
- Campaigner suggests marketers reset campaigns not just clocks
- Brands: How to use in-memory tech to increase personalization
- Study finds mobile payments high on consumers' minds
- Does Facebook really pose a threat to YouTube?
- In a digital age Out of Home advertising memorable and complementary
Featured White Papers
- CRM and Marketing Automation Integration for the Ultimate ROI
The number of companies using marketing automation will increase by 50% by 2015, according to research from Sirius Decisions. But...
- The 5 Worst Things a Creative Can Say
Among the common phrases used in creative services teams there is a group that are deceptively harmless because we hear...
- 5 Ways to Ensure your Social Brand Gets Noticed
In the world of social sponsorships today the key to success is not just awareness but recognition. The path to...
- How Marketers Can Earn Respect at the Revenue Table
Your CEO might not care how many emails you sent last week, but they do care about revenue. To earn...
- How to Create a More Social Business
Download this whitepaper to learn about the current state of social media adoption and see where the most innovative companies...
- The Definitive Guide to Duplicate Listings
In the Local SEO biz, we spend a lot of time dealing with duplicate business listings. Duplicate records of your...


text:
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A fire caused heavy damage to an auto repair shop in Columbia Thursday afternoon.
The fire happened around 3 p.m. at a business in the 3900 block of West Beltline Boulevard.
When firefighters arrived, they saw multiple cars on fire.
Firefighters say the blaze began when one vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to other cars and the building itself.
Damage is estimated at $400,000. The fire has been ruled accidental.


text:
THE Rahmah p-hailing package announced by the government two days ago is believed able to lower the rage over several issues plaguing the p-hailing community lately, said an activist.
Malaysian eHailing Alliances chief activist Jose Rizal told Bernama that the low payment rates for food riders by a private company had become a dilemma for some food riders, and as such, such an intervention by the government was welcomed.
According to Jose, this indirectly eased the workload in the gig economy sector, with online services with internet access being one of the community’s needs.
“E-hailing and p-hailing workers may have a rather dynamic way of using the Internet because our average community is active in multiple tasks or work. For me it helps some of our community,” he told the news agency.
On Tuesday (Jan 23) Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that all p-hailing drivers and riders will be able to enjoy internet services for as low as RM33 with a data plan of at least 40GB under the Rahmah p-hailing package being offered from now until April 23.
Fahmi said over 200,000 p-hailing drivers and riders stand to benefit from the newly-launched Rahmah p-hailing package, adding that it will revolutionise the evolving gig economy.
According to Fahmi, the unique feature of the package is that it can be tailored to meet the specific needs of riders and drivers.
On this matter Jose expressed hope that such initiatives could be expanded to continue securing the fate of the p-hailing community and further empowering the country’s gig economy sector.
“I hope the government can consider initiatives such as vehicle maintenance, costs related to licence renewal, insurance, health checks, as well as the cost of equipment for activities such as food storage bags, helmets and others,” he said.
Echoing Jose, Malaysian Association of Grab Drivers deputy president Mohd Azril Ahmat suggested the government extend the Rahmah Menu to gig economy industry players because of its potential to provide more profit to traders.
“The government has given a lot of subsidies to the people as well as the target groups, but I think the government can expand the Rahmah Menu, which seems to be getting a lukewarm response from traders now, to this group,” he remarked.
Mohd Azril also said he hoped that the internet access in rural areas could be further improved.
“Jobs like this (p-hailing and e-hailing) really, really need stable internet access…If there is no line, no jobs will come in,” he stressed. – Jan 25, 2024
Main pic credit: The Star


