BUSINESS NEWS

Toyota investigates Corolla steering problems

2010-02-17T21:43:00.001-08:00

Toyota investigates Corolla steering problems

First it was gas pedals, then brakes. Now Toyota and the government are looking into complaints that the popular Corolla is difficult to steer straight, raising a new safety concern ahead of next week's congressional hearing about the automakers recalls.

But how worried should drivers be? Or is this an example of how any problem at the Japanese company now gets intense scrutiny?

The executive in charge of quality control said the company is reviewing fewer than 100 complaints about power steering in the Corolla. Toyota sold nearly 1.3 million Corollas worldwide last year, including nearly 300,000 in the United States, where it trailed only Camry as Toyota's most popular model.

The executive, Shinichi Sasaki, said drivers may feel as though they are losing control over the steering, but it was unclear why. He mentioned problems with the braking system or tires as possible underlying causes. U.S. officials are also investigating.

He stressed that the company was prepared to fix any defects it finds and that executives were considering a recall as an option, although no decision had been made.

In Japan, President Akio Toyoda said he did not intend to appear atcongressional hearings next week in Washington, preferring to leave that to his U.S.-based executives while he focuses on improving quality controls. Toyoda, grandson of the company's founder, said he would consider attending if invited.

Also Wednesday, a Transportation Department official said the agency planned to open an investigation into the reports about the Corolla.

The preliminary investigation is expected to begin Thursday and involve an estimated 500,000 vehicles. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the department had not yet notified Toyota of the probe.

In an attempt to reassure car owners, Toyota Motor Corp. said it would install a backup safety system in all future models worldwide that will override the accelerator if the gas and brake pedals are pressed at the same time. Acceleration problems are behind the bulk of the 8.5 million vehicles recalled by the automaker since November.

The emergence of potential steering problems with Corolla presented another roadblock in the automaker's efforts to repair its image of building safe, reliable vehicles. Dealers across the U.S. are fixing accelerators that can stick, floor mats that can trap gas pedals and questionable brakes on new Prius hybrids.

Auto industry experts said any power steering troubles on the Corolla were less worrisome than accelerator pedals or brakes because drivers could still steer the vehicle, even though doing so may be more difficult.

The government investigation comes even though the automaker said it has received relatively few complaints about the popular compact.

Even so, in the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received a growing number of complaints from drivers about power steering on 2009 and 2010 Corollas. The numbers are small compared to Toyota's overall sales — only about 150 reports for those two models. By comparison, there are more than 1,000 complaints about problems with 2010 Prius brakes, a vehicle Toyota has already recalled.

But the decision to investigate the Corolla offered further evidence that the automaker is exposed to heightened scrutiny of its cars and trucks.

Some Corolla drivers said they had difficulty keeping the vehicle straight, especially at higher speeds. They reported having to fight the wheel to keep the car from wandering between lanes.

Jerry Josefy, a 71-year-old retired farmer and mechanic from Grandfield, Okla., said he noticed problems with the steering on his 2009 Corolla when he drove it home after buying it last year.

He took it back to the dealer for repairs, but the steering trouble persisted. Josefy still drives the car, but said it requires constant attention to make sure it stays straight.

"It wants to wander all the time," he said. "You could have a wreck with it if you don't keep your eyes on the road."

Smaller, less-expensive vehicles such as the 2009 and 2010 Corolla use electric-assist power steering. They are usually equipped with power steering systems that are aided by a small electric motor, a system known as electric-assist steering.

The motor essentially helps align the steering wheel with the movement of the tires. The system is cheaper to install than steering systems that rely on hydraulics.

Problems can arise if the motor is out of sync with the steering wheel, which could potentially cause the vehicle to wander without any turning of the wheel, he said.

"Car companies work on it a lot," said Jim De Clerck, a professor in the Michigan Technological University's mechanical engineering department and a former General Motors engineer. "It is a pretty well-known customer-satisfaction issue."

Toyota said the steering problem could be related to the braking system or tires. Improperly aligned tires, for example, can be a source of steering complications, De Clerck said.

In Washington, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked several auto insurance companies for information on whether they reported incidents of sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles to the NHTSA.

Meanwhile, the House Energy and Commerce Committee moved its scheduled hearing up to Feb. 23, one day ahead of the Oversight Committee meeting. The head of the NHTSA and Toyota's head of North American sales have been invited to testify before the energy committee. A Senate hearing is planned for March 2.

Toyota is expected to send North America chief executive Yoshi Inaba to the hearings. Toyoda does plan a U.S. visit, mainly to speak with American workers and dealers, but he said details of his trip are not yet final.

The executives will face scrutiny in the U.S., where the Transportation Department has demanded documents related to its recalls. The department wants to know how long the automaker knew of safety defects before taking action.

Reports of deaths in the U.S. connected to sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles have surged in recent weeks, with the alleged death toll reaching 34 since 2000, according to new consumer data gathered by the U.S. government.

Introducing The new Bajaj Pulsor 135cc Bike

2010-02-11T22:08:00.000-08:00

Bajaj Auto launched its 135cc Pulsar bike for Rs.51000 (ex - showroom Delhi). The new Bajaj Pulsar 135cc bike is powered with a 4 valve DTSi engine delivering 13.5 Ps power. The new Pulsar is equipped with a light-weight yet rigid frame, aided by gas-charged Nitrox shock absorbers at the rear.

The New Pulsar 135cc is expected to return a very good fuel economy and mileage of around 68.1 km/litre, as certified by ARAI.

Bajaj expects to sell a minimum of around 30. 000 units per month of the newly launched model. Bajaj belives that the total sales of the entire Pulsar range would easily cross 80,000 units per month.

S Shridhar, Chief Executive Officer, Baja Auto said that the Pulsar Brand has been strongly associated the sports segment in India. He added that the new Pulsar 135cc LS leads the change in deomcratising the thrill of biking and also accelerating the growth of sports segment in the country.

The new Pulsar will be manufactured at the company's Chakan Plant and will be having a capacity of 35,000 units per month.

The new avatar called Bajaj Pulsar 135LS in India that sports a powerful 13.5bhp @ 9000rpm an 11.4 Nm of torque @ 7500. The new Bajaj Pulsar 135LS is married to a five speed gearbox.
As per Bajaj, “the light kerb weight of only 122 kg gives it a great Power-to-weight ratio of 110.6 Ps/tonne to make it optimum balance of agility and comfort to maneuver hustle-and-bustle of urban traffic”.

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Style features:
·         Bikini headlight faring
·         LED tail lamps
·         Clip on handle bar
·         Split seats
·         Split grab rail
·         Single down tube frame

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Style Benefits:
·         The bike an aggressive, sporty look and feel while providing great riding comfort.

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Engine features:
·         World’s first and only 4 Valve DTS-i bike
·         4 Valve DTS-i, 135cc & 13.5Ps
·         ExhausTEC (Torque Expansion Chamber)* technology for the exhaust technology. *ExhausTEC Technology - Patent no. 231498
·         5 speed gearbox

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Engine Benefits:
·         More volume of air-fuel mixture with efficient combustion
·         Better power and fuel efficiency
·         Quicker and better evacuation of exhaust gases
·         Better pick-up at low speeds thus removing the need for constant gear shifts
·         Smooth power transmission

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Durability features:
·         Maintenance free battery
·         Single down tube chassis frame
·         5 spoke alloy wheels
·         LED tail lamps

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Durability Benefits:
·         Zero maintenance battery
·         Weighs less yet lends robustness
·         Easy maintenance
·         Less power consumption and longer life

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Comfort Features:
·         Electric start with autochoke
·         Suspension – Telescopic front suspension with anti friction bushes and Nitrox rear suspension (Nitrogen Oxide assisted gas shocker with 5 step adjustable suspension)
·         DC Ignition
·         Battery charge indicator
·         Twin pilot lamps and pass switch
·         Front disc brake

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Comfort Benefits:
·         Hassle free and quick starting in all weather conditions
·         Riding comfort for both rider and pillion on all terrains
·         Easy monitoring of battery status
·         Better visibility during twilight
·         Efficient braking and enhanced safety

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Colors:
Cocktail Wine Red

Midnight Black

About superior 4 -valve DTS-i engine in Pulsar 135LS:
A 4-Valve engine is designed for better performance than regular a 2-Valve engine. Combined with the revolutionary DTS-i (Digital Twin Spark-ignition) technology which maximizes combustion to deliver enhanced power and superior mileage with low emissions, the Pulsar 135 LS has one of the most efficient production engines ever.
More power: The 4 valve provides for a greater intake and exhaust area resulting in more power, almost equivalent a 2 valve 150cc engine.

Sustained top end power: The light-weight character of the four smaller valves (as opposed to two heavier valves), which allow the engine to effortlessly rev to an eye-popping 10,500 rpm (electronically limited)!

Sporty ride: Given the wider rpm band, the engine can be revved hard and high in each gear resulting in a genuine sporty ride.

More Mileage: Established superiority of DTS-i blended with 4 valve not only enhances the performance but also returns a very good fuel economy (68.1 km/l certified by ARAI)

More green: Comfortably meets BSIII regulations.

Bajaj Pulsar 135LS is priced at Rs 51000 (Ex-Showroom Delhi).
Bajaj Pulsar 135LS Technical Specifications:

   Engine:

   Type    4 stroke, air cooled, 4- , single cylinder, SOHC, DTS-i

   Displacement (cc)    134.66cc

   Max. Power (Ps @ RPM)    13.5 @ 9000 rpm

   Max. Torque (Nm @ RPM) 11. 4 @ 7500

   Starting       kick + Self start

   Suspension

   Front    Telescopic Front Fork with antifriction bush (Stroke 130)

   Rear    Trailing arm with Co Axial Hydraulic cum Gas filled adjustable Shock Absorbers and Triple rate Coil Spring

   Brakes

   Front       Disc ( Diameter 240 mm)

   Rear       Drum (Diameter 130 mm)

   Tyre

   Front & Wheel Size    Tubetype Unidirectional - 2.75 x 17″ & 1.4 X 17, 5 Spoke Alloy

   Rear & Wheel Size    Tubetype Unidirectional - 100 / 90 x 17″ & 2.15 X 17, 5 Spoke Alloy

   Fuel Tank

   Total litres (reserve, usable)    Capacity : 8 litres, Reserve : 2.5 litres (1.6 litres usable)

   Electricals

   System    12 V Full DC

   Headlamp (Low/High Beam- Watts)    35/35 W with 2 pilot lamps

   Dimensions

   Wheelbase    1325 (mm)

   Ground clearance    170 mm

   Kerb Weight    122 Kg

   Key Features

   Auto Choke    Yes

   Clip-on handle bar    Yes

   Speedometer    Digital

   Tachometer    Digital type with analog display

   Fuel gauge       Digital

   Tripmeter       Digital

   Wheel type    Alloy

How to become rich in short time

2010-02-09T02:11:00.001-08:00

Once you decide to put your money to work to build long-term wealth, you have to decide, not whether to take risk, but what kind of risk you wish to take. Here are 10 investing rules that can make you rich:

1. There's no escaping risk

Once you decide to put your money to work to build long-term wealth, you have to decide, not whether to take risk, but what kind of risk you wish to take.

Yes, money in a savings account is dollar-safe, but those safe dollars are apt to be substantially eroded by inflation, a risk that almost guarantees you will fail to reach your wealth goals.

