UPDATE 2-Market Chatter — Corporate finance press digest

July 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 5 (Reuters) – The following corporate finance-related stories were reported by media on Monday:

* OPEC member Kuwait may buy some of BP’s (BP.L) Middle East and Asian assets, a Kuwait newspaper said on Monday, as part of the British oil company’s attempt to raise funds and fend off takeover bids. [ID:nLDE6640A8]

* Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) is not planning to make major acquisitions, but may look at industrial partnerships, as it prepares a new strategic plan to be unveiled in December, its CEO told Les Echos on Monday. [ID:nLDE664034]

* VTB (VTBR.MM), Russia’s second-biggest lender, plans to acquire rival TransCreditBank, the banking unit of state monopoly Russian Railways, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported on Monday. [ID:nLDE664017]

* China’s Bright Food Group has made a cash offer of more than A$1.65 billion ($1.39 billion) for the sugar and renewables business of Australian conglomerate CSR Ltd (CSR.AX), the Australian newspaper said on Monday. [ID:nSGE66301P]

* STX Group plans to list its European unit in Singapore in October to raise as much as $570 million, according to a local media report on Monday. [ID:nTOE66400Z]

* An infrastructure fund set up by Australia’s Macquarie (MQG.AX) and State Bank of India (SBI.BO) will buy a 10 percent stake in Indian mobile tower operator Tata-Quippo for $310 million, the Economic Times said on Monday. [ID:nSGE66403Q]

* Apple (AAPL.O) is missing out on an opportunity to further expand in China, the Financial Times reported late on Sunday, citing Lenovo’s (0992.HK) Chairman Liu Chuanzhi. [ID:nTOE66400H]

* Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates on Sunday defended his government’s veto of Portugal Telecom’s (PTC.LS) sale of its stake in Brazilian wireless carrier Vivo to Telefonica (TEF.MC), saying it was in the incumbent’s strategic interests. [ID:nLDE663034]

* Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) aims to put the conditions in place for the British government to start selling its 83 percent stake in the bank next year, its chief executive said, according to German paper Welt am Sonntag. [ID:nLDE6630B3]

* Wolseley (WOS.L), the world’s biggest builders merchant distributor, has put its tool hire business up for sale as part of a restructuring of its UK operations, the Independent on Sunday reported. [ID:nLDE66309Z]

* Part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) is coming under pressure from shareholders to sell its Scottish Widows insurance business, which could fetch around 7 billion pounds ($10.6 billion), The Observer reported. [ID:nLDE663072]

* TPG [TPG.UL] and Goldman Sachs’s (GS.N) private equity wing are close to a deal to buy Europe’s largest privately owned diaper maker Ontex for more than 1.2 billion euros ($1.5 billion), the Sunday Telegraph reported. [ID:nLDE663080] (Compiled by Anirban Sen in Bangalore; editing by Simon Jessop)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

T-Mobile Expands Super-Fast Network and Availability of T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick to Cover 25 Major Metropolitan Areas

June 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

BELLEVUE, Wash.–(Business Wire)–
Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the expansion of its super-fast mobile
broadband network, now offering 4G speeds1 to more than 25 major metropolitan
areas across the U.S., and expects to cover more than 75 million Americans with
HSPA+ by the end of June. Complementing the network expansion is the
availability of the T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first
HSPA+ capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier, in T-Mobile retail
stores in these new areas.

Now HSPA+ and the T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick are available in
major metropolitan areas across the country including Los Angeles; Dallas;
Atlanta; Houston; Seattle; Tampa and Orlando, Fla.; Pittsburgh; Charlotte,
Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, N.C.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; New
Orleans; and Charleston, S.C. In addition, HSPA+ has been expanded to
Bentonville, Ark.; Anderson, S.C.; and Fayetteville, N.C. T-Mobile`s HSPA+
mobile broadband service is already live in New York; Philadelphia; Las Vegas;
Memphis; Upstate New York; Connecticut; Providence, R.I.; and the Washington,
D.C., suburbs.

“T-Mobile has rolled out HSPA+ service to more than 25 major metropolitan areas
in four month`s time, as we drive towards having the most pervasive mobile
broadband network delivering 4G speeds in the country,” said Neville Ray, senior
vice president of Engineering and Operations for T-Mobile USA. “T-Mobile is
delivering unprecedented value to our customers with the availability of a
super-fast mobile broadband experience combined with compelling and affordable
devices and data plans.”

