Straits Asia Resources announced a 7% increase in full-year net profit to US$133.5 million ($188 million) for FY2009.
Jembayan mine led the boost in results, reaching 6.5 million tonnes in production, a 30% increase over FY2008. Steady support from the Sebuku mine production of 2 million tonnes in 2009 and prudent management of coal trading opportunities also contributed to the record net profit, says the miner.
UOB KayHian has upgraded Indofood Agri Resources (5JS.SG) to “buy” from “hold” on improved upside to its $2.54 target price following recent price weakness.
The broker expects the plantation group to report robust 4Q09 earnings growth tomorrow on the back of 40% rise in international CPO prices, higher CPO production.
Pacific Andes Resources Development, the global frozen fish supplier, says it recorded stable revenue of HK$1,564.0 million ($285 million) for the first quarter of the financial year ending 28 September 2010 (1QFY2010) compared to HK$1,562.1 million in the same period last year.
Revenue from the frozen fish supply chain management division, which accounted for 49.4% of turnover, rose 3.1% to HK$772.9 million from HK$750.0 million due to an increase in sales volume.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed 1% to 2,747.42 as of the 12:30 p.m. trading break, snapping losses of 1.3% in the past three days, reported Bloomberg. Eight stocks advanced for each that fell on the 30-member gauge.
Stocks on the measure trade at 14.7 times estimated earnings, compared with about 10 times at the start of 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Amidst the launching of Windows Vista and Windows 7; Windows XP remains steady as the most used Operating Systems in businesses and even for personal use hence, the need for windows driver to update it every now and then.
Mainboard-listed Straits Asia Resources says it has signed a five-year contract to supply coal from its Jembayan mine in East Kalimantan, Indonesia to the Adani Group.
The Jembayan Mine produces two types of coal: Prangat and JMB, both known for their consistency in quality.
Technology giant IBM launches an initiative that includes sales and technical resources for IBM Software partners to help jump-start new business opportunities.
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According to a Global Business Partner Profitability
Survey conducted by Ronin Corporation and commissioned by IBM, 60 percent of
IBM Software partners said they expect to increase profitability in 2010 and
beyond by participating in Software Value Plus. The same percentage of IBM…
OCBC Investments Research in a Jan 20 research report says: “Shares of Straits Asia Resources (SAR) have appreciated along with the recent increase in thermal coal prices. The current environment of high coal prices bodes well for SAR. While SAR has not provided official updates on its FY2010 contracts, we believe that price determination is likely to be influenced by spot prices.
DBS Vickers Securities in a Jan 18 research report says: “First Resources expanded its planted area by 9,635 ha in 9M09, mostly at its West Kalimantan land bank. We expect the group’s new planting to have swelled to 12k ha by the end of last year (result due out on 1 March 2010).
Macquarie Research in a Dec 18 research report says: “We forecast sales volumes to increase from 9.5mt in 2009 to 12mt in 2010, 16mt in 2011 and 20mt in 2012. This production ramp-up, combined with an improving coal price outlook, should lead to 84% earnings growth in 2011.
OCBC Investment Research in a Dec 2 research report says: “Straits Asia Resources (SAR) rallied by as much as 25% since we upgraded our rating a month ago. We advocate caution at current levels as positives appear to be reflected in the price.
Vorex combines Web-based suite of solutions aimed at streamlining the HR operations of budget-conscious businesses.
– Vorex, Inc., a developer of on-demand and licensed
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and automated business workflow solutions,
announced today the launch of its HCM ERP project management, comprehensive
human resources (HR), expense tracking and billing in integrated Web-based
suite, aimed at…
Vorex combines a Web-based suite of solutions aimed at streamlining the HR operations of budget-conscious businesses.
– Vorex, a developer of on-demand and licensed enterprise resource planning and
automated business workflow solutions, announced Nov. 30 the launch of its HCM
ERP project management, comprehensive human resources, expense tracking and
billing tools in an integrated Web-based suite, aimed at small a…
The current economic realities have shifted ITs focus modestly from green IT to cost savings. But there remains an ultimate, if utopian, goal associated with accomplishing both at once. A properly functioning virtual environment constantly reduces, reuses and recycles, which serves to drive the cost savings associated with virtualization. But many companies do not have an active virtual recycling program in place. Here, Knowledge Center contributor John Suit shares what we can learn from our green counterparts to better optimize the data center environment.
– IT
organizations struggle with operating at an optimal resource
utilization state. When IT resources are underutilized, they
cannot artificially create demand to maximize their
utilization. When IT resources are overextended, they cannot
quickly create new capacity. While the opportunity exi…
The Japanese carmaker’s wireless system employs the same electromagnetic field technology used to charge an electric toothbrush
Nissan has developed a revolutionary plug-free technology that it claims will make charging electric cars easier and faster. The wireless charging system is based on the concept of inductive charging, the same electromagnetic field technology used to charge an electric toothbrush. Nissan has scaled it up for use in their Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) electric car, which can charge in a compatible parking bay without the need for wires. Today’s electric car owners, by contrast, have to carry a mains plug aboard to recharge.
David Bott, director of innovation programmes at the Technology Strategy Board, said: “If you look at handheld gadgets, inductive charging is a proven technology – the fundamental science says that it will work. I suspect you’ll end up plugging electric cars in at night for efficiency, and by day using inductive for on-the-go recharging.”
Nissan has ambitions beyond mere wireless charging bays. It hopes to scale the technology up even further as a series of plates laid into the surface of designated electric vehicle lanes on our roads and motorways, theoretically enabling motorists to charge as they drive. However, Nissan admits that it still has no idea on how much it would cost, how long the designated lane would have to be, or how fast the battery could be recharged.
Bott said he was sceptical that such charging lanes would be practical: “It’s scientifically feasible, but it’s whether it’s scalable and feasible is another matter.”
Nissan is grappling with its recent consumer research, which revealed that 61% of potential electric car customers were most worried about the inconvenience of recharging. As well as inductive charging, its technological solutions include developing fast-charging facilities, which they hope to see in place in shopping car parks and motorway service stations. “So while you’re shopping, or having a cup of tea, the battery will refill to 80% of its capacity, in about 25 minutes,” explained Larry Haddad, general manager of product strategy and planning at Nissan Europe.
In addition to these charging innovations, Nissan believes the ZEV has what it takes to compete against established electric models such as the TH!NK City and G-Wiz. Nissan claims it will be the first “dedicated” electric car on the market, arguing that most rival cars have been rehashes of existing models.
The ZEV is a five-seater family-sized car with a top speed of 90mph, a battery range of around 100 miles and surprisingly impressive acceleration. Redmer van der Meer, Nissan’s European electric vehicle product manager, said that he is confident the range will be significantly extended in the next few years, and that cars will be built so new, improved batteries can be retro-fitted. Van der Meer said the car is deliberately conventional in style: “We don’t want to make a shock in the market, an egg-shaped car or something. We want to make a transition. You could do mad things but we really don’t want to.”
Nissan’s electric car is set to go on sale in the US and Japan next year, before arriving in the UK and rest of Europe by 2012. Pricing is yet to be announced.
PR agencies, large companies and small businesses all have the need to announce news through a press release, still a great way to gain media exposure and PR. Once those releases have been written, it’s often a wise idea to distribute the press release over a newswire (which makes your news available to thousands of [...]