And yes, money in the stock market is very risky over the short-term, but, if well-diversified, should provide remarkable growth with a high degree of consistency over the long term.

2. Buy right and hold tight

The most critical decision you face is arriving at the proper allocation of assets in your investment portfolio -- stocks for growth of capital and growth of income, bonds for conservation of capital and current income.

Once you get your balance right, then just hold tight, no matter how high a greedy stock market flies, nor how low a frightened market plunges. Change the allocation only as your investment profile changes. Begin by considering a 50/50 stock/bond-cash balance, then raise the stock allocation if:

You have many years remaining to accumulate wealth.
The amount of capital you have at stake is modest.
You don't have much need for current income from your investments.
You have the courage to ride out the stock market booms and busts with reasonable equanimity.
As these factors are reversed, reduce the 50 per cent stock allocation accordingly.

3. Time is your friend, impulse your enemy

Think long term, and don't allow transitory changes in stock prices to alter your investment program. There is a lot of noise in the daily volatility of the stock market, which too often is 'a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing'.

Stocks may remain overvalued, or undervalued, for years. Realize that one of the greatest sins of investing is to be captured by the siren song of the market, luring you into buying stocks when they are soaring and selling when they are plunging.

Impulse is your enemy. Why? Because market timing is impossible. Even if you turn out to be right when you sold stocks just before a decline (a rare occurrence!), where on earth would you ever get the insight that tells you the right time to get back in? One correct decision is tough enough. Two correct decisions are nigh on impossible.

Time is your friend. If, over the next 25 years, stocks produce a 10% return and a savings account produces a 5% return, $10,000 would grow to $108,000 in stocks vs. $34,000 in savings. (After 3% inflation, $54,000 vs $16,000). Give yourself all the time you can.

4. Realistic expectations: the bagel and the doughnut

These two different kinds of baked goods symbolize the two distinctively different elements of stock market returns.

It is hardly farfetched to consider that investment return -- dividend yields and earnings growth -- is the bagel of the stock market, for the investment return on stocks reflects their underlying character: nutritious, crusty and hard-boiled.

By the same token, speculative return -- wrought by any change in the price that investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings -- is the spongy doughnut of the market, reflecting changing public opinion about stock valuations, from the soft sweetness of optimism to the acid sourness of pessimism.

The substantive bagel-like economics of investing are almost inevitably productive, but the flaky, doughnut-like emotions of investors are anything but steady -- sometimes productive, sometimes counterproductive.

In the long run, it is investment return that rules the day. In the past 40 years, the speculative return on US stocks has been zero, with the annual investment return of 11.2% precisely equal to the stock market's total return of 11.2% per year.

But in the first 20 of those years, investors were sour on the economy's prospects, and a tumbling price-earnings ratio provided a speculative return of minus 4.6% per year, reducing the nutritious annual investment return of 12.1% to a market return of just 7.5%. From 1981 to 2001, however, the outlook sweetened, and a soaring P/E ratio produced a sugary 5% speculative boost to the investment return of 10.3%.

Result: The market return leaped to 15.3% -- double the return of the prior two decades.

The lesson: Enjoy the bagel's healthy nutrients, and don't count on the doughnut's sweetness to enhance them.

5. Why look for the needle in the haystack? Buy the haystack!

Experience confirms that buying the right stocks, betting on the right investment style, and picking the right money manager -- in each case, in advance -- is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Investing in equities entails four risks: stock risk, style risk, manager risk, and market risk. The first three of these risks can easily be eliminated, simply by owning the entire stock market -- owning the haystack, as it were -- and holding it forever.

Owning the entire stock market is the ultimate diversifier. If you can't find the needle, buy the haystack.

6. Minimize the croupier's take

The resemblance of the stock market to the casino is not far-fetched. Yes, the stock market is a positive-sum game and the gambling casino is a zero-sum game . . . but only before the costs of playing each game are deducted. After the heavy costs of financial intermediaries (commissions, management fees, taxes, etc.) are deducted, beating the stock market is inevitably a loser's game. Just as, after the croupiers' wide rake descends, beating the casino is inevitably a loser's game. All investors as a group must earn the market's return before costs, and lose to the market after costs, and by the exact amount of those costs.

Your greatest chance of earning the market's return, therefore, is to reduce the croupiers' take to the bare-bones minimum. When you read about stock market returns, realize that the financial markets are not for sale, except at a high price.

The difference is crucial. If the market's return is 10% before costs, and intermediation costs are approximately 2%, then investors earn 8%. Compounded over 50 years, 8% takes $10,000 to $469,000. But at 10%, the final value leaps to $1,170,000 -- nearly three times as much . . . just by eliminating the croupier's take.

7. Beware of fighting the last war

Too many investors -- individuals and institutions alike -- are constantly making investment decisions based on the lessons of the recent, or even the extended, past. They seek technology stocks after they have emerged victorious from the last war; they worry about inflation after it becomes the accepted bogeyman, they buy bonds after the stock market has plunged.

You should not ignore the past, but neither should you assume that a particular cyclical trend will last forever. None does. Just because some investors insist on 'fighting the last war,' you don't need to do so yourself. It doesn't work for very long.

8. Sir Isaac Newton's revenge on Wall Street -- return to the mean

Through all history, investments have been subject to a sort of law of gravity: What goes up must go down, and, oddly enough, what goes down must go up. Not always of course (companies that die rarely live again), and not necessarily in the absolute sense, but relative to the overall market norm.

For example, stock market returns that substantially exceed the investment returns generated by earnings and dividends during one period tend to revert and fall well short of that norm during the next period. Like a pendulum, stock prices swing far above their underlying values, only to swing back to fair value and then far below it.

Another example: From the start of 1997 through March 2000, Nasdaq stocks (+230%) soared past NYSE-listed stocks (+20%), only to come to a screeching halt. During the subsequent year, Nasdaq stocks lost 67% of their value, while NYSE stocks lost just 7%, reverting to the original market value relationship (about one to five) between the so-called 'new economy' and the 'old economy.'

Reversion to the mean is found everywhere in the financial jungle, for the mean is a powerful magnet that, in the long run, finally draws everything back to it.

9. The hedgehog bests the fox

The Greek philosopher Archilochus tells us, 'The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one great thing.' The fox -- artful, sly, and astute -- represents the financial institution that knows many things about complex markets and sophisticated marketing.

The hedgehog -- whose sharp spines give it almost impregnable armour when it curls into a ball -- is the financial institution that knows only one great thing: long-term investment success is based on simplicity.

The wily foxes of the financial world justify their existence by propagating the notion that an investor can survive only with the benefit of their artful knowledge and expertise. Such assistance, alas, does not come cheap, and the costs it entails tend to consume more value-added performance than even the most cunning of foxes can provide.

Result: The annual returns earned for investors by financial intermediaries such as mutual funds have averaged less than 80% of the stock market's annual return.

The hedgehog, on the other hand, knows that the truly great investment strategy succeeds, not because of its complexity or cleverness, but because of its simplicity and low cost. The hedgehog diversifies broadly, buys and holds, and keeps expenses to the bare-bones minimum.

The ultimate hedgehog: The all-market index fund, operated at minimal cost and with minimal portfolio turnover, virtually guarantees nearly 100% of the market's return to the investor.

In the field of investment management, foxes come and go, but hedgehogs are forever.

10. Stay the course: the secret of investing is that there is no secret

When you consider these previous nine rules, realize that they are about neither magic and legerdemain, nor about forecasting the unforecastable, nor about betting at long and ultimately unsurmountable odds, nor about learning some great secret of successful investing.

In fact, there is no great secret, only the majesty of simplicity. These rules are about elementary arithmetic, about fundamental and unarguable principles, and about that most uncommon of all attributes, common sense.

Owning the entire stock market through an index fund -- all the while balancing your portfolio with an appropriate allocation to an all bond market index fund -- with its cost-efficiency, its tax-efficiency, and its assurance of earning for you the market's return, is by definition a winning strategy.

But if only you follow one final rule for successful investing, perhaps the most important principle of all investment wisdom: Stay the course!

Toyota drivers in confusion and anger

2010-01-30T20:42:00.001-08:00

Toyota executives have been virtually silent amid a recall of millions of their cars because gas pedals can become dangerously stuck. For their customers, oh, what a feeling — fear, frustration, confusion and anger.

Since Tuesday, when the Japanese automaker said it would stop making and selling some of its top-selling models, the company has had few answers for dealers and drivers — most notably when Toyota owners could get their cars fixed and hit the road without worrying.

"I'm stuck with this car," said Tony Raasch of Hales Corners, Wis., who said he hit another driver in his 2010 Corolla two weeks ago when the car suddenly accelerated. "I really don't know what to do. I just feel — I guess — ripped off is the best way to put it."
Toyota first recalled 2.3 million vehicles, including the popular Camry and Corolla, because of faulty gas pedals. Later in the week, it expanded the recall to Europe and recalled 1.1 million more in the U.S. because of floor mats that can catch the accelerator.

Almost certainly adding to driver frustration, Toyota is sending new gas pedal systems to its factories, not to dealerships that want the parts to take care of customers' cars, The Associated Press learned.

It took until Friday for CEO Akio Toyoda to make his first public comments about the recalls. Buttonholed by a camera crew at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, he told Japanese broadcaster NHK: "I am very sorry that we are making our customers feel concerned."

In its worst crisis in recent memory, the company has communicated with the public in a series of very limited statements from spokesmen. One of them, Brian Lyons, said he was restricted to describing the problem as "rare and infrequent."

For days, there was no indication of how long it might take to get the affected Toyotas fixed, whether the fix would be a repair or a replacement, or whether it was even safe for drivers to take their cars to the dealership.

The company finally said Friday that details on the fix will be made available next week and should take about a month to implement.

Among Toyota's famously loyal customer base, frustration and anger mounted through the week.

Nepal Rastra Bank imposes 25 % capital on realty loans

2010-01-23T20:32:00.000-08:00

In a bid to correct the overheated realty market, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Thursday imposed a cap on the exposure of banks and financial institutions to housing and real estate loans, asking them to limit such exposure to 25 percent of their total investment portfolio by the end of fiscal year 2012/13.
The NRB directive has also instructed banks to limit housing and real estate loan exposure as a share of their total loan portfolio to 40 percent within this fiscal year and to bring it down to 30 percent by the end of next fiscal year.

The new directive requires the banks not to issue loans of more than 60 percent of fair market value of the collateral/project.

As for the real estate sector (which does not include the housing sector) the central bank has asked the lending banks to reduce exposure to 15 percent of total loan portfolio by the end of next fiscal year and to 10 percent by the end of fiscal year 2012/13.

This policy measure will not only slow down the realty sector but it could trigger desperate selling, sending the prices downward-- Min Man Shrestha, general secretary of Nepal Land and Housing Developers´ Association. In case banks and financial institutions fail to comply, the central bank has said they will need to provision for the excess amount (above the cap), calculating it on the basis of 150 percent risk weightage.

"This policy measure will not only slow down the realty sector but it could trigger desperate selling, sending the prices downward," Min Man Shrestha, general secretary of Nepal Land and Housing Developers´ Association, told Republica.

Developers said that the change in lending rate policy that the central bank announced on Tuesday has already sparked a rise in housing and real estate loans by at least 2 percentage points. "That has already made housing loans unaffordable to the general consumer," said Shrestha.

