Top Headlines

Google Newest Addition To Streaming Music Service Providers

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:20:56 +0000

Google subscription streaming music service to compete with Spotify, Pandora and Apple
Google’s monthly subscription fee in line with Spotify, more expensive than Pandora
Streaming service part of Google efforts to “sell an ecosystem”

Automobile Industry Update: European Union Car Sales Up 1.7%

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:31:07 +0000

New car sales growth in Europe for April 2013 marks first increase since September 2011; may be sign of recovery
Seasonal factors may have skewed sales
Sales vary by region, manufacturer

US Airlines Top $6 Billion In Baggage, Reservation Fees

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:05:05 +0000

2012 fees highest on record, up 5% from 2011
$3.5 billion charged for checked luggage; $2.6 billion for reservation changes
Fees expected to jump again this summer

US Retail Unexpectedly Up 0.1% in April

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:20:27 +0000

Consumer confidence growing in US
Spending influenced by drop in gasoline prices, low interest rates and rise in both stock/property value
Consumer spending accounts for 30% of economy; household spending accounts for 70%

IBM Profits Fall Short of Analysts’ Predictions For First Time In 8 Years

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:30:48 +0000

Sales “execution problem” cited as major contributing factor
First quarter 2013 marks IBM’s first significant drop in revenue growth, a decline of 5%
Analysts speculate IBM’s troubles indicate a general trend toward cloud computing

Facebook To Build Data Center in Iowa for $1.5 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:41:53 +0000

New 1.4 million-square-foot data center said to be "the most technologically advanced data center in the world"
Facility to be completed in phases and will cost Facebook $1.5 billion to complete
Facebook to seek tax credits for wind energy production used for data center

FAA Approves Boeing Dreamliner To Resume Flights

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:18:10 +0000

FAA to monitor repairs made to Dreamliners owned by United Airlines
Boeing to send teams worldwide to replace battery systems
Production flights resume in Australia

American Airlines Parent Company Merging With US Airways

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:25:30 +0000

AMR won court approval for merger plan
New company to be world’s largest airline
Severance pay for AMR CEO rejected

Aerospace Giant EADS to Buy Back $634 Million in Stock From French Government

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:46:20 +0000

Government currently owns 15% share in EADS
Purchase part of a larger share buyback program
First time France has considered selling shares

Energy Company ConocoPhillips Suspends Offshore Arctic Operations

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:48:06 +0000

ConocoPhillips stops plans to drill in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf
US Department of the Interior mandates a more concrete Arctic-specific plan for drilling
Alaskan governor feels federal government stringency causing a reduction in Alaskan jobs, economic opportunities

Military Vehicle Manufacturer Oshkosh Corp. Cuts Defense Unit Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:02:27 +0000

Oshkosh to eliminate 700 hourly and 200 salaried jobs
30% decline expected for military vehicle production this summer
Company’s nondefense business shows signs of recovery post-recession

First Solar Purchases Solar-Cell Technology Company

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:51:40 +0000

First Solar plans to move into silicon solar-cell market
$12 billion in revenue forecast for next three years
First Solar plans to sell solar cells in Japan

Strategic Defence Intelligence Report: Global Airport M&A Activity to Rise in 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:08:34 +0000

Oil prices, market expansion, inflation, airport privatization to drive M&A activity upwards
China, India, Brazil, Russia, Middle East to see highest annual growth in emerging airport markets
Average airport supplier marketing budget to jump to $4.7 million in 2013

Report: US Airline Complaints Increase In 2012

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:43:50 +0000

Number of airline complaints up 20% since 2011
Virgin top of list for customer satisfaction
Study finds Hawaiian Airlines best on-time carrier

Mixed Results for Phase III Testing of AstraZeneca’s Experimental Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:12:28 +0000

AstraZeneca’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Fostamatinib meets one principal goal, fails second in testing phase
Fostamatinib part of AstraZeneca’s strategic plan to fight generic drug competition
Analysts say that even if approved, Fostamatinib will be a secondary drug

Electric-car Maker Detroit Electric Unveils All-Electric Sports Car

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:55:03 +0000

Detroit Electric SP:01 vehicle to be fastest EV sports car available
Detroit Electric to unveil other models in next few years
Electric-car market small in US, worldwide

Social Games Provider Zynga Brings Real Money Online Gambling To The UK

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:48:30 +0000

Zynga to offer UK residents over 18 access to real money games “ZyngaPlusPoker” and “ZyngaPlusCasino”
Zynga aims to offer next-generation, real-money games on multiple platforms in regulated markets worldwide
Online gambling in US could reach $7.4 billion annually by 2017

US Factories Saw February Growth Boosted By Aerospace, Auto Demand

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:02:39 +0000

February US factory bookings highest in five months
Bookings boosted by aircraft and motor vehicle orders
Economists predict March may not keep up pace

Google’s High-Tech Glasses To Be Manufactured In US By Foxconn Technology Group

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:46:08 +0000

Foxconn to manufacture Google’s Project Glass digital eyeglasses
Orders from Google could help reduce Foxconn’s reliance on Apple products
Google’s decision comes on heels of President Obama’s request for more US-manufactured technology products

Smartphone Maker BlackBerry Sees Success in Fourth Quarter

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:32:47 +0000

More BlackBerry 10 units sold than analysts expected, boosting revenue
Nearly 55% of buyers coming from other platforms
New model redesigned to feature in-demand apps, internet browsing and multimedia

Toyota, VW Unveil Redesigned Vehicles at New York International Auto Show

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:19:58 +0000

Toyota redesigns Highlander in an attempt to increase US market share
New Volkswagen Golf faster, more fuel efficient
Light weight vehicles costlier than traditional cars

US Electricity Provider NRG Energy Adopting Solar

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:58:41 +0000

NRG to install residential and commercial solar panels
83,000 US homes powered by solar in 2012, producing 488 megawatts of power
Solar panels to allow NRG to compete with high electricity prices

AstraZeneca Axes 2,300 Jobs, Narrows Research Focus

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:18:03 +0000

AstraZeneca to cut 10% of workforce by 2016
AstraZeneca to focus efforts on research for cancer, cardiovascular and metabolism conditions
Job cuts, R&D overhaul to cost $2.3 billion

Apple Data Centers Running On Renewable Energy Power Supply

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:47:01 +0000

Apple data centers now using geothermal, wind and solar power
Apple’s biggest data center adopts full renewable energy supply, produces 167 million kilowatts of power/year
Apple’s current all-company power supply made up of 75% renewable energy

Drugstore Giant Walgreens Buys Stake in Pharma Leader AmerisourceBergen For Access to Specialty Drugs

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:55:39 +0000

Walgreens pays $28 billion for stake in AmerisourceBergen to gain better distribution, access to drugs
Deal expected to generate $28 billion in revenue in 2014
Walgreens reported second quarter net income worth $756 million, up from $683 million a year ago

Washington Post To Launch Paywall For Online News Readers

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:25:10 +0000

Washington Post readers to pay to access over 20 online articles or multimedia products/month; print subscribers and selected users exempt
Washington Post to release a new iPad app to attract more online subscribers
Digital advertising makes up 20% of newspaper's total advertising revenue

Airbus Signs Record Deal Worth $24 billion From Indonesian Lion Air Airline

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:12:01 +0000

Airbus to build 234 A320 medium-haul jets for Lion Air
Deal makes Lion Air airline world top-five A320 operator
Air travel in Indonesia expected to grow 6.4% per year through 2031

Chinese Energy Company ENN to Build LNG Refueling Network in US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:44:15 +0000

China’s ENN Group to build 50 public LNG stations before end 2013; targeting network of 500 stations across US
50% of garbage trucks sold last year across US powered by natural gas
28 public LNG refueling points exist today in US

Italian Oil Producer ENI Sells Stake in African Gas Field to Chinese for $4.2 billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:42:04 +0000

ENI sells 20% stake in gas rich Mozambique field to China’s largest state-owned oil producer PetroChina
Chinese government promoting gas exploration to reduce nation’s reliance on coal and energy imports
China's state-owned energy companies spent $7 billion on acquisitions already in 2013

US Retail Sales May Indicate Economy Improving

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:53:41 +0000

US retail sales up 1.1% in February, more than double analyst expectations
Sales related to home, car, building and garden supplies see biggest increase
Discretionary purchases continue to lag; restaurant and drinking-establishment sales drop 0.7%

Asia Airline Cathay Pacific Reports 83% Loss

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:03:45 +0000

Cathay sees largest drop in profit since 2003 due to high fuel prices, increased competition and weak demand; Cathay air cargo business revenue down 5.5%
Cathay has 84 aircraft on order for delivery before 2020
IATA forecasts airline industry profit will rise in 2013

Media Giant Time Warner Set To Spin Off Magazine Unit Time Inc.

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:10:42 +0000

Time Inc. to be spun off as separate publicly held company by year end
Time Warner, Meredith Corp deal unsuccessful
Time Inc. revenue down from $5.4 billion to $3.4 billion in past decade

Chinese Automotive Sales Up 19.5% In First Two Months of 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:44:04 +0000

Increase in China automobile sales may be a sign of economic recovery
Auto sales in China to hit 20.8 million units in 2013, up from 19.3 million last year
German brands hold largest market share in China among foreign manufacturers

Google Cuts 1,200 Jobs In Motorola Mobility Unit

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:05:58 +0000

Google cutting 10% of workforce in Motorola Mobility Holdings due to poor performance
Cuts mostly to affect employees in China, India
Motorola Mobility to exit unprofitable markets, focus efforts on a few cell phones rather than many low-end devices

European Union Imposes Microsoft With $733M Fine For Non-Compliance

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:55:22 +0000

Microsoft issued $733 million fine for not complying with European Commission
Microsoft upgrade does not offer choice of internet browsers
Microsoft has over $2.8 billion in fines related to antitrust regulations

European Auto Show: Volkswagen Golf Wins Car of The Year, Nissan Reveals Redesigned LEAF

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:12:21 +0000

Volkswagen Golf wins Car of the Year award for second time
Golf model key to help Volkswagen surpass Toyota as world’s largest vehicle manufacturer
Redesigned Nissan LEAF offers cut-in-half charging time

Electronics Leader Samsung Invests $112 Million in Sharp

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:59:04 +0000

Samsung invests in Sharp to gain technology, improve focus on OLED TV screens
Funds to help introduce new LCD technology
Investment makes Samsung largest foreign shareholder in Sharp

Handset Maker LG Plans To Sell 40 Million Smartphones In 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:54:37 +0000

LG aims to nearly double smartphone sales in 2013, shift to high-end devices
LG shipped 26.3 million smartphones in 2012
LG hopes to become a top-tier smartphone brand

US Air Force Awards $427 Million Contract to Defense Contractor Sierra Nevada Corp

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:11:00 +0000

US Air Force orders 20 A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircrafts from Sierra Nevada Corp to use in Afghan Air Force training exercises
Deal helps Sierra Nevada subcontractor Embraer boost its defense unit
Sierra Nevada Corp beat out competitor Beechcraft Corp, who tried to win the deal twice

Hiring Freeze At Taiwan Tech Giant Foxconn Creates Doubts About Apple

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:15:14 +0000

Foxconn Technology Group launches hiring freeze at plants in China because of increase in employee retention
Apple iPhone has taken hit against cheaper Android-based smartphones produced by competitors
“iPhone mini” for Chinese market could drive growth for Apple

Spanish Airline Iberia Strike In Madrid Over Job Cuts

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:05:59 +0000

Iberia workers protesting 3,800 job cuts and salary deductions
Iberia owner IAG suffered operating loss in 2012
Thousands of passengers rescheduled for other airlines

Oil & Gas Producer Linn Energy Buys Berry Petroleum To Boost Oil Reserves

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:37:15 +0000

Purchase to increase Linn Energy’s oil reserves by 34%
Linn Energy to up liquids exposure from 46% to 54%
Linn Energy to spend $2 billion in deals annually

Office Depot and OfficeMax Merge To Boost Competitivity

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:52:18 +0000

Office Depot, OfficeMax merger expected to generate $18 billion entity
Merger aims to accelerate innovation for customers and become more competitive
Office supply revenue drops due to recession; competition from online sales and big discount chains

Honda, SolarCity Partner To Fund Solar Panels In Homes and Auto Dealerships

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:40:34 +0000

Honda, SolarCity launch $65 million tax equity solar fund
Fund to finance solar systems for 2,500 to 3,000 residential homes plus 10-20 dealerships
Partnering with SolarCity to help Honda reach goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2050

Automotive Leaders BMW, Chrysler Recall Thousands of Vehicles In North America

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:15:30 +0000

BMW to recall 30,265 utility vehicles in US
Chrysler to recall nearly 370,300 pickups and SUVS, mostly in North America
Repairs to be made free of cost to customers

American Airlines and US Airways Merge To Become Biggest World Air Carrier

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:08:29 +0000

US Airways and American Airlines merge in $11 billion deal
Merger expected to generate over $1 billion in new revenue and annual savings by 2015
Merger latest in a series of airline industry consolidations ongoing since 2005 linked to financial crisis

Luxury Goods Firm PPR Going Strong At Start Of 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:56:34 +0000

PPR shares at highest level in 12 years, sales jump 20%
Nearly 40% of PPR’s global sales come from emerging markets
PPR brand Puma reports 70% decline in profit

Media King Comcast Buys GE’s Stake In Entertainment Company NBCUniversal For Over $16 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:19:26 +0000

Comcast buys NBCUniversal to take over media conglomerate that includes NBC Network, SyFy, MSNBC, Bravo, USA Network, Universal Pictures film studio and Universal Studios theme parks
Purchase originally planned for after 2014 but Comcast buying now to avoid higher prices
Customers should not see cable prices increase

Goodyear Revises 2013 Forecast In Response to European Crisis

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:51:27 +0000

Weakness of European tire market causes Goodyear to revise forecast down
Goodyear broke even in 2012
Three-year strategy expected to improve European sales

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Aircraft Approved For Test Flight, Delivery Delays Expected

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:25:43 +0000

Boeing Dreamliner passes first test flight after battery incidents
Boeing expects delays in Dreamliner production
Japan, India, Poland, Chile ban use of Dreamliner until answers are provided

Toyota Revamping 2014 Tundra to Compete in High-End US Truck Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:18:40 +0000

Redesigned Tundra to be sold in $40,000 high-end US truck market
Toyota required to offer new features to gain US customers
Tundra design changes inspired by customer feedback

Computer Maker Dell Strikes $24 Billion Buyout Deal With Equity Firm Silver Lake

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:52:37 +0000

Dell goes private in biggest leveraged buyout deal post-financial crisis
Dell to take on $17 billion in debt to finance transaction; Microsoft contributing $2 billion loan
Dell-Silver Lake deal underlines decline in PC industry

Cable Leader Liberty Global Buys Virgin Media To Gain Ground In Europe

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:25:20 +0000

Virgin Media acquisition to help Liberty Global enter competitive European market
80% of Liberty Global revenue to come from Europe
Liberty owned by American billionaire John Malone, known as America's King of Cable

Tech Giant Oracle Expands Into Networking Equipment Market With Acme Packet Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:50:55 +0000

Oracle pays over $2 billion for Acme Packet, session border control market leader
Acme Packet largest Oracle acquisition since Taleo takeover
Oracle, Acme Packet good fit because Acme customers already dependent on Oracle business management software

Apple iPad Tops Tablet Market But Market Share Slipping

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:50:53 +0000

Apple tablet market share drops 3% to total 44% worldwide
52.5 million tablets shipped worldwide in last quarter 2012; PC shipments down over 6%
Samsung, Amazon and Asus beginning to make inroads into Apple market share

Smartphone Leader Research In Motion Unveils New BlackBerry, New Name

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:50:16 +0000

Company to drop RIM name for BlackBerry; new BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 smartphones announced
UK gets new release first; US, Canada, United Arab Emirates to follow
US carriers taking longer to test handsets than other markets

E-Commerce Giant Amazon Sales Hit $21 Billion, Web Services Booming

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:17:35 +0000

Amazon sales up 22% but profit falls 45%
Amazon Web Services grow 68% in North America
Amazon to build warehouses, fulfillment centers in US to minimize shipping costs

Electronics Leader Philips Closes The Door On Its Home Entertainment Business

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:05:49 +0000

Philips transfers audio visual division to Japan’s Funai Electric
Funai plans global expansion with latest acquisition from Philips
Philips to focus now on health and well-being appliances

Major Car Manufacturers Form Alliance To Develop Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:45:16 +0000

Ford, Daimler and Renault-Nissan to share costs and technology for hydrogen fuel cell vehicle project
Alliance to speed up technology to market time and reduce costs passed to customers
BMW, Toyota collaborating to develop next-generation “lithium-air” batteries for green vehicles

Airline United Continental Cuts 600 Jobs To Play Catch-Up After 2012 Financial Losses

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:39:06 +0000

United Continental to curb 2012 losses by laying off 600 front-office employees
Unionized workers not included in cuts
United Continental to focus on improving customer service going forward

Global Sales Up 13% For Coffee Giant Starbucks

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 13:56:13 +0000

Starbucks sales in Americas up 7% thanks to holiday promotions
Starbucks sales up 11% in Asia-Pacific, while sales in EMEA down 1%
Starbucks to expand with thousands of new cafes in Americas, China

Search Engine Giant Google Hits Record $50 Billion In Revenue

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 09:25:38 +0000

Google revenue up 36% in fourth quarter 2012 compared to 2011
Google desktop search clicks down 4% in last six months
Competition from mobile presents challenge for Google

IKEA Gets Green Light To Open 25 Stores In India

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:16:00 +0000

IKEA to open 25 stores in India for investment of nearly $2 billion
Foreign retail investment in India expected to boost economy, generate jobs
India's retail sector expected to double to $874 billion by 2017

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Aircraft Battery Maker Under Investigation

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:12:27 +0000

Investigators looking at 787 Dreamliner battery to determine source of malfunction
Boeing puts delivery of new 787 Dreamliners on hold
Japanese airlines forced to cancel hundreds of flights

Struggling Phone Maker Nokia To Outsource IT Jobs To India

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:40:05 +0000

Nokia restructures IT operations, cuts 300 IT staff to reduce costs; another 10,000 mobile division jobs to be eliminated by end 2013
Nokia phone shipments slip to 86 million units from 114 million units
Finnish government to assist Nokia’s Chennai, India site with unpaid tax claim

Auto Leader GM Investing In North American Factories, Launching New Vehicles

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:38:38 +0000

GM to invest $1.5 million in automotive facilities across North America
GM to introduce 20 new vehicles in US
GM to save thousands in production costs with next-generation Chevy Volt

Can Music Retail Giant HMV Be Saved?

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:04:31 +0000

HMV calls Deloitte to oversee final effort to save its failing business
Over 4,000 jobs in jeopardy
Digital music revolution appears to be biggest contributor to HMV's demise

US Industrial Output Rises For Second Month In A Row In December

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:20:29 +0000

Industrial production up 0.3% in US end of 2012
American factory output expected to be boosted by turnaround in foreign markets
Manufacturing output up 0.8%.

Watchmaker Swatch To Buy Luxury Jeweler Harry Winston For $1 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:13:36 +0000

Harry Winston acquisition to help Swatch better compete in jewelry market
Purchase does not include Harry Winston diamond-mining operation
Deal comes after partnership with Tiffany ends

Credit Card Giant American Express To Cut 5,400 Jobs Worldwide in 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 10:15:34 +0000

American Express cuts 8.5% of workforce, mostly in its travel business
American Express aims to streamline operations, be more nimble in future
American Express forced to pay $600 million in after-tax charges

Automotive Leader Ford Adds 2,200 New Jobs in The US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:16:39 +0000

Ford to expand US workforce to meet rising sales
New jobs to include mainly engineers, production and IT workers
Ford sold 2.3 million cars in 2012, up 5% from 2011

World Tablet Shipments To Increase 64%, Exceed Laptop Sales in 2013

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:31:30 +0000

World tablet shipments to increase 64% in 2013, surpassing laptop shipments
Smaller screen sizes should account for 45% of tablet market product sales in 2013
North America to remain largest tablet market player in 2013 with 35% market share, 85 million units

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Aircraft Safety Concerns Affect Investor Confidence

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:14:43 +0000

Dreamliner flights cancelled due to fuel leak, braking problems
Boeing market value falls $2.8 billion
800 Dreamliner orders still standing

Mobile Division Drives Record Operating Profit For Samsung Electronics

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:48:32 +0000

Samsung operating profit hits $8.3 billion, a 89% jump over 2011
70% of operating income generated by mobile division
Samsung to become top home appliance maker by 2015 with $18 billion in sales

US Book Giant Barnes & Noble Reports Disappointing Holiday Retail Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:19:31 +0000

Barnes & Noble sales down close to 11% at end of 2012
Nook e-reader sales down 13%
Holiday season sales started strong but then declined

US Automotive Manufacturers See Jump in December Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:39:42 +0000

US automakers sell 14.5 million new vehicles in 2012 for a 13.4% increase over 2011
44.5% of US auto sales generated by General Motors, Chrysler Group and Ford Motor
US consumers looking to replace their aging vehicles

Samsung Overtakes Nokia As Top Mobile Phone Brand

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:03:19 +0000

Samsung surpasses Nokia for cell phone shipments, with Apple following in third place
Operating systems, price affect standings
654 million smartphones were shipped in 2012

Media Ratings Leader Nielsen Moves Into Radio With Arbitron Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:50:12 +0000

Nielsen will pay $1.26 billion for Arbitron radio ratings technology company
Radio reaches 92% of US adults and teens
Nielsen, Arbitron deal pending regulatory approval

Smartphone Update: China Sees Record Sales For Apple iPhone 5

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:28:13 +0000

Apple sells over 2 million iPhone 5s in China during launch
Apple market share in China rumored to have slipped 50%
3.3 million iPhones shipped to China in 3rd quarter

Report: Military Aviation MRO Industry To Reach $39.4 billion by 2022

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:42:43 +0000

MRO industry to increase at a rate of 3.49% over next 10 years
North America to account for 48% of global MRO investment
MRO industry needs more skilled workers

Business Search Engine ReportLinker.com Ranks 375 On Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2012

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:13:54 +0000

ReportLinker ranks number 375 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2012
ReportLinker.com records five-year revenue growth rate of 392%
ReportLinker.com previously ranked 478 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2010 and 445 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2011

Nissan Making Electric Car Batteries in US, To Launch New All-Electric Vehicle Models

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:40:01 +0000

Nissan producing lithium-ion batteries for all-electric cars in Tennessee
Nissan to have 85% of all Nissan and Infiniti products sold in the US be produced in North America by 2015
LEAF most successful all electric-vehicle model; new hybrids and electric vehicles planned for future

Satellite TV Provider Dish Network To Enter US Wireless Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:03:00 +0000

Dish to compete with US wireless leaders Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint Nextel
FCC imposes restrictions on Dish airwaves within the H block
Sprint and Dish considering partnership

Delta Air Lines Purchases Stake In Virgin Atlantic To Expand NY-London Air Route

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:33:36 +0000

Delta Air Lines buys 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic for $360 million
Joint venture gives both airlines a 25% share of cross-Atlantic traffic
Deal should be operational before 2014

Banking Industry Leader HSBC To Pay $1.92 Billion Fine In US Settlement

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:44:16 +0000

HSBC investigated for money laundering by US Justice Department
HSBC must reach specific goals to respect settlement deal
Latest charges mark third time HSBC has been penalized in US

Citigroup Cuts 11, 000 Jobs To Streamline Operations

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:13:25 +0000

Citigroup to cut 4% of its global workforce
Cuts should save $900 million next year and up to $1.1 billion in 2014, beyond
Other major world banks have already laid off staff or are facing layoffs

Delta Air Lines Updating Fleet With Regional Aircraft Purchase From Bombardier

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:40:51 +0000

Delta Air Lines to purchase up to 70 76-seat jets
New jets more fuel efficient than older Delta aircraft
Delta seeks to update current fleet, move to larger aircraft

UK Grocer Tesco Plans to Leave Competitive US Grocery Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:09:12 +0000

Tesco reviewing options for its 200 Fresh & Easy grocery stores in US market
Fresh & Easy slow to produce profit
Sales at Tesco UK stores also falling

Medical Device Maker Baxter International To Buy Swedish Dialysis Product Manufacturer

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:43:59 +0000

Baxter to pay $2.76 billion for Gambro to expand kidney equipment business
Purchase of Gambro AB expected to close in 2013
Rate of patients on dialysis growing by 5% every year

India’s Economic Growth Rate Hits Ten-Year Low of 5.3%

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:34:53 +0000

India GDP growth of 5.3% parallels figures registered in March
Decline caused largely by slow manufacturing, farming output
Foreign investment to provide modest recovery by second half of fiscal year

Latest Apple iPhone Products Available In China Next Week

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:10:38 +0000

iPhone 5 on sale in China starting December 14; latest iPad and Wi-Fi version of iPad mini available December 7
China contributes $23.8 billion to Apple revenue, or 15% of total
Apple aims to regain market share lost to Samsung

Verizon Top Major US Mobile Carrier, While AT&T Ranks Last

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:25:07 +0000

Consumer Reports ranks major US mobile carriers in several categories
AT&T at bottom for all categories except 4G service
Smaller carriers have highest overall ranking

BP Sells North Sea Assets To Abu Dhabi Energy Group Taqa

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:26:59 +0000

Sale part of BP‘s overall strategy to raise funds to cover costs related to Deepwater Horizon spill in Gulf of Mexico
Deal includes assets in Devenick, Harding, Maclure fields; non-operated assets in Brae, Braemar fields
BP to invest $10 billion in North Sea oil production over next 5 years

Canadian Energy Leader Enbridge To Link 2 Alberta Oil Hubs

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:07:10 +0000

Enbridge to connect Edmonton and Hardisty oil hubs with $1.8 billion pipeline
570,000 barrels of oil to be transported per day
Northern Alberta oil sands production to reach 3.1 million barrels/day in 2020

Mobile Device Use Ups Online Sales in the US

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:54:53 +0000

US online sales to increase 17% in 2012
10% of online shopping over US holiday weekend done via iPad, 8.7% by iPhone
Sales using mobile devices should account for 9.5% of sales by 2015

Tech Trend: Tablet Sales To Eclipse Laptops In North America

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:25:42 +0000

North America to ship 21.5 million tablets vs. 14.6 million laptops
Global tablet shipments to reach nearly 276 million units by 2015
Apple iPad hits over $1 billion in Black Friday e-commerce sales

Japanese Automakers Aim To Win Back Customers In China Car Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:17:47 +0000

Japanese vehicle sales fall 40% to 70% in China last month
Japanese manufacturers to regain lost sales in 2013 by offering discounts, service packages, more models
Survey says 33.8% of Chinese consumers would buy Japanese-brand vehicles

Judge Hears Hostess Bankruptcy Case

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:26:11 +0000

Manufacturer, union agree to mediation
Hostess seeking permission to pay management bonuses
Potential bidders may be interested in Hostess brands

Hot Drinks Industry: Starbucks To Better Compete In Tea Market With Teavana Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:03:24 +0000

Teavana largest acquisition in aggressive Starbucks expansion plan
Starbucks to capitalize on increasing popularity of tea
Consumers in India drinking 7 times more tea than coffee; consumers in China drinking 16 times more

US Telecom Update: AT&T, Verizon Expand 4G LTE Networks

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:40:04 +0000

AT&T rolls out ultra-fast network in eight US cities
Verizon to offer 4G coverage across all US wireless networks by next year
Sprint Nextel to add nine more cities to network in coming months
Global 4G subscriptions to soar to over 560 million by 2016

Walmart Facing Strong Competition From Target This Holiday Season

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:56:52 +0000

Sales at US Walmart stores disappoint in third quarter
Target reports rise in sales
Sam’s Clubs sees drop in sales, traffic

Japanese Electronics Giant Panasonic Underperforming, Cutting 10K More Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:00:01 +0000

Nearly one fifth of Panasonic operating units losing money
Panasonic to spend $5.5 billion on restructuring costs
Panasonic could post losses of $10 billion by year end

International Energy Agency Report: US To Become World’s Top Oil Producer

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:11:56 +0000

Increased oil production to make US nearly self sufficient; may reduce electricity prices
US to lead natural gas production globally by 2015
Increased oil production to impact environment

Scandinavian Airline SAS Seeks Savings, Cuts Salaries and 6,000 Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:46:59 +0000

Nearly 40% of SAS jobs to be cut to help secure credit
Reductions expected to save SAS $440 million per year
Analysts predict SAS will be bought by larger airline

Boston Scientific Buys Vessix Vascular To Accelerate Entry Into Renal Denervation Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:05:56 +0000

Boston Scientific to pay up to $425 milllion for Vessix Vascular
Boston Scientific latest company to buy into renal denervation hypertension treatment
Procedure available in Europe; yet to be approved in United States

Fast-Food Industry Update: McDonald’s Sales Slip For First Time Since 2003

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:27:30 +0000

Nearly 33% of all McDonald’s revenue comes from US
US sales drop lower than analyst expectations; only UK saw gain in EU
Fast-food competitors Burger King and Wendy’s see sales rise

Time Warner Cable Television Business Going Strong

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:20:37 +0000

Time Warner reports a 12% increase in revenue since 2011
Quality programming and national sporting events making Time Warner more appealing to advertisers
Time Warner expects 9% increase in US advertising revenue in fourth quarter

Mobile Phone Network Leader Ericsson Hurt By Drop in Profit, Cutting Jobs In Sweden

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:11:49 +0000

Ericsson to cut 1,550 jobs in Sweden; restructuring to cost $600 million
Ericsson earlier this year predicted compound growth between 2% - 8% through 2014
Competitors Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent also facing job cuts

Suzuki Stops Selling Cars In The US Automotive Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:08:53 +0000

Suzuki files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in US
Suzuki to continue to service vehicles and honor warranties; sales will stop when inventory runs out
Suzuki to focus vehicle sales on emerging markets, especially India.

