Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Singapore's Factory Output Up Almost 20%
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
Singapore's industrial output grew 19.4% in June year-on-year as the electronics industry powered ahead, the government said July 26, underlining the city-state's already bright economic forecasts. June factory output was slightly lower than the 20.6% recorded in May but exceeded analyst forecasts of a 12.5% to 16.6% increase. "The strong performance in the various clusters, especially in electronics, propelled the upswing in June," the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in its report for June. Electronics, which accounts for half of total industrial output, grew 36.7% from a year earlier on the back of robust demand for semiconductors and communications products, the EDB said.
Singapore's industrial output grew 19.4% in June year-on-year as the electronics industry powered ahead, the government said July 26, underlining the city-state's already bright economic forecasts. June factory output was slightly lower than the 20.6% recorded in May but exceeded analyst forecasts of a 12.5% to 16.6% increase. "The strong performance in the various clusters, especially in electronics, propelled the upswing in June," the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in its report for June. Electronics, which accounts for half of total industrial output, grew 36.7% from a year earlier on the back of robust demand for semiconductors and communications products, the EDB said.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
U.S. Will Consider Quotas On Sock Imports From China
The U.S. administration has decided to consider a request from the domestic sock industry to impose quotas on imports of Chinese-made socks, the Commerce Department said July 21. The Commerce Department's Committee for Implementation of Textile Agreements "has determined that the request contains the information required to consider the request." The sock issue is the latest in a series of disputes between China and the United States, which has targeted Chinese furniture, lingerie, television sets and shrimp and has complained about the artificially low Chinese currency. The latest complaint was filed under the a provision of the so-called accession agreement admitting China to the World Trade Organization, allowing other WTO member countries to take actions against imports that could cause market disruption.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Surveys Show PC Sales Growing At Brisk Pace
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
Global sales of personal computers grew at a stronger-than-expected pace of 13% to 15% in the second quarter, two market research firms said. International Data Corp. (IDC), Framingham, Mass., said last week its quarterly survey showed that strong demand in Europe and better-than-expected results in Canada and Latin America boosted shipments to 39.7 million, representing 15% growth. A separate survey by Stamford, Conn.'s Gartner Inc. said its preliminary data showed worldwide PC shipments totaled 43 million units in the second quarter of 2004, a 13.3% increase over the same period last year.
Global sales of personal computers grew at a stronger-than-expected pace of 13% to 15% in the second quarter, two market research firms said. International Data Corp. (IDC), Framingham, Mass., said last week its quarterly survey showed that strong demand in Europe and better-than-expected results in Canada and Latin America boosted shipments to 39.7 million, representing 15% growth. A separate survey by Stamford, Conn.'s Gartner Inc. said its preliminary data showed worldwide PC shipments totaled 43 million units in the second quarter of 2004, a 13.3% increase over the same period last year.
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Study: Focus Shifting From Cost Control To Growth
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
A study of 244 senior executives from management consultants Accenture reveals 42% of respondents saying their companies will focus primarily on growth during the next year and only 18% saying cost control will be the primary focus. That's a shift from the 32% who say their companies primary focus now is on cost control and the 27% who relate that growth is the primary focus.
A study of 244 senior executives from management consultants Accenture reveals 42% of respondents saying their companies will focus primarily on growth during the next year and only 18% saying cost control will be the primary focus. That's a shift from the 32% who say their companies primary focus now is on cost control and the 27% who relate that growth is the primary focus.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Enron's Lay Proclaims Innocence
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
Former Enron chairman Ken Lay maintained his innocence and demanded a speedy trial July 8 after being charged in the accounting fraud that led to the collapse of the energy trading company he founded. "As CEO, I accept responsibility for Enron's collapse," he told reporters in a press conference following his arraignment at a Houston district court. "However, that does not mean that I knew everything that happened at Enron. I firmly reject any notion that I engaged in any wrongful or criminal activity." Lay termed the Enron collapse "an enormous tragedy" but maintained that the failure of the energy giant "does not equate to a crime."
Former Enron chairman Ken Lay maintained his innocence and demanded a speedy trial July 8 after being charged in the accounting fraud that led to the collapse of the energy trading company he founded. "As CEO, I accept responsibility for Enron's collapse," he told reporters in a press conference following his arraignment at a Houston district court. "However, that does not mean that I knew everything that happened at Enron. I firmly reject any notion that I engaged in any wrongful or criminal activity." Lay termed the Enron collapse "an enormous tragedy" but maintained that the failure of the energy giant "does not equate to a crime."
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Microsoft Pays $605 Million Fine
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
U.S. software giant Microsoft has paid a fine of 497 million euros ($605 million) imposed on it by the European Commission in March for having abused its dominant market position, a commission spokeswoman said July 1. Microsoft paid the fine even though it has appealed to the European court of justice to cancel it and was seeking suspension of corrective measures imposed by the commission to re-establish competition on the European software market.
U.S. software giant Microsoft has paid a fine of 497 million euros ($605 million) imposed on it by the European Commission in March for having abused its dominant market position, a commission spokeswoman said July 1. Microsoft paid the fine even though it has appealed to the European court of justice to cancel it and was seeking suspension of corrective measures imposed by the commission to re-establish competition on the European software market.