Imposition of a cap and compelling the banks and financial institutions to down-size their investment in the sector is certain, on the other hand, to put pressure on land and housing dealers operating with bank loans to repay their loans as soon as possible.

"The central bank´s measure will not only dampen new demand but also intensify pressure to sell. It will drag land prices down," said another developer.

Shrestha also echoed this statement, adding that the new policy measure will mainly hurt small developers and petty investors operating on bank loans with the sole motive of profit-making.

"Since this segment accounts for 45 percent of total land deals and is mainly responsible for the present unnatural price rise, its caving in would force the market to correct," he said. Developers even noted that the impact could be seen as early as within a month.

After Obama’s SpeechEuro Rebounds Versus Dollar

2010-01-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

After touching the lowest level in 2010 yesterday versus the U.S., the euro advanced on speculations that a White House proposal will shun investors from North America, allowing the euro to gain versus the greenback in foreign-exchange markets this Friday.

The euro posted its first advance versus the dollar since Tuesday as U.S. President Barack Obama speech done yesterday proposing news restrictions and prohibitions for financial institutions in the country to use in hedge funds and other types of investment. which could create a new credit bubble and harm the economy as a whole. The euro pared much of its previous days losses versus the pound after a U.K. report indicated a worse-than-expected advance in retail sales in the country, forcing the pound down versus most of the main traded currencies.

Even if the economic health of several Euroland member countries remain rather complicated, the pessimism is strong everywhere, and that allowed the euro to pare some of its losses, according to currency strategists. The euro’s advance is unlikely to follow during the next week, as Greece budget deficit is far from a solution, and other countries are likely to have the same issues in the near future.

EUR/USD traded at 1.4165 as of 17:41 GMT from a previous rate of 1.4091 yesterday. EUR/GBP traded at 0.8779 from 0.8694

The iphone

2010-01-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

In June, 2007, Apple's chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, introduced the iPhone, which instantly became one of the most talked-about consumer products ever. Thousands of customers lined up to be the first to buy the phones, which featured computing and Wi-Fi capabilities, along with a crisp, computer-like display on an innovative touch screen. Rivals rushed phones with similar features onto the market.

Mr. Jobs set an ambitious goal -- to sell 10 million of the phones in 2008. By March, 5.5 million had been sold, but the pace had dropped to a less-than-spectacular 600,000 a month. Around the same time, the guessing game began as to when the company would introduce a new version and what new feaures it would have.

The new phone searches the Internet more quickly and comes with a host of new applications. But the biggest change was a sharp reduction in price. Mr. Jobs said the new iPhone 3G, to be available in the United States through AT&T beginning on July 11, will sell for $199 for the 8-gigabyte model and $299 for a 16-gigabyte model. He said the biggest barrier to people buying the phone had been is $399 pricetag.

As widely anticipated, the phone will run on so-called 3G wireless networks that allow much faster Internet connections than the original iPhone. The phone, sleeker than the original, will also have built-in Global Positioning System capability to allow location-based services. It will also have a longer battery life in some cases, five hours for talking on the 3G network and 24 hours for playing music on the phone.

Apple updated the phone again on June 17, 2009, with improved software, including the ability to shoot full-motion video. The new model, iPhone 3G S (for speed) went on sale June 19; the software update for iPhone 3G was offered by download a few days earlier. IPhone 3G S was available in a 16-gigabyte version for $200 and a 32-gigabyte version for $300. The price of the original 3G was dropped to $99.

iphone specification

GENERAL 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Announced 2007, January. Released 2007, June
Status Discontinued
SIZE Dimensions 115 x 61 x 11.6 mm
Weight 135 g

DISPLAY Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size 320 x 480 pixels, 3.5 inches

- Multi-touch input method
- Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off
- Scratch-resistant surface
SOUND Alert types Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone Yes
- 3.5 mm headset jack

MEMORY Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall
Call records 100 received, dialed and missed calls

Internal 4/8/16 GB

Card slot No

DATA GPRS Yes

EDGE Yes

3G No
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11b/g

Bluetooth Yes, v2.0, headset support only

Infrared port No

USB Yes, v2.0
CAMERA Primary 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels
Video No
Secondary No

FEATURES OS iPhone OS (based on Mac OS)

CPU ARM 11 412 MHz, PowerVR MBX-Lite graphics

Messaging SMS (threaded view), Email

Browser HTML (Safari)

Radio No
Games Downloadable, incl. motion-based
Colors Black
GPS No
Java No
- Google Maps
- Audio/video player
- TV-out

BATTERY Standard battery, Li-Ion
Stand-by Up to 250 h
Talk time Up to 8 h
Music play Up to 24 h

2010-01-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

On Jan. 5, Google (GOOG) did a very Apple-like thing. In a presentation at the Googleplex in Mountain View, Calif., the 11-year-old search behemoth unveiled Nexus One, a stylish touchscreen smartphone that runs on the company's Android operating system, is sold through a Google-operated retail Web site, and greets the market with an advertising tagline ("Web meets phone") as simple and optimistic as the one Apple used in 2007 to introduce its iPhone ("The Internet in your pocket").

On the same day, Apple did a very Google-like thing. Steve Jobs, the king of splashy product launches and in-house development, announced a strategic acquisition. For $275 million, Apple purchased Quattro Wireless, an upstart advertising company that excels at targeting ads to mobile-phone users based on their behavior.

When companies start to imitate one another, it's usually either an extreme case of flattery—or war. In the case of Google and Apple, it's both. Separated by a mere 10 miles in Silicon Valley, the two have been on famously good terms for almost a decade. Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt, both 54, spent years in separate battles against Microsoft (MSFT) while Schmidt was at Sun Microsystems (JAVA) and Novell (NOVL). Over time, they went from spiritual allies to strategic ones. When Apple had an opening on its board in 2006, Jobs tapped Schmidt. "Eric is obviously doing a terrific job as CEO of Google," Jobs said at the time. Schmidt, meanwhile, called Apple "one of the companies in the world that I most admire."

Tensions in Silicon Valley's special relationship began to emerge in late 2007, when Google announced plans to develop Android for mobile phones. Apple had unveiled its iPhone in January of that year, and it was clear that the two companies would spar in the smartphone business. Still, both were niche players, with more formidable rivals in companies like Nokia (NOK), Samsung, and Research In Motion (RIMM). Only after software developers began creating thousands of mobile apps, and it became clear that phones would become the computers of the future, did the conflicts begin to grow serious. Last summer, Apple refused to approve two Google apps for sale to iPhone users, raising questions about how much of a Google presence Apple would allow on its devices. In August, Schmidt gave up his board seat. "Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses," Jobs said at the time, "Eric's effectiveness as an Apple board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings."

Now the companies have entered a new, more adversarial phase. With Nexus One, Google, which had been content to power multiple phonemakers' devices with Android, enters the hardware game, becoming a direct threat to the iPhone. With its Quattro purchase, Apple aims to create completely new kinds of mobile ads, say three sources familiar with Apple's thinking. The goal isn't so much to compete with Google in search as to make search on mobile phones obsolete. "Apple and Google both want more," says Chris Cunningham, founder of the New York mobile advertising firm Appssavvy. "They're gearing up for the ultimate fight."

Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton declined to comment on the company's advertising plans or its relationship with Google. Google spokeswoman Katie Watson said the company would not make executives available for this story. She did provide a statement, attributed to Vic Gundotra, Google's vice-president of engineering: "Apple is a valued partner of ours and we continue to work closely with them to help move the entire mobile ecosystem forward."
The tech industry has had its share of legendary rivalries: IBM (IBM) vs. Digital Equipment Corp., Microsoft vs. Netscape, America Online vs. Yahoo! (YHOO) Apple vs. Google could dwarf them all. Both companies are revered by consumers with a passion usually reserved for movie stars and pro athletes. They have multibillion-dollar war chests, visionary founders, and ambitions for smartphones, Web browsers, music, and tablet computers that set them on a collision course.

The key battleground in the near term is mobile computing. Analysts who once tingled when talking about the Internet are getting that same old feeling over mobile's potential. Morgan Stanley's (MS) Mary Meeker predicts that within five years more users will tap into the Internet via mobile devices than desktop PCs. Desktop Internet use led to the rise of Google, eBay (EBAY), and Yahoo, but the mobile winners are still emerging. "Now is the time to get going," says Doug Clinton, an analyst with Piper Jaffray (PJC). "It's about winning the battle today rather than getting into the fight tomorrow." Billions of dollars are up for grabs in selling phones, software, and services.

The money in mobile advertising is small—about $2 billion last year, according to researcher Gartner, compared with $60 billion for the overall Web. But figuring out how to make mobile advertising more profitable is a lot more important than merely getting in as the hockey-stick curve begins to move upward. A company that can nail mobile ads and share the wealth with the growing legion of app developers—freelance software writers who create all those sometimes-useful (Business Card Reader), sometimes time-killing (Flick Fishing) mobile programs—could pull in the best of the lot. Create the strongest ecosystem of apps and devices, and, the thinking goes, you leave rivals gasping to keep up. "The mobile platform that creates the most ways to make money wins," says David Hyman, chief executive of MOG, an Internet music service that's developing mobile apps.

Apple has a substantial lead in establishing this ecosystem. Developers have created more than 125,000 mobile applications for Apple devices—seven times as many as exist on Android—and the endless diversity of apps has helped the iPhone quickly pick up 14% of smartphone share, compared with 3.5% for all the Android-powered devices put together, according to estimates by the market research firm IDC. But in the past few months, an increasing number of app developers have complained that they couldn't make money on their work. Free apps have become the norm, and very few sell for more than 99 cents. Some developers have profited by embedding ads in their apps, but the payments tend to be insignificant since the ads are usually smaller, less effective versions of their Web banner forms. According to a source familiar with his thinking, Jobs has recognized that "mobile ads suck" and that improving that situation will make Apple even harder to beat.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, particularly when it offends his aesthetic sensibilities, Jobs and his lieutenants have discussed ways to overhaul mobile advertising in the same way they had revolutionized music players and phones, say two sources close to the company. The sources did not reveal specific plans at Apple but say there are several possible ad approaches. Apple could employ its user data and geo-location technology to make ads more relevant, so that a user cruising the mobile Web at lunchtime could receive an ad for specials at a nearby restaurant. It could also use the iPhone's capabilities in creative ways—say, having someone shake the device to win a rebate the same way they do to roll dice in games
To pull any of this off, Apple realized that it needed a network of advertisers and the technology to target ads to customer behavior. In fall 2009, Apple entered the bidding for AdMob, the leader in the nascent mobile advertising industry. It was a target that made perfect sense; more than half of the AdMob ads served up on smartphones ended up on the iPhone or iPod Touch (which also run Apple's apps). But before Apple could close the deal, Google intervened, announcing on Nov. 8 that it would pay a staggering $750 million for the company.

Outbid on its first choice, Apple quickly turned to Waltham (Mass.)-based Quattro Wireless, AdMob's closest rival. Tellingly, when Apple announced the deal, Jobs gave Quattro CEO Andrew Miller the title of vice-president of mobile advertising. Vice-president is a rare title at Apple, and Miller is the first one ever assigned to online advertising. Apple has also hired an M&A specialist to better compete for deals (box).