US Consumer Survey: Toyota Makes Most Reliable Cars in America

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:30:20 +0000

Japanese automakers take top seven spots in US Auto Reliability Survey
American automakers near bottom of list; Ford ranked 27 out of 28 brands
Ford vehicles facing technology issues

Disney Buys Star Wars, Indiana Jones Franchise Owner Lucasfilm For $4 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:12:57 +0000

Disney buys Lucasfilm to add popular live action and animated characters
Disney estimates Lucasfilm to generate $860 million in sales in 2012
New Star Wars trilogy scheduled to be released in 2015

UBS Cutting 10,000 Jobs to Increase Profit

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:50:53 +0000

UBS posts $2.31 billion third-quarter loss
Bulk of job cuts in London, US; to be completed by 2015
UBS under investigation linked to London Interbank Offered Rates

AstraZeneca Looks to New Leadership As Drug Patent Expiration Hurts Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:17:22 +0000

Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca’s new leader, expected to combat decline in sales and pre-tax profit caused by expiration of drug patents
Most critical losses through to 2016 include best-selling drugs Crestor, Seroquel and Nexium
Recovery plan includes annual strategy review, outsourcing of product development and acquisitions

Yahoo Buys Smartphone App Start-Up Stamped To Focus On Mobile

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:49:32 +0000

First Yahoo acquisition under new CEO Marissa Mayer
Yahoo to become mainly mobile company
Stamped app to be scrapped in favor of new Yahoo app

Consumer Products Leader Newell Rubbermaid Cutting Jobs, Changing Executive Members

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:59:46 +0000

Newell Rubbermaid to cut 1,900 jobs
Rubbermaid restructuring expected to save $180 million to $225 million annually
Savings from reorganization to be used to grow brands, boost sales in foreign markets

Proctor & Gamble To Introduce New Products To Win Back Market Share

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:25:12 +0000

Procter & Gamble sees drop in net sales of close to 4% over July-September 2012
New products and productivity measures to be implemented to help regain market share
Competitors Kimberly-Clark and Colgate cutting jobs

Pfizer Buys Specialty Drug Maker NextWave Pharmaceuticals For $680 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:40:11 +0000

Pfizer buys NextWave to offer more diverse portfolio of high-quality medicines
Pfizer selling off nutritional and animal health businesses to focus on developing new prescription drugs
NextWave ADHD drug Quillivant XR approved by FDA, expected to be available in US by January 2013

Airbus Launches New A350 Aircraft Manufacturing Line

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:58:59 +0000

Airbus A350 aircraft designed to decrease fuel consumption dramatically, made out of lightweight carbon-composite material
A350 marked as Europe's first major contribution to new generation of aircraft
Airbus to begin production immediately, should generate 10 planes per month by 2018

Semiconductor Deal: Dutch ASML To Buy US Company Cymer For $2.6 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:50:54 +0000

ASML and Cymer to develop EUV technology, satisfy consumer demand for microchips
PC demand drops to 349 million units in 2012, marking first decrease since 2001
Demand for memory chips to be weak during start of 2013, while demand for logic chips to grow

Coca-Cola Sales Slow In China

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:26:49 +0000

Chinese sales slow to 2% growth, still vital to company’s long-term growth
Despite slowdown in China, Coca-Cola saw growth worldwide
India takes China’s place as largest market for Coca Cola sales, to see $5 billion investment in next 8 years

Japanese Mobile Phone Company SoftBank To Purchase Majority Stake In Sprint Nextel For Over $20 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:11:34 +0000

Entering US market offers Softbank opportunity to grow
Japan handset shipments down 27% over past five years
Sprint struggling financially since Nextel purchase; deal provides funds to pay down debt

IBM, AT&T Partnering To Offer Cloud Services For Fortune 1000 Companies

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:56:24 +0000

Service provides data access via IBM network and AT&T infrastructure; target audience is Fortune 1000 companies
IBM hopes to make $7 billion in cloud revenue by 2015
IBM also seeking to boost its presence in analytics market

Samsung Ups Smartphone Competition By Launching Galaxy S III Mini In Europe

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:37:29 +0000

Mini Galaxy S III in direct competition with new Apple iPhone 5
Mini Galaxy S III features 4-inch screen, much in demand in Europe
Samsung to launch ATIV smartphone, ATIV tablet to compete with Nokia

Toyota Faces Largest Recall Yet With 7.4 Million Vehicles

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:37:20 +0000

Recall questions Toyota’s ability to resolve quality and safety issues
Toyota sales up almost 32%, regains crown as world's top-selling automaker during first half of 2012
Recent recalls could have negative impact

Walmart Launches Prepaid Amex Debit Card For US Retail Customers

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:53:14 +0000

Walmart prepaid debit card lets customers pay for purchases anywhere American Express cards are accepted; withdraw money from ATMs
Partnership to open up new customer base for American Express
Market for prepaid debit cards expected to grow to $150 billion in 2012

$65 Billion Price Tag for Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Megaproject

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 12:18:24 +0000

Scope of 10-year LNG megaproject includes storage tanks, liquefaction plant and 1,300-km pipeline
Sale of natural gas from North Slope could bring in up to $20 billion in annual revenue
Alaskan officials anticipating project will help region dominate global LNG industry

Kraft Foods Now Split Into Kraft Foods Group, Mondelez International

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:42:05 +0000

Kraft Foods Group to focus on North America and manage Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Planters, Velveeta, Miracle Whip, and JELL-O brands
Mondelez to retain Cadbury, Jacobs, LU, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Tang and Tridentbrands
Kraft has work to do to generate enhanced sales in US

Mining Strikes Across South Africa Affect Production Of Metals And Minerals

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:02:01 +0000

Nearly 75,000 diamond, iron ore, gold and platinum miners on strike, production disrupted
Mining represents 6% of South African gross domestic product
Truckers strike affecting South African mining shipments

US Auto Sales Reach Highest Point Since March 2008

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:20:45 +0000

More than 1 million vehicles sold in the US in September
All automakers saw sales increases in the US except for Nissan
Consumers taking advantage of record-low interest rates

T-Mobile USA Targets Major Players With MetroPCS Merger

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:17:13 +0000

Deutsche Telekom aims to reel in Sprint, Verizon, AT&T with merger
Deutsche Telekomto retain 74% stake in new company
T-Mobile USA lost 2.7 million subscribers in past two years

US Retailer Macy’s To Hire 80,000 Employees For Holiday Shopping Season

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:25:16 +0000

Macy’s sees a 2.6% increase in seasonal employee hiring since last year
Macy’s outperforming key competitors JC Penney and Kohl’s
Toys R US, Walmart and Kohl’s also hiring more seasonal staff

End Of Consumer Inkjet Printer Production For Kodak

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:36:34 +0000

Kodak to stop inkjet printer production to focus on commercial printing business
Kodak in period of restructuring, hoping to recoup $600 million loss prior to bankruptcy
23% reduction in Kodak staff expected to save $340 million a year

Sony Set to Buy Majority Stake in Olympus for $645 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:18:00 +0000

Purchase part of Sony’s plan to expand medical-equipment business
Olympus controls 70% of world endoscope market
Sony, Olympus to launch new company that develops, manufactures and sells medical equipment

Toyota Scraps Plans For Large-Scale Electric Car Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:14:35 +0000

Toyota to release only around 100 fully electric eQ cars in Japan and US
Company to concentrate on gas-hybrid technology
Global sales predictions of 1 million Toyota hybrids annually between 2013 and 2015

Japanese Automakers To Slow Production In China Due To Weak Demand

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:52:24 +0000

Nissan, Toyota and Honda all see sales drops in China, South Korea
Some 30% of Nissan’s sales are in China; Toyota sees 17% and Honda is at 15%.
Japan set to lose market share in China to Germany

Fiat Aims To Boost Automotive Manufacturing Efficiency, Plans To Stay In Italy

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:11:24 +0000

Fiat hopes to improve factory efficiency to remain in Italy
Fiat factories currently at less than 50% capacity
Auto industry in Italy sees lowest sales in 40 years

HTC Reveals New Windows-Based 8S, 8X Smartphones

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:29:27 +0000

HTC launches two Windows-based smartphones
HTC and Microsoft to collaborate to improve standing in smartphone industry
Apple to be among HTC’s strongest competitors with new iPhone5

Starbucks Launches Single-Serve Verismo Coffee Maker For Home Brewing

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:48:45 +0000

Starbucks’s Verismo to compete in single-serve coffee machine market
Green Mountain Keurig machine sales to face competition from new Verismo
Some $8 billion in single-serve machines and cups were sold worldwide in 2011

Oil & Gas Update: Shell Delays Alaskan Oil Drilling After Equipment Failure

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:15:45 +0000

Shell containment dome used to stop oil spills damaged; stops drilling projects for rest of 2012
Shell planned to invest $1 billion in arctic drilling this year
Arctic region contains oil worth $10 billion

Bayer HealthCare To Buy Teva Pharmaceutical’s US Animal Health Operations

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:21:55 +0000

Bayer HealthCare to acquire Teva’s US Animal Health business in 2013
Acquisition to expand Bayer’s companion animal and livestock animal product lines in US
Teva deal Bayer’s most recent small-to-mid-sized company purchase

Apple’s iPhone 5 Sets New Record With 2 Million First-Day Orders

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:21:55 +0000

iPhone 5 orders top 2 million units on first day of release
High demand to delay some preorders but most to arrive on time
Handset to hit stores in US and Europe on Sept. 21

Japan Targets Zero Nuclear Power By 2030s

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:06:46 +0000

Ministers finalizing policy to phase out nuclear energy in Japan say media reports
Government previously favored increase of nuclear to 50% of electricity supply
Total nuclear shutdown would make Japan one of world’s top fossil fuel importers

Apple To Sell 33 Million iPhone 5 Devices This Quarter

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:19:36 +0000

Sales of new iPhone 5 could double those of iPhone 4S
New model may help increase Apple’s market share
Expected success of iPhone 5 puts pressure on competitors

EE To Launch UK’s First 4G Mobile Services

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:05:14 +0000

4G mobile services to be operational in 16 cities before end of 2012
Everything Everywhere to change name to EE
UK rivals unhappy with regulator’s “early” approval of EE 4G plans

Philips Cuts 2,200 More Jobs To Cut Costs

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:49:51 +0000

Philips cutting 2,200 jobs by 2014 in addition to 4,500 positions already planned to be eliminated
Cuts affect healthcare and lighting divisions
Philips will spend $270 million on restructuring by end 2012

General Motors To Improve Efficiency With 10,000 New IT Employees

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:14:06 +0000

GM aims to bring 90% of IT jobs in-house, up from 10% today
GM to open four IT centers in US to improve business procedures, develop technology
First tech center now open in Austin, TX

Qantas Airways Teams Up With Emirates To Expand European Reach

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:30:13 +0000

Qantas Airways to partner with Emirates starting April 2013
Emirates deal to help Qantas cut profit loss and expand European services
New partnership latest addition to Qantas plan to overhaul international network

McDonald’s Launches Vegetarian Restaurants In India To Capture More Market Share

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:49:10 +0000

McDonald’s catering to local tastes in India with vegetarian-menu-only restaurants
Majority of India’s population does not eat beef or pork due to religious reasons
Half of McDonald’s menu in India already vegetarian

Chinese Search Engine Baidu Launches New Mobile Browser 20% Faster Than Competitor Products

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:45:39 +0000

Baidu aims to have new mobile browser downloaded by 80% of Android users
Number of mobile internet users in China rises to 388 million
Baidu plans to invest $1.6 billion in cloud computing

Italy’s Gruppo Campari Buys Jamaican Rum Maker For $415 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:24:43 +0000

Campari aims to expand in North America with Lascelles de Mercado & Co acquisition
Deal includes brands Coruba, Wray & Nephew, Appleton Special/White and Appleton Estate
Rum third most popular spirit behind vodka and scotch

Valeant Pharmaceuticals To Bolster Skin Care Business With Medicis Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:43:43 +0000

Valeant to buy Medicis for $2.6 billion; first takeover since failed Cephalon bid last year
Buyout to add Botox rival Dysport to Valeant’s skin care portfolio
Deal expected to account for 50% of total revenue

Back-To-School Rush Helps US Retailers See August Sales Exceed Estimates

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 10:29:23 +0000

Same-store sales for chain stores rose by 6%
Back-to-school shopping for K-12 and college students expected to hit $84 billion
70% of US economic activity gained from consumer spending

Lexmark Exits Inkjet Printer Market To Focus On Laser Printers, Imaging

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:21:24 +0000

Lexmark to focus on laser printer market, software and imaging
1,700 jobs to be cut in restructuring
Lexmark inkjet printers revenue down 35% compared to last year

Chinese Automotive Market To Welcome Ford Luxury Lincoln Brand By 2014

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:32:34 +0000

Ford to begin selling luxury Lincoln brand vehicle in China by 2014
Ford invested $5 billion in China over past 6 years
Ford aims to double its dealerships and assembly plants in China

US Court Rules In Apple’s Favor For Patent Case, Says Samsung Owes Over $1 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:38:04 +0000

Samsung ruled to have violated 6 out of 7 Apple patents, ordered to pay $1.05 billion
Apple files paperwork to have 8 Samsung products banned
Smartphones using Google's Android operating system may be forced to make changes to product models

GE Transportation Launches EPA-Compliant Train To Meet Updated Emissions Standards

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:29:02 +0000

New GE Evolution train first to meet Tier 4 emissions standards
GE invested $600 million to design and test train
Evolution train does not require use of urea or costly fueling centers

US Retail: PayPal And Discover Partner To Offer In-Store Payment Service

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 09:00:06 +0000

PayPal access to be offered starting 2013 in over 7 million stores
PayPal has over 50 million customers in the US, should boost Discover transaction volume
Discover deal to help expand PayPal offline services, offer could go global

South Korean Court: Apple, Samsung Infringed On Patents

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 08:52:24 +0000

Products from both manufacturers to be pulled from South Korean shelves
Apple, Samsung must pay each other damages
US court case not yet decided

Amazon Kindle E-Reader Goes To India

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:00:43 +0000

Amazon partners with Indian retailer Croma to offer Kindle e-reader tablet
India Kindle Store has over 1 million book titles
Authors in India have access to Kindle Direct Publishing service

Sony Axes 1,000 Jobs, Relocates Mobile Unit HQ To Japan

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:35:23 +0000

Sony to reduce mobile workforce by 15%; targets 10,000 global workforce reductions over coming years
650 jobs to be cut at mobile operations HQ in Lund, Sweden
Company posted net loss of $5.8 billion for fiscal year ending March

Online Video Views Soar In The US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:28:45 +0000

36.9 billion videos watched online in July in US
85.5% of internet users in the US accessed online video content
Ads account for almost 10 billion videos views

E-Books: Barnes & Noble Slipping Despite Microsoft Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:19:52 +0000

Barnes & Noble aims to protect its hold on 25% of US e-book market
Microsoft deal should help, but won’t be finalized before 2013
Wider distribution of e-readers may be possible with Windows 8 devices
Nook to launch in the UK in October

Major Retailers Team Up To Build Mobile Payment App

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:14:18 +0000

Retailers developing Merchant Customer Exchange app have combined sales totaling $1 trillion annually
App to face competition from Google Wallet, Apple Passbook, Square, PayPal and others
Juniper Research predicts mobile payments to hit $1.3 trillion by 2017

China Cuts Rare Earth Production 20%, Creates Tense Trade Relations

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:46:29 +0000

China cuts production of rare earth to respect new minimum output guidelines and help protect rare earth resources
China produces over 90% of world rare earth supply, holds 30% of world rare earth deposits
Japan, the US and Europe complain to World Trade Organization that China is violating free-trade rules
China aims for greater control over global rare earth pricing

Russian Space Agency Losing Trust After Another Satellite Mission Failure

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:33:35 +0000

Russia’s space program faces another mishap, affecting telecom services in Indonesia and Russia
Use of Proton-M rocket carriers suspended
Russian space agency now faces much doubt and scrutiny, struggles to maintain trust
Strict quality control issues being put in place in all of Russia’s rocket parts plants

Report: Global Average Internet Connection Speeds Up To 2.6 Mbps

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:25:04 +0000

Average internet connection speeds up to 2.6 Mbps from 2.3 Mbps
Top-fastest internet nations: South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Latvia
China logs 16% of source internet attack traffic, US 11%

McDonald's Sales Stagnant, Faces Tougher Fast-Food Competition

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:03:10 +0000

McDonald’s revenue down 0.1% in US; 0.6% in Europe; and 1.5% in Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa
Drop attributed to customers cutting budgets and unsuccessful advertising
Competitors Burger King, Taco Bell and Wendy’s marketing aggressively to bring in sales

Dutch Automaker Spyker Suing General Motors For $3 Billion Over Saab Deal Damages

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:28:26 +0000

Spyker claims GM blocked Saab sale to Chinese company to force Saab into bankruptcy
Saab now being bought out by National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB consortium
Analysts say it will be difficult for Spyker to prove its case

International Airlines Group Braces For Possible Spanish Eurozone Exit

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 09:51:02 +0000

IAG, holding company to Spain’s Iberia, creates crisis management plan
IAG saw $482 million pre-tax loss in Q1 2012 due to Iberia's $325 million operating loss
IATA anticipates industry net income loss of 62%

Food Leader Kraft Sees Product Price Increases Up Profit

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 10:00:52 +0000

Kraft increases product prices to offset rising price of commodities (corn, other)
Kraft using Cadbury for overseas distribution
Kraft to split in two as of October; Kraft Foods Group Inc. to oversee business in North America, while Mondelez International Inc. to focus on snacks abroad

Samsung Profits Soar Thanks to Galaxy Smartphones

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:54:46 +0000

Samsung sees profit nearly double from 2011
Samsung phone shipments in second quarter nearly doubled number of iPhones sold
Sales in emerging markets key to Samsung’s continued growth

Merck Drugs Face Fierce Future Competition From Generics

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 09:37:33 +0000

Sales of Merck diabetes drugs Januvia and Janumet soar
Asthma drug Singulair generates $5 billion per year for Merck
Generic drug competition looms for Singulair, Maxalt and other top Merck brand drugs
Osteoporosis, insomnia drugs expected to be new star products

Nintendo Puts Hope In Upcoming 3DS XL Widescreen, Wii U Launches

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:16:47 +0000

Q1 sales down 9.7% at 84.8 billion yen
3DS sales top 1.86 million units, Wii sales at 710,000 units
3DS XL due for release, Wii U to be released before Christmas

Apple Growth Slows Due To Lower Product Prices, Lost Market Share In China

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:41:23 +0000

Apple net income and revenue slow to rate of 20% in 3Q, lowest growth in over 2 years
Apple sells 26 million iPhones, 17 million iPads from April to June
Apple faces tough competition from Samsung's Galaxy S3 and HTC's One X smartphones

Private Firms Partner To Buy US Cable Provider Suddenlink Communications

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:54:08 +0000

Suddenlink services 1.4 million customers in 6 states, offers world-class infrastructure
Other recent cable buyouts launched by Canadian cable provider Cogeco Cable, Time Warner Cable

CNOOC Bids Over $15 Billion For Canadian Oil Producer Nexen In China's Biggest Overseas Energy Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:18:28 +0000

Deal allows CNOOC to take over Nexen shale gas operations in British Colombia, oil sands projects in Alberta and overseas production/ exploration ventures
Current domestic oil production in China limited; CNOOC has only 9 years of reserves accumulated
Nexen deal to boost CNOOC reserve levels by 30%

Second Recall For 2013 Ford Escape

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:04:10 +0000

Ford recalls 11,500 model 2013 Ford Escapes due to faulty fuel line with fire risk
Second recall for Ford Escape in past month
Production of the Escape vehicle on track regardless of recalls

Heineken Aims to Branch Out In Asia With Bid For Singapore's Asia Pacific Breweries

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:18:37 +0000

Heineken holds 42% stake in Asia Pacific Breweries, seeks rest
Bids placed by Thai Beverage Co and Heineken; Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings yet to respond
Asia lucrative global beer market, largest market by volume

Switch To 4G Costing Mobile Telecom Manufacturers Billions

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:22:27 +0000

Telecoms worldwide losing money to upgrades and shrinking prices
4G usage expected to increase over next five years
Telecoms may need to consolidate to survive

PC Sales Suffer As Consumers Turn To Tablets, Smartphones

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:24:28 +0000

PC sales in US dropped 11%, worse than rest of world
Windows 8 may boost PC sales but benefits will not be seen before year end
Meanwhile, Apple iPad tablet sales up 151%

China's Growth Slump Affects Industries, Global Economy

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:24:28 +0000

China's growth slows to 2009 low of 7.6%
Factory output and retail sales down
China aims to reduce reliance on exports and investments

Target-Neiman Marcus US Retail Partnership Aims To Attract New Customers, Evolve Image

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 08:55:00 +0000

Target and Neiman Marcus partner to offer 50-item holiday season collection from 24 well-known designers
Collection to be sold at both stores and online, expected to sell out quickly
Both retailers say their customers overlap and that they have been trying to work together for years

Intel Invests In ASML To Develop New Chip-Making Technology

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:31:58 +0000

ASML wins $4.1 billion from Intel to fund research on EUV lithography and 450mm silicon wafers
New technologies expected to reduce manufacturing costs by up to 40%
Intel first major semiconductor maker to ink deal under ASML's customer investment program

Boeing Lands $7.2 Billion Order For Fuel-Efficient 737 MAX Aircraft

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 11:51:58 +0000

Air Lease Corp orders 75 fuel-efficient 737 MAX Boeing airplanes
Boeing expects over 1,000 737 MAX orders before end 2012
Rival Airbus posted record margin over Boeing in 2011

WellPoint Targets US Medicaid-Medicare Patients With Amerigroup Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:30:29 +0000

WellPoint privately offers to buy Amerigroup for $4.9 billion
US to add 17 million Medicaid patients if new healthcare law is passed in 2014
WellPoint aims to attract 9 million “dual eligible” Americans covered by both Medicare and Medicaid

Nuclear Update: Japan Puts First Reactor Online Since Fukushima

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:23:02 +0000

Japan restarts Ohi nuclear plant reactor no. 3
More reactors to go online to prevent blackouts
Energy imports hurt Japan's trade deficit

Automotive Merger: Volkswagen Is Porsche's New Parent

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:53:37 +0000

Volkswagen buys remaining 50.1% ownership of Porsche for $5.6 billion
Deal lets Volkswagen control Porsche brand plus Bentley, Audi, Skoda, Bugatti, Seat and Lamborghini brands
Volkswagen, Porsche set to launch new compact Porsche SUV in 2014

Boeing: Global Airplane Market To Hit Sales Of 34,000 Jets In 20 Years

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 09:26:10 +0000

Company raises global forecast by 1.5% through 2031; sales to reach 34,000 units for $4.5 trillion
Asia to see strongest growth with demand for over 12,000 planes
Global air traffic to rise at 5% per year

Harrods Going Global With Launch Of Luxury Hotel Line

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:44:43 +0000

Qatar Holding aims to turn Harrods into global brand
First hotel to open in Malaysia; others to follow in London, Paris, New York, China and Italy
Qatar Holding paid $2.3 billion for Harrods in 2010

Alabama Home To First Airbus Aircraft Manufacturing Plant In America

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:14:44 +0000

Airbus aims to take advantage of America’s need to replace aging aircraft
New facility to help Airbus break Boeing’s monopoly on US market
Airbus and Boeing compete annually for $100 billion in sales

China Gets News From The New York Times - In Chinese

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:10:05 +0000

New York Times Chinese-language news site aimed at China’s growing middle class
Content will be translated from existing NYTimes articles; other articles to be written by Chinese journalists
Newspaper will not operate as an official Chinese media company

AB InBev Buys Mexico’s Corona Beer Maker For $20.1 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:10:05 +0000

New company (Corona, Pacifico and Modelo) expected to generate $47 billion in annual sales
Deal should save AB InBev $600 million per year
Purchase allows AB InBev to gain sales in booming Mexican market

Apple Preparing Radical iTunes Revamp

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:58:39 +0000

Apple planning biggest iTunes overhaul since release in 2003
Improved music sharing, iCloud services, social media among changes
iTunes software generated $1.9 billion revenue in 2011

Samsung Galaxy Tablet Temporarily Banned For Sale in US

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:39:45 +0000

Apple claims Samsung infringing on iPad patents, demands action
Injunctions in Germany, Australia and the Netherlands overturned
123.5 million smartphones and tablets expected to be sold by end 2012

Coca-Cola Increases Investment In India to $5 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:26:28 +0000

Coca-Cola adding $3 billion investment in India; has invested $2 billion in India over past 19 years
Coca-Cola trails rival Pepsi Co. in India
India represents $10 billion market and one of Coca-Cola’s top-ten markets

SalesForce Ups Social Media Competition With Buddy Media Buy

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 11:50:59 +0000

Social marketing platform Buddy Media to help SalesForce better compete in social media sector, keep up with customer demand
Salesforce estimates acquisition will boost revenue $20 million - $25 million annually
Deal largest in Salesforce history

Starbucks Rolls Out The Dough To Buy Bakery

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:30:52 +0000

Coffee shop chain to purchase Bay Bread for $100 million
Purchase will help Starbucks achieve its goal of more food choices
Offering baked goods will allow Starbucks to compete against fast food chains

Internet Use To Surge in Middle East And Africa by 2016

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:01:12 +0000

Fastest growing internet traffic in Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific
Popularity of smartphones, internet-based tablets and other mobile technology devices driving surge in usage
Wi-Fi availability will account for nearly half of all IP traffic by 2016

Record 3-Year Low For Macau Gambling Growth

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:01:04 +0000

Macau gambling growth sees record 3-year low of 7.3% in May 2012
Weak Chinese economy affecting gaming industry
Sands China ends appeal to expand in Macau

Caterpillar Gets $115 Million For South African Distribution Business

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 08:59:50 +0000

Barloworld purchasing South African Bucyrus from Caterpillar
Sale follows Caterpillar’s usual pattern of selling through distributors
Deal to close in third quarter

Oil Giant Repsol Leaving Argentina, Launching New Exploration Projects Globally

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:42:53 +0000

Repsol to invest $23.8 billion in a strategic development plan
Argentine President Cristina Kirchner nationalized YPF in May to save nation from rising oil costs
Repsol leaving Argentina with $9 billion in debt, seeks $9.9 billion in compensation for expropriated shares

HP Cuts 27,000 Jobs Globally To Save $3.5 Billion by 2014

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:45:05 +0000

Layoffs comprise 8% of company’s nearly 350,000 employees worldwide
HP and rival Dell trying to stay relevant as PC sales fall due to popularity of mobile devices
Previous attempts to cut HP’s spending have not worked

Motorola Belongs To Google Now For $12.5 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 29 May 2012 14:59:03 +0000

Google says Motorola purchase will not give it unfair advantage, but will help increase competition
Google to report to China over next 5 years on openness of Android software
Android software to help Google better compete against Apple iPhone

Who Is Winning the Smartphone Market War? Google Android & Apple iOS

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:14:01 +0000

Android handsets, Apple iPhones dominating smartphone market share at over 80% combined in early 2012
Other platforms struggling, namely Blackberry with just over 6% share
Smartphone market up 50% overall in past year

SAP to Boost Cloud Clout With $4.3 Billion Ariba Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:04:17 +0000

SAP to pay $45 per share for Ariba – 20% higher than closing price
Bidding war predicted with main rival Oracle
Oracle responds with smaller acquisition

Facebook Fail: Automaker GM Axes Advertising Campaign Worth $10 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:29:26 +0000

Analysts say internet marketing still in its infancy for automakers
GM to review marketing strategies to save $2 billion over next 5 years
GM’s $10 million campaign contributed to $3.7 billion Facebook made from advertising in 2011

Google’s Project Glass Breaks Ground in the Patent Arena

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:06:16 +0000

Google secures 3 patents for its augmented reality peripherals project “Project Glass”; seeks 6 more
Oakley owns much of technology behind augmented reality glasses
No date set for final release

Delta Air Lines Fights High Gas Prices By Buying Refinery For $150 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 22 May 2012 15:16:07 +0000

Delta expects refinery purchase to save $300 million, provide 80% of US fuel needs
Questions around if Delta can successfully manage refinery venture
Airlines cope by raising ticket prices, cutting jobs, reducing destinations

Google-Backed US Wind Connection Project Moving Forward

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:05:26 +0000

US Department of the Interior clears $5 billion power line project
Project aims to begin distributing power by 2017
Project should transmit 7,000 MW of electricity or enough to power 2 million homes

Robots To Run Digital Camera Manufacturing For Canon

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:55:10 +0000

Canon to use robots to reduce manufacturing costs
Automation viewed as wave of the future for Japanese manufacturers
If successful, Canon to be first manufacturer to fully automate digital camera production

P&G Moving Beauty Units To Asia To Capture Emerging Market Share

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:19:03 +0000

Procter & Gamble to move skin care, cosmetics, personal-care businesses to Singapore
Move part of restructuring plan aimed at saving company $10 billion by 2017
Asia-Pacific holds nearly half of global skin care market value, which totals almost $97 billion

Nissan Sees Record Automotive Sales In Major Markets Boost Profit

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:02:11 +0000

Nissan net profit up 145%
Nissan operating profit up 33%; forecast to rise 28% over coming year
Nissan sees record sales of 4.8 million vehicles for last year

Facebook To Add App Store

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:46:03 +0000

App Center announced as company prepares initial public offering
Rising number of mobile device users contributing to slowing revenue
200 social apps on Facebook each have over 1 million users

TEPCO Saved By $12.5 Billion Bankruptcy Bailout From Japanese Government

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:11:43 +0000

Bailout puts Tokyo Electric Power Co under temporary state control
10-year restructuring plan includes cost cutting measures, new management and increased energy costs
Japanese public distrustful of nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant meltdown in 2011

Presentation Site SlideShare Worth $119 Million in LinkedIn Purchase Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:48:19 +0000

SlideShare one of LinkedIn’s most popular applications
SlideShare buy marks LinkedIn’s fifth acquisition in two years
LinkedIn to expand mobile technology in hopes of attracting advertisers, members to its subscriptions services

Wal-Mart Launches Buy Online, Pay Cash in Store For US Shoppers

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:59:58 +0000

Only 15% of purchases made by Wal-Mart target audience paid for by credit card
Wal-Mart first major retailer to offer “pay-in-cash” option for online purchases
25% of US households have little or no access to credit cards, bank accounts

US Food Chain PF Chang Bought For $1.1 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 04 May 2012 08:02:57 +0000

PF Chang saw price increases drive away customers
PF Chang marks largest food chain acquisition since Burger King was purchased in 2010 for $3.3 billion
Buyout latest in series of restaurant chains purchased by investors

Mobile Phone Shipments: Samsung Takes Top Spot From Nokia

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:14:48 +0000

Samsung registers highest profit since 2008 with sales 36% higher over Q1 last year
Together Samsung and Nokia hold 48% of smartphone market
Global smartphone shipments forecast to grow 33%

Global Automotive Leaders Chrysler, Volvo and Fiat Start 2012 with A Bang

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:21:51 +0000

Chrysler Q1 net profit of over $470 million best result in 13 years
Fiat announces 10-fold jump in Q1 profit to over $498 million
Volkswagen reports $4.2 billion profit, nearly double its 2011 first quarter profit; plans to launch production in China
Honda Q1 profit up by over 60% from 2011 to $883 million

Amgen Buys Turkish Pharma Company For $700 Million To Target Emerging Markets

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:47:33 +0000

Amgen currently markets two products in Turkey
Deal to offer both companies strategic edge in acquiring new markets
Turkish market for pharmaceuticals expanding as its economy grows; Turkey third-fastest growing country among Group of 20