text:
- Several major digital privacy groups pulled their support for an Uber-backed influence campaign after learning of the company's involvement, WIRED first reported Thursday.
- The campaign, Communities Against Rider Surveillance, is a coalition of 25 organizations that Uber helped form to steer the debate around cities' use of scooter and e-bike trip data.
- Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer told Business Insider she shared concerns about trip data and privacy but that the group backed out of CARS because Uber's involvement was not "clearly disclosed."
- CARS spokesperson Keeley Christensen told Business Insider that "any suggestion by proponents of real-time location tracking that there is some sort of sleight-of-hand here is both misleading and an effort to cloud the serious privacy issues at stake."
- Uber sued Los Angeles earlier this year over its use of trip data, an issue that has drawn pushback from CARS and a bevy other privacy advocates who worry how cities and law enforcement might abuse it.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Uber's quiet involvement with a group trying to shape public debate around cities' use of scooter and e-bike trip data has scared off several of its big-name supporters, WIRED first reported Thursday.
The group, Communities Against Rider Surveillance, is backed by 25 organizations including Uber and aims to "raise awareness of real-time location tracking and encourage a public dialogue before cities implement surveillance tools that put people at risk," CARS spokesperson Keeley Christensen told Business Insider.
But despite sharing some of the same worries about data privacy, advocacy groups Fight for the Future and Algorithmic Justice League withdrew from CARS after learning that Uber is one of its main backers, according to WIRED. Racial equality group MediaJustice told Business Insider it similarly "immediately pulled out" after becoming aware of the connection.
"It was frustrating to have to pull out of this coalition," Fight for the Future deputy director Evan Greer told Business Insider.
"We share their concerns about the ways that transportation data, even when anonymized, could be abused by government agencies, law enforcement, and others," Greer said, "But Uber's involvement and backing of the effort was not clearly disclosed to us. We think companies should engage in advocacy transparently."
"The Algorithmic Justice League supports efforts to combat mass surveillance, and the manner in which CARS was initially presented to us appeared aligned with this broader goal. However, when we were invited to join the coalition it was not made explicit that Uber was spearheading the initiative. Given Uber's track record on privacy and the lack of transparency about the extent of the company's involvement, we have officially pulled out of CARS," AJL founder Joy Buolamwini said in a statement.
Uber and CARS both refused to disclose the sources of the coalition's' funding. Christensen referred Business Insider to her statement to WIRED, which said that CARS "is grateful to have support from a wide and diverse group of organizations" and that Uber had been listed on its website "since day one."
"Any suggestion by proponents of real-time location tracking that there is some sort of sleight-of-hand here is both misleading and an effort to cloud the serious privacy issues at stake," Christensen told Business Insider.
Other members of CARS contacted by Business Insider raised similar worries about Uber's track record as a company, but said they would continue to support the coalition's work around privacy.
"I have concerns about Uber, of course (rotten pay for drivers, horrible corporate environment, etc, etc)," said Patient Privacy Rights President Dr. Deborah Peel, but she added that "the rest of the coalition is organizations that speak for the public's best interest."
Tracy Rosenberg of Oakland Privacy said she took issue with Uber's "corporate performance in many aspects" but that she was aware of its involvement in CARS. "On the limited issue of whether raw mobility trip data should be transferred to cities directly or to third parties, we believe unequivocally that it should not be."
An Uber spokesperson told Business Insider that the company is glad to be a founding member of CARS and to see more organizations speaking out on the issue, saying Uber believes government demands for trip-level data violate riders' privacy.
CARS' advocacy is focused specifically on Mobility Data Specification, a data-sharing standard developed by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation that is used by cities to track scooter and e-bike locations. As urban streets have become increasingly crowded with ride-share companies' vehicles, cities like Los Angeles have passed regulations on their use, some of which have included requirements that companies like Uber — which until recently owned scooter and e-bike startup Jump — share anonymous, near-real-time data on individual trips.
"Some cities are taking a responsible approach to transportation planning. They're starting by asking what problems they want to solve, and what information they need to get there," Christensen said. "But Los Angeles is moving in the wrong direction" by not being more transparent about how it will use, store, and secure data.
Meanwhile, privacy advocates ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation filed their own lawsuit against the city in June, saying it was an overreach of government surveillance and could lead to misuse of the data by law enforcement agencies. (Los Angeles city officials have released "data protection principles" that discuss how they intend to ensure people's privacy).
In their heated battle with ride-hail companies over which data they should be required to provide, cities' distrust of the companies has been fueled in part by Uber's own checkered history around transparency and data privacy as well as its persistent opposition to regulation. In 2017, The New York Times revealed Uber was intentionally deceiving authorities by serving up a fake version of its app to local officials. Later that year, WIRED reported that Uber tried to cover up a data breach involving 57 million users by paying the hackers a $100,000 ransom.
Axel Springer, Insider Inc.'s parent company, is an investor in Uber.


