Tư vấn miễn phí (858) 869-3584 (Viber OK) Luật sư Di trú & bảo lãnh
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Friday, February 20, 2015
Bảo lãnh nhân viên/đầu tư vào Mỹ để có được thẻ xanh
Chủ tiệm xin chú ý - hãy liên lạc với chúng tôi khi bạn cần bảo lãnh
nhân viên sang Mỹ để làm việc - hoặc muốn đầu tư vào Mỹ để có được thẻ
xanh
Tư vấn miễn phí (858) 869-3584 (Viber OK) Luật sư Di trú & bảo lãnh
Tư vấn miễn phí (858) 869-3584 (Viber OK) Luật sư Di trú & bảo lãnh
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Trong cơn điên mua sắm Black Friday - 20 người Mỹ bị thương
Black Friday đã trở thành một ngày thứ sáu đen tối khi hàng chục người Mỹ bị thương do tranh cướp mua đồ giảm giá. Bi kịch xảy ra khi một người bị bắn và cướp hết hàng hóa lúc ra bãi đỗ xe.
Hàng chục nghìn người Mỹ đã không còn giữ nổi bình tĩnh khi các siêu thị hạ giá hàng loạt sản phẩm, từ trò chơi điện tử, máy làm bánh đến khăn tắm trong ngày Black Friday - đợt khuyến mại kỷ lục và chỉ diễn ra mỗi năm một lần.
Một trong những sự kiện gây chấn động nhất diễn ra tại Los Angeles khi 20 người bị thương trong vụ náo loạn tại siêu thị Walmart khi một phụ nữ đã sử dụng bình xịt hơi cay để giành ưu thế khi đoàn người lao tới gian hàng giảm giá bộ trò chơi điện tử nổi tiếng Xbox. Walmart cũng được xem là hãng bán lẻ có ngày Black Friday tồi tệ nhất trong năm 2011 khi hàng nghìn khách hàng đã dùng đến nắm đấm, cùi chỏ… chỉ để tiết kiệm một vài USD.
Sự hỗn loạn lên đến đỉnh điểm và trở thành bi kịch khi một người đàn ông đã bị bắn và cướp hết hàng hóa vừa mua được tại bãi đỗ xe, bên ngoài một siêu thị tại San Leandro (California). Trong một trường hợp khác, nhân viên bảo vệ đã sử dụng hơi cay để giải tán đám đông điên cuồng trong một siêu thị tại Kinston (Bắc Carolina).
Một sự kiện cũng gây chú ý sau khi được ghi hình và lan truyền trên mạng chia sẻ video Youtube khi hàng trăm người chen lấn, xô đẩy và chỉ còn thiếu nước giẫm đạp lên nhau để tranh mua khăn tắm tại siêu thị Walmart ở Michigan store. Những vụ việc tương tự cũng diễn ra tại Oregon hay Ohio.
"Thật mỉa mai khi người ta chen chúc, thậm chí nhấc bổng nhau lên vì những chiếc khăn tắm trị giá hơn một USD”, sĩ quan cảnh sát Jason Druckenmiller tại Michigan nhận xét "Một phụ nữ đã phải vươn hết tầm tay để chạm vào những chiếc khăn bông trong khi bị đẩy hết cỡ từ đằng sau. Chân bà ta thậm chí còn không chạm đất”, ông này kể lại.
Hàng chục nghìn người Mỹ đã không còn giữ nổi bình tĩnh khi các siêu thị hạ giá hàng loạt sản phẩm, từ trò chơi điện tử, máy làm bánh đến khăn tắm trong ngày Black Friday - đợt khuyến mại kỷ lục và chỉ diễn ra mỗi năm một lần.
Một trong những sự kiện gây chấn động nhất diễn ra tại Los Angeles khi 20 người bị thương trong vụ náo loạn tại siêu thị Walmart khi một phụ nữ đã sử dụng bình xịt hơi cay để giành ưu thế khi đoàn người lao tới gian hàng giảm giá bộ trò chơi điện tử nổi tiếng Xbox. Walmart cũng được xem là hãng bán lẻ có ngày Black Friday tồi tệ nhất trong năm 2011 khi hàng nghìn khách hàng đã dùng đến nắm đấm, cùi chỏ… chỉ để tiết kiệm một vài USD.
Sự hỗn loạn lên đến đỉnh điểm và trở thành bi kịch khi một người đàn ông đã bị bắn và cướp hết hàng hóa vừa mua được tại bãi đỗ xe, bên ngoài một siêu thị tại San Leandro (California). Trong một trường hợp khác, nhân viên bảo vệ đã sử dụng hơi cay để giải tán đám đông điên cuồng trong một siêu thị tại Kinston (Bắc Carolina).
Một sự kiện cũng gây chú ý sau khi được ghi hình và lan truyền trên mạng chia sẻ video Youtube khi hàng trăm người chen lấn, xô đẩy và chỉ còn thiếu nước giẫm đạp lên nhau để tranh mua khăn tắm tại siêu thị Walmart ở Michigan store. Những vụ việc tương tự cũng diễn ra tại Oregon hay Ohio.
"Thật mỉa mai khi người ta chen chúc, thậm chí nhấc bổng nhau lên vì những chiếc khăn tắm trị giá hơn một USD”, sĩ quan cảnh sát Jason Druckenmiller tại Michigan nhận xét "Một phụ nữ đã phải vươn hết tầm tay để chạm vào những chiếc khăn bông trong khi bị đẩy hết cỡ từ đằng sau. Chân bà ta thậm chí còn không chạm đất”, ông này kể lại.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Hanoi Stock Index FALLS To Record Low
Vietnam's Hanoi Stock Exchange index lost 1.81 percent to close at 62.45 points, a fresh record low, on Monday 11/14/2011.
Everything is based on solid foundations and core values, when it comes to business. Vietnam has a very long uphill battle to accomplish such a major mindset for doing business the right way. A corrupted government base business is not and never will be a successful gain for any country even in the United States today.
Vietnam's economy is falling apart and business investment in Vietnam is not recommended.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Vietnam estmated inflation rate is 18% for this year cause Office rent to drop 7%
- Vietnam’s office rents will fall as much as 7 percent in 2012 because buildings are completed at a faster rate than business expansion, said Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., the world’s second-biggest commercial property broker.
The new properties will boost the nation’s grade A office space by about a third in 2012, pushing rents down by 5 percent to 7 percent, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Vietnam Co. Keangnam Hanoi Landmark Tower will add about 95,000 square meters (1 million square feet) when it opens later this year in the capital city as the nation’s tallest building.
