The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia imports hit $173.8bn in 2014

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia imports hit $173.8bn in 2014

 

[caption id="attachment_21001" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia biometric systems market is one of the fastest growing markets in the Middle East. (Shutterstock))[/caption]

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia total exports in 2014 dropped by 8.9 percent to SR1.28 trillion ($342.28 billion), while imports rose by 3.3 percent to SR651.88bn ($173.8bn), according to fresh statistics.

 

The value of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia oil exports comprised 83 percent of the total value of exports at SR1.066 trillion, a report by the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information revealed.

 

The value of chemical industries exports reached SR73.943bn (5.6 percent of the total) and plastic and rubber products with SR71.126bn (5.5 percent).

 

According to the report, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia imports in 2014 hit SR651.9bn, as against SR630.6bn in 2013, up by 3.4 percent or SR21.3bn.

 

Machinery and electrical appliances were the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia top imports with their value standing at SR171.012bn, comprising 26.2 percent of the total value of imports.

 

Other top imports include transport machinery (SR108.610bn or 16.6 percent of the total) and metals (SR79.759bn or 12.2 percent), the figures indicate.

 

The United States was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia top exports destination.

 

The United States accounted for 12.6 per cent of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exports, followed by Japan (12.2 percent).

 

Meanwhile, "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Systems Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020" report noted that the Kingdom of Saudi biometric systems market is projected to grow at over 22% CAGR through 2020.

 

The high growth is attributed to the surging demand for better biometric technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from Government, BFSI, consumer electronics, and energy (specifically oil & gas) sectors.

 

Further, use of biometric mobile applications is a major trend emerging in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia biometric systems market, aimed at providing a more secure environment for e-commerce and mobile banking.

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia biometric systems market is one of the fastest growing markets in the Middle East.

 

Growing need for authentication & verification, and Government regulations & initiatives mandating use of biometric technologies are the key factors driving biometric systems market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

Expanding use of multi-modal biometric systems, adoption of new technologies, and anticipated decline in average selling prices, are projected to further escalate the demand for biometric devices over the forecast period.
This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette on May 28, 2015.

 

(By Saudi Gazette | Jeddah)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 28 Thursday May 2015 The Roman)

EasyJet pretax profit jumps 22%

EasyJet pretax profit jumps 22%

 

EasyJet's annual profits climbed on the back of rising passenger numbers and sales, the no-frills British airline said Tuesday.

 

Net profits, or earnings after taxation, rallied 13 percent to £450 million ($704 million, 565 million euros) in the group's financial year to the end of September, compared with 2012/13, EasyJet said in a results statement.

 

Pre-tax profits surged 22 percent to £581 million, which was slightly ahead of the group's own forecast.

 

Passenger numbers jumped seven percent to 64.8 million, as the airline also picked up business from rival Air France -- which had to cancel flights in September because of a record two-week-long pilots' strike.

 

EasyJet's total revenues meanwhile swelled by 6.3 percent to £4.527 billion.

 

"Our performance demonstrates our continued focus on cost and progress against every strategic revenue priority," said chief executive Carolyn McCall.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 18 Tuesday November 2014 The Roman)

 

UAE’s Air Arabia Q3 profit up 22 pct, beats forecasts

UAE’s Air Arabia Q3 profit up 22 pct, beats forecasts

 

[caption id="attachment_20058" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Air Arabia has hubs in Egypt and Morocco and flies about 100 routes. (Shutterstock))[/caption]

 

UAE budget carrier Air Arabia reported a 22 percent rise in third-quarter net profit on Tuesday, beating analyst forecasts as passenger numbers increased.

 

The airline said it made a net profit of 247.4 million dirhams ($74.71 million) for the period ended Sept 30, up from 202.7 million dirhams a year-ago, according to a bourse filing.

 

Analyst polled by Reuters on average forecast Air Arabia would make a quarterly profit of 182 million dirhams.

 

The company’s third-quarter revenue rose 25 percent to 1.06 billion dirhams from a year earlier as passenger numbers increased by 15 percent to about 1.75 million over the same period.

 

Air Arabia also has hubs in Egypt and Morocco and flies about 100 routes.

 

It competes with other regional low cost carriers such as flydubai and Kuwait's Jazeera Airways.

 

“Despite ongoing political uncertainty in parts of the region adding to the challenge presented by fluctuating trend in fuel prices we remain highly confident about the long-term prospects for the industry in the MENA region,” Air Arabia chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Thani said in the statement.

