Mothers Day is a celebration of the women who cared enough to bear their children and rear them with loving support, but in Italy on Sunday marchers in the thousands came out to mourn the fact that some women kill their unborn instead.
As American mothers are celebrated for their commitment to the little ones they brought into the world today, Italian mothers are being urged to stop killing the ones they havent had yet.
And isnt Mothers Day just the day to remind others that a life in the womb is still a life?
The Washington Post reported that Americans and Poles alike joined the countrys Italian marchers in opposition to the Italian 1978 law, which made abortion legal through a womans third month of pregnancy.
So it isnt just American right-wing radicals or Christian fundamentalists who believe in the sanctity of life, as some left-wing liberals posit in the media.
Baby strolling protestors of different nationalities made their presence known in a march that stretched from the Rome Colosseum to Castel SantAngelo, bringing them within view of those at the Vatican.
And what better way to illustrate motherhood and celebrate Mothers Day than a mother out for a stroll with her child on the holiday enjoyed by moms around the world.
Priests and nuns congregated in support with the strolling mothers, as they sought to make their voices heard as well in the fight for the unborn slaughtered each year in the Italian country.
PHOENIX, May 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
On Tuesday, May 15, 2012, DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc.
(“DriveTime”), a leading used vehicle retailer, plans to announce their
consolidated financial results for the first quarter ending March 31,
2012.
On Monday May 14, 2012, DriveTime will post its
annual form 10-Q on the investor page of its website at
www.drivetime.com .
The 10-Q can also be accessed through the SEC’s
website at
www.sec.gov .
DriveTime will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, following the release of its financial
results. Investors and interested parties can access the conference call
in the following manners:
–
Teleconference: A telephone conference of the earnings report
can be accessed by dialing 1-888-814-4526. In order to join
this conference call, you will be required to provide the Reservation
Number — which is 80220852.
–
Teleconference Replay: Approximately one hour following the
live broadcast, the company will provide a dial-in replay that will
continue to be available through June 15, 2012. To listen to the
teleconference replay, call 1-855- 859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406.
You will be required to provide the Reservation Number — which is 80220852.
About DriveTime:
DriveTime is the leading used vehicle retailer in the United States
focusing on the sale and financing of quality vehicles to the subprime
market. Through its branded dealerships, DriveTime provides its
customers with a comprehensive end-to-end solution for their automotive
needs, including the sale, financing, and maintenance of their vehicle.
DriveTime provides its customers with financing for substantially all of
the vehicles it sells.
For more information regarding DriveTime, please visit DriveTime’s web
site at
www.drivetime.com .
SOURCE: DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc
DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc.
Isabelle Stonebraker, 602-852-6756
isabelle.stonebraker@drivetime.com
Copyright Business Wire 2012
Financial Glossary
Words used in this article:
WEST ISLIP, N.Y., May 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
Often times individuals deserve to be recognized for their services to
the community and organizations, and Atlantic
Automotive Group was very proud to see their own General Manager of
Atlantic Hyundai honored by the Make A Wish Foundation on Thursday, May
3.
In 2001, Dan Toomey Sr. was approached by two representatives of the
Make A Wish Foundation, Karine Hollander and Robert Bigler. The meeting
was very positive as they asked if Atlantic Hyundai would contribute to
the cause.
According to Dan, “Their passion, the intensity of their resolve to
bring a smile….how could anyone deny any request of this dynamic duo…”
From that point on, Atlantic Hyundai has been proud to donate to the
organization in many ways. First, Atlantic Hyundai has donated a vehicle
to the Make A Wish Foundation every year for 11 years. This year the
Atlantic Automotive Group saw Atlantic Hyundai donate a 2012 Hyundai
Sonata GLS to the foundation with Toomey Sr. saying, “…may all that you
give come back to you and yours many, many times over.”
Also, the dealership supports and encourages customers to donate funds
on their own. For any customer that donates to the Make A Wish
Foundation, Atlantic Hyundai matches that amount, up to $3,000, and
applies it as a discount for the customer who donated or any member of
their family who comes to purchase a new car form the dealership during
May or June of this year.
For those customers interested in the 2012 Hyundai Sonata, the Atlantic
Automotive Group may be offering these specials at their dealerships:
–
A lease with a payment as low as $199 per month for 36 months
–
A Valued Owner Coupon for $500
–
Financing as low as 0.0 percent for 36 months, 0.9 percent for 48
months, 1.9 percent for 60 months, or 2.9 percent for 72 months Plus
$500 bonus cash
Learn more about Atlantic Auto Group and its dealerships by visiting
http://nyautogiant.com/ .
