Archive for July 2012

Cole-Parmer Releases Biofuel Series of Catalogs











Vernon Hills, IL (PRWEB) July 30, 2012

With the release of Bioethanol, the third in a series of Biofuel catalogs from Cole-Parmer, customers have resources to choose testing equipment that helps them meet ASTM standards. Along with key testing products, the catalogs detail which specifications of ASTM apply and what is needed to pass the test methods.

The Biodiesel catalog includes critical information for meeting ASTM D6751. Biodiesel fuel blend stock (B100) is comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel fuel is normally produced from a reaction between vegetable oil or animal fat and methanol or ethanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce mono-alkyl esters and glycerin, which is removed. The biodiesel product attributes approximately 10% of its mass from the reacted alcohol. The catalog includes copper corrosion test baths, carbon residue furnaces, density meters, and much more to meet testing requirements.

The Biodiesel Blend catalog references ASTM D7467 for Diesel Fuel Oil, Biodiesel Blend (B6 to B20). These fuels blend grade of 6 to 20 volume percent biodiesel with light middle or middle distillate diesel fuel. The biodiesel component of the blend must conform to the requirements of ASTM D6751, Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels. Find a selection of equipment including analyzers, viscosity baths, oil test centrifuges, manual flash point testers, and much more.

The Bioethanol catalog contains information to meet ASTM D4806 requirements. This specification relates to nominally anhydrous denatured fuel ethanol intended to be blended with unleaded or leaded gasolines at 1 to 10% for use as automotive spark-ignition engine fuel. The denatured fuel ethanol must be visually free of sediment and suspended matter, and be clear and bright at ambient temperature or 21°C. Choose from titrators, spectrophotometers, existent gum test baths, and much more.

For more information, call 800-323-4340 or visit coleparmer.com/Category/Biofuels/59179.

Cole-Parmer has been a leading global source of laboratory and industrial fluid handling products, instrumentation, equipment, and supplies since 1955. Our product lines, including popular brand names such as Masterflex®, Oakton®, and more, are sold through company-owned customer channel outlets and a strong network of international dealers. We also feature an ISO-17025-accredited metrology lab for instrument calibration and repair. Cole-Parmer responds with excellence to customer needs, and offers application expertise and technical support. For more information, contact Cole-Parmer, 625 East Bunker Court, Vernon Hills, IL 60061. In the US, call 800-323-4340. International customers, call 847-549-7600. Visit us at http://www.coleparmer.com.
























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More Derivatives Press Releases

Food And Beverage Exports Grew By 29% From January To March 2012, Versus The First Quarter Of 2011










Guatemala (PRWEB) July 27, 2012

The food and beverage sector has been characterized as one of the leaders in export growth. In the past two decades, has grown from U.S. $ 50 million to over $ 800 million, showing a constant increase the food industry, followed by the beverage industry.

Over the past 5 years, the food and beverage sector has had an average growth of 18%. This is the result of many efforts, especially to be aware of the importance of innovation, quality and added value that Guatemala has given to its agricultural production to position itself in international markets, specialized technical training to strengthen businesses and allow them to have a skilled labor has generated new products, new markets and especially more jobs in the industry, explained the President of Food Commission, Francisco José Menéndez.

The food industry consists of 6 sub-sectors integrated as follows: 20% of beverages, 20% of preserved food, 15% of baking, 10% of candies, 8% of dairy and 27% of other processed foods. Together generate about 15 thousand direct jobs, of which more than 3 thousand are women.

80% of jobs generated by the food sector are located in the Capital City, however, the dynamism of the sector is linked to the agricultural sector due to the entrepreneurship of SMEs giving added value to food and open the doors to new markets, said Menéndez.

Entrepreneurs, optimistic about sustained growth and opening up market opportunities in Central America, Mexico, Europe and U.S., have launched the goal of reaching the billion dollars in foreign sales. To achieve this, the sector has been working since 2011 on specific export guidelines to facilitate and adequate information in order to promote new export projects.

According to the director of the commission, these guides are aimed at companies that start in exports, which seek market diversification projects, which intend to export to Mexico and/or the United States on a sustained basis. However, the project comprises three more guides: Central America, Panama and a destination country to be defined in 2013.