 

($1 = 3.6729 United Arab Emirates dirhams)

 

(Reuters, Dubai)

 

(Al Arabiya News, Tuesday, 11 November 2014 The Roman)

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy to grow 4 percent in 2014

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy to grow 4 percent in 2014

 

[caption id="attachment_17462" align="alignnone" width="400"] (The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy is forecast to moderately grow at 4 percent in 2014 as real GDP growth will remain 3.8 percent. (Shutterstock))[/caption]

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy is forecast to moderately grow at 4 percent in 2014 as real GDP growth will remain 3.8 percent, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in its MENA Equity Strategy report for the month of July this year.

 

The “moderate upside potential” is premised on the expectations that the impact of the labor market reforms on the non-oil economy will start easing from the second half of this year, the report said, adding the belief that the boost from the oil sector will concurrently moderate due to base effects.

 

“This should leave the annual headline GDP growth hovering around the 4 percent mark,” the report noted.

 

On consumer dynamics, the report said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consumption growth has been among the strongest in the region over the past decade.

 

“We expect growth of 6.6 percent year-on-year (yoy) in 2014 and 8 percent by 2015, underpinned by a demographic window of opportunity as well as cyclical re-leveraging and structural developments (introduction of unemployment benefits, increased Saudization and housing efforts).

 

Besides, the SR 250 billion housing appropriations and mortgage laws are likely to progress slowly but steadily in the near term, the report further said.

 

The report also said that economic activity weathers labor market reforms.

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy appears to have weathered reasonably well the impact of the labor market reforms introduced last November.

 

Real GDP expanded by 4.7 percent yoy in 1Q14, down from an upwardly revised 5.0 percent yoy in 4Q13.

 

Robust oil expansion boosted headline growth by 1.1 ppt.

 

Non-oil real GDP growth slowed down to 4.4 percent yoy, from 5.5 percent in 4Q13.

 

This was largely due to the non-oil private sector, which grew by 4.4 percent yoy, down from a pace of 6.0 percent in 2013.

 

This was the slowest pace for over a decade.

 

Growth in the government non-oil sector expanded further to 4.1 percent yoy, but we do not expect a much stronger boost.

 

Slowdown was most visible in the wholesale, retail trade and construction sectors, which grew by 3.8 percent yoy and 5.6 percent yoy in 1Q14, from 6.5 percent yoy and 9.9 percent yoy in 4Q13 respectively.

 

The negative near-term implications of labor market reforms are mitigated by the fact that the eventual replacement of lower-level expatriate labor by higher-paid the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia labor should prove supportive for consumption trends once the dust settles.

 

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unemployment rate stood at 11.5 percent in 4Q13 (total unemployment rate: 5.5 percent), up from 10 percent in 2010 (total unemployment rate: 5.5 percent), though the increase is likely distorted by the introduction of job-seeker registration since then, in our view.

 

May 3mma point of sales data expanded by 13.6 percent yoy, decelerating from the c20 percent yoy average level in 2013, but still suggesting that consumer spending appears to have held up reasonably well against any expatriate worker outflows.

 

Similarly, June PMI stood at solid sub-60 levels.

 

Negative impact of recent MOL clampdown is just a phase, the report said.

 

Moreover, the report noted the dominant role of the government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia economy makes it well placed to support consumers through a number of price subsidies, public sector employment drives, frequent wage increases, plans to curb inflation and access to a pool of subsidized financing at Specialized Credit Institutions (SCIs).

 

With increased pressure to provide job opportunities in a market with a high unemployment rate, the Ministry of Labor (MOL) has been compelled to take measures against illegal expats, of which 1.2-1.5 million had already left by the end of 2013.

 

While the MOL is gradually granting visas back, we see no clear regulatory action to get the residency issues completely resolved.

 

However, “we believe it is at least a normalization in 2H14 given that (1) we are hearing less about mass outflows of foreign labor, (2) MOL inspections are going ahead more smoothly than expected and (3) we have seen no violence in expat areas.

 

The report also noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia digital electronics is “under stress.”

 

The report remained cautious on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia digital electronics space on the belief that (1) the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia market is already well penetrated in terms of consumer electronics per capita ($ 132 per capita compared to $ 65 for other EEMEA countries) and (2) expect less ground-breaking tech innovations over the next 12 months from the key global players which could propel digital electronics LFL sales growth figures again into a bull cycle, comparable to 2011-2013.