Shell Inks $1.8 Billion Deal for Cove Energy

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:30:54 +0000

Shell acquisition of Cove represents significant opportunity to enter hydrocarbon market in Mozambique and Kenya
Vast gas reserves in East Africa could make it a key natural gas industry player
Shell to increase East Africa exploration budget by 35% to $5 billion

Nestle’s Winning $11.9 Billion Bid Buys Pfizer’s Infant Nutrition Unit

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:18:57 +0000

Nestle bid beats out Groupe Danone and Mead Johnson Nutrition for Pfizer Infant Nutrition Unit
Pfizer’s infant nutrition unit generates 85% of revenue from developing countries
Baby food market expected to grow 10% annually through 2016

China Mobile Brings 4G To Hong Kong

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:41:50 +0000

China Mobile becomes second 4G operator in Hong Kong alongside Australian company Telstra
China Mobile hopes 4G technology will help secure contract to sell Apple iPhone
China Mobile posted Q1 2012 net profit up 3.5% over 211

Coca-Cola Keeps Hold On Global Leadership

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:05:44 +0000

Coca-Cola volume up 9% in Russia, India, Middle East, Africa
North America remains growth market for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola producing smaller-sized beverage to offset rising costs

UK Retailer Tesco Spending $1.6 Billon To Revamp Image

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:42:13 +0000

Tesco holds 30% market share in UK but profit slipping compared to competitors
$1.6 billion investment to be used to remodel 430 supermarkets, re-label Value product line, introduce 2,000 new products, and increase products available online
Tesco plans to add 20,000 new jobs by 2013

Ford Focus Electric Not Faring Well in US Auto Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:08:57 +0000

Focus Electric launched in New York, New Jersey and California; to debut in 19 metropolitan areas before being sold nationwide
Ford survey shows customers uneducated on difference between fuel-efficient cars
Electric, plug-in hybrid vehicles expected to be only 1% of US vehicle sales through to 2017

Online Travel Giants Expedia, TripAdvisor Under Fire For Rating Systems

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:03:57 +0000

Expedia to conduct thorough overhaul of rating system
Total number of verified reviews available to Expedia customers to total over 7.5 million
TripAdvisor criticized for its instant 1-to-5 rating system

$8 Billion Annually Invested Into US Airport Security Procedures

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:01:53 +0000

TSA sees 70% failure rate in detecting threats in random tests
US Travel Association says 66% of travelers would fly more if security procedures were less intrusive
Economist debate concludes US should return airport security to pre-9/11 levels and spend savings on “intelligence, investigation and emergency response”

Sony Cuts 10,000 Jobs Worldwide To Reduce Costs

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:06:52 +0000

Sony to layoff 6% of global workforce in restructuring
Sony saw record annual net loss of $6.4 billion in 2011
Sony CEO sets target to increase sales 10% or $105 billion by March 2013

Apple iPad to Maintain Grip on Global Tablet Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:19:39 +0000

iPad sales to reach 73 million units in 2012 for over 61% market share
Global tablet sales to jump 98% to nearly 119 million
Android to reach 37% market share by 2016

AT&T Sells Majority of Yellow Pages Print Unit To Focus on Mobile

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:30:40 +0000

AT&T maintains 47% stake in Yellow Pages, rest sold to private equity firm Cerberus
Yellow Pages saw sales fall 16% in 2011
AT&T to focus on mobile, TV and internet

US Spending Sees March Consumer Sales Rise 3.9%

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:14:58 +0000

S&P Retail Index up 0.8% in March
Apparel, discount, department stores see year-on-year increases in March
Retailers believe April sales will slow; International Council of Shopping Centers says sales could rise 3% - 4%

Australia's “Down Under” Tourism Comes Out On Top

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:34:14 +0000

Domestic tourism contributed over $73 billion annually to Australian economy
Travel to Australia from China up 4.5% over last year
Potential to add $9 billion to Australia's tourism economy by 2020

Ford’s $600 million Chinese Plant Expansion Key to Asian Market Domination

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:27:49 +0000

Ford investing $600 million into automotive plant in Chongqing, China
Chongqing plant to produce 950,000 vehicles each year, up by nearly 60%
Growth of China’s auto market expected to slow down but continue to grow steadily

US Retail: J.C. Penney Cuts 900 Staff in Streamline Restructuring

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:30:57 +0000

Cuts represent 14% of employees at company headquarters
Pittsburgh call center to close with call volume down 30%
J.C. Penney intends to cut $900 million in expenses in two years

Molson Coors Signs $3.54 Billion Deal for StarBev

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:13:13 +0000

Molson Coors to take over StarBev’s nine breweries in eastern and central Europe
Deal should boost profit within first year of transfer
Molson Q4 profits up 35% after poor third quarter

Hard Times At Yahoo See 14% of Global Workforce Cut

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:13:13 +0000

Nearly 2,000 employees to be cut
Move expected to save $375 million annually
Skype hiring 400 more staff

Japan Automakers See Dramatic Boost in Vehicle Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:08:00 +0000

Automobile sales in Japan jumped 78% in March
Japan’s surge in vehicle sales attributed primarily to government subsidies for energy efficient vehicles
Honda sees increase in sales domestically and internationally

Buyout Bid: Avon Rejects Coty’s Second Offer Of $10 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:43:12 +0000

Avon says offer not in best interest of company
80% of Avon’s revenue comes from overseas
Purchase would allow Coty to meet its revenue goal of $7 billion

Joint Venture: Philips Finalizes TV Spin-Off With TPV Technology

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:42:24 +0000

TVP to take 70% stake in TP Vision; Philips gets 30%
3,000 Philips TV employees to be retained in new venture
Philips television division racked up losses of €1 billion in last 5 years

Tepco Seeks $22 Billion Bailout from Japanese Government

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:58:43 +0000

Tokyo Electric Power Co. needs funds to run company, pay compensation
Company on verge of insolvency
Bailout could lead to reform of utility industry

Android to Leapfrog Windows in Smart Connected Device Market By 2016

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:44:04 +0000

Android to take 31.1% market share by 2016
Windows market share to drop to 25.1%
iOS share to rise to 17.3%

RIM BlackBerry Losing Ground in Native Canada to Apple iPhone

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:10:54 +0000

Canadians purchased 2.08 million BlackBerrys in 2011 compared to 2.82 million iPhones
Research in Motion fails to aggressively market its smartphones
Blackberry still popular in emerging markets

Ford Lays Cornerstone for $1 Billion Automotive Manufacturing Plant in India

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:45:49 +0000

Construction set to begin at new Sanand plant in Gujarat
New manufacturing facility to produce 240,000 cars, 270,000 engines
Ford to release eight new vehicles in India by 2015

Starbucks Expands Into Energy Drinks Market with Refreshers Drink

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:26:59 +0000

Starbucks announces new Refreshers line of energy drinks
Refreshers drinks contain unroasted coffee extract, with less caffeine then traditional energy drinks
Starbucks to create 150 new US jobs

European Production Falls, Recession Fears Brew

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:10:54 +0000

Europe's PMI falls to 48.7, further contraction will indicate recession
Output drops in manufacturing and service industries
ECB urges governments to make fiscal changes

Will HP Combine Its Printer and PC Divisions To Cut Costs?

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:08:37 +0000

Source reports HP will combine divisions to save money
New focus will be on investing savings and reinventing
HP suffering from decline in revenue, sales

US Air Travel: Shrinking Capacities, Higher Fares The Way of The Future

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:16:36 +0000

Airplanes packed, fares constantly going up
Fuel prices contribute to more than one-third of total operating airline budgets
US Airline growth should double in next two decades but prices to go up

Royal Dutch Shell Secures Shale Gas Contract in China

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:10:35 +0000

Shell signs first-ever production sharing deal in China’s shale gas industry
China targets 6.5 billion cubic meters of shale gas production by 2015
Chinese shale gas reserves total around 36 trillion cubic meters – 50% more than US

Could Starwood’s 24-Hour Check-In Shake Up Hotel Industry Status Quo?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:01:48 +0000

Elite Starwood members get perks & anytime check-ins under new Your24 program
Starwood says new policies meet changing customer needs and demands
No major hotel chain has yet matched Starwood's offer

UPS Buys TNT Express To Up Competition In the Parcel Delivery Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:47:42 +0000

UPS buys TNT Express for $6.77 billion
New combined company should save $582 million in operations & transportation
Carriers combined can compete in Asia-Pacific

PayPal Announces New Mobile Payment System PayPal Here

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:18:21 +0000

PayPal Here lets small business owners process credit card transactions through iPhones
PayPal Here currently available in North America, Australia and Hong Kong
PayPal anticipates new system will help win market share over competitors Square, Intuit and VeriPhone

Chinese Video Giants Youku and Tudou to Merge

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:59:39 +0000

Rivals to combine for $1 billion in stock
Ends lengthy court battle over copyright infringement
New company to hold one-third share of crowded Chinese market

Encyclopedia Britannica Ends Print Edition To Focus on Britannica Online

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:04:38 +0000

Print version of encyclopedia obsolete moment it is published
Sale of print volumes will end once stockpile is sold
Britannica faces competition from Wikipedia

Verismo to Give Starbucks an Edge in Single-Cup Coffee Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:33:45 +0000

Starbucks to launch Verismo, a new gourmet single-cup coffee machine
Starbucks still to sell K-cup packs for Green Mountain Company
Starbucks to open concept stores in Middle East, Africa and Europe

Toyota USA Recalls 700,000 Vehicles Over Safety Risks

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:09:01 +0000

Toyota recalls 700,000 Venzas, Camrys and Tacoma pickups over safety concern
Camry, Venza recalled to fix silicone grease leaks; Tacoma needs steering wheel repairs
Japan sees increase in auto sales due to a recent government subsidy for eco-friendly vehicles

Common Drugs Could Be Available Without Prescription In the US

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:44:14 +0000

FDA reveals plan to allow patients greater access to drugs
Drug manufacturers could apply for drugs to be made available over the counter
FDA considers speeding up drug approvals

Netflix Could Be On The Look Out For A Cable Provider Partner

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:53:07 +0000

Netflix CEO reportedly in talks with US cable providers
Partnership would allow Netflix to compete against HBO and other rivals
Customers would be able to bundle Netflix and other services

Layoff Rumors Could Be A Sign Of Things To Come At Yahoo

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Blog reports Yahoo CEO plans thousands of layoffs
Layoffs part of major restructuring aimed at increasing revenue
Yahoo losing advertising revenue to competitors

Google’s New Privacy Policy: Benefit or Threat to Users?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:21:39 +0000

Google streamlines 60+ privacy plans into one
EU and privacy groups oppose Google sharing user information across multiple Google-owned sites
Google aims to improve user experience across its platforms

Florida: Sunshine State’s Tourism Market Brighter Than Ever

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:15:46 +0000

Record 85.9 million visitors came to Florida last year
Florida tourism continues to outpace rest of US
Florida hotel room occupancy rates up 7% so far in 2012

Apple World's Most Valuable Company Worth $500 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:59:44 +0000

Apple shares worth over $540 per share
Apple exceeds second place corporate giant Exxon by nearly $100 billion
Apple CEO receives $378 million in payment package

Who Ordered The First Passenger Boeing 747-8?

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:19:05 +0000

Unnamed buyer thought to be from Middle East
Plane to receive modifications to turn it into “jewel of the sky”
Boeing behind schedule for delivery of 747-8s

Middle East Attracts Major Hotel Investment

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:13:07 +0000

Hotels in Dubai, Saudi Arabia outperforming other markets in Middle East
9 Starwood brands to branch out to Middle East in next 3 years
Hyatt to open 3 hotels in Saudi Arabia in next 4 years

US Retailers Struggle With Financial Losses

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:07:25 +0000

Sears loses $2.4 billion, to close 120 stores
Target records profit margin down 28.4%
Gap sees profit drop 40%, will close 189 stores

Will GM and Peugeot Form A Manufacturing Partnership?

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:11:03 +0000

Car makers would share manufacturing and parts
Alliance aimed at cutting European revenue losses
Automobile industry has poor history of alliances

Walmart Becomes Majority Shareholder in Chinese Online Retailer Yihaodian

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:47:53 +0000

Walmart increases ownership in Yihaodian to almost 51%
Yihaodian hopes to better meet customer needs with Walmart’s expertise
Walmart sees fourth-quarter profit margins fall due to its lower retail pricing strategies

Fortis Ventures Into US Utility Market With CH Energy Group Buy For $1 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:25:16 +0000

Deal marks first steps for Fortis into regulated US gas and electricity market
Fortis to gain control of distribution in 8 New York counties
Fortis expected to buy more US utilities

New York City Hotel Transaction Volume Hits Record High

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:00:59 +0000

18 hotel transactions worth $3.5 billion traded in 2011 for 150% increase over 2010
Manhattan most liquid city for hotel transactions globally in 2011
REITs own approximately 20% of room stock in New York
NYC expected to continue 2012 as most active hotel transaction market in US

Prices Rise, Consumer Spending Remains Low in US

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:07:19 +0000

Prices up 0.2% last month, lower than predicted
Core inflation expected to rise 1.6% but remain below 2%
Prices likely to stabilize as employment increases

Encana Selling 40% Stake in Gas Fields to Mitsubishi

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:52:42 +0000

Mitsubishi to pay for $2.9 billion for stake in Canadian natural gas fields
Sale helps alleviate Encana’s $251 million fourth-quarter loss
Encana joint venture deal with PetroChina fell through last June

Kellogg To Pay P&G $2.7 Billion For Pringles Brand

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:08:20 +0000

Pringles buy puts Kellogg in number two global position for savory snacks
Pringles expected to bring Kellogg annual sales of $1.5 billion
Diamond Foods offer to Pringles was terminated earlier this month

Google Gets Governmental Green Light To Buy Motorola

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:58:31 +0000

Regulators in US, EU approve Google’s $12.5 billion bid for Motorola
Motorola purchase largest in Google history, first real experience in hardware market
Google to be closely monitored in its use of patents licenses

Japan Approves Additional $9 Billion In TEPCO Aid

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:08:43 +0000

TEPCO forecasts loss from reactor meltdowns, compensation claims to near $9 billion
TEPCO may seek $25 billion in funding to recoup costs
Japanese authorities approve restart of two idled nuclear reactors

How Is The Euro Crisis Impacting The Travel Market?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:11:38 +0000

Euro crisis affecting hotel expansion decisions in EU zone
Indian hoteliers having trouble raising occupancy due to Euro crisis
Mediterranean cruise lines with increased capacity struggling to attract more US passengers

Pepsi Gets Competitive with 8,700 Jobs Cuts, More Marketing & India Partnership

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:44:15 +0000

Pepsi job cuts expected to save $1.5 billion by 2014; additional $600 million to be spent on marketing
Pepsi forecasts earnings will fall 5%
Pepis targets Indian market with new health drink launch in partnership with Tata Global Beverages

Amazon to Open First Brick and Mortar Location

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:46:08 +0000

Rumors indicate first physical Amazon store could open in Seattle before end of the year
Store a test run for profitability of retail locations
Amazon hoping to recuperate costs of Kindle Fire

Petition Urges Apple to Investigate Unsafe Working Conditions in China

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:25:20 +0000

Apple’s manufacturing partner questioned regarding unsafe work conditions
Apple to investigate accounts of debilitating work-related injuries at Foxconn factory
Apple and Motorola continue to battle over patent infringement issues

Hawaii's Tourism Comeback Fueled By Air Travel

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:34:19 +0000

Tourism in Hawaii during recession plunged nearly 15% from 2007 to 2009
Hawaii’s tourism numbers now on upswing
Reasons for revival include new emphasis on air service and help from US government

US Adds Jobs, Unemployment Drops to 3-Year Low

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:19:34 +0000

Unemployment drops to 8.3%, lowest since February 2009
Nasdaq Composite hits 11-year high; Treasury debt prices fall as investor expectations change
Political scientists expect employment news to boost Obama's campaign

Japan's Big Electronic Manufacturers Register Record Financial Losses

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:54:05 +0000

Panasonic could see losses of more than $9.2 billion
Sharp’s facing losses of $3.8 billion
Sony may lose upwards of $3 billion

Dassault Secures Multi-Billion Dollar Contract To Build Jets For India Air Force

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:19:07 +0000

Dassault wins a near $11 billion deal to build 126 India aircraft vehicles
Lower pricing and India’s familiarity with French warplanes said to be contributing factors in France’s win
Britain disappointed by India’s offer to Dassault, asks them to reconsider

Making History: Facebook Files for IPO

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:23:45 +0000

Facebook could be largest technology IPO debut in US history; also 6th largest IPO overall in US and 15th worldwide
Facebook market cap could reach between $75 billion and $100 billion
Majority of Facebook’s revenue comes from advertising

Amgen Looks to Micromet Deal to Solidify Stake in Cancer-Fighting Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:41:10 +0000

Amgen to buy Micromet for $1 billion
Amgen interested in Micromet oncology treatments, namely leukemia drug blinatumomab
Roche and Celgene also seeking biotechnology acquisitions

India Gets a Sip of Starbucks Through Cafe Joint Venture With Tata Global Beverages

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:36:42 +0000

Starbucks invests $80 million in joint venture with Tata Global Beverages
Coffee purchases in India account for $667 million in sales annually
Tata exports to 85 countries and has $83.3 billion in revenue

BP, Chevron Losing Oil Spill Battles

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:23:16 +0000

BP denied right to collect payment from Transocean to help fund $40 billion needed to clean up Gulf Oil spill
BP required to indemnify Transocean for compensatory damages
Chevron fined $50 million, drilling license suspended due to recent oil spill in Brazil

Tourism: How Much Will Airline Tickets Go Up This Year?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:59:02 +0000

Airfares predicted to rise in 2012, though how much remains unclear
Many airlines cutting back flights, reducing available seats
Price of oil most important factor in airfare cost fluxuation

Pharma Buyout Bid: Roche Offers $5.7 Billion for Illumina

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:37:19 +0000

Roche puts forth another offer to buy Illumina at $44.30 per share
Offer 50 times greater than Illumina’s earnings between Sept. 2010 - Sept. 2011
Bid part of Roche’s plan to increase cancer drug sales

Verizon Takes Profit Hit of $2 Billion While iPhone Sales Remain Strong

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:01:12 +0000

Verizon loses profit in fourth quarter due to higher pension, iPhone subsidy costs
Verizon profit margins set to rise as existing customers upgrade to new 4G LTE network
Apple reports fourth quarter earnings of over $46 billion

Music Industry: Digital Download Sales Up 8%

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:52:10 +0000

Digital music sales totaled $5.2 billion last year
Downloads account for 32% of global sales
Rise attributed to anti-piracy laws

GM Reclaims Title As World’s Largest Automaker

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:07:24 +0000

GM sold over $9 million vehicles in 2011, up 8% increase from 2010
GM reports sales of over $8 billion for 2011 only 2 years after bankruptcy filing
GM R&D Labs working with Israel-based Future Labs on interactive rear window glass

Tourism in Egypt: What Happens After The Revolution?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:27:54 +0000

Visitors to Egypt dropped 24% in third quarter 2011 compared to 2010
Egypt sets strategies to show visitors it is a safe place to visit
Egypt’s Tourism Minister confident that 2012 can be a return to a tourism boom

US Production Spikes, Creating American Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:26:50 +0000

Factory output grew 0.9% last month
World Bank reduces 2012 growth forecast to 2.5% from 3.6%
US factories hire 23,000 workers — best job growth since July

Modest Business Travel Growth Indication Economy Is Inching Forward

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:10:52 +0000

Egencia 2012 Global Corporate Travel Forecast says average airline ticket prices “slightly up” at 4% for North America and “slightly to moderately up” at 6% for Asia
Airfares in the US are now 10%-20% higher than they were two years ago
Predicted increase not huge but upswing seen as a sign economy making slow comeback

Novartis Diovan Drug Patent Loss Prompts Downsizing In US

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:58:59 +0000

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis to cut US workforce by nearly 2000 in 2012
Charges from restructuring and discontinuation of unsafe experimental drugs equal around $1.2 billion
Novartis should save $450 million/year from layoffs beginning in 2013

Pembina Purchases Provident Energy for $3.2 Billion in Stocks

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:55:17 +0000

Pembina and Provident merger creates company worth $8 billion
Deal blends together Pembina’s gas processing with Provident’s extraction and storage
Companies combining now while production of oil sands and shale gas is increasing

Apple Suspends Sale of iPhone 4S in China, Angers Crowd

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:46:21 +0000

Flagship store in Beijing not open due to safety concerns
Angry customers pelt store with eggs
Apple products routinely bought and sold by scalpers

Delta Air Lines Aims To Make Money Outside Of Selling Airline Tickets

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:48:52 +0000

Delta Air Lines to sell passengers more than transportation tickets
Too early to gauge customer reaction to attempts to “upsell”
Other carriers expected to follow suit

Toyota Launches Its Latest Hybrid Vehicle - The Prius C

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:10:15 +0000

Prius c said to be more compact for city drivers with better fuel economy
Toyota Prius was Japan’s top-selling vehicle in 2011
US automakers question long-term viability of hybrid electric cars

Nokia Announces New Windows Phone Handset for US Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:32:28 +0000

New Lumia 900 among first Windows Phone handsets to feature LTE technology
Handset expected for US release within next few months on AT&T network
HTC also unveils new LTE Windows Phone device

Aluminium: Alcoa Says Smelters To Shutdown in Italy, Spain

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:16 +0000

Alcoa closing smelters in Portovesme (Italy); La Coruna and Aviles (Spain)
Up to 1,500 employees affected
Closures reduce global smelting by 5%

2012: The Year Space Travel Becomes Real?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:26:15 +0000

Space travel could be launched this year for eager participants
Virgin, XCOR Aerospace are set to offer space travel
Participants should not expect journeys similar to walks on the moon

Ford Unveils “World’s Most Efficient Hybrid”

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:44:22 +0000

Ford announces overhauled hybrid Fusion sedans, pulls plug on petrol-electric sport-utility
New Fusion Energi Ford’s first plug-in hybrid car
Energi to deliver over 100 MPGe on plug-in power

Starbucks Pushes Prices Up For

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:36:38 +0000

Starbucks raises prices in Northeast and Sunbelt by 1%
Starbucks hopes price increase will offset costs of coffee and fuel
Marks first across the board increase since 2007

US Automotive Industry Records 10% Growth in 2011

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:14:41 +0000

US auto sales came close to 13 million units, peaking in December
Chrysler sales rose 25%; Nissan and GM up around 15%, Ford up 10%
Chrysler to showcase 200 Super S by Mopar at International Auto Show

PetroChina Takes Remaining 40% MacKay River Shares From Athabasca Oil

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:47:42 +0000

PetroChina first Chinese company to fully own a Canadian oil sands development
MacKay River project expected to yield nearly 35,000 barrels of oil per day by 2014
PetroChina also made a deal with Afghanistan to develop oil, natural gas reserves in Amu Darya

Southwest Airlines: Pricing New Focus Now That Fuel Hedging Has Expired

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:47:42 +0000

Southwest forced to re-examine pricing strategy
Southwest’s average ticket price up 39% in past 5 years
Ticket pricing key for airline profitability going forward

Halifax Media Buys Regional Media Group From New York Times For $143 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:38:13 +0000

Sale will affect 16 newspaper in the United States
Revenue for the group fell by 8.2% in 2011
New York Times Company to focus solely on its three largest newspapers – The New York Times, The Boston Globe and The International Herald Tribune

Shell Stops Oil Spill In Nigeria

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:45:16 +0000

Shell to take care of third-party oil spill in Nigeria
Shell suspends operations in Gulf of Mexico deep water well
Shell pulls out of Syria to comply with EU sanctions

Sony Sells Flat Screen Venture to Samsung for $935 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:11 +0000

Sony faces $1 billion loss, marking fourth-consecutive fiscal year of losses
Samsung will continue supplying Sony with LCD panels
Samsung to unveil 55-inch OLED TV at Consumer Electronics Show

LG To Launch Largest-Ever OLED TV Panel

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:52:20 +0000

LG to unveil its 55-inch panel at the Consumer Electronics Show in January
LG appoints head of TV division as CEO, to begin in 2012
LG breaks 50% mark of market share in third quarter of 2011

Odds Highly Favorable For New Online Gambling Laws In The US

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:08:27 +0000

Nevada first US state to adopt a regulated intrastate online poker system
On-line gambling in most states widespread but rarely enforced despite income potential
Other states may look to Nevada as the “gold standard” for implementing legal online gambling

Europe Gets New ECB Loans to Promote Lending

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:33:39 +0000

European Central Bank lending banks a record $645 billion
EU needs over $1 trillion to repay debt
EU consumer confidence falls for the 6th-consecutive month

Japan: Fukushima Nuclear Clean-Up To Span 40 Years

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:02:18 +0000

Japan sets 40-year roadmap to clean up the wrecked Fukushima
Fukushima plan will use robots and other new technologies to navigate hazardous waste
Tepco shares drop as a result of potential ramifications stemming from debt it has incurred

Investment Firm Pays $20 Million For Sun-Times Media

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:31:00 +0000

Deal includes over 40 websites, the Sun-Times and other newspapers
Paper to focus on digital strategy, charging readers subscription fee
Michel Ferro to serve as chairman, Timothy P. Knight as chief executive

Google Pledges Top Tablet For 2012

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:48:10 +0000

Google to release highest quality Android tablet in first half of 2012
CEO promises “brutal competition” for Apple
Android daily activation rate tops 700,000

Does Google's Android System Infringe On British Telecom Patents?

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:11:10 +0000

British Telecomm suing Google in the US over Android mobile operating system
Case could result in Google paying royalties
Other companies also suing Google for infringement

Airlines To Pay Carbon Emissions Fee in EU Starting January 1

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:40:14 +0000

Airlines to rack up $12 billion in fees for 700 emissions permits by 2020
EU court rejects US airlines case against emissions fee
EU may withhold close to 1.5 billion permits to rectify over-supply

GM Calls Game Over For Saab By Blocking Buyout Bid From Chinese

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:14:38 +0000

GM blocks sale of Saab to Chinese over concern for intellectural property
Saab says filing bankruptcy best bet for its creditors
Saab valued at $3.8 million

End of the Road For AT&T's $39 Billion Bid To Buy T-Mobile

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:23:03 +0000

Merger would have given combined companies 75% market share
Deutsche Telekom to receive $6 million breakup fee from AT&T
Sprint and Dish Network emerge in speculation over possible T-Mobile suitors

Bi-Lo Buys Winn-Dixie Chain For $560 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:45:08 +0000

Bi-Lo, Winn-Dixie merger will total 700 stores and 63,000 employees
Bi-Lo purchased all remaining Winn-Dixie shares at $9.50, 75% higher than its Friday close price
No stores or distribution centers are expected to close as a result of the merger

'Reel' Story: Tourism Theme Parks Get Inspired By Hit Films

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:56:35 +0000

Wizarding World of Harry Potter sees tourist success at Universal in Orlando
Walt Disney looking to open Avatar theme park in 2013
Chinese theme park based on martial arts expected to feature film favorites such as Bruce Lee

US States Throwing The Dice: Is Gambling a Good Business Bet?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:18:27 +0000

Cash-strapped states launch legalized gambling venues to balance their budgets
State-sponsored gambling raises moral and financial questions
Cost-benefit analysis needed to help states determine whether gambling is a good business venture but unlikely to be made available

BP To Touch $250 Million From Cameron International For Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:55:14 +0000

Cameron International will pay $250 million to BP for Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup costs and individual damage claims
Deepwater Horizon disaster could cost BP $40 billion in total
BP required to evaluate pollution control technologies

M&A: Eldorado Gold to Buy European Goldfields for $2.4 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:52:14 +0000

Deal will create a company with an $11 billion market capitalization
Eldorado predicts production will exceed 1.5 million ounces of gold by 2015
Gold sector sees growing trend toward consolidation

US Medicaid Takes 25% of State Spending, Eligibility Improves

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:37:18 +0000

14 US states spent more than 25% of overall expenditure on Medicaid
Medicaid spending totaled over $398 billion for 2011, 10% more than last year
North Carolina is overpaying for Medicaid because of issues with new billing system

EU Medicines Agency Backs Roche Skin Cancer Drug

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:29:50 +0000

Zelboraf sales estimated to reach around $930 million by 2016
Six-month treatment costs $56,000 in the US; EU price yet to be set
Drug found to delay disease progression and boost survival rates

ISTA Pharmaceuticals Says No to Purchase Offer from Valeant

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:44:11 +0000

ISTA Pharmaceuticals Rejects $314 Million Proposal from Valeant
ISTA foresees revenue growth for 2012 with expansion of eye, allergy products
Valeant purchases Afexa and iNova, is seeking more acquisitions
FCC Approves New Valeant Deals, Requires Divestment

Coca Cola Makes Partnerships to Produce A 100% Plant-Based Bottle

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:44:11 +0000

Coca Cola partners with three biotechnology companies to create plastic bottles made entirely from plants
Coca Cola, PepsiCo intend to launch environmentally conscious plastic bottle alternatives, but testing required before production can begin globally
Coca Cola becomes new official beverage of Orlando’s SeaWorld, replacing Pepsi

Theme Park Expansions Make a Splash For the US Tourism Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:16:36 +0000

Sea World Orlando announces biggest expansion in its 40-year history
Tourism observers question continued popularity of theme parks
Affordable entertainment with family appeal should lead to continued popularity of theme parks

Morgan Stanley To Shed 1,600 Staff In 2012

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:34:14 +0000

Banking sector sheds 125,000 jobs in 2011 amid market volatility
Morgan Stanley to relocate 80 Singapore back-office workers
Morgan Stanley agrees to drop MBIA insurance claims for over $1 billion

Brazil Wants $11 Billion From Chevron, Transocean For Oil Spill

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:13:19 +0000

3,000 barrels of oil leak into Compos Basin over 8 days in November
Brazil’s National Petroleum Agency fines Chevron $28 million after oil spill
Chevron announces gas find off west coast of Australia

Financial Filing Lets Olympus Avoid Removal From Tokyo Stock Exchange

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:40:25 +0000

Olympus files 5 years of revised financial statements to avoid automatic removal from Tokyo Stock Exchange
Olympus being investigated for possibly hiding $1.5 billion over past 13 years
Future of Olympus unclear as it may need to sell assets or form merger to raise capital

Eurozone Debt Crisis: Credit Agricole to Cut 2,350 jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:52:26 +0000

Credit Agricole stocks fall 52% in 2011, third-quarter profit down 65%
Global banking sector sheds 120,000 jobs in 2011
Moody’s downgrades top three French banks

Southwest Files Record $19 Billion Order with Boeing For 737s

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:28:11 +0000

Southwest orders 208 Boeing 737s including 150 fuel-efficient 737 MAX jets
First order for 737 MAX
737 MAX catalog prices announced at $95.2 million to $101.7 million

Nuclear Backlash: Areva Cuts 1,500 Jobs In Germany

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:15:38 +0000

Areva to cut jobs in Germany following German government decision to phase out nuclear power
Areva releases 5-year plan that cancels programs and makes €1 billion in budget cuts
Areva’s losses for 2011 are expected to total around €1.6 billion

US, China and India Onboard With Updated Kyoto Protocol

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:33:05 +0000

World economies to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 2015
Environmentalists and representatives feel timeframe for treaty needs to be shorter
Canada first nation to withdraw from Kyoto Protocol

Can Putin Reinvent Himself To Win Russian Presidential Election?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:05:47 +0000

Controversial results of Russia’s December 4 parliamentary election put Prime Minister Vladmir Putin’s United Russia Party slightly lead with 53% of vote
Russian authorities allowed a massive protest on Dec 10
Putin must reinvent himself to rise above presidential opponents, including most recent candidate billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov

Patents Dispute Between Apple, Samsung No Nearer To Resolution

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:27:12 +0000

Australian court lifts ban on sales of Samsung Galaxy
French court rejects bid to prevent sales of iPhone 4S
$5 billion business relationship between firms at risk

IBM Boosts Cloud Analytics with DemandTec Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:48:39 +0000

IBM to takeove DemandTecfor $440 million
IBM’s will expand its Smarter Commerce initiative with DemandTec price and promotion analytics software
IBM announced last year a $20 billion budget for mergers and acquisitions through 2015

Brazil Budget Airline Gol Gets $100 Million Investment Boost from Delta

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:32:45 +0000

Delta to take 3% stake in Gol along with board seat
Gol capital boosted by 280 million reais ($160 million)
Gol announced 844 million reais ($482 million) net loss in October

Exxon Mobil Report: Will Global Energy Demand Jump 30% by 2040?

