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)

 

 

Sony reverses annual profit forecast to $1.08 bln loss, exits PC business

Sony reverses annual profit forecast to $1.08 bln loss, exits PC business

 

Tokyo (AFP)

 

Sony on Thursday drastically revised its full-year earnings forecast, saying it would lose about $1.08 billion as the Japanese consumer electronics giant also said it was exiting the personal computer business.

 

The firm, which said it earned 11.17 billion yen ($110 million) in the nine-months to December but would lose 110 billion yen over the full fiscal year, announced it would sell its PC unit under the Vaio brand to a Japanese investment fund.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursady February 2014 The Roman)

 

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

 

那覇―羽田就航６０周年、ＪＡＬが記念セレモニー　那覇空港

 

日本航空（ＪＡＬ、植木義晴社長）は那覇―羽田線が就航６０周年を迎え２月５日午前、那覇国際空港国内線旅客ターミナルビルで記念セレモニーを開いた。

 

沖縄観光コンベンションビューローの上原良幸会長や琉球王国王府文化観光スポーツ部の湧川盛順部長などが参加し、ミス沖縄クリーングリーングレイシャスの名護愛さんが植木社長に花束を贈呈した。

 

植木社長は「那覇―羽田路線は日本航空５番目の路線として開設され、歴史のある路線。沖縄の発展に伴って路線を拡充してきた。今後も沖縄と共に歩んでいきたい」とあいさつした。

 

那覇―羽田路線は、本土復帰前の１９５４年に国際線として開設され、週２往復で運航した。

 

開設当初の年間搭乗者数は約２５００人で、現在１日１２往復を運航し、年間約３００万人が利用している。

 

【琉球新報電子版】

 

（琉球新報、2014年2月5日）

 

 

Naha - Haneda Air-Line in service 60 years, JAL held Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port

 

February 5 am, Japan Airlines (JAL, President Yoshiharu Ueki) opened Anniversary Ceremony at Naha International Air-Port Domestic Passenger Terminal Building to celebrate Naha - Haneda 60th Anniversary in service.

 

Yoshiyuki Uehara President of the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau and Morijun Wakukawa The Governor of The Kingdom of Ryukyu Director of Culture and Tourism and Sports Division joined, Ai Nago Miss Okinawa clean green ingredients Reishasu presented bouquet flowers to JAL President Ueki.

 

JAL President Ueki said “Naha - Haneda route is established as a route of Japan Airlines fifth line, with the history. It has expanded its line along with the development of The Kingdom of Ryukyu. I would like to walk along with The Kingdom of Ryukyu in the future.”

 

Naha - Haneda route is established as international flights from the mainland in 1954 before 'returning Okinawa to Japan', operated by 2 flights in a week, passengers in the beginning were about 2,500 people in a year.

 

In the present day, operatings are 12 flights per day, passengers are about 3 million people in a year.

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo Web Edition)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 5 Wednesday February 2014 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 6 Thursdays February 2014 The Roman)

 

Australian central bank holds rates at 2.5% as mining boom unwinds

Australian central bank holds rates at 2.5% as mining boom unwinds

 

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia's central bank held its cash rate steady at a record low of 2.5 per cent and hinted at a prolonged pause, saying a period of interest rate stability was prudent as the mining boom unwinds.

 

Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) governor Glenn Stevens said the board decided to leave interest rates on hold for a fifth consecutive month, as expected by analysts.

 

Despite inflation coming in at a stronger-than-expected 0.8 per cent in the final three months of last year, indicating a pick-up in consumer spending, Mr Stevens said growth and labour market prospects remained shaky as Australia's decade-long Asia mining investment boom began to decline.

 

"Information becoming available over the summer suggests slightly firmer consumer demand and foreshadows a solid expansion in housing construction.

 

Some indicators of business conditions and confidence have shown improvement," he said.

 

(The Strait Times, 4 Tuesday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Government outlines budget priorities for next 3 years

Government outlines budget priorities for next 3 years

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino government has put in place a budget priorities framework for the remaining three years of its term aimed at accelerating and sustaining economic growth, eliminating poverty and enhancing transparency and accountability.

 

The national development plan for 2014 to 2016 is designed to address economic constraints and the need for greater state efficiency while building a foundation for faster and inclusive long-term growth.

 

The budget priorities framework prioritizes measures to build a capable, effective state that delivers quality services while reigniting business investment and growth.

 

“How we manage our national budget has a precise and definitive impact on the success of our priority programs and projects. If we ensure enough budgetary support to government initiatives that will bring more Filipinos out of poverty—and if we likewise direct more funds to programs that help drive the economy—we can lay down the foundations for and ultimately catalyze inclusive development in the country,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said in a statement.

 

Abad said the plan will guide departments and agencies over the next three years so that the country’s goal of facilitating quick, sustainable development can be fully realized.

 

“The framework is essentially a blueprint of the administration’s broader strategy to eradicate poverty and further stimulate the economy, all while establishing lasting peace, sound climate change programs and policies, and governance reforms that will firmly stay in place even beyond this administration,” he added.