T-Mobile`s rapidly expanding HSPA+ mobile broadband footprint makes it easy for
customers to enjoy 4G speeds on the HSPA+-enabled T-Mobile® webConnect Rocket™
USB Laptop Stick. In addition, T-Mobile currently has 15 3G devices that can
benefit from enhanced speeds when they`re on the HSPA+ network, including the
newest smartphone available from T-Mobile today – the Nokia E73 Mode.

T-Mobile has made considerable progress in the number of areas with faster
mobile broadband – and expects to continue this aggressive pace to deliver HSPA+
speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185
million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.

“With the rapid expansion of its HSPA+ network this year, T-Mobile is in a great
position of being able to deliver high-speed data service to a broader number of
customers today,” said Peter Jarich, principal analyst, Wireless Infrastructure,
Current Analysis. “Ultimately, consumers don`t care what technology powers the
network they`re using – they care about the quality and experience of their
mobile data service, the cost of those services, and the devices available to
access them. HSPA+ has the potential to deliver higher data rates across a
broader lineup of devices in the next one to two years than competing
technologies.”

For more information on where T-Mobile network service is available, please
visit http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/coverage.

Note to Editors

For images and video of T-Mobile services and products, please log on to
http://www.TheNewsMarket.com/T-Mobile. Registration is free for media.

1Based on comparison with 4G network speeds currently available to mobile device
users in the U.S.

About T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of
Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). By the end of the first quarter of 2010,
approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile
communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group – 33.7 million by T-Mobile
USA – all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world`s
most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA`s innovative wireless
products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most.
Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the
highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and
call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com.
T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current
views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,”
“project” and “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current
plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place too much
reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most
of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom`s
control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in
“Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” contained in Deutsche Telekom`s
annual report. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the
assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche
Telekom`s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Media Contact:
T-Mobile USA Media Relations
425-378-4002
mediarelations@t-mobile.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trigcom Selects SmrtGuard for Smartphone Data Protection

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

PRINCETON, NJ, Jun 15 (MARKET WIRE) —
SmrtGuard, a leading smartphone security company for businesses and
consumers, today announced the addition of SmrtGuard’s protection
services for Trigcom BlackBerry(R) users. Trigcom, the first wireless
carrier in Norway to introduce BlackBerry(R) devices, adds SmrtGuard to
provide its users with a comprehensive package that protects their
personal data and helps them recover their smartphone if it is lost or
stolen.

“Smartphones are like mini portable computers carrying sensitive and
important data, and capable of conducting financial transactions, so it’s
important to keep them secure,” said Robert Kao, Founder and CEO of
SmrtGuard. “We’re excited to work with Trigcom to bring a full suite of
data protection tools and services to Trigcom’s BlackBerry(R) customers.”

With SmrtGuard, users can wirelessly backup and restore personal data, as
well as track and remotely wipe their smartphone in the event of loss or
theft. SmrtGuard also provides anti-malware to protect against mobile
threats and anti-spam to block unwanted calls and remove unwanted emails.
SmrtGuard’s personal safety features like Personal Guardian and Loved One
tracking also help keep users physically safe and provide parents and
loved ones with peace of mind.

Trigcom is the first operator in Scandinavia to deliver SmrtGuard’s
protection features to its smartphone customers. “We’re happy to have a
partner like SmrtGuard to help us lead the way in mobile security,” said
Hans Petter Brynildsen, Director of Product Management for Trigcom.
“BlackBerry(R) smartphones have become an integral part of our customers’
lives and now we can enhance their experience and help protect their
information.”

To learn more about SmrtGuard for private labeling and distribution
opportunities, please visit www.smrtguard.com or contact
sales@smrtguard.com.

About SmrtGuard
SmrtGuard provides industry-leading mobile security
solutions for individuals, small businesses and enterprise organizations
that need security, control, and management over their smartphones.
SmrtGuard allows smartphone users to wirelessly backup and restore data,
locate their devices, protect against malware, and remotely wipe devices.
For more information, visit www.smrtguard.com.

About Trigcom
Trigcom is a BlackBerry Service Provider in Norway.
Trigcom launched its first commercial BlackBerry Smartphone in Norway
October 2006, and has since provided first-class service to the Norwegian
market. For more information, visit www.trigcom.no.