Atlantic Auto Group treats every customer, whether visiting one of
its dealerships online or in person, as a family member. Comprised of
state-of-the-art facilities and No. 1-rated dealerships, Atlantic Auto
Group continues to lead the way in building lifetime relationships with
customers.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50277361&lang=en
SOURCE: Atlantic Auto Group
Atlantic Hyundai
Bob Wisilko, 631-587-0700
Copyright Business Wire 2012
Financial Glossary
Words used in this article:
Ebates offers 13 percent cash back from over 100 stores
Heres your chance to save an extra chunk of change on smartphone and tablet accessories, multimedia software, a Netflix subscription, and more.
In 2004, a revealing documentary came out called Super Size Me, which criticized fast food for playing a major role in the obesity epidemic. The documentary gained widespread recognition and helped to educate a broad audience about the negative health effects of consuming fast food on a regular basis.
It is now widely known that much of what is available at fast food restaurants is loaded with sugar, fat and excess calories. This deadly combination can lead to weight gain, nutritional deficiencies and ultimately, chronic disease.
While most are aware that fast food is not the pinnacle of nutritious eating, many continue to make concessions with their health due its low cost and convenience. It is easy to justify the act of stopping at the drive through by promising to eat healthier the next day or by simply ignoring the slow on creep of pounds.
But what if fast food did not just impact physical health? New research is emerging that indicates that it impacts mental health as well.
A new study was released in the Public Health Nutrition Journal, showing that eating fast food (hamburgers, hotdogs amp; pizza) and commercial baked goods (cakes, cookies, doughnuts) is tied to a greater risk of depression. In fact, those eating these food items on a regular basis showed a 51% increased likelihood of developing depression as compared to those eating very little or none.
The study results suggested that a dose-response relationship exists, which according to the lead researcher, Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, means, “the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression.”
These results are based on a long-term study that looked at 8,964 subjects that were part of the SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). This data is not the first of its kind; in fact, it supports similar findings in the SUN project 2011. According to Sánchez-Villegas, “although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being.”
Similar conclusions were drawn in Super Size Me. After a month of eating three fast food meals a day, Morgan Spurlock was both sick and depressed. He gained 24.5lbs, his cholesterol shot up to 230, and he developed a fatty liver. In addition, Morgan also experienced depressive mood swings and suffered from sexual dysfunction.
While a poor diet will of course make you feel bad, it is likely that the relationship between fast food and depression goes beyond the actual ingredients in fast food. The reality is if you are eating several meals on the run, you probably are not enjoying many meals at home with family and friends. As social animals, we need this time to connect with others.
At the same time, an increasing amount of research is emerging that suggests there is an intricately linked relationship between what we eat, how we eat, and our mental health. For example, we now know that omega-3′s improve learning and memory, and that a deficiency can lead to depression. We also know that tryptophan, the chemical component of turkey that makes you sleepy, helps induce a sense of relaxation and calm. There are numerous other components of food as well that have been proven to impact our mental health and wellbeing.
Food is meant to be both enjoyable and nourishing and even the most busy of individuals can find the time to prepare food at home with a little advance planning. For some ideas on how to cook at home economically and efficiently, check out my earlier blog post “10 Keys to Feeding a Family on a Budget.”
Assistance provided by Allison van Camp.
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Original Article
TULSA, Okla., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
/quotes/zigman/208208/quotes/nls/dtg DTG
-2.99%
today reported that on May 11, 2012 Moody’s Investor Services raised the Company’s corporate family rating to B1. The Company noted that the Company’s corporate family rating is factored into the collateral enhancement requirements under its securitized fleet financing facilities, and this upgrade will allow the Company to reduce its collateral enhancement requirements by up to $75 million over time as existing facilities are refinanced.
“We are pleased that our strong operating results, well-established position in the value segment of the rental car market and the strength of our balance sheet resulted in this upgrade,” said Scott L. Thompson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Over time, the improved rating will result in a reduction in required collateral enhancement of up to $75 million, which will allow those funds to be utilized for other corporate purposes.”
About Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
Through its Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental brands, the Company has been serving value-conscious leisure and business travelers since 1950. The Company maintains a strong presence in domestic leisure travel in virtually all of the top U.S. and Canadian airport markets, and also derives a significant portion of its revenue from international travelers to the U.S. under contracts with various international tour operators. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 280 corporate locations in the United States and Canada, with approximately 5,900 employees located mainly in North America. In addition to its corporate operations, the Company maintains global service capabilities through an expansive franchise network of approximately 1,300 franchise locations in 82 countries. For additional information, visit
www.dtag.com or the brand sites at
www.dollar.com and
www.thrifty.com .
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as its annual and quarterly reports.
SOURCE Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
/quotes/zigman/208208/quotes/nls/dtg
Add to portfolio
DTG
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc.
US
: U.S.: NYSE
$
75.27
-2.32
-2.99%
Volume: 1.07M
May 18, 2012 4:01p
P/E Ratio12.31
Dividend YieldN/A
Market Cap$2.11 billion
Rev. per Employee$263,874
Financial Glossary
Words used in this article:
NEW YORK, May 14, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:
China Automotive Windshield Wiper Industry Report, 2011-2012
http://www.reportlinker.com/p0470145/China-Automotive-Windshield-Wiper-Industry-Report-2011-2012.html#utm_source=prnewswireutm_medium=prutm_campaign=Mechanics
The increasing output and ownership of passenger cars pushed up Chinas demand for windshield wiper by 17% to 150 million in 2011. Meanwhile, the application of rain-sensing windshield wipers for passenger cars in China increased 1.6 percentage points year on year to 9.6% in 2011.
As opposed to 2010, Chinas automotive windshield wiper market witnessed two major changes in 2011.
OEM market concentration increased: the combined market share of top 4 manufacturers in Chinas automotive windshield wiper OEM market realized 56%, an increase of 4 percentage points over 2010;
Aftermarket concentration decreased: due to relatively low technology threshold, small and medium windshield wiper manufacturers developed rapidly. In 2011, the share of top 10 manufacturers in Chinas automotive windshield wiper aftermarket declined 3.5 percentage points over 2010.
Although there are a large number of enterprises engaged in the production of automotive windshield wipers in China, foreign enterprises still hold a dominant position. In particular, Valeo and BOSCH are the market leaders, with the market share topping the list in OEM market and aftermarket in 2010-2011, respectively.
For Valeo, there are four major windshield wiper brands, namely, Valeo, Marchal, PJ and SWF. In late 2011, it successfully developed the new generation windshield wiper system – AquaBlade which acceded to the market in 2012. Valeo has two windshield wiper production bases in Shanghai and Taizhou, Zhejiang province. The Shanghai base specializes in the production of windshield wiper motor and windshield wiper assembly, while the Taizhou base is mainly engaged in the production of wiper blades and scrubbers. In 2011, the Taizhou production base expanded its capacity to produce the components of windshield washer system.
The windshield wiper products of BOSCH mainly include 4 series, including Huoyi, Fengyi, Twin and Aero Twin. In particular, Huoyi, Fengyi and Aero Twin are hit products in Chinese market. BOSCH also has 2 windshield wiper production bases in Changsha of Hunan and RuiAn of Zhejiang. And the former specializes in producing windshield wiper motor, while the latter are mainly engaged in windshield wiper assembly.
The report highlights the following aspects:
China
Import export;
Profitability;
Brands and market occupancy;
Development of major domestic and foreign windshield wiper manufacturers, including operation, output, sales volume, major products, major customers, etc.