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:30:26 +0000

Natural gas supply to increase 60% in 30 years, replacing coal in second place
Renewable energy demand to quadruple to meet 15% of demand
Hybrid vehicles to make up 40% of all vehicles by 2040

Japan’s Government May Opt for $39 Billion Tepco Bailout

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:22:58 +0000

Taking four reactors offline could cost $15.5 billion, potentially bankrupting Tepco
12,000 gallons of radioactive water seeped from Fukushima nuclear plant
Tepco shares plummet 15% amid talk of government bailout

Oil: Saudi Arabia crude output reaches 30-year high

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:09:51 +0000

Saudi Arabia announces oil production of over 10 million barrels per day
OPEC to reach oil target deal for 2012, demand estimated at 30 million bpd
Oil stockpiles put pressure on oil futures, Brent falls $1.30 a barrel

JC Penney Buys Part of Martha Stewart Team To Drive Mini-Stores and E-Commerce

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:03:02 +0000

J.C. Penney Gains near 17% Stake, 2 Board Chairs from Martha Stewart Living
Martha Stewart Living Shops to Open in 2013
J.C. Penney's Holiday Sales Down, Q3 Losses
J.C. Penney Hires PMK-BNC for Public Relations

Citigroup Accepts $400 Million Charge in Q4 To Cut 4,500 Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:03:02 +0000

Citigroup to cut 1.5% of its global workforce
Citigroup to continue investing in emerging markets - Brazil, China, India
Citigroup to fill as many as 70 new positions in Asia

Xbox Update Helps Boost Microsoft Revenue Growth

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:03:24 +0000

Microsoft releases update to Xbox 360 with improved interface and enhanced voice controls
Xbox 360 outsold Wii by nearly 400,000 units in November
Microsoft sold just under 1 million Xbox 360 units during Black Friday week

Pfizer's Axitinib Kidney Cancer Drug Gets Green Light from FDA Advisory Committee

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:20:47 +0000

Advisory committee to FDA votes 13-0 to approve new renal cancer drug axitinib
Drug study participants lived an average of 2 months longer than on other treatments
Pfizer could see $576 million in sales by 2014 if axitinib is approved for sale by FDA

Can Saab Be Saved From Bankruptcy?

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:22:29 +0000

Saab administrator gives up on restructuring, leaving owner Swedish Automobile one week to respond or be declared bankrupt
Saab needs to borrow $800 million to cover restructuring costs
Chinese automakers offered to buy Saab for $135 million earlier this year but GM blocked deal

Verizon Sets Sights On Streaming Video Service

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:57:44 +0000

Verizon may be planning to take on Netflix and pay TV companies
New package could be available to 85 million US households in 2012
Verizon’s has 4 million subscribers for FiOS TV, 4.6 million for broadband service

US Retail Cyber Spending Sets New Record of $6 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:51:31 +0000

Cyber Monday hit an all-time high of $1.25 billion in online sales
Retailer’s free shipping promotion lends itself to increased holiday online spend
Online sales are up 15% from last year to $18.7 billion

Apple Under Spotlight In European E-Book Probe

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:41:10 +0000

Apple under investigation in price fixing probe
Documents found in March EU raid could implicate Apple in antitrust case
Deals with five international publishers under scrutiny

SAP-SuccessFactors Merger Sends Cloud Stocks Skyward

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:33:41 +0000

SuccessFactors shares up over 50% after $3.4 billion buyout offer
Main rival Taleo shares jump over 20% to record high $32.92
Other software companies shares driven up amid speculation

Financial Instability Continues in the EU as ECB Lending Spikes

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:07:40 +0000

ECB lending at 2%, much higher than the 0.74% paid for marketplace funding
Germany proposes more ECB bond buys, sanctions for overspending
IMF to protect EU funds, provide $270 billion to EU

EU Manufacturing Drops, Causes Higher Unemployment

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:02:50 +0000

European PMI falls to 46.4, lowest rate since 2009
Manufacturers cut jobs due to low sales, unemployment rises to 10.3%
Czech and British factories slow output, German manufacturing declines
Reuters poll: 60% chance of EU recession

Trade Panel Presses Forward in Investigation on Chinese Solar Imports

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:50:42 +0000

US International Trade Commission votes to investigate Chinese solar imports and impact on US solar industry
Investigation may led to Chinese solar imports being heavily charged
Democratic lawmakers urge Barack Obama to further probe Chinese solar imports

Samsung Win: US Refuses Apple Request to Block Galaxy Products

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:11:46 +0000

Apple injunction request on Galaxy line rejected by US District Court
Apple, Samsung have 30 patent suits against each other
Samsung posted record profit in Q3 2011

E-Commerce: Walmart Launches 'Shopycat' Gift App on Facebook

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:59:07 +0000

Walmart launches Shopycat, its first social shopping app affiliated with Facebook
Walmart's internet sales are estimated to be 2% of total revenue
Walmart to enter India’s $450 billion retail market

Amazon Under Fire Over Kindle Privacy Practices

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:59:45 +0000

US congressman requests further information on Kindle Fire data collection
Device’s browser stores user data to speed up surfing
Kindle Fire sales high on Black Friday

Chrome Catches Up With Firefox in The Web Browser Market

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:30:21 +0000

Microsoft Internet Explorer continues to account for 50% of browser market
Success of Chrome thanks to aggressive release cycle
Apple's Safari dominates mobile browser market

Honda Raises Recall Number With Ongoing Airbag Issues

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:15:21 +0000

917,267 vehicles added to the Honda recall list, total recalls top 2.7 million
Models produced up to a decade ago recalled
Over 90% of faulty vehicles shipped to US, new recall expected to take heavy toll

Generics Hit Shelves After Pfizer’s Patent For Cholesterol Drug Lipitor Expires

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:41:29 +0000

Pfizer’s Lipitor patent expired November 30
Watson Pharmaceuticals first company authorized to sell generic version of Lipitor
Pfizer could lose $6 billion in revenue in 2012, hopes to make $4 billion from new drugs

SolarCity Receives Private Funding to Begin “SolarStrong”

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:34:47 +0000

Bank of America Merrill Lynch approves $350 million loan for new SolarStrong project
SolarCity received 2011 Green Jobs Award for creating nearly 1,400 green jobs in 2011
Funding announcement marks big strides in solar energy since Solyndra scandal

BMW, Toyota Ink Green Partnership

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:29:34 +0000

BMW to supply diesel engines for Toyota’s European operations
Pair to develop lithium-ion battery technology for electric hybrid vehicles
BMW to release new electric hybrid car in 2012

EU Seeks Overhaul of Data Protection Rules

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:53:13 +0000

EC vice president calls for makeover of 16-year-old EU privacy laws
Policy makers say overhaul would help boost European competitiveness
Restrictive rules cost companies around $3.1 billion per year

Yahoo: Potential $25 Billion Bid From Bain and Blackstone

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:41:39 +0000

Bid would include Japan’s and global e-commerce leader Alibaba
Silver Lake-led bid for minority share values Yahoo at less than $21 billion
Alibaba motivated to buy back 40% stake from Yahoo

Boeing Settles On Provisional Agreement With Machinists Union

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:25:18 +0000

Deal means 2% wage increase and better pensions but higher health payments
Workers would receive $5,000 ratification bonus and 2% to 4% incentive bonus
Workers to cast ratification votes on December 7 to secure 4-year extension

American Airlines Latest US Carrier to Face Chapter 11

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:34:02 +0000

AMR lost $12 billion since 2001; analysts predict another $1 billion loss before end 2011
AA debt is at $30 billion, while assets are $25 billion
AA spends $800 million more in labor expenses than its competitors

Will China Lend More Money By Adapting Its Monetary Policy?

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:37:01 +0000

Central bank lowers banking reserve, promotes capital flow
Global stocks improve as Chinese stocks fall
China's real estate market, manufacturing sector drops

Oil: EU May Follow US in Tighter Iran Sanctions

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:47:22 +0000

UK, Canada support latest US sanctions
EU considers bloc-wide embargo on Iranian crude oil
Crude rises $1.58 to hit $99.79 per barrel in New York

Toyota Aims For 40,000 Prius Hybrid Sales in Japan, 60,000 WorldWide

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:22:57 +0000

Prius PHV to start at $40,000 on Japanese market, $32,000 in the US
US Prius Plug-in promises 85 miles per gallon, set for March 2012 launch
BMW may provide diesel engines for Toyota passenger vehicles

IPO For Facebook Targets $100 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:31:02 +0000

IPO to raise $10 billion at value of $100 billion
2011 first-half revenues double 2010 figures
Will soon exceed 500-shareholder limit, be obliged to publish financial results

Will The US Approve Bill To Cut Airline Baggage Fees?

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:18:22 +0000

Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieubill launches bill to reduce airline baggage fees
Over 70% of airline passengers frustrated by excessive carry-on bags
Baggage fees said to slow down airport screening process

Retail Record: US Sees $11.5 Billion Surge in Black Friday Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:10:40 +0000

Black Friday attracts record 86 million shoppers making $11.5 billion in purchases
Cyber Monday online sales jump 25% to exceed $815 million
Internet sales outpace in-store sales, with 10% purchasing from mobile devices

Roadblocks To Foreign Direct Investment In India Retail Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:51:33 +0000

Heavy opposition to FDI in India's retail sector, government to meet today
Participating foreign companies must invest minimum $100 million in next 5 years
Discussion represents a significant change in India’s legislation on foreign ownership

Microsoft To Pay $100M For Video Search Engine VideoSurf

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:35:14 +0000

VideoSurf video search features to be added to Xbox Live gaming network
VideoSurf privately owned with backing from Al Gore, Facebook operations chief Sheryl Sandberg and SurveyMonkey chief executive David Goldberg
Microsoft stepping up efforts to reel in rivals like Apple and Google

AT&T Readies for $4 Billion Hit Over T-Mobile Merger Breakup

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:09:46 +0000

AT&T sets aside $4 billion as T-Mobile USA deal looks to falter
Company withdraws merger application with FCC pending anti-trust approval
FCC and DOJ say merger will be bad for competition and jobs

Nokia Siemens Sheds 25% of Workforce To Stay Competitive

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:18 +0000

17,000 jobs to be cut from global workforce of 75,000
Nokia Siemens received $1.3 billion cash injection in September
Microwave technology sale to DragonWave could bring in $147 million

France to Pursue Construction of 60th Nuclear Power Plant

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:09:34 +0000

French President confirms plans for next-generation Penly reactor
Socialists, Greens agree on pre-election deal to shut down 24 out of 58 nuclear reactors
Sarkozy says deal would be catastrophic for French economy

KKR Tops Leveraged Buyout Charts With $7.2 Billion Samson Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:50:57 +0000

KKR teams up with Itochu, Crestview and Natural Gas on Samson buyout
KKR losses total more than $590 million after writing down investments
Fee-related earnings jump almost $100 million, up $30 million on 2010

Pharma Payout: Merck Loses $950M Settlement In Vioxx Investigation

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:01:19 +0000

Merck to pay $321.6 million in criminal fines and $628.4 million in civil settlements
Vioxx illegally marketed for three years before being recalled in 2004
Shares fall 1.1% to $33.43

Brazil Blocks Chevron Drilling In Frade Oil Spill Probe

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:04:10 +0000

Drilling rights suspended during investigation into Frade spill
Chevron accused of negligence; handed $28 million fine
Company unable to explain cause of leak

Travel Industry Trend: Mega-Cruise Ships Make Bigger Better

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:55:09 +0000

Major ocean-going cruise lines offering increasingly popular mega-ships
New ships often taller than Eiffel Tower, offer greater variety of activities
Passengers approve of new features, satisfaction is high

US Economic Growth Rate Dips Down To 2%

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:17:32 +0000

Revised quarterly GDP 0.5% lower than predicted, 2.5% yearly rate expected
Inventory slump may boost fourth-quarter growth
Banks and corporations record quarterly profits

Penguin Group E-Books Cut From Libraries, Amazon Online Lending Program

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:54:08 +0000

Penguin temporarily bans new e-books to libraries and Kindle users
Non-specific “security concerns” cited as reason for suspension
OverDrive instructed to block new Penguin e-Book titles, disable Kindle functionality for all Penguin e-Books

Software Giant SAP Expanding in Asia, Forming Partnerships

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:37:02 +0000

SAP to expand in Asia, hire employees in China and India
Asia-Pacific accounts for 11% annual sales
SAP Business One software sees 14 new customers in China every day.

UNFCCC: Nations To Discuss Climate Change Next Week

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:15:27 +0000

UN Climate Change Conference 2011 scheduled for Nov. 28 - Dec.9.
Clean climate investment gap of $22.5 billion predicted by 2015
China world's largest carbon emitter, investment of $54 billion made in low-carbon tech

US Wants More Foreign Visitors: Will It Get Them?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:56:12 +0000

Brand USA to welcome international visitors by making it easier to obtain visas and other initiatives
37% drop in share of international tourist arrivals to US due to negative perceptions
Brand USA has access to $120 million in Electronic System for Travel Authorization fun

Johnson & Johnson To Remove Dangerous Chemicals From Baby Products

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:27:13 +0000

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics urged Johnson & Johnson to eliminate formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from its baby products
Johnson & Johnson to remove toxins from baby products, revisit chemical process
Activists nationwide urging legislators to implement stricter controls of product development overall

Financial Services Industry Layoffs are Expected to Continue

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:46:14 +0000

Citigroup anticipates continued layoffs resulting in 3,000 less jobs
BNP Paribas to cut nearly 6.5% of its investment and corporate banking staff
ING anticipates cutting 2,700 staff and contract jobs combined
UniCredit announced huge losses resulting in 6,150 layoffs

Virgin Money Holdings Wins Bid To Buy Northern Rock

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:18:09 +0000

Richard Branson’s Virgin Money Holdings purchases Northern Rock Plc for £747 million ($1.2 million)
British chancellor says this is the first step in getting government out of bank ownership
Customers should see no change in service

Online Review Site 'Angie’s List' Raises Almost $115 Million In IPO

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:23:12 +0000

Review website Angie’s List rose 25% after 9 million share sale
Angie’s List 2011 revenue tops $62.5 million through September
Groupon raises $700 million in November IPO, Yelp aims for $100 million

Chrysler: $1.7 Billion Investement In New Jeep SUV Brands

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:58:12 +0000

Chrysler’s Toledo plant to see 1,000 jobs in 2013, $500 million investment
Chrysler’s 2012 Jeep Wrangler receives ALG’s Residual Value Award
20 new US dealerships to open in 2012, boosting Fiat 500 sales

US Unemployment Claims Drop, Home Building Permits Up

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:35:45 +0000

Unemployment claims lowest in 7 months; state unemployment benefits down to a 3-year low
New building permits up 11% last month
Home-builder sentiment index reaches 20

TripAdvisor Under Fire For False Travel Reviews

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:37:21 +0000

45 million people search TripAdvisor reviews monthly, making it world’s most influential travel review site
TripAdvisor under attack for false and fake reviews
TripAdvisor has initiated reforms but new companies offer alternatives for hoteliers and restaurants

US Retail: Steady Rise In Sales, Holiday Spending To Increase

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:41:36 +0000

Holiday shopping expected to increase 2.8%
US retail sales up 1.2% in October, biggest increase since March
E-commerce sales in the US increase 13% to $36 billion

Oil Breaches $100 Per Barrel Mark In 4-Month High

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:01:00 +0000

Benchmark crude jumps over 25% since end September
Report of rising consumer spending for 5 months fuels oil prices
Political tension in oil producing countries spurs oil prices

US Manufacturing Boosts Economy As Inflation Eases

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:54:53 +0000

Industrial output grows 0.7%, exports up to $180 billion
Labor Department shows 0.1% CPI drop, 3.5% decline in inflation
Corporate spending boosts economy with over 17% rise

US Retail: Wal-Mart Profit Slips, Sales Still Strong

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:47:06 +0000

Wal-Mart sees 2.9% drop in profit for third fiscal quarter, with net income of $3.3 billion
Wal-Mart sales up by $8.3 billion
Layaway makes comeback to encourage holiday spending

Universal Poised To Sing To Google’s Tune For Music Launch

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:24:00 +0000

Google set to partner with Universal on cloud music downloads
Warner and Sony’s absence from Google press event points to soured talks
Google researches space elevators and helper robots in its secret labs

Study: Stem Cell Therapy Success In Repairing Heart Attack Damage

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:20:31 +0000

Stem cell injection boosts heart function 12% in one year
World’s biggest stem cell medical center opens in Beijing
Stem cell company Geron axes 40% of its full-time positions

Foreign Banks Offload Shares In China’s Banking Sector

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:14:16 +0000

Bank of America earns almost $10 billion in two CCB stake sales
IMF warns Chinese financial sector is vulnerable
Obama demands China afford equal opportunity to foreign business

Toyota Sales Take Another Hit With Recent Recall

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:43:18 +0000

Toyota recalls 400,000 Toyota and Lexus V6 vehicles due to faulty power steering
Production in Japan to be back on track beginning November 21
Toyota drops to number three in race to be top automaker worldwide

Newly Appointed NSW Labor Leader Calls For Suspension On Coal Seam Gas Licenses

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:41:34 +0000

Robertson announces decision to halt the issuance of new CSG licenses as well as suspend current licenses
CSG emissions could impact water supply and environment
Australia Greens question decision to suspend CSG licenses

Japan: Economy rebounds as GDP climbs 1.5%

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:11:28 +0000

Japan reports 6% annualized growth in July-September quarter
Exports up 6%, with economic output reaching $7 trillion
Private sector machinery orders fell more than 8% in September

Middle East Gives Boeing Strong Profit Tailwinds

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:16:19 +0000

Emirates places $18 billion worth of orders for 50 Boeing 777 mini jumbos
Boeing forecasts $450 billion worth of Middle East business through 2030
Tension in Iran to lead to scramble for Gulf military aircraft orders

FBI Shuts Down $14 Billion Internet Fraud Ring

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:33:11 +0000

Online advertising scam impacted millions of hijacked computers
Malware redirected search queries from infected systems to sites featuring ads for their clients
Computers affected in 100 countries, including machines owned by NASA

Will US States Collect Online Sales Tax?

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:04:23 +0000

Marketplace Fairness Act could mean billions of dollars in tax revenue
Small businesses afforded $500,000 exemption on yearly sales
Amazon falls in line with bill, eBay continues to oppose move

US Oil & Gas Drilling Shifts Focus To Gulf Of Mexico

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:21:29 +0000

Green light for 12 lease sales in Gulf of Mexico, 3 off coast of Alaska for later
Alaska drilling held off pending spill response preparedness
Obama administration leaves Atlantic and Pacific embargo in place

Could Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet Disrupt The Tablet Market?

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Kindle Fire may have an 8% share of tablet market by end of year
Barnes & Noble releases Nook Tablet at similar price point to Kindle Fire
Apple suggests fragmentation could drive users to seek stability of iPad platform

Canada Looks to China As Key Investor In Oil & Gas

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:54:35 +0000

Canada in talks with China about investment in Alberta’s oil sands, consumption of crude oil
TransCanada’s Keystone pipeline project uncertain given heavy US opposition
SNC Lavalin awarded $650 million contract to build oil sands treatment plant in Alberta

Airbus Faces $273 Million Bill For A350 Aircraft Delay

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 12:56:17 +0000

Airbus boasts 25% reduction in fuel costs with A350 jet
A350 to enter service in early 2014, 6 months behind schedule
EADS reports $310 million third-quarter profits, shares up 20% in 2011

Tobacco: Court Rules FDA Can’t Use Graphic Cigarette Labels

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:35:06 +0000

Judge bans 36 graphic labels planned to be used on cigarette packages starting next year
Tobacco is responsible for 443,000 deaths in the US each year
FDA to spend $600 million on a new anti-smoking aimed at 13-24 year olds

US Banking: Tax Officials Demand Information On Swiss Bank Clients

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:18:17 +0000

IRS seeking information from Credit Suisse on some US customers
Tens of thousands of Americans suspected of evading taxes via Swiss banks
Swiss banks working on compliance

Canon Goes Toe-To-Toe With Cinematography Camera Giants

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:29:33 +0000

Canon introduces its new C300 digital cinematography video camera to Hollywood
Retailing at $20,000 the C300 is due to hit market beginning January 2012
RED introduces its Scarlett high res video camera, contending to offer better quality at a lower price

Accel Dreams Big With $100 Million Big Data Fund

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:58:23 +0000

Accel to use $100 million investment to back data management startups
Big fund conference to be held in Silicon Valley in 2012
Accel uses media buzz to drum up awareness around big fund initiative

Wind Energy Blows $900 Million of Orders Siemens’ Way

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:33:55 +0000

Siemens to supply 300 turbines to six wind farms, 175 for Duke Energy
General Electric receives order for 28 turbines from French firm Eolfi
China’s goals of 1TW wind energy by 2050 require a $200 billion investment

Ryanair: British Airways-BMI Merger Opens Short-Haul Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:15:37 +0000

Ryanair to buy 200 planes to boost passenger numbers 75%
Airline may look to Chinese 199-seat aircrafts to boost profits
Ryanair tops airlines index, quarterly net revenue up 20%

Best Buy $1.3 Billion Buy-Out For Carphone

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:00:35 +0000

Best Buy to focus on emerging markets including Brazil and India
Carphone and Best Buy to shut 11 UK megastores at a cost of over $100 million
Best Buy snaps up MindShift Technologies for $170 million

What Is the Future of First-Class Air Travel?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:05:57 +0000

Passengers can pay up to four-times economy fare for business, and eleven times for first class
First-class travel numbers steadily diminishing
Airlines sometimes eliminating first-class, adding business seats or looking at ticket price alternatives

Japan Approves $11.5 Billion In Taxpayer Funds For TEPCO Aid

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:26:08 +0000

Japan approves $11.5 billion disaster relief fund for TEPCO
Demand for nuclear power could drop 15% before 2035
Tokyo determining how to dispose of nearly 45 million cubic meters of remaining radioactive waste

De Beers: Oppenheimer 80-Year Ownership Over With Anglo American Buy

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:10:30 +0000

Anglo American pays $5.1 billion for bigger stake in De Beers
Anglo now owns 85% of De Beers; Botswana government holds 15%
Predictions indicate India, China, Gulf region to represent 40% of diamond demand by 2015

Apple to Fix Battery Bug with Update to iOS 5

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:27:22 +0000

Apple confirms bug in iOS 5 is affecting battery life
Beta version of update to software to fix bug has been released
Apple to introduce new sandboxing rule for developers from March

Chesapeake Energy’s $3.4 Billion Win

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:16:27 +0000

Chesapeake Energy Corp to lease a portion of Utica Shale, Ohio starting mid-December
Deal could earn Chesapeake up to $3.4 billion
Chesapeake to collaborate with Enterprise Products Partners LP on a propane pipeline

Income Inequality In America Widens

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:52:28 +0000

Income in America has risen nearly 18% for those in bottom 20% earning bracket
Income increase of 275% for top 1% of wage earners
Imbalanced wealth distribution sparks protests, including Occupy Wall Street

5,000 Jobless As Whirlpool Scales Workforce Back By 10%

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:10:18 +0000

Whirlpool slashes full-year revenue forecast by over 35%
Arkansas plant to close; Polish operations to be moved to Germany
Whirlpool stock down more than 40% so far in 2011

Saab Saved From Brink Of Death By Chinese

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:22:25 +0000

Chinese automobile companies reach tentative deal to buy Saab
Saab days away from bankruptcy
Up to $1.5 billion may be needed to turn company around

Take Off For Boeing's Dreamliner Happens 3 Years Behind Schedule

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:48:07 +0000

Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner completes first flight
Flight launch delayed due to global shared workload of aircraft pieces
Airlines cutting back Dreamline orders
Boeing sees improved Q3 share price

America Grows 2.5% As Spending Resumes

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:47:10 +0000

US GDP grew 2.5% in the third quarter
Americans save less due to less income, increase spending
Unemployment claims drop, rate forecast to remain near 9%

Oil Earnings Recap: Exxon Mobil, Shell, Statoil, Eni

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:47:10 +0000

Exxon revenue climbs 32% to $125 billion, upstream earnings up 185%
Shell saw current cost of supply net income rise over 40% to $7 billion in Q3
Occidental Petroleum up 50%
Statoil saw 50% jump in adjusted net income, reaching almost $2.1 billion
Eni logged a near 14% drop in production, but adjusted net revenue climbed almost 20%

Pharma Update: Sales of 'Good Cholesterol' Drug Niaspan Flat After Study

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:47:10 +0000

Sales of Abbott cholesterol drug Niaspan down after study shows it might not reduce risk of heart attack
Lipitor soon to be available in generic form
Doctors debate need for cholesterol test

Shell Q3 Profit: Net Doubles To Nearly $7 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:32:38 +0000

Shell's revenue up 33% to $127 billion, net profit up to $6.98 billion
Shares rise 1.3% to €26.24
Global oil prices 48% higher than last year

Disappointing Forecast For Nintendo Says First Loss In 3 Decades

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:34:56 +0000

Weak Wii, 3DS sales lead to Q2 loss
Forecast for 20 billion yen ($264 million) loss
Post-war high for yen compounds difficulties

Google Content Removal Requests Surge in UK

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 07:01:19 +0000

71% rise in UK requests to remove online content
Google complied in 80% of 65 content removal requests
Brazil tops list with 224 requests followed by Germany (118), United States (92)

Groupon Sets IPO Date In Spite Of Continued Analyst Scrutiny

editor@reportlinker.com (Laurie Juliano-Bachara) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:56:25 +0000

Groupon to launch IPO on Nov. 4 with 30 million shares
Valuation estimated to reach up to $11.4 billion
US roadshow planned to present investors with figures, starting in New York

Obama Acts On Soaring Student Debt

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:47:44 +0000

Obama to reduce student loan payments, lower pardon to 20 years
Tuition at public schools rises 8.3%, twice inflation rate
Student loans reach $100 billion, debt to exceed $1 trillion this year

Merck Shares Rise to Three-Year High

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:16:28 +0000

Shares rise 5.2% to €63.09 ($87.76) - biggest rise on Frankfurt Stock Exchange in almost 3 years
Q3 net profits rise 8% to €226.6 million ($315.2 million)
Company discontinues seven drug treatment programs

Cigna Ready To Pay $3.8 Billion For HealthSpring

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:34:46 +0000

Private Medicare Advantage plans make up 25% of Medicare plans
Cigna currently has Medicare Advantage customer base of 45,000, ranks 5th in US among insurers
HealthSpring per-member worth well above average at $3,200

Mobile App Wars: The Rise of Android

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:49:44 +0000

Android global mobile app market share up to 44% in Q2 2011
Apple iOS app share drops to 31%
Android quarterly shipments up 36%, iOS down 9%

Sharp Decline In Premium Air Travel Bad Omen For Business Travel

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:27:09 +0000

IATA reports sharp drop in premium air travel, raising concerns about rebounding market
Not all sectors are down - tickets sold in Far East up 12.5%
Airlines looking to revamp packages to halt trend

FedEx Forecasts Huge Holiday Season

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:20:51 +0000

FedEx holiday deliveries to jump 12% to 260 million
17 million packages to be shipped on busiest day – 10% more than 2010
20,000 seasonal workers to be hired to deal with volume increase
Company stock rises 2.7% to $81.52

US Housing Market: Stable Prices Provide Positive Outlook

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:44:16 +0000

Rising home prices a sign housing market is stabilizing
Analysts warn prices may fall again
Obama administration to make refinancing easier

Canada Sees Inflation Increase Over 3%

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:09:26 +0000

Food prices up 4.5% and energy prices up by 12.5%
Economists predict no immediate increase in bank interest rates
Gas prices in constant flux

AT&T Wants Sprint Out Of T-Mobile Antitrust Case

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:08:48 +0000

AT&T asks federal judge to throw out Sprint antitrust lawsuit
Sprint says $39 billion T-Mobile takeover bad for competition
Merger would make AT&T by far the biggest US wireless network

Mobile Satellite Navigation Leader TomTom Sees Shares Driven Up by Strong Q3 Profits

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:05:00 +0000

Shares up 23% after 50% jump in profits
Full-year revenue forecast up to $1.77 billion
Restructuring plan to include job cuts

Consistent Nutritional Food Rating Proposed

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:24:34 +0000

US Institute of Medicine says food should rate fat, sodium and sugar content
Obesity rates have doubled in last 30 years
Without Obama administration system, may not be executed

Galileo Satellites Launched as European GPS Takes Off

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:49:58 +0000

Soyuz rockets take two Galileo satellites into orbit
New GPS system to generate up to $124 million for European economies
$6.2 billion in public funds already spent with a further $9.6 billion required

Green Light for Nissan’s Electric Car

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:33:34 +0000

Nissan sets its sights on top spot in green car market at 1.5 million units
Nissan’s plug-in hybrid to cut CO2 emissions 20% by 2016
Electric Leaf car sales exceed 16,500 since December 2010

Bank of America Reports Over $6 Billion Gain

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:16:40 +0000

Bank of America gains gain 56 cents per share in third quarter
JPMorgan Chase & Co report $2.3 trillion assets in third quarter
Bank of America to shed 30,000 jobs to cut expenses