The BlackBerry(R) and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols
are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Media Contact:
Trevor Leb
347-949-8532
tleb@smrtguard.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cellular South Sets Milestone with Plans to Offer Android-Powered Smartphone from Motorola with the World`s Thinnest QWERTY Keyboard

June 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Advanced Touchscreen Device Features Latest Android 2.1 Mobile Operating System,
Largest High-Resolution Screen and Powerful, Built-in Google Mobile Services

Milestone First of Several Hot, New Android-Based Smartphones Wireless Carrier
Plans to Unveil This Year
RIDGELAND, Miss.–(Business Wire)–
Cellular South, the nation`s largest privately held wireless communications
provider, announced plans today to offer one of the world`s most advanced
Android-powered touchscreen smartphones – the Motorola Milestone. The Milestone
is the first of several new Android-based smartphones the carrier plans to
launch this year.

Featuring high-speed web browsing, access to thousands of applications from
Android Market, voice-activated search and a 3.7″ widescreen display over one of
the best 3G networks, the Android-powered Motorola Milestone from Cellular South
sets a new standard for speed, performance and reliability.

The Milestone features the best of both worlds with a full QWERTY keyboard, the
thinnest in the world, and advanced touchscreen navigation integrated with
built-in Google mobile services, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail,
YouTube and Google Maps Navigation BETA with voice-aided turn-by-turn
directions.

“We`re looking forward to bringing the benefits of the Motorola Milestone and
other Android devices to our customers,” said Kevin Hankins, chief operating
officer of Cellular South. “This phone delivers one of the richest consumer
experiences on the market today and pairs it with a very advanced keyboard to
satisfy a range of users. This device takes full advantage of Cellular South`s
advanced 3G high-speed mobile broadband data network, the best in the industry.”

Following on the heels of Cellular South`s record-breaking introduction of its
first Android-powered touchscreen smartphone, the Motorola Milestone is one of
several new Android-powered touchscreen smartphone devices the carrier plans to
offer its customers this year. Cellular South was one of the first U.S. carriers
to introduce an Andriod-powered smartphone with the launch of the HTC Hero last
November.

Highlights:

* Powered by Android 2.1 mobile operating system from Google with pinch to zoom,
Live Wallpapers and a full HTML web browser
* Superior call quality with CrystalTalk Plus that filters out background noise
and enhances voice quality
* 3.7″ high resolution (16:9 widescreen) screen display with 854 pixel width and
more than 400,000 total pixels so you can see more of the web, e-mail, and more
* Access to thousands of apps available through Android Market. Navigate
seamlessly back and forth and keep up to six applications open and running at a
time. Android Market currently has over 50,000 applications available for
download and about 65 percent of them are free of charge.
* Full suite of Google applications including: Google Maps, Gmail, Google Talk,
and YouTube
* Google Maps Navigation BETA, which provides turn-by-turn voice directions as a
free feature of Google Maps along with live traffic, Street View and satellite
imagery

* 5 megapixel digital camera with dual-LED flash, AutoFocus and image
stabilization and DVD-broadcast quality advanced video record and playback (30
fps) in 16 million colors with easy 3G or Wi-Fi YouTube uploads

* An 8 GB memory card included (up to 32 GB capable) for storage of your
favorite music, pictures and video
* When placed in its multi-media station, the Milestone transforms into a
multi-media hub for movies, music, pictures and can even act as your bedside
alarm clock.
* Use stereo Bluetooth to take calls and listen to music hands-free
* Plug your favorite headphones into the 3.5mm headset jack and kick back to
your favorite music or movies

Pricing and Availability

* The Motorola Milestone is expected to be available for sale online at
www.cellularsouth.com and in Cellular South retail stores soon. For more
information or to sign up to be among the first to receive the Android-powered
Motorola advanced touchscreen smartphone, visit
www.cellularsouth.com/DiscoverCenter/phones-apps/android/coming-soon.jsp. No
final retail price has been set yet for the device.
* To make owning the Milestone an even better experience, Cellular South has the
industry`s best value for smartphones with its Smartphone Unlimited plan – the
only one of its kind in the nation – that makes the enriched user experience
more accessible to individuals, families and businesses. For only $59.98 a month
per line for two lines, customers can talk, text, access the Web, and e-mail on
the smartest network for smartphones without worrying about counting minutes,
megabtyes or surprise bills.
* With better coverage, fewer dropped calls and more 3G high-speed data services
than its competitors, Cellular South is the smartest place to get Android
smartphones and offers the best mobile broadband experience for the Motorola
Milestone.