1. Automotive Windshield Wiper1.1 Structure1.2 Classification1.3 Development History1.4 Importance
2. Chinas Automotive Windshield Wiper Market
2.1 Market Demand
2.1.1 Front Windshield Wiper
2.1.2 Rear Windshield Wiper
2.1.3 Rain-sensing Wiper
2.2 Industry Profitability
2.3 Import and Export
2.3.1 Import
2.3.2 Export
3. Chinas Automotive Windshield Wiper Brands and OEM Market3.1 Brand Distribution3.2 OEM Market
4. Product Segments
4.1 Wiper Blade
4.2 Wiper Motor
4.3 Bracketless Wiper
4.3.1 Rubber Strip
4.3.2 Steel Sheet
4.3.3 Structure
4.3.4 Major Brands
4.4 Rainfall Sensor
4.5 Scrubber
5. Foreign-funded Enterprises/Joint Ventures5.1 Valeo5.1.1 Profile5.1.2 Windshield Wiper Products5.1.3 VALEO Shanghai Automotive Electric Motors Wipers Systems Co., Ltd.5.1.4 Taizhou Valeo-Wenling Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.5.2 Bosch5.2.1 Windshield Wiper Products5.2.2 Operation5.2.3 Bosch Automotive Products (Changsha) Co., Ltd.5.2.4 RuiAn Bosch Auto Parts Co., Ltd.5.3 DENSO5.3.1 Profile5.3.2 Operation5.3.3 Denso China5.4 KCW5.4.1 Profile5.4.2 Windshield Wiper Products5.5 Federal-Mogul5.5.1 Profile5.5.2 Windshield Wiper Products5.5.3 Federal-Mogul (China)5.6 Trico5.6.1 Windshield Wiper Products5.6.2 Trico Automotive Systems (Suzhou)5.7 ASMO5.7.1 Windshield Wiper Products5.7.2 ASMO (Tianjin) Small Motor Co., Ltd.5.7.3 ASMO (Guangzhou) Small Motor Co., Ltd.5.7.4 ASMO (Xiaoshan, Hangzhou) Small Motor Co., Ltd.5.8 Mitsuba Electric5.8.1 Windshield Wiper Products5.8.2 Guangzhou Mitsuba Electric Co., Ltd.5.8.3 Mitsuba Electric (Dalian) Co., Ltd.5.8.4 Mitsuba Shihlin Electric (Wuhan) Co., Ltd.5.9 Sichuan Fuji Electric Motor Co., Ltd.5.10 Gates5.11 Kostal-Huayang5.12 TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.
6. Domestic Enterprises
6.1 Sandolly
6.2 SHB Group
6.2.1 Profile
6.2.2 Windshield Wiper Products
6.3 Guiyang Wanjiang Aviation Electro-mechanical Co., Ltd.
6.3.1 Profile
6.3.2 Windshield Wiper Products
6.3.3 Operation
6.3.4 Shanghai Wanjiang Auto Parts Co., Ltd.
6.4 Shanghai Zhong-Ou Auto Electric Co., Ltd.
6.4.1 Windshield Wiper Products
6.4.2 Operation
6.5 Cangzhou Sanxing Weite Turbine Generator Co., Ltd.
6.5.1 Windshield Wiper Products
6.5.2 Operation
6.6 Hefei Chuangjia Auto Electric Co., Ltd.
6.6.1 Windshield Wiper Products
6.6.2 Operation
6.7 Jiangmen Fulaily Automobile Accessories Co., Ltd.
6.7.1 Windshield Wiper Products
6.7.2 Operation
6.8 Xiamen Meto Auto Parts Co., Ltd.
6.9 Fuzhou Shinlin Electric Co., Ltd.
Selected Charts
Chinas Automobile Output and Sales Volume, 1996-2015ECapacity of Chinas Front Windshield Wiper Market, 2005-2015EProportion of Front Windshield Wiper Aftermarket in Total Market Capacity, 2005-2015ECapacity of Chinas Rear Windshield Wiper Market, 2008-2015ECapacity of Chinas Automotive Windshield Wiper Market, 2008-2015EProportion of Rain-sensing Wiper in Passenger Car Windshield Wiper, 2008-2012Models of Passenger Cars Equipped with Rain-sensing Wiper in China, 2012Prices of Passenger Cars Equipped with Rain-sensing Wiper in China, 2012Profit Distribution of Chinese Windscreen Wiper MarketImport Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China, 2006-2011Import Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China by Continent, 2011Import Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China by Country, 2011Export Tax Rebate Rate of Windshield Wiper in China, 2004-2012Export Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China, 2006-2011Export Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China by Continent, 2011Export Volume and Value of Vehicle Windshield Wipers, Defrosters and Demisters of China by Country, 2011Top 10 Windshield Wiper Assembly OEM Market Brands in China by Sales, 2011Top 10 Windshield Wiper Assembly Aftermarket Brands in China by Sales, 2011OEM Business of Major Windshield Wiper Manufacturers in ChinaDistribution of Chinas Windshield Wiper BrandsPrice of Chinas Bracketless Windshield WiperDemand for Automotive Windshield Wiper Motor in China, 2007-2011Output, Sales Volume and Supported Manufacturers of Major Windshield Wiper Manufacturers in China, 2010Prices of Windshield Wiper Motors of SHB GroupRainfall Sensor