For almost any company, taking on Google in search advertising would be folly. Google dominates traditional search with more than 65% of the market, and its share of search on mobile phones is even more imposing. More than a million businesses bid on keywords to show up alongside search results, and most experts have assumed a migration to mobile devices as more people use them for computing tasks.

Yet mobile search hasn't taken off. Gartner estimates that $924 million was spent on mobile search ads worldwide last year, less than 2% of overall Internet advertising. The problem is that user behavior isn't consistent between desktops and mobile devices. Many people shy away from calling up minuscule search bars on their phones and pecking out queries using cramped keyboards. Search ads tend to be less effective, too, since people are reluctant to give over the one browser screen they have on a phone to an ad. In many cases, apps are far more effective; it takes fewer steps to find the best local sushi joint using apps from Urbanspoon or Yelp than to type out "best local sushi" into a search bar and navigate the results. "Eric Schmidt has said that the search problem is 99% solved, but, boy, is that self-serving," says Jonathan Yarmis, research fellow with the consulting firm Ovum. "The fact that I have to go to a search bar at all is a sign of failure."

Apple has a vault of valuable data that can help drive an ad business. It knows precisely which apps, podcasts, videos, and songs people download from iTunes; in many cases it has detailed customer information such as credit-card numbers and home addresses. That gives Apple a chance to blend advertising and e-commerce in new ways, particularly after the acquisition of Quattro. The startup already works with advertisers, including Ford (F), Netflix (NFLX), and Procter & Gamble (PG), to help them figure out when and where to place ads on the sites of publishers, such as Sports Illustrated and CBS News. By tying Quattro's ad-serving technology into its own, Apple would be able to tell advertisers how often and under what circumstances a person clicked on particular ads. "Apple is one of the few brands that could actually go head to head with Google," says Kevin Lee, chief executive of search marketing firm Didit. The technology could also be used on the tablet computer that Apple is expected to introduce later this month.
SAFETY IN NUMBERS
When Google introduced Android in 2007, the company said it would concentrate on developing the operating system software and let traditional phone manufacturers, such as Motorola (MOT) and HTC, make the devices. The strategy was similar to Microsoft's in personal computers, aimed at working with dozens of partners to attack every product area, geography, and demographic. "One or two devices don't matter," said Andy Rubin, head of Google's Android business, after the Nexus One event. "Twenty or thirty or a hundred devices, all running the same software—that's what matters."
Yet the arrival of Nexus One suggests that Google is concerned Android isn't gaining market share fast enough. "The volume, quality, and variety of Android phones in the market today has exceeded our most optimistic expectations," said Google Product Management Vice-President Mario Queiroz at the January announcement. "But we want to do more." The mobile market is so important that Google can't afford to depend on other companies for access; the Nexus One offensive, Google hopes, will establish a foothold in smartphones so the company can control its own fate.

Nexus One isn't without risk. Android hardware makers may balk at having to compete with their supposed partner. "If the Nexus One is any good, why would you buy anything else?" says Edward J. Zander, Motorola's former CEO, who is surprised Google would go so far as to enter the hardware fray. "At least Microsoft never built PCs."

Meanwhile, Google is aware of its vulnerability in mobile advertising and is pushing to make improvements. Schmidt believes mobile ads will one day be more important than PC advertising, largely because of personalization and localization. Although Google declined to discuss its plans for this story, Schmidt has floated the idea that eventually some mobile phones could be free for consumers, with advertising paying the bills. "If Google could do that, they'd be untouchable," says tech consultant John Metcalfe, who has worked with Google on mobile projects. "Apple wouldn't be able to come up with an answer for that."

Of course, Apple and Google could both end up thriving as computing goes mobile. But there will be losers. Microsoft is fading fast in smartphones as device makers shift attention away from Windows Mobile, which doesn't have nearly as many apps or developers as Android and Apple. Nokia, the world's largest mobile-phone maker, is struggling too; its Ovi online store toils in near-anonymity compared with Apple's iTunes store. Even Samsung and LG Electronics, Korean phonemakers long hailed for their advanced technology, are losing ground. "The older cell-phone makers never had to deal with software or software developers," says Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. "It's just not in their DNA. [But] the world is moving that way."

BING IN THE WINGS?
Some analysts believe the Apple-Google battle is likely to get much rougher in the months ahead. Ovum's Yarmis thinks Apple may soon decide to dump Google as the default search engine on its devices, primarily to cut Google off from mobile data that could be used to improve its advertising and Android technology. Jobs might cut a deal with—gasp!—Microsoft to make Bing Apple's engine of choice, or even launch its own search engine, Yarmis says. "I fully expect [Apple] to do something in search," he adds. "If there's all these advertising dollars to be won, why would it want Google on its iPhones?"

Whatever happens, it's clear that Apple and Google are headed for more conflict. Android is a threat to an iPhone business that has quickly come to represent more than 30% of Apple's sales. Meanwhile, nearly all the growth in search is expected to come from mobile devices, which Piper Jaffray predicts will account for 23.5% of all searches in 2016, up from less than 5% today. That sets the stage for a new main event in the tech sector. "This rivalry is going to accelerate innovation," says Andreas Bechtolsheim, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and an early investor in Google. "Apple goes pretty fast, but having someone chasing you always makes you go faster. This is going to be good for consumers."

Still, in a battle over the future of computing, friendship will almost surely be a casualty of progress. "You can just feel the tension rising," says Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "Until the Nexus One, the competition was at arm's length. But the iPhone is Apple's darling. Now it's personal."
Yet the arrival of Nexus One suggests that Google is concerned Android isn't gaining market share fast enough. "The volume, quality, and variety of Android phones in the market today has exceeded our most optimistic expectations," said Google Product Management Vice-President Mario Queiroz at the January announcement. "But we want to do more." The mobile market is so important that Google can't afford to depend on other companies for access; the Nexus One offensive, Google hopes, will establish a foothold in smartphones so the company can control its own fate.

Nexus One isn't without risk. Android hardware makers may balk at having to compete with their supposed partner. "If the Nexus One is any good, why would you buy anything else?" says Edward J. Zander, Motorola's former CEO, who is surprised Google would go so far as to enter the hardware fray. "At least Microsoft never built PCs."

Meanwhile, Google is aware of its vulnerability in mobile advertising and is pushing to make improvements. Schmidt believes mobile ads will one day be more important than PC advertising, largely because of personalization and localization. Although Google declined to discuss its plans for this story, Schmidt has floated the idea that eventually some mobile phones could be free for consumers, with advertising paying the bills. "If Google could do that, they'd be untouchable," says tech consultant John Metcalfe, who has worked with Google on mobile projects. "Apple wouldn't be able to come up with an answer for that."

Of course, Apple and Google could both end up thriving as computing goes mobile. But there will be losers. Microsoft is fading fast in smartphones as device makers shift attention away from Windows Mobile, which doesn't have nearly as many apps or developers as Android and Apple. Nokia, the world's largest mobile-phone maker, is struggling too; its Ovi online store toils in near-anonymity compared with Apple's iTunes store. Even Samsung and LG Electronics, Korean phonemakers long hailed for their advanced technology, are losing ground. "The older cell-phone makers never had to deal with software or software developers," says Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. "It's just not in their DNA. [But] the world is moving that way."

BING IN THE WINGS?
Some analysts believe the Apple-Google battle is likely to get much rougher in the months ahead. Ovum's Yarmis thinks Apple may soon decide to dump Google as the default search engine on its devices, primarily to cut Google off from mobile data that could be used to improve its advertising and Android technology. Jobs might cut a deal with—gasp!—Microsoft to make Bing Apple's engine of choice, or even launch its own search engine, Yarmis says. "I fully expect [Apple] to do something in search," he adds. "If there's all these advertising dollars to be won, why would it want Google on its iPhones?"

Whatever happens, it's clear that Apple and Google are headed for more conflict. Android is a threat to an iPhone business that has quickly come to represent more than 30% of Apple's sales. Meanwhile, nearly all the growth in search is expected to come from Yet the arrival of Nexus One suggests that Google is concerned Android isn't gaining market share fast enough. "The volume, quality, and variety of Android phones in the market today has exceeded our most optimistic expectations," said Google Product Management Vice-President Mario Queiroz at the January announcement. "But we want to do more." The mobile market is so important that Google can't afford to depend on other companies for access; the Nexus One offensive, Google hopes, will establish a foothold in smartphones so the company can control its own fate.

Nexus One isn't without risk. Android hardware makers may balk at having to compete with their supposed partner. "If the Nexus One is any good, why would you buy anything else?" says Edward J. Zander, Motorola's former CEO, who is surprised Google would go so far as to enter the hardware fray. "At least Microsoft never built PCs."

Meanwhile, Google is aware of its vulnerability in mobile advertising and is pushing to make improvements. Schmidt believes mobile ads will one day be more important than PC advertising, largely because of personalization and localization. Although Google declined to discuss its plans for this story, Schmidt has floated the idea that eventually some mobile phones could be free for consumers, with advertising paying the bills. "If Google could do that, they'd be untouchable," says tech consultant John Metcalfe, who has worked with Google on mobile projects. "Apple wouldn't be able to come up with an answer for that."

Of course, Apple and Google could both end up thriving as computing goes mobile. But there will be losers. Microsoft is fading fast in smartphones as device makers shift attention away from Windows Mobile, which doesn't have nearly as many apps or developers as Android and Apple. Nokia, the world's largest mobile-phone maker, is struggling too; its Ovi online store toils in near-anonymity compared with Apple's iTunes store. Even Samsung and LG Electronics, Korean phonemakers long hailed for their advanced technology, are losing ground. "The older cell-phone makers never had to deal with software or software developers," says Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. "It's just not in their DNA. [But] the world is moving that way."

BING IN THE WINGS?
Some analysts believe the Apple-Google battle is likely to get much rougher in the months ahead. Ovum's Yarmis thinks Apple may soon decide to dump Google as the default search engine on its devices, primarily to cut Google off from mobile data that could be used to improve its advertising and Android technology. Jobs might cut a deal with—gasp!—Microsoft to make Bing Apple's engine of choice, or even launch its own search engine, Yarmis says. "I fully expect [Apple] to do something in search," he adds. "If there's all these advertising dollars to be won, why would it want Google on its iPhones?"

Whatever happens, it's clear that Apple and Google are headed for more conflict. Android is a threat to an iPhone business that has quickly come to represent more than 30% of Apple's sales. Meanwhile, nearly all the growth in search is expected to come from mobile devices, which Piper Jaffray predicts will account for 23.5% of all searches in 2016, up from less than 5% today. That sets the stage for a new main event in the tech sector. "This rivalry is going to accelerate innovation," says Andreas Bechtolsheim, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and an early investor in Google. "Apple goes pretty fast, but having someone chasing you always makes you go faster. This is going to be good for consumers."

Still, in a battle over the future of computing, friendship will almost surely be a casualty of progress. "You can just feel the tension rising," says Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "Until the Nexus One, the competition was at arm's length. But the iPhone is Apple's darling. Now it's personal."
mobile devices, which Piper Jaffray predicts will account for 23.5% of all searches in 2016, up from less than 5% today. That sets the stage for a new main event in the tech sector. "This rivalry is going to accelerate innovation," says Andreas Bechtolsheim, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and an early investor in Google. "Apple goes pretty fast, but having someone chasing you always makes you go faster. This is going to be good for consumers."