Solyndra Hired Lobbyist With Cash All But Gone

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:12:12 +0000

Solar company hired lobbyist one month before bankruptcy
Glover Park hired to lobby over $535 million US loan guarantee
Company spent $1.3 million on lobbying since 2009

Nokia Not Going Global For Windows Phone Launch

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:26:10 +0000

Nokia Windows Phone release set for “select countries” before end 2011
Company mindful not to undercut Symbian market share
“Bunch of new devices” to be unveiled at Nokia World

US Airlines Jack Up Prices For Holiday Season

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:10:47 +0000

Delta first to raise airfares; all major airlines follow suit
Increase of $4 to $10 round trip
Average ticket price has risen from $58 to $70 in 2011

US, UK and Other Countries Bolstering Cyber Security Defenses

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:20:59 +0000

US Cyber Command deciding on legal framework for “active defense” taken in cyberspace
Britain and other countries also hiring cyber experts for their militaries
Researchers warn of risk from new Stuxnet-like worm

Energy Update: New Wind Power Projects In The US

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:45:10 +0000

Poseidon Atlantic wind project to create 5,000 long-term jobs
Duke Energy in agreement with MHI, Siemens for wind turbines in Texas
Vestas delivers 56 turbines for Michigan wind project, creates shadow prevention system

Oracle Buys Endeca, Beefs Up Data Management Strategy

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:39:39 +0000

Deal expected to be finalized by end 2011
Buyout a response to HP acquisition of Autonomy
Oracle Social Network unveiled

Beats Forecast; Profit Still Down

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:18:03 +0000

US market sales down, but demand oversees still high
Pharmaceuticals still company’s highest-performing category
Customer health care division hurt by product recalls

Apple Implements Reserve-Only Sales for iPhone 4S

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:42:10 +0000

Over 4 million iPhone 4S devices sold in first three days
Fifth Ave Apple Store sold out across all carriers
Some users reported problems with quality of the iPhone 4S display

Harley-Davidson Struggles to Compete in High-End Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:31:19 +0000

Harley sees increase in lower-end motorcycles, decrease in high-end models
Reworking of Harley factories affecting custom-motorcycle production
Harley expects sales outside US to increase 40% by 2014

Citigroup Profits Spike in Third Quarter

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:50:38 +0000

Citigroup Q3 profits jump to $3.8 billion, exceed expectations
Bad loan losses drop 41% as consumers save, pay off debt
Citi Asia, Latin America report double-digit growth

RIM Hand Out Free Apps After BlackBerry Blip

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:30:09 +0000

BlackBerry users offered over $100 of free apps
Bold Touch 9900 unveiled
Compensation expected to cost over $100 million

Private Jet Market: Soaring or Sinking?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:26:44 +0000

Private jet market hits turbulence but some predict it will soon soar again
Falling economy major reason for slumping skies
China demand among countries to drive future growth of 7% per year

Retailer Gap Inc. Closing Stores in North America, Heading Overseas

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:22:54 +0000

Gap Inc. to close almost 200 stores in North America
Plans underway to triple Gap stores in China to total 45 by 2014
Retailer to shake up business casual clothing

US Government Charges BP, Transocean and Halliburton for Deepwater Horizon Incident

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:13:57 +0000

BP, Transocean and Halliburton face US charges for April 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill
Implication of Transocean and Halliburton potentially good news for BP
BP presses forward with projects in UK’s North Sea

Carrefour Stocks Fall 6%, Hit 2-Month Low

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:08:05 +0000

Carrefour has cut its profit forecast twice over three months
Full-year operating income is expected to plummet between 15% and 20%
Competitor Casino sees third-quarter sales climb 20%

Qwikster Is Out As Netflix Reverses Plan To Split In Two

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:32:34 +0000

Netflix CEO announces decision not to split company between Netflix and Qwikster
Decision satisfies angry customers
Company believes its future lies in online streaming, but competition is stiff

Energy Access Imperative for World’s Poor Population

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:32:47 +0000

Access to energy for world’s poor will cost $48 billion per year
Green solutions could limit carbon emissions to 0.7%
2012 “International Year of Sustainable Energy for All"

Ofgem Profits Questioned, Reform Sought

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:58:24 +0000

Ofgem's $197 profit figure raises energy suppliers' eyebrows
Regulator clarifies tariff structure to promote competition
Ofgem proposes minimum 20% of supplier power be auctioned by 2013

ASML Forecast: Semiconductor Chip Sector Slowdown Expected Despite Solid Q3

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:04:27 +0000

ASML Q3 revenue of €1.46 billion higher than forecasts
New orders in Q3 fall to €514 million; expected to rise in Q4
Record sales of over €5 billion expected for 2011

Wall Street to Cut Bonuses, Jobs Upon Third-Quarter Data

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 13:04:27 +0000

Cash bonuses to drop as profit unlikely to reach $20 billion
New York City to endure 10,000 job loss in financial sector
Report suggests 4 to 6% lower ROE due to new regulations

Honda's Natural-Gas Powered Civic Comes to the US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:45:38 +0000

2012 Civic Natural Gas to hit showrooms Oct. 18, sole natural gas-powered vehicle in the US
Highest-ever EPA rating for internal combustion engine
Honda plans to branch out to almost 200 locations in 36 states

Austerity Plan Protests Shutting Down Greece

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:03:49 +0000

Rolling strikes continue in protest of Prime Minister’s €6.6 billion austerity plan
Government said it would not reach 2011 deficit target, falling short by €2 billion
IMF: bailout deal needs to be revised by EU according to new needs

BHP Billiton Gets Go-Ahead for Olympic Dam Expansion

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:08:34 +0000

Expansion plan to up copper output to 750,000 tons per year
Stringent environmental conditions set by Australian government
Project to create massive mining revenue and create thousands of jobs

Starbucks Pushing Hard for India Entrance

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:25:32 +0000

$500,000 spent this year on lobbying with US officials
Reports of tie-up with Tata Coffee
Starbucks shares up 3.7%; Tata Coffee rises 9.8%

Oracle Focusing On Organic Growth Rather Than Acquisitions

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:37:49 +0000

Oracle set to concentrate on existing products after making over 70 acquisitions since 2005
CEO Larry Ellison launches new Oracle Public Cloud and 100+ Fusion business applications at At OpenWorld 2011
Oracle stock up by 9% over past year

Belgium to Nationalize Local Dexia Arm

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:46:58 +0000

€4 billion part-nationalization part of wider bailout plan
Belgium, France, Luxembourg agree 10-year, €90-billion guarantee
Shares drop 4.7% after suspension of trading

Could Kyoto Go Ahead Without Canada, Japan, Russia?

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:23:43 +0000

200 countries must agree at Durban talks in November for treaty to be extended
Airlines could require permit allowing carbon dioxide emissions during takeoff, landing at EU airports from January 1, 2012
EU emissions up almost 2.5% in 2010, after 7% drop in 2009

Found: UK Shipwreck Laden With $18 Million Worth of Silver

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:20:40 +0000

US firm to get 80% of ship’s treasure trove, UK government to get 20%
Steamship’s cargo of 20 tons of silver laying on sea bed since 1917
Odyssey recently found UK ship holding $200 million worth of silver

Top Two French Banks Deny $15 Billion Capital Boost

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:47:16 +0000

BNP Paribas said newspaper claim it will seek to raise $9.4 billion is untrue
BNP hopes to reach capital ratio of 9%, 6 years ahead of Basel III schedule
Societe Generale denies seeking capital of $5.5 billion

Moody's Cuts RBS, Lloyds on Government Support Fears

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:43:40 +0000

Moody's downgrades 12 British lenders, including RBS and Lloyds
EU plans recapitalization of $115 billion, Britain unlikely to bailout banks
Lloyds refunds customers for misleading PPI information

Wall Street Protests Gain Momentum Across US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:20:24 +0000

Protests spread to over a dozen US cities
Labor unions join in movement
Dallas Fed president voices support; NY Mayor slams protesters

Is Demand For Asian Contemporary Art Cooling Off?

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:15:30 +0000

Over 20% of artwork unsold in Hong Kong Autumn auction
Ming dynasty vase sells for record $21.6 million; art sales poor
Last spring auction in Hong Kong a huge success

Sony Eyeing Ericsson’s Share in Mobile Phone JV

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:59:52 +0000

Sony to beef up smartphone strategy; take on Apple, Samsung
Decision on Sony Ericsson future to be made this month
Deal could be worth up to $1.7 billion

BBC: Budget Cuts Will Slash 2,000 Jobs and Alter Programming

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:38:29 +0000

BBC to cut 2,000 jobs and move headquarters out of London by 2017
Budget cuts affect programming across all BBC television and radio stations
Reaction to the cuts predominately negative

Bank of England Gives British Economy $116 Billion Top-Up

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:24:33 +0000

UK economy previously received $310 billion in quantitative easing
EU Central Bank maintains 1.5% interest rate despite signs of recession
Bank of England keeps base lending at 0.5%, inflation to reach 5%

US Employment: ADP Says 91,000 New Jobs Created for Private Sector

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:54:39 +0000

ADP reports 91,000 new private sector jobs; 5,000 jobs lost for factories
Layoff announcements exceeded 115,000 last month
ADP says small, medium-sized businesses fuel job growth

Acquisition: Microsoft Mulling Renewed Yahoo Bid

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:14:58 +0000

Microsoft considers partnership to buy out Yahoo says Reuters
Bloomberg says Microsoft “nowhere close” to making offer
Yahoo shares jump almost 10%

Apple Launches iPhone 4S and Gets Siri-ous

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:02:09 +0000

Apple launches new version of iPhone, called iPhone 4S instead of iPhone 5
New phone uses voice command to send messages, schedule meetings and more
Sprint becomes third US carrier to sell iPhones in multi-billion dollar deal

Africa Energy Insight: Sub-Saharan Africa’s Power Potential Not Yet Maximized

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:27:42 +0000

East African Power Pool (EAPP) master plan exploits, pools power resources for transfer from surplus to deficit areas
Project delayed due to lack of harmonization, policy framework and funding; set for revival in a 3-phase development plan
EAPP promotes practical and replicable energy model that may well be Africa’s solution to perennial power woes and high energy costs

Sacramento Opens Doors to New $1 Billon Airport Terminal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:19:30 +0000

New $1 billion terminal replaces 40-year-old Terminal B
Airport renovations created 2,400 jobs during recession
$6 million in public art displays featured in new terminal

Economic Slowdown Expected for India

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:54:12 +0000

Exports in India jump 44%, future decline likely due to EU, US recession fears
HSBC PMI: Manufacturing sector slowed to 50.4
August inflation reaches 13 month high of 9.8%

US Car Sales Climb 10% in September, Nissan Sales Up 25%

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:40:48 +0000

September sales for Toyota fell 18%, Honda sales were down 8%
Ford sales rose close to 10%, General Motors 20%, and Chrysler more than 25% in September
Italy and Spain hit 15-year low

Japan: Nuclear Plant Use Drops To All-Time Low

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:28:31 +0000

Nuclear plant use plummets 46% in 12 months ending in September
Japan operating at 20% nuclear capacity, with 11 functioning reactors
Tokyo Electric Power Co to axe 7,500 jobs, cut costs by $32.5 billion

Paris Revs Up For Electric-Car Share Program

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:10:34 +0000

Autolib scheme kicks off pilot with 66 electric cars, to reach 3,000 by end 2012
Bolloré’s Bluecar can cover 250 kilometers before recharge required
Renaut forecasts electric cars to account for 10% of new car sales by 2020

IEA Urges Reduction in Fossil Fuel Subsidies

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:00:18 +0000

Fossil Fuel subsides could hit $660 billion in 2020
$409 billion spent in subsidies in 2010, $97 billion more than 2009
Only 8% of spending reached world’s poorest population last year

US Retailers Look to Layaways to Lure Back Consumers

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:48:21 +0000

Sears, Walmart, Toys R Us among major US retailers expanding layaway programs
Retailers dropped option due to rising credit card purchases
Layaways brought back to boost sales after financial crisis

US Senate Presses China to Increase Yuan’s Value

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:15:21 +0000

US Senate passes bill punishing China for currency policies
Value of yuan has appreciated by 5% in past year
Critics cite slow growth of yuan as giving China an unfair advantage in global marketplace

TSA Finally Ready to Try Risk-Based Airport Screening

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:03:51 +0000

US security finally moving towards risk-based searches
TSA introduces multi-million-dollar initiatives for enhanced machine to deter terrorists
TSA say new machines have no privacy issues because names are immediately deleted

Apple Struggling in Indian Smartphone Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 10:11:14 +0000

iPhone accounts for just 2.6% of Indian market
Shipments to India fewer than to Norway in Q2
Slow development of 3G networks damaging to iPhone sales

Medical Tourism Goes Global

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:59:50 +0000

Lower costs and quicker results fueling growth for medical tourism worldwide
Medical tourism no longer confined to Third World countries; France tops ranking for treatment in Western Europe
Job creation and attracting tourists incentives for medical tourism start-ups

Shaky Kodak Moment as Bankruptcy Fears Stir

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 07:43:09 +0000

Shares drop by 54% as Kodak hires bankruptcy expert
Shareholders reassured bankruptcy not imminent
Last profit posted in 2007

IBM Overtakes Microsoft as Second Most Valuable Tech Company

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:22:13 +0000

IBM’s market value has risen while Microsoft’s has fallen
Microsoft remains most valuable software company with 60% of revenue from software
IBM CEO says there is more to computing than computers

Nokia Forges Ahead With Additional 3,500 Job Cuts

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:46:33 +0000

Nokia seeks to increase competitivity, cuts 3,500 jobs on top of 7,000 already announced
Romanian manufacturing plant shutdown cuts 2,200 jobs, other plants to follow
Nokia ups innovation, launching Symbian Belle smartphones in India

Consumer Spending Slows With Drop In Personal Income

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:20:59 +0000

Personal income fell $7.5 billion in August, disposable income down $5 billion
Wages and salaries fell $12 billion in August, after a $24 billion rise in July
Knock-on effect of falling wages sees savings rate fall 4.5%

Telstra Launches World’s First Combined Core 2G/3G/4G Network in Australia

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:44:54 +0000

EPC technology to “improve mobile broadband experience for consumers”
4G LTE service promises download speed up to 40 Mbps and upload speed up to 10 Mbps
4G-ready smartphones may be available in 2012, but for now new network focused on laptop users

China's PMI Suggests

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:10:20 +0000

HSBC index 49.9% since August, contraction likely
CFLP index shows four-month export high despite demand concerns
Global PMI falls to 50.1%, growth forecast reduced to 4%

Overview: Debt Crisis in Europe

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:43:09 +0000

Greek debt of €340 billion creates uncertainty for Germany
Germany's unemployment drops below 2008 levels
EESC President supports Eurobonds, further EU integration

Bank of America: Debit Cards The New Cash Cow

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:08:21 +0000

Customers to pay $5 a month in debit card fees, to be phased in from 2012
Regulation cuts debit-card fees cap from 44 cents to 24 cents per transaction
Banks stand to lose $6.5 billion per year due to new debit card cap

Microsoft Signs Windows Phone Deal With Samsung

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:55:24 +0000

Microsoft’s seventh patent-licensing deal since June
Samsung deal to expand Microsoft’s smartphone campaign
Mango platform update expected before end 2011

Boston Scientific: Court Refuses Johnson & Johnson Subsidiary’s Patent Appeal

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:08:07 +0000

US Court of Appeals concurs with Delaware infringement ruling
Boston Scientific paid out $9.25 million in Guidant lawsuit for over-billing
Lobbying costs for Boston Scientific stand at $810,000 to date in 2011

Ikea Set to Speed-Up Expansion In China

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:27:17 +0000

Ikea has nine stores in China, will now open three stores per year
Higher expansion pace than last few years forecasted going forward
Ikea focused on sustainability, with solar panel installations in California stores

Free Checking Accounts – Soon A Thing of the Past?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:22:03 +0000

Free checking accounts offered by US banks down 20% to 45%
Banks are under financial constraints and trying to compensate
Denver and Miami lead nation in overdraft fees

UK Voices Reservations About EU Commission Financial Tax

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:05:22 +0000

EU tax on financial transaction would raise $80 billion a year
80% of revenue from financial tax would come from London
G20 heads propose 50% Greek debt write-down

Macy’s Holiday Hiring to Make a Merry Christmas for Jobseekers

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:26:28 +0000

Macy’s to hire 78,000 seasonal staff, 4% more than 2010
Macy’s forecasts 4% to 4.5% sales increase in Q3 and Q4
Kohl’s and JC Penney holiday hiring on a par with 2010

Real Estate Update: New Home Sales Hit 6-Month Low

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:03:34 +0000

New home sales fall 2.5% to annual rate of 295,000 units
Median price for new homes down 8% to $209,000
Midwest the only region reporting growth, sales up 8%

Amazon’s New Kindle to Test iPad Supremacy

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:11:28 +0000

Amazon soon to unveil new iPad challenger
New Kindle will function as both e-reader and tablet PC
Device expected to retail for around $299, close to production cost

PepsiCo Sees Power in Combined Business

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:42:47 +0000

PepsiCo creates new marketing initiatives: Global Snacks Group and Power of One Americas Council
PepsiCo aims to expand global influence in snack and beverage industries
Groups to be led by John Compton, CEO Americas

iPhone 5 Looks Set For October Release

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:09:32 +0000

October 4 mentioned as possible date for launch of new device
Rumored issues with touchscreen could cause delays
Talk of cheaper devices to combat Android

First Boeing 787 Dreamliner Delivered, 3 Years Off Schedule

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:48:33 +0000

Boeing 787 Dreamliner carbon design slashes fuel costs by 20%
Japan’s All Nippon Airways pays $200 million for Dreamliner
Boeing receives 820 Dreamliner orders, including 55 from ANA

Nintendo Unveils New Games, Share Price Still Fails To Rise

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 07:30:34 +0000

Dramatic price cut for 3DS games device saw sales increase by 260% in August
New titles said to lack “wow” factor needed to turn company fortune around
Casual gamers now often content to play on their mobile phones

World’s Largest Frequent Flier Program Favors Heavy Users

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:21:32 +0000

United and Continental Airlines merger creates world’s biggest Frequent Flier program
New program announced this year admittedly caters to well-off users who tend to buy highest-priced tickets
New trend in highly competitive industry is to compete through changes and/or additions to Frequent Flier programs

GE Energy Wins Energy Technology Orders Worth $3 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Kim Yvette Stanley) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:11:57 +0000

GE Energy to provide energy technology for power projects in Brazil, Australia and Egypt
Demand up from emerging economies, including Brazil who is investing $800 million in wind and natural gas
GE Energy shifting focus to industrial operations instead of finance

Acquisition: United Technologies to Pay $16.5 Billion for Goodrich

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:18:43 +0000

Acquisition means 50% premium on Goodrich share price
United Technologies absorbs almost $2 billion debt in deal
Share buybacks suspended for 2012 to offset $12 billion debt

Alstom Wind Awarded $4.1 Million Grant by US Government

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:44:11 +0000

Alstom wins grant for development project to increase wind power capacity and efficiency
Research to focus on next-generation Haliade offshore turbines
DOE targets 54 GW wind power capacity by 2030

Google Wallet Revolutionizes The Way You Pay

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:53:15 +0000

Google launches Google Wallet for Android smartphones
Application allows users to pay for purchases instantly without a credit card
Big drawback is very few phones are compatible with NFC technology

Pakistan Calls for More Nuclear to Aid Energy Relief

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:37:50 +0000

Pakistan government orders 8,800 MW of additional nuclear power by 2030
Atomic energy body calls for IAEA and member states to collaborate
IAEA revises down projections for nuclear power market share after Fukushima disaster

Google’s Launching of Travel Site Causes Controversy

editor@reportlinker.com (Melina Druga) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:17:10 +0000

Google redesigns flight section after acquiring travel industry software firm ITA Software
Google not pursued for industry claims that the buy gives it an unfair advantage
Google develops travel services by buying restaurant review site Zagat and launching Hotel Finder

GM Looks to Lower Labor Costs with New UAW Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:04:09 +0000

GM to offer workers early retirement payouts to bring in cheaper labor
Payout offer part of a deal with United Auto Workers union
GM to save an estimated $57,000 per year per employee under early retirement plan

IMF Lowers Global Growth Forecast to 4%

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:08:02 +0000

Uneven growth between developing and developed nations
Growth forecasts for Euro zone down from 2% to 1.6%
US economic growth projections down from 2.5% to 1.5%

Google+ Goes Public

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:24:54 +0000

Google’s social network opened to public; remains in beta testing
Hangouts, improved SMS support among new features added
Facebook expected to respond with raft of new developments

Report: Global Anti Smoking Efforts in the US, EU

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 08:00:56 +0000

Death toll from tobacco use set to rise to 8 million annually by 2030
US anti-smoking campaign uses text messaging to reach citizens
EU “ex-smokers are unstoppable” initiative web pages get 500,000 hits

Obama Announces $3 Trillion Debt Plan

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:45:34 +0000

Debt plan to increase tax for wealthy, reduce health costs
Plan to cut corporate loopholes, end Bush tax cuts
CBS poll: 56% agree with Obama's debt proposal

Netflix Angers Subscribers With Qwikster DVD Split

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:03:21 +0000

Netflix to spin off its DVD rental business
Market value falls 53% as customers leave due to price hike
600,000 more customers to end subscriptions before end September

Clean Energy Investing Hits All-Time High of $243 billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:33:06 +0000

Clean energy backing jumps 30% in 2010, after recession low in 2009
China produces over 50% world’s photovoltaic modules, 50% wind capacity
Small-scale project investment increases more than 90%

‘New Sustainability Champions’ Recognized in Emerging Markets

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:15:15 +0000

WEF names 16 companies for innovative environmental and economic excellence
China’s Broad Group singled out as a producer of zero-energy air conditioners
Companies chosen hailed as industry role models that proactively engage with stakeholder groups and positively influence environment

BP Buys Bigger Stake in Brazilian Biofuel

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:44:28 +0000

BP acquires remaining 50% stake in biofuel producer Tropical BioEnergia
Oil giant also buys additional share in sugar and ethanol producer CNAA
Brazilian biofuel operations to expand significantly over coming years, says BP

Central Banks Agree To Unlimited Dollar Loans

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:11:58 +0000

Dollar loans create temporary fix to Euro zone debt crisis
EU seeks rescue fund improval, second Greek bailout
US Treasuries react to new loan plan

Solar Firms Await Loan Backing Approval of $9 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:43:20 +0000

Department of Energy backed $10 billion worth of loans
Solyndra failed despite loan guarantee for $535 million
First Solar second quarter net cash approaches $330 million

Sony Announces Japan Release Date for Vita

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:11:24 +0000

PlayStation Vita to be released on December 17 in Japan
26 games available at release date with over 70 more to be released in 2012
Vita expected to rival Nintendo 3DS in Japanese handheld console market

NASA Unveils Heavy-Lift Deep-Space Rocket Design

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:46:52 +0000

Costs for rocket run to $10 billion, plus $6 billion for crew capsule
Rocket’s weight capacity almost three times that of space shuttle
Rocket to get an astronaut to an asteroid by 2025, to Mars by 2030s

RIM Shares Tumble After Slow Q2 Results

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:58:54 +0000

RIM shares drop 19% after Q2 profits fall by over half
Q2 PlayBook tablet sales 40% down on Q1
RIM confident new QNX smartphone and PlayBook 2.0 tablet platforms will improve sales

United Auto Workers Extend Contract Discussions

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:07:42 +0000

UAW extends contracts with GM, Chrysler and Ford
Contract discussions first since 2009 US automotive bailout
Union will vote when contract terms are determined

New Features: Facebook Gives Users More Control

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:46:40 +0000

Facebook launches new Subscribe and Smart Lists features
Users have more options for organizing personal and professional contacts and acquaintances
CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes back IPO to late 2012

UBS Trader Arrested In Relation To $2 Billion Loss

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:25:27 +0000

Police arrest UBS trader for bank fraud
Investors doubt UBS, industry security
UBS to shed $2.5 billion in employment costs

Retail Report: Missoni Line For Target a Major Success

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:02:08 +0000

Target hits bull’s-eye with Missoni collaboration, demand crashes website
Limited-time Missoni products range from $3 to $600
Branded credit cards and summer sales boost quarter to $705 million

Suzuki and Volkswagen Part Over Partnership Infringement Accusation

editor@reportlinker.com (Kim Yvette Stanley) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:13:55 +0000

2-year partnership comes to an end over Volkswagen’s accusation that Suzuki-Fiat diesel engine order is a violation
Shares owned by Suzuki, Volkswagen to be relinquished
Porsche-Volkswagen merger in jeopardy

Bank of America to Cut 30,000 Jobs, Reduce Costs by 18%

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:55:55 +0000

CEO announces "Project New BAC" to cut costs by $5 billion, cut jobs by 10%
Goal is to restore investor confidence and raise company efficiency ratio to 55%
Investitgations cause 48% stock drop this year

Hewlett-Packard Introduces New IT Security Software

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 13:01:44 +0000

HP introduces new security software platforms - Fortify, ArcSight and Tipping Point
HP aims to increase its role in supplying IT security to large corporations
HP executives hope company reputation in PC industry will boost sales of new software products

Google Buys Zagat To Up Local Content

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:53:11 +0000

Zagat buy offers reviews and deals on local restaurants, hotels and nightlife using Google maps
Google estimates 20% of its daily searches are for neighborhood establishments
Zagat's online home will remain a paid site

The McGraw-Hill Divide: Markets and Education

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:56:58 +0000

McGraw-Hill increasing share repurchase to $1 billion in 2011
McGraw-Hill Markets unit expected to generate yearly revenue of $4 billion
Growing markets in China, India and Brazil promise double-digit growth

American Jobs Act Worth Nearly $450 Billion

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:11:55 +0000

American Jobs Act to create 1.9 million jobs, lower unemployment by 1%
Employed to receive additional take-home pay
Plan to cut social security taxes to 3.1%, senior citizens concerned

Air France-KLM To Cut Costs Over €700 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:50:42 +0000

Lufthansa operating margin 3% ahead of Air France in first quarter
Air France sees red in first and second quarters, facing $6 million debt
Air France plummets more than 50% on Bloomberg EMEA Airlines Index

9/11: Reviewing The Impact On The US Economy

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:51:26 +0000

Ground zero reconstruction costs run to $11 billion
Insurers hit with bill for $40 billion; government pays $10 billion in compensation
Taxpayers shell out $4 trillion-$6 trillion in 9/11 ripple effect

Smart Car: GM Chevrolet Volt Makes Its Canadian Debut

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:52:51 +0000

GM Chevrolet Volt smart car released to Canadian consumers on September 1
Volt named 2011 Car of the Year for technological innovation
Volt hit US market in 2010, but struggles against competitors such as Nissan

Saab Takes Step To Secure Bankruptcy Protection

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:15:59 +0000

Saab applies for court protection from creditors to avoid falling into bankruptcy
Carmaker to present creditors a reorganization plan within three weeks
Saab only sold 30,000 cars last year, some 90,000 less than required to break even

US Falls to Fifth in Global Competitiveness Rankings

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:09:59 +0000

Mounting deficit, declining trust in politicians linked to pushing US down in rankings
Switzerland tops list with Western European countries dominating top ten
Advanced economies are stagnating while developing markets are rising

Auto Sales: Great Hope For US Economy?