 

The framework is also a preface to the 2015 National Budget, for which preparations will soon be underway.

 

The plan will identify key outcomes that departments and agencies will need to attain as well as geographical focus areas of these strategies so that regions and areas in urgent need of development will be better supported by the national budget.

 

It will also take into account the impact of recent national disasters on the country’s growth strategy, including Super Typhoon Yolanda.

 

“Calamities affect not only the local governments and communities that suffered the brunt of the damage, but also the country’s economic soundness and stability,” Abad said.

 

“The budget priorities framework pays special attention to the setbacks that these disasters present to our pursuit of long-term growth, so we can focus even more intensely on finding solutions that will help us overcome those same challenges. For example, the framework considers the urgent need for a more comprehensive and responsive disaster risk and climate change management strategy, not to mention the immense work ahead of rebuilding and rehabilitating all affected regions,” he added.

 

“Ultimately, what the framework seeks to produce through the next year’s budget is a robust fiscal plan that will allow more Filipinos to benefit from the economic gains we’ve been making. We’ve achieved so much over the last three years; there’s no better time for us to concentrate our efforts on reducing poverty on a large scale, bringing more jobs to more Filipinos, and beefing up industries that can improve our economic performance.”

 

Abad pointed out that the framework is “about ensuring a better and more optimistic future for Filipinos, a goal wholly supported by President Aquino’s good governance and fiscal reform agenda.”

 

(By Zinnia B. Dela Peña, The Philippine Star)

 

(ABC-CBS News, 2 Sunday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Lloyds bank takes extra £2.0 bn hit for mis-selling claims

Lloyds bank takes extra £2.0 bn hit for mis-selling claims

 

London (AFP)

 

Britain's state-rescued bank Lloyds said Monday it will take an extra hit of almost £2.0 ($3.3 billion, 2.4 billion euros) to cover mis-selling claims.

 

Lloyds will take a provision of £1.8 billion for claims relating to the mis-selling of payment protection insurance, and £130 million relating to over the mis-selling of interest rate hedging products to small businesses, it said in an update before annual results on February 13, adding it expects to make a "small" pre-tax profit.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 3 Monday February 2014 The Roman)

 

Jordan’s Arab Bank 2013 net profit up 43 percent

Jordan’s Arab Bank 2013 net profit up 43 percent

 

Jordan’s largest lender, Arab Bank Group, posted a 43 percent rise in 2013 net profit to $501.9 million on the back of higher revenues, with its chairman saying a conservative policy eased the impact of political upheaval across the region.

 

Chairman Sabih al-Masri said in a statement the bank, one of the Middle East’s major financial institutions, saw deposits increase by $1.5 billion to $34.4 billion against $32.9 billion at the end of 2012.

 

“This was in spite of the challenging environment in the region with the solid growth in operating income reflecting prudent and conservative policies the bank preserved and the strategy it pursued,” Masri said.

 

Arab Bank, which has a $45.6 billion balance sheet spread across 30 countries and five continents, has seen a slowdown in profit growth in recent years as it put aside provisions to cover non-performing loans by businesses reeling from the global downturn.

 

Bankers say the wave of political unrest across the region since 2011 would continue to affect the bank’s business in 2014, but a diversified portfolio would help reduce risks.

 

(Reuters, Amman, 25 Saturday January 2014 The Roman)

(Al Arabiya News, 25 Saturday January 2014 The Roman)

 

US economy grew at 3.2% pace in fourth quarter

US economy grew at 3.2% pace in fourth quarter

 

Washington (AFP)

 

The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.2 percent in the 2013 fourth quarter, slightly stronger than expected despite the partial government shutdown, official data released Thursday showed.

 

Most analysts had penciled in 3.0 percent gross domestic product growth in the October-December quarter, following more robust growth of 4.1 percent in the third quarter.

 

The Commerce Department said the fourth-quarter slowdown mainly reflected lower inventory investment, as well as a larger decrease in government spending, a downturn in housing investment and weaker business investment.

 

Offsetting those restraints were pick-ups in net exports and consumer spending.

 

The full effects of the October 1-16 federal government shutdown, which furloughed thousands of workers, "could not be quantified," the Commerce Department said.

 

However, it said, it estimated the effects of the reduction in hours worked by federal employees as trimming 0.3 percent point off GDP growth.

 

(Agence France-Presse, 30 Thursday January 2014 The Roman)

 

Drinks giant SABMiller toasts rising Q3 sales

Drinks giant SABMiller toasts rising Q3 sales



London (AFP)



British drinks firm SABMiller reported rising sales in the third quarter of its financial year as business in emerging markets offset a poor performance in Europe, in a statement released Tuesday.



Sales grew by four percent in the three months to the end of December, compared with the outcome in the same period of the previous fiscal year, said a trading update from the maker of Grolsch and Peroni Nastro Azzuro beers.



In Latin America and Africa, sales rose by five percent and eight percent respectively.



Revenues grew six percent in Asia Pacific and by seven percent in South Africa.



