UPDATE 1-Melexis increases guidance after Q2 beats hopes

BRUSSELS, July 29 (Reuters) – Belgium’s Melexis (MLXS.BR) said it now expects sales to increase by 60 percent for the full-year as it sees increased demand for its microchips, which make cars more environmentally friendly.

The company, which designs and tests chips, said it had experienced its highest ever quarterly sales and its market had yet to reach its peak.

“Ramping up production output so much faster than anticipated was a substantial challenge,” Chief Executive Francoise Chombar said in a statement on Thursday.

Melexis said net income for the second quarter was 12.1 million euros ($15.75 million), beating 8.50 million expected by four analysts polled by Reuters.

It said revenue for the quarter was 55.8 million euros, beating 49.6 million expected in the poll.

When it announced its first quarter results in April it forecast that revenues would rise by over a third. [ID:nLDE63K13Z] (Reporting by Ben Deighton; Editing by Mike Nesbit) ($1=.7684 euro)

Indosat issues guidance on dlr bond-source

July 22 (Reuters) – PT Indosat (ISAT.JK), Indonesia’s No. 2 telecommunications firm, plans to issue a 10-year dollar bond around 7.75 percent, a source close to the deal said on Thursday.

The deal may be priced later in the day, the source said.

Citigroup (C.N), DBS (DBSM.SI), HSBC (0005.HK) (HSBA.L), Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) have been hired for the offer.

(Editing by Ken Wills)

UPDATE 1-Premier Oil sees H1 output rising 17 pct

July 15 (Reuters) – Britain’s Premier Oil (PMO.L) said it expects average first-half production to rise 17 percent and that its full-year production remains in line with previous guidance.

Estimated average group production for the first half was 46,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) while forecast full year production continues to be around 44,000 boepd.

“Premier continues to make good progress towards its 75,000 boepd production target for 2012,” said Chief Executive Simon Lockett. “Our major projects are progressing well and the recent Catcher discovery will now move rapidly into development.”

Earlier this month, Premier raised its reserves estimate for the Catcher/Catcher East area in the UK Central North Sea to a range of 60 million to 100 million barrels of oil. [ID:nLDE6640AA]

(Reporting by Julie Crust; editing by James Davey)

Indonesia’s Bumi says H1 coal output up 13 pct

July 10 (Reuters) – Bumi Resources (BUMI.JK), Indonesia’s biggest coal miner, said on Saturday that it produced 30.2 million tonnes of coal in the first half of 2010, up 13 percent from the same period a year ago.

It said its average selling price in the second quarter rose to $71.6 a tonne, up from $62.7 a tonne in the first quarter.

“We are on track to cross our FY2010 guidance of sales of 64 million tonnes, production of 67 million tonnes and average FOB price of a minimum $67 a tonne,” Bumi spokesman Dileep Srivastava told Reuters.

(Reporting by Janeman Latul; writing by Neil Chatterjee; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)

Infosys shares hit record high ahead of earnings

(Reuters) – Shares in India’s Infosys Technologies (INFY.BO) rose 1.8 percent to a record high of 2,876 rupees on Friday morning, ahead of its quarterly earnings on July 13.

“We expect robust results from Tier 1 IT vendors to demonstrate the underlying demand strength,” Macquarie said in a note.

It expects Infosys to raise fiscal year 2011 U.S. dollar revenue growth guidance to 17-19 percent from 16-18 percent.

At 9:29 a.m. (11:59 a.m. ET), Infosys was up 1.7 percent, outpacing 0.9 percent rise in the main stock index .BSESN.

(Reporting by Ami Shah)

Sberbank places $1 bln Eurobond-source

July 1 (Reuters) – Russia’s biggest lender, state-owned Sberbank (SBER03.MM) placed a 5-year, $1 billion bond with coupon set at 5.499 percent, a trading source told Reuters on Thursday.

Sberbank was not immediately available for comments.