text:
Used prom dress buy/sell event to be held in Perham March 13
For girls looking for a less expensive dress for prom, Pam Hoekstra and Doreen Nelson hope to have found an option.
Hoekstra and Nelson have put together a used-dress event to be held on Sunday, March 13 in the aerobics room of the Perham Area Community Center.
The cost to sell a dress is $5. Folks can drop off used dresses from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and dresses will be displayed on sale from 2-5 p.m. People can name their asking price for their dress.
Hoekstra and Nelson request that dresses be brought in on a hanger and be cleaned and pressed. Dresses should also be marked with size, original cost, how many times it has been worn and the asking price.
There will be a place with mirrors where girls can try on the dresses.
Hoekstra said that the area needed an event like this because new dresses can be expensive.
"This event isn't to make money," she said. "It's to help out the girls in the community to get a dress for prom."
This is the first year this event will be held in Perham, and Hoekstra and Nelson hope that girls from the surrounding area take advantage of it.
"We're open too to New York Mills, Frazee, other places," Nelson said.
Hoekstra and Nelson ask to be contacted in advance by those interested in selling a dress.
"We need people to bring in their dresses - that's how this event is going to work," Nelson said.


text: Fans of Ubisoft multiplayer titles will be pleased to know that they will be migrating from a third-party data center to servers in a new facility. What they may find inconvenient is that some games will be unavailable while the transition is taking place. On February 7th at 8PM EST, services for some PC and MAC based online play will down. Uplay will be completely down, however, they are posting progress updates on their Twitter account. They list all effected and unaffected games here.


text:
In working closely with technology suppliers over the years, I commonly discover that these companies are making common mistakes that devalue the company, leave revenue on the desk, or jeopardize their long-term health. As much as I agree that firms like Google asking for privacy laws sounds loopy, it actually makes quite a lot of sense. Data technology (IT) companies and excessive tech corporations are subsets of expertise firms. With out entering into specifics, agency officers stated that they had met with Levin and concluded that his business mannequin didn’t meet the state’s standards for a expertise company.
A few of the developing international locations that need enchancment and growth by capital infusion, abilities, and know-how voluntarily present incentives reminiscent of fixed property, tax exemptions, subsidies, tax holidays, human capital, and low wages.
Prime lobbyists for different tech corporations agreed that it could possibly be more problematic than the brand … Read More


text:
Ranked in the world’s Top 10 for SaaS elearning solutions providers, Docebo is one of the most comprehensive solutions for training management in the industry.
With offices in Europe, the Middle East and North America, Docebo is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the market. The e-learning solutions provider has been a huge success, with multiple awards and worldwide recognition for the Docebo Learning Management System (LMS) in the past year.
Docebo LMS is easy to use and manages, delivers and tracks Web-based Training, Instructor-led Training and Blended Learning activities, making it extremely versatile and popular amongst both mid-sized and large businesses. Exhibiting at Learning Technologies this year, the company are excited to showcase their new version, Docebo 6.5, which comes with a mobile app and Corporate MOOC Builder.
Roberta Gogos, Director of Marketing at Docebo says: “Learning Technologies is a big and very successful event for us, and grows every year; we regard it as one of the most essential of L&D events on the calendar.”
Learning Technologies is Europe’s leading showcase of organisational learning and the technology used to support learning at work. Docebo will be exhibiting on stand number 25 at this year’s show and are keen to showcase their solutions and meet with both new and existing clients.
The company have invested in a new exhibition system for this year’s show; they will be using a modular system called Prestige from exhibition company Quadrant2Design.
To register for the show, which takes place later in January, visit www.learningtechnologies.co.uk. If you would like to find out more about Docebo and their products, please visit their website on www.docebo.com or visit them at Olympia on stand 25 from 28th to 29th of January.
To learn more about the Prestige Exhibition System visit www.prestige-system.com.
Docebo’s Cloud-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Enterprise learning management system (LMS) is sold in more than 70 countries. Established in 2005, Docebo has over 28,000 installations and offers an enterprise solution for mid-sized to large organizations. Customers benefit from Docebo solutions thanks to a scalable pricing model, a third party integration (via API), and reliable service available 24/7 to further enhance the user experience. For more information, visit www.Docebo.com or contact Dario De Angelis at +39 039.2323286, or email email@example.com