Motorola and the Stylized M logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. Android, Google, Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Android
are trademarks of Google, Inc. HTC Hero is a trademark of HTC Corporation.

About Cellular South

Cellular South is a privately-owned diversified mobile communications company
passionately committed to helping customers get the most out of their wireless
devices and services. The nation`s largest privately owned wireless
communications carrier accomplishes this goal by providing the most reliable and
advanced 3G nationwide wireless voice and data network, offering
industry-leading smartphone devices and accessible flat rate plans, and through
its online and in-store Discover Centers, which give customers easy, simple and
convenient tools, tips, advice and information to get the most out of their
mobile phone. For more information about Cellular South and its products and
services, as well as its ground-breaking Cellular South Original user generated
programming, visit www.cellularsouth.com. This news release and other
announcements are available at http://www.cellularsouth.com/news/.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:

http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6317465〈=en

Cellular South
Dave Miller, 601-974-7725
dnmiller@cellularsouth.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Sprint Campaign Links Iconic “Firsts” with America`s First 4G Phone, HTC EVOTM 4G

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tech-Savvy Sprint Ad Invites Consumers to Make History with First True 4G
Experiences on the Sprint 4G Network
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(Business Wire)–
Sprint (NYSE:S), the first national wireless carrier to offer a 4G phone, HTC
EVO 4G, today launched an integrated marketing campaign to support the phone`s
nationwide availability. The campaign links iconic “firsts” with HTC EVO 4G,
which goes on sale nationwide on June 4.

The integrated campaign includes TV, print, online and direct-mail elements that
position Sprint as the first national carrier in America with a 4G phone and 4G
network. Initial print ads highlight key HTC EVO 4G features and attributes,
such as live video streaming to the Web and the phone`s mobile hotspot
capability, which allows connections for up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices.
Subsequent out-of-home advertising, including ads seen on billboards, street
furniture, bus shelters, transit, and mall kiosks will feature headlines and
copy that leverage Sprint`s ongoing “Now Network” marketing campaign. For
instance, “First Isn`t Later. It`s Now” and “EVO, the First 4G Phone.”

In 30- and 60-second TV spots, “Firsts,” a voiceover underscores the
breakthrough nature of Sprint 4G`s rollout by stating that, “First resets
everything.” The spot`s visuals showcase a succession of inventions through time
- the wheel, the train, the rotary phone, the camera – culminating in Sprint`s
delivery of the nation`s first dual-mode 3G/4G phone.

“Sprint is leading the evolution to 4G and this campaign reinforces our 4G
leadership position while highlighting what consumers can do with this
incredible phone, whether it`s on 3G or 4G,” said Bill Morgan, senior vice
president of Corporate Marketing, Sprint. “There have been a number of notable
`firsts` in our country`s history and just like many of those innovations Sprint
is reshaping how we live, work and play with HTC EVO 4G.”

One element of the campaign invites consumers to participate in history by
capturing, sharing and ultimately bragging online about a variety of 4G firsts:
the first tweet at 4G speed, the 4G first wedding vows streamed live, or the
first photo of an eight-person 4G hotspot. EVO 4G users who are the first to
post specific 4G experiences receive virtual badges validating their submission
of 4G “firsts” for posting to their Web site or other online social networking
space. More details are available at www.sprint.com/firsts.

With the launch of EVO 4G, Sprint customers will be able to enjoy capabilities
they have never experienced before with a new video chat service from Qik. The
two-way voice and video capability will be available as an upgrade to the
preloaded Qik app on HTC EVO 4G to enable conversational, interactive, real-time
sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop.1

HTC EVO 4G provides access to unprecedented capabilities and features the latest
version of the increasingly popular Android platform, Android 2.1, offering more
than 35,000 apps. Among the phone`s other features:

* Two cameras – an 8.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video
camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.
* Mobile video chat, so you and your children can see each other when you say
goodnight while away on a business trip.
* Simultaneous voice and data in 4G and certain Wi-Fi coverage areas, so you can
look at a seating chart while dialing in your order for theater tickets.
* Super-fast 1GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon processor, ensuring a smooth and quick
movement within phone menus whether in 3G or 4G service areas.
* As a new way to search with pictures instead of words, Google Goggles works
with everything from books, DVDs and barcodes to landmarks, logos, artwork and
wine labels.
* A custom Web browser is optimized for the large 4.3-inch display for a rich
Internet experience.

