25th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards: Winners And Celebs At The Event (PHOTOS)

Photo: Reuters

25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards: Winners and Celebs at the Event

Singer Katy Perry arrives at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 31, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

HP unveils ProBook laptop line

Hewlett-Packard Co, the world's top PC maker, is launching a new line of inexpensive business laptops with fresh features targeting users at small and medium-size companies.

The HP ProBook s-series, which starts shipping globally on Tuesday, is the company's new mainstream business notebook, following the release of its higher-end, lightweight EliteBook line last year.

The ProBook replaces the HP Compaq line, although the Compaq name will continue to be used as a master brand name in other PCs.

The ProBook offers users a number of new features, including an optional Linux-based operating system pre-installed -- Novell Inc's SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 -- for those seeking an alternative to the dominant Microsoft Corp Windows platform.

It is HP's first-ever Linux pre-install on a standard business laptop, the company said. The PC maker does offer some netbooks with Linux.

It's pretty much a natural evolution, said Carol Hess- Nickels, HP's director of marketing for worldwide business notebooks.

We want to provide a different option ... it's probably a little time yet before we'll know exactly what the demand is, but we did think it was something worth trying.

The ProBooks come with 14-inch, 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch screen sizes, with prices starting at $529. In another first for an HP business notebook, buyers will be able to add a color finish -- merlot -- if they choose.

Some models will also feature Qualcomm Inc's Gobi technology, allowing them to use a single module to access different mobile broadband network technologies and mobile operators.

HP will also bring higher-end durability features, like its 3D DriveGuard -- which protects the hard drive if a laptop is dropped -- and a spill-resistant keyboard to the ProBook.

HP is the world's No. 1 PC vendor, with a first-quarter global market share of more than 20 percent, according to research house IDC, well ahead of second-place Dell Inc. HP also took over the top spot in the U.S. market from Dell in the first quarter.

The shares of Palo Alto, California-based HP closed the regular session down 35 cents at $35.45 on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; Editing by Andre Grenon)

Photo: Reuters

Forex Trading ideas for AUD/USD

 

AUD-USD @ 0.9983/86...Important Resistance in 1.0015-25 region

R: 1.0015-25 / 1.0100 / 1.0180-0200 S: 0.9900-0.9880 / 0.9850 / 0.9800   Aussie has risen as expected during the day and has come off from its high of 1.0005. There is very important Resistance in 1.0015-25 region a strong break above which will have to be seen for the current upmove to continue. A break above 1.0025 might take the pair up towards 1.0150-0200. If this Resistance holds then there is a chance of a pull back towards 0.9900 in the coming session. However, there is Support in 0.9900-9875 region which is expected to hold incase a pull back is seen in the US session today. As such a dip towards 0.9900-9875 Support region can be considered for taking Long positions once again. Holding: AUD 10K Long at 0.9935 , TSL 0.9940, TP 1.0050 As soon as the market trades 1.0030 bring TSL up to 0.9990 Limit Buy Order: Buy AUD 10K at 0.9920, SL 0.9840, TP Open Happy Trading!

 

Photo: Reuters

Forex: British Pound Extends Advance as U.K. Consumer Prices Soar 3.7 Percent

Talking Points

•  Japanese Yen: Mixed Across The Board
•  British Pound: Inflation Climbs to the Highest Level Since April
•  Euro: Rallies Against All Major Currencies on the back of Risk Appetite
•  U.S. Dollar: Empire Manufacturing on Tap

The British pound extended its gains against most major currencies on Tuesday as U.K. consumer prices rose an annualized 3.7 percent in December after climbing 3.3 percent the month prior amid economists' expectations of 3.4 percent. Inflation in the U.K. now stands at its highest level since April of 2010 and will likely remain above the Bank of England's 3 percent limit in the near term due to the increase in value added taxes. It is worth noting that core consumer prices which include food, energy, alcohol and tobacco prices advanced an annualized 2.9 percent. Today's release is of great importance due to the fact that it precedes the Bank of England minutes which will be released on January 26th. Indeed, the central bank kept its key overnight lending rate and asset purchase target unchanged at 0.50 percent and 200 billion pounds for the month of January. In turn, the minutes will provide market participants with color to the bleak picture as policy makers stand ready to respond in either direction. All in all, the British pound is likely to continue its northern journey in the short term, but traders should caution a much needed correction in the currency, which may come on the back of the jobless claims report which will be released tomorrow at 9:30 GMT.

Meanwhile, the euro pushed higher against all of its major counterparts during the overnight trade as risk appetite continues to regain its footing in light the earnings season and continued speculation that the euro zone finance ministers will expand the region's financial stability fund. However, yesterday's meeting among a smaller group finance ministers failed to produce an agreement surrounding the increase of the lending capacity. As debt contagion fears linger, failure to calm market concerns may lead the euro to revisit the 1.33 area. The economic docket during the European trade showed that economic sentiment in the 17 member euro area rose to 25.4 in January from 15.5 the month prior.

Taking a look at the news wire overnight, Spain sold 4.50 billion euros of 364 day bills at a yield of 2.947 percent which was lower than the 3.449 percent at its previous auction in December. At the same time, the country sold 518-day bills at a yield of 3.367 percent which also lower than the yield at its previous auction. The successful sale bodes well for Spain as traders previously speculated that the country would trail Portugal and possibly tap into the EU-IMF life line. However, it is worth noting that the European Central Bank is the likely purchaser of these bonds. As European policy makers aim to restore confidence via possible stress tests and talks surrounding increasing the EFSF, the euro will likely continue to rally in the short term. In addition, comments by ECB head Jean-Claude Trichet suggests that he is becoming increasingly concerned about the inflation outlook, which has provided upward pressure onto the euro; however, inflation risks in the bloc are likely temporary. Going forward, I expect the single currency to come back under pressure in the coming months as governments implement tough austerity measures in order to battle their high budget deficits.