Still, in a battle over the future of computing, friendship will almost surely be a casualty of progress. "You can just feel the tension rising," says Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. "Until the Nexus One, the competition was at arm's length. But the iPhone is Apple's darling. Now it's personal."

Crude oil shivers around $82/barrel

2010-01-14T09:08:00.000-08:00

Recent frigid weather has boosted oil prices
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are averaging around $82/barrel so far this month, up from $74 in December "on nothing more than cold weather jitters," according to MF Global analyst Edward Meier.

The band of frigid weather has blanketed the eastern two-thirds of the country with record-low temperatures and blistering winds across the country, including many states not used to such temperatures. However, the midwinter cold snap hasn't boosted petroleum demand as much as expected and some forecasters now say price inflation may fade. "Markets are in a somewhat muddled state right now," writes Meier in a note to clients, "as the breakout thought to be brewing above $82 seems to have fizzled."

Futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange are projecting a WTI average of $81.83/bbl for all of 2010, which is $3 more than the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast of $79.83. Commentary by Meier suggests these are somewhat inflated and due to slide, "considering the bearish slant to recent EIA numbers."

Interestingly, crude oil prices around $80/barrel "are satisfactory," and the OPEC (organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) cartel is unlikely to raise its oil output targets unless prices reach $100, Shukri Ghanem, chairman of Libya's National Oil Corporation, tells Reuters.

EIA data shows crude inventories rising by 3.7 million barrels last week, surpassing earlier forecasts calling for a 1.2-million-barrel increase. Distillates rose by 1.4 million barrels versus estimates calling for a 1.8-million-barrel drawdown. And, similar to the latest American Petroleum Institute numbers, the biggest surprise was in gasoline, where inventories rose by 3.8 million barrels, more than triple what was expected. Heating oil stockpiles, however, dropped by 1.1 million barrels on account of the colder weather.

Rounding out the rest of the numbers, refinery utilization rose by a sharp 1.4% on the week and imports also pushed higher, increasing by 540,000 barrels to a total of 8.9 million barrels per day. Meanwhile, total product demand was off by 0.9%, while gasoline demand was up 0.4%. Distillates lagged once again, with offtake down by 0.9% from last year.

Future Trading :Commodity Market

2010-01-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Futures markets have been described as continuous auction markets and as clearing houses for the latest information about supply and demand. They are the meeting places of buyers and sellers of an ever-expanding list of commodities that today includes agricultural products, metals, petroleum, financial instruments, foreign currencies and stock indexes. For those individuals who fully understand and can afford the risks which are involved, the allocation of some portion of their capital to futures trading can provide a means of achieving greater diversification and a potentially higher overall rate of return on their investments. By buying or selling futures contracts that establish a price level now for items to be delivered later--individuals and businesses seek to achieve what amounts to insurance against adverse price changes.

When individual know about the Futures market, following ideas are formed in his/her mind:

1. Information about the investment itself and the risks involved. !!!

2. How readily your investment or position can be liquidated. !!!

3. Who the other market participants are. !!!

4. Alternate methods of participation. !!!

5. How prices are arrived at. !!!

6. The costs of trading. !!!

7. How gains and losses are realized. !!!

8. What forms of regulation and protection exist ? !!!

9. The experience, integrity and track record of your broker or advisor. !!!

10. The financial stability of the firm with which you are dealing. !!!

11. In sum, the information you need to be an informed invests. !!!

Spurred by the need to manage price and interest rate risks that exist in virtually every type of modern business, today's futures markets have become major financial markets. Participants include everyone to their business needs and interest.

Futures prices arrived at through competitive bidding are immediately and continuously relayed around the world by wire and satellite. Every one has simultaneous access to the latest market-derived price quotations. And, should they choose, they can establish a price level for future delivery--or for speculative purposes--simply by having their broker buy or sell the appropriate contracts. Futures markets are a keystone of one of the world's most orderly envied and intensely competitive marketing systems. Should you at some time decide to trade in futures contracts, either for speculation or in connection with a risk management strategy, your orders to buy or sell would be communicated by DFT Trading Tool.

Fixing of Future Price

Futures prices increase and decrease largely because of the different factors that influence buyers' and sellers' judgments about what a particular commodity will be worth at a given time in the future (anywhere from less than a month to more than two years).As new supply and demand developments occur and as new and more current information becomes available, these judgments are reassessed and the price of a particular futures contract may be bid upward or downward. This process is continuous.For example:

In January, the price of a July futures contract would reflect the consensus of buyers' and sellers' opinions at that time as to what the value of a commodity or item will be when the contract expires in July. On any given day, with the arrival of new or more accurate information, the price of the July futures contract might increase or decrease in response to changing expectations. Competitive price discovery is a major economic function--and, indeed, a major economic benefit--of futures trading. The trading floor of a futures exchange is where available information about the future value of a commodity or item is translated into the language of price. In summary, futures prices are an ever changing barometer of supply and demand and, in a dynamic market, the only certainty is that prices will change.

Analysing Futures Contracts

Whatever type of investment you are considering--including but not limited to futures contracts--it makes sense to begin by obtaining as much information as possible about that particular investment. The more you know in advance, the less likely there will be surprises later on. Moreover, even among futures contracts, there are important differences which--because they can affect your investment results--should be taken into account in making your investment decisions.

Contract Pricing

Futures prices are usually quoted the same way prices are quoted in the cash market (where a cash market exists). That is, in dollars, cents, and sometimes fractions of a cent, per bushel, pound or ounce; also in dollars, cents and increments of a cent for foreign currencies; and in points and percentages of a point for financial instruments. Cash settlement contract prices are quoted in terms of an index number, usually stated to two decimal points. Be certain you understand the price quotation system for the particular futures contract you are considering

Minimum Price Changes

Exchanges establish the minimum amount that the price can fluctuate upward or downward. This is known as the "tick." You'll want to familiarize yourself with the minimum price fluctuation--the tick size--for whatever futures contracts you plan to trade. And, of course, you'll need to know how a price change of any given amount will affect the value of the contract.

Daily Price Limit

Exchanges establish daily price limits for trading in futures contracts. The limits are stated in terms of the previous day's closing price plus and minus so many cents or dollars per trading unit. Once a futures price has increased by its daily limit, there can be no trading at any higher price until the next day of trading. Conversely, once a futures price has declined by its daily limit, there can be no trading at any lower price until the next day of trading. The price is allowed to increase or decrease by the limit amount each day. For some contracts, daily price limits are eliminated during the month in which the contract expires. Because prices can become particularly volatile during the expiration month (also called the "delivery" or "spot" month), persons lacking experience in futures trading may wish to liquidate their positions prior to that time. Or, at the very least, trade cautiously and with an understanding of the risks which may be involved. Daily price limits set by the exchanges are subject to change. They can, for example, be increased once the market price has increased or decreased by the existing limit for a given number of successive days. Because of daily price limits, there may be occasions when it is not possible to liquidate an existing futures position at will. In this event, possible alternative strategies should be discussed. This is generalized. You follow the rules our exchange system has.

Selections for Trading

Just as different common stocks may involve different degrees of probable risk. And reward at a particular time, so do different futures contracts. The market for one commodity may, at present, be highly volatile, perhaps because of supply-demand uncertainties which--depending on future developments--could suddenly propel prices sharply higher or sharply lower. The market for some other commodity may currently be less volatile, with greater likelihood that prices will fluctuate in a narrower range. You should be able to evaluate and choose the futures contracts that appear--based on present information--most likely to meet your objectives and willingness to accept risk. Keep in mind, however, that neither past nor even present price behavior provides assurance of what will occur in the future. Prices that have been relatively stable may become highly volatile.

Stop Orders

A stop order is an order, to buy or sell a particular futures contract at the market price if and when the price reaches a specified level. Stop orders are often used by futures traders in an effort to limit the amount they. might lose if the futures price moves against their position. There can be no guarantee, however, that it will be possible under all market conditions to execute the order at the price specified. In an active, volatile market, the market price may be declining (or rising) so rapidly that there is no opportunity to liquidate your position at the stop price you have designated. Under these circumstances, the broker's only obligation is to execute your order at the best price that is available. In the event that prices have risen or fallen by the maximum daily limit, and there is presently no trading in the contract (known as a "lock limit" market), it may not be possible to execute your order at any price. In addition, although it happens infrequently, it is possible that markets may be lock limit for more than one day, resulting in substantial losses to futures traders who may find it impossible to liquidate losing futures positions. Subject to the kinds of limitations just discussed, stop orders can nonetheless provide a useful tool for the futures trader who seeks to limit his losses. Far more often than not, it will be possible. For the broker to execute a stop order at or near the specified price.

TIPS for Managers :How to Improve Communication Skils

2010-01-13T00:23:00.000-08:00

Research indicates that managers spend somewhere between 50% - 80% of their total time communicating in one way or the other. This isn't surprising, since communication is so critical to everything that goes on in an organization. Without effective communication there can be little or no performance management, innovation, understanding of clients, coordination of effort, AND, without effective communication it is difficult to manage the expectations of those who are in a position to make decisions about your fate.

It can also be said that many managers do not communicate well, and do not set an organizational climate where communication within the organization is managed effectively. This isn't surprising, since a manager who communicates ineffectively and does not encourage effective organizational communication is unlikely to hear about it. Poor communication is self-sustaining, because it eliminates an important "feedback loop". Staff are loathe to "communicate" their concerns about communication because they do not perceive the manager as receptive. Both staff and management play out a little dance.

In short, you may be fostering poor communication, and never know it. You may see the symptoms, but unless you are looking carefully, you may not identify your own involvement in the problem. What can you do about it?

Effective organizational communication, regardless of form, requires three things.

First, all players must have the appropriate skills and understanding to communicate well. Communication is not a simple process, and many people simply do not have the required depth of understanding of communication issues.

Second, effective organizational communication requires a climate or culture that supports effective communication. More specifically, this climate involves trust, openness, reinforcement of good communication practices, and shared responsibility for making communication effective.

Third, effective communication requires attention. It doesn't just happen, but develops as a result of an intentional effort on the part of management and staff. Too often, communication, whether it is good or bad, is taken for granted.

We can define your role in improving communication with respect to each of these. First, if you want to improve communication, you will need to ensure that you and staff have the skills and knowledge necessary to communicate effectively. This may mean formal training is in order, or it may mean that you coach staff and provide feedback so that they can improve.

Second, you play a critical role in fostering and nurturing a climate that is characterized by open communication. Without this climate, all the skills in the world will be wasted.

Finally, you must bring communication to the forefront of organization attention. If you make the effort to improve communication, your staff will recognize that it is important. If you ignore it, so will staff.

Your Role In Communication Improvement

Some Specific Tips:

1) Actively solicit feedback about your own communication, and communication within the organization. Ask staff questions like:

When we talk, are you generally clear about what I am saying?
Do you think we communicate well around here?
Have you got any ideas about how we could communicate better?

Consider including these questions (or similar ones) in your performance management process, or staff meetings.

2) Assess your own communication knowledge and understanding

(See self-assessment instrument on Page 5-sorry, not available online).

3) Working with your staff, define how you should communicate in the organization. Develop consensus regarding:

a) How disagreements should be handled.
b) How horizontal communication should work (staff to staff).
c) How vertical communication should work (manager to staff, staff to manager).
d) What information should be available and when.