“There is quite a number of Grade A commercial space coming out of the ground at the moment, so supply is outstripping demand,” David Lyons, Ho Chi Minh City-based managing director at the Vietnam unit, said in an Oct. 21 phone interview. Rents will rebound and have “a steady recovery” in 2013 as inflation and interest rates go down, he said.
The government is aiming to reduce the inflation rate to less than 10 percent in 2012, from an estimated 18 percent for this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said on Oct. 20. Lyons expects more international companies in banking, energy and retail sectors to set up their offices in Vietnam, supporting the recovery in what he called a “huge market.”
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Many Loan Sharks in Vietnam Recently Defaulted due to Econimic Hardships
A significant number of black market credit organisations (loan sharks) operating in major cities, particularly Ha Noi and HCM City, have recently defaulted, dealing a heavy blow to depositors and the national economy. It is said that victims of the black market credit default come from all economic sectors, including enterprises, financial entities and small retailers.
According to financial expert Dinh The Hien, the default was mainly caused by greed.
"High interest rates of 7.5 per cent per month, 6.5 times higher than current commercial bank rates, added to the problem," Hien said.
A case in point included Ms Hung My Phuong (alias Phuong Den - Black Phuong) from HCM City, who promised to pay an interest rate 7.5 times higher than normal at almost 90 per cent per annum.
In financially pressing times, such lucrative promises attracted a large number of desperate depositors.
Le Dat Chi, a lecturer at the HCM City University of Economics, said that it was impossible to gain from 7-10 per cent monthly interest rates.
"Only the most successful of businesses would be able to gain returns based on a rate of 20 per cent per annum," Chi added.
He cautioned that anyone who managed to mobilise and maintain capital from a high interest rate (between 7-10 per cent per month), was probably a swindler.
"Feasible projects could easily access concessional interest at commercial banks, which cancel out the need for ridiculously high rates." Chi said.
However, in his opinion, Dr Le Tham Duong, a lecturer at the HCM Banking University, denied that people who mobilised money from high interest rates were in fact swindlers.
He said that in most cases, people were engaged in legal business activities in desperate need of financing. When such businesses turned sour however, people were forced to borrow money at high interest rates to stay afloat or get themselves out of tight corners, trapping them in a vicious circle that led to default.
Dr Duong explained that loan sharks have been around for a long time.
"When there is demand, there is supply," he said, adding that some people need money while some are willing to lend it at lucrative interest rates.
In his opinion, Duong blamed the recent default on a lack of micro finance organisations capable of providing small businesses with funds to operate.
"Micro businesses are facing a lot of difficulties in accessing credit from commercial banks. The only way for them to mobilise capital is through short term, high interest rate black market credit which gives birth to loan sharks," he explained.
Colonel Dinh Van Toan, deputy director of the Ha Noi Police told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper since early 2011 crimes reported in the fields of finance and banking have been on the rise, particularly fraud in capital mobilisation which is strongly linked to the issue of black market credit.
He cited a case in the outlying district of Dan Phuong, where a man called Quang Quyen was able to raise over VND300 billion (S$19 million) from desperate customers.
However, Toan said that when the case was brought to light, the loan shark merely said that transactions resulted from negotiations between two civil parties.
"When the case was referred to us, and following intensive investigations, we concluded that it had been more than just a simple civil agreement and that it had to be brought to court," he said.
Under current Vietnamese laws, black market credit (in whatever form it might take) is illegal.
Only registered credit organisations will be allowed to provide banking credit, pursuant to Article 163 of the Penal Code dealing specifically with loan sharks.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Vàng giảm giá, vác bao tải tiền đi mua
Hôm qua, 20.10, hàng chục chiếc máy đếm tiền của SJC chạy hết công suất, để phục vụ cả trăm người chờ đợi, chen chúc nhau chờ mua vàng. Đứng ngay chỗ máy lạnh đang phà hơi lạnh ngắt của phòng kế toán, nơi giao vàng cho khách mua số nhiều, thuộc trụ sở công ty SJC trên đường Nguyễn Công Trứ, quận 1, TP.HCM, mà lưng áo hai ông Trần Hưng L. và Nguyễn Kh. ướt đẫm mồ hôi. Cái nóng bức giữa trưa cộng với nỗi căng thẳng khi chở bao tiền gần 7 tỉ đồng trên xe máy từ nhà ở quận 5 lên quận 1, khiến cho mồ hôi cứ vậy mà tuôn. Phải vác bao tiền từ đường vào cửa văn phòng, hai ông lại phải vác bao tiền sang ngân hàng bên cạnh để kiểm đếm.
Vất vả mua vàng
Ông Trương Công Nhơn, phó tổng giám đốc công ty SJC cho biết: “Khi giá mỗi lượng vàng trong sáng ngày 20.10 giảm xuống dưới 43 triệu đồng, có hiện tượng người dân đổ xô mua vàng”. Do lượng tiền mặt phải kiểm đếm quá nhiều, công ty SJC phải nhờ các ngân hàng lân cận kiểm đếm. Khi có giấy xác nhận số lượng tiền, khách cầm giấy vào SJC nhận vàng.
Khách chen nhau mua vàng, bãi xe của công ty SJC quá tải, một số điểm giữ xe chung quanh văn phòng SJC lúc đầu lấy giá tiền gửi xe gắn máy chỉ 5.000 đồng/chiếc, sau họ nâng lên xe số là 10.000 đồng, xe tay ga lên đến 20.000 đồng/chiếc. Người giữ xe cười bảo: “Mua vàng tiền tỉ, tiếc gì tiền gửi xe”.
Nhìn tỷ lệ nam giới chiếm đến hơn 80% và toàn là những người có vóc dáng vạm vỡ, đang đứng chen chân trong số cả trăm người chờ mua vàng ở trụ sở SJC có thể thấy đi mua vàng là công việc nặng nhọc và khá vất vả. Thử nhấc bao tiền có chiều cao khoảng 70cm, bề ngang khoảng 50cm và bề dày chừng 30cm, đựng trong túi vải màu xanh lục đậm của ông Văn H. ở quận 12, nặng đến cả chục ký. Ông Văn H. bảo có thể mua được trên 200 lượng, nhưng từ chối không cho biết số tiền cụ thể.