On Wednesday, a source told Reuters that Sberbank has set the guidance at 350 basis points over mid-swaps. [ID:nLDE65T0P9]

(Reporting by Dmitry Sergeyev, writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; editing by Toni Vorobyova)

The U.N. Global Compact Management Model

This tool, created by Deloitte in partnership with the United Nations, lays out six steps that any organization can follow to start and maintain a path toward social and environmental responsibility.

The Model was released on the 10th anniversary of the Global Compact, and offers guidance for any company, regardless of its size, location or relative experience with environmental and social issues.

The six steps are as follow:

Commit: Leadership commitment to mainstream the Global Compact principles into strategies and operations and to take action in support of broader UN goals, in a transparent way.

Assess:Assess risks, opportunities, and impacts across Global Compact issue areas.

Define: Define goals, strategies, and policies.

Implement: Implement strategies and policies through the company and across the company’s value chain.

Measure: Measure and monitor impacts and progress toward goals.

Communicate: Communicate progress and strategies and engage with stakeholders for continuous improvement.

More information about the Global Compact is online at UNGlobalCompact.org, and for more information about Deloitte’s history with the Compact, see Deloitte.com/globalcompact.

BP relief well drilling ahead of schedule-paper

June 27 (Reuters) – BP (BP.L) could plug the leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico in mid-July, two weeks earlier than its current guidance of early August, British newspaper The Sunday Times said.

The drilling of relief wells which the company hopes will enable it to finally plug the oil gushing out from the seabed a mile below the surface of the Gulf is progressing faster than expected, sources with knowledge of the operation were reported as telling the newspaper.

A spokesperson for BP declined to comment on the report and referred to a statement issued by the company on Friday which said the two relief wells were still estimated to take approximately three months to complete. [ID:nLDE65O140]

BP began drilling the wells on May 2 and May 16 suggesting the spill could be brought under control at the beginning of August. (Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

Quadra FNX lowers 2010 copper production outlook

June 20 (Reuters) – Canadian miner Quadra FNX Mining Ltd (QUX.TO) has lowered its 2010 copper production outlook by about 12 percent, due to slowdowns in production from its Franke mine in Chile and its Carlota mine in Arizona.

Vancouver-based Quadra, which recently closed its C$1.6 billion takeover of FNX Mining, said it now expects 2010 copper production of 265 million pounds, down from a prior estimate of 300 million pounds.

Gold and precious metal production guidance remains unchanged at 155,000 ounces, the company said in a statement late on Saturday.

The company said it expects operations at the Franke mine to be back at optimum levels by the first half of 2011, while ore grades and volumes at Carlota are expected to improve in the second half of this year.

Last week, Quadra FNX announced that its proposed joint venture in Chile with China’s State Grid International Development Ltd had fallen apart, after the two sides were unable to conclude a definitive agreement. [ID:nN16163689] (Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Virgin Blue sees tough market conditions all year

June 8 (Reuters) – Budget airline Virgin Blue (VBA.AX) expects its market environment to remain tough throughout the year, posing a challenge for the carrier, Chief Executive John Borghetti said on Tuesday.

Industrials

“This side of Christmas, it is still going to be tough,” he said, saying the economy was still very fragile and business travel generally slows down around a federal elections.

Virgin Blue slashed its guidance May 28 on rapidly falling demand and a sudden decline in consumer confidence, sending its shares down by a quarter and highlighting the industry’s fragility.

Virgin Blue is Australia’s second-biggest airline after Qantas (QAN.AX) with a domestic market share of close to a third. (Reporting by Victoria Thieberger; editing by Balazs Koranyi)

Burger King Holdings, Inc. to present today at Goldman Sachs Lodging, Gaming, Restaurant & Leisure Conference

Company to provide strategic overview and updated fiscal 2010 guidance
MIAMI–(Business Wire)–
Burger King Holdings, Inc., (NYSE:BKC) will present at the Goldman Sachs
Lodging, Gaming, Restaurant & Leisure Conference today at the Goldman Sachs
Conference Center, located at 32 Old Slip, New York, NY beginning at 1:00 p.m.
ET. The presentation will be webcast live via the company’s investor relations
Web site at http://investor.bk.com and at

http://cc.talkpoint.com/gold006/060710a_mg/?entity=9_FS5MR0G.