Created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, the new campaign builds on last
year`s award-winning Sprint “Now Network” push. That effort, also created by
Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, recognized that the world has changed, and
Sprint`s mobile phones offer an experience closer to that of having a PC in your
hand. The campaign extends this idea by alerting consumers that Sprint now is
putting mobile broadband in consumers` hands for an even faster, richer
multimedia experience. The new advertisements also pay subtle homage to Sprint`s
impressive legacy of technology “firsts”: its launch of the world`s first Public
Data Network, its history-making move as the first carrier to offer commercial
Internet access, and its boundary-breaking push as the first wireless carrier to
complete a nationwide 3G 1X upgrade.

HTC EVO 4G will be available in all Sprint retail channels, including Sprint.com
and national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Sprint will
price the award-winning device at $199.99 with a two-year service agreement and
after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes excluded) with a new line activation or
eligible upgrade on a select service plan with Premium Data add-on.
Pre-registration is available now at www.sprint.com/evo.

In order to provide the best experience, HTC EVO 4G will use Sprint`s
industry-leading Everything Data or Business Advantage Messaging and Data plans,
which include, while on the Sprint network, unlimited Web, texting and calling
to every mobile in America with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM. Everything Data plans
start at $69.99 per month. A required $10 Premium Data add-on will allow
customers to take advantage of all HTC EVO 4G features.

Additionally, an optional pricing add-on will turn HTC EVO 4G into a mobile
hotspot, connecting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as laptops, gaming
devices and digital cameras, simultaneously at 4G speeds where available and at
3G speeds anywhere on the Sprint 3G network for just $29.99 per month – half the
monthly cost of the current Mobile Broadband plan (pricing excludes surcharges
and taxes).

With the Sprint Free Guarantee, customers can take advantage of HTC EVO 4G for
30 days. If not completely satisfied, customers may deactivate service and
return the device within 30 days to have the opportunity to receive a full
refund.2

Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national
wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G
service today in 33 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times
faster than 3G3, giving HTC EVO 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless
device available today.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology,
Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Today,
Sprint 4G covers 41 million people and expects to have up to 120 million people
covered by the end of 2010.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch service in multiple markets, including Boston,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York,
Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Sprint
is harnessing the power of 4G as the majority shareholder of Clearwire, the
independent company that is building the WiMAX network. Sprint is the only
national wireless carrier to offer 4G services on the Clearwire WiMAX network.
For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48 million
customers at the end of the first quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, and is the first
and only wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States;
offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including
Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless and
instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier
1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and
visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and
www.twitter.com/sprint.

1 Third-party premium service charges may apply.

2 Refund excludes usage not included in plan, premium content, third-party
billing, international charges and associated taxes and Sprint surcharges.

3 “Up to 10x faster” based on download speed comparison of 3G`s 600 kbps vs.
4G`s 6 Mbps. Industry published 3G avg. speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps); 4G avg.
speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary. Sprint 4G currently available in more
than 30 markets and on select devices. See www.sprint.com/4G for details. Not
all services are available on 4G, and coverage may default to 3G/separate
network where is 4G unavailable.

Sprint
Kathleen Dunleavy, 310-709-3689
Kathleen.dunleavy@sprint.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seoul shares gain slightly on autos, telcos

May 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

* KOSPI rises, poised to gain for a fourth session

* Autos, telcos boost market, memory chips weigh

(Updates to mid-morning)

By Jungyoun Park

SEOUL, May 31 (Reuters) – Seoul shares advanced on Monday despite Fitch’s downgrade of Spain’s credit rating, lifted by firm gains in automakers and telecommunications issues such as Ssangyong Motor (003620.KS) and SK Telecom (017670.KS).

Analysts said institutional and programme buying offset slow foreign selling with the U.S. market closed on Monday for a public holiday.

“As Wall Street will be on holiday, foreign investors are pretty quiet today, and their milder selling is helping the index stay within positive territory,” said Y.S. Rhoo, a market analyst at Hyundai Securities.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 0.17 percent at 1,625.61 points as of 0211 GMT, poised to post a fourth-straight gaining session.