Manufacturers and Supported Car ModelsOutput, Sales Volume and Supported Manufacturers of Major Windshield Wiper Scrubber Manufacturers in China, 2010Orders of Valeo, FY2005-FY2011Business Indices of VALEO Shanghai Automotive Electric Motors Wipers Systems, 2004-2009Windshield Wiper System Assembly Output of VALEO Shanghai Automotive Electric Motors Wipers Systems, 2003-2010Business Indices of Taizhou Valeo-Wenling Automotive Systems., 2007-2009Business Indices of Bosch, 2007-2011Sales of Bosch in China, 2006-2010Business Indices of Bosch Automotive Products (Changsha), 2005-2008Business Indices of RuiAn Bosch Auto Parts, 2004-2009Net Sales and Net Income of Denso, FY2009-FY2011Sales of Denso by Division, FY2011Business Indices of KCW, 2008-2010Net Sales of Federal-Mogul, 2008-2011Net Sales of VSP Division of Federal-Mogul, 2008-2011Windshield Wiper Product Series of Federal-MogulNet Sales of Federal-Mogul (China), 2008-2011Business Indices of Trico Automotive Systems (Suzhou), 2007-2009Business Indices of ASMO, FY2007-FY2011Business Indices of ASMO (Tianjin) Small Motor, 2004-2009Business Indices of ASMO (Guangzhou) Small Motor, 2004-2009Business Indices of Mitsuba Electric, FY2007-FY2011Business of Mitsuba Electric by Region and Sector, FY2007-FY2011Business Indices of Guangzhou Mitsuba Electric, 2004-2009Windshield Wiper Assembly Output of Guangzhou Mitsuba Electric, 2005-2010 Business Indices of Mitsuba Electric (Dalian), 2006-2008Business Indices of Mitsuba Shinlin Electric (Wuhan), 2008-2009Business Indices of Sichuan Fuji Electric Motor, 2004-2009Windshield Wiper Assembly Output and Sales Volume of Sichuan Fuji Electric Motor, 2008-2009All Weather Windshield Wiper Blade OEM Business of GatesCapital Structure of Shanghai Kostal-Huayang Automotive ElectricBusiness Indices of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., 2010-2011Client Structure of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., 2010Revenue of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. by Region, 2010Revenue of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. by Product, 2010Supported Car Models of Windshield Wipers of SandollyMajor Clients of SHB GroupMajor Products of SHB GroupWindshield Wipers of SHB GroupWindshield Wiper OEM Business of Guiyang WanjiangBusiness Indices of Shanghai Wanjiang, 2004-2009Wiper Assembly Output and Sales Volume of Shanghai Wanjiang, 2008-2010Windshield Wiper OEM Business of Shanghai Zhong-Ou Auto ElectricFinancial Indices of Shanghai Zhong-Ou Auto Electric, 2008-2010Windshield Wiper Assembly Output of Shanghai Zhong-Ou Auto Electric, 2004-2009Main Windshield Wiper Products of Cangzhou Sanxing Weite Turbine GeneratorBusiness Indices of Cangzhou Sanxing Weite Turbine Generator, 2009Windshield Wiper OEM Business of Hefei Chuangjia Auto ElectricBusiness Indices of Hefei Chuangjia Auto Electric, 2006-2008Windshield Wiper OEM Customers of Jiangmen Fulaily Automobile AccessoriesBusiness Indices of Jiangmen Fulaily Automobile Accessories, 2004-2009Automotive Electric Parts of Shinlin ElectricBusiness Indices of Fuzhou Shinlin Electric, 2004-2008
To order this report:Mechanics and Part Industry:
China Automotive Windshield Wiper Industry Report, 2011-2012
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Chinese carmakers eye European markets (24/04/12)
Chinese carmakers are looking to tap into the European market after sales growth slowed dramatically last year, with many of the models at Auto China 2012 expected to be exported.
Among them is Great Wall Motors, which is looking to market The Steed, a small pickup being made in Bulgaria, in Europe.
Just as the Japanese and Koreans did decades ago, Chinese carmakers are hoping to gain strong positions in the longer term in the Western European and US markets, German magazine Der Spiegel states.
Other Chinese firms with a foothold in Europe already include Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, which owns MG, and Volvo owner Geely.
Diesel Cars Make a Comeback in the US (24/04/12)
New, cleaner diesel engine vehicles are making a comeback in the US, with sales up by nearly 40% in March over the same month last year.