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:20:49 +0000

Chrysler sales up 30% in August; GM up 18%; Nissan up 19%
Honda profits plummet 27% on last year; Toyota down 13%
Hurricane Irene slashed car sales by 10,000

UK Retail Sales Slide in August as Inflation Rises

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:32:43 +0000

UK retail sales slump in August with consumer confidence low and inflation high
Report shows like-to-like sales down 0.6% compared to August 2010
Shop closures expected to continue in lead up to Christmas

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7 Sales Blocked in Germany

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:52:01 +0000

German court grants Apple temporary injunction, blocking sale of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7
Netherlands court blocked several Samsung smartphone models last month
Samsung can reverse injunctions if it wins patent dispute with Apple

HP TouchPad Crushed by iPad, Yet Sales Rise Considerably During Final Days

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:33:46 +0000

HP TouchPad sales increase dramatically following announcement that product is being discontinued
Apple has strong lead in tablet market, outselling rivals eight to one
Best way to compete against iPad could be on price

NGOs Point The Finger At Apple For China Pollution

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:27:54 +0000

NGOs say polluted river caused by Apple supplier
Apple sales surpass Lenovo on home turf by $1 billion; Q3 sales in China hit almost $9 billion
Chinese iPhone 5 fakes retail for $47 online

Apple Hiring Security Managers After Second iPhone Prototype Goes Missing

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:42:37 +0000

Apple looks to hire new product security managers following disappearance of new iPhone prototype
Two iPhone prototypes have been lost in two years
Men accused of selling iPhone 4 prototype last year plead not guilty to charges

US, Russia May Withdraw Astronauts from International Space Station

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:03:00 +0000

US and Russian space agencies consider pulling astronauts from International Space Station after failed Soyuz rocket launch
Russia must complete two successful Soyuz launches before mid-November to satisfy security concerns
If astronauts withdrawn, it would be first time in over a decade that space station has been unmanned

Coca-Cola Boosts Sales in China

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:33:29 +0000

Coca-Cola invests $4 billion to expand operations in China
Coca-Cola sales in China double in six years, nearing $5 billion mark
Coca-Cola holds almost 62% share of China’s soda drink market

$1.3 Billion Oracle Award Rejected by Judge in SAP Case

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:23:57 +0000

Award revised down to $272 million unless Oracle wishes to open new case
SAP admitted it is liable of copyright theft but disputes settlement amount
Jury settlement based on hypothetical fee SAP would have paid to access Oracle software

Stealth May Help Lockheed Steal Japan Jet Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:10:17 +0000

Stealth technology could see Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet win a supply contract in Japan
$4 billion deal is for around 40 jets with delivery to begin in 2016
Job cuts and development delays could dent Lockheed’s chances of securing deal over Boeing and Eurofighter

Economists Seek ECB Rate Reversal

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:50:48 +0000

Interest rates increased to 1.5% from 1%
ECB Council urges contractionary monetary policy
EU growth, manufacturing down in second quarter

Global Factory Output Slows in August

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:44:05 +0000

Factory activity worldwide slows in August, prompting fears of global recession
UK, Germany and France see contractions
Export-dependent economies in Asia could be among hardest hit

Alberta Oil Sands Production: Dirty Oil?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 08:29:43 +0000

Planned sit-in September 26 in Ottawa to protest Alberta oil sands
Oil sand mining produces 3 times more greenhouse gases than conventional oil production
Oil sand production expected to increase to 3.5 million barrels per day by 2020

US Government Faces Off Banks in Mortgage Lawsuit

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 07:30:00 +0000

FHFA sues 17 financial firms for $195 billion mortgage securities loss
Bank of America sued for almost $58 billion
Taxpayers picked up $135 billion housing tab over three years

BMW Overtakes Mercedes in US Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:47:59 +0000

BMW August US sales up almost 7%; Mercedes down 2%
BMW incentive efforts up 21%
Mercedes set for early release of B-Class hatchback in India to combat BMW leadership

Emissions Offsetting Plan Cut By London Olympics Organizers

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:16:04 +0000

2012 London Olympics organizers drop emissions offsetting program with savings predicted at $4.4 million
Committee will “maximize the Games locally” by reducing emissions at ground level
Security budget boosted $244 million to total $978 million

US Consumer Confidence Falls to 2-Year Low

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:15:00 +0000

Consumer confidence index plummets to 44.5 from over 59 in July, biggest drop in 3 years
Unemployment hits 9%, highest in 9 months
4.5% year-on-year drop in house prices across 20 US cities
Motor vehicle manufacturing up 10% for highest gain in 8 years

LCD Panel Business Merger for Toshiba, Sony, Hitachi

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:25:48 +0000

Toshiba, Hitachi and Sony combine LCD panel businesses
Merger gives access to $2.6 billion of government money and will be operated by Innovation Network Corporation of Japan
New entity, Japan Display, set to become world’s biggest small and medium-sized LCD manufacturer

AT&T’s T-Mobile Takeover Blocked by US Government

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:19:28 +0000

US government starts lawsuit to block AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile, saying move would be anti-competitive
AT&T rejects suggestions and plans to seek court hearing
AT&T will owe $3 billion to T-Mobile to owner Deutsche Telekom if deal not signed

Exxon Mobil Strikes Oil Deals in Russia, Argentina

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:32:01 +0000

Exxon Mobil and Rosneft to invest $3.2 billion in oil and gas extraction in Russian Artic, Black Sea
Rosneft holds 66% extraction ownership; drilling to begin in 2015
Exxon and Americas Petrogas target shale oil and gas in Argentina with $54 million funding

Sun Sets On Solyndra Solar

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:28:54 +0000

More than 1,000 jobs cut as Solyndra closes its doors
Solyndra borrowed $527 million of $535 million government loan guarantee
US solar manufacturing industry up 30%

Feds Probe Oracle for Possible Bribery in Africa

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:10:11 +0000

Oracle under criminal investigation for at least a year; officials looking into software sales in Western and Central Africa
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act used in crackdown on corporate bribery
$2 billion paid in US criminal penalties over two-year period ending 2010; up from $11 million in 2004

BP Returns to Gulf Spill Site

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:17:41 +0000

Examination launched after oil seen rising to surface of Gulf of Mexico
Victims of last year’s BP oil spill paid $5 billion
Mining listed as one of most dangerous jobs in 2010

Insurance Impact: Hurricane Irene to Rack Up $6 Billion in Damages

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:46:42 +0000

Insurance payouts for storm damage are lower than expected; original estimate was around $10 billion
Local governments providing aid after hurricane
In 2011 severe weather conditions have cost the US economy a combined $35 billion

Social Media: Facebook Privacy Update

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:17:26 +0000

Changes aimed at making settings more visible and easier to understand
Privacy updates launched in response to Google+
Governments and academics concerned Facebook’s facial recognition system could be violating privacy laws

EIA Marcellus Shale Gas Reserve Estimates Plummet 80%

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:39:26 +0000

EIA drops gas reserve estimates for Marcellus Shale to fall in line with revised USGS appraisals
Residents fear gas extraction will affect air and water quality
Gas to account for 40% of US electricity by 2035

After Steve Jobs’ Resignation, Who Will Ensure The Apple Vision Remains Intact?

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 06:46:15 +0000

Apple CEO steps down, presumably for health reasons
COO Tim Cook takes over at the helm
Paul Schiller, senior VP of worldwide product marketing, may also have an important role to play

IBM Creates Chips That Replicate Human Brain

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:19:28 +0000

IBM announces new computer chip that can mimic human brain activity
New technology could lead to a learning computer system that can reproduce brain functions like cognition, perception and emotion
Long-term goal to build a computer system that resembles human brain

Will Boeing’s New Passenger-Friendly Dreamliner Make Flying Fun Again?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:26:35 +0000

Boeing introduces 787 “Dreamliner” with features that backers say will make “flying fun again”
Seats are roomier, lavatories are larger and other features should add to passenger comfort
Next generation of airplanes to have technological features that make them more passenger-friendly

Pharmaceutical Report: Vaccines Pose No Real Health Risk

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:03:04 +0000

Research debunks claims shots cause autism and other serious conditions
California imposes vaccines after whooping cough comeback
Whooping cough vaccine 80% to 85% effective

Bangalore Firm Unveils Tablet PC

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:19:02 +0000

Indian company LACS announces new range of Android-powered tablets, with prices starting at $99
LACS confident Magnum Pepper will create a stir in tablet market
Confusion over exact specs of the $99 Pepper may detract from publicity

China Makes Major Metro Investment

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:31:03 +0000

China invests ¥1.27 trillion in new railways, subways to ease traffic congestion and attract urban development
Chinese government orders safety checks, new regulations for high-speed rail
China CNR recalls 54 bullet trains

Oil Prices Fall as Rebels Take Over Libyan Capital

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:37:50 +0000

Brent oil prices drop more than 3% to $105.15
UN releases $1.5 billion to begin rebuilding Libya
Libya’s frozen assets valued at $160 billion

Ford and Toyota Collaborate On Gas-Electric Hybrid for Trucks, SUVs

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:13:17 +0000

Ford to produce over 100,000 hybrid and electric vehicles by 2013
Toyota hybrid sales reach 3.3 million since 1997 Prius launch
Ford delays Focus Electric launch until Spring 2012

Airlines Not Grounded by Stormy Economic Climate

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:59:59 +0000

United Continental lashes out $550 million to revamp aircrafts
Qantas to invest $9 billion and open two new airlines in Asia
Australian aviation market to lose 1,000 jobs

The Murky Future of Travel Loyalty Programs

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:56:14 +0000

Business executives believe loyalty programs important to success
Loyalty program trend: offer hotel bookings at airlines/websites under private-label partnerships
Next generation reward programs must offer unique, desirable and attainable reward options

Airlines Go Paperless with New iPad Pilot Manuals

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:46:41 +0000

Delta Airlines trials iPad to replace bulky paper manuals and flight charts
Change could support significant reduction in fuel consumption
American Airlines first approved by FAA for iPad trials; United Airlines and Alaska Air also expressing interest

Japan’s Renewable Energy Plan in Motion

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:12:02 +0000

Japan’s lower house of parliament approved new renewable energy bill
Bill requires utilities to purchase electricity generated by renewable energy sources
Majority of Japanese polled favor a gradual change in energy sources

Lenovo Eyes Big Picture as Apple Tops China Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:59:22 +0000

Apple’s greater China sales surpass Lenovo’s for first time in Q2 of 2011
Lenovo dismisses sales comparisons, saying it is focused on global PC industry
Lenovo controls 31.7% of Chinese PC market

Delta Approves $8.5 Billion Deal for 100 Boeing 737 Jets

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:56:25 +0000

Delta orders 100 Boeing 737-900ER planes; delivery to begin in 2013
Deal is part of a $2 billion plan to update aging Delta fleet
Advanced wing technology on Boeing 737s will save an estimated 20% in fuel and maintenance costs

Automotive M2M revenues to reach €157 Billion by 2020

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:10:31 +0000

Automotive applications highly dynamic segment of M2M communications
Aftermarket hardware revenue to drop to 20% by 2020
Applications promising greatest profit for mobile network operators linked to in-vehicle entertainment

August Gold Prices Surge, Bubble Likely

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:19:51 +0000

JP Morgan forecasts $2,500 per ounce gold by year end
Since 1999, gold is up from $255 to over $1,800
Gold exceeds relative strength index, “bubble” talk begins

Microfossils Give Insight into First Life on Earth

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:49:30 +0000

Tiny fossils found in Western Australia represent life on earth in its earliest form
Fossilized bacteria from 3.4 billion years ago lived off sulfur, not oxygen
Confirming evidence of fossilized life now more complex with technology advances

Species Rapidly Migrating to Escape Global Warming

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:28:54 +0000

Species migrating towards polar regions 3 times faster than estimated to escape rising temperatures
Plants and animals in mountainous areas shifting habitats upwards faster than thought
Scientists expect trend to continue until end of the century

Google Captures the Amazon for Street View

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:55:32 +0000

Google heads to northwest Brazil to photograph the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers to include them in Street View
Foundation for a Sustainable Amazon suggested idea to highlight effects of poor global sustainability initiatives
Locals to do navigating; photo equipment will be left behind with local communities

ECB Purchases €14.3 Billion in Government Bonds

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 07:15:31 +0000

ECB buys government bonds to ease eurozone debt crisis
ECB total spending of government bonds now €110.5 billion
Obama and Merkel meet to discuss financial crisis

Researchers Create Full Map of Antarctica Ice Flow

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:50:42 +0000

Scientists produce first complete map of Antarctica ice flow using Satellite Radar Interferometry; vital in tracking rising sea levels
Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers undergoing quickest changes in West Antarctica
Map sheds light on an east-west running ridge that splits the continent

Apple Tops Exxon Temporarily for Most Valuable Company in the World

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:38:00 +0000

Apple value temporarily overtakes Exxon Mobil, which has held the top spot since 2005
Four of the six most valuable companies in the world are IT firms
70% of Apple's stock is owned by institutional investors and mutual funds

FCC Plan for 911 Texting

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:08:09 +0000

Move to IP-based communications to increase range of methods available for contacting 911
Improved provision of automatic information will help pinpoint callers' location
New services could be up-and-running within five to ten years

Skype Agrees Buyout Deal for Start-Up GroupMe

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:09:35 +0000

Skype agrees to acquisition of mobile messaging company GroupMe
Deal stands to benefit Microsoft, who awaits regulatory approval for Skype takeover
Smartphone rivals aim to knock Blackberry Messenger 6 off its perch on top of mobile messaging market

ECB Seeks Inflation Protection in Bond Purchases

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:51:07 +0000

Forecasts predict inflation rate of 2.6% for 2011
ECB slowly purchases European bonds from secondary markets
ECB's Stark warns against common eurobond, low interest rates

Retailer John Lewis Adds Technology for Customers

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:01:51 +0000

Cloud-based appointment system lets customers book from anywhere
Smart-technology virtual mirrors from Cisco set to boost cross selling of clothing and accessory
Customer interest, newness improves John Lewis sales figures

Windows 8 App Store Under Development, Says Microsoft

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:16:12 +0000

Microsoft all but confirms Windows 8 operating system will include an app store
New OS to come with touch-optimized user interface similar to Windows Phone smartphones
Windows 8 billed as its biggest OS revamp since Windows 95

HP Scraps TouchPad, Pulls Out of PC Business

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:05:53 +0000

Hewlett Packard terminates TouchPad tablet PC and WebOS operating system operations
HP announces it will end PC business to concentrate on software and business solutions
iPad 2 sales continue to break records worldwide

Modified Ecstasy Could Help Treat Cancer

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:54:19 +0000

Chemically engineered form of ecstasy could be effective against some types of cancer
Ecstasy already known to kill certain cancer cells, though required doses dangerously high
Modified ecstasy attracted to fatty deposits in cancer cell membranes, weakens cell walls and allows drug to destroy it

US Defence Developing More Explosive Missiles

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:57:43 +0000

US military successfully tests new substance five times more explosive than current materials
High-Density Reactive Material is a mix of metals and oxidizers that could replace steel casings in traditional missiles
While increasing explosive power, HRDM could also reduce collateral damage

Manchester United to Sell Stake on Singapore's Stock Exchange

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:16:38 +0000

Manchester United applies to list shares on Singapore Exchange (SGX)
Club aims to raise around $1 billion for up to a 30% stake, which will help ease its $865 million debt
Large number of United’s top sponsors are based in Asia or conduct business there

Foster’s Rejects SABMiller’s Hostile Takeover Bid

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:51:37 +0000

Foster’s calls for shareholders to reject hostile takeover bid, says offer is too low
Takeover requires 90% acceptance from shareholders
SABMiller bid biggest industry has seen since Heineken’s $7 billion takeover of Mexican company FEMSA in 2010

Report: A Review of Google's Fast-Speed Spending Spree

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:04:48 +0000

Google on buying spree that could impair dominance in search engine market
Google’s long list of successful company acquisitions have been instrumental for profitability
Anti-trust suits pending are worldwide in scope

Yen Falls After Postwar Record High

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:34:24 +0000

Yen falls again to 76.5 on August 19
Record Japanese M&A cross-border transactions this year
80% of Japanese operating profits come from abroad
Government announces $100 billion loan fund to weaken yen

Google to Acquire Motorola for $12.5 billion

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:50:20 +0000

Google to buy Motorola Mobility for access to Motorola mobile patents
Google’s Android smartphone platform most popular worldwide in Q2 2011, with 43.3% market share

Risk of Heart Disease Higher For Women Smokers

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:57:29 +0000

Study shows smoking increases heart disease risk 25% for women
Reasons unknown but could be biological differences or variations in smoking between genders
Female perspective in tobacco-control policies is fundamental, researchers say

Jobs Opportunities Drop 11% for London's Financial Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:00:27 +0000

14,000 or 32% of London's financial industry looking for jobs
Banks cutting thousands of jobs, creating jobs abroad
LSBF offers new Trium program, guarantees full-time job in 6 months

Cable and Satellite TV Lose A Record 196,000 Subscribers

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:52:43 +0000

Decline in American pay TV subscriptions due to economy, unemployment
Competition from telecommunications companies and drop in real estate also hurting pay TV industry
Americans seeking out Internet streaming video sites for inexpensive TV content

Google+ Now Available on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:18:48 +0000

Google+ now has 25 million members after one month
Growing rate: 1 million new users per day
Brands may move from Facebook to Google+ more quickly than ordinary users

Social Media: BlackBerry Helps In London Clean Up

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:14:40 +0000

Riot cleanups being organized via social media
BlackBerry Messenger blamed for riot coordination, now being used to fix damage
RIM to help officials track down rioters

Echo of London Riots Heard Across Other Cities

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:25:32 +0000

First riot-related fatality in Croydon
Police shooting of Tottenham man triggers violent protests in London and other major cities
Rioters use BlackBerry messaging, Facebook and Twitter to organize offensive
Cost of repairs high in the tens of millions, damage to city reputation problematic for upcoming Olympic games

China Unable to Release Economy Buffer

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:47:13 +0000

China unable to create stimulus package to buffer local, global economies
China's annual inflation was 6.5% in July
Premier Wen seeks global cooperation, responsible policies

Ethan Allen Sales, Profits Up In Fourth Quarter

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:58:49 +0000

Ethan Allen reports 9% sales increase in fourth quarter
Analysts recommend holding stock, CEO “cautiously optimistic”
Ethan Allen seeks global expansion, hires Arne Borrey as new VP international business

Report: Mobile Payments Boost $62 billion US Alternative Payments Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:40:05 +0000

Online and mobile payment methods gaining popularity over credit cards
33% of checkout terminals expected to accept mobile payments in near future
Financial institutions need to adapt to new mobile environment to meet client demand

Greece Debt Update

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:46:34 +0000

Voluntary bond exchange to be completed quickly
IIF estimates a 90% adoption rate for bond swap, while critics say investors unlikely to embrace it
Moody’s downgrades Greece to rating just above default

Over 70 Major Organizations Hit in 5-year Cyber Rampage

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:40:09 +0000

Hackers targeted defense, industry and state bodies in 15 countries
Spear phishing technique used to install malware
Experts say all evidence points to China as a main culprit

Keeping Nuclear Could Be Costly for Japan

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:17:53 +0000

U.N. atomic watchdog says Japan on track to clean-up Fukushima
Prime Minister Naoto Kan wants a nuclear-free nation
20% of Japan’s energy could be renewable in the next 10 years

LinkedIn: Revolutionizing Careers and the Stock Market?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:45:06 +0000

Initial earnings impressive, with profit at $4.5 million and revenue up over 115%
Shares hit a high of almost $106 on August 3
LinkedIn could revolutionize both careers and stock market

Apple’s Super-Thin MacBook Pro

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:31:31 +0000

Ultra-thin 15-inch version of the MacBook Pro said to be in late testing stages at Apple
New laptop computers may be available by Christmas
Thinning down, and doing away with optical media and traditional hard drives suggests Apple believes consumers are ready to move data to the Cloud

REPORT: M2M Systems Hold Exploitable Potential for Consumer Electronics Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:21:45 +0000

M2M connected consumer electronics market to hit €400 billion in 2020
Europe (30%) and Emerging Asia Pacific (28%) lead market share
Over 45 million cellular M2M devices use wireless short-range technology
Mobile Network Operators concentrating on niche applications

No Solid Ground for FAA as Senate Goes on Summer Break

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:41:33 +0000

Nearly 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers remain on involuntary unpaid leave
Essential Air Service program costs government almost $200 million a year
Airline tax revenue lost during shut-down could add to $1.2 billion

Canada’s Libya Mission: Worth the Cost?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:31:32 +0000

CDN$26 million spent on Canada’s military mission in Libya to June 2011
Budget predicted to hit CDN$60 million if mission extends to September 2011
Allied countries moving to transfer funds to Libya’s Transitional National Council

Mubarak Denies Charges of Corruption, Murder of Protesters

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:44:30 +0000

Mubarak pleads not guilty to corruption and death orders
Judge orders Mubarak be held at military hospital
Court proceedings to reconvene on August 15

Microsoft Unveils New Smartphone Platform “Mango”

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:56:36 +0000

Microsoft signs off on new smartphone operating system, Mango
Last year Mango’s predecessor, Windows Phone 7, was overshadowed by new Google Android devices and Apple iPhone updates
Microsoft smartphone market share falls from 7.1% in Q1 of 2010 to 2.7% for same period this year

Study: Sunscreen Users Tend To Burn

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:21:15 +0000

New study shows sunscreen users experience 23% more sunburns
Recent studies show users do not apply enough sunscreen to properly protect skin
FDA issues new sunscreen regulations and labels

Williams-Sonoma to Make British Debut Next Year

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:01:21 +0000

Williams-Sonoma to open shop in London within first half of 2012
WSM rating downgraded by S&P and Stock Scouter
UK becoming popular alternative for overseas expansion

Top Luxury Hotels Looking for New Ways to Fill Beds

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:31:41 +0000

Luxury hotel chains trying to find new, less expensive and creative ways of luring upscale travelers
Marriott and Hilton looking to form partnerships to create desirable “guest experiences”
Stakes are high for both expansion-minded chains as they look to add new products worldwide

Sony Ericsson On the Move to Stay in the Game

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:44:40 +0000

Xperia X10 owners given chance to upgrade to Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Commitment made to Chinese market with opening of global R&D center in Beijing
The Swedish-Japanese joint venture reports €50 million losses in Q2 2011, following interruptions to its supply chain as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan

Walmart Announces New Movie Streaming Service

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:44:40 +0000

Walmart makes a renewed attempt at breaking into online film market after industry leader Netflix announces a price hike
Teaming up with recent acquisition Vudu, new service will offer movie titles for rent and purchase with no monthly subscription
Service is not yet available on iPad or other tablet PC devices

BlackBerry 7 Devices - Coming Soon?

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:11:14 +0000

Devices running BlackBerry 7 operating system to ship over next few months
Release of new handsets an attempt to make up for falling sales
Job cuts and executive reshuffle as Research in Motion tries to cut costs

AT&T to Serve Out New Gingerbread on Android Handsets

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:52:45 +0000

AT&T announces update for Google’s smartphone operating system
6 Android handsets have access to new Gingerbread platform
Google promises to work with mobile manufacturers and network operators to guarantee updates for all new Android handsets

UBS to Cut Jobs, Push Back Profit Target

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:45:54 +0000

UBS to alter or remove its 2014 profit target
European debt crisis blamed for investment bank losses
UBS CEO announces plans to reduce costs, cut 5,000 jobs

Electronic Signature Company EchoSign Acquired by Adobe

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:22:39 +0000

With acquisition of electronic signature firm, Adobe to discontinue its cloud-based electronic signature service
EchoSign service cuts document signature time to minutes rather than days
Deal could help improve Adobe's financials following recent downgrade by Goldman Sachs

Study: Melanoma Better Detected by Doctors

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:11:46 +0000

Study shows physicians more successful at detecting early-stage melanoma than individuals
Melanoma predicted to be 5th most-common cancer in men, 7th in women for 2011
Cancer diagnosis device Aura scans for 21 biomarkers in one second

Apple iPad 2 Shipping - Playing Catch Up

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:33:45 +0000

Apple shipping iPad 2 to consumers within 1-3 days, compared to potential wait of up to four weeks after launch four months ago
iPad covers becoming important part of revenue stream, contributing millions to Apple's bottom line
Rumors on iPad 3 talk of faster processor and possible fall release date

The World's First Dual-Screen Laptop

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:50:51 +0000

SpaceBook laptop has dual 17-inch display, with 1920 x 1080 resolution for each screen
Weighs 10 pounds and measures 2 inches thick, giving a whole new meaning to the term "portable computer"
Attractive for productivity benefits

Fiat and Chrysler Move Closer Toward Merger

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:06:00 +0000

Fiat regains majority 54% ownership of Chrysler
Fiat holds option to buy remaining shares by June 2012
Investor concern over Fiat debt lowers stock value

BlackBerry Maker RIM Cuts 2,000 Jobs

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:12:30 +0000

BlackBerry maker RIM to cut 11% of global workforce
First quarter profits plunged 10% with market share down 5%
RIM stock prices closed at an all-time low in May 2011 after PlayBook recalls

Mining Protests Across Three Continents Threaten Commodity Prices

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:56:04 +0000

Thousands of miners striking in South Africa, Chile and Australia for higher pay and better working conditions
Coal, oil, metal and diamond industries affected
Stoppages cause petrol shortage, coal stockpiles

Gambling-Dependent US Areas Rolling Dice To Make Up For Lost Income

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:39:25 +0000

Regions that rely on gambling-related visitor income are hurting economically
Plans are underway to promote areas offering attractions beyond gambling
Major question: will this rejuvenate gambling-dependent?

Borders World Closes The Book on Print Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:17:15 +0000

Borders closes doors on just under 400 stores, almost 11,000 jobs lost
Creditors owed more than $270 million
Digital book sales overtake print copy sales
Closure opens retail rental space totaling 10 million square feet

Energy Update: World Remains On Nuclear Watch After Japan Crisis

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:52:50 +0000

US-NRC releases recommendations to tighten nuclear safety
Germany and Switzerland closing nuclear plants; France cutting back
China and India picking up nuclear slack to overtake leading nations
Japan’s nuclear future still unclear

UK Shrinks Solar Support

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:54:44 +0000

UK lowers feed-in tariff for large-scale solar projects
Gloucester project to install 200 solar panels on community center roof
Solar Trade Association launches “Solar Needs You” campaign

India's Sets 20 GW Solar Power Goal

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:45:09 +0000

India seeks 20GW solar power by 2022
India to produce 700 MW solar energy this year
Gujarat to generate 100 MW of solar power in six months

Allergan Strikes Deal With Vicept Therapeutics

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:42:10 +0000

Allergan to acquire Vicept Therapeutics for $75 million
Vicept's V-101 could be first-approved topical treatment for rosacea
Cell-based assay will be used for testing Allergan's star product, Botox

Tourism Trend: Hotels Seek to Detox Technology-Dependent Guests

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:08:49 +0000

79% of travelers remain connected almost all or at least some of the time on holiday
Hotels offering detox programs with reading and board games as alternatives
Hotel tranquility rooms and special discounts aim to wean guests from being technology-dependent

Presidential and Royalty Visits Generate Multi-Million Dollar Tourism Returns

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:59:11 +0000

Visits by royalty and heads of state generate great publicity and attract new visitor interest for tourist sites
Television and newspaper coverage amounts to millions of dollars in free publicity
Visits by celebrities help morale and have other intangible benefits beyond just tourism

Technology: Google, Travelzoo and InterContinental Launch New Travel Apps, Sites

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:02:04 +0000

Google introduces “Hotel Finder” to help users select where they want to stay
Travelzoo’s first iPhone application helps find travel deals while on road
InterContinental Hotels Group launches iPhone booking apps for all 7 of its brands

Germany Turns to Solar

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:33:47 +0000

Bosch Solar Energy AG reaches new PV record
GE and Gehrlicher Solar plan global solar plants
Munich hosts this year's Intersolar Europe Conference

Will Airline Spending On IT Lead To More Passenger Comfort?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:05:38 +0000

Survey finds that more than 50% of world's 129 airlines intend to spend more on IT this year
Greatest spend areas: commercial social networking, mobile transaction systems and virtualization technology
Tech spending should lead to more comfort for passengers

Is Technology Making Hotel Concierges An Endangered Species?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:34:30 +0000

Concierges originally associated with luxury hotels now found in mid-priced establishments
Hotel technology finds ways to provide information traditionally supplied by concierges
Human touch unlikely to be eliminated despite tech advances

Travel Industry Embraces Social Media

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:33:05 +0000

Travel industry adopting fast-growing social media, which will involve two-thirds of US population by 2013
Hotels at forefront, using social media for promotions, recruitment and other
Biggest social media mistakes: abandoning accounts, spamming and over-promotion

Company Profile: Virgin Mobile Canada

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:01:20 +0000

Virgin Mobile Canada is a national Virgin Group Ltd. cellular phone company
Virgin Mobile Canada began as a prepaid mobile phone service in 2005
Today the company provides a variety of services and benefits to members

Greece Scrambles to Escape Deficit With Drastic Cutbacks

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:26:14 +0000

Greece spiraled into debt over a ten-year period
Government spending skyrocketed 87% between 2004 and 2010
Greek implements austerity measures to meet EU-IMF demands

Kraft Announces Sustainability and Food Safety Measures

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:54:06 +0000

Kraft releases "Creating a More Delicious World" report
Kraft reduces greenhouse emissions by 18%
Kraft improved nutritional content of about 5,500 products beginning in 2005

Youth Driving Smartphone Adoption in Canada

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:40:27 +0000

1 in 5 Canadians and over 45% of 18 to 34-year-olds own a smartphone in Canada
Ontario-based RIM’s Blackberry is the brand leader, followed by Apple’s iPhone
80% of Canadian smartphone users pay for a data plan compared to 15% of cellphone users

Ricoh Set to Acquire Pentax in Digital Camera Market Push

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:32:44 +0000

Hoya to sell Pentax to Ricoh in October 2011
Deal worth approximately $125 million
Acquisition to help Ricoh boost its standing in digital camera market

Food Prices Rise in Venezuela

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:24:55 +0000

Poor in Venezuela spending nearly 45% of income on food
Food prices have risen 33% in Venezuela compared to 7% in other areas
Price rises linked to overspending and other governmental problems

Apple iPhone 5 Could Be Released This Fall

editor@reportlinker.com (S. W. Mudie) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:02:26 +0000

Rumors suggest Apple is set to release new iPhone in September or even August
New device will probably be called iPhone 5, and is said to feature a powerful processor and an 8-megapixel camera
iPhone remains Apple's best-selling product but faces challenges from Google's Android and Microsoft/Nokia partnership

Accor Responds to Fast-Growing Asia Pacific Tourism Market

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:06:09 +0000

Accor caters to Chinese tourists in Australia with new service standards; China fastest growing inbound market for Australia, worth $3 billion per year
Accor will open 21 new hotels in Indonesia
Plans to build 3 new Accor hotels in Vietnam; another 15 under review

Sector Snapshot: Canadian Energy Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:30:32 +0000

By 2015, Canada will contribute 29% of North American regional oil supply
Canada’s current ranking in natural gas production is 3rd globally
Canada's nuclear energy industry earned approximately $5 billion in 2010

Lagarde Successful in Bid for IMF Leadership

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:27:13 +0000

Christine Lagarde poised to begin five-year term as IMF chief starting July 5
Developing nations criticize IMF unwillingness to pick from outside EU
DSK scandal leaves IMF vulnerable to credibility attacks

Tourism Trend: US Hotels Going to the Dogs

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:32:34 +0000

62% of Americans own at least one pet; most commonly a dog
People who travel with pets tend to stay longer and spend more
Hotels are offering various perks for pets: massages, special treats and walks

US Air Travel: Will Passengers Pay For Security Checks?

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:15:45 +0000

TSA considering traveler option to pay for background checks
70% of survey respondents would pay for a background check to minimize security issues
Despite concerns, airlines and travelers seem happy to try out new proposal

2030: Food Prices Predicted to Double

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 16:12:49 +0000

By 2050 demand for food to increase by 70%
Growth rate in agriculture to be reduced to less than 1% in next 10 years
By 2030 prices for food to grow by about 120% to 180%

Business is Booming: Canadian Luxury Home Sales in Vancouver

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:21:55 +0000

Despite downturn of the housing sector, luxury home market is booming in large city centers
Sales of homes in Vancouver worth $2 million or more have doubled
Vancouver market has benefitted from a rise in buyers from Mainland China

Sector Snapshot: Pet Products Market in the USA

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:50:57 +0000

62% of United States households own a pet
Pet industry spending forecast to rise by 5% in 2011 to reach $50 billion
OTC medicine and pet supplies predicted to be over $11 billion in 2011

Robust Tourism Growth in Latin America and Panama

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:13:30 +0000

Travel study predicts online travel marketplace in Latin America to double gross billings to $5 billion in next two years
Mexico, Brazil and Peru a hub for international companies
Panama City gets a new 198-room Holiday Inn

Germany and China Step-Up Bilateral Trade

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:20:53 +0000

Premier Wen and Chancellor Angela Merkel sign deals worth over €10 billion
Bilateral trade between China and Germany expected to reach €200 billion by 2015
China economy suffers from inflation, debt and corruption
Germany emerges largely unscathed by EU debt bubble

Solar Energy in the US Part III: Government, Google Finance California's Solar Energy

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:13:45 +0000

US DOE loans $2 billion to two California solar companies
Government loans will create over 1,700 new jobs
Google invests in SolarCity, largest deal for home-based solar energy industry

Solar Energy in the US Part II: Vermont Energy Act Replaces Solar Permits

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:12:44 +0000

Vermont's new energy act to replace solar permits, streamline registration
Vermont's SPEED program to ensure economic benefit of alternative fuels
CEDF will offer incentives to promote renewable energy

Panasonic Eyes Control of Micro Four Thirds Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:33:10 +0000

Panasonic releases interchangeable lens cameras
Move aims to take control of Micro Four Thirds market
New cameras target enthusiast photographers who want DSLR quality in a compact camera

Google, Citi Finance Breakthrough Wind Project

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:25:14 +0000

Citi and Google invest $314 for two phases of project
AWEC will nearly double the power of current largest US wind farm
Alta to power 450,000 homes after completion

Solar Energy In the US Part I: New Jersey to Reduce Renewable Energy Goals

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:09:58 +0000

Governor Christie to reduce 30% renewable energy goal to only 22.5%
Christie paves way for more nuclear energy and natural gas supplies
Environment New Jersey ranks the governor C- on environmental issues

iPhone Tops Flickr’s Most Popular Camera List

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:03:41 +0000

iPhone 4 most-used camera for photos uploaded to Flickr
Studies show smartphones overtaking cameras as preferred device to document life events
Experts say iPhone 4 likely most popular camera because of Flickr’s unreliable device detection service

Sector Snapshot: Mobile Banking and Payments Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:51:24 +0000

In 2015, mobile money transfer should generate revenue from $1.2 billion to $6.2 billion
Users of mobile banking and associated services are expected to hit 894 million in 2015
By 2013, over 60% of global mobile payment transactions will come from Western Europe and Asia

Education Part III: Business Schools Practice What They Preach by Going Global

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:05:38 +0000

Latest trends make MBA programs more accessible
Multi-location campuses allow schools establish global presence
First Canadian campus to open in India

Education Part II: MBA - The golden Ticket Through A Financial Crisis?