Cứ theo số tiền mang đến hay vàng mang về, khách mua thuộc dạng khá. Nhưng gần như tất cả những khách đến mua vàng ở đây đều có cách ăn mặc khá tuềnh toàng. Hiếm người mang giày tây, đa phần mang dép da, dép xỏ ngón, mặc áo thun và đặc biệt là gần như tất cả đều mặc áo khoác và quần lửng hoặc kaki dài có nhiều túi.
Bằng những thao tác có vẻ thuần thục, khi đưa hoá đơn để nhận 158 lượng vàng, ông Hưng L. xếp toàn bộ vàng trên mặt quầy, đếm, rồi xem kỹ các đường hàn giáp mí của vỏ bọc nhựa trên từng dây. Với những miếng vàng lẻ, ông còn rờ tay vuốt kỹ các cạnh xem có miếng nào bị bung hở mí hay bị trầy nhiều thì đề nghị nhân viên SJC cho đổi lấy miếng mới hơn. Ông Nguyễn Kh. dùng dây thun chập ba sợi, cột vàng thành từng cụm, gói vào bọc nilông, rồi sau đó ông anh chia ra đút đầy vào túi trong áo khoác, túi hộp trên quần kaki. Toàn bộ diễn ra chỉ hơn một phút.
Mua vàng vẫn chỉ dùng tiền mặt
Hỏi ông Văn H. có sợ khi mang lượng tiền mặt quá lớn đi ngoài đường phố, ông trả lời: “Đã từng mang như thế, nên quen rồi”. Trong ngày 20.10, gần như không một khách mua vàng nào đựng tiền trong vali hay túi xách du lịch hàng hiệu, túi sang trọng, mà gần như tất cả các khách đến mua vàng ở văn phòng công ty SJC đều đựng tiền trong túi nilông đen (loại đựng rác), thùng giấy đựng mì gói, túi vải dù cũ kỹ.
Tính đến 16 giờ ngày 20.10, SJC đã bán ra khoảng 12.000 lượng vàng. Tính theo giá vàng trong ngày, thì số tiền mà các nhân viên kiểm đếm lên đến hơn 500 tỉ đồng với đủ các loại mệnh giá khác nhau. Bà Trần Ngọc Minh Thư, trưởng phòng kinh doanh vàng của SJC cho biết, do giá vàng biến động quá nhanh, nên công ty không thể mua bán bằng chuyển khoản với khách. Bà Thư kể, có trường hợp khách vừa chốt giá xong, trong vòng 5 – 10 phút, tiền chưa thấy chuyển đến công ty, mà giá vàng trên thị trường lại giảm xuống, thế là khách bỏ luôn không mua nữa. Có khi ngược lại, khách chốt giá, chờ đến vài giờ đồng hồ, giá vàng tăng thêm từ vài trăm đến cả triệu đồng/lượng, công ty phải chịu lỗ khá nặng. Chính vì vậy dù khách mua lẻ vài lượng hay mua số nhiều vài trăm đến cả ngàn lượng thì SJC đều chọn cách thanh toán ngay.
Ông Trương Công Nhơn nói thêm: “Việc thanh toán bằng chuyển khoản qua các ngân hàng ở Việt Nam hiện nay còn khá chậm, nhất là từ ngân hàng này qua ngân hàng khác, nên khó thực hiện giao dịch mua bán nhận vàng ngay mà không dùng tiền mặt”
Vất vả mua vàng
Ông Trương Công Nhơn, phó tổng giám đốc công ty SJC cho biết: “Khi giá mỗi lượng vàng trong sáng ngày 20.10 giảm xuống dưới 43 triệu đồng, có hiện tượng người dân đổ xô mua vàng”. Do lượng tiền mặt phải kiểm đếm quá nhiều, công ty SJC phải nhờ các ngân hàng lân cận kiểm đếm. Khi có giấy xác nhận số lượng tiền, khách cầm giấy vào SJC nhận vàng.
Khách chen nhau mua vàng, bãi xe của công ty SJC quá tải, một số điểm giữ xe chung quanh văn phòng SJC lúc đầu lấy giá tiền gửi xe gắn máy chỉ 5.000 đồng/chiếc, sau họ nâng lên xe số là 10.000 đồng, xe tay ga lên đến 20.000 đồng/chiếc. Người giữ xe cười bảo: “Mua vàng tiền tỉ, tiếc gì tiền gửi xe”.
Nhìn tỷ lệ nam giới chiếm đến hơn 80% và toàn là những người có vóc dáng vạm vỡ, đang đứng chen chân trong số cả trăm người chờ mua vàng ở trụ sở SJC có thể thấy đi mua vàng là công việc nặng nhọc và khá vất vả. Thử nhấc bao tiền có chiều cao khoảng 70cm, bề ngang khoảng 50cm và bề dày chừng 30cm, đựng trong túi vải màu xanh lục đậm của ông Văn H. ở quận 12, nặng đến cả chục ký. Ông Văn H. bảo có thể mua được trên 200 lượng, nhưng từ chối không cho biết số tiền cụ thể.
Cứ theo số tiền mang đến hay vàng mang về, khách mua thuộc dạng khá. Nhưng gần như tất cả những khách đến mua vàng ở đây đều có cách ăn mặc khá tuềnh toàng. Hiếm người mang giày tây, đa phần mang dép da, dép xỏ ngón, mặc áo thun và đặc biệt là gần như tất cả đều mặc áo khoác và quần lửng hoặc kaki dài có nhiều túi.
Bằng những thao tác có vẻ thuần thục, khi đưa hoá đơn để nhận 158 lượng vàng, ông Hưng L. xếp toàn bộ vàng trên mặt quầy, đếm, rồi xem kỹ các đường hàn giáp mí của vỏ bọc nhựa trên từng dây. Với những miếng vàng lẻ, ông còn rờ tay vuốt kỹ các cạnh xem có miếng nào bị bung hở mí hay bị trầy nhiều thì đề nghị nhân viên SJC cho đổi lấy miếng mới hơn. Ông Nguyễn Kh. dùng dây thun chập ba sợi, cột vàng thành từng cụm, gói vào bọc nilông, rồi sau đó ông anh chia ra đút đầy vào túi trong áo khoác, túi hộp trên quần kaki. Toàn bộ diễn ra chỉ hơn một phút.