Among others, to define these markets, we did the analysis of which represented growth accounted for Guatemalan companies from the food and beverages sector. Definitely, Mexico and the United States are our main markets, after the Central American region and therefore, we seek to strengthen the SMEs to seize them and invite entrepreneurs to know more fully the opportunities of these countries, declared Menéndez.

From finding the terminology used in International Trade, economic data, consumers, Trade Balance, whether from Mexico or the United States, in addition to the top 25 products imported and exported by each sector of these countries. This is the information business operators of food and beverage will find on the export guides mentioned.

What we want eventually is that companies count on different market guides to enable them to consider diversification, new opportunities and actions that promote the export of products of the sector and thus, we can provide to SMEs a greater opportunity for growth, because that results in more foreign earnings, more employment opportunities, more dynamism on the incorporation of all exporting sectors, as it has been for the last 30 years in AGEXPORT, concluded Menéndez.











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Article by Lucile Taylor
























Every day, goods and services are being sold across national borders. And just as businesses at home are subjected to a myriad of laws, regulations, restrictions and special agreements, so are businesses in the international market.

In fact, international business law is way more complex than domestic laws. While international business laws are presumed to be embraced by the latter (under the Doctrine of Incorporation adopted by most countries), there is a great possibility that a conflict would arise between the two laws.

International transactions are governed by such international business laws as unilateral measures (meaning nation or domestic laws), bilateral relationships (such as the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement), multilateral arrangements (like the GATT and the WTO), and regional agreements (including NAFTA and MERCOSUR). The international businessman needs to arm himself with some basic knowledge of these laws in order to conduct his business in foreign countries.

Below are some tips to help you conduct research on international business laws that may be relevant to your enterprise:

Locate Relevant Treaties

Most international business laws are based on treaties. So the first step in researching relevant international business laws is to locate these treaties.

Many international organizations that focus on trade and international business transactions provide useful resources in addition to the full text of international agreements. Alternatively, you can also try searching US governmental agencies that assist companies with import and export ventures.

If you don’t the names of these governmental agencies or you don’t know where to find their websites, you can start by consulting online guides that contain links to these sites. Pages that contain a list of links are particularly useful for someone who is very new to international business law.

Where to Find Full-Text of International Agreements

The information you will find from the resources given above are often very basic. Most of the time, they contain information on how one particular international business law is applied. If you want to get a copy of the full text of the international agreement on which the guide is based on, then you need to find sites that contain collections of the international business law provisions.

Here are some sites that you can start with:

* Lex Mercatoria (Jus.UIO.no/lm/index.html)* Trade and Commercial Relations (Fletcher.Tufts.edu/multilaterals.html)* Texts of Trade Agreements (Sice.OAS.org/tradee.asp)* Trade and Related Agreements (Mac.doc.gov/Tcc/DATA/index.html)* Private International Law Database (State.gov/s/l/index.cfm?id=3450)* UN Treaty Collection (UNTreaty.un.org)

Find Specific International Business Law

Aside from the above resources, you can also narrow your search down to a specific trading agreement. There are many organizations or secretariats that keep websites aimed at providing information on particular international business laws. Some of these sites are the following:

* Andean Community (ComunidadAndina.org/endex.htm)* CARICOM (CARICOM.org)* European Free Trade Association (Secretariat.EFTA.int/EFTA)

Please check out Content-Articles.com for useful tips and info about Retail and Sales.

About the Author

Lucile Taylor writes for Content-Articles.com, a site full of helpful insight about Business Entity Types and Sole Proprietorship.












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Farm Chemicals International Announces Launch of New and Improved Website











Willoughby, Ohio (PRWEB) July 27, 2012

The global agrochemicals market is now at your fingertips with the launch of FarmChemicalsInternational.com. This new, completely redesigned site is created with the user in mind, making it easier than ever for manufacturers, formulators and distributors to stay ahead of the competition. Focused navigation is the gateway to the most searched topics in the industry—crop inputs, world markets and FCI Trade Summits. Also available is the searchable Crop Protection Database, which covers over 2,000 active ingredients, 12,000 trade names and 400 suppliers.