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:02:57 +0000

Top schools require written references, work experience, transcripts, top GMAT scores and essays before admitting students
MBA schools are ask huge yearly tutition fees
ROI: US MBA students reported a 25% jump in employment prospects between 2009-2011

Education Part I: Business Schools Compete to Win Best-In-Class

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:51:07 +0000

Pressure on schools to top the list to attract prospective students
Different methodologies lead to discrepancies in school ranking
Leading recruiters give seal of approval

Google Steps Up Digital TV Campaign with SageTV Acquisition

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 12:09:30 +0000

Google acquires digital video company SageTV in a move to improve Google TV
SageTV will provide Google with latest set-top box software and technology, including DVR functionality
Google TV has so far failed to make an impression in the digital TV world

Luxury Retail: Focus On Outlets

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:21:23 +0000

Luxury retailers to open outlet stores instead of rolling out department stores
Saks to open up to five outlet stores in coming years
Outlet stores help retailers lift sales during a recession

Happy 100 Years Parks Canada!

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 12:24:48 +0000

Canada’s national parks have grown from one park in Banff, Alberta, in 1886, to 36 national parks and 6 park reserves
Parks Canada is in the midst of a 5-year, $90-million plan to reintroduce native species and plants to certain sites, and treat polluted water
Parks Canada has launched Explora GPS, mobile apps and other solutions to teach visitors about park sites and outdoor survival skills

IMF Latest Victim in Wave of Cyber Attacks

editor@reportlinker.com (Ellsy O'Neill) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 09:08:43 +0000

Phishing was used to gain access to systems and data
Suspect assumed to be an IMF state member due to sophistication of breach
Chain of cyber assaults may threaten global economic security

Royal Canin Introduces New Products to Dog Food Line

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:24:38 +0000

Royal Canin launches supplements to reward pets and increase energy
Supplements can replace unhealthy human snacks pet owners give dogs
Royal Canin added feline supplements to its line in May

WindMade Labels Seek Consumer Backing

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:33:21 +0000

WindMade logo to advertise companies who support wind energy
Standard for logo is at least 25% of energy from wind energy
WindMade believes customers will help support cause

iPhone Tops Flickr’s Most Popular Camera List

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:03:41 +0000

iPhone 4 most-used camera for photos uploaded to Flickr
Studies show smartphones overtaking cameras as preferred device to document events
iPhone 4 likely most popular camera because of Flickr’s unreliable device detection service

Sector Snapshot: Australia Oil & Gas

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 15:37:00 +0000

Australia is world's 18th largest producer of natural gas
Australia is 7th largest exporter of LNG globally
Australia is also the third-largest LNG exporter in Asia-Pacific

Start-Up Lytro to Shift Instant Camera Focus

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:05:46 +0000

Lytro to release new point-and-shoot camera that will refocus images after capture
Light field camera captures more light and image detail
Analysts say overabundance of players in the digital camera market could be a challenge

Citigroup Added to the List of Latest Cyber Attack Victims

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:03:41 +0000

Hackers accessed account information for 200,000 Citigroup customers in North America
Attack on Sony PlayStation exposed over 100 million user accounts
Sony Pictures security breach touched more than 1 million user accounts
Classified data from the Canadian government was stolen at the start of the year

US May Reduce Security Checks For Low-Risk Passengers

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:06:09 +0000

Reduced security checks may be available for low-risk passengers; High-risk passengers would have to undergo extensive screening
Strict security discouraging to travelers; $85 billion loss from fewer trips
No date is set for the launch of the new speedier airport screening measures

Hipra To Build Animal Pharmaceutical Headquarters in Iowa

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:22:44 +0000

Funds approved to build $90 billion manufacturing plant in Ames, Iowa
Research and development unit to be added for vaccines
Iowa location chosen for existing focus on and infrastructure for animal healthcare

OECD Survey: Canadians Pay Highest Roaming Rates Worldwide

editor@reportlinker.com (Stephanie Lagopoulos) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:52:23 +0000

Canada has the highest international roaming rates out of 34 OECD countries, with prices at $24 for one megabyte of data
US ($21) ranks 2nd, with Mexico ($20) in 3rd place
Lack of competition has driven prices up; leaders need to adjust offers and find new solutions

Sector Snapshot: Retail in the United States

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:22:40 +0000

US retailer Walmart one of the largest companies in the world
Internet shopping, mobile phone shopping predicted to be biggest retail trends in 2011
US retail industry supplies jobs for nearly 14 million people

Sprint Goes Green

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:05:55 +0000

Sprint plans Electronics Stewardship Policy, aims to have over 70% of its products meet environmentally-friendly design criteria
Green ID full of environmental apps added for Sprint phones
Samsung Replenish released with solar-powered battery charger

Germany Searches for Origin of Deadly E. Coli Outbreak

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:28:43 +0000

German authorities step up efforts to find source of deadly E. coli strain in Europe
European trade ties under pressure following Germany’s premature accusations of contaminated Spanish cucumbers and Russia’s ban on import of EU fresh produce
Spanish President expected to seek compensation for farmers

Cargill Opens Technology Center To Improve Food Experience

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:07:46 +0000

Cargill invests $12.6 million in 20,000-square meter technology center in Brazil dedicated to food experience
Center created with sustainability in mind to preserve vegetation and topsoil in area
Cargill launched program to help Brazilian farmers increase cocoa crop yields

Hartville Group and ASPCA Renew Agreement

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:13:04 +0000

Hartville Group and ASPCA renew partnership to provide low-cost pet insurance plans
In exchange for using ASPCA name, Hartville Group to pay royalties
Vet care spending is predicted to reach $14 billion in 2011

Walmart Revamps Share Plan, Pricing in US

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:17:04 +0000

Walmart establishes $15 billion share repurchase plan
Focus on keeping prices low with deals and cost-cutting to attract consumers, encourage spending beyond essentials
Walmart ranks 6 in list of top 500 retail chains for year-over-year growth

Verizon Wireless Promotions, Finances

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:08:09 +0000

Mike Maiorana named regional director for Virginia and Maryland
Verizon continues financial strength
Verizon to power M&A Technology's new ePAD

Nestle Purina Official Dog Food Sponsor For Westminster Kennel Club

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:37:12 +0000

Westminster names Nestle Purina as new pet food sponsor for its famous dog show
Agreement allows Purina to expand customer base from owners who attend pet shows
Purina visible in dog show industry; opened center for shows in 2010

Acrux Gets European Backing for Dog Drug Treatment

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:07:11 +0000

Acrux receives approval in Europe for Recuvyra, a pain-relieving transdermal solution for dogs
Recuvyra is the latest product to be developed under license by Elanco
Eli Lilly holds the exclusive licence to commercialize and develop Acrux’s transdermal animal health products

Mobile App: Nestle Purina PetCare Creates 'The Petometer'

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:13:06 +0000

Pet mobile application allows people to track walks with pet
New app helps Purina better market its brand and encourage loyalty
Purina, Triad and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals launch online marketing video series

Home Ownership in Canada: The Impossible Dream?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:24:01 +0000

Homeownership costs up, taking 41% of family income to buy a detached bungalow, 46% for a two-storey home and 28% for a condominium
Major Canadian cities most affected by the increase, including Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary
Homeowners with a down payment of less than 20% must buy government-backed mortgage insurance
CREA predicts housing prices will increase 4% this year

E-book Prices Annoy Readers

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:05:27 +0000

E-book prices will resemble print book prices
Readers feel e-books should cost less
Publishers standing ground on prices

Greenhouse Gases in Canada – Is There Hope for the Environment?

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:40:31 +0000

Emissions of greenhouse gases in Canada down by nearly 6%
Greenhouse gas emissions were 17% higher in 2009 than in 1990 despite the signing of the Kyoto Protocol
Calgary ranks 5th highest out of 50 global cities in carbon dioxide production, producing 17.7 tons of carbon dioxide per capita

Home Depot Makes Major Tech Investment

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:19:46 +0000

Home Depot to invest $1.1 billion in technology
Web focus designed to increase online sales by 4% to 7%
Web to impact nearly 48% of Home Depot sales in 2011

Europe’s First Green High-Speed Train Hits the Tracks

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:50:17 +0000

High-speed Paris-Amsterdam rail link fitted with solar panels to power train networks and stations
16,000 solar panels to generate 3,300 MWh of power/year
Carbon emissions cut by 2,400 tons

iPhone 4 to Join Astronauts in Space Shuttle Mission

editor@reportlinker.com (Peter Kourkouvis) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:22:37 +0000

First time iPhones will enter space; mission scheduled for July 2011
iPhone 4 “SpaceLab” app will run experiments related to altitude, sensor calibration, position and radiation
Modified version of app will be available to the general public

Tommy Hilfiger Targets Younger Customers

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:18:49 +0000

New clothing line targets teens who like preppy style
Change aims to attrack younger target market with lower prices
Tommy Hilfiger to create rock line with Universal

Sector Snapshot: Global Telecommunications

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:11:55 +0000

Global spending in telecommunications for 2010 increased 4.7%, should hit over 7% in 2013
Growth in broadband, wireless and equipment spending have enabled industry to recover after crisis
US expected to grow at lower rates than rest of world through 2014

Kindle Become Amazon's Money Maker

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:06:22 +0000

Kindle sales will comprise of 10% of Amazon's sales by 2012
Kindles will sell for $114 in Micro Center Computer Stores
Sales for the Kindle are three times higher than last year

Digital Publishing Shines at BookExpo America

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:01:02 +0000

Digital publishing gains popularity; e-book sales up nearly 160%
Vook, BlueFire and BookBaby showcase new digital publishing products and services
Trend shows authors are more often choosing self-publishing and digital

Brazil Sets Sights on Eradicating Extreme Poverty

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:09:06 +0000

Brazil sets 2014 date to eliminate extreme poverty
"Brazil Without Poverty" scheme aims to send financial aid to the poorest areas of Brazil
Social welfare initiatives have brought 20 million people out of extreme poverty in the last decade

Hackers Humiliate Sony with New Cyber Attack

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:20:10 +0000

Lulz Security steals personal information from over 1 million user accounts on Sony website
Experts say method used was a well-known hacking technique and could have easily been blocked
Experts criticize Sony for not encrypting passwords

IBM Teams Up With Harvard in Drug Safety Studies

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:32:10 +0000

Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital to implement IBM technology to further drug safety and research
IBM Netezza data warehouse appliance will help develop comprehensive drug safety methods

Sector Snapshot: Wind Energy in the US

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:37:07 +0000

Wind energy industry in US comprised of two growing markets
Over 400 manufacturing factories in US producing wind turbines, towers and blades
Q1 2011: the US installed a total of 41,400 megawatts of wind power capacity

FIFA Votes Blatter For President Amid Bribery Scandal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:31:46 +0000

FIFA president Blatter re-elected; unopposed as rival pulls out amid corruption allegations
Other Executive Committee members are suspended, including Asian Football Chief Mohamed Bin Hammam and CONCACAF president Jack Warner
FIFA partners express concern over the damage done by corruption scandal

Sector Snapshot: Global E-Book Market

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:07:30 +0000

E-book shipment rising very rapidly
Amazon, an industry leader, offers both a portable device (Kindle) and apps to download eBooks
Price of e-book readers have already declined

Sector Snapshot: Green Power in Australia

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:20:55 +0000

1 million homes in Australia expected to pay a green tax by end 2011
Young consumers less likely to agree to pay green tax
Over 10% of households in Australia use green power

UK Moves Forward with Energy-Efficient Green Deal

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:54:18 +0000

UK reveals more on Green Deal energy efficiency incentive scheme for homeowners
Measures will allow people to finance up to £10,000 of energy efficiency measures
25 million homes to be upgraded by 2030

Changes to Brazil Amazon Forest Code in Talks

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:45:47 +0000

80% of the Amazon rainforest is protected under the ‘Forest Code’
Amazon rainforest under risk of deforestation as government seeks to expand land for cattle, soybean production

BT and TalkTalk: Piracy Laws Violate Basic Rights

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:10:31 +0000

British ISPs BT and TalkTalk seek appeal to mend anti-piracy law
ISPs required to hand over filesharer information
Anti-piracy measures could come to halt due to appeal

The Millionaire Next Door: Surge in Luxury Home Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Christelle Agboka) — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:48:12 +0000

1,745,000 (14%) Canadian households have a net worth of $1 million or more
Among the ultra-wealthy, worth over $30 million, 21% of their net worth was found in their homes
Luxury home market is booming, particularly in Vancouver

VisionChina in Control of China Subway Advertising

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:04:16 +0000

VisionChina Media announces contract extensions in Guangzhou and Shenyang; new contract in Shenzen
VisionChina will have over 15,000 advertising screens in Guangdong Province subway stations

Product Focus: Panasonic Introduces New Camcorder Line

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:09:41 +0000

Panasonic launches the HX-DC1, the HX-WA10 and the HX-DC15 camcorders
New line is a version of Sanyo's former flip cameras

Japan Consumer Confidence Falls for Third Straight Month

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Sun, 29 May 2011 09:51:58 +0000

Japanese consumer confidence index falls to 33.1 in April compared to 38.6 in March, following earthquake and tsunami
Consumer willingness index to buy durable goods fell from 38.8 to 32.9
Japanese government net debt forecasts for 2013 revised up to 145% of GDP

Australia to Crack Down on Spot Betting at Sports Events

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:36:47 +0000

Australia tightens restrictions on live odds betting and promotion during sports broadcasts
Betting industry will have to conform to new restrictions by end June 2012
Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports has submitted sports betting legislation suggestions to federal sports minister

Malauzai Software Launches Innovative Banking Solution for Community Banks

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:27:19 +0000

‘Cool SmartApps’ technology for small-and-medium sized financial institutions helps build revenue
Software offers 3 key features: social banking, application management and mobile marketing
7 banks are currently testing the technology with their customers

Mobile Banking in India Set to Help the Poor

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:20:28 +0000

One tenth of the world’s phones are sold in India, with 19 million new subscribers every month
India records 680,000 transactions worth nearly $13.6 million per month via mobile phones
Mobile banking increases financial inclusivity, spurs trade and boosts economic growth
39 banks are licensed to offer mobile banking services in India

AT&T Launches 4G in Five Cities

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:07:07 +0000

AT&T launches 4G in five cities
Verizon releases their first 4G phone
AT&T strikes deal to buy T-Mobile

Barnes & Noble Introduces New Nook

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 27 May 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Barnes & Noble introduces new ebook reader
Barnes & Noble attempts revamp as digital reader market leader
Shares of the bookseller rose May 24

Australia’s Coastal Cities at Risk from Rising Ocean Levels

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:25:31 +0000

Ocean levels may rise to 1 meter by 2100, causing floods and destruction to major cities
Nearly 85% of Australians live along the nation's coast
Australia’s Climate Commission claims carbon emissions must be eliminated to help cease harmful impact

Apps a Boost Factor in Mobile Banking

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Fri, 27 May 2011 10:20:32 +0000

50% of mobile phone users will bank through their handset by 2015
Universal mobile banking apps being made to suit different operating systems and platforms for convergence
Mobile banking apps feature industry-standard security technology to minimize fraud

Argos Set to Trial Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 27 May 2011 09:53:06 +0000

Argos’ new Arcelis technology offers cancer treatments through immunotherapy, which is personalized and more cost-effective
Arcelis uses a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer
Argos is preparing to trial the technology, which would require financing of about $50 million

Google Launches its New Mobile Wallet

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:19:02 +0000

Google mobile wallet lets users buy merchandise with a swipe of their phone
Discounts and deals are usage benefits
Paypal launches suit against Google alleging trade secrets were divulged

Pratt & Whitney, GE Aviation To Launch New Turboprop Engines

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:08:37 +0000

Pratt & Whitney launching 90-seat turboprop engine ahead of market
GE Aviation considering entering 70-100 seat market with commercial version of GE38 military engine
55% of regional airline fleets worldwide include turboprops

Mobile Banking: Quick Uptake in The UK

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:40:20 +0000

Mobile banking uptake in Britain has doubled; more than 1 out of every 10 Britons make payments through their mobile handset
Almost 12% of consumers in the UK use handsets for making payments online
Smartphone technology boosts popularity and uptake of mobile banking
Mobile the future dominant platform for business and commercial transactions

Kenya Trail-blazes in Mobile Banking in Africa

editor@reportlinker.com (Patrick West) — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:51:35 +0000

In 2010, 15 million Kenyans performed $7 billion worth of commercial transactions, or one fifth of national GDP
Now nearly 70% of adults in Kenya have access to financial services compared to less than 5% five years ago
IBM is interested in Africa’s expanding mobile-banking market

Nestle Unlikely to Buy General Mills

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:04:57 +0000

Speculation surrounding Nestle's intentions regarding General Mills end
Only about 14% of General Mills business is of interest to Nestle
If Nestle had bought General Mills, sales could have reached $40 billion

Nestle Launches BabyNes Nutritional System For Babies, Toddlers

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:39:55 +0000

BabyNes system includes six formulas for babies to toddlers up to 3 years
System includes milk dispenser that gives correct mixture of formula at proper temperature
Nestle has been under fire for market practices related to BabyNes formula

Australia's 'Airport of the Future' Trials Begins

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:32:04 +0000

Australia’s ‘Airport of the Future’: faster check-in, smoother security checkpoints and airport cost-savings
Siemens invested over $1 million for R&D
Frequent fliers to receive RFID-chipped permanent boarding passes and luggage tags to simplify check-in

Australian Climate Commission Calls for 2020 Emissions Plan

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:15:18 +0000

A new report calls for clean energy revolution in Australia before 2020, says investment needed in renewable energy
Current emissions are 37% higher than in 1990
Political and social opposition to climate science in Australia remain strong

Sears Reports Surprising Loss in First Quarter 2011

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:21:46 +0000

Sears reported an unexpected loss in sales, falling 3.4%
Poor customer service is blamed on the decreased sales
Kmart sales fell by 1.6%

Nokia to Establish Joint Venture in Saudi Arabia

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:09:36 +0000

Nokia to team up with Saudi companies to increase presence in region
Nokia Siemens wins award for industry leadership
LG selects Nokia to expand LTE network in Korea

XMOS Places Audio Video Bridging Software in Open Source

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:11:50 +0000

XMOS puts AVB software design into XCore Open Source Project, free of license
Ideas for hardware and software design contributed by wider community
Deal protects all proprietary developer code

Hannspree Launches Amazon Storefront

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:07:27 +0000

Hannspree to sell innovative TV and tablets design products on Amazon
Move aims to grow exposure and touch wider customer-base
Taiwan Excellence Award received for advanced television design

Sony Reboots PlayStation Network after Cyber Attack

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:37:50 +0000

Sony begins reopening PlayStation Network after being forced to shut down due to security breaches
Gamers remain wary after the attacks and are shifting to rival consoles
Sony offered gifts, including a month’s free access, to win back gamers

Sector Snapshot: Biomarker Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Larisa Redins) — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:22:00 +0000

Global biomarker market to reach $33 billion in 2015
Market to show a compound annual growth rate of almost 20% over next four years
Genomics to be fastest-growing biomarker technology in 2015

Novartis Afinitor Pancreatic Cancer Drug Gets FDA Green Light

editor@reportlinker.com (Larisa Redins) — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:28:58 +0000

Afinitor approval marks the first time in 30 years that a treatment for NET has been validated in the US
Afinitor slowed down pancreatic cancer development by 65%
Novartis also submitted an application for drug Everolimus

Winners: 2011 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:13:15 +0000

Singita Pamushana, a Zimbabwean wild-life lodge, won for Conservation
Intrepid Travel, a tour operator from Australia, won for Global Tourism Business
Alpine Pearls, an Austrian non-profit association, won for Destination Stewardship
Mozambique’s Guludo Beach Lodge took first place for Community Benefits

Sector Snapshot: Renewable Energy Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:12:08 +0000

Investment in green energy has become a priority for China and India
Wind energy a major contributor to global energy market
Hydro power and geothermal energy continue to attract investment

Gas Operator Arrow Energy Faces Shutdown

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:54:13 +0000

Coal seam gas operator Arrow Energy is threatened with closure after well erupts
Incident marks the fourth gas-related accident on the site in under five years
Despite concerns, new coal seam gas projects have been approved; must comply with stringent environmental restrictions and safety conditions

Germany to Cut All Nuclear Power by 2022

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:44:16 +0000

Germany to shut down all nuclear power plants by 2022 in wake of the Japanese nuclear accident in Fukushima
7 of Germany’s 17 reactors have been permanently shut down
Chancellor Merkel vows to be the first big industrial nation to switch to green energy

Pfizer On Track To Meet 2011 Financial Goals

editor@reportlinker.com (Larisa Redins) — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:31:23 +0000

Pfizer has no plans to release a standout drug in 2011, but expects to reach financial goals
Pfizer to give more accountability to research scientists, use collaborations to minimize risk and gain access to new technology
Pfizer to lose exclusive patent on Lipitor, but shares are expected to increase due to new rheumatoid arthritis drug Tofacitinib

Amazon's E-Book Sales Beat Combined Print Sales

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 23 May 2011 15:55:38 +0000

Amazon sells at least 105 e-books for every 100 printed books
Amazon is seeing fastest growing year in 2011 for the first time in ten years
Amazon sells three times more e-books now compared to 2010

Shell to Deploy Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facility Near Australia

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 23 May 2011 09:58:59 +0000

Royal Dutch Shell moves ahead with first floating liquefied natural gas facility in the world
Prelude gas field offers 3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, ideal for developing liquefied gas technology
Liquefied gas will be transported from FLNG platform directly to energy markets worldwide, with production expected from 2017

Sector Snapshot: Global Nanobiotechnology

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Mon, 23 May 2011 09:13:14 +0000

Nanobiotechnology product market expected to reach $30 billion in 2015
Medical applications (including drug delivery) make up bulk of market
Nanobiotechnology market on rise, but growth expected to be uneven

Sara Lee Eyes Marata for Bigger Stake in Brazilian Coffee

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Sat, 21 May 2011 09:25:48 +0000

Sara Lee is reported to be in talks with Brazilian coffee maker Marata
Sara Lee already owns 22% of the Brazilian coffee market
Brazil is the second-largest coffee market in the world behind the US

GE Aviation Plant in Durham, NC, Uses Solar Panels

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 15:32:39 +0000

GE Aviation has added solar technology to its Durham, NC, engine manufacturing plant
The $3 million solar field has 9,000 panels and will produce 700 KW
GE has implemented more 200 energy-reducing initiatives

ArcelorMittal Experiences a Surprise Profit Gain in the Steel Production Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:22:40 +0000

First quarter profit for ArcelorMittal is at $2.58 billion
Demand from auto industry despite higher prices for ore may account for rise in profit
Raw material prices are anticipated to increase due to growing demand

Coca-Cola Pumps $10M into Somaliland Bottling Plant

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:32:52 +0000

Coca-Cola invests $10 million in the construction of a bottling plant in Somaliland
Somaliland is emerging as an important economic hub in North Africa-Middle East
Plant is scheduled to be operational by September 2011

BP-Rosneft Oil Agreement Fails

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:26:19 +0000

BP unable to reach agreement with AAR and Rosneft to gain access to oil reserves in Russia
Deal involves Rosneft taking 5% of shares from BP, with BP getting 9.5% of shares from Rosneft
AAR half owner of joint venture TNK-BP in Russia; says agreement breaks exclusivity contract

Namibia Increases Stake in DeBeers Diamonds

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:47:28 +0000

Namibia increases stake in DeBeers to 50% from 15%
Namibia Government using money from debt to pay for stake
DeBeers names Phillippe Mellier as new CEO

Scientists Question Safety of Full-Body Airport X-Ray Systems

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:45:27 +0000

Scientists are uncertain that data and test results for radiation connected to airport scanners is accurate; TSA says that machine radiation is negligible and safe
Children, pregnant women and individuals sensitive to X-rays could be at risk
Scientists insist further testing is needed to protect passengers

Airbus Increases Production of A320 Aircraft

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:52:41 +0000

Airbus will increase production of A320s per month from 36 to 42 before end of the year
Boeing also plans to increase production, upping output of its 737 planes from 31 to 38 by April 2013
Sales for the aircraft industry are predicted to reach $1.7 trillion by 2021

Investment May Boost Ore Industry in Newfoundland and Labrador

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:47:58 +0000

More than $1 million invested in ore
Investment in microscope will enhance ore analysis
Mineral industry has predicted $4.7 billion shipment value for 2011

Nextant Aerospace Announces Engine FAA Certification

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:11:17 +0000

Nextant Aerospace’s Williams FJ44-3AP engine – to be used for remanufactured 400XT – has received FAA certification
New engine is lighter, more fuel efficient and requires less maintenance than the JT15D-5 engine
Nextant Aerospace introduced the idea of remanufacturing to the business jet sector

Mitsubishi Announces New Widescreen Projector

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Thu, 19 May 2011 10:07:56 +0000

Mitsubishi develops widescreen projector targeted for businesses and schools
Key benefits: brighter picture, multiple computer connections and four-split screen option
New Electronic Media Production Center to launch in India

NASA Announces Launching of Ocean-Monitoring Satellite

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:58:10 +0000

NASA will launch Aquarius satellite on June 9 to monitor oceans
Ocean salinity will be recorded to determine water cycle and climate changes
Aquarius will orbit 408 miles above Earth, producing monthly estimates based on seven-day maps
European and American data from separate missions will be compared and shared among global scientific community

Washington Governor Wants More Funds for Aerospace Training

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:45:50 +0000

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire wants $3 million in federal Workforce Investment Act funds to go to aerospace training programs
Gregoire hopes training will benefit 228,000 jobless in Washington
Boeing plans to add thousands of new workers in next few years

Teva Targets Japanese Generics Market with Taiyo Bid

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:28:38 +0000

Teva buys 57% share in Taiyo for $460 million; will make offer for remaining stake
Taiyo one of Japan’s biggest generic drug makers, with 2010 sales topping $530 million
Japan the world’s second-biggest drug market, totaling $96 billion in 2010

Canada’s Quadra & Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining to Invest in Chile

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:58:37 +0000

Canadian Quadra and Japanese Sumitomo Metal Mining jointly invest nearly $3 billion into Sierra Gorda, a Chilean copper-molybdenum mine
Quadra to produce an increase of 500 pounds of copper every year
Sumitomo to invest over $720 million in mine

China's Inflationary Pressure Begins to Ease

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:35:35 +0000

China's inflation rate has fallen from a three-year high of 5.4% in March to 5.3% in April
Chinese interest rates could be slashed over the course of the year
Calming of China's monetary policy will be noticeable in the final quarter

Volkswagen Introduces 'Kai Li' Electric Vehicle to the Chinese Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:43:02 +0000

VW plans to build electric vehicles in China, called “Kai Li”
China paves the way for foreign companies to introduce fuel-efficient cars
VW entering a market with many key competitors - GM, Nissan, Daimler and BMW

What Are Hotels Doing to Increase Security?

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:23:07 +0000

Hotel association establishes online security training program for hotel employees
Israel leads for hotel security best practice
Metal detectors, mirrors, barriers and other devices useful for improved security

Daily Chinese Steel Output Reaches Record in April

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:17:47 +0000

Daily steel output hit nearly 2 million tons in April 2011; over 2.6% above March
Strong demand fueled by infrastructure construction, low-cost housing and Japan's need for imported steel
Power shortages may interrupt steel production during summer, decreasing output and profit

Is China's Trade Surplus Rebalancing?