 

Regarding the MERS outbreak, the report said the virus is likely to have little impact on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia consumption for now.

 

It “is unlikely to have major impact,” although the report urged to remain vigilant should the virus spread rapidly.

 

Feedback from corporates about the impact on sales has been comforting so far,” it added.

 

This article was first published in Saudi Gazette on Wednesday, August 13, 2014.

 

(By Saudi Gazette | Jeddah)

 

(Al Arabiya News, 13 Wednesday August 2014 The Roman)

 

Eurozone unemployment rate continues fall in April

Eurozone unemployment rate continues fall in April

 

The eurozone unemployment rate fell to 11.7 percent in April, official data showed on Tuesday, with notable signs of improvement in Portugal and Ireland.

 

About 18.75 million people remained unemployed in the 18-member eurozone in April, down 76,000 from the March level and 487,000 from a year earlier, the Eurostat statistics agency said.

 

The unemployment rate among youths, a huge concern in Europe's crisis-hit countries, also dipped by 0.1 points over the month to 23.5 percent in April.

 

Over 12 months, the number of youths without work has fallen by 202,000.

 

"Unemployment continues to decline in the EU's 28 Member States as a whole as well as in the euro area, which is encouraging," said Laszlo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment.

 

"However, many new jobs are precarious, and we are far from ensuring that every person has a real opportunity in the labour market," he added.

 

Across the 28-member European Union, 25.47 million were jobless in April, with the unemployment rate dipping by 0.1 points over the month to 10.4 percent.

 

The highest levels of unemployment were still in Greece, at 26.5 percent and Spain at 25.1 percent.

 

Over 12 months, Portugal's unemployment rate fell from 17.3 percent to 14.6 percent.

 

Ireland's fell from 13.7 percent to 11.9 percent.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 3 Tuesday June 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Listed company financial results fiscal year ended 2015 March period, Modest increase in profit ?

Listed company financial results fiscal year ended 2015 March period, Modest increase in profit ?

 

２０１５年３月期上場企業決算　小幅増益か

 

上場企業の２０１４年３月期決算発表が５月９日、ピークを迎えた。

 

金融を除いた東証１部上場企業の純利益は、前期の２倍を超える水準で推移しているが、２０１５年３月期は前期比５・１％増と小幅の伸びとなる見通しだ。

 

ＳＭＢＣ日興証券が、５月８日までに発表を終えた４５８社（全体の３７％）を集計した。

 

２０１４年３月期は、輸出関連産業の増益が目立つ。

 

自動車を含む輸送用機器が前期比８１・６％増、機械が３０・８％増となったほか、電機の純損益は前期の赤字から黒字へ転換した。

 

一方、各業種の２０１５年３月期の純利益予想は慎重だ。

 

輸送用機器が２・９％の減益を見込み、機械は７・２％の増益にとどまるとの予測だ。

 

非製造業でも２０１４年３月期に大幅増益だった卸売業が減益を予想している。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年５月１０日）

 

Philips profits slump 15%, flags in medical markets

Philips profits slump 15%, flags in medical markets

 

Electrical appliance group Philips reported a 15.0 percent slump in net first quarter profit on Tuesday, blaming a weak performance by its new strategic activities in healthcare equipment.

 

Net profit plunged to 137 million euros ($190 million) because of a fall in underlying profit on a 12-month comparison.

 

But this was better than the average figure forecast by analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires who had expected a net figure of 114 million euros.

 

Sales on a comparable asset base were steady at 5.02 billion euros, but earnings before interest, tax and amortisation fell by 22.0 percent mainly because of a fall of profitability by the healthcare activities.

 

Philips, a world leader in the field of electrical appliances for the home, for industry and for local authorities, is in the process of refocusing much of its business on equipment for the medical sector where it has technological expertise and where margins are strong.

 

The group said that other factors behind the weaker results were unexpectedly high restructuring costs, unfavourable exchange rates, and unfavourable conditions on Russian markets.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 22 Tuesday April 2014 The Roman)

 

Bank of Japan Yokohama Branch Tankan March 2014

Bank of Japan Yokohama Branch Tankan March 2014

 

日本銀行横浜支店　神奈川県内企業短期経済観測調査　２０１４年３月

 

非製造業２２年ぶりの水準

 

日本銀行横浜支店は４月１日、３月の神奈川県内企業短期経済観測調査（短観）を発表し、企業の景況感を示す業況判断指数（ＤＩ）は５期連続で改善し、全産業で前回調査（２０１３年１２月）から４ポイント上昇、６年３カ月ぶりのプラス１４となった。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年４月２日）

 

テキストを入力中です。

 

Text input now.