Mua vàng vẫn chỉ dùng tiền mặt
Hỏi ông Văn H. có sợ khi mang lượng tiền mặt quá lớn đi ngoài đường phố, ông trả lời: “Đã từng mang như thế, nên quen rồi”. Trong ngày 20.10, gần như không một khách mua vàng nào đựng tiền trong vali hay túi xách du lịch hàng hiệu, túi sang trọng, mà gần như tất cả các khách đến mua vàng ở văn phòng công ty SJC đều đựng tiền trong túi nilông đen (loại đựng rác), thùng giấy đựng mì gói, túi vải dù cũ kỹ.
Tính đến 16 giờ ngày 20.10, SJC đã bán ra khoảng 12.000 lượng vàng. Tính theo giá vàng trong ngày, thì số tiền mà các nhân viên kiểm đếm lên đến hơn 500 tỉ đồng với đủ các loại mệnh giá khác nhau. Bà Trần Ngọc Minh Thư, trưởng phòng kinh doanh vàng của SJC cho biết, do giá vàng biến động quá nhanh, nên công ty không thể mua bán bằng chuyển khoản với khách. Bà Thư kể, có trường hợp khách vừa chốt giá xong, trong vòng 5 – 10 phút, tiền chưa thấy chuyển đến công ty, mà giá vàng trên thị trường lại giảm xuống, thế là khách bỏ luôn không mua nữa. Có khi ngược lại, khách chốt giá, chờ đến vài giờ đồng hồ, giá vàng tăng thêm từ vài trăm đến cả triệu đồng/lượng, công ty phải chịu lỗ khá nặng. Chính vì vậy dù khách mua lẻ vài lượng hay mua số nhiều vài trăm đến cả ngàn lượng thì SJC đều chọn cách thanh toán ngay.
Ông Trương Công Nhơn nói thêm: “Việc thanh toán bằng chuyển khoản qua các ngân hàng ở Việt Nam hiện nay còn khá chậm, nhất là từ ngân hàng này qua ngân hàng khác, nên khó thực hiện giao dịch mua bán nhận vàng ngay mà không dùng tiền mặt”
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Vietnam War Bunker Unearthed Under Famous Hanoi Hotel
A bomb shelter dating back to the Vietnam War has been unearthed beneath the famous Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The hotel, which has hosted celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Graham Greene, Jane Fonda and numerous war correspondents, now houses many high-end boutiques such as handbag designer Hermes. It was only during the renovation of a poolside bar that the bunker was discovered early this summer; it had been sealed off three years after the end of the war, and it fell into the forgotten annals of history.
Since then, the bunker has been excavated but few remnants lie in the historic hotel's secret bunker. Composed of seven rooms, a wine bottle, a paint can and a light bulb remain of what's left inside.
Widely considered a landmark, the hotel is situated just a few minutes walking distance from Hoan Kiem Lake, in the heart of downtown Hanoi. The Associated Press reports that several historians are lobbying the hotel to open up the bunker to the public, since “it could play an important role in illuminating Vietnam War history.”
General manager Kai Speth isn't so keen on the idea. "I have an obligation to my guests to keep the Metropole luxurious and exclusive. If I just leave it open, can you imagine? All of the tour guides of Hanoi would take everybody down there.”
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Apple Misses Big on Earnings, Revenue; Shares Tumble
The miss stunned Wall Street: Apple shares [AAPL 422.24 2.25 (+0.54%) ] tumbled after-hours and were down more than 7 percent at one point.
Earnings and revenue rose sharply from a year earlier but the number of iPhones sold disappointed, which caused the miss.
Apple earnings excluding items rose to $7.05 a share in its fiscal fourth quarter from $4.64 per share a year earlier.
Net income rose to $6.62 billion from $4.31 billion.
Revenue jumped 39 percent to $28.3 billion from $20.3 billion in the 2010 third quarter.
Analysts had expected the technology giant to earn $7.39 per share on revenue on $29.69 billion. It was the first miss for the company since 2004.
The company sold 17.07 million iPhones during the quarter; That was a 21 percent increase from a year earlier but Wall Street had expected something in the 18 million to 20 million range, given that 20.3 million were sold in the third quarter.
Apple's CFO said that number beat their internal projection but sales were hurt by customers waiting for the new version of the iPhone.
IPad sales more than doubled to 11.12 million, while Mac sales jumped 26 percent to 4.89 million. IPod sales fell 27 percent to 6.62 million.
Gross margin came to 40.3 percent, a tad higher than Wall Street's forecast of 39.74 percent. International sales accounted for 63 percent of the quarter's revenue.
The company did, however, deliver a better-than-expected outlook for the fiscal first quarter, which starts in October. Apple said it expects earnings of $9.30 a share for the first quarter; analysts had expected $9.01 a share, according to Thomson Reuters.
"What is interesting is the guidance is less conservative than usual for their next quarter. It's a timing issue, where it looks like the business that people thought would be in the September quarter is occurring in the December quarter," said Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu.
"One of the things obviously is the iPhone 4S just started shipping a few days ago."
This was the first quarterly report issued by Apple under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook, who took the reins in August after Steve Jobs stepped down. Jobs passed away on Oct. 5.
Cook takes over during a critical juncture for the company, which is battling a fast-rising Google [GOOG 590.51 8.10 (+1.39%) ] in the mobile arena while fending off consumer electronics giants such as Samsung and Amazon.com [AMZN 243.88 1.55 (+0.64%) ].
"Expectations for this company were red-hot, that is why we downgraded it,'' said BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis, who lowered his rating on the shares days before. "The reality is their business is not an annuity. They have to sell their quarter's worth of revenue every 90 days."
"They had a big upgrade cycle with the iPhone, the numbers came in weak. They need to set records every time they report to keep up the momentum."
"There's no question this was a transition quarter ahead of the 4S," said WP Stewart portfolio manager Michael Walker. "With the early pace of iPhone 4S sales, my guess is that disappointment is relatively short-lived."
"I'm not going to call Q3 a throwaway quarter for iPhones, but it was definitely transition," he said.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Vietnam's Real Estate Market is not so Hot anymore!!!
Four years after a real estate boom that saw investors camp out on the streets waiting to pay cash for unbuilt apartments, Vietnam's once-hot property market has caught a chill.
High inflation and interest rates along with a government-imposed credit squeeze have led to a fall in prices and other incentives to entice residential buyers, while office tenants benefit from a glut of space, experts say.
"The market is really, really, really tough," said Brad Gee, director of property management at the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City.
The skyscraper opened late last year and now has tenants in more than 40 percent of its office space.
"Obviously we have to drive hard bargains" on rents, but so does everyone else in the market, Gee said.