In the future, the website will be the new home for information on FCI Trade Summits. News coverage will include past and upcoming events for localities such as Africa, America and Asia. Users will be able to register, book accommodations, and peruse participant profiles in this section.

Visitors can focus in on areas of primary importance to them by drilling down to hub sections packed with related content. Hubs span the gamut of crop protection products from fertilizers to biologicals and beyond. World markets are broken down into important global regions such as America, China and Europe, to name a few. Throughout the site, users can catch up on key events, news and latest developments from the world’s leading trade associations.

An innovative search engine brings back results organized by relevance, date and video. Categories such as Latest News, Most Viewed and Most Commented quickly allow visitors to see the most current and talked-about topics. Plenty of opportunities are available for interaction with peers through email, print, polls and social media.

The new site draws content from integrated, cross-market resources, as well as Farm Chemicals International magazine. Audiences that tested the beta version of the website applauded the new interface. “The site is very informative. The articles are well categorized,” one user said. Another tester stated, “I love the video feature. The social media section is awesome.”

About Farm Chemicals International:

Farm Chemicals International creates real and virtual communities around crop input manufacturers, distributors, trading companies and registration consultants through its coverage and analysis of crop production news and trends, as well as coverage of trade policies, agronomic practices, crop reports, regulatory issues, company profiles and personality profiles of the world’s most influential agriculture entrepreneurs and advocates for modern agriculture.

About Meister Media Worldwide:

Meister Media Worldwide, headquartered in Willoughby, Ohio, provides integrated media solutions for worldwide specialized agriculture. A leader in the industry, the company provides information and networking opportunities to global markets, including fruits and citrus, vegetables, cotton, ornamental horticulture, precision agriculture, plant protection and Latin American agriculture. Founded in 1932, Meister Media Worldwide now produces 13 regular magazines, along with eNewsletters and more than 20 websites, as well as trade shows and exchange events. In addition, Meister produces custom print products, web development, videos and strategic business development services. Contact us at http://www.meistermedia.com.











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Zuberance to Host August 1 Webinar, “Top 5 Myths of Brand Advocacy Revealed”











Expert Speakers


San Carlos, CA (PRWEB) July 26, 2012

Date: Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Time: 11:00 AM PST/ 2:00 PM EST

Join the conversation on Twitter: #BrandAdvocates

Click here to register now.

Brand Advocacy is hot! According to a recent IBM study, brand advocacy is the #1 priority for CMO’s globally. As forward-thinking marketers are developing strategies to find and activate their most enthusiastic customers, it’s important to put to rest some myths surrounding advocacy. This webinar will address what it takes to run a successful advocacy program and the characteristics and motivations of Brand Advocates. (Do you know what Advocates crave most? Here’s a hint: It isn’t money.)

What You’ll Learn:

    Surprising insights about who Brand Advocates are and what makes them tick
    Best practices for engaging and energizing this influential segment to drive leads and sales
    How to measure the impact from brand advocacy programs
    Real world case studies from top brands like Ancestry.com, Rubio’s, and Intuit

Expert Speakers:

Nick Cifuentes, Global Social Media Director, Ancestry.com (@NickCifuentes)

Nick Cifuentes is the global social media director at Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, with more than 2 million paying subscribers as of July 2012. An industry veteran, Nick has worked in digital media and marketing since 2004, functioning in strategy, copywriting, analytics, search, planning, online media, and social media. He is a frequent guest writer on various industry blogs, and publishes his own blogs as well, including one focusing on digital media, and another on his side passion, ultramarathon running.

Rob Fuggetta, Founder/CEO, Zuberance (@RobFuggetta)

Rob Fuggetta is the leading expert on brand advocacy. He is a former partner at Regis McKenna Inc., the legendary marketing and communications firm where he co-managed the Apple account. He later became CMO at Genuity, a Verizon spin-out which went public in June 2000. Fuggetta is the author of “Brand Advocates: Turning Enthusiastic Customers into a Powerful Marketing Force,” published by John Wiley & Sons.

Bonus! 10 webinar attendees will win a copy of Rob Fuggetta’s new book, “Brand Advocates: Turning Enthusiastic Customers into a Powerful Marketing Force.”

Click here to register now.