text:
The Body Shop has made its global PR head redundant just eight
months after she was appointed.
Pleun van Akkerveeken joined last July (PRWeek, 7 July 2000) from the
Arcadia retail group, where she was group PR manager.
She was the Body Shop's first comms head since Gavin Grant left to join
Burson-Marsteller the previous winter.
Van Akkerveeken hired almost a dozen PR staff for various roles amid a
wide-ranging PR function shake-up (PRWeek, 5 January).
Now, after what appears to be another shake-up, van Akkerveeken has left
Explaining the confusion, a company statement said it had reviewed
marketing and PR and decided to merge its campaigns, press and internal
communications under one unit.
This will be led by former head of campaigns Steve McIvor, who joins the
executive committee and reports to CEO Patrick Gournay.
The company said that under the latest structure, the corporate and
product PR teams - mainly hired by van Akkerveeken - would report to a
newly-created head of PR position. That post is yet to be filled.
Company spokeswoman Shelley Simmons refused to comment beyond the
That statement said: 'The company has undertaken to appoint a head of PR
whose strengths lie in corporate PR.
'As a result, the role held by Pleun van Akkerveeken as head of product
PR no longer exists and as a result she has left the company.'


text:
The Telegraph reports that a recent study claims that Google makes its websites faster than rival services by using code to dominate online networks. Researchers from Cargenie Mellon University and software firm Nefell Networks claim in the study that a Google algorithm can dominate almost half of a network’s capacity when there are multiple online services vying for connections.
The report claims that Google-owned websites such as YouTube could stream videos faster than other competitors such as Netflix if users sharing the same connection try to access both sites simultaneously. This algorithm can be used by other services meaning that Google is most likely not the only group doing this, but the research focuses mostly on Google’s role in managing online traffic.
Internet services use algorithms known as “congestion control algorithms” or CCA’s to share bandwidth efficiently across a network and to “throttle” or slow down certain websites or services when the capacity of the connection is stressed.
Researchers found that Google’s algorithm which is called BBR take up 40 percent of internet capacity when multiple services are competing for traffic. Researchers state when the algorithm was active, other services would be granted less than 4 percent capacity.
Google does “open source” the algorithm meaning that other services can take advantage of it. Other websites use different CCAs meaning that they could face slower internet speeds. Researchers state that Google’s algorithm, which went public in 2016, takes a disproportionate share of Internet traffic. Justine Shery of Carnegie Mellon’s computer science department states: “By any traditional version of [network] fairness, BBR is not fair.”