Monthly rents for top-quality office space in Ho Chi Minh City have dropped to less than half the roughly $100 per square metre ($9.30 per square foot) obtainable during the market's peak in 2007-2008, said one leasing manager.
Bitexco and two other recently completed towers also offering prime "Grade A" space have added to what analysts see as an over-supply in the city, Vietnam's commercial capital of more than seven million people.
The residential sector is also hurting, they say, because of high interest rates as Vietnamese authorities strive to tame soaring inflation.
"The banks are being restricted in lending to property firms, to non-manufacturing industries, and when they are able to lend it can be between 20 and 25 percent interest," said Craig Wallace, of property consultants DTZ.
"With that, we cannot produce, we cannot invest in property development," said Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association.
At the same time prices of luxury apartments in the city fell more than 17 percent between late 2010 and mid-2011, to around $1,500 per square metre, according to the organisation.
But while some property is becoming more affordable, many would-be home owners are caught in the credit squeeze, unable to get mortgages except at exorbitant rates.
Thai Quang Trung, manager of research at real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, found himself caught up in the problems that he studies. With apartment rents high, he thought about buying his own home but was deterred by financing concerns.
Trung suspects that many other young people would be in the same situation if they depend on their own salaries to finance a home purchase.
"I'm just going to continue to rent," he said.
Long focused on economic growth, Vietnam in February shifted to stabilising an economy beset by double-digit consumer price rises, dwindling foreign reserves and a weakening currency.
Measures included higher interest rates, a vow to cut state spending, and an order that growth in credit, or loans, stays below 20 percent.
Economists insist the government must stick to its stabilisation package to control the country's numerous economic imbalances including an inflation rate that exceeds 20 percent, the highest in Asia.
"The government measures have really hurt the property industry in terms of pushing up interest rates," said Wallace.
Analysts say fewer projects are being launched.
"Obviously we've seen some projects being delayed. They try to avoid being on the market right now," said Trung.
Singapore-based CapitaLand, one of Asia's largest real estate firms, said its first Vietnam residential project The Vista condominium in Ho Chi Minh City -- which saw buyers lining up at its launch during the 2007 property boom -- was completed on schedule in September.
But Yip said the company was assessing the market before offering units for sale at another high-end development in the city, where the foundations have already been finished.
For buildings already put on the market during the downturn, developers are offering lower prices, financing incentives and even lucky draws and furniture, analysts said.
"I think that the real estate market situation will continue to be difficult... for the investors as well as consumers," said Chau, whose association has asked the government to gradually reduce interest rates.
The industry is looking to next year for possible relief.
High inflation and interest rates along with a government-imposed credit squeeze have led to a fall in prices and other incentives to entice residential buyers, while office tenants benefit from a glut of space, experts say.
"The market is really, really, really tough," said Brad Gee, director of property management at the 68-storey Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City.
The skyscraper opened late last year and now has tenants in more than 40 percent of its office space.
"Obviously we have to drive hard bargains" on rents, but so does everyone else in the market, Gee said.
Monthly rents for top-quality office space in Ho Chi Minh City have dropped to less than half the roughly $100 per square metre ($9.30 per square foot) obtainable during the market's peak in 2007-2008, said one leasing manager.
Bitexco and two other recently completed towers also offering prime "Grade A" space have added to what analysts see as an over-supply in the city, Vietnam's commercial capital of more than seven million people.
The residential sector is also hurting, they say, because of high interest rates as Vietnamese authorities strive to tame soaring inflation.
"The banks are being restricted in lending to property firms, to non-manufacturing industries, and when they are able to lend it can be between 20 and 25 percent interest," said Craig Wallace, of property consultants DTZ.
"With that, we cannot produce, we cannot invest in property development," said Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association.
At the same time prices of luxury apartments in the city fell more than 17 percent between late 2010 and mid-2011, to around $1,500 per square metre, according to the organisation.
But while some property is becoming more affordable, many would-be home owners are caught in the credit squeeze, unable to get mortgages except at exorbitant rates.
Thai Quang Trung, manager of research at real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle, found himself caught up in the problems that he studies. With apartment rents high, he thought about buying his own home but was deterred by financing concerns.
Trung suspects that many other young people would be in the same situation if they depend on their own salaries to finance a home purchase.
"I'm just going to continue to rent," he said.
Long focused on economic growth, Vietnam in February shifted to stabilising an economy beset by double-digit consumer price rises, dwindling foreign reserves and a weakening currency.
Measures included higher interest rates, a vow to cut state spending, and an order that growth in credit, or loans, stays below 20 percent.
Economists insist the government must stick to its stabilisation package to control the country's numerous economic imbalances including an inflation rate that exceeds 20 percent, the highest in Asia.
"The government measures have really hurt the property industry in terms of pushing up interest rates," said Wallace.
Analysts say fewer projects are being launched.
"Obviously we've seen some projects being delayed. They try to avoid being on the market right now," said Trung.
Singapore-based CapitaLand, one of Asia's largest real estate firms, said its first Vietnam residential project The Vista condominium in Ho Chi Minh City -- which saw buyers lining up at its launch during the 2007 property boom -- was completed on schedule in September.
But Yip said the company was assessing the market before offering units for sale at another high-end development in the city, where the foundations have already been finished.
For buildings already put on the market during the downturn, developers are offering lower prices, financing incentives and even lucky draws and furniture, analysts said.
"I think that the real estate market situation will continue to be difficult... for the investors as well as consumers," said Chau, whose association has asked the government to gradually reduce interest rates.
The industry is looking to next year for possible relief.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Teo Sandwiches might just blow Lee's away
A fast-food style of banh mi shop modeled after the behemoth Lee's Sandwich chain opened a mile down the street from 24-hour Lee's on Westminster Boulevard. To succeed in Little Saigon's bánh mì wars, where the sandwiches sell for an average of $3, shops take either the small-and-lean model of business, or the go-big-and-sell-a-ton strategy. Will they beat Lee's at the game they invented?
Teo's baguettes have the high quality you expect from a small bakery, even though they're not small. Slashes cut into the dough as it rises form sharp "ears" that stand away from the rest of the crust. That's a sign of properly proofed and baked baguettes. The thin, crisp shell of a crust crackles into shards the moment you bite into the soft interior. Unlike the dry, cottony texture of Lee's baguettes, the Teo baguettes are moister and have unevenly-sized bubbles inside. Those are signs of a dough that's not squished between rollers during shaping. The baguettes somehow taste buttery without having butter in them, much like the wonderful baguettes at the tiny bakery Bánh Mì Cho Cu.