In the first quarter of 2012, diesel auto sales were up 35% year-on-year, according to Baum amp; Associates.
The great thing about diesel is that its coming in at the right time, said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
Its proven itself as a technology, and it has the credentials to compete with policymakers and customers that want to drive a car thats good for the environment and low in carbon dioxide emissions.
UPDATE 1-Italy new car sales drop 18 pct in April (02/05/12)
New car sales in Italy fell 17.9% in April as the countrys economy continues to struggle.
A total of 129,663 new vehicles were sold last month, an improvement from March but still not enough to change the gloomy mood among the countrys car dealers, over one-fifth of whom want to change careers.
Based on the April numbers, our projections built on the past six months indicate full-year car sales at 1.46 million – a figure not seen since 1983, research group Studio Promotor said.
In Q1 2012, new car sales fell 20.9% from the same quarter a year ago.
Spain auto sales slump as recession bites (03/05/12)
Sales of new cars in Spain plummeted 21.7% from a year earlier to 56,250 in April, a near 20-year low.
It follows a 4.5% decline in March, when 84,427 vehicles were sold.
Sales fell 17.7% last year to 808,059 units and are predicted to decrease by 3.5% in 2012.
The market shows no sign of recovery, far from it, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers said.
German car market continues to buck crisis: official data (03/05/12)
Germanys car market bucked the rest of Europe last month, with sales up three per cent from a year earlier.
Sales for the first four months of 2012 are up two per cent on the same period last year, the German federal motor transport authority estimates.
Despite the strong domestic figures, exports fell 14% in April to 323,000 units, spurring a ten per cent drop in production to 425,600 units.
UPDATE 1-Brazil April car sales fall as economy struggles (03/05/12)
Sales of cars, buses and trucks in Brazil dropped 14.2% in April from the month before as the country continued to struggle with slow growth.
Car dealership group Fenabrave said sales reached 257,875 vehicles last month, ahead of the releases of official figures from automakers association Anfavea.
Car sales up 3.3 percent year-on-year in April SMMT (04/05/12)
New car registrations in the UK rose 3.3% in April, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reported.
Sales for the first four months of the year were up 1.4% from a year ago, prompting the organisation to predict sales of 1.948 million units in 2012, a 0.4% increase on 2011.
We are seeing a steady increase in consumer confidence with growth in private demand, boosted by the arrival of a raft of new products, said SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt.
China April Auto Sales Show Rebound From Weak First Quarter (09/05/12)
Commercial and passenger vehicle sales in China rose 5.2% in April from a year earlier to 1.62 million units, marking a rebound from weak figures in March.
The gain was led by the passenger car sector, which saw a 12.5% leap in deliveries from April 2011.
Passenger car sales for the first four months of 2012 rose 1.9% to 5.05 million, while the overall market has seen a 1.3% dip from last year.
Car sales inch up in April, coming months may put sales in reverse gear (02/05/12)
New car sales in India showed positive signs in April as the countrys largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India reported a 3.6% increase in new deliveries to 90,255 units last month.
Its Estilo, Swift and Ritz models led the gains, jumping 43% to 26,072 units in the same month.
Despite this, the firms small Alto, WagonR, A-Star and M800 models fell 26% to 30,720 units in April.
Tata Motors recorded a three per cent dip in sales, sparked by lower demand for its low-cost Nano, which saw a 20% decline in sales last month.
Honda Siel Cars India posted 252% increase in new car sales, rising to 7,075 units from 2,012 last year.
Mahindra amp; Mahindra posted a 33% rise in sales to 20,558 units last month.
S Korea April Car Sales Up 6.5% On Strong Overseas Demand (11/05/12)
Strong international demand saw South Koreas five car makers record a 6.5% rise in new car sales in April.
Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, SsangYong and Renault Samsung sold a combined 689,679 vehicles last month, up from 647,767 units a year earlier.
This was, however, a 4.5% drop from the 722,250 vehicles sold in March.
UPDATE 2-French auto sales show signs of stabilisation (02/05/12)
Light vehicle registrations in France dropped 1.3% to 200,806 in April, the countrys CCFA industry association said.
It followed a 22% year-on-year fall in March, suggesting the market is stabilising.
Peugeot reported a 8.7% rise to 65,296 cars and delivery trucks, while rival Renault recorded a 5.8% decline to 49,303 vehicles.