 

 

Bank of Japan Tankan March 2014 : Figures by Industry, Summary of "Inflation Outlook of Enterprises," and Comprehensive Data Set

Bank of Japan Tankan March 2014 : Figures by Industry, Summary of "Inflation Outlook of Enterprises," and Comprehensive Data Set

 

日本銀行　企業短期経済観測調査　２０１４年３月

 

景況感５期連続改善

 

日本銀行が４月１日発表した３月の企業短期経済観測調査（短観）は、最近の景況感を示す業況判断指数（ＤＩ）が大企業製造業で２０１３年１２月の前回調査から１ポイント上昇のプラス１７、非製造業で４ポイント上昇のプラス２４といずれも５四半期連続で改善した。

 

消費税増税前の駆け込み需要を背景とした堅調な個人消費に支えられた。

 

雇用や生産の増加につながる設備投資では、大企業全産業の２０１４年度の設備投資計画（ソフトウェア投資を除く）が前年度比０・１％増となった。

 

３月調査時点でプラスだったのは２００７年度以来、７年ぶりとなる。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年４月２日）

 

 

BOJ Tankan March 2014 : Figures by Industry, Summary of "Inflation Outlook of Enterprises," and Comprehensive Data Set

BOJ Tankan March 2014 : Figures by Industry, Summary of "Inflation Outlook of Enterprises," and Comprehensive Data Set

 

日本銀行　企業短期経済観測調査　２０１４年３月

 

景況感５期連続改善

 

日本銀行が４月１日発表した３月の企業短期経済観測調査（短観）は、最近の景況感を示す業況判断指数（ＤＩ）が大企業製造業で２０１３年１２月の前回調査から１ポイント上昇のプラス１７、非製造業で４ポイント上昇のプラス２４といずれも５四半期連続で改善した。

 

消費税増税前の駆け込み需要を背景とした堅調な個人消費に支えられた。

 

雇用や生産の増加につながる設備投資では、大企業全産業の２０１４年度の設備投資計画（ソフトウェア投資を除く）が前年度比０・１％増となった。

 

３月調査時点でプラスだったのは２００７年度以来、７年ぶりとなる。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年４月２日）

 

 

US economic growth revised down to 2.4% in Q4

US economic growth revised down to 2.4% in Q4

 

Washington (AFP)

 

The United States economy grew more slowly than previously thought in the 2013 fourth quarter, largely due to weaker consumer spending, official data released Friday showed.

 

The Commerce Department said gross domestic product growth in the final quarter was at an annual rate of 2.4 percent, revising its initial estimate of a 3.2 percent GDP expansion.

 

Analysts had expected a downward revision, but forecast a less sharp drop to 2.6 percent.

 

The report showed the world's largest economy had significantly lost momentum even before a series of weaker economic data in January and February, which some say are due to severe winter weather in much of the country.

 

The economy grew at a robust rate of 4.1 percent in the third quarter.

 

Most of the fourth-quarter growth revision came from weaker than first estimated growth in consumer spending, which drives the bulk of the United States economic activity.

 

Spending was revised down to 2.6 percent from the prior estimate of 3.3 percent.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 28 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

IAG airlines group rebounds into 2013 net profit

IAG airlines group rebounds into 2013 net profit

 

London (AFP)

 

International Airlines Group rebounded into net profit in 2013, boosted by a strong performance from British Airways and recently-acquired Spanish budget carrier Vueling, it said on Friday.

 

Profits after tax stood at 122 million euros ($167 million) last year, IAG said in a results statement.

 

That contrasted with a net loss of 716 million euros in 2012.

 

Revenues grew 3.1 percent to 18.675 billion euros and fuel costs slid 2.5 percent to 5.951 billion euros, added the group, which also noted "huge progress" on the restructuring of its Iberia division.

 

Operating profit, or earnings before tax and one-off costs, stood at 770 million euros, compared with a loss of 23 million euros in 2012.

 

"In 2013, we strengthened the group by acquiring Vueling, embarking on Iberia's transformation and enhancing British Airways' revenue performance," said chief executive Willie Walsh.

 

"This has led to a strong financial recovery and return to profitability."