The mass-production assembly line is what puts the quick-service into play. Behind the glassed-off counter are a refrigerated case filled with chilled cold cuts and a hot line with things like meatballs in steam pans. The nem, grilled pork sausages, carry a slightly sweet flavor and just enough fat to let you know it's sausage.
The banh mi dac biet, the house special, is unlike any other in town. They use pork-roll cold cuts and jambon, a ham cured such that the pork skin turns pleasantly gelatinous. Where most places slice their cold cuts thinly, Teo goes thick. In this writer's opinion, thickly sliced, gelatinous pork skin is about as unappealing as it sounds. Teo - thin to win! They spritz some Maggi sauce and a ton of black pepper on the dac biet sandwich, making it a fireball of heat. Perhaps I hit some especially hot jalapeno slices in my pepper-happy sandwich, but damn.
Teo doesn't have any gabacho sandwiches like Lee's ham and cheese with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Will a purely Vietnamese ingredient list hurt Teo? Certainly not in Little Saigon, but if they someday plan on morphing into a national chain like Lee's, they probably ought to consider it. Regardless, in the two months Teo has been open, they've been consistently busier each time despite the lack of English-friendly menus and staff. They're probably unconcerned about watering down the bánh mì experience, and beating Lee's at part of their game all the same.
Teo Sandwiches 14014 Magnolia St., Westminster. (714) 622-4819
Teo's baguettes have the high quality you expect from a small bakery, even though they're not small. Slashes cut into the dough as it rises form sharp "ears" that stand away from the rest of the crust. That's a sign of properly proofed and baked baguettes. The thin, crisp shell of a crust crackles into shards the moment you bite into the soft interior. Unlike the dry, cottony texture of Lee's baguettes, the Teo baguettes are moister and have unevenly-sized bubbles inside. Those are signs of a dough that's not squished between rollers during shaping. The baguettes somehow taste buttery without having butter in them, much like the wonderful baguettes at the tiny bakery Bánh Mì Cho Cu.
The mass-production assembly line is what puts the quick-service into play. Behind the glassed-off counter are a refrigerated case filled with chilled cold cuts and a hot line with things like meatballs in steam pans. The nem, grilled pork sausages, carry a slightly sweet flavor and just enough fat to let you know it's sausage.
The banh mi dac biet, the house special, is unlike any other in town. They use pork-roll cold cuts and jambon, a ham cured such that the pork skin turns pleasantly gelatinous. Where most places slice their cold cuts thinly, Teo goes thick. In this writer's opinion, thickly sliced, gelatinous pork skin is about as unappealing as it sounds. Teo - thin to win! They spritz some Maggi sauce and a ton of black pepper on the dac biet sandwich, making it a fireball of heat. Perhaps I hit some especially hot jalapeno slices in my pepper-happy sandwich, but damn.
Teo doesn't have any gabacho sandwiches like Lee's ham and cheese with lettuce, tomato and mayo. Will a purely Vietnamese ingredient list hurt Teo? Certainly not in Little Saigon, but if they someday plan on morphing into a national chain like Lee's, they probably ought to consider it. Regardless, in the two months Teo has been open, they've been consistently busier each time despite the lack of English-friendly menus and staff. They're probably unconcerned about watering down the bánh mì experience, and beating Lee's at part of their game all the same.
Teo Sandwiches 14014 Magnolia St., Westminster. (714) 622-4819
Monday, August 29, 2011
ZYNGA is going public
ZYNGA -is going public and there will be public offerings in Oct.
their financials is different from most traditional companies therefore will be a delay in investors confidence. I would buy their stock since I love to play the poker game and we should have a great deal on their IPOs
their financials is different from most traditional companies therefore will be a delay in investors confidence. I would buy their stock since I love to play the poker game and we should have a great deal on their IPOs
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Vietnam will increase minimum wage Oct 1st as inflation rises
HANOI, August 23, 2011 (AFP) - Vietnam will increase minimum wages by up to almost half in its major cities from October 1 in a bid to help workers cope with one of the world's highest levels of inflation.
In a statement late Monday the government said businesses in Hanoi and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City will have to pay at least two million dong a month ($95).
The rate will, for the first time, apply to both foreign-owned and Vietnamese firms, it said, boosting the basic wage by 29 percent at overseas companies and 48 percent at domestic firms.
Pay levels outside the major cities will be lower, although they are also to rise substantially.
But there are doubts about whether the higher wages will be enough to help workers cope with inflation that accelerated in July for the 11th straight month.
The consumer price index rose 22 percent last month compared with July 2010, according to official estimates in the communist country.
The state-controlled Vietnam General Confederation of Labour found that workers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were already earning between 1.8 million and 2.5 million dong per month but this was "quite low" in relation to soaring prices, the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported last month.
The labour union has also said the number of strikes was soaring along with prices.
At the same time, businesses say wage increases will compound the challenges they face in a troubled economy.
VNA quoted Dang Phuong Dung, vice-chairwoman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, which represents a key sector of the economy, as saying higher wages would be a burden on firms already struggling with rising input costs.
Dung said unemployment will increase as a result.
Wage pressures will add to high import taxes and other factors making foreign investors have second thoughts about Vietnam, said an Asian diplomat who declined to be named.
"The top 10 investors in Vietnam are all thinking twice," he said recently.
Long focused on growth, the government this year shifted towards economic stabilisation of numerous imbalances that include a large trade deficit, high current account and budget deficits, and inefficient state spending as well as inflation.
The government aims to keep inflation at about 15 percent this year.
In a statement late Monday the government said businesses in Hanoi and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City will have to pay at least two million dong a month ($95).
The rate will, for the first time, apply to both foreign-owned and Vietnamese firms, it said, boosting the basic wage by 29 percent at overseas companies and 48 percent at domestic firms.
Pay levels outside the major cities will be lower, although they are also to rise substantially.
But there are doubts about whether the higher wages will be enough to help workers cope with inflation that accelerated in July for the 11th straight month.
The consumer price index rose 22 percent last month compared with July 2010, according to official estimates in the communist country.
The state-controlled Vietnam General Confederation of Labour found that workers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were already earning between 1.8 million and 2.5 million dong per month but this was "quite low" in relation to soaring prices, the official Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported last month.
The labour union has also said the number of strikes was soaring along with prices.
At the same time, businesses say wage increases will compound the challenges they face in a troubled economy.
VNA quoted Dang Phuong Dung, vice-chairwoman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, which represents a key sector of the economy, as saying higher wages would be a burden on firms already struggling with rising input costs.