US auto sales rose 2.3% in April, according to Autodata Corp figures.
copy; Adfero Ltd
Hot interest in Facebook stock reportedly prompted the company to bump the opening price range to $34 to $38 for its shares, which would value the firm at between $93 billion and $104 billion.
The Menlo Park, California-company will nail down the initial public offering (IPO) share price before it begins trading as a public company.
The IPO is expected to happen Friday although the timetable has not been confirmed.
Facebook watchers said users of the social network should expect changes — though not overnight.
The only reason a company goes public is to raise cash to expand, said Creative Strategies principal analyst Tim Bajarin.
So, the general public at least knows the IPO means Facebook will be able to do more things.
Facebook is not extremely specific on what they will do with the money; they say they want to be creative, expand, and do new things.
Facebook will keep the lions share of the potentially $14.7 billion raised by selling stock. The rest of the cash is to stuff pockets of company founders and investors including rock star Bono.
Mark Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook eight years ago from his Harvard dorm room, will retain 57.3 percent of the voting power of the shares and the IPO was structured to allow him to retain a firm grip on the company.
He really wants to create an open social network, Bajarin said of Zuckerberg, who turned 28 on Monday. One that allows Facebook to get more aggressive in the way they connect and provide services to people.
Some analysts predicted Facebooks stock price will jump quickly to $44 a share and climb much higher in the long term.
At the heart of the debate about the wisdom of owning a piece of Facebook is how much revenue it takes in.
Enlarge
Graphic charting the rising number of Facebook users. The Internet giant is expected to debut on the tech-heavy Nasdaq stock market on May 18.
Revenue vaulted to $1.06 billion in the quarter which ended March 31 — an improvement year-over-year, but down about six percent from the previous quarter. Eighty-five percent of the total came from ad sales.
As one analyst noted, however, Facebook only bills a scant half-percent of the $600 billion spent each year on all kinds of advertising — even though at least one of every seven minutes spent online around the world is at Facebook.
There is wide margin for improvement, seeing as Facebook has more than 900 million users and membership is expanding.
The leading social network is unabashedly working to follow members onto smartphones and tablet computers, and the IPO windfall would provide plenty of cash to partner with a hardware maker on a long-rumored Facebook phone.
Morningstar analysts concluded that optimism regarding Facebooks prospects was warranted and considered its popularity on mobile devices impressive.
Although the company has not actively developed its mobile advertising capabilities, we expect a substantial bulk of mobile advertising dollars to flow to Facebook within the next couple of years, Morningstar said.
Recent Facebook moves have included letting people store digital files in the Internet cloud and allowing Microsoft to weave social network feedback into results of Bing-powered searches.
Weve rarely seen a company borrow from its competition as quickly or as well as Facebook, Forrester analysts Nate Elliott and Melissa Parrish said in a blog post on Monday. And that focus on better serving end users has seen Facebook grow quickly over the years, even in the face of consistent privacy concerns.
But as good as Facebook has been at evolving to serve consumers, thats how bad its been at serving marketers.
Facebook has lurched from one advertising model to another during the past five years, according to the analysts.
A report over the weekend indicated that Facebook was dabbling with a scheme where advertisers would pay to promote posts at the service in a manner similar to a Twitter model of charging to give tweets high profiles.
We wish we could predict this IPO would serve as a new beginning for Facebooks marketing offering, and that a new focus on becoming a grown-up business would inspire the company to put even half the energy into serving advertisers that it does into serving users, Elliott and Parrish said.
But we doubt Zuckerbergs going to wake up any day soon having acquired a taste for advertising, or even a proper understanding of it.
Still, there will be no shortage of people snapping up Facebook shares. Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has gone public saying he plans to invest.
Facts and figures about Facebook
Facts and figures about Facebook, which priced its initial public offering:
- Facebook has more than 900 million active users. If the company were a country, it would be the third largest in the world after China (population: 1.34 billion) and India (population: 1.17 billion).
- Some 488 million people use Facebook on mobile devices. That is more than half of its members worldwide, and the reach is even bigger in countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Japan, where mobile use is 70 to 90 percent. (source: socialbakers.com).
- With 157 million members, the United States has the most Facebook users. Brazil recently jumped to second place with 47 million, followed by India with 45.8 million, Indonesia with 42.2 million and Mexico with 33.1 million. (source: socialbakers.com)
- Facebook is the most popular social network in every country of the world, with the exceptions of China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and Vietnam. (source: comScore)
- In April, Facebook announced a billion-dollar deal to buy the startup behind wildly popular smartphone photo sharing application Instagram, its biggest acquisition to date. The US Federal Trade Commission is reviewing the deal.