 

He added: "British Airways continued its solid revenue performance this year and we're seeing cost improvements, resulting in an operating profit."

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 28 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Real GDP rose 1.0% per annum in Japan

Real GDP rose 1.0% per annum in Japan

 

実質ＧＤＰは年率１・０％増

 

２０１３年１０～１２月期ＧＤＰは実質で前期比０・３％増、年率換算で１・０％増。

 

４四半期連続プラス。

 

（神奈川新聞、２０１４年２月１７日）

 

Real GDP rose 1.0% per annum in Japan

 

The 2013 October-December quarter GDP rose 0.3 % year-on-year in real terms, annualized 1.0 % in Japan.

 

Four consecutive quarters plus.

 

(Kanagawa Shimbun, 17 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 17 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Bank of England hikes 2014 growth forecast

Bank of England hikes 2014 growth forecast

 

By Roland JACKSON (AFP)

 

London — The Bank of England ramped up its 2014 economic growth forecast on Wednesday as Britain's recovery picks up speed, and vowed to keep interest rates low after tweaking its guidance.

 

Gross domestic product (GDP) was set to grow by 3.4 percent this year, the central bank said in its latest quarterly report.

 

That was up sharply from an earlier estimate of 2.8 percent given in November.

 

"The recovery has gained momentum. Output is growing at the fastest rate since 2007, works are being created at the quickest pace since records began, and after four years above target the inflation rate is back at 2.0 percent," governor Mark Carney said.

 

Carney took charge of the BoE last August and launched the forward guidance policy, under which the BoE had stated that it will not raise record-low interest rates until the unemployment rate falls to at least 7.0 percent.

 

However, the bank forecast on Wednesday that the unemployment rate -- which has fallen more sharply than expected amid the strengthening recovery -- would hit 7.0-percent in the coming months.

 

As a result, the BoE added it would look at a "broad range of indicators" at that point, in order to assess the health of the labour market and establish whether borrowing costs should rise.

 

Under the latest guidance, the bank will seek to absorb all the spare capacity in the economy over the next two to three years to allow a full recovery.

 

When interest rates do begin to increase, it will be a gradual and limited process, according to the BoE.

 

The central bank also pledged to maintain its £375-billion ($620-billion, 456-billion-euro) bond-buying stimulus programme, known as quantitative easing, until at least the first rate hike.

 

Interest rates have stood at a record low level of 0.50 percent since March 2009, when it also launched the vast QE stimulus to aid growth.

 

The bank meanwhile predicted fourth-quarter GDP growth would be revised to 0.9 percent, from 0.7 percent.

 

It also expected the economy would grow by a robust 0.8 percent in the current first quarter.

 

"Forward guidance is working," Carney told journalists.

 

"Expected interest rates have remained low even as the economy has recovered strongly.

 

"Uncertainty about interest rates has fallen. Most importantly, UK businesses have understood the message."

 

Canadian national Carney was last month forced to dampen talk of a rate rise any time soon, following news that the unemployment rate fell faster than expected to 7.1 percent, a near five-year low point.

 

The bank stressed on Wednesday that borrowing costs "may need to remain at low levels for some time to come" as Britain grapples with the ongoing legacy of the financial crisis and other economic headwinds.

 

"If and when the time comes that the economy can sustain higher interest rates, bank rate is expected to rise only gradually," Carney said.

 

"For a sustained and balanced recovery, the degree of stimulus will need to remain exceptional for some time."

 

The BoE also predicted that 12-month inflation would remain at, or slightly below the bank's official 2.0-percent target, over the forecast period.

 

The economy expanded at the fastest rate last year since before the global financial crisis, growing by 1.9 percent in 2013.

 

That was the fastest pace since 2007.

 

"Despite the very sharp and unexpected fall in unemployment, the MPC still sees plenty of slack in the economy that must be used up before raising bank rate," noted HSBC economist Simon Wells.

 

"Phase two of forward guidance offered no new targets or thresholds, but by arguing that there is a lot of spare capacity and with inflation projected to be below target 2-3 years ahead, governor Carney wanted to send a signal that rates are not moving soon."

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 13 Thursday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Exports give German economy boost in Q4

Exports give German economy boost in Q4

 

Frankfurt (AFP)

 

Growth of the German economy, Europe's biggest, picked up fractionally at the end of last year, propelled by buoyant exports, official data showed on Friday.