Dung said unemployment will increase as a result.
Wage pressures will add to high import taxes and other factors making foreign investors have second thoughts about Vietnam, said an Asian diplomat who declined to be named.
"The top 10 investors in Vietnam are all thinking twice," he said recently.
Long focused on growth, the government this year shifted towards economic stabilisation of numerous imbalances that include a large trade deficit, high current account and budget deficits, and inefficient state spending as well as inflation.
The government aims to keep inflation at about 15 percent this year.
Gap Inc. Expands in Asia Pacific with First Stores in Vietnam and Guam
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 23, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Continuing with its global expansion strategy, Gap Inc. GPS +2.55% today announced plans to open its first stores in Vietnam and Guam through its franchise channel. In Vietnam, the first Gap stores will open this October followed by the first Banana Republic store in 2012. The first Gap store will open in Guam in 2012. The company first made its products available to consumers in this region last year through its international online shipping provider.
"These openings will mark yet another important step for the company as we accelerate our growth into international markets," said Stefan Laban, managing director of strategic alliances for Gap Inc. "Vietnam's rapidly growing economy and Guam's well developed tourism industry both provide ample opportunity to introduce the Gap and Banana Republic brands to local consumers." The stores will house products from Gap, GapKids and babyGap and Banana Republic's affordable luxury apparel and accessories for men and women.
Gap Inc. is focused on growing its share of the $1.4 trillion global apparel market. Over the last five years, the company has grown its franchise store base to about 200 and expanded to 26 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. With today's announcement, the company now has franchise agreements in place to bring its brands to 32 countries, including Chile, Serbia and Morocco in fiscal year 2011. The company expects to double its franchise stores to 400 by fiscal year 2014. More about Gap Inc.'s global runway can be downloaded from gapinc.com.
Vietnam
Gap Inc. has signed a new franchise agreement with Imex Pan Pacific (IPP), one of the largest conglomerates in Vietnam, to open its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in the country. The company will open its first two Gap stores in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, followed by additional locations in Hanoi in 2012. Banana Republic will make its debut in late 2012.
Vietnam provides a uniquely favorable environment in which to open Gap and Banana Republic stores. The country boasts a relatively young population, with more than 90 percent of its 86 million people under the age of 65, a rapidly growing upper middle class consumer base, and a strong demand for international retail brands.
"These openings will mark yet another important step for the company as we accelerate our growth into international markets," said Stefan Laban, managing director of strategic alliances for Gap Inc. "Vietnam's rapidly growing economy and Guam's well developed tourism industry both provide ample opportunity to introduce the Gap and Banana Republic brands to local consumers." The stores will house products from Gap, GapKids and babyGap and Banana Republic's affordable luxury apparel and accessories for men and women.
Gap Inc. is focused on growing its share of the $1.4 trillion global apparel market. Over the last five years, the company has grown its franchise store base to about 200 and expanded to 26 countries throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia and Africa. With today's announcement, the company now has franchise agreements in place to bring its brands to 32 countries, including Chile, Serbia and Morocco in fiscal year 2011. The company expects to double its franchise stores to 400 by fiscal year 2014. More about Gap Inc.'s global runway can be downloaded from gapinc.com.
Vietnam
Gap Inc. has signed a new franchise agreement with Imex Pan Pacific (IPP), one of the largest conglomerates in Vietnam, to open its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in the country. The company will open its first two Gap stores in Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam, followed by additional locations in Hanoi in 2012. Banana Republic will make its debut in late 2012.
Vietnam provides a uniquely favorable environment in which to open Gap and Banana Republic stores. The country boasts a relatively young population, with more than 90 percent of its 86 million people under the age of 65, a rapidly growing upper middle class consumer base, and a strong demand for international retail brands.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Microsoft-acquired Skype snaps up GroupMe Messaging on mobile isn't just about video and voice: Skype acquires GroupMe for its group text
Microsoft-acquired Skype snaps up GroupMe
Messaging on mobile isn't just about video and voice: Skype acquires GroupMe for its group text
The big fish eats the medium fish and the medium fish swallows the small fish. Three months after being acquired by Microsoft, Skype is making its own acquisition.
Skype announced Sunday that it has agreed to acquire GroupMe, provider of mobile group messaging applications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As part of the deal, the GroupMe team will remain intact at its headquarters in New York City and will continue to work on its own application.
"Skype and GroupMe have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people. We will continue to seek the top talent and technology to make that vision a reality," said Tony Bates, Skype's Chief Executive Officer. "The GroupMe team has created an incredibly sticky group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms, making this a perfect addition to the voice, video and text products in the Skype family.”
The beneift is obvious for Skype: it gains immediate access to a thriving text-based communication service. (We know GroupMe thrives because it had raised over $11 million in venture capital from a list of prominent investors: Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, First Round Capital, and previous backers SV Angel, Lerer Ventures, and betaworks.)
GroupMe, in turn, is thrilled to access the eyes of Skype’s 175 million monthly users.
Acquisition hadn’t been the intention on either side since the outset. Rather, Skype and GroupMe originally met to discuss possible partnerships. According to GroupMe’s official blog post about the news:
Over the last few months, we had been in talks with Skype that started with discussions about potential commercial partnerships. As we got to know the core Skype team better, though, and as our conversations evolved, it quickly became evident that our visions were perfectly aligned. Both companies are focused on changing the way the world communicates, and helping people stay in touch with the people they really know. With a shared vision—an ambitious one—we decided our efforts to own real-time communications and the real life network could be best executed as one company.
The newly announced acquisition is of extra interest because it comes five months after Facebook picked up the two-person team behind Beluga, another startup that had been developing a mobile group messaging application. A week and a half ago, the fruits of that acquisition came to light in the form of Facebook Messenger, a new app for Android and iPhone built specifically for mobile messaging.
That’s not all, though.
In early July, Facebook announced the launch of video chat on its own platform, made possible via a partnership with Skype. And largely unnoticed behind all of these workings is Microsoft, who not only bought Skype in May for $8.5 billion in cash but also owns a stake in Facebook.
If it ever could, it can no longer be denied: the Microsoft-Skype-Facebook complex is working diligently at controlling the mediums for social communication in the 21st century. Apple and Google: your move.
Messaging on mobile isn't just about video and voice: Skype acquires GroupMe for its group text
The big fish eats the medium fish and the medium fish swallows the small fish. Three months after being acquired by Microsoft, Skype is making its own acquisition.