The greenback lost ground on Tuesday, with the USDJPY extended yesterday's losses to reach an intraday low of 82.35. As technical indicators are beginning to paint a bearish picture, thus, traders should not rule out additional losses in the pair. Heading into the North American session market participants will place the spotlight on the U.S. empire manufacturing and Canadian interest rate decision which will be released at 13:30 GMT and 14:00 GMT respectively.

Will the EUR/USD retrace the advance from September? Join us in the Forum

Related Articles: Weekly Trading Forecast - 01.17.11

To discuss this report contact Michael Wright, Currency Analyst:mwright@fxcm.com

Photo: Reuters

25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards: Winners and Celebs at the Event

Actor Josh Hutcherson arrives at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 31, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards: Winners and Celebs at the Event

Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith (L) and her daughter Willow arrive at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 31, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards: Winners and Celebs at the Event

Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith (L) arrives with her daughter Willow (C) and son Jaden at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 31, 2012.

Photo: Reuters

Fonterra Raises 2008/09 Payout Forecast

Tuesday, New Zealand's Fonterra Co-operative Group revised its forecast payout for the 2008/09 season to NZ$5.2 per kilogram of milksolids, representing an increase of 10 cents from the previous forecast in January.

Fonterra normally revises only when the forecast payout moves by at least 30 cents from the prior forecast, but the Board wish to share the news of the higher payout forecast with farmers as soon as possible, Chairman, Henry van der Heyden said.

Fonterra said powder prices increased and global sales team made good progress in selling products at improved prices. As a result, we now have the cautious optimism necessary to signal a modest but welcome increase in payout, Heyden added.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Photo: Reuters

Raised pandemic risk fuels fears for world economy

The rising risk that a global pandemic could snuff out frail signs of recovery in the world economy spurred nervous investors to seek safe havens on Tuesday, after the World Health Organisation raised its alert level for a deadly swine flu outbreak that started in Mexico.

Mexican Labor Minister Javier Lozano said the country did not yet plan a mass closure of businesses to try to halt the spread of the disease that has killed up to 149 people so far.

Economic activity must continue, he said.

But markets were on edge. Oil dropped a further 1 percent, sinking below $50 a barrel on concern that a pandemic would damage the already battered world economy and stifle air travel.

Most Asian stock markets slipped into negative territory after tentative early gains, and the yen climbed to a seven-week high against the euro and a one-month high versus the dollar as investors cut their exposure to riskier currencies.

Drug stocks extended Monday's gains while airline stocks were hit once again.

The Mexican swine flu outbreak came just as many global policymakers were daring to proclaim the start of a tentative turnaround in the world economy after months of decline.

Now, any recovery is in doubt.

We almost have to wait to see not so much the contagion aspect but how deadly is this, said Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital in Connecticut.

He said that while a mild strain would have only a limited global impact, if you start getting a number of fatalities, then it ramps the issue up substantially at every level, from a human standpoint and from an economic standpoint.

DOWNSIDE RISKS

The World Bank estimated in 2008 that a flu pandemic could cost $3 trillion and result in a nearly 5 percent drop in world gross domestic product.

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which disrupted travel, trade and workplaces in 2003, cost the Asia Pacific region an estimated $40 billion. It lasted six months and killed 775 of the 8,000 people it infected in 25 countries.

In Washington, the Obama administration said it was too soon to determine the potential economic impact but U.S. Treasury officials were monitoring the situation.

Regardless of the effect of the virus on the global economy, the head of the International Monetary Fund said he did not see a global economic recovery before 2010.

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told CNBC television he hoped the worst was over but that green shoots in the global economy were mostly in the United States.

A Reuters survey of analysts across European and the United States taken April 21-27 found a slim majority saying the bottom had yet to be hit in the worst global recession since World War Two. Most expected the crisis to last anywhere from six months to another two years.

Financial and macroeconomic stability are still some way off and we don't yet have the foundation for a solid recovery, said Lena Komileva, chief G7 market economist at Tullett Prebon.

GM PLAN

General Motors Corp , one of the casualties of the global crisis, announced its final plan to stave off bankruptcy on Monday. It aims to slash its $27 billion bond debt through an equity swap and cut more than 21,000 more jobs.

The move would effectively nationalize GM, putting majority control in the hands of the U.S. government -- a controversial issue in a country that has long preached the primacy of markets.

We strongly back an auto industry that we believe can and should be self-reliant, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. It is not our desire to either own or run one of the auto companies.

Chrysler lenders were also expected to receive a new offer from the U.S. Treasury shortly. The company has an April 30 deadline to reach a deal with creditors and cement an alliance with Fiat that would eventually give the Italian firm a 35 percent stake in the restructured U.S. automaker.

Despite risks of more financial turbulence, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said on Monday lowering interest rates may not be the best way to fight a recession.

Our actions have been different from those taken by other central banks, reflecting differences in economic and financial structures, he said of the ECB's reaction to the crisis in a speech to the Foreign Policy Association in New York.

Indeed, given the different economic structures, they need to be different to reach the same objective.

The ECB meets on May 7 and markets expect it to cut the benchmark interest rate from 1.25 percent to 1.0 percent. The U.S. Federal Reserve starts a two-day meeting on Tuesday and is expected to leave benchmark rates at or near zero.

(Reporting by Reuters correspondents worldwide; Writing by Andrew Marshall; Editing by Neil Fullick)

Photo: Reuters

25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards: Winners and Celebs at the Event

Singer Katy Perry signs autographs for fans as she arrives at Nickelodeon's 25th annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California March 31, 2012.