 

German gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4 percent in the period from October to December, slightly faster than analysts' expectations and also up from growth of 0.3 percent in the preceding three months, the federal statistics office Destatis said.

 

"Positive impulses came primarily from net foreign trade," Destatis explained.

 

"According to preliminary calculations, exports grew much more strongly than imports. By contrast, the signals from domestic demand were more mixed," the statisticians said.

 

Public spending stagnated and consumer spending was down slightly, but positive developments were seen in investment.

 

Investment in both construction and equipment was up strongly, but companies also sharply reduced their stockpiles "and that put the brakes on growth," Destatis said.

 

Taking 2013 as a whole, Destatis confirmed a preliminary estimate from last month which showed that German growth slowed to just 0.4 percent last year, the slowest growth for four years.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

 

Italian economy begins recovery with 0.1 percent growth

Italian economy begins recovery with 0.1 percent growth

 

[caption id="attachment_12328" align="alignnone" width="400"] (People walk in a street on 20 Thursday December 2012 The Roman in Milan, Italy (AFP/File, Tiziana Fabi))[/caption]

 

(AFP)

 

Rome — Italy's economy began a recovery in the fourth quarter of 2013 with 0.1-percent growth -- the first positive result following a two-year recession, official data from the Istat agency showed on Friday.

 

The preliminary data also showed that gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.9 percent in 2013.

 

The economy showed zero growth in the third quarter, meaning the recession formally ended then.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 14 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Android extends gains on Apple, Windows Phone is third

Android extends gains on Apple, Windows Phone is third

 

Washington (AFP)

 

The Google Android system extended its gains over Apple's iPhone globally in the last quarter of 2013, and Windows Phone grabbed the number three market position, a survey showed Wednesday.

 

The IDC survey found Android had a 78.1 percent share of global smartphone shipments in the fourth quarter, bolstered by a 40 percent jump in the number of handsets delivered.

 

Apple got only a modest boost in the fourth quarter from the release of its new iPhones, with sales up 6.7 percent compared with a year earlier.

 

That means its market share slipped to 17.6 percent from 20.9 percent, according to IDC.

 

The Microsoft Windows Phone platform saw a 46.7 percent year-over-year rise in sales, which pushed its market share to three percent.

 

BlackBerry saw its woes intensify with sales falling 77 percent from a year earlier and the market share sliding to just 0.6 percent.

 

Moreover, IDC said most of the sales were older devices using the BlackBerry 7 operating system instead of the newer BB10.

 

IDC said that with many markets becoming saturated, the landscape will be tougher and more competitive, with vendors looking to cut prices.

 

"In 2013 we saw the sub-$200 smartphone market grow to 42.6 percent of global volume, or 430 million units," said IDC's Ryan Reith.

 

For the full year, Android's market share was 78.6 percent to 15.2 percent for Apple's iOS, 3.3 percent for Windows Phone and 1.9 percent for BlackBerry, IDC said.

 

<IDC: International Data Corporation> (ed.)

 

(Agence France-Presse, 12 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

US economy adds just 113,000 workers in January

US economy adds just 113,000 workers in January

 

Washington (AFP)

 

The US economy added 113,000 workers in January, official data showed Friday.

 

While hiring was strong in construction and professional services, retailers and government authorities at all levels shed significant numbers of workers, pulling down the net gain, data from the Labor Department's survey of establishments showed.

 

Economists had forecast a gain of 175,000 workers after December's paltry 75,000, to confirm economic growth was on track.

 

The January number was well under the 2013 average of 194,000 net new workers per month.

 

Even so, the overall unemployment rate, based on a separate household survey, fell to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent, with data showing more people returning to the labor force and obtaining works.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 7 Friday February 2014 The Roman)

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

Animal feed business to grow 12 % in 2014

 

The animal feed business is expected to grow by 10-12 percent this year on the back of increasing demand for chicken, according to a national association.

 

They said large election-related gatherings this year would contribute to heightened demand for chicken dishes — one of the most common sources of protein for Indonesians.

 

Desianto Budi Utomo, secretary general for the Indonesia Animal Feed Producers Association (GPMTI), said the group projected the animal feed business to grow 10-12 percent this year, compared to 9 percent last year.

 

“There will be more food orders to caterers, and chances are there will be meat on the menu. This will surely boost poultry demand, and positively impact animal feed enterprises as well,” Desianto said over the weekend.

 

He added that the continued growth of the nation’s economy and middle class would also contribute to the growth of animal feed industry.