text:
Food prices face sting from bee decline
The demise of the humble honey bee has long been bemoaned by naturalists. Now it is alarming traders as it threatens to send prices of nutty snacks and sweets sharply higher, as California’s almond orchards are hit by a decline in bee colonies.
Morsi defiant as trial adjourned
Egypt’s ousted Islamist president, Mohamed Morsi, defiantly insisted yesterday he was the country’s legitimate leader as his trial for inciting violence got off to a raucous start at a heavily-guarded police academy on the outskirts of Cairo.
Possibility of 20bn Earth-like planets
Our Milky Way galaxy contains more than 20bn Earth-like planets with temperatures that could sustain life, according to analysis by Nasa’s planet-hunting satellite, the most comprehensive survey to date of habitable planets beyond the solar system.
Swiss join the fight against superbug
Roche has paid an initial SwFr35m (£24m) for the rights to develop an antibiotic that could help to fight a drug-resistant “superbug” that is a leading cause of lethal infections in hospitals.
Sun sets on Travelzest
Travelzest once gloried in the title of Britain’s biggest naturist tour operator. Now it is expected to be wound up after the sale of its main business and the suspension of trading in its shares.
The Daily Telegraph
Austin Reed sales bounce back
Tailor Austin Reed grew like-for-like sales by 5.2 per cent last year as the retailer fought back from a challenging period since the recession.
Accountants invest in new staff
Accountancy firms have crunched the numbers and decided the economic recovery is strong enough for them to invest in taking on new recruits, according to research by Caseware.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Apple enters pact for Arizona plant
Apple is building a new component manufacturing plant in Arizona, striking a deal with GT Advanced Technologies that will provide sapphire material for use in Apple products.
China buys its way into Silicon Valley
Tencent is vying to lead a $200m fundraising in Snapchat, the latest effort by one of China’s internet giants to gain a foothold in the US.


text:
Highlights of our favorite vehicles from the 2016 Geneva Motor show.
In its entire production run, Alfa Romeo only ever built 500 examples of the 8C Competizione – just 90 of which ended up in the United States – and another 500 Spiders. That makes it a pretty rare car indeed, but it's positively commonplace compared to the Disco Volante, the version reborn by the talented and steady hands at Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera.
The stunning Disco Volante Concept that debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show before returning in 2013 show as a running concept, has just gotten one step closer to production. Despite being designed and brought to Geneva by coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, the Disco Volante wears an Alfa Romeo logo and is based on the Italian brand's 8C Competizione. That makes getting Alfa's okay before producing cars for consumers a necessity. According to its builder, that blessing has just been given.
If there's one thing Italian coachbuilders are good for, it's turning out lust-worthy pieces of machinery. Touring Superleggera pulled the sheets back on its very own effort in that category with the Disco Volante. The Alfa Romeo 8C-based creation, which was shown last year as a design study, bowed at this year's Geneva Motor Show and was inspired by none other than the 1952 Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante. With the Alfa 8C's 444-horsepower 4.7-liter V8 lurking under that aluminum and carbon fiber
One year after bringing the super stylish and unforgettably named Disco Volante to the Geneva Motor Show as a styling exercise, coachbuilders Touring Superleggera have got a followup to get excited about. This year's version of the slinky Disco will come complete with Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione running gear – 4.7-liter V8 engine and all. We've got just the one teaser image of the car, above, which obviously serves to highlight the fact that this Disco Volante is no hollow shell.
It's been 60 years since the 1952 Alfa Romeo C52 Disco Volante concepts lounged on the stages of the world's auto shows, and Touring Superleggera has taken to marking the occasion with a Disco Volante of its own, a striking coupe that has just debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show.
The string of early reveals in front of the Geneva Motor Show continues with bonafide auto-porn shots of the Carrozzeria Touring Disco Volante concept. And if it's true that sex sells, Alfa Romeo could seriously clean up if it put this hot hatch into production.
Mention the names Disco Volante and Touring to connoisseurs of classic Italian automobiles and you're going to need to start handing out bibs.


text:
Lawyers USA has ceased publication. If you have purchased a research pass or still have additional time on your current Digital Subscription, you may access locked stories by logging in.
Drugmakers pay $41.5 million to settle Vytorin suits
Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. said yesterday they will pay $41.5 million to settle lawsuits involving their cholesterol medication Vytorin. The suits claimed the drug makers violated state consumer protection laws by delaying unfavorable study results because they would hurt sales.