Skype announced Sunday that it has agreed to acquire GroupMe, provider of mobile group messaging applications. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As part of the deal, the GroupMe team will remain intact at its headquarters in New York City and will continue to work on its own application.
"Skype and GroupMe have a shared vision of creating applications and experiences that are the daily communications choice for a billion people. We will continue to seek the top talent and technology to make that vision a reality," said Tony Bates, Skype's Chief Executive Officer. "The GroupMe team has created an incredibly sticky group messaging experience that works across mobile devices and platforms, making this a perfect addition to the voice, video and text products in the Skype family.”
The beneift is obvious for Skype: it gains immediate access to a thriving text-based communication service. (We know GroupMe thrives because it had raised over $11 million in venture capital from a list of prominent investors: Khosla Ventures, General Catalyst, First Round Capital, and previous backers SV Angel, Lerer Ventures, and betaworks.)
GroupMe, in turn, is thrilled to access the eyes of Skype’s 175 million monthly users.
Acquisition hadn’t been the intention on either side since the outset. Rather, Skype and GroupMe originally met to discuss possible partnerships. According to GroupMe’s official blog post about the news:
Over the last few months, we had been in talks with Skype that started with discussions about potential commercial partnerships. As we got to know the core Skype team better, though, and as our conversations evolved, it quickly became evident that our visions were perfectly aligned. Both companies are focused on changing the way the world communicates, and helping people stay in touch with the people they really know. With a shared vision—an ambitious one—we decided our efforts to own real-time communications and the real life network could be best executed as one company.
The newly announced acquisition is of extra interest because it comes five months after Facebook picked up the two-person team behind Beluga, another startup that had been developing a mobile group messaging application. A week and a half ago, the fruits of that acquisition came to light in the form of Facebook Messenger, a new app for Android and iPhone built specifically for mobile messaging.
That’s not all, though.
In early July, Facebook announced the launch of video chat on its own platform, made possible via a partnership with Skype. And largely unnoticed behind all of these workings is Microsoft, who not only bought Skype in May for $8.5 billion in cash but also owns a stake in Facebook.
If it ever could, it can no longer be denied: the Microsoft-Skype-Facebook complex is working diligently at controlling the mediums for social communication in the 21st century. Apple and Google: your move.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thailand Sees Higher Demand for Rice as Vietnam Sellers Cancel Deals
Demand for Thai rice has picked up as Vietnamese rice exporters cancel deals or force buyers to renegotiate contracts in the light of higher export prices, trading executives said.
The cancellations could lead to additional demand for Thai rice to the tune of about 100,000 metric tons (110,000 short tons) in the near term, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, managing director of major Thai exporter Huay Chuan Rice Co.
The cancellations could lead to additional demand for Thai rice to the tune of about 100,000 metric tons (110,000 short tons) in the near term, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, managing director of major Thai exporter Huay Chuan Rice Co.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday was a big day in mergers and acquisitions
Monday was a big day in mergers and acquisitions. Google (GOOG) bought Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $12.5 billion, Time Warner Cable (TWC) bought Insight Communications for $3 billion, Cargill purchased Provimi for $2.1 billion, and Transocean (RIG) offered a $1.43 billion bid for Aker Drilling. I believe Google was Monday's big winner followed by Transocean, if its bid closes. Time Warner Cable and Cargill both made good strategic acquisitions, but I do not believe they will get a lot of value with their moves. In this article, I analyze each of these four M&A events and provide insight on what each move means for today’s market.
The biggest acquisition announcement was Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility. The company paid a hefty premium of 63 percent and paid cash for the $12.5 billion acquisition. GOOG experienced a decrease of 1.16 percent and MMI’s shares increased at a whopping 55.73 percent. This move allows Google to enter the hardware industry and vertically integrate its position in the smartphone industry. This positions Google to better compete with Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone as it will be able to manufacture its own phones for the Android platform, although other smartphone makers will still be able to run the Android software. I was personally surprised by this move, and expected Microsoft to strike first with the acquisition of a phone maker since the Windows Phone is struggling and the company will have to make a strong strategic move if it hopes to improve market share. It is useless to evaluate this acquisition based on earnings since Motorola Mobility’s value is in its patents and it has not recorded a profit as of late. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft follows Google’s lead and acquires a phone manufacture, as the market speculated with the sharply rising stock prices of Research in Motion (RIMM) and Nokia (NOK).
Time Warner Cable purchased Insight Communications, a private cable provider, for $3 billion in cash. This example of horizontal integration allows Time Warner Cable to expand market reach and add 750,000 subscribers to its base of 14.5 million subscribers. TWC decreased by only 75 basis points, which shows how investors believe that this was a good acquisition. At a price of $4,000 per subscriber, I believe that this is a pretty high price to pay for expansion. However, with cable companies being in a mature market threatened by substitutes including Verizon (VZ), DirecTV (DTV), and Dish Network (DISH), I expect more cable companies to merge in the next couple years and cut costs to stay competitive.
The biggest acquisition announcement was Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility. The company paid a hefty premium of 63 percent and paid cash for the $12.5 billion acquisition. GOOG experienced a decrease of 1.16 percent and MMI’s shares increased at a whopping 55.73 percent. This move allows Google to enter the hardware industry and vertically integrate its position in the smartphone industry. This positions Google to better compete with Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone as it will be able to manufacture its own phones for the Android platform, although other smartphone makers will still be able to run the Android software. I was personally surprised by this move, and expected Microsoft to strike first with the acquisition of a phone maker since the Windows Phone is struggling and the company will have to make a strong strategic move if it hopes to improve market share. It is useless to evaluate this acquisition based on earnings since Motorola Mobility’s value is in its patents and it has not recorded a profit as of late. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft follows Google’s lead and acquires a phone manufacture, as the market speculated with the sharply rising stock prices of Research in Motion (RIMM) and Nokia (NOK).
Time Warner Cable purchased Insight Communications, a private cable provider, for $3 billion in cash. This example of horizontal integration allows Time Warner Cable to expand market reach and add 750,000 subscribers to its base of 14.5 million subscribers. TWC decreased by only 75 basis points, which shows how investors believe that this was a good acquisition. At a price of $4,000 per subscriber, I believe that this is a pretty high price to pay for expansion. However, with cable companies being in a mature market threatened by substitutes including Verizon (VZ), DirecTV (DTV), and Dish Network (DISH), I expect more cable companies to merge in the next couple years and cut costs to stay competitive.
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