Autos lifted the market led by Ssangyong Motor (003620.KS), which jumped 14.6 percent after news late on Friday France’s Renault SA (RENA.PA) and India’s top utility vehicle maker Mahindra were in the running to buy the troubled SUV maker in a deal worth up to $500 million. [ID:nTOE64R01B]

“Renault’s involvement comes as a positive surprise. It’s a well-established global player, and the view is if it buys Ssangyong it will be positive for Ssangyong’s longer-term growth,” said Ahn Sang-joon, an analyst at Tong Yang Securities,.

“If a younger auto player such as Mahindra ends up buying Ssangyong, it wouldn’t really be positive for Ssangyong’s share price. There are concerns such companies would be in the deal for the technology, not necessarily Ssangyong’s longer-term development,” Ahn added.

Telecommunications issues also outperformed. SK Telecom (017670.KS), South Korea’s top wireless carrier, gained 2.82 percent, and KT Corp (030200.KS) was up 2.02 percent.

But memory chip issues declined after the key U.S. semiconductor index .SOXX lost 1.63 percent.

Shares in Hynix Semiconductor (000660.KS) fell 2.33 percent, hit further after the world’s No.2 memory chip maker said early on Monday it would acquire shares of its Chinese unit from partner Numonyx for 522 billion won ($437 million). [ID:nSEL003107]

“News of Hynix’s investment in Numonyx is weighing as it points to a potential liquidity contraction for the firm,” said Shin Hyun-joon, an analyst at Tong Yang Securities.

“But its fundamentals are still sound. There seems to be some profit-taking…as shares had rallied last week on stronger memory chip pricing,” Shin added.

Airlines and tour issues retreated as the won KRW= weakened, pointing to potentially slower demand for overseas tours and higher foreign debt costs for air carriers.

Shares in Korean Air Line (003490.KS) fell 1.81 percent and Hana Tour (039130.KQ) shed 0.85 percent.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sprint looking to fill more than 100 jobs in Temple, Texas

April 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Hiring to Support Company`s Commitment to the Market, Its Business Priorities,
and Help Deliver an Exceptional Experience to Its Wireless Customers
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(Business Wire)–
Sprint (NYSE: S) is hiring in its Call Center in Temple, Texas. With more than
100 positions to fill in the Center over the next 60 days, the jobs are an
economic boom during a time when other companies have been downsizing.

Sprint will hold an exclusive on-site hiring event on Thursday, April 15, 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m., at the Call Center at 1600 Eberhardt Road in Temple. This special
event is designed for Sprint representatives to meet with interested job-seekers
and for candidates to learn more about the positions. The Temple call center
handles multiple lines of business, including account services, finance, and
business care. It also has bilingual teams to service Sprint`s Spanish-speaking
customers. Interviews will be available the day of the event. The new hires will
be offered competitive salaries and benefits, including medical, dental, 401(k),
monthly performance bonuses, and participation in Sprint’s employee wireless
phone program.

The decision to hire is in anticipation of increased customer expectations with
the accelerated national rollout of Sprint`s 4G network coupled with an
overwhelming response to new device launches, including the upcoming
availability of HTC EVO, the world`s first 3G/4G phone. In addition to Temple,
Sprint`s 4G rollout has included several other Texas cities including, Amarillo,
Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Waco.

“Sprint is the first national wireless carrier to launch 4G and our employees
are essential in ensuring customers have a great experience with our products
and services. We are looking for bright, customer-focused, committed and
technically astute professionals who thrive on change, innovation and
technology,” said Tad Danley, Director of Operations for the Sprint Temple Call
Center. “It is especially pleasing that this hiring initiative offers an
opportunity to positively impact both the lives of current job-seekers and the
local economy,” Danley adds.

Sprint’s Call Center has been in Temple since 2001. With a tenured leadership
team it remains one of the top three performing Sprint call centers in North
America. In addition, Sprint employees at the Temple center have been active in
the community and are avid supporters of the United Way and the Scott & White
Medical Center Blood Drive.

For additional information and to learn more about the positions or apply
online, visit Sprint’s career center, www.sprint.com/callcenterjobs and click on
Temple, TX.

Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline
communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers,
businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for
developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two
wireless networks serving more than 48 million customers at the end of the
fourth quarter of 2009 and the first 4G service from a national carrier in the
United States; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and
international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone.
The company`s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call
resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit
www.sprint.com.

Sprint
Roni Singleton, 404-649-1579
eronia.singleton@sprint.com
or
John Taylor, 571-437-4685
john.b.taylor@sprint.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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