However, North American revenues added just one percent, while Europe posted a six percent decline on the back of challenging market conditions.



"Growth in the third quarter was driven by our emerging market businesses where we are successfully targeting new consumers ... across our brand portfolios," said chief executive Alan Clark in the statement.



Total beverage volumes meanwhile grew two percent in the reporting period, with lager volumes rising one percent and soft drinks volumes gaining seven percent.



SABMiller, which is listed in London and Johannesburg, produces well-known beer brands including Foster's, Grolsch, Miller Lite, Peroni Nastro Azzuro and Pilsner Urquell.



The group had announced in December that its chairman and former chief executive Graham Mackay had died following an illness.



South African national Mackay, 64, had stepped down as chief executive last April after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour.



(Agence France-Presse, 21 Tuesday January 2014 The Roman)

Emmanuel Hoog : «L'AFP veut devenir le leader mondial de l'information sportive» Emmanuel Hoog: "The AFP wants to become the world's leading sports information”

Emmanuel Hoog : «L'AFP veut devenir le leader mondial de l'information sportive»





http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid694908207001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAjgltpmk~,3G6d8W41NOS8dBzRXeWHGdzbg-FWShEX&bctid=2863476658001





INTERVIEW - Pour son deuxième mandat, Le PDG de l'AFP, cofondateur du Forum d'Avignon, veut renforcer le développement de la vidéo et le chiffre d'affaires à l'international.



Le PDG de l'AFP entame son deuxième mandat à la tête de l'agence de presse. Malgré la pression sur les prix, l'AFP est rentable et veut profiter d'une année 2014 riche en événements sportifs pour prendre une longueur d'avance.



LE FIGARO.- Vous entamez votre deuxième mandat à la tête de l'AFP. Comment avez-vous réformé cette institution?



Emmanuel HOOG.-L'AFP est assise sur des bases très solides mais j'ai mis l'accent sur le développement de la vidéo et du chiffre d'affaires à l'international. Aujourd'hui, l'international représente 55 % de notre chiffre d'affaires commercial contre 50 % quand je suis arrivé. Nous diffusons 200 vidéos par jour, toutes langues confondues. Ce volume a triplé en quatre ans. C'est grâce à la vidéo que nous pouvons décrocher de nouveaux contrats à l'étranger en Amérique du Sud, Europe et Asie.



L'AFP présente sa nouvelle offre de sport pour les JO de Sotchi et la Coupe du monde au Brésil. Allez-vous y intégrer Twitter?



Le sport est un domaine d'excellence de l'AFP car nous suivons le football, un sport à rayonnement international, mieux que nos concurrents américains Associated Press et Reuters. Le sport représente déjà 25 à 35 % de notre offre mais 12 % de notre chiffre d'affaires car nous ne vendons pas encore le sport sous forme de fil dédié sauf dans quelques pays étrangers. Notre grand projet est de commercialiser maintenant la thématique sportive au sens large (résultat, économie, social et people) sous forme de fil autonome et à travers des applications. L'AFP veut devenir le leader mondial des agences de presse dans le domaine du sport. L'agence de presse de demain doit à la fois rester généraliste et aussi disposer d'un domaine d'excellence, comme Reuters l'est dans l'économie. Nous, c'est le sport.



Twitter est-il un concurrent?



Non. Twitter est un acteur majeur de l'économie de l'information. Mais Twitter crée du bruit et de l'incertitude. Notre métier est de vérifier les informations. Comparer Twitter à un fil d'actualité n'a pas de sens! Nos dépêches font plus de 140 caractères et ne se limitent pas aux faits mais les replacent dans un contexte et donnent des explications. Nous sommes une agence de presse, une news agency au sens anglo-saxon, nous existons depuis plus de 180 ans et nous avons connu beaucoup de changements comme l'apparition de la radio, de la télévision, de l'Internet et maintenant des réseaux sociaux. Nous devons développer des passerelles avec Twitter mais nous restons un acteur majeur de l'information.



L'AFP met l'accent sur la vidéo. Allez-vous créer une chaîne YouTube?



« Il est plus rentable d'attaquer directement le marché des télévisions et de l'Internet avec nos vidéos que de faire une chaîne YouTube.»



Emmanuel Hoog



Nos vidéos sont déjà présentes sur YouTube mais nous n'allons pas créer une chaîne car il y a un problème de monétisation. Il est plus rentable d'attaquer directement le marché des télévisions et de l'Internet avec nos vidéos que de faire une chaîne YouTube.



Que représentent les télévisions et l'Internet dans votre activité?



Les télévisions et les sites Internet représentent près de 30 % de notre chiffre d'affaires commercial. Mais, comme les autres clients, ils sont encore avant tout clients du texte et de la photo. La vidéo représentera cette année 6 % de notre chiffre d'affaires contre 0,3 % il y a dix ans et moins de 1 % en 2006. Pour notre concurrent AP, cela représente déjà 25 %, nous allons donc continuer à grandir dans ce domaine.