John W. Chidsey, chairman and chief executive officer, will present the
company’s strategic overview and will discuss the updated fiscal 2010 guidance.
The company maintains its expectations for fiscal 2010 guidance with the
exception of worldwide net restaurant growth and the effect of currency
translation on its results.

Fiscal 2010 net restaurant growth is now expected to be 230 to 250 due to the
brand`s exit from the Israel market, representing 55 restaurants, based on a May
2010 agreement entered into between the company and its Israeli franchisee.
Excluding the closure of these restaurants, the company`s fiscal 2010 net
restaurant growth would have been at the higher end of the previously guided 250
to 300 range. These restaurant closures do not affect the company`s present
plans for growth in Europe and elsewhere in the Middle East and the company
remains wholly committed to growing the brand in these regions.

Given current currency exchange rates, currency translation for the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2010 is now expected to have an unfavorable impact to revenues
resulting in a $0.01 to $0.02 negative effect on diluted earnings per share
(EPS). This compares to the previously provided guidance of a positive currency
translation impact on diluted EPS in the fourth quarter, resulting in a slightly
positive currency translation impact on full fiscal year diluted EPS. As a
result, for the full 2010 fiscal year, the company now expects the effect of
currency translation on diluted EPS to be neutral to slightly negative.

For a complete listing of the guidance and assumptions upon which such guidance
was made refer to the company’s Forms 8-K filed on August 25, 2009, October 29,
2009, February 4, 2010 and April 29, 2010.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this press release that reflect management’s
expectations regarding future events are forward-looking in nature, including
statements regarding the company’s belief and expectations about net restaurant
growth for fiscal 2010 and the impact of the company`s exit from the Israel
market; its belief and expectations regarding the growth of the brand in Europe
and elsewhere in the Middle East; and its belief and expectations regarding
currency translation for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2010,
including the impact of currency translation on diluted earnings per share for
both periods. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our
current expectations and projections about future events. Important factors
could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by these forward-looking statements, including those risk factors set
forth in our annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the following: (i) our ability to successfully implement our
international growth strategy and risks related to our international operations;
and (ii) risks arising from the significant and rapid fluctuations in currency
exchange markets.

Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements
are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results. Moreover, neither we nor any
other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of
these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking
statements as predictions of future events. We do not undertake any
responsibility to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform our
prior statements to actual results or revised expectations.

ABOUT BURGER KING HOLDINGS, INC.

The BURGER KING system operates more than 12,100 restaurants in all 50 states
and in 74 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of
BURGER KING restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many
of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. In 2008,
Fortune magazine ranked Burger King Corp. (BKC) among America’s 1,000 largest
corporations and in 2010, Standard & Poor’s included shares of Burger King
Holdings, Inc. in the S&P MidCap 400 index. BKC was recently recognized by
Interbrand on its top 100 “Best Global Brands” list and Ad Week has named it one
of the top three industry-changing advertisers within the last three decades. To
learn more about Burger King Corp., please visit the company’s Web site at
www.bk.com.

Burger King Holdings, Inc., Miami
BKC Media Relations
Susan Robison, 305-378-7277
mediainquiries@whopper.com
or
BKC Investor Relations
Amy Wagner, 305-378-7696
investor@whopper.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Spain’s Almirall lowers outlook on drug price cuts

June 1 (Reuters) – Spain’s Almirall (ALM.MC) has cut its 2010 guidance after a new round of drug price reductions, becoming one of the first in the pharmaceutical industry to announce the impact of a European-wide austerity drive.

Healthcare

Almirall, best known for its asthma and allergy drugs, said it expects revenue to fall by about 5 percent in 2010 from the 925 million euros ($1.13 billion) posted in 2009.

This compares with the company’s original forecasts for full-year revenue to be stable or slightly lower.

Net profit excluding one-off items will also fall by about 5 percent in 2010, the drug firm said on Tuesday.