Once consensus is reached, support the achievement of these goals through positive reinforcement and coaching.

4) Look at the impact of the structure of your organization and how it impacts on communication. Indirect communication (communication that is transferred from person to person) is notorious for causing problems. Look at increasing direct communication where the person with the message to send does it directly with the receiver.

5) Learn about, and use active listening techniques. This will set a tone and contribute to a positive communication climate. If you don't know what active listening is, find out. It's important.

6) Consider undertaking a communications audit.

We only have space to give you a few tips, and communication is a very complex process. We suggest that you take the communication self-assessment checklist on the following page, to assess your own understanding and application of communication principles.

If you would like to increase awareness and attention to communication, consider copying the self-assessment checklist and distribute it to staff.

Suggest that they complete it for their own use, and follow it up by discussing organizational communication in a staff meeting.

Be aware that exploring communication patterns and effectiveness can bring to the surface a number of resentments and perceptions. If you aren't prepared to deal with these, it is best to look to an outside consultant.

Diversifying your business without losing focus

2010-01-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes opportunities - even lucrative ones - can be unwelcome distractions and core business suffers as a result. And core business is, after all, what your business is all about. Customers come to you for a reason - and you need to make sure that you're delivering whatever it is to the best standards you can, rather than spreading yourself too thinly across a disparate range of products and services. This guide helps you understand why and how to do that, by looking at:

How a lack of focus can damage your business
Why focusing on core business helps
How to stay focused

How a lack of focus can damage your business

Spending time and resources developing new areas will necessarily mean that time and resources are being taken away from the core areas of your business - and quality and consistency typically suffer as a result. Staff who may have joined because of a particular interest in your original field of business may lack the knowledge and enthusiasm to succeed in new areas, and you too may find yourself floundering if you move into unknown territories just for the sake of it.

Resources are re-allocated away from core business, which suffers as a result
You and staff may not have a real interest in new areas, so making them less likely to succeed

Why focusing on core business helps

You devote more time to refining and learning more about the product or service that concerns your core business - making you more of an expert both in terms of your knowledge and the way in which the customer sees you. Unless you're a supermarket (whose whole point is extensiveness of product range), customers prefer quality to quantity. It's quality that gives you the competitive edge. Focusing on core business keeps staff focused on key objectives rather than confusing them with lots of different areas. And sticking to one area also guides customers, rather than confusing them.

Become more expert in core areas
Quality is preferable to quantity
Keeps staff focused on key objectives
Helps keep customers satisfied rather than confused

How to stay focused

Run every new idea and external proposition by your original USPs and vision for the business, and keep any expansion completely in line with them. Always think about what your existing customers come to you for. Don't stray from what you know and what you're good at - if you want to expand your product range, only develop products that are similar to what you already sell. This has the added advantage of enabling cross-selling to existing customers. If you don't offer a particular service or product, recommend your customer to a competitor or other business that does. Helpfulness and openness can go a lot further than an expanded product range.

Run new ideas and propositions by your original USPs and vision
Always think about what your customers come to you for - keep your product range consistent
If you don't offer a product or service, recommend customers to a business that does

Want to start small new business?

2010-01-13T00:04:00.000-08:00

Those wanting to start a small business, or succeed with an existing small business are faced with a wide array of challenges, not the least of which is learning and continuing to learn how to make the enterprise a success in changing conditions. Make no mistake about it. Running a business challenges a person to learn continuously, expand one's horizon and find new resources and ideas.

The mission of the Free Small Business Center is to find the best articles, guides, resources, advice, and so on available on the Internet (or in the physical world) and related to builiding and succeeding at the small business game.

We've been there. We've successfully run a small business for fifteen years. We can recognize good advice from bad, and we'll also provide you with your own insights in our small business blog (where you can also interact).

TIPS for Marketing Promotion

2010-01-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

There are many marketing promotion ideas and campaigns that are used by companies to make their products known to the target consumers. This article puts focus on some popular marketing promotional ideas. Read on...

Marketing is an essential activity for any company, be it any sector such as software development, manufacturing, medicine, retail, etc. It plays a very important role in letting the customers know that a company is offering a particular product for sale. Even if the product is not so beneficial and useful to the consumers, with effective marketing strategies, the product can be sold to more consumers than expected. There are many marketing plans and strategies that are used by companies to advertise and promote their products in the market.

Which marketing promotion ideas are employed totally depends on how big the company is. If it is a big company, it will shell out more money for advertising and marketing purpose. If the company is small, it will use some simple and inexpensive alternatives for advertising. Let us discuss some of the most popular and efficient marketing promotion ideas.

Marketing Promotion Ideas and Campaigns

Internet Advertising: Nowadays, more and more companies are being dependent on Internet marketing and advertising. This is an advertising method which certainly has the ability to reach people who are beyond your geographic boundaries. If people from a different state or country want to try your product, they would send orders from their region, which in turn would have a positive impact on your advertising boundaries.

Email marketing is a very good option for people around the world to know about your products and services. You can use online newsletters to turn your potential consumers into regular customers. Online newsletters and brochures are considered one of the most efficient new marketing and promotional ideas.

Company Booths: Setting up a company booth in a street fair is a very good idea for small companies to display and advertise their product line to the consumers. You can sponsor a team of teenagers to carry out such campaign and give short demonstrations of the products and services offered. This is really an inexpensive option for firms who cannot afford to spend a lot on advertising.

Offering Free Samples for Use: Another affordable alternative for advertising and product promotions is distributing free samples to potential consumers. In this case, though you would need to give away few samples and bear the expenses yourself, the feedback and response that you would receive from the customers would be great. Generally, a majority of people who have used the free samples tend to come back for a final buy of good products.

Press Releases: This is however a costly alternative for small companies, but this advertising strategy directly reaches the target audience. You can hold press releases in your locality to launch your product. But for getting a good response from consumers, your company needs to have a good reputation in the minds of people regarding the quality assurance in the products you offer.

Sponsoring a Charitable Activity: This is the best method to get your company into the spotlight. Sponsor an event for a charitable organization which you favor. The media never misses out on charitable events, which can prove to be a good advantage to your product promotion.

Free Merchandise: Many companies take aid of this method of advertising products, which includes distributing free stuff such as t-shirts, caps, coffee mugs, bags, etc., with your company's name and information printed on them. Though receivers may consider these free goods as gifts, your products are being advertised widely, which may increase your business considerably.

Product Promotion Via Contests: Holding a public competition is another good way of getting your company products promoted. You can set a gift hamper of your products for the winners of these contests. With such contests, public attention can be attracted and your services also can be made well known.

what do u mean by Market Research?

2010-01-12T23:55:00.000-08:00

Market is a location where trading is carried out by people. It follows the theory of supply and demand. Marketing research includes a form of applied sociological study which concentrates on understanding the behaviors, whims and preferences, mostly current and future, of consumers in a market-based economy.

What would one do before introduction a new company or a new product or before buying shares in the market, an intelligent person is said to be the one who does market research. This gives him rough idea of what are the problems he is to face in future and can think over it in advance. Market research is necessary in for any sort of business. It helps to be familiar with the market conditions, desire of consumers and rules laid out by Government. Also you know number of competitors and their hold in a market, economic trends, technological advances, and numerous other factors that make up the business environment.

At times the term refers predominantly to the financial analysis of companies, industries, or sectors. Financial analysts generally carry out the research and provide the results to investment advisors and potential investors.

Some commonly used marketing research terms
Following terms are commonly used in market research:
The method of converting indistinct mental pictures into definable concepts is called Conceptualization. The method of converting concepts into precise observable behaviors that a researcher can measure is termed as Operationalization. Precision means the exactness of any given measure is. A statistical technique of combining data from multiple studies or from several types of studies is called Meta-analysis or also called the Schmidt-Hunter technique.
The surety, that a given operationalized construct will produce the same results if re-measured is known as reliability. The amount to which a measure provides data that captures the meaning of the operationalized construct as defined in the study is called as validity. The sales method in which sales people play to conduct marketing research, but with the real purpose of obtaining buyer motivation and buyer decision-making information to be used in a subsequent sales call is called Sugging.
Frugging include the practice of soliciting funds under the pretense of being a research organization.

Types of marketing research
There are many forms in which marketing research can be carried out:
1) Test marketing: Before introduction a product on large scale some samples are introduced in the market and the reply of consumers is used to check about its acceptance.
2) Concept testing: This is done to see if consumer knows the necessity of another good option and if the new thing set up eradicates the problems with previous one.
3) Mystery shopping: In this an member of staff becomes a salesperson temporarily and indicates they are shopping for the product they sell. They then record the entire experience. This technique is frequently used for quality control or for researching competitor’s products.
4) Store audits: This is carried to discover if retail stores provide adequate service.
5) Demand estimation: The estimated level of demand for the product is searched out.
6) Sales forecasting: Here it is found the predictable level of sales given the level of demand.
7) Customer satisfaction studies: In this interviews that decide a customer's level of satisfaction with the quality of the transaction is done.
8) Distribution channel audits: Here distributor’s and retailer’s approach toward a product, brand, or company is assessed.
9) Price elasticity testing: sensitiveness of consumers to price changes is observed.
10) Segmentation research: The demographic, psychographic, and behavioral features of potential buyers are found.
11) Consumer decision process research: Things that stimulate people to buy and what decision-making process they use is searched.
12) Positioning research: The way the manufactured goods stand against its brand relative competitor’s stands is seen over here.
13) Brand name testing: Effect made by the brand names on consumers.
14) Brand equity research: The motive why people go after this good rather than other. Strong points in the products are set up.

Market research carried while buying shares :< /b>
A share is nothing but a divided-up unit of the value of a company. Following things need to be explored before a share is to be purchased:
a) The risks that are faced while investing in the Securities Market.
b) Rights of a shareholder.
c) Securities given with corresponding recognized Stock Exchange(s).
d) If you make a decision to operate through an exchange, the services you will have to gain of a security and exchange board registered broker/sub-broker of that particular country.
e) Legal formalities requisite to complete the process.

Here are some advices which are done after market research :< / b>
Timing is perhaps the significant factor in playing the market successfully. Market conditions are at all times fluctuating so be brave to face it. There is a proverb "buy in gloom time, sell in boom time". Buy the share at low down price which have bright chance to improve later. Be ready to quit the market altogether sometimes. Your broker will hardly ever tell you. When the market goes into a tailspin, even good stocks are probable to fall.

Just as preparation previous to exams proves helpful in getting good marks, the market research before launching heavy investments in market proves to be fruitful. Market research helps to generate the confidence and improves visualization about the current and future market conditions.

TIPS to Value Business

2010-01-12T23:53:00.000-08:00

Valuing a business is an essential step when it comes to sell a business. Many elements have to be taken into consideration, and getting professional advice from experts may be necessary. You will find below a few of the elements you will need to consider when you decide to value your business.

Why should you get a business valuation?"

Although not knowing what your business is worth will not directly affect your ability to run the business, it's important to know the value of your business if you are considering retirement, if you want to sell your business to a competitor or keen new entrepreneur or if you are trying to get others to invest in your business to fund further expansion. Having an accurate impression of the value of your business puts you in a strong negotiating position in any of these situations, and will arm you with the market knowledge required to make the best decisions.

Can you value your business yourself?