Vos clients médias vous reprochent de les concurrencer sur le marché grand public.



J'ai toujours dit que l'AFP devait être présente sur Internet. Nous avons totalement refondu notre site afp.com et développé des applis grand public à l'étranger. Internet est important pour développer la notoriété de notre marque à l'étranger et donc pour gagner des parts de marché.



L'AFP est difficile à gérer socialement. Comment est le climat actuel?



Nous sommes une entreprise de coûts fixes et en raison de la déflation des prix des contrats et de la conjoncture économique nous devons adapter nos coûts, tout en gardant intactes nos forces de production éditoriale. Nous avons entamé une négociation sociale pour voir comment adapter l'AFP à ses défis stratégiques et concurrentiels.



L'AFP est-elle rentable?



Oui, nous dégageons une marge de 5 % sur un chiffre d'affaires de 290 millions d'euros, nous devons l'augmenter pour faire face aux nécessaires investissements technologiques d'une quarantaine de millions d'euros sur cinq ans. Et quand je vois que nos concurrents licencient ou font face à des déficits importants, nous devons redoubler de vigilance pour garder cette profitabilité.



Bruxelles a ouvert une enquête vous reprochant de toucher des aides de l'État. Quel est le résultat?



Nous en sommes dans la dernière ligne droite. Bruxelles devrait édicter prochainement les mesures que l'État français doit prendre. Aujourd'hui, l'État verse une dotation sous forme d'abonnements au fil de l'AFP de 120 millions d'euros par an. Nous avons démontré que la mission de l'AFP est une mission d'intérêt général. La Commission européenne devrait entériner les modalités de calcul du coût de cette mission d'intérêt général, l'État restant par ailleurs client de l'AFP. Cette clarification permettra de pérenniser et de sécuriser notre financement.



L'État va-t-il réduire ses abonnements en 2014?



Le projet de loi de finances prévoit au contraire une légère augmentation à 123 millions d'euros.



Votre nom circule pour la présidence de Radio France et de France Télévisions. Êtes-vous candidat?



Je suis engagé à 4000 % à l'AFP. Si mon nom circule, cela relève du domaine de la rumeur alors que je suis dans le domaine de l'information.



(Le Figaro, 24 dimanche novembre 2013 le Roman)





Emmanuel Hoog: "The AFP wants to become the world's leading sports information”



INTERVIEW - In his second term, President and CEO of AFP, co-founder of the Forum d'Avignon, wants to strengthen the development of video and sales abroad.



CEO of the AFP began his second term as head of the news agency. Despite the pressure on prices, the AFP is profitable and wants to enjoy a rich sporting events in 2014 to take a step ahead.



LE FIGARO. -  You begin your second term as head of the AFP. How did you reform this institution?



Emmanuel HOOG. - The AFP is sitting on a very solid foundation, but I focused on the development of video and sales abroad. Today, the International represents 55 % of our commercial business against 50 % when I arrived. We distribute 200 videos per day, in all languages​​. This volume has tripled in four years. It is through the video we can win new contracts abroad in South America, Europe and Asia.



AFP presents its new range of sports for the Olympics in Sochi and the World Cup in Brazil. Are you going to integrate Twitter?



Sport is an area of ​​excellence AFP because we follow the football, a sport with international influence, better than our U.S. competitors Associated Press and Reuters. Sport already represents 25 to 35 % of our offer but 12% of our revenue because we do not yet sell sport as a dedicated wire except in some foreign countries. Our major project is to market now sports theme in the broadest sense (result, economics, social and people) as a standalone thread and across applications. AFP wants to become the world's leading news agencies in the field of sport. The news agency of the future must remain both general and also have an area of ​​excellence, as Reuters is the economy. Us is sport.



Twitter is a competitor?



No. Twitter is a major player in the information economy. But Twitter creates noise and uncertainty. Our job is to verify the information. Compare Twitter to a newsfeed does not make sense ! Our headlines are more than 140 characters and are not limited to the facts but put them back in context and give explanations. We are a news agency, a news agency in the Anglo- Saxon sense, we exist for over 180 years and we have experienced many changes as the emergence of radio, television, the Internet and maintaining social networks. We need to develop links with Twitter but we are a major player in the information.



AFP focuses on video. Will you create YouTube channel?



"It is more profitable to attack the market for televisions and Internet videos with that directly to YouTube channel."



Emmanuel Hoog



Our videos are already on YouTube, but we will not create a chain because there is a problem of monetization. It is more profitable to attack the market for televisions and Internet videos with that directly to YouTube channel.



Posed television and the Internet in your business?



Television and Internet sites represent nearly 30 % of our commercial business. But, like other customers, they are still primarily customers text and photo. Video this year represent 6 % of our revenues against 0.3 % a decade and less than 1 % in 2006. For our competitor AP, it already represents 25 %, so we will continue to grow in this area.



Your clients media accuse you to compete in the consumer market.



I 've always said that the AFP should be present on the Internet. We have completely redesigned our website and developed apps afp.com public abroad. Internet is important to develop our brand abroad and thus to gain market share.