Last month, Spain announced a further wide range of price cuts for patented drugs from Aug. 1, following a 1.5 billion euro hit in March. Drug prices have been in the firing line as European governments tackle ballooning budget deficits, and smaller European-based drug firms like Almirall were expected to be among the hardest hit. [ID:nLDE64G20F]

(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Erica Billingham)

BRIEF-Statoil affirms 2010 targets after Q1

OSLO, May 5 (Reuters) – Statoil ASA (STL.OL) said:

Stocks | Energy

* Affirms 2010 oil and gas production guidance of 1.925-1.975 mln boed

* Affirms 2012 oil and gas production guidance of 2.1-2.2 mln boed

* Planned turnarounds to limit output by 30 mln boed in Q2, by avg of 50 mboed in 2010

* Affirms 2010 capital expenditure target of $13 bln

* 2010 unit production cost goal of NOK 35-36 per barrel of oil equivalent

* Gas market to stay challenging in near term, sees volatile commodity prices

* Refining margins have improved slightly, but to remain at low levels in near term

* Affirms 2010 exploration budget of $2.3 bln, plans to drill some 50 wells

(Reporting by Oslo newsroom)

Alexandra Burke’s mum ‘accuses her of failing to support family financially’

London, May 03 (ANI): Alexandra Burke’s mother is said to have accused her daughter of not supporting her family financially since she won ‘The X Factor’ in 2008.

The star has subsequently enjoyed two chart-topping singles, as well as a number one album since then and her mother Melissa alleges Alexandra hasn”t “given her a penny”.

“Alex owes it all to me. She would never have won The X Factor if it hadn”t been for me – my experience, my tuition, my guidance,” the Daily Star quoted her as telling the Sunday Mirror.

“She”s rich, but we”re poor. She hasn”t given me a penny and I”m too proud to ask. But considering her win was a team effort, I certainly deserve some.” (ANI)

Malaysian politician questions effectiveness of religious raids

Kuantan, Apr 27 (ANI): In the wake of the shocking suicide by a Malay teenager, who flung himself off the fifth floor in a bid to evade officers conducting religious raids, Malaysian politician Adnan Yaakob has questioned the effectiveness of such exercises.

He believes that were the people targeted by these raids alive, they would at least have a chance of reforming themselves and adopting a lifestyle that upholds Islamic values.

“I think it is better to give them guidance rather than raiding a place. Raids will cause the person to panic and do something irrational like jumping off a building,” Adnan told the State Assembly at Kuantan, The Star reports.

He also raised the issue of teenage suicides caused by depression and urged teachers to be more observant and counsel those susceptible. (ANI)

B&O sees f/y sales possible at mid-range of guidance

COPENHAGEN, April 14 (Reuters) – The head of luxury stereo and television maker Bang & Olufsen (BOb.CO) said on Wedneday full-year sales may well land in the middle of the firm’s forecast range between 2.7 billion and 2.9 billion crowns.

Cyclical Consumer Goods

“We do expect that there is still a good opportunity to end more in the middle of the range than in the bottom,” B&O Chief Executive Officer Karl Hvidt Nielsen told an anlyst telephone conference.

Bang & Olufsen (BOb.CO) reported earlier on Wednesday a swing to its first quarterly profit in nearly two years as markets recovered but trimmed its earnings outlook amid plans for new staff cuts.

Nikkei edges higher, buoyed by traders and Dentsu

TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei average edged up 0.4 percent on Monday after better-than-expected U.S. wholesale inventories underscored a recovery in the U.S. economy, while ad agency Dentsu (4324.T) surged on improved earnings guidance.

Stocks | Global Markets | Financials

Trading houses such as Mitsui & Co (8031.T) did especially well after metals prices rose, but buying emerged across a broad range of sectors as confidence grew after the Dow .DJI briefly rose above 11,000 for the first time in 18 months.

Some light profit-taking emerged in late trade, though, paring gains.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 rose 47.56 points to 11,251.90 after earlier rising more than 1 percent. The broader Topix rose 0.5 percent to 994.78. (Reporting by Elaine Lies)

New Online Bedwetting Clinic Provides 75% Better Results Than Automated Systems Alone

NORTHFIELD, IL, Apr 05 (MARKET WIRE) —
A new online clinic has been launched which results in 75% better results
for chronic bed-wetters than alarm treatments alone. The “Bed-wetting
Solution” combines a unique alarm system with professional guidance
provided by a medical psychologist with over 25 years in the field.