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:06:16 +0000

China's trade surplus was $11.4 billion last month, four times higher than predicted
China eases stringent trade rules to open doors for more US exports
Appreciation of Yuan has helped close trade gap while relaxing inflationary pressure

Total SA Seeks Oil in East Africa

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:24:31 +0000

Total looking for new oil discovery opportunities in East Africa
Oil production from Yeman, where Total operates, dropped due to industrial strike

Foreign Bank Mutual Funds Are No Match for China's Big Four

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:16:36 +0000

Chinese government opens mutual fund and custodian business to foreign competition
Two-thirds of mutual fund sales in China come from major local banks: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Bank of China
Foreign firms not expecting to make a big dent, but looking to profit from predicted industry jump of 150% by 2015

German Aerospace Center’s Asian Expansion

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:38:25 +0000

German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Nanyang Technological University join forces to expand operations in Asia
Chinese and British aerospace professionals encourage cooperation between the two countries

Tata Tea Gives Tetley a Makeover

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:14:55 +0000

Tata Global Beverages changes look of Tetley tea to rejuvenate image, create a single-brand identity
Previously Tata Tea tailored Tetley’s image to individual markets, resulting in many different brand images
In December 2010, Tata Tea changed design of Premium, its number-one brand in India, following slump in tea consumption

Sector Snapshot: IT in China Expected to Grow 16% Over 5 Years

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:59:32 +0000

Chinese software market expected to grow 14% in five years
Software to be worth $13.1 billion in 2011
Computer hardware sales projected to reach $70 billion in 2011 and $118 billion by 2015

Endeavor Begins Its Final Mission

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Wed, 18 May 2011 08:44:30 +0000

Endeavor successfully launched final mission after electrical problem
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords able to watch her husband take off in space shuttle
Scientific equipment "Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2" to locate dark matter and antimatter

Swiss Take off in First Solar Flight

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:24:35 +0000

Solar energy aircraft ‘Solar Impulse’ flew successfully from Switzerland to Belgium
Pilot and co-founder flew 13 hours to cover 370 miles
Solar Impulse team working on a larger solar-powered aircraft to travel the world in 2012 or 2013

Asian Grain Production Falls

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 13:22:00 +0000

Grain shortage in Asia due to inclement weather
About 110,000 thousand hectares of grain were planted in 2010 in China, a 0.8% increase

China's Interest in Organic Boosted by Food Scandals

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:04:28 +0000

Tainted food supplies have made more consumers interested in organics
Consumers pay up to 33% more for organic food in China
Heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides are obstacles for organic growth

Update Q1 2011: Asia Trading and Agribusiness Report

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:00:15 +0000

Trade between China and the UAE is valued at $120 billion
Ceylon Tea Industry is valued at $1.5 billion
Producers are seeking to protect Alishan Tea from copies

Disagreement Over Exxon Licenses in Nigeria

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:43:56 +0000

Exxon claims agreements made in 2009 included renewal of 3 licenses for oil in Nigeria
Valid licenses needed for production of 580,000 barrels of oil per day
State-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corp gives Exxon 7 days to show interest in licenses

Sector Snapshot: Global Refractories Market

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:08:58 +0000

Refractories market is predicted to rise to about 5% until 2014
Iron, steel key components of world refractories market
Asia Pacific holds 67% of value in metals and mining

Citic Agrees to Buy Gold One for $469 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:03:05 +0000

Citic Group acquires Gold On, with plans to take over up to 75% of company
Acquisition will allow Citic Group to gain ground in South Africa
Gold One shares soar

Largest Petroleum Company Halts Production in Libya

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:54:35 +0000

Arab Gulf Oil Company stops oil production in Libya due to damage to pumps from attacks
Conducting business with companies that have ties to Gaddafi could result in harsh penalties
Other companies may halt business due to chance of inadvertently breaking sanctions

Sector Snapshot: UV LED Lights up the Future

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:46:58 +0000

Over 90% of LED sales are for medical, technical or instrumentation sectors
UV LED market to grow at an annual rate of 30%
Revenue to increase from $25 million in 2011 to over $100 million in 2016

Five Hydroelectric Dams Confirmed For Chile

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:38:17 +0000

Approval to build 5 dams in Patagonia prompts protests from thousands
Energy giants Matte and Endesa are behind the dam construction; they manage 70% of electricity in Chile
Dams, if built, will take up over 14,000 acres of wilderness in Chile

Sector Snapshot: Global Aerospace Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Fri, 13 May 2011 10:09:52 +0000

Promising increase in air traffic and military spending
US largest aerospace market, with EU and Canada closely following
Asia/Pacific region emerging as largest market for new orders

Visa Announces Digital Wallet

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 13 May 2011 08:34:42 +0000

Visa digital wallet allows consumers to make payments via cell phone at check-out counters
Mobile wallet uses payWave application; holds both Visa and non-Visa account information
Visa plans to provide customers with digital method to send money to other Visa customers

Irish Drug Maker Elan Sells EDT Unit To Alkermes

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:28:12 +0000

Elan sells Elan Drug Technologies to Alkermes for $960 million
Elan will retain 25% stake in the new holding company, which is expected to generate over $450 million in yearly revenue
Deal will allow Elan to advance strategic objectives and reduce debt

Pertamina, CNOOC Agreement Dissolved for Angola Project

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:18:02 +0000

Pertamina and CNOOC end agreement to jointly buy shares in Exxon Mobil's in Angola Project
Pertamina planned to buy 80%, allowing 10% for CNOOC
Angola is second after Nigeria in leadership for African oil production

Sector Snapshot: Global Audio & Video

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 11 May 2011 10:14:46 +0000

Global market for audio visual products will be valued at about $90 billion by 2012
AV equipment is the largest division of the global consumer electronics market
US leading with 47% of the worldwide consumer electronics market

International Tourism Upswing Good News for Industry, World Economy

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:54:46 +0000

International tourist arrivals had strongest growth in April at 6%
South America, South Asia and Southeast Asia had double-digit growth
Slow average growth in North and Central America
Middle East and North Africa only regions to see negative growth

Sanofi-Aventis & Medicines for Malaria Venture to Create Powerful Malaria Drugs

editor@reportlinker.com (Larisa Redins) — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:23:13 +0000

Sanofi-Aventis and Medicines for Malaria Venture signed a contract to develop new anti-malaria treatments
The two organizations to conduct a 3-year research survey
Over 90% of deaths from malaria take place in Africa

Sector Snapshot: Global Crude Oil

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:57:42 +0000

Oil world's most-traded commodity
Leading global oil producers: Nigeria, Angola, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq
Oil supply control and discovery becoming more urgent

Oil Giants BP & DSM Invest in Verdezyne Biofuel

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:08:02 +0000

BP and Dutch biochemical DSM team up with Verdezyne to develop biofuels
Investment is latest in growing number of partnerships between oil and chemical giants and smaller biofuel companies
BP paid $98 million for biochemical startup Verenium at start of 2011

Sector Snapshot: Global Coalition Loyalty Programs - 1 Billion Member Target for 2011

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:35:10 +0000

650 million consumers worldwide are members of coalition loyalty programs
Number of coalition loyalty programs members increasing over 12% per year
Hospitality sector has 189 million loyalty program members

Tokyo Electric Launches Investigation into Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:03:42 +0000

Tokyo Electric Power Co is investigating initial cause of Fukushima meltdown
If reactors were damaged in the earthquake, the debate could become complicated
Contaminated water continues to gather under failed reactors; experts warn of radiation spreading

Sector Snapshot: Global Aviation Security Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Nicole Manuel) — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:02:47 +0000

Global aviation security market is expected to reach $20 billion in 2011
Airport expansions and upgrades continue to drive demand for aviation security products and solutions
North America will continue to lead the market, with Asia-Pacific and the Middle East soon building new airports

Spotify Targets Apple with New Digital Music Store

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:49:06 +0000

Spotify launches its music download service, available on iPod, iPhone and Android smartphones
New Spotify app syncs wirelessly with iTunes
Spotify had 10 million users in March 2011

Virgin Media and Spotify Set to Launch Music Service

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:15 +0000

Virgin Media and Spotify finalize deal for unlimited digital music service
Virgin originally announced plans for this service in 2009
Sky launched a similar music service but axed it earlier this year

Google, Facebook Considering Skype Buyout

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:40:44 +0000

Google, Facebook said to be in independent discussions with Skype for a joint venture or takeover
Facebook is believed to be more interested, since Google Talk already offers video and chat services
With Apple offering web-based chat services, Skype’s position as world leader in VoIP is under threat

Sector Snapshot: Social Media

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:16:06 +0000

80% of US companies counting over 100 employees will market themselves using social media
Companies are spending more and more on social media strategies
US to account for over half of global social network spending, which is to total $6 billion in 2011

Wall Street Journal Launches WikiLeaks Rival Site

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:31:24 +0000

WSJ launches SafeHouse, the latest in a growing number of confidential whistleblower sites
Al Jazeera launched a confidential "Transparency Unit" in January
Former WikiLeaks exec Domscheit-Berg launched rival whistleblower site OpenLeaks

India to Boost Renewable Energy Capacity by 2017

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:28:34 +0000

India capable of producing 20 GW of renewable energy
India to increase renewable energy capacity by 17 GW from 2012-2017 at the cost of $34 billion
40% of India’s power consumption comes from coal, 24% from oil

Sector Snapshot: Global Automotive Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:45:45 +0000

China largest single-nation producer of vehicles in the world
Japan second largest vehicle manufacturer and home to biggest global carmaker Toyota
US biggest world producer of commercial vehicles in 2010

Facebook in Control of the US Display Ad Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 05 May 2011 08:53:56 +0000

Facebook accounted for over 31% of all online display ads viewed in the US in Q1
Yahoo ranked second, with less than one third of Facebook’s ad views
Facebook is attracting more and more brand advertising

US Corporation for Public Broadcasting Aims to Up US Graduation Rate

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:41:45 +0000

US Corporation for Public Broadcasting launches $4.4 million project to raise national graduation rate
TV star America Ferrera enlisted to promote initiative
Around 70% of students graduated in 2010, according to research group Gallup

Mobile Apps Offer NFC Benefits without the Price Tag

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:22:22 +0000

Dwolla Corp releases free app that provides mobile payment services similar to NFC
Major brands like Google, Apple, Samsung and Nokia all experimenting with NFC
Dwolla Spots is available on Google's Android OS, Apple's iOS and Windows 7

FluPhone App Monitors Spread of Infectious Diseases

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:59:57 +0000

FluPhone app could help track the spread of diseases and limit possible epidemics
Researchers aim to use data collected as a simulation of social interaction during a real epidemic or pandemic
Influenza vaccine can prevent up to 90% of flu-specific diseases, according to the World Health Organization

Turbine Leader Vestas Signs 100 MW Wind Power Deal in China

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:40:36 +0000

Vestas to install 50 wind turbines in Shandong, China
China world’s largest producer of wind turbines
China aims for green energy to make up 8% of all power produced in 2020

US Senate Ready to Push Energy Legislation Bills

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:18:34 +0000

Democrats want a Clean Energy Deployment Administration body
Proposals being finalized to reduce nuclear and increase offshore drilling safety
Bill to be put forward to revoke tax breaks for oil companies

AOL Profits Plummet as Display Ad Figures Rise

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 08:19:22 +0000

AOL profits fall 86% for Q1 2011; revenue down 17% to $552 million
Display ad revenues rise 4% to $130.5 million
Acquisition of The Huffington Post, GoViral and TechCrunch could help improve finances

UK e-Book Sales Soar as Print Hangs On

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 04 May 2011 07:13:24 +0000

Digital book product sales in the UK rise 20% to £180 million (over $297 million) in 2010
Average digital book price in the UK is £4.56 ($7.54)
Global e-Book market grew 200% in 2010

Survey: Indian Employees Give Thumbs Up to Social Media

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:23:42 +0000

82% of Indian employees trust social networking sites for job searches
79% of the Indian workforce only use social media as a professional portal, compared to 29% globally
93% percent of Indian companies allow employees full access to social networking sites

Sector Snapshot: Digital Media Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:06:25 +0000

World internet user numbers have risen by almost 20% since start of decade
Global entertainment and publishing industry expected to be worth over $2 trillion in next few years
Digital media market to be worth $24 billion by 2015

Sector Snapshot: Global Media Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:48:41 +0000

Advertising is largest global media segment, accounting for 47% of total market value.
US media industry reported the highest profits worldwide, totaling $264 billion; Japan second with $98.5 billion
Walt Disney company with most media operations

Saab Saved By $223 Million Investment from Chinese Carmaker Hawtai

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:35:19 +0000

Privately owned Hawtai invests $223 million in Saab
Hawtai takes 30% stake in Spyker, Saab’s owner
If deal is finalized, both Sweden’s main car manufacturers will be Chinese-owned

Cyber Campaigning: Singapore Election Goes Social

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:57:17 +0000

Singapore lifts Internet ban on political campaigning for May 7 election
Political parties allowed to broadcast campaign messages via social network sites and blogs
Observers do not expect social media to greatly influence election outcome

Sony Pictures Readies $988 Million Bid for All3Media

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:36:48 +0000

Sony considering bid for production house All3Media
$988 million bid may fall short of owner expectations of $1.3 billion
Time Warner, NBC Universal and ITV also believed to be interested in All3Media

Japan Leans on Indonesian Plywood for Reconstruction

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 May 2011 10:06:05 +0000

Japan asks Indonesia for 2.2 million plywood sheets to help with reconstruction after recent natural disaster
Increased demand from Japan is driving global plywood prices higher
Indonesia is the second-largest exporter of plywood to Japan, with China also a major contributor

Top 100 Green Companies in China

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:58:03 +0000

Green Herald Magazine and the Daonong Centre for Enterprises named the 100 most environmentally friendly companies in China
Vanke, China Ocean Shipping and General Electric were the category leaders
Project aims to create a ‘Green Camp’ made up of eco-responsible companies that can provide positive corporate-conduct examples

Chrysler Posts First Profits Since Bankruptcy

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:25:44 +0000

Chrysler posts net income of $116 million for first quarter 2011
Sales increase 18% and revenue rises 35% to $13 billion
US market share rose slightly from 9.1% to 9.2%

Japan Automotive Industry Sales Slump to Record Low

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:07:41 +0000

Auto sales sink 51% to record low 108,824 units for month of April
Toyota hardest hit with 70% drop in sales
Honda first quarter profits down by 38%

PayPal Acquires Fig Card, Steps Up Mobile Payment Campaign

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:48:17 +0000

PayPal buys mobile payment startup Fig Card to gain more ground in m-commerce
Fig Card smartphone app offers mobile payment services like NFC without expensive hardware costs
Fig app works on Apple iOS, Google Android and BlackBerry platforms

American Clothing Giant Gap Sets Up Shop in Ukraine

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:32:04 +0000

Gap to open first store in Ukraine capital Kiev in June 2011
Gap’s arrival represents biggest deal of the year for Ukraine’s retail industry
European brands Topshop, New Look, River Island, New Yorker and Oysho set up in Ukraine last year

Microsoft Thought to Be Creating Tablet

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:11:08 +0000

Rumors say Microsoft to release tablet PC powered by Windows 8 before end 2012
Microsoft-branded tablet would be a far more aggressive entry into the market than experts predicted
New device designed and optimized for touch, will function seamlessly with keyboard and mouse

Sector Snapshot: Banking in India

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 08:59:04 +0000

Urban citizens in India already use mobile online banking services to verify bank account information
Mobile banking is expected to continue to grow among rurual citizens
User freedom is a key driver for mobile and online banking take-up

UK Employment Growth Slow as Retail Sector Struggles

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:13:03 +0000

UK retail industry job numbers see a sluggish 0.5% increase, despite 5.3% increase in retail outlets
Job numbers in the UK dropped 0.8% for March
Internet and mobile shopping is taking a toll on traditional retail

US Retail Stocks in Decline

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:07:58 +0000

Poor results and low forecasts for OfficeMax, Liz Claiborne and Urban Outfitters drag US retail stocks down
Walmart reports 0.6% increase in shares

European Carmakers Boosted by Strong Q1 Profits

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:19:39 +0000

Volkswagen reports profit of $2.5 billion in Q1, three times higher than 2010
Fiat acquires additional 16% stake in Chrysler, narrows in on top automakers
Volvo, Peugeot-Citroen cut back production due to limited parts from Japan

Hyundai Seals $557 Million JV in China

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:13:02 +0000

Hyundai signs $557 million joint venture deal with Sichuan Nanjun Automobile Group
JV aims to produce 160,000 vehicles annually by 2013
Chinese commercial car market to hit 5.2 million units by 2015

Sector Snapshot: E-Commerce Shipping and Logistics

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:10:19 +0000

Global e-commerce sales to reach $963 billion by 2013
US e-commerce market predicted to grow over 12% by 2014
Biggest e-commerce shipping companies in Europe: Deutsche Post/DHL, DPD, GLS, Hermes and UPS

Amazon Sales Soar in North America

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:02:51 +0000

Q1 sales for Amazon’s North American sites increased nearly 45% to $5.47 billion
Amazon international site sales top $4.39 billion
However, global net income fell to $201 million in Q1, down 33% on last year

Ukraine Marks 25th Anniversary of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Disaster

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:15:18 +0000

Reactor four of the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded on April 26, 1986, marking the world’s worst nuclear accident
Recent disaster in Fukushima, Japan, has renewed concerns about nuclear safety

Nokia Turns to Angry Birds for NFC Boost

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:29:20 +0000

Nokia recruits creators of smartphone game Angry Birds to help develop NFC technology
Nokia will scrap Symbian platform when it partners with Microsoft
Nokia plans to sell 150 million more phones before getting rid of Symbian

Android Sales Top iPhone in UK Smartphone Market

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:16:03 +0000

Google Android phone sales outdo Apple’s iPhone to become most popular in the UK
Survey indicates 28% of smartphone users own Android devices, versus 26% for iPhone and 15% for BlackBerry
34% of Android users said they used navigation and travel apps more than anything else

Walmart Ventures into Online Grocery Delivery

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:21:00 +0000

Walmart tests online delivery service for fresh groceries in San Jose, California
Walmart’s fresh produce delivery a direct challenge to Fresh Direct and Amazon Fresh
Online retail sales in US hit $176 billion in 2010; expected to reach $279 billion in 2015

Google Android: Uncle Sam's Latest Recruit

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:28:07 +0000

US Department of Defense chooses Google’s Android OS to power military communications device
New army OS platform expected to boost developer interest, number of apps in Android Market
Release date planned for July 2011

Android the Next 'Must Have' in US as Apple iPhone Popularity Stalls

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 09:10:10 +0000

31% of prospective phone buyers in US will opt for devices powered by Google’s Android OS
Apple’s iPhone falls to 30% popularity among next-time buyers
Android also edges iPhone in UK, according to market research report

Samsung Sues Apple For Mobile Technology Patent Infringement

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:49:13 +0000

Samsung counter-sues Apple for patent infringement
Samsung claims iPad, iPhone infringe on 10 mobile technology patents
Suit could disrupt one of the biggest supply chains in the $160 billion smartphone industry

Google Launches Google Offers as Offensive on Daily Deals Arena

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:44:12 +0000

Google launches daily deals venture “Google Offers” after failed Groupon buyout attempt
Portland will be first to experience Google’s daily deals, followed by New York City and San Francisco Bay Area
Analysts predict daily deals business could generate up to $2.7 billion in 2011

Global Agricultural Commodity Prices Set to Rise

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:21:26 +0000

Economist Intelligence Unit’s food, feedstuffs and beverages index to increase 30% in 2011
Grain prices are expected to rise dramatically end of year
Agricultural prices to remain high in 2011 before easing in 2012

Nokia Signs Smartphone Deal with Microsoft as Market Share Falls

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:15:26 +0000

Nokia signs smartphone partnership deal with Microsoft; plans to scrap Symbian OS platform
Nokia Q1 2011 profits fall 1.4% to $503 million – much better than expected; its global market share drops to 29%
Apple posts record unit sales of 18.6 million iPhones and $11.9 billion in profit for Q1

Apple Profits Soar as iPhone Sales Hit Record High

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:41:46 +0000

Apple’s net profit almost doubles to just under $6 billion
Revenue jumps 83% to $24.7 billion
iPhone sales hit record high of 18.65 million units, accounting for almost $12 billion in revenue

Global Mobile Entertainment Market Growth to Reach New Heights

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:39:27 +0000

Global mobile entertainment will be worth $54 billion in 2014
Smartphones are driving popularity; Apple’s iPhone leads the way
Mobile music is growing at over 13% per year and will be worth $21 billion in 2014
Biggest growth will be seen in mobile video with predictions of 36% compound annual growth

European Commission Pushes Forward with eCall Technology Legislation

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:21:20 +0000

European Commission sets end 2014 date for the implementation of eCall legislation
eCall is a pan-European project to help motorists in the event of road accidents anywhere in the EU
Member States will be required to update Public Safety Answering Point infrastructure

Use of Online and Mobile Banking Soars

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:13:44 +0000

Over 100% of new online banking users in China, Kenya and Brazil use mobile banking technology
25% of online banking users in China use mobile banking apps, compared to 10% in 2010
Sub-Saharan Africa interest in mobile banking logged at 63%
Use of mobile wallets growing faster in emerging markets than industrialized

Changes Around the Corner for Mobile Banking

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:26:18 +0000

Better technology and new services will soon be launched for mobile banking
Visa's digital wallet service will let customers send and receive money via mobile devices
14 banks will launch the digital wallet service in the fall

Report: Smart Grid and Critical Infrastructure Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:29:45 +0000

Critical infrastructure industries face highest risk of cyber attack
Report shows Stuxnet malware detected on around half of critical infrastructure systems surveyed
Global cyber security spending will top $1.3 billion in 2015

Social Media TV: Al Jazeera Launches News Show

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:37:43 +0000

Al Jazeera English launches "The Stream", a social media news program
Site works with contributors to gather information from around the world; interviews conducted via Skype
News networks and media increasingly attempt to integrate social media in their television programs

Walmart Goes Social with $300 Million Kosmix Purchase

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:45:29 +0000

Walmart buys social media company Kosmix for $300 million to create @WalmartLabs
New group will create technologies for social and mobile commerce to support Walmart’s global multi-channel strategy
Acquisition predicted to force competitors to invest in social media strategies

Sector Snapshot: Global Automotive Industry

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:07:14 +0000

China is the single largest vehicle producer in the world
Japan is the second largest vehicle manufacturer
The United States was the biggest producer of commercial vehicles in the world in 2010

Saudi Arabia Slashes Oil Production as Record Highs Loom

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:10:58 +0000

Saudi Arabia says it cut oil production in March 2011 by 800,000 barrels per day due to market oversupply
Oil prices reached a 30-month high of $127 per barrel in April 2011
Analysts predict prices could return to 2008 record highs unless OPEC increases output

Increased Gastric Cancer Risk for Heavy Beer Drinkers

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 09:43:38 +0000

Heavy beer drinkers with certain genetic variants may be a shocking 700% more likely to develop gastric cancer
Gastric cancer treatment market could hit $2 billion in 2017 for a growth rate of 133%
Targeted therapies could make up more than 60% of growth by 2017

European Companies Awarded for Energy Efficiency Initiatives

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:04:37 +0000

25 EU companies recognized for energy efficiency measures as part of the GreenlLight, Greenbuilding and Motor Challenge
Delhaize (Belgium) recognized for cutting lighting bill by 60%
Alfred Arnold Verladesysteme (Germany) decreased office and workshop energy consumption by over 78%
Vasakronan (Sweden) reduced office block energy bill by 60%
SATA Fiat group (Italy) cut consumption by almost 15,000 MWh

Treating Vascular Conditions May Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:48:46 +0000

Untreated vascular conditions could increase risk of Alzheimer’s disease by nearly 40%
Nearly 8 million people suffer from Alzheimer’s across 7 major world markets
Research continues to understand disease pathology and to find new treatments

Sweden, Singapore Top The World Economic Forum Digital Economy List

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:43:17 +0000

Over 90% of Sweden’s 9.3 million inhabitants use the Internet on a regular basis
Singapore’s business-friendly policies, transparent government and quality education system ideal for technology integration
Nordic and Asian economies best use information and communications technologies to boost growth

Global E-Reader Market Set to Boom Over Next Three Years

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:05:40 +0000

e-Reader market to reach $60 billion with over 50 million sales by end 2014
60% of the e-Reader market is held by the US but China should catch up soon
Amazon releases cheapest e-Reader model in response to rival presence

European Initiatives to Create Boom for Energy Service Companies

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:20:53 +0000

Energy service companies revenue forecast to increase from nearly $12 billion to over $18 billion in the next five years
All new construction in Europe to comply with energy efficiency standards by 2021
Less than 1% of building space throughout Europe is currently green-certified

EPA Recognizes Leading Energy Efficient Cities in the US

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:49:25 +0000

Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Chicago and New York top 5 cities with most ultra-low energy consumption buildings
Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20% of total greenhouse gas emissions in US
Nearly $2 billion saved annually through making buildings Energy Star compliant

China's Economy Grows Nearly 10% as Inflation Rises

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:32:48 +0000

Consumer prices in March rose over 5% compared to 2010, with a 12% increase in food prices
Retail sales jump over 16% with demand for oil 10% higher
Chinese government taking measures to limit lending and inflation

Walt Disney Crucial to Florida’s Economy

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:22:39 +0000

Walt Disney Parks generate $18.2 billion in economic activity in Florida; 2.5% of state GDP
Walt Disney World Resort generates 2% of all jobs statewide
Disney’s worldwide success is heading to China for first time, with a $4.4 billion theme park planned for 2015

Dante by Audinate Earns Top Award

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:11:26 +0000

Dante earned award for Best Pro Audio Technology of the Year at the PALME 2011 ceremony in the Middle East
PALME honors advances in Lighting and Design, AV, and Audio Technology
Dante provides plug and play devices with standard Internet protocol

AT&T Partners with Digby to Help e-Retailers Go Mobile

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:26:07 +0000

AT&T teams up with mobile website developer Digby to launch a new m-commerce service
Digby Mobile Commerce from AT&T will help e-commerce retailers create mobile websites and apps for efficient online shopping
Mobile retail revenue hit $2.4 billion in the US in 2010

Zacharon Seals $210 Million Deal with Pfizer to Develop Orphan Disease Drugs

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:08:34 +0000

Zacharon will provide Pfizer with access to its drug identification technology
Deal represents major validation for small biotech Zacharon; underscores Big Pharma’s interest in orphan diseases
Orphan diseases affect over 620 million people around the world

Stem Cell Anticancer Therapy Market To Reach $1.5 Billion in 2015

editor@reportlinker.com (Larisa Redins) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:49:44 +0000

Global stem cell anticancer therapy market hit $858 million industry last year; expected to reach target of $1.5 billion by 2015
North America is the leading market, with a value of over $345 million
South America and Latin America have a $55 million market value

Toyota to Resume Auto Production in Japan

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:19:36 +0000

Toyota to recommence operations at all sites in Japan on April 18
Losses of $1.2 billion due to March 11 quake and tsunami
Prius car sales top 1 million units in the USA

Global Biofuel Market Boom: Bioethanol & Biodiesel Production to Hit 151 Billion Liters by 2016

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:13:14 +0000

Global biofuel production is set to grow 8% annually over the next five years
Highest production growth rates: Sweden (32%), Colombia (24%) and India (20%)
EU leads for regional biodiesel production; USA leads for ethanol

The New Face of Irish Banking

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:08:36 +0000

€70 billion bill for Irish banking sector bailout
Irish Life & Permanent will sell life insurance arm to raise €4 billion
Only Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks to remain in 2015

Apple's Untouchable Tablet: iPad The Global Tablet Market Star

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:21:48 +0000

Apple holds 70% of tablet market with over 20 million iPads sold
Competitor Motorola launches XOOM, the first tablet to use Google’s Android Honeycomb
iPad 2 set to consolidate market dominance despite influx of rivals

Sector Snapshot: Mobile Payment Market

editor@reportlinker.com (Jon McAllister) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:47 +0000

Smartphones have changed consumer behavior
Shopping becoming ever more wireless
PayPal predicts number of global permanently connected devices to reach 10 billion by 2020

UK, Netherlands to Sue After Iceland Rejects Repayment Plan

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:17:55 +0000

Iceland votes against repaying €4 billion ($5 billion) after 2008 banking collapse
Icesave crisis wiped deposits from 340,000 UK and Dutch citizens
Rejected plan involved repayment from 2016-2046 with 3.3% interest to the UK and 3% to the Netherlands

Calgary – One of the World's Highest CO2 Emission Cities

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:30:55 +0000

Calgary ranks 5th in the world for carbon dioxide emissions
City sprawl, cars and coal contribute to high emissions
Toronto, Vancouver had significantly lower emissions than Calgary

Times, Sunday Times Sign Up 29,000 New Digital Subscribers

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 08:35:10 +0000

The Times and The Sunday Times gained 29,000 new online subscriptions in four months
Total digital subscriptions up to 79,000
Print circulation figures dropped 12% to 425,627 in the last year

Cuba Tourism: Relaxed Rules for Amercians

editor@reportlinker.com (David Wilkening) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:06:31 +0000

Obama Administration relaxes rules on visiting Cuba
Move opens door for thousands of American visitors; some rules and guidelines to follow
Universities, group travel companies and others clamor to sponsor trips to Cuba

Free Applications in Mobile Banking

editor@reportlinker.com (C. Williams) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 07:29:36 +0000

Free applications let users bank quickly and easily using cell phones
Users can pay bills, check account balances, find ATMs, scan credit cards and send money via online banking apps
iPhones, and Android and BlackBerry devices are adapted for banking apps

Kraft Foods Management Shake-Up

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:28:59 +0000

Dr. Peter B. Henry appointed to Board of Directors; David Brearton appointed CFO
CEO Irene Rosenfeld’s compensation was cut 27% in 2010 to total over $19 million
Kraft reported 2010 net revenue growth of 27% to $49.2 billion

GE Energy $3.2 Billion Contract for Converteam

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:07:51 +0000

GE Energy buys 90% of Converteam for $3.2 billion, secures option to buy remaining 10% for $480 million
Converteam reported revenue of $1.5 billion in 2010 with income from operations totaling over $222 million
GE Energy revenue was listed at $38 billion in 2010

Sector Snapshot: Global Microsensors Market to Hit Nearly $6 billion in 2011

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:10:53 +0000

MEMS sensors expected to be worth over $3 billion in 2011
Nanosensor market worth estimated at $6.5 million for 2011
Microsensor benefits: compact design, compatibility with semiconductor chips, minimized power consumption and lower costs

EU Plans €75 Billion Financial Bailout for Portugal

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:41:02 +0000

Bailout plan worth €75 billion in the works after Portugal’s Prime Minister resigns
Portugal has launched three rounds of tax increases and spending cuts
Analysts expect Portuguese economy to shrink 2% in 2011

Egypt To Choose New Leader in September

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:18:53 +0000

77% of voters - over 14 million Egyptians - said yes to a presidential election
New parties need approval of 5,000 members from at least 10 Egyptian provinces
Military council will oversee the country until a new government is elected

eBay Challenges Amazon with $2.4 Billion Bid for GSI Commerce

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:11:29 +0000

eBay agrees to $2.4 billion price tag for GSI Commerce
New deal is eBay’s biggest purchase since Skype in 2005 and PayPal in 2002
Acquisition should be finalized by third quarter 2011

Starbucks Abuzz With 3 Million Mobile Consumers

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:29:42 +0000

Starbucks says over three million people in US have used Starbucks Card Mobile payment app since January
Starbucks mobile payment system available in 6,800 stores
Mobile payments currently represent more than 20% of national sales

Lessons Learned: China Stresses Safety After Japanese Nuclear Crisis

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:11:03 +0000

China has 13 operational nuclear power reactors; 25 under construction
China to grow nuclear capacity by ten-fold, reaching 400 GWe by 2050
China ranked 1st for global energy consumption in 2010

Addicted to Nuclear Power: Can The Global Energy Market Do Without It?

editor@reportlinker.com (Sarah Dunbar) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:07:20 +0000

Europe launches safety tests for 143 reactors; France leading with 58 reactors
Nuclear makes up about 14% of the world's electricity
Emerging nuclear power market estimated to be worth over $160 billion from 2010-2030

PayPal Daily Mobile Transactions Top $6 Million

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:52:34 +0000

PayPal mobile transactions reach $6 million per day
Mobile transactions in 2011 should top $2 billion, with more than $7.5 billion expected in 2013
PayPal has 95 million user accounts, and 9 million businesses using their online transaction services in 190 countries

Google Rumored to Test Mobile Payment Technology

editor@reportlinker.com (James Mulholland) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:53:40 +0000

Google testing a mobile payment system in US locations
VeriFone and ViVOtech to provide mobile cash register technology
MasterCard and Citigroup to provide financial infrastructure
Mobile payments market should hit $618 billion by 2016