Putting a value on your business in the current business for sale market is a highly complex process. There are many variables to consider, all of which will impact your business' true market value: turnover, profit and cash flow will all affect the selling price, as will the location of your premises, the industry or sector your business is involved in, the health of your local economy and local competitors to name a few. Ultimately, only you can decide the figure that you would be happy to sell your business at, but unless you have a great deal of experience buying and selling businesses, it pays to get a professional opinion of your business' market value.

Who can provide a business valuation accurately?"

Business Transfer Agents, Accountants and Chartered Surveyors can all provide you with business valuations - who you choose should depend on what you need the valuation for. If you want to sell all or part of your business, it's worth speaking to a selection of local or sector-specialist Business Transfer Agents to get an accurate sales value of your business. The valuations that these agents offer you will generally be free, on the basis that if you sell your business through the agent they will take a commission upon completion of the sale. If, on the other hand, you want to value your business for the purposes of securing a loan, company accounts or taxation, you can commission a Chartered Surveyor or Accountant to provide you with a professional valuation. You will have to pay for this valuation, but it will be an official document that you can present to your bank, investors and the courts if required.

How will a business transfer agent value my business?"

An agent will use their knowledge of the local market and their experience of previous comparable business sales to give you an accurate estimation of what your business will be worth. They will take into account your business' financial and geographic position, as well as buyer's demand for businesses of your type. In many cases, they may already have a number of potential cash buyers who have already interest in purchasing a business such as yours.

How much will you pay to get your business valued?"

You can request a business valuation for free online . The Daltons Business website offers a free business valuation service. Simply go to the business valuations request form, enter some basic details about your business and your details will be passed to a select number of key commercial agents who specialize in your sector and area. They will then they will call you with a free, no-obligation valuation based on recent completions and current market trends.

Effective Marketing: Less Time & More Money

2010-01-12T23:51:00.000-08:00

Which is more precious: time or money? If you could have an ample supply of either, but not both, which would you choose? It's a tough question. If you choose money, you may not have the time to enjoy it. If you choose time, how will you get along

financially?

Since the dawn of the Internet, people have been looking for ways to have BOTH lots of time on their hands and lots money in their wallets. It seems like very few of us have broken that secret code that allows us to make a great living without giving up all
of our precious spare time.

Like a great magician, a great marketer never reveals the real tricks of the trade...those methods he or she uses to make a great living without sitting at the computer for 16 hours a day. Of course they want to keep their techniques a secret; they'd like to keep all the money to themselves, right? Just like magicians like David Copperfield want a monopoly on magic, Internet millionaires want a monopoly on success.

So what about the rest of us? What are we supposed to do? Every day we're bombarded with business opportunities that either rip us off or simply don't work. But we continue to work at it, trying to find that one golden key to easy street.

If you have found something that works for you, more power to you. If, like the rest of us, you're still struggling to make your big break, keep looking. Success is out there for people who take the time to sniff it out.

Believe it or not, there are money-making systems out there that you really cannot lose with. Even if you fail at the system, you still make money. Best of all, these systems can be worked without huge time or financial commitments. True success systems are complete and turn-key. They bring you website traffic (even if you don't have a site yet), residual income, and lasting success without backbreaking work.

Income systems really do exist that allows you to: 1) make a full-time income in one hour per day, and 2) completely eliminate the cost of online advertising and promotions. And, did you know that virtually all successful Internet marketers use the same powerful billing technique?

There really is no complicated Internet success bible. If you can harness the power of a few very powerful, yet closely guarded techniques, you can succeed in almost any Internet business. Dig deep, travel far, and do some serious homework and you'll find the goldmine you're looking for.

Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips & hints, Points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques & insights pertaining to Google Ad sense,

What is Marketing and What it Means to Your Business

2010-01-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

So, you’ve decided to start your own business? Congratulations! Now that you have made that awesome step in the right direction, there is something extremely important that you need to ask yourself. And that is: Who are you going to share your opportunity and product or service with? Customers and business partners are the lifeblood of any business. Take one or both away, and your new business will quickly go out of business. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. All you have to do is figure out who you are going to market to, and go out and market to them! There are several ways to get prospective customers and business partners to call you about your business.

The first is as old as time itself: Word of Mouth. This is one of the most effective ways of marketing your business and letting people know that you are in business. If you don’t go around tooting your own horn at some point in time, no one else will either. Let people know that you have the most superb opportunity and product or service on the market, and pretty soon, they will be telling their friends and family about your business too! That brings us to the second form of marketing: Referrals. Once you get out and let people know your doors are open, other people will start doing some of the legwork for you! And if they don’t, don’t be afraid to ask to!

After all, you have probably done it for others already. Have you ever told a friend about a restaurant that you truly enjoyed or a movie that kept you on the edge of your seat and suggested they go and see it? You’ve just given that business a referral. In the marketing game, it is all about getting the numbers. He who goes through the numbers the fastest wins. And there is no other marketing out there that will enable you to do that quicker and better than internet marketing.

There are a lot of people who get nervous when the internet is brought up because they think they have to know everything about HTML codes, SEOs, keywords and all the other internet jargon, when nothing could be further from the truth. There are loads of reputable companies out there who will teach you how to do this. You do not have to become a guru to get the basics of marketing your business online. All you have to have is a desire to want to see your business grow by leaps in bounds, and I assure you that partnered with the other two forms of marketing, the internet is the way to get there.

The key to successful marketing is to just do it. It’s not to be looked upon as an event. Make it a system, and there is no way you can lose. A system is something you do over and over again. Not the latest, greatest marketing idea of the week, but make it a regular, every day part of your business, and in a year from now, your business and its bottom line will never have looked better!

How to Promote a Business Online

2010-01-12T23:42:00.000-08:00

Tips on How to Promote a Business Online

Promoting a business via the Internet can be a cost effective technique, provided the product is known to have a good online market. In other words, consumers prefer buying the product online rather than visiting a store for making the purchase. The products that have the potential to generate online sales are as follows: books, music, electronic goods and software. Of these, books, music and movies have a market share of 34% while software has a market share of 30%. Electronic goods also have a substantial share of 14%. In fact, once we have determined that the products, that the company is producing, have a good online market, the question of how to promote a business locally on the Internet assumes a great deal of significance.

How to Promote a Business Through Pay Per Click Advertising?
Promoting a business through pay per click advertising is also known as affiliate marketing. It is the process of driving traffic to a business' website by placing an advertisement in a website that generates high traffic. The host (website) is paid a commission for actual conversions that are measured in terms of clicks. Cost per action (CPA) or clicks that result in driving traffic to a business' website have a high probability of getting converted to revenue provided the host and the business are not producing substitute goods. Again, from the perspective of ensuring the visibility of the host, the business (affiliate) should provide text links rather than graphic links since the former is ranked higher by search engine optimizers. Greater host visibility would mean greater chances of the affiliate getting noticed.

How to Promote a Business Using Social Media?

Social networking is one of the most effective ways of promoting a business since it forms the basis for establishing a symbiotic relationship between like minded people. Social networking helps people connect with each other by allowing them to create an interesting profile that draws the viewer's attention. The section that is dedicated to the user profile can be used to promote one's business by providing links to the company's website and blogs and mentioning the products that the business intends to promote. Starting a group and joining other groups and expanding the chain of interdependency can be a wonderful way of promoting one's business. In addition to social networking, social bookmarking is another useful tool to promote a business.

How to Promote a Business Through Social Bookmarking? Identifying a social bookmarking site, that is appropriate for business marketing, is the first step in social bookmarking. The next step is creating a free account on the chosen website and posting links to the company's or the business' website. People have the option of posting links privately or publicly. In the former case, the links to the website are only shown to designated users.

How to Promote a Business Through Press Release?
A good press release begins with a compelling title that enthuses the reader to continue perusing. Search engine optimization ensures that the writer includes the necessary keywords and models the content accordingly. A press release with a maximum of 500 words is desirable although this does not mean that the writer should compromise on the quality of information. The news of the launch of the product, the relevant details about earlier editions, subsequent improvements and company information make a good read. The concluding paragraphs should definitely provide additional references and links that may be useful to the potential consumer. Company details like contact information, the goals and objectives should also be included to give the consumer a fair understanding of company ideals.

As mentioned earlier, the marketing strategy, that is adopted by a firm, would be contingent on the scope of the market for the product. People selling perishables should focus on marketing these using the local newspaper or by handing out fliers, since these methods of promotion have a greater chance of yielding results as compared to Internet marketing

How to become a Financial Advisor

2010-01-12T23:36:00.000-08:00

Finance is a field that offers great career opportunities as the depth of knowledge and expertize in this field is boundless. A lucrative career path for students and people interested to work in the finance field is that of a financial advisor. According to a research, financial advisors are in great demand owing to the fluctuating trend of economy in today's time. As people have become aware of various investment opportunities, the crucial aspect of financial planning has made them think of various options available to them in terms of saving their hard earned money. The art of financial planning has assumed great significance. Retirement planning, mutual funds and real estate investments are some of the issues for which financial advisors are sought for assistance. Read more on financial advisor job description.

What is a Financial Advisor?
For the uninitiated, financial advisors are trained professionals who are entrusted with the job of gaining and retaining clients who have large sums of extra money to invest. Some people get utterly surprised to know that the basic job of a financial advisor is that of sales. Financial advisors sell investment products, like property, to people who can invest their money in these properties. For instance, financial advisors are hired by a management firm or by some individual traders to sell investment opportunities cited by them to big clients. So, in essence, the job of a financial advisor is that of sales. Financial advisors advise people on matters related to retirement and also as how should older people or young couples make investments that are beneficial for them in the long run. Read more on duties of a financial advisor.

Become a Financial Advisor
The first step in the process of becoming a financial advisor is to take registered financial advisor exams. The person aspiring to become a financial advisor must pass two major exams, the Series 7 Stockbroker' s Exam, and the Series 66 Uniform Combined State Law Exam. These exams are mandatory to pass if you want to become a financial broker. In these exams, you are expected to achieve a score of nearly 70%. In case you fail to achieve this score than you are eligible to give the exam after a waiting period of 30 days. Read more on asset management.

After passing the exam, the selected candidates have to go through a very competitive and difficult training program. The duration may last for 17 weeks to 3 years depending on the type of program for which the candidate has been short listed. The cost incurred during the training of the candidates are at the brokers or the dealers expense and so the sponsors ensure that only the right candidates are hired for this job. In the initial months, financial advisors have to work for 50 to 60 hours a week. After working for some months, when the aspirants are ready with a list of prospective clients, they can reduce their working hours up to 40 hours a week. During the training period, these trainee financial advisors are paid small stipends.

If you want to become a personal financial advisor then you have to ensure that you are interested to work in this field as you have to play with numbers, statistics and data all through the day. Most financial planner advisors come from different backgrounds and the sole criteria for admissions into these coveted training programs are the financial advisor exams. So, even if you are not from a finance background, you too can prepare for the financial advisor exam and then opt for this career option. However, a educational degree is finance is always helpful as you are aware of the basics of finance. People with few years of work experience are also preferred, as they have better knowledge of the industry.

What is Bankruptcy?