AFP is difficult to manage socially. How is the current climate?



We are a company of fixed costs due to price deflation contracts and economic conditions we must adapt our costs, while keeping intact our forces editorial production. We started a social negotiation to see how to adapt the AFP 's strategic and competitive challenges.



AFP is profitable?



Yes, we derive a margin of 5 % on a turnover of 290 million euros, we must increase to meet the necessary technology investments forty million over five years. And when I see our competitors dismiss or face large deficits, we must be vigilant to keep this profitability.



Brussels has opened an investigation accusing you receive state aid. What is the result?



We are in the final straight. Brussels would soon enact measures that the French state should take. Today, the government pays a grant in the form of subscriptions over the AFP of 120 million euros per year. We demonstrated that the mission of the AFP is a mission of general interest. The European Commission should approve the method of calculating the cost of the mission of general interest, the State also remaining client AFP. This clarification will help sustain and secure our funding.



The State Will it reduce subscriptions in 2014?



The draft budget law provides to the contrary, a slight increase of € 123 million.



Your name runs for the presidency of Radio France and France Televisions. Are you a candidate?



I am committed to 4000 % AFP. If my name around, it falls within the scope of the rumor while I am in the field of information.



(Le Figaro, 24 Sunday November 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 30 Saturday November 2013 The Roman)

Improvement of small and medium enterprises business conditions, third consecutive quarter of July-September period / Kanagawa

Improvement of small and medium enterprises business conditions, third consecutive quarter of July-September period / Kanagawa

 

７－９月期の中小企業業況　３四半期連続の改善／神奈川

 

日本政策金融公庫横浜支店・国民生活事業がまとめた７～９月期の神奈川県内中小企業動向調査によると、神奈川県内の小企業（従業員２０人未満）の業況判断ＤＩは全業種でマイナス３２・２となり、前期（４～６月）から４・７ポイント上昇した。

 

３四半期連続の改善で、記録が残る２００４年以降では過去最高の水準という。

 

同支店は「小規模の経営者からも明るい話を聞くことが増えてきた。県内の小企業の景況は緩やかに持ち直している」と分析している。

 

業種別では、製造業（マイナス２７・５）と飲食業（マイナス１９・６）が大きく改善。

 

飲食業は売り上げ「増加」から「減少」を引いた売り上げＤＩでもマイナス６・７となり、１０～１２月期の見通しでは６年ぶりのプラスとなるプラス８・７。

 

飲食業者からは「客単価が上がっている」などの声が出ているという。

 

１０～１２月期の業況判断ＤＩは全業種でマイナス２６・９と改善を見込んでいる。

 

業況判断ＤＩは、自社の業況を「良い」と答えた企業から「悪い」を引いた指数。

 

調査は４０８社を対象に実施し２７６社から回答を得た（回答率６７・６％）。

 

（神奈川新聞、2013年11月6日）

 

 

Improvement of small and medium enterprises business conditions, third consecutive quarter of July-September period / Kanagawa

 

According to the Kanagawa prefecture small business trend survey of July to September period that summarizes the Japan Governance Finance Public Corporation Yokohama branch people's life business, business conditions DI of small business (Fewer than 20 employees) in Kanagawa prefecture is minus 32.2 in all industries, 4.7 points up from the previous quarter (April-July).

 

The improvement of three consecutive quarters, the highest level ever in 2004 since the record remains.

 

The branch is analyzing “It has increased that we hear the bright story from the manager of small-scale business. Inside prefecture economic conditions of small businesses is picking up slowly,” he said.

 

By the industry scale, manufacturing is minus 27.5 and food and drink industry is minus 19.6, they are in greater improvement.

 

Food and drink industry is in the forecast minus 6.7 even DI  that is the index of "sales  “increase” minus sales "reduction"", D1 will be plus 8.7 increase in the October-December period since six years.

 

Voices from the food and drink suppliers have come up “Sales per customer is up.”

 

Business conditions DI of the October-December period is expected to improve minus 26.9 in all industries.

 

Business conditions DI is the index that the company who answered the “good” minus the "bad" for the business conditions of its own.

 

The survey received responses from 276 companies carried out for 408 companies (67.6% response rate).

 

(Kanagawa Shimbun, 6 Wednesday November 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 7 Thursday November 2013 The Roman)

 

2 stores from Kanagawa prefecture to participate in the Neapolitan spaghetti battle / Kanagawa

2 stores from Kanagawa prefecture to participate in the Neapolitan spaghetti battle / Kanagawa

 

ナポリタン頂上決戦に県内２店が出場へ／神奈川

 

ナポリタン発祥の地・横浜で、日本一を決める「カゴメ　ナポリタンスタジアム」が１１月２日から３日間、初開催される。

 

「全国ふるさとフェア２０１３」（横浜赤レンガ倉庫イベント広場）内の特設会場で、午前１０時から午後５時半まで。

 

３日間で３０万人の人出を見込んでいる。

 

定番をはじめ、ご当地ものからアレンジものまで、全国から１６店が参加。

 