 

“The country is estimated to maintain growth above 5 percent this year, and that is actually quite good because it ensures that Indonesians’ purchasing power will remain strong and keep them consuming meat products,” he said.

 

According to him, the country would see its animal feed production rising to 15.5 million tons this year.

 

Last year, the country produced about 14.8 million tons of animal feed.

 

Desianto, who is also the deputy director of the country’s biggest animal feed producer, PT Charoen Pokphand, said his company was set to see its revenue grow by about 12 to 15 percent this year.

 

He added that his company was looking to build 8 new processing facilities in 2014 and 2015.

 

The publicly listed Thailand-based firm now operates seven feed mills.

 

The company has yet to publish its 2013 annual results, but previous reports said that it was upbeat it had reached its 15 percent growth target for 2013, equal to Rp 24.51 trillion (US$2 billion) in revenue.

 

A recent report published by investment consultant Investa Sarana Mandiri advises investors to keep an eye on stocks of publicly listed animal feed companies.

 

Historically, meat consumption — especially chicken — increases significantly during an election year.

 

Usually, 70 percent of the country’s gross domestic product [GDP] goes toward consumption during a political year, with 50 percent of that being for food,” said Kiswoyo Adi Joe, an analyst with the firm.

 

“Here is where we almost always find chicken in the main course.”

 

(JP/Anggi M. Lubis)

 

(The Jakarta Post, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

France: les nouvelles consoles ont porté le marché du jeu vidéo en 2013 France: New consoles brought the video game market in 2013

France: les nouvelles consoles ont porté le marché du jeu vidéo en 2013

 

[caption id="attachment_11960" align="alignnone" width="400"] (Une manette de PS4, dans un magasin parisien le 29 vendredi novembre 2013 le Roman (AFP/Archives, Joel Saget)) (A joystick PS4 in Parisian department store 29 Friday November 2013 The Roman (AFP/Archives, Joel Saget))[/caption]

 

De Mehdi CHERIFIA (AFP)

 

Paris — Le marché du jeu vidéo en France a réussi sa transition vers la nouvelle génération de consoles en 2013, l'engouement pour ces nouvelles machines ayant permis de faire rebondir le chiffre d'affaires du secteur.

 

L'an passé, les ventes ont ainsi augmenté de 4% pour atteindre 2,7 milliards d'euros, selon une estimation du Syndicat des éditeurs de logiciels de loisirs (Sell), après un recul de 10% en 2012.

 

"Dans l'ensemble, le secteur s'est bien comporté en 2013 et il a profité du démarrage très dynamique des nouvelles consoles Playstation 4 de Sony et Xbox One de Microsoft" commercialisées en fin d'année, a expliqué David Neichel, président du Sell.

 

M. Neichel a ajouté s'attendre à une nouvelle progression du chiffre d'affaires du jeu vidéo en France en 2014, comprise entre 5% et 10%.

 

Le syndicat, qui représente les éditeurs, n'établit toutefois pas de classement des consoles les plus vendues.

 

Si Nintendo a indiqué à l'AFP avoir écoulé quelque 166.000 Wii U l'an passé, Sony et Microsoft n'ont pas divulgué leurs chiffres pour la France.

 

Une source proche du dossier a confié à l'AFP que 242.000 PS4 et 133.000 Xbox One avaient été vendues en France, entre leur lancement en novembre et la fin d'année 2013, des informations que les deux constructeurs n'ont pas souhaité commenter.

 

Globalement, les ventes des trois machines de salon de la dernière génération (WiiU, Playstation 4 et Xbox One) dépassent de 28% en volume et de 44% en valeur celles de leurs devancières (Wii, Playstation 3 et Xbox 360), lors des cinq premières semaines de commercialisation.

 

"Il y a eu, pendant un moment, des inquiétudes sur le marché du jeu vidéo traditionnel avec l'émergence de concurrents comme les téléphones. Désormais, elles sont totalement levées quand on voit la façon dont les consommateurs ont accueilli les nouvelles consoles", s'est félicité Philippe Cardon, PDG de Sony Computer Entertainment France.

 

"Enorme succès" de "GTA V"

 

La reine des ventes reste cependant une console portable, la 3DS de Nintendo, qui frôle le million d'exemplaires (942.000), grâce par exemple au succès des deux derniers épisodes de la série Pokémon (plus de 530.000 ventes).