“Chronic bed-wetting is a problem that many families face,” said Dr.
Baruch Kushnir. “It not only can be immediately inconvenient, but the
impact on the child and the family can be long-term, resulting in
self-image and socialization problems.”

The Interactive Online Progress Chart provides constant assistance,
professional support and supervision. It enables continuous online
contact between the family and our professional staff.

Parents can sign up for the treatment and then receive an alarm device
within a few days. This comes with complete instructions of the treatment.

A daily progress report is transmitted through the Interactive Online
Progress Chart, directly to the assigned therapist. The chart is marked
electronically, including any comments or special requests. Telephone
support is also available whenever necessary. The assigned therapist will
regularly comment and deliver special instructions on how to proceed and
how to overcome any possible hurdles.

The professional staff is made of specially-trained psychologists who
have years of experience in counseling and support for families. All
cases are closely monitored by Dr. Baruch Kushnir.

“It is a well documented fact that a Bed-Wetting alarm treatment is the
most effective and long lasting treatment,” says Dr. Kushnir. “However,
without professional guidance the success rate is only 15%, compared with
90% success rate when a professional follow up program is applied.”

Dr. Kushnir received his Ph.D in Medical Psychology from Leeds University
in the United Kingdom. He is a worldwide expert of sphincter control, who
has devoted his life to the treatment and research of bed-wetting and
sphincter control problems in children. After successfully applying his
approach with over 30,000 children during the last 25 years in his native
country of Israel, this Internet-based solution now enables Dr. Kushnir’s
system to be available world-wide.

“The Internet has afforded us the ability to treat children in every
country on the globe through our unique online counseling and support
service,” says Dr. Kushnir. “The interactive Progress Chart is available
24/7 and provides continuous contact between the children and their
families and the assigned therapist. This can have dramatic impact on the
life of a child.”

Contact:
Israel Kushnir
Email Contact
www.bed-wetting-solution.com
847-386-6656

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

PNG-Queensland business council fosters trade: Fraser

Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser says the State Government will continue to develop trade links with Papua New Guinea (PNG) despite the appointment of a special trade representative and the setting up of a new business body.

Former Cairns mayor Kevin Byrne has been appointed trade representative.

Mr Fraser, who is leading a PNG trade delegation this week, has also announced plans to establish a PNG-Queensland business council.

It will be chaired by Skytrans and Airlines PNG director, Simon Wild.

Mr Fraser says Government support for business will be needed in a challenging environment:

“There are always challenges when you’ve got the sort of development phase that’s happening here in PNG,” he said.

“But that’s why it’s so important that there is government involvement [and] guidance about the way business is done – about the opportunities and also about the challenges.

“That really emphasises that we want the people on the ground with the links into the business community to be the conduit to provide the links to open the doors to get get decisions that will see business done between the far north and PNG.”

Chandigarh terror threat part reason behind Lee’s return to Sydney for recovery

Melbourne, Mar 19 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee’s management has confirmed that the security environment in India played a part in his decision to return to Sydney to have his surgically repaired elbow checked for the Indian Premier League.

Lee, however intends to return to his Punjab Kings XI franchise upon receiving medical clearance from Cricket Australia.

“From a security point of view he’d prefer to be spending the time waiting in Sydney rather than Chandigarh,” Lee’s manager, Neil Maxwell, said.

Lee has been training in India under the guidance of former NSW physiotherapist Pat Farhart and has been in contact with CA”s medical team since his retirement from Test cricket last month, The Age reports.

CA said the trip home was part of a plan to ease the fast bowler back to fitness before the final squad of 15 was named for the ICC World Twenty20, which starts next month.

Shaun Marsh, who missed the New Zealand tour with a bulging disc, is also awaiting the green light from CA to join the Kings XI. (ANI)