Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. Announces Performance Data and Portfolio Composition
PHILADELPHIA, June 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) (NYSE AMEX: FCO), a closed-end bond fund, announced today its performance data and portfolio composition as of April 30, 2009.
The Fund’s total returns for various periods through April 30, 2009 are provided below. (All figures are based on distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price, and are stated net-of-fees):
Period NAV Total Return % Market Price Total Return %
Cumulative Annualized Cumulative Annualized Since Inception 207.2 6.8 163.5 5.8 (March 1992) 10-years 70.2 5.5 98.5 7.1 5-years 20.3 3.8 17.8 3.3 3-years -1.8 -0.6 -5.4 -1.8 1-year -14.3 -11.8
The Fund’s returns, which are denominated in U.S. dollars, are affected by the performance of the U.S. dollar against the various currencies listed below.
As of April 30, 2009, the portfolio was invested as follows:
Currency Exposure % * Geographic Exposure % Australia 23.1 23.1 United Kingdom 0.6 10.4 Canada 11.7 15.1 New Zealand 12.3 18.9
United States ** 48.7 0.9
Europe (ex UK) 0.2 3.0 Asia 1.2 10.6 Emerging Markets 2.2 18.0
* Currency allocations include impact of all foreign forward currency exchange contracts. ** Of which 23.1% is invested in US$ denominated bonds issued by foreign issuers.
As of April 30, 2009, the Fund’s net assets, including US$30 million in bank borrowing, amounted to US$117.9 million with a net asset value per share of common stock of US$9.78.
As of April 30, 2009, 68.4% of the portfolio was invested in securities where either the issue or the issuer was rated “A” or better, or judged by the Investment Manager to be of equivalent quality. The credit quality and maturity breakdown of the portfolio was as follows:
Credit Quality (%)
AAA/Aaa AA/Aa A BBB/Baa BB/Ba B CCC 41.4 12.5 14.5 10.3 18.1 2.9 0.3
As of April 30, 2009, the average credit quality of the portfolio was A+.
Maturity (%)
<3 Years 3-5 Years 5-10 Years >10 Years 25.0 17.8 32.1 25.1
As of April 30, 2009, the average maturity of the portfolio was 10.3 years.
A revolving credit loan facility, in the amount of $30,000,000, was entered into on March 7, 2008 with the Bank of Nova Scotia, in order to fund the redemption of the Fund’s Auction Market Preferred Stock (”AMPS”) that took place in March 2008. The leverage is used with the intent of enhancing returns by borrowing at interest rates that are lower than the relatively higher yields of the emerging market fixed income securities in which the Fund invests. The Fund has entered into interest rate swap agreements in order to fix the interest payable on an aggregate notional amount of $19.4 million, which represents 65% of the bank loan facility. Details regarding the revolving credit loan facility and the interest rate swap agreements are contained in the Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
Important Information
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc., the Fund’s Administrator, has prepared this report based on information sources believed to be accurate and reliable. However, the figures are unaudited and neither the Fund, the Administrator, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited (the Investment Manager), Aberdeen Asset Management Limited (the Investment Adviser), nor any other person guarantees their accuracy. Investors should seek their own professional advice and should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before acting on this information. Aberdeen is a U.S. registered service mark of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC.
Total return figures with distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price are stated net-of-fees and represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results, current performance may be higher or lower. Inception date March 12, 1992.
If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact InvestorRelations@aberdeen-asset.com
SOURCE Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc.
Read This Before You Try a Cash for Gold Website
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 20 /PRNewswire/ — Unemployment is rising as a result of worsening economic conditions. Governments have been injecting huge amounts of money into the economies of the world. This, among other factors, has been bullish for gold. With gold hovering around $900/ounce, just percentage points from a new high, many people are buying SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) on the NYSE while fearing more losses in other areas.
“Rising unemployment has put a lot of pressure on American consumers to pay down debt and live more responsibly,” says Sean Monahan, President, ReturnYourGold.com, an Internet gold buying company focused on consumers.
A trend of Internet gold buying has swept the nation as consumers sell their jewelry to raise cash to pay bills.
“Gold buying companies are springing up everywhere in response to the current economic situation, and the rapidly rising price of gold,” says Mr. Monahan. “ReturnYourGold.com is the only company that pays you top dollar for your gold jewelry upfront, then sends you a second profit sharing payment if we sell your gold through our buyer network.”
Before you sell your gold through the Internet, in the search of an honest company, consider a few points. It’s always a good idea to deal with people that have been evaluating and buying jewelry for a long time. Like most things, you want to deal with people that know what they’re doing. Be wary of companies that spend so much on advertising that they payout less to offset those costs. Also, make sure that the company you deal with can be reached by telephone, and that you’re able to track the progress of your package within the company.