2010-01-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

Bankruptcy is often defined as 'a state of financial insolvency wherein, the insolvent person or corporation is unable to repay his/it's debt'. There are two basic situations where a person or corporation is termed and adjudged to be bankrupt:

a situation where the assets of a person are less than the liabilities.
a situation where the person or organization files for bankruptcy, on his/its own accord, or filing is requested for by the creditors.

Proceedings of bankruptcy are conducted by legal systems of a particular nation, state or regional government, in order to regulate the process of liquidation, auction and claims by creditors. Bankruptcy law plays a highly instrumental role in adjudication and regulation of a bankruptcy case. Filing of such a case also prevents creditors from abusing the bankrupt organization or person, and curbs the probability of illegal or exorbitant claims by any party. Based on the nature of their proceedings and governing laws, types of bankruptcy proceedings have been established by the court of law

How to Make a Portfolio

2010-01-12T23:32:00.000-08:00

A portfolio can be a proof of the skills and abilities, which you have mentioned about yourself in your resume. However, many people keep wondering how to make a portfolio. This article will answer some important questions related to portfolios such as how to make a design portfolio, how to make a fashion portfolio, how to make a model portfolio, etc

How to Make Different Kinds of Portfolios?

How to Make a Portfolio for a Writer?
Now, let us understand how to make a professional portfolio for a writer's position. To make a writer's portfolio, you should collect all your previously written content and sort them out as per the various forms of writing. You should form separate files of prose content, poetry, novels, fiction, short stories, etc. Now, place a copy of your resume and see to it that your portfolio covers all the points mentioned in the resume. If anything is missing, try to include it in your portfolio. You should prepare your portfolio as per the requirements of the organization where you will be giving your interview. If the requirement or vacancy is for short story writers, then you should have maximum copies of the short stories which you have written. If you have received any kinds of certificates or appreciation letters, then they can also be a part of your portfolio.

How to Make a Portfolio for a Model?
Many budding models are quite confused about how to make a career portfolio. For models, a portfolio is more important than for other professionals, because the modeling agencies and companies take a decision to promote a model only if the photographs in the portfolio are found to be impressive. You should ensure that your portfolio is professionally done and for that, you need to hire a professional photographer. You should include photographs in different poses, expressions and clothes in the portfolio. Do not finalize a photograph for the portfolio unless you are fully satisfied that it is your best one. For a model, good close-ups can create a good impression and help him/her get several coveted modeling assignments. You should consult a well known make up artist who can make you look the best for the photographs. More on fashion modeling.

How to Make a Portfolio for a Chef?
Now, let us understand how to create a portfolio for a chef. For a typical chef portfolio, things such as the details of recipes of different foods and certificates of your training course, should be included. You should write the recipes in a systematic way by clearly, mentioning the ingredients required one after the other, followed by the complete procedure for making the food items. However, you should remember that the actual food items prepared by you will be tasted before selecting you for the post.

How to Make a Portfolio for an Architect?
An architect must have a well designed portfolio of his previous tasks while applying for a job. The preparation should start by sorting out the different types of projects you have designed. You should have details of the residential projects, commercial projects, I.T. Parks, etc. which you have successfully designed in the past. With the help of the portfolio, the recruiter will be able to arrive at a conclusion of whether to select the candidate or not, quickly

Forex: GBP/USD breaks above 1.6200

2010-01-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - The Pound has been the major mover during Asian session and Sterling's rally from yesterday's low at 1.6060 has extended to levels right above 1.6200, with the pair trading around 1.6220, approaching 1.6240 -Dec 31 and Jan 4 high-.

On the upside, above the mentioned 1.6240 (Dec 31 and Jan 4 high), next resistance level lies at 1.6335/40 (Dec 17 high) and 1.6410 (Dec 16 high). On the downside, support levels remain at 1.6135 session low, and below here, 1.6100/10 (Jan 8 high) and 1.6060 (Jan 6&7 high/ Jan 12 low).

GBP/JPY retreat from 149.50&60 area -Friday and Monday's high_ has found support at 1.4665 area, and the Pound has bounced up during Asian session, reaching levels around 147.85 at the moment of writing. Next resistance levels lie at 148.00 and 148.65. Support levels lie at 146.65 and 146.05.

Option Market

2010-01-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

An option is contract that gives the holder (or buyer) the right (but not obligation) to buy or sell of specified quantity of underlying assets from or to the option writer (or seller) at specified price, within or at specified date.

According to the definition of the option, the option contract involves two parties: the buyer (or the holder) and the seller (or the writer) of the option contract. In an option contract, the writer of the option grants the buyer of the option the right, but not the obligation, to purchase from or sell to the writer, the underlying at a specified price within or at specified date. The writer grants this right to the buyer in exchange for a certain sum of money, which is called the option price or option premium. The specified price at which the holder can buy or sell the underlying assets is called exercise price or strike price. And the specified date in which the option buyer can exercise the right is known as expiration date or maturity date.

1.2 Types of Option

When an option grants the buyer the right to purchase the underlying from the writer (seller), is refers to as a call option or simply a call. On the other hand when an option grant the buyer to sell the underlying to the writer (or seller) is refers to as a put option or simply a put.

The timing of the exercising the option is an important characteristic of an option contract. According to the timing right of exercising the option, the option can be classified as American options and European option. The options that grant the right to exercise the option within or at expiration date is know as American option. On the other hands, the options that grant the right to exercise only at expiration date are known as a European option.

These two names refer to two different characteristics that only refer to the timing of exercising the option. They have nothing to do with the country where they created and exercised. Investors that buy the American option get the same benefits as investors that buy the European Option, plus those who buy the American Options are provided with more opportunities to exercise their option. As a result American Options are always worth at least as much as compare to the European Option.

Call and Put options are detachable marketable securities/ option, which can be separately traded. An option is created whenever an option writer sells a new option to an option buyer. Once after the option is created the buyer and the seller are bounded with the terms and conditions of the option. The things can be done with an option after it is created are:

¨ It may be traded either on an organized exchange or in the over-the-counter market at the price determined by the market mechanism.

¨ Exercise it to buy or sell the underlying securities or

¨ Hold it until it matures

1.3 specification of exchange traded option (terminologies)

The basic terminologies that have to be understood about the option are as follows:

Underlying assets: the assets (i.e. stock) under which the option created is known as underlying asset or simply underlying.

Premium: the price at which buying and selling of option take place is called option premium.

Expiration date: Each option is created for certain future period, this future date at which the option contract expired or matured is called expiration date. Normally options are short-term financial derivatives that have maturity period of less than one year.

Exercise price: the price at which the holder is entitled to buy from or sell to the underlying asset is called exercise price. The exercise price also called strike price.

Long position: the party or investors who buy and hold the option is known as having long position on option.

Short position: the party or investors who write or sell the option is known as having short position on option

Contract size: the numbers of underlying assets for which the contract is created or the number of underlying that the option entitled to buy or sell is known as contract size. Normally an option contract is for 100 shares of stock.

Position limit

Price quotes

1.4 Use of Option

Why does use options? It is the basic question, which makes clear the logic or benefits behind using options. Basically options are used for the following reasons:

To Manage Risk

Managing risk is one of the most important objectives of using derivatives. Option helps to manage two types of price risk; with the use of call option one can manage upside risk and with the use of put option one can manage downside risk associated with underlying assets.

To Transfer Risk

The derivatives instrument helps to transfer risk from one party to other. The holder of the option or buying the option means transferring risk to the writer or seller of the option.

To Generate Income

Options have its own intrinsic value, which is called option premium, or price of the option at which option can purchase and sale. This helps to generate income to the parties dealing with options transactions.

To Get Benefit of Financial Leverage

Creating financial leverage is one most important advantage of derivatives. Options make possible to manage downside and upside price risk at nominal cost. We will discuss more about the financial leverage in chapter 10.

To Use For Financial Engineering

Financial engineering is an art of creating new risk management structure for different types of risk, for this purpose the options are used in large extent. We will discuss more detail about it in chapter 10.

Bond duration and Portfolio immunization

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Bond duration and Portfolio immunization

Bond is one most popularly used fixed income security for the investors. It provides fixed coupon interest over its life. However, these types of securities face three common types of price risk; credit risk, interest rate risk, and reinvestment rate risk. Credit risk, also called default risk, is the likelihood that a borrower will be unable or unwilling to repay a loan as agreed time schedule. The two other sources of risk arise from the change in the general market interest rate over the life of the bond

Market interest rate is the opportunity rate of return (i.e. discount rate) for the investors thus changes in the market interest rate inversely change the present value of bond i.e. the selling price of the bond. The most widely used technique to measure the bond’s interest rate risk is the duration.

Another type of risk associated is reinvestment rate risk which is the uncertainty associated with the rate at which the coupon payment reinvested as it received.
Increase in the market interest rate decline the price of the bond but raise the total return from the reinvestment and vice-versa. The time period at which these two exactly offset one another is measured by the duration. Thus duration is the point of time at which the investors able to earn yield to maturity.

Bond’s yield to maturity is that rate of return, which equal present value bonds cash flow to the current market price. This suggests that the investor should earn yield to maturity rate.

Determination of bond duration
A bond’s duration may be define as the weighted average numbers of years until the cash flows occurs, with the relative present values of each cash flow used as the weights. It can be expressed as;

Bond’s Duration (D) = or

Bond immunization
The term immunization refers to giving protection against some kinds of diseases. The bond immunization implies giving protection to the investor(s) of bond against the risk associated with bond that is price risk. The bond can be immunized matching the duration. As we explained earlier duration is the point of time at which bond’s interest rate risk and reinvestment risk exactly offset one another and the investor able to earn anticipated rate of yield to maturity (YTM) in desire investment horizon.

Thus, the essence of immunization is the matching the duration with desire holding period by balancing between interest rate risk and reinvestment risk.

In duration matching immunization technique, the investor(s) selects the bonds having required duration and hold until the duration only and sold doing so, the investors immunize the impact of interest rate and able to earn anticipated rate of return.

Engine:
Type	4 stroke, air cooled, 4- , single cylinder, SOHC, DTS-i
Displacement (cc)	134.66cc
Max. Power (Ps @ RPM)	13.5 @ 9000 rpm
Max. Torque (Nm @ RPM)	11. 4 @ 7500
Starting	kick + Self start

Suspension
Front	Telescopic Front Fork with antifriction bush (Stroke 130)
Rear	Trailing arm with Co Axial Hydraulic cum Gas filled adjustable Shock Absorbers and Triple rate Coil Spring

Brakes
Front	Disc ( Diameter 240 mm)
Rear	Drum (Diameter 130 mm)

Tyre
Front & Wheel Size	Tubetype Unidirectional - 2.75 x 17″ & 1.4 X 17, 5 Spoke Alloy
Rear & Wheel Size	Tubetype Unidirectional - 100 / 90 x 17″ & 2.15 X 17, 5 Spoke Alloy

Fuel Tank
Total litres (reserve, usable)	Capacity : 8 litres, Reserve : 2.5 litres (1.6 litres usable)

Electricals
System	12 V Full DC
Headlamp (Low/High Beam- Watts)	35/35 W with 2 pilot lamps

Dimensions
Wheelbase	1325 (mm)
Ground clearance	170 mm
Kerb Weight	122 Kg

Key Features
Auto Choke	Yes
Clip-on handle bar	Yes
Speedometer	Digital
Tachometer	Digital type with analog display
Fuel gauge	Digital
Tripmeter	Digital
Wheel type	Alloy