text:
Investors will get a health check on China's economy this week, with June inflation and trade numbers out on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. And the data are expected to confirm that sluggish momentum in the world's second largest economy continued into the final month of the second quarter, according to economists.
"We don't expect much to change in terms of softer data being expected out of China," wrote Vishnu Varathan, senior economist at Mizuho Corporate Bank in a note on Monday.
"For one, inflation will probably remain benign. Trade data will probably be lackluster as the clamp-down on false invoicing bites; but base effects will be less unfavorable providing measured relief," he added, referring to the government's crackdown on export firms overstating their businesses to bring funds into the country and surpass capital restrictions.
(Read More: China: From Driver to Drag on Global Growth)
China's consumer price index (CPI) is expected to pick up modestly to 2.5 percent in June, according to a poll by Reuters, from 2.1 percent in the previous month, helped by a rise in key food items including vegetables and meat. However, such a reading would be well under the central bank's 3.5 percent target for 2013.
"Price pressures are minimal in China. Low input costs and weak demand are causing producers to cut prices to attract demand," economists at Moody's Analytics wrote.
(Read More: China June Flash HSBC PMI Falls to 9-Month Low)
The producer price index (PPI), meantime, is expected to show prices at the wholesale level remained firmly in deflation, dropping 2.7 percent in June from a fall of 2.9 percent in the previous month. Producer prices in China have been declining in since February 2012, driven by the fall in raw materials and metal prices.
On the trade front, exports are forecast to have climbed 4 percent in June after May's rise of just 1 percent. Imports, meantime, are expected to have risen 8 percent in June after a 0.3 percent contraction in the previous month. However, economists say a rebound in import growth will have been largely driven by a low base in the same month last year.
"It is increasingly clear that global demand is weak and is compounding weak domestic demand, which means minimal growth in exports and imports in June," said Moody's Analytics' economists.
(Read More: Asian Stocks Weaken on China Services PMI)
Economic data out of the world's second largest economy have consistently underperformed expectations in the recent months.
For example, both the official and HSBC manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) declined in June, with the latter falling to a nine-month low.
(Read More: Why China's Economy May Be Heading for a Crash)
Disappointing economic indicators for the April to June period are raising expectations for a further slowdown in China's growth in the second quarter.
The highly anticipated second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data are due out on June 15 and are expected to show growth slowed to 7.5 percent, from 7.7 percent in the previous three months. While such a growth rates are the envy of most of the world, it would mark the slowest pace of expansion in over two decades.
—By CNBC's Ansuya Harjani


text:
Dec. 29, 2010 (China Knowledge) - Pizza Hut Inc, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc, the world's largest restaurant company, on Dec. 28 opened its 500th China-located chain store in Lanzhou
Province, sources reported.
The new outlet is also the city's first Pizza Hut store, said Zhu Zongyi, president of Yum! Brands China. He added that the firm intends to spend a total of RMB 30 million on market expansion in Lanzhou in the next two years.
Gao Yao, brand manager of Pizza Hut, said the firm, which had 44 outlets in western China as of Nov. 30, 2010, will open more outlets in the second- and third-tier cities in the same region.
Sources reported that Yum! Brands, which own more than 37,000 chain stores in over 110 countries and regions worldwide, last year reaped RMB 28.8 billion in operating revenue in China, the fastest-growing market of the group.