Your payout should be initiated quickly, usually within twenty-four hours of receiving your package. If there’s a delay with a company making payment, that may be a serious red flag.
When asked about the Return Your Gold procedure, Sean says, “We pay our customers within 24 hours of receiving their jewelry, then we take it a step further by quickly trying to sell their items on our buyer network. If we are able to resell the customer’s unwanted jewelry, then we actually share the profit with them by sending the customer a second profit sharing payment.”
“That’s the ReturnYourGold.com difference,” says Mr. Monahan, “it is not just about making money; we have the customer’s best interest at heart.”
SOURCE ReturnYourGold.com
Washington, D.C. and Virginia Paying Top Dollar for Workers with Security Clearances Finds ClearanceJobs.com
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 19 /PRNewswire/ — Despite the deepest recession in generations, workers holding security clearances are enjoying an average pay increase of nearly two percent to $73,961, finds ClearanceJobs.com, the leading online career management resource for professionals with active government security clearance. In its annual survey, ClearanceJobs finds that employees in Washington, D.C. and Virginia received a three percent increase and the highest annual compensation in the “cleared worker” category, with average salaries of $82,874 and $80,135, respectively.
“The turbulent economy has put a governor on the growth rate of salaries for security cleared workers,” said Evan Lesser, founder & Director of ClearanceJobs. “However, there is no shortage of security-cleared career opportunities both in and outside the D.C. corridor. Considering both number of current job openings and the local cost of living, there isn’t a bad market anywhere in the country for security clearance jobs.”
Top 10 Average Cleared Salaries by Geography:
2009-08 2008-07 ——- ——-
1. Washington, DC $82,874 $80,380 2. Virginia $80,135 $78,043 3. Colorado $74,000 $74,448 4. Maryland $73,471 $72,844 5. California $73,636 $70,874 6. Arizona $68,000 $67,020 7. Florida $65,962 $66,128 8. Texas $64,207 $60,252 9. Georgia $61,022 $59,150 10. North Carolina $58,506 $54,788
Additional findings include:
* Salaries for cleared workers in Afghanistan surged by seven percent to $106,321, while salaries of their counterparts in Iraq increased slightly to $106,839. The closing of the pay gap between the two war zones echoes the elevation of the United States’ focus in Afghanistan. In fact, the number of job postings on ClearanceJobs with work located in Afghanistan surged 170 percent over the past year, while openings in Iraq grew 58 percent over the same time frame. * The salary gap between government employees ($62,615) and government contractors ($83,212) widened in 2009 with contractors earning roughly $20,000 more than civil servants. * Average salaries for management-level positions topped six-figures for the first time at $101,720, joining the executive level ($130,293) in that highly sought-after compensation club. By comparison, an entry-level security cleared professional with less than two years of experience earned on average $45,811. * Despite an average salary gain that was a third of the increase security cleared professionals received in 2008, 70 percent of respondents noted they are satisfied with their current job, an increase from 67 percent satisfaction last year.
ClearanceJobs can provide additional specific and targeted data including reports salaries by location, clearance level, polygraph level, industry, gender and salary satisfaction. The data for the ClearanceJobs Salary Survey was collected from more than 5,000 security-cleared professionals registered on ClearanceJobs.com between February 21, 2008 and April 26, 2009.
About ClearanceJobs.com
ClearanceJobs, a Dice Holdings, Inc. company, is the leading Internet-based job board dedicated to matching job seekers who hold an active security clearance with the best hiring companies searching for new employees. Authorized U.S. government contractors and their representatives utilize the service to quickly and easily locate candidates with specific security clearance requirements to fill open jobs. For more information, please visit www.ClearanceJobs.com.
SOURCE ClearanceJobs.com
Alibris Book Buyback Service Pays Students for New and Used Textbooks and Educational Books
Alibris logo. (PRNewsFoto/Alibris)
EMERYVILLE, CA UNITED STATES
Book, music, and movie marketplace increases value for students over campus bookstores and textbook renters
EMERYVILLE, Calif., May 18 /PRNewswire/ — Alibris has launched a new book buyback service that gives students and parents increased value over college bookstores and textbook rental programs. The online book, music, and movie marketplace now pays customers for their new and used textbooks, literature, study guides, and other books. Consumers can still save up to 90% when they buy new and used textbooks at Alibris, so the buyback service closes the buyer-seller loop and empowers customers to make money when they’re finished with a book.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090511/ALIBRISLOGO)
Market research has shown that the Alibris textbook buyback service gives those who shop and sell at Alibris the best value, beating the offers of campus bookstores and textbook rental models. Those interested in selling books to Alibris enjoy a variety of helpful benefits:
* Free shipping. The shipping charges for purchased books are prepaid. * Free, quick, and easy use. There’s no sign-up required, and the service is fast and free to use. * Competitive pay-outs. The service pays top dollar for new and used textbooks. * Fast payments. Customers’ payments are sent within five days after their books are received. * Environmental friendliness. Selling used books encourages reuse, which is easy on the planet.