About Zuberance

Zuberance is the leading social media marketing company focused on Brand Advocates. Zuberance’s award-winning social media marketing solution enables companies to systematically identify and energize their highly-satisfied customers (AKA “Brand Advocates”), driving measurable increases in referral leads, recommendations, and revenues. For more information, visit http://www.zuberance.com or follow Zuberance on Twitter @zuberance. Zuberance is a member of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA.)






















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Workable Solutions Takes Insurance Exchanges to the Next Level












Orlando, FL (PRWEB) July 25, 2012

Most of the general population is just becoming familiar with health insurance exchanges (HIX) because of the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that requires each state to administer one, but insurance exchanges have a much longer history. Workable Solutions has been a part of that history since 1997 and continues to influence the evolution of private health insurance exchanges.

Workable Solutions’ latest endeavor, scheduled to be released late this summer, is sure to be a turning point for health insurance exchanges going forward. Their latest web-based platform is designed to combine the best features of online shopping with the latest employee benefits solutions. The new exchange solution is called Workable Choice.

Different than the exchanges of yesteryear, recommendation engines use profiling questions and filtering to recommend plans that are custom-tailored for each individual based on health status, family composition, financial situation and risk tolerance. 

Terry McCorvie, now president of Workable Solutions, was the executive director of the Community Health Purchasing Alliance (CHPA). CHPA was one of the first quasi-governmental exchanges in the mid-1990s. “Back then we were dealing with mountains of paper and that prevented the Exchanges from being efficient.” McCorvie says. “With today’s technology tools, consumers can narrow available plans to find the best match and complete their enrollment in less than 15 minutes.”

Workable Choice will seem lightyears ahead of those first insurance exchanges of the 90s. The exchange model of Workable Choice is one that allows the comparison of quality and access, not just prices. The thoughtfully prepared user interface allows users to control the experience. Users that want to know all the details of the plans can utilize the educational resources, while the users who want to sign up for their benefits as quickly as possible can still be matched with an appropriate plan very quickly.

Employers will also appreciate all the features of a modern exchange. Workable Choice presents employers with online billing and electronic payment options that allow employers to make one monthly payment, no matter how many different insurance plans are selected by their employees. Workable Choice also tracks defined contributions from employers that employees use to make purchases through the exchange. The defined contribution exchange helps employers set a fixed employee benefits budget.

Workable Choice offers benefit products beyond health insurance. The product mix can include tax-advantaged savings options like health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. Workable Solutions’ technical team uses advanced database development tools to provide a single point of education, selection and enrollment for the full menu of available benefit options. This ensures optimal functionality and allows the insurance exchange to be completely customized to meet the needs of the client. “Health insurance is complicated enough. We firmly believe our tools for exchanges create more informed consumers and that fosters higher satisfaction.”

Workable Solutions is based in Orlando, FL and provides a full array of employee benefit solutions including HSA, HRA, FSA and commuter accounts, COBRA administration, benefits administration outsourcing, defined contribution solutions, and health insurance exchange technology and administration. Their Workable Choice Exchange application provides plan selection assistance, comparison-shopping technology, eligibility management, enrollment, consolidated billing, and more. Workable also offers a myriad of defined contribution options, which allow employers to control their employee health care costs while giving their employees greater choice and flexibility.











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Related General Press Releases

Gold Coast Australia wins Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race











Gold Coast Australia wins Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race

Southampton, England (PRWEB UK) 24 July 2012

It was a spectacular scene today as thousands of people turned out to watch the winning crew on board Gold Coast Australia arrive back in Southampton, England at the end of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race. The Australian entry won the race overall securing a podium in all 15 races around the world.

For the non-professional crew on board all ten ocean racing yachts, the return to Southampton marks the end of a 40,000-mile challenge of a lifetime.

The victorious Clipper Race entry Gold Coast Australia crossed the final finish line of Race 15 at 0407 GMT. Founder and Chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo non-stop around the world, led a parade of sail on Southampton Water to welcome back the fleet of ten identical racing yachts after 51 weeks at sea.