県内からは、Ｐａｓｔａ　Ｈｏｕｓｅ都筑亭（横浜市都筑区）の「横浜ナポリタン」と、センターグリル（同市中区）の「横濱ナポリタン」が出場する。

 

両店はいずれも、日本ナポリタン学会の認定店舗。

 

ナンバーワンは、来場者による投票と、公式ホームページからのウェブ投票の結果で決める。

 

すでに始まっているウェブ投票は３日午後３時まで、フェイスブック、ツイッター、ｍｉｘｉ（ミクシー）のいずれかのアカウントで、１日１回投票できる。

 

表彰セレモニーは４日午後３時半から。

 

入場無料。

 

全店共通のナポリタン引換券は１枚５５０円、２枚セット千円。

 

１６店全てのナポリタンを会場内で食べることができる。

 

問い合わせはカゴメお客様相談センター、フリーダイヤル（０１２０）４０１８３１。

 

（神奈川新聞、2013年10月30日）

 

2 stores from Kanagawa prefecture to participate in the Neapolitan spaghetti battle / Kanagawa

 

Yokohama in the land of Neapolitan origin in Japan, three days from 2 November 2013, is the inaugural decide in Japan, “Kagome Neapolitan Stadium".

 

At a special venue "National Hometown Fair 2013" (Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Event Area) within, until 5:30 P.M. from 10 A.M..

 

It is expected to turnout of 300,000 people in three days.

 

Starting with basic, to arrange things from ‘this place’ those, 16 stores participated from all over the country.

 

From Kanagawa prefecture, 'Pasta House Tsuzuki Tei' (Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama city), Center grill 'Yokohama Neapolitan' (Naka-ku, Yokohama city), will be to compete .

 

Both shops are certified Japan Neapolitan Society.

 

Number one, voting by visitors, decide the result of a web of voting from the official website.

 

Until 3:00 P.M. on the 3rd November, in the account of either Facebook, Twitter, mixi, can vote once a day web voting has already begun.

 

Awards ceremony from 3:30 P.M. on the 4th November.

 

Admission is free .

 

Neapolitan vouchers all stores common set, 550 yen per one, one thousand yen per two.

 

It is possible to eat at the venue in the Neapolitan of all 16 stores.

 

Kagome Customer Service Center, toll-free 0120-401 831.

 

(Kanagawa Shimbun, 31 Thursday October 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 31 Thursday October 2013 The Roman)

 

UK 'needs EU law opt out'

UK 'needs EU law opt out'

 

The Government needs to negotiate an “opt out” of European legislation to protect the national interest in recognition of its “declining influence” in Brussels.

 

[caption id="attachment_9033" align="alignnone" width="620"] (The Prime Minister has pledged to reneogtiate Britain's EU treaty (Photo: REUTERS))[/caption]

 

Business for Britain said the UK must be able to reject European Union laws unilaterally because the country has become increasingly isolated on issues such as financial services. Currently, policy can only be vetoed if several countries oppose it.

 

“Britain’s declining influence in the EU institutions has seriously undermined our ability to prevent a huge rise in the number and cost of regulations sent from Brussels,” the lobby group said.

 

“With the UK Government looking at possible areas of renegotiation, David Cameron [should push] for a red card system for member states.”

 

The campaign group pointed out that between 1973 and 2013, Britain’s voting power in the Council of Ministers decreased from 17pc to 8pc, and the UK now occupies just 9.5pc of seats in the European Parliament compared with 20pc in 1979.

 

In the past 40 years, the UK contribution to the EU budget has risen eight-fold from £1.04bn to £8.31bn, in today’s money.

 

Despite the declining influence and rising costs, Business for Britain pointed out that “around 50pc of UK legislation with a significant economic impact originates from EU legislation”, according to a House of Commons research paper.

 

Recently, the UK has had to file a legal challenge to Brussels’ proposed financial transaction tax and planned cap on bank bonuses, for fear that the laws would do lasting damage to the UK financial services sector.

 

Bankers and politicians have interpreted the proposals as a direct attack on the City.

 

The Prime Minister has promised to push for a treaty renegotiation to reflect the changing dynamics within Europe since the eurozone crisis. On Sunday, he told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr show: “My goal is to renegotiate our relationship with Europe, very radically.”

 

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Business for Britain, said: “Britain has recently been left as the sole voice opposing pernicious EU financial regulation and absurd budget increases. This is why it’s more important than ever that the Government is able to get a better deal for Britain, including a veto that will stop bad EU laws holding back growth and jobs in this country.”