“Alibris is known as the place to go for great deals on new and used textbooks,” said Brian Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alibris. “Now we’re positioned to deliver the lowest-cost way for students to cover the increasing expenses of college: Buy used textbooks, and sell textbooks back when you’re finished with them.”
Elliott continued by illustrating how the Alibris book buyback service beats the offers of college bookstores and textbook rental programs. “Alibris has been around for more than ten years; we’re a proven, reliable online marketplace for students and educators. Whether you bought your book from one of our sellers or from somewhere else, our book buyback service will make you an offer — delivering cash for used textbooks, second-hand literature, and other educational books.”
About Alibris
Alibris is the premier online marketplace for independent sellers of new and used books, music, and movies, as well as rare and out-of-print titles. Read more about us.
SOURCE Alibris
RiT Technologies Announces $10 Million Convertible Loan Agreement With Stins Coman
The Loan Agreement is Subject to Shareholders Approval
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — RiT Technologies (NASDAQ: RITT) today announced that it has entered into a convertible loan agreement with STINS COMAN Incorporated (”STINS COMAN”), the largest shareholder of RiT.
According to the loan agreement, STINS COMAN agreed to extend to the Company a loan of up to $10 million. Other key terms of the loan agreement are as follows:
- At any time beginning with October 1, 2009, RiT may call the loan from STINS COMAN, but no more than $5 million at one call (up to a maximum of $10 million) and at intervals of at least 30 days between each call.
- The outstanding principal amount will accrue interest at an annual rate of 2.47%.
- The outstanding principal amount and the interest accrued thereon are due and payable 36 months following receipt of the funds drawn at each call (the “Maturity Date”).
- The loan is unsecured.
- STINS COMAN has the right to convert, at any time, the outstanding principal amount and the interest accrued thereon, in whole or in part, into ordinary shares of RiT at a conversion price per share equal to the market price of RiT shares on NASDAQ on the day RiT had received the funds, plus a premium of 10%. The conversion is subject to a 30 days prior notice and to the execution of a definitive purchase agreement to be substantially similar to the Securities Purchase Agreement entered between the parties, dated September 11, 2008.
Mr. Sergey Anisimov, the Chairman of RiT and the President of STINS COMAN, commented: “This $10 million credit line, which will be granted to RiT on remarkable terms, especially in the current economic environment, is another indication of STINS COMAN’s commitment to RiT. I am confident that this loan will allow RiT the necessary funds to continue to focus on implementing its growth strategies.”
The closing of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders. RiT plans to convene its 2009 annual shareholders meeting in the next few weeks in order to approve, among other things, the loan agreement. For further information about the transaction, see the Company’s Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The securities to be offered in the convertible loan agreement will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration, or an applicable exemption from registration, under the Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to purchase, sell or exchange or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell or exchange any securities of the Company.
About RiT Technologies
RiT is a leading provider of intelligent solutions for infrastructure management, asset management, environment and security, and network utilization. RiT Enterprise solutions address datacenters, communication rooms and workspace environments, ensuring maximum utilization, reliability, decreased downtime, physical security, automated deployment, asset tracking, and troubleshooting. RiT Environment and Security solutions enable companies to effectively control their datacenters, communications rooms and remote physical sites and facilities in real-time, comprehensively and accurately. RiT Carrier solutions provide carriers with the full array of network mapping, testing and bandwidth qualification capabilities needed for access network installation and service provisioning. RiT’s field-tested solutions are delivering value in thousands of installations for top-tier enterprises and operators throughout the world.
For more information, please visit our website: http://www.rittech.com
Safe Harbor Statement
In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate”, “forecast”, “target”, “could” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, when we discuss a field trial which could lead to a multi-million dollar Carrier deal, we are using a forward looking statement. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors, including, but not limited to, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 20-F, which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following: our ability to raise additional financing, if required; the continued development of market trends in directions that benefit our sales; our ability to maintain and grow our revenues; our dependence upon independent distributors, representatives and strategic partners; our ability to develop new products and enhance our existing products; the availability of third-party components used in our products; the