Tasmanian skipper Richard Hewson and his crew proudly stood on the helm of the Clipper Race yacht as thousands of people applauded the victorious Australian team. On the emotional return to Ocean Village Marina, Richard described his teams’ enormous achievement,

“It has been an amazing adventure. From the start we’ve had plans to dominate the race and we’ve definitely done that. It’s been very competitive and we’ve been racing against some fantastic teams and have had very tough competition all the way.

“We’ve achieved so much more than we ever set out to, won so many races and podiums, but to stand on the stage as overall winners at Race Finish is unbelievable. The fantastic crew of Gold Coast Australia, amazing support from our sponsor and followers have all been part of making this happen,” said Richard Hewson before accepting the winning trophy on stage.

All day thousands of people lined the dockside of Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, England to welcome home the crews after a gruelling challenge lasting nearly a year, that has seen them take on the world’s largest and most formidable oceans, endured violent storms and frustrating calms, extreme heat and bone-numbing cold while racing ferociously to win.

Gold Coast Australia came first in the final race from Den Helder to Southampton, making it fifteen podium places out of fifteen possible in the world’s longest yacht race.

Today’s Race Finish was a particularly emotional moment for round the world crew member Lisa Blair. The 27-year-old Queenslander who swapped her job as a Sales Assistant to sail around the world, is now part of the unique group of people in the world able to call themselves a circumnavigator.

“I feel fantastic. It has been such an amazing morning, with so many people here welcoming us in. It is the end of my circumnavigation and it hasn’t sunk in at all.

“It’s been an emotional ride but it’s been fantastic and my fellow crew members have become like family.

“I hope to take away from this journey a career in sailing. The Clipper Race has given me the sailing skills I need to go professional in the sailing industry so that’s something I am definitely looking to pursue.”

People from all walks of life, nationalities and ages can be part of the Clipper Race. Reflecting on ordinary people achieving something extraordinary, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston applauded their achievement, as the nearly twelve months at sea today concluded.

“All the crew members have achieved something special with their lives. They have ventured out across the oceans of the world facing nature in the raw, whether it be the stifling heat and calms of the doldrums or the ferocious storms of the North Pacific and Southern Oceans. They have become great seaman and should all be justifiably proud of their achievement,” the 73-year-old sailing legend said.

The Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race is the eighth edition of the world’s longest race, visiting 15 ports of call on six continents. It is also the last race on the Clipper 68-foot yachts, as a brand new fleet of twelve identical 70-foot racing yachts will be launched for the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race. Since the race started more than 4,000 people from all walks of life have participated in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images

Low resolution images of Gold Coast Australia at Race Finish are attached. High resolution official images from Clipper 11-12 are available free for editorial use at:

http://www.w-w-i.com/clipper_1112_race/

Broadcast footage

Broadcast footage is available to download free for editorial use at:

http://www.clipperbroadcast.com

For further information log onto http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com


Overall standings for the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race

1. Gold Coast Australia         151 points

2. Visit Finland            103 points            

3. Singapore            101 points

4. De Lage Landen        99 points

5. Welcome to Yorkshire        86 points

6. Geraldton Western Australia     77 points

7. New York                                  77 points

8. Derry-Londonderry        62 points

9. Qingdao            58 points

10. Edinburgh Inspiring Capital    40 points

For media information or interviews please contact:

Isabel Hokken, PR Manager

UK mobile: +44 (0) 7793 417 751

Tel: +44 (0) 2392 526000

Email: ihokken(at)clipper-ventures(dot)com

Ruth Harrington, PR Officer

UK mobile: +44 (0) 7792 408 695

Office: +44 (0) 2392 526000

Email: rharrington(at)clipper-ventures(dot)com

Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race started on 31 July 2011 from Southampton on the UK’s south coast and will return to the city in July 2012 after 40,000 miles of ocean racing – the world’s longest ocean race. The event was established by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to give everyone, regardless of sailing experience, the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of ocean racing. More than 500 people representing more than 40 nations will compete in Clipper 11-12. They can sign up for the whole circumnavigation or one or more of eight legs. The only qualification for the race is the minimum age of 18 – there is no upper age limit. The overall race is divided into individual stages and points are accumulated in a Formula 1-style scoring system. The yacht with the highest total at the finish wins the Clipper Trophy.