 

"Une console sur deux vendue en France est une console Nintendo. Si la WiiU affiche des performances inférieures à nos objectifs, la 3DS a tiré son épingle du jeu dans un environnement hostile face aux smartphones et aux tablettes", a fait valoir auprès de l'AFP Stephan Bole, directeur général de Nintendo France.

 

Les ventes de jeux ont grimpé de 2% en valeur, une hausse principalement due aux smartphones et aux tablettes (+26,6%), tandis que les achats de machines ont reculé de 3%.

 

Pour cette catégorie, si les portables ont souffert (-19%), les consoles de salon ont en revanche retrouvé des couleurs (+9%), à la faveur du renouvellement de l'offre.

 

Très attendu par les joueurs, "Grand Theft Auto V" a pour sa part écrasé la concurrence pour s'emparer du titre de jeu le plus vendu, avec 1,951 million d'exemplaires en trois mois, reléguant son dauphin "Fifa 14" très loin derrière (1,027 million).

 

28,6 millions de joueurs

 

"+GTA V+ a été un énorme succès. C'est la première fois qu'un jeu se vend autant en si peu de temps en France", a souligné M. Neichel.

 

Selon le Sell, qui fera un point sur le marché trois fois par an dorénavant, la France compte désormais 28,6 millions de joueurs et un foyer sur deux est équipé d'une console.

 

L'industrie a, en revanche, souffert au cours des dernières années.

 

Fin 2013, les sociétés de création présentes sur le territoire employaient 3.127 personnes, soit trois fois moins qu'il y a 10 ans.

 

Copyright © AFP 2014. Tous droits réservés.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 5 mercredi février 2014 le Roman)

 

 

France: New consoles brought the video game market in 2013

 

Mehdi CHERIFIA (AFP)

 

Paris — The video game market in France has successfully made the transition to the new generation of consoles in 2013, the craze for these new machines have helped make the sales sector rebound.

 

Last year, sales increased by 4 % to $ 2.7 billion, according to an estimate of the Union of leisure software (Sell), after falling 10 % in 2012.

 

"Overall, the sector performed well in 2013 and it took very dynamic start new Sony Playstation 4 and Xbox One Microsoft" sold at the end of the year, said David Neichel, President of Sell.

 

Mr. Neichel added expect a further increase in sales of video games in France in 2014, between 5 % and 10 %.

 

The union, which represents publishers, however, does not establish the ranking of the most sold consoles.

 

If Nintendo told AFP he sold around 166,000 Wii U last year, Sony and Microsoft have not disclosed their figures for France.

 

A source close to the case told AFP that 242,000 PS4 and 133,000 One Xbox had been sold in France, between its launch in November and the end of 2013, information that both companies did not wish to comment.

 

Overall, sales of the three machines show the last generation (WiiU, Playstation 4 and Xbox One) exceed 28 % in volume and 44 % in value than their predecessors (Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360), during the first five weeks of marketing.

 

"There was, for a moment, concerns over traditional video game market with the emergence of competitors such as phones. Now they are completely removed when we see how consumers have welcomed the new consoles" said Philippe Cardon, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment France.

 

"Huge success" of "GTA V"

 

The queen of sales, however, remains a portable console, the Nintendo 3DS, which borders one million copies (942,000), for example through the success of the last two episodes of the Pokemon series (over 530,000 sales).

 

"A two console sold in France is a Nintendo console. If the WiiU shown below our targets performance, the 3DS has pulled out of the game in a hostile environment against smartphones and tablets," argued with the AFP Stephan Bole, Managing Director of Nintendo France.

 

Game sales rose 2 % in value, an increase mainly due to smartphones and tablets (26.6 %), while purchases of machinery fell 3 %.

 

For this category, if the phones have suffered (-19 %), the consoles have however regained color (+ 9%), thanks to the renewal of the offer.

 

Highly anticipated by players, "Grand Theft Auto V" for his part crushed the competition to take the title of best-selling game, with 1.951 million copies in three months, pushing his dolphin "Fifa 14" far behind (1,027,000).

 

28.6 million players

 

“++ GTA V was a huge success. This is the first time a game sells so much in so little time in France," said Mr. Neichel.

 

According to Sell, which will provide an update on the market three times a year now, France now has 28.6 million players and a focus on two features of a console.

 

The industry has, however, suffered during the last years.

 

End of 2013, companies created in the territory employed 3,127 people, three times less than 10 years ago.

 

Copyright © 2014 AFP. All rights reserved.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)