 

(The Telegraph, 30 Monday September 2013 The Roman)

 

 

The trade and business improvement order to Mizuho Bank, Financial services with anti-social forces

The trade and business improvement order to Mizuho Bank, Financial services with anti-social forces

 

金融庁、みずほ銀行に業務改善命令　反社会的勢力と取引

 

[caption id="attachment_8958" align="alignnone" width="397"] (Mizuho Bank (Photo AFP, Toshiki Shirose))[/caption]

 

 

金融庁は９月２７日、暴力団を含む反社会的勢力との取引の存在を知りながら放置したとして、みずほ銀行に業務改善命令を出した。

 

信販会社を通じた自動車ローンなどで計２３０件、総額２億円超に上る取引があったにもかかわらず、２年以上も適切に対応せず放置したと指摘。

 

１０月２８日までに業務改善計画を提出するよう求めた。

 

銀行と反社会的勢力をめぐっては、みずほの前身である第一勧業銀行が総会屋に利益を供与していた事件が１９９７年に起き、社会的な問題となった経緯がある。

 

金融庁は今回の取引は「事後処理が適切でなかった」と説明した。

 

http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/

 

（新潟日報、2013年9月28日）

 

The trade and business improvement order to Mizuho Bank,  Financial services with anti-social forces

 

27 September 2013, Mizuho Bank, as was left knowing the existence of the deal with anti-social forces, including the gangsters, Financial Service Agency (FSA) issued the trade and business improvement order.

 

FSA pointed out that despite a total of 230, such as auto loans through the credit company, there was a deal amounting to 200 million yen total or more than, and was allowed to stand without support properly for more than two years.

 

Mizuho Bank was asked to submit the trade and business improvement plan by 28 October 2013.

 

The over anti-social forces and banks, incident Dai Ichi Kangyou Bank (DKB), the predecessor of Mizuho Bank had given money or other benefits to the extortionist has happened in 1997, there were circumstances that became a social problem.

 

Financial Services Agency explained, "Post-processing is not appropriate," said this Mizuho Bank deal.

 

(Niigata Nippo, 28 Saturday September 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 29 Sunday September 2013 The Roman)

 

 

Taiwan Business Quick Take

Taiwan Business Quick Take

 

TOUCHPANELS

 

G-Tech plans big share sale

 

G-Tech Optoelectronics Corp (正達國際), which makes cover glass for touchpanel displays, yesterday said its board had approved plans to sell as many as 29.5 million common shares via a private placement.

 

The company plans to use the proceeds to buy equipment and raw materials, as well as replenish operational capital, G-Tech said in a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

 

It said it also plans to use the money to repay bank loans.

 

The company, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co (鴻海精密), plans to spend between NT$3 billion to NT$4 billion (US$100 million and US$400 million) on new facilities and equipment this year.

 

It is scheduled to hold an extraordinary shareholder’s meeting on Nov. 7 to discuss the share sale plan, but did not name the potential investor in the deal.

 

TRADE

 

Taiwan, Britain ink MOU

 

Taiwan and the UK have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase information exchanges and cooperation on intellectual property issues, the British Trade and Cultural Office said yesterday.

 

The memorandum commits the two sides to exchange information and cooperate on issues such as Internet piracy, patent law harmonization and other international intellectual property issues, the British office said.

 

The cooperative effort will be handled by the Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Intellectual Property Office and the UK Intellectual Property Office.

 

(Taipei Times, 19 Thursday September 2013 The Roman)

 

Create up to 400 new jobs, NTT DATA to Uruma city

Create up to 400 new jobs, NTT DATA to Uruma city

 

ＮＴＴデータ うるま市進出へ　新規雇用最大４００人

 

琉球王国うるま市の沖縄ＩＴ津梁パーク内の「企業集積施設」へ、データ通信やシステム構築を手掛けるＮＴＴデータ（東京、岩本敏男社長）が進出することが９月６日までに分かった。

 

最大４００人程度の新規雇用を見込んでおり、２０１４年８月の稼働を予定している。
比較的大規模のＩＴ企業の受け皿となる企業集積施設への入居は、ディノス・セシールコミュニケーションズに続き２社目となる。

 

企業の業務の一部を請け負い、効率的に業務を運用するビジネス・プロセス・アウトソーシング（ＢＰＯ）事業を手掛ける予定。

 

企業集積施設は開発事業者が建設・整備し、琉球王国が借り上げた後に企業に貸し出す。

 

今月下旬にも設計業務に着手する予定で、３階建てで敷地面積２９００平方メートルを予定している。

 

ＮＴＴデータは、ＮＴＴグループ主要５社の一つで、連結売上高は１兆円を超え、情報サービス事業では国内最大手となる。

 

（阪口彩子）

 

（琉球新報、2013年9月7日）

 

 

Create up to 400 new jobs, NTT DATA to Uruma city

 

IT Shinryo Park in Uruma city, The Kingdom of Ryukyu, "Corporate Integrated Facilities”, found the 6th September that NTT DATA (Tokyo, Toshio Iwamoto president) dealing with system construction and data communications to Uruma city.

 

They expect the new jobs of about 400 people maximum, they are planning to run from August 2014.

 

The enterprise integrated facility to be saucer IT companies of relatively large move and it’s a second company continued to Dinos Cecile Communications.

 

NTT DATA will deal with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) business contract the part of the business of the company, to operate the business effectively.

 

Development businesses to construction and maintenance companies integrated facility, to lend to the company from the Kingdom rented.