About Clipper Ventures Plc

More than 40 years have gone by since Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s record breaking solo and non-stop circumnavigation in 1968-69. Now, as Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc, he is at the forefront of promoting round the world yacht racing. Clipper Ventures, the marine events company founded in 1995, is focused on developing and promoting major events capable of attracting significant participation, income, media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue. Sir Robin founded the company on the premise that sailing should be made available to everyone, regardless of age or experience. Almost 3,000 people have now competed in the seven editions of the Clipper Race to date. The company also owns the rights to the VELUX 5 OCEANS race and runs successful Events and Training divisions.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is the Executive Chairman and founder Director of Clipper Ventures Plc. Sir Robin has been involved in sailing all his life and holds a Department of Transport Master’s Certificate. He is the first person to sail solo and non-stop around the world and has also set the record for the fastest circumnavigation with Sir Peter Blake. In 2007 he completed his second solo circumnavigation when he competed in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race. Sir Robin has considerable experience of the administration of round the world races having served on the Whitbread Race committee from 1990 to 1994 and having organised the BOC Challenge Round the World Race in 1982 and 1986. He has been named RYA/YJA Yachtsman of the Year an unprecedented three times and participated in the 2010 Sydney-Hobart race at the age of 71.























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Mind the (age) gap: House price sentiment deteriorates in July as over and under-45s diverge on outlook for prices











Knight Frank


London, UK (PRWEB UK) 20 July 2012

The Knight Frank/Markit’s House Price Sentiment Index signals that average house prices fell again in June.

Around 17% of households said the price of their home declined, while 8% said the value of their property rose.

The resulting HPSI figure is 45.6, down from 46.3 in June, and marking the 25th consecutive month that households perceive the value of their property has fallen.

Any figure under 50 indicates that prices are falling, and the lower the figure, the steeper the decline. Any figure over 50 indicates that prices are rising.

The survey of 1,500 households across the UK showed that London (51.0) was the only region where households felt the value of their home had risen over the past month, albeit very slightly.

In contrast, households in the other ten regions all reported house price falls. However the North-South divide was less clear-cut, with households in the East Midlands (41.6) reporting the biggest falls in prices, in comparison to less pronounced declines in the North West (44.8). However the price falls were more modest in the East of England (48.4).

A lead indicator

Since the inception of the HPSI, the index has been a clear lead indicator for house price trends.

Figure 3 (see attached PDF) shows that the index moves ahead of mainstream house price indices, confirming the advantage of an opinion-based survey which provides a current view on household sentiment, rather than historic evidence from transactions or mortgage market evidence.

Outlook for house prices

The future HPSI (figure 2), which measures what households think will happen to the value of their property over the next year, fell in July, although it remained in positive territory. Around 29% of households anticipate a rise in the value of their home over the next 12 months, compared with 25% expecting a decline. The resulting index reading is 51.9, down from June’s reading of 53.1 and marking the third decline in the last four months.

Regional outlook

Expectations for house price rises were recorded in only six of the 11 regions in June, the lowest count since March. Respondents in London remain the most upbeat, with the measure of expectations in the capital rising from 60.2 to 63.5. This was the only region where expectations that house prices would rise gained momentum apart from Wales, where the measure also rose from 54.3 to 56.2. But expectations reversed sharply in Yorkshire and the Humber (from 52.0 to 37.9), hitting the lowest level since March 2009.

Mirroring the fall in sentiment about current house prices in the East Midlands, the outlook for house prices also dropped from 52.6 to 48.5 in this region.

Household variations

There is a marked difference in outlook for house prices among those who are under and over 45 years old.

All age-groups under 45 expect house prices to rise over the next 12 months, while all of those aged over 45 expect prices to fall. This indicates broadly that established homeowners are more downbeat than recent purchasers and renters about the future movement of property prices.

But this assumption is blurred slightly by additional data which shows that while those who own their home outright expect house prices to fall over the next year (46.6), mortgage borrowers, who are benefitting from low repayments, tip prices to rise (53.1) albeit at a slower pace than in June (56.9).

Those in private rented property and living rent-free at home (54.8, 54.3) also expect price rises over the next year, perhaps reflecting the difficulties they face to climb on to the housing ladder.

