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Gold Buying Edges Up; Appetite Still Strong

October 21, 2010 by ·

India gold buying edged up on Thursday afternoon as prices steadied near their lowest level in two weeks, but appetite remained strong ahead of key festivals slated for early next month, dealers said. “A few exporters and domestic traders have covered from the morning, I expect another 100 kgs to get priced in,” said a dealer with a state-run bullion importing bank.

Gold on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was trading 0.08 percent higher at 19,545 rupees per 10 grams at 12:53 p.m., after hitting a low fo 19,514 rupees, nearing the level last seen on Oct. 8. “I have 150 kgs waiting to be executed at $1,340 (an ounce),” said another dealer with a private bank. State-run Indian trader MMTC Ltd expects to import more than 200 tonnes of gold in the current fiscal year to March 2011 on good demand seen in the current festival season despite high prices, its chairman said. [Read more...]

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Determined To Crack The Social Code

October 18, 2010 by ·

Google has been stunningly adept at devising computer algorithms to help people search the Internet. But when it comes to building features for social networking, the company has been much less effective.

And changing that is one of the company’s biggest business challenges these days.

Google depends on having its finger on the pulse of the entire Internet, and maintaining its status as the primary entree to the Web. But as people spend more time on closed social networks like Facebook, where much of the data they share is off limits to search engines, Google risks losing the competition for Web users’ time, details of their lives and, ultimately, advertising. [Read more...]

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Jobless Claims Drop Again

October 7, 2010 by ·

Applications for unemployment benefits fell last week for the fourth time in five weeks, a sign that layoffs are declining.

The Labor Department said Thursday that initial claims for jobless aid dropped by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 445,000. It’s the lowest level since the week ending July 10.

Stock futures rose after the report’s release. Wall Street analysts had expected a small increase.

Economists were mildly encouraged by the drop. But they also pointed out that claims remain at an elevated level consistent with weak job growth. Employers aren’t hiring enough to bring down the 9.6 percent unemployment rate. [Read more...]

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BMW Recall Could Extend To 350,000 Cars Globally

October 1, 2010 by ·

BMW’s recall of nearly 200,000 luxury vehicles in the U.S. to fix leaks that could develop in the power braking system may extend to another 150,000 cars of the same series around the globe, a spokesman said Friday.

Globally, some 345,000 BMWs of the 5 Series, 6 Series and 7 Series vehicles powered by V8 and V12 engines and almost 6,000 Rolls Royce Phantom models could be affected by the problem, BMW AG spokesman Frank Strebe said. He stressed there have been no reports of accidents or injuries. [Read more...]

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Gold, Silver Surge to New Record Highs

September 30, 2010 by ·

Gold and silver prices surged to new records Tuesday as the dollar weakened against major currencies, continuing a trend that has left Americans scrambling for alternatives to traditional investments such as stocks and money market accounts.

Silver touched $22 an ounce Tuesday, the highest since 1980. Silver has surged 36 percent this year from less than $9 when the financial crisis began in 2008. Gold, which has increased 19 percent in 2010, jumped to $1,313 an ounce, the highest ever recorded.

With stocks in the dumps and government deficits spiraling, Americans are increasingly turning their attention to silver and other precious metals. [Read more...]

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First & Lasting Impression

August 29, 2010 by ·

When you are considering your entry into health care jobs you may want to begin with standard employers. There are typical employers that hire people to health related jobs. These positions often provide full and part time hour options, and they also supply many employees with hourly pay and benefits. But as a job seeker for health care career, nothing can be more nerve-wracking than working your way through the hiring process and then finding yourself in the initial interview stage. Well, you’ll probably be competing with other finalists where each of you will be properly vetted, references checked out and skills and experiences be screened. While you have to be prepared to talk about your skills, talents, experiences and background, you also have to prepare yourself in how you talk about these things in order to make a home-run first and lasting impression that will get you the job.

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Japan’s Exporters Eye Every Rupee

July 7, 2010 by ·

Japanese companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Canon Inc. are looking at poor people in emerging markets as potential consumers for the first time in a bid to find new, high-growth markets to offset the slump at home and in traditional markets in the U.S. and Europe.

“This represents a new frontier for the Japanese economy and industries,” Japan’s powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a February report which puts the market at 4 billion people and $5 trillion in sales last year. “Innovations for conquering the frontier are expected to revitalize the Japanese economy as a whole.”

An 81-page report from the ministry and many of Japan’s leading exporters about the opportunities in countries like China, Brazil, India and Vietnam is being passed around board rooms across Tokyo. It says Japanese companies can’t just focus on rich countries and rich consumers. They have to start making more products that a consumer who makes less than $3,000 a year can afford. [Read more...]

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