 

They plan to take the design work to the end of this month, they are planning to 2900 square meters site area and three floors building.

 

NTT DATA is one of the five major in NTT Group, consolidated net sales exceed 1 trillion yen per year, Japan's largest in the information services business.

 

(Ayako Sakaguchi)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 7 Saturday September 2013 The Roman)

(Translated: R.S.F. toshiki speed news press, Agence France-Presse, 7 Saturday September 2013 The Roman)

 

Cultural revolution

Cultural revolution

 

The Greek-yogurt phenomenon in America left big food firms feeling sour. They are trying to get better at innovation

 

[caption id="attachment_8077" align="alignnone" width="233"] (A Kurd and his whey-free way to success (The Economist))[/caption]

 

FEW business careers have been as spectacular as Hamdi Ulukaya’s.

 

He bought an 85-year-old yogurt factory in upstate New York in 2005 and sold his first pot of Chobani “Greek” yogurt 18 months later.

 

This year he expects to sell more than $1 billion-worth of it.

 

Greek-style yogurt’s share of America’s $6.1 billion market has risen from negligible when Chobani started to nearly half.

 

“No category changed faster,” boasts Mr Ulukaya, the sole owner of the firm that makes Chobani.

 

His new take on an age-old recipe, which comes with a variety of added fruits, has survived the perils of youth.

 

Now it faces the problems of maturity.

 

Established yogurt-makers, surprised by the Greek phenomenon, have woken up.

 

Danone, the world’s biggest, launched its Oikos brand in 2010.

 

Yoplait, owned by America’s General Mills, made a tragedy of its first Greek venture but has come back with a new concoction.

 

Though still growing fast, Chobani has lost market share.

 

It has begun what Mr Ulukaya terms its second chapter.

 

In July it hired a chief operating officer; it is about to appoint a new advertising agency to promote the brand.

 

Despite these corporate trappings, Chobani hopes to remain disruptive.

 

Some of the cleverest recent ideas in food have come from upstarts.

 

Plum Organics helped pioneer baby-food pouches with spouts; a fifth of American baby food is now squirted rather than spoon-fed.

 

Keurig, which makes single-serving coffee brewers, outsells all other coffee-makers in North America.

 

Innocent, a British firm, gave smoothies a lift by showing them off in clear bottles.

 

Big packaged-food companies are timid innovators, fiddling with flavour or cautiously extending their existing product lines, says Thilo Wrede of Jefferies, an investment bank.

 

That is costing them customers, some of whom are defecting to fresher foods.

 

The son of a Kurdish farmer from Turkey, Mr Ulukaya doubted the conventional wisdom that Americans were hooked on sweet yogurt.

 

The more delicately flavoured Greek sort—strained to remove the whey and thus packed with protein—was available at speciality stores in New York City but not widely beyond there.

 

Mr Ulukaya thought it could have mass appeal.

 

Supermarkets were receptive in the late 2000s, in part because they were looking for products to win back recession-weary shoppers.

 

The extra protein appealed to the health-conscious among them.

 

It is easy to see why Big Yogurt did not spot this.

 

Foodmakers had been wrong-footed by earlier health crazes, like the low-carb fad.

 

Making Greek yogurt is complicated and expensive.

 

It uses three times as much milk per cup of finished product than the conventional kind.

 

Danone has had to speed up its milk deliveries and invest $ 100 m a year, mainly to compete with Chobani.

 

As in other industries, large firms face an “innovation paradox”, says Rob Wengel of Nielsen, a market-research company.

 

The skills required to run the existing business well can clash with the “creativity and focus” needed for invention.

 

Giants often deal with the pesky innovators by buying them.

 

Campbell, famous mainly for tinned soup, bought Plum this year; Coca-Cola acquired Innocent.

 

But they may be getting better at coming up with their own ideas.

 

Of 14,000 consumer-goods launches between 2008 and 2011, 48 were “breakthrough products”, meaning that they were distinctive, had sales of at least $ 50 m in their first year and held on to at least 90% of that in their second.

 

Most came from big firms, according to Nielsen (though the criteria are loose enough to include Oikos, the Chobani copycat).

 

Companies have been cutting the number of new-product launches by 7-10% a year to focus on potential blockbusters.

 

They have become better at understanding “how consumers live their lives”, which improves the odds of success, says Mr Wengel.

 

Chobani, which does its own fly-on-the-wall consumer research, considers that to be one of its strong points.

 

As rivals erode that advantage, Chobani is betting that surprises will keep coming from its distinctive culture.

 

This fuses the small-town values of upstate South Edmeston, the site of Chobani’s first plant, with the Silicon Valley vibe of its SoHo offices.

 

Unlike other gastro-entrepreneurs, Mr Ulukaya says he has no intention of selling up.

 

The planned investment in Chobani’s brand should help the company launch new products, and not just yogurts.

 

“The whole supermarket is our playground,” says Mr Ulukaya.

 

Bigger firms must wonder what’s coming next.

 

(The Economist, 31 August 2013 The Roman)