- Facebook has minted four billionaires: Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin and Sean Parker. The 27-year-old Zuckerbergs net worth was estimated at $17.5 billion on the 2011 Forbes list of the wealthiest Americans. Moskovitz had a net worth of $3.5 billion but pipped Zuckerberg for the title of worlds youngest billionaire, being eight days younger. The Brazilian-born Saverin, who left Facebook early on after a falling-out with Zuckerberg, had a net worth of $2 billion. Parker, the Napster co-founder who briefly served as Facebooks president, had a net worth of $2.1 billion.
- Chris Hughes, one of Facebooks four co-founders, served as director of online organizing for Barack Obamas successful 2008 presidential campaign.
- Facebook says it had an average of 526 million daily active users in March 2012, an increase of 41 percent from a year ago. It had registered 125 billion friend connections as of March 31 and 3.2 billion likes and comments.
- More than 300 million photos are uploaded to Facebook every day and more than 488 million active users access Facebook using mobile devices.
- The Social Network, the 2010 film about the origins of Facebook, won four Golden Globes — including for best picture and best director — but flopped at the Oscars, walking away with only awards for best adapted screenplay, original score and film editing.
- Facebook, which currently employs some 3,500 people, has announced plans to hire thousands more over the next year. Some studies suggest that Facebook-related firms and apps have created many more jobs and economic value.
(c) 2012 AFP
SARASOTA, Fla., May 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
If you’re considering a total hip replacement, try to lose a few pounds,
stop smoking and eat foods that boost the body’s immune system. “The
ideal joint replacement candidate is someone over age 50 in good
physical health who wants to enjoy an active lifestyle,” said William R.
Kennedy, M.D. a board-certified physician who has performed more than
5,000 hip replacements since 1971. “Most people who have hip replacement
surgery have greater mobility with a dramatic reduction in pain.”
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than
285,000 total hip replacements are performed each year in the United
States. In hip replacement surgery, the damaged bone and cartilage are
removed and replaced with prosthetic components, said Kennedy, who has
designed three hip prosthetic systems and practices at Kennedy-White
Orthopaedic Center in Sarasota, Florida.
Prior to surgery, a patient should select foods high in omega 3, such as
fish oil, and take multi-vitamin supplements that enhance the body’s
ability to support healing and ward off infections, according to
Kennedy. “Exercising the upper part of the body is also very important
in building strength and stamina,” he added.
As for the procedure itself, Kennedy says it’s important to discuss the
various hip replacement options with your surgeon. “Today, surgeons can
complete a full joint replacement through a 3-inch incision through the
front or the back of the body,” he said. “If the patient is very heavy,
then the posterior approach is generally advisable.”
Surgeons may also use different types of ball-and-socket prosthetic
devices depending on the patient’s age, activity level and anatomy. “The
newer plastic and metal combination has an excellent ten-year track
record,” Kennedy said. “And for younger patients, a ceramic-on-ceramic
bearing may truly last a lifetime, but is a bit more expensive. However,
the key to success is the surgeon’s ability and experience with
replacement surgery.”
In any case, it’s important for patients to have realistic expectations
about the recovery period, and follow the surgeon’s advice about when
it’s safe to resume normal activities. Kennedy recommends a daily
program of light exercise to regain muscle strength and build mobility
in the new hip.
“A typical patient can drive a car in two to three weeks,” Kennedy said.
“By six weeks, a patient can be putting and chipping on the golf course,
go ballroom dancing or plan a snow skiing trip for next winter.”
However, a hip replacement patient should avoid extreme sports like
waterskiing or rock climbing.
With today’s technology, a hip replacement prosthesis can last 30 years
or more. Kennedy estimates there is only a 1 to 2 percent chance of
initial joint failure, and 80 percent of patients will do well for at
least 20 years. “To maximize the outcome, pick a surgeon who specializes
in joint replacements,” he added.
For more information, visit
http://kwoc.net .
SOURCE: Kennedy-White Orthopaedic Center
Carlson Studio Marketing
Grace Carlson, APR, LEED Green Associate, 941-362-3011
Grace@CarlsonEcoMarketing.com
Copyright Business Wire 2012
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