Gráinne Gilmore, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank, said: “There has been a marked decline in sentiment about current and future house prices in July. This coincides with worsening data from the UK and Eurozone economies, which has weighed on confidence in all corners of the country. ”

“The age ‘gap’ between those over and under 45 is perhaps some reflection of how the economic developments are affecting those at different times of their life. It is typically older homeowners who own their house outright or who have paid off a significant chunk of their mortgage.

“These households seem to be preparing themselves for an erosion of the value of their asset as house prices fall. In contrast, younger families and individuals face an uphill battle to move home or get on to the housing ladder, and if prices rise as they expect, this will exacerbate their problems.

“It seems all age groups are pessimistic about house price movements working in their favour.”

Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit, said: “Twice as many households reported a drop in their property value as those that saw a rise in July, and the national balance would have been far lower without the positivity recorded in London.

“Looking ahead, the survey shows that house price expectations in the capital have long been detached from the rest of the UK. However, perhaps the most notable development in July was a split between sentiment across the older and younger age groups, with only the latter forecasting price rises.

“Given the on-going squeeze on mortgage finance available to first time buyers and those with low housing equity, older households are especially dominant in the property market at present.

“The survey indicates that this cohort were ‘ahead of the game’ in seeing the end of the property rebound during 2010.

Older households are traditionally viewed as mainly driving parts of the market affected by downsizing trends but, with their overrepresentation in current transactions and the shortage of new mortgage lending, it will be interesting to see if their expectations translate into a useful bellwether for the wider property sector.”

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Knight Frank

Rosie Cade, PR Manager

rosie.cade(at)knightfrank.com

020 7861 1068

Gráinne Gilmore, Head of UK Residential Research

grainne.gilmore(at)knightfrank.com

020 7861 5102

07785 527 145

Markit

Caroline Lumley, Director, Corporate Communications

Caroline.Lumley(at)markit.com

020 7260 2047

Chris Williamson, Chief Economist

chris.williamson(at)markit.com

0779 5555061

Notes to editors

About the HPSI

The Knight Frank/Markit House Price Sentiment Index (HPSI) survey was first conducted in February 2009 and is compiled each month by Markit.

The survey is based on monthly responses from approximately 1,500 individuals in Great Britain, with data collected by Ipsos MORI from its panel of respondents aged 18-64. The survey sample is structured according to gender, region and age to ensure the survey results accurately reflect the true composition of the population. Results are also weighted to further improve representativeness.

Prior to September 2010, the Household Finance Index was jointly compiled by YouGov and Markit based on monthly responses from over 2,000 UK households, with data collected online by YouGovplc from its representative panel of respondents aged 18 and above. The panel was structured according to income, region and age to ensure the survey results accurately reflected the true composition of the UK population. Results were also weighted to further improve representativeness.

Index numbers

Index numbers are calculated from the percentages of respondents reporting an improvement, no change or decline. These indices vary between 0 and 100 with readings of exactly 50.0 signalling no change on the previous month. Readings above 50.0 signal an increase or improvement; readings below 50.0 signal a decline or deterioration.

IpsosMORI technical details (July survey)

Ipsos MORI interviewed 1500 adults aged 18-64 across Great Britain from its online panel of respondents. Interviews were conducted online between 13th – 16thJuly 2012. A representative sample of adults was interviewed with quota controls set by gender, age and region and the resultant survey data weighted to the known GB profile of this audience by gender, age, region and household income. Ipsos MORI was responsible for the fieldwork and data collection only and not responsible for the analysis, reporting or interpretation of the survey results.

About Knight Frank

Knight Frank LLP is the leading independent global property consultancy. Headquartered in London, Knight Frank and its New York based global partner, Newmark Knight Frank, operate from 209 offices, in 47 countries, across six continents. More than 6,840 professionals handle in excess of US$ 755 billion (£521 billion) worth of commercial, agricultural and residential real estate annually, advising clients ranging from individual owners and buyers to major developers, investors and corporate tenants.

For further information about the Company, please visit http://www.knightfrank.com. For the latest news, views and analysis on the world of prime property visit Knight Frank’s new website Global Briefing. And follow us on twitter @kfglobalbrief and @knightfrank.