text:
New projects are constantly emerging in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. In this article, we will take a look at a new development in the digital world – the dPNM ecosystem, based on Binance Smart Chain.
FunFair Ventures has completed the pre-seed round for Simplicity Group, accelerating their expansion plans with capital injection and advisory support. Simplicity Group is dedicated to bringing clarity to the complex world of crypto. Their mission is to make the overwhelming space more accessible for everyone, accelerating mass adoption.
.bit ("the Company"), an open-source Web3 identity provider of permissionless decentralized identifiers, has followed up its recent warning about the risks surrounding the usage of decentralized identifiers for crypto asset transactions by revealing a powerful tool, .bit Alias that reduces the risks for users associated with sending assets using mainstream crypto wallets and exchanges.
The Build N Build (BNB) Chain is a decentralized blockchain network that allows developers and innovators to build decentralized applications (DApps) as part of the transition to Web3. The BNB Chain is capable of high-speed transaction processing and lower cost transactions than the Ethereum network.
BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America, announces the launch of its first stablecoin through Mynt, the Bank's crypto platform. BTG Dol is a crypto asset, with a price backed by the US dollar and a 1 to 1 parity, which enables interacting between the traditional financial system and the new digital economy.
Plena Smart Wallet, which is one of the first self-custodial wallets to support Account Abstraction is thrilled to unveil its hotly anticipated referral program that offers rewards worth up to $1,000,000 in $Plena tokens. The program aims to incentivize users to invite their friends and family to join the platform while offering them a chance to earn some significant rewards.
Mercuryo, a leading crypto payments company, and ConsenSys, a market-leading Web3 company, have announced an integration within MetaMask that will allow MetaMask users to bypass mainstream exchanges and buy crypto tokens with bank cards, Apple Pay, and various bank transfer methods directly in their wallets. This aims to simplify purchasing digital assets thanks to instant checkouts and easier user onboarding.
Renq Finance, an innovative multi-chain non-custodial DEx, is now holding its first token presale on its official website. Currently in the first stage of the presale process, Renq Finance aims to conduct 8 presale stages in order to raise almost $20 million.
Today, MultiversX is happy to announce the next step in its partnership with Ledger through the integration of EGLD staking into the Ledger Live App, offering more than 1.5 million users secure access to EGLD staking services. Together with this milestone, Ledger is now also involved in proposing and validating blocks on the MultiversX blockchain network through their very own staking pool, run in collaboration with Figment.
The Nuon Protocol has announced the launch of its mainnet for the NUON flatcoin: the world's first cryptocurrency linked to an unbiased cost of living index. Decentralized and overcollateralized, Nuon will go live on the leading Ethereum scaling solution, Arbitrum.


text:
Let’s say you bought a car only to find out later it has a defect that could potentially kill you.
Would your first response be heading to your nearest dealer and buying a new version of the same brand to replace your defective car?
Of course not. That’s a silly question, right? Most people would simply want the car fixed, if possible. Others might have a more extreme response and sue the carmaker in question and vow to never own said brand again.
General Motors is still in the middle of its ignition recall and has made those affected by it a very strange offer.
Aside from the fact that it took over a decade to get the recall going on its faulty ignition switch, GM has handled the process in a strange manner. Repairs on the nearly 3 million affected vehicles are under way, but owners of those vehicles were quietly made a couple of questionable offers.
Back in March, GM informed owners of recalled vehicles that they would receive $500 off the purchase or lease of any new 2013, 2014 or 2015 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC vehicle, which was in addition to the affected car’s trade-in value.
That program ran through April, but there are no numbers to report how many buyers took advantage. I would assume not very many, because now there’s news of another secret promotion:
In lieu of the $500 offer, GM is now making employee pricing available to owners of recalled cars. There’s no indication of exactly how much that saves, but we do know it’s generally under invoice cost and can be combined with publicly advertised cash-back specials.
That could surely result in a good deal on a new car, but how ethical is this?
I appreciate the effort to make things right, but it almost seems like GM is also saying, “Yes, we realize our negligence could have caused your death, but we still need to make more money, and since you’re still alive, we’d like to sell you a new car. Congratulations!”
I don’t think asking someone to spend $25,000 or more should be considered compensation for a potentially fatal mistake. It actually seems a bit crass.
It makes a lot more sense for other automakers to make this offer and take advantage of an opportunity to change a GM customer’s brand loyalty. I don’t know of any such promotions, probably because other companies have too much class.
Would you accept a discount on a new car in place of having a recalled one fixed?