About Markit

Markit is a leading, global financial information services company with over 2,000 employees. The company provides independent data, valuations and trade processing across all asset classes in order to enhance transparency, reduce risk and improve operational efficiency. Its client base includes the most significant institutional participants in the financial market place. For more information please see http://www.markit.com

The intellectual property rights to the HPSI provided herein is owned by Markit Economics Limited. Any unauthorised use, including but not limited to copying, distributing, transmitting or otherwise of any data appearing is not permitted without Markit’s prior consent. Markit shall not have any liability, duty or obligation for or relating to the content or information (“data”) contained herein, any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or delays in the data, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. In no event shall Markit be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, arising out of the use of the data. Markit and the Markit logo are registered trade marks of Markit Group Limited.











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Article by Komalpateledu
























“Time and tide wait for no man”, goes a much clichéd saying. There are certain matters that need to be done or decided only at a particular period or at the right time. One among these matters is ‘career options ‘.

It is a fact that students need to decide about their career options at the right time and if not done so, they may regret throughout their lives. No doubt, some students choose their career options at the right time. However, do they choose the ‘right’ career option at the ‘right’ time? Teachers and career counselors should ask this important question to students.

A right career choice is nothing but a career that suits a student’s personality, aptitude and interest. It is a fact that many students get confused on matters related to their career. A tenth or twelfth standard is the right time for choosing a career option. It is also very important to note that, it is during this stage that students become very vulnerable to many ‘influences’. The same also goes for matters related to their career choices. Film characters, friends and other elements usually influence students. Some parents also force their children’s to follow a career of their choice. Therefore, parents and students need to understand the fact that career should be made, based on the three mentioned factors so that they can enjoy their job and reap the best benefits from their career choices.

In order to make matters easier, students can take a career assessment test. This particular test will assess a student’s interests, aptitude and personality. Students who take this test must answer several objective type questions and based on the answers, a career counselor will suggest the right career for the students.

Students and parents may still be skeptical about veracity of the career assessment test and the result. However, it is very important to note that a few renowned career-counseling companies are equipped with expert career counselors and these counselors use reliable psychological methods coupled with statistical tools in order to give a precise result.

The career assessment test may suggest a student more than one career choices. Students need to know that the test will reflect a student’s interest, which may be more than one. For example, a student who is interested in preparing various dishes may also be inclined towards music and dance. However, students should know that if you opt for any one of the career options that the test result suggests, they will never regret in the future.


About the Author

Komal Patel is Indian based writer who writes study abroad blog to give proper career guidance for students willing to study abroad.












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Produced By Michael Ellis New Creation Enterprises/ MKE Entertainment Michael Ellis, pioneer of “Spanish Reggae”, founder of the “Reggaeton Movement”, creator/founder of New Creation Records – (47 Charles Street, New York, NY), where artists such as Edgardo Franco aka “El General”, Smooth the Hustler, Pesos, Tricky, El Profeta, Carlitio Soul, Owie Irie and Frank Bent aka “Killer Ranks” were born. New Creation was a grammy winning organization that changed the face of the music industry forever.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Disclaimer: All music was used with permission from its publishers. Song: The General by Dispatch. Rate it even if you hate it! Album is Bang Bang Lyrics: There was a decorated General with a heart of gold That likened him to all the stories he told Of past battles won and lost and legends of old A seasoned veteran in his own time On the battlefield he gained respectable fame With many metals of bravery and stripes to his name He grew a beard as soon as he could to cover the scars on his face And always urged his men on But on the eve of great battle with the infantry in dream The old general tossed in his sleep and wrestled with its meaning He awoke from the night just to tell what he had seen And walked slowly out of his tent All the men held tall with their chests in the air With the courage in their blood and a fire in their stare And it was a gray morning and they all wondered how they would fare Till the old general told them to go home Chorus: He said, I have seen the others and I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting And I’ve have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I’m going So, take your shower, shine your shoes You got no time to lose You are young men you must be living Take your shower, shine your shoes Well, you got no time to lose You are young men you must be living Go now you are forgiven But the men stood fast with their guns on their shoulders Not knowing what to do with the contradicting orders The general said he
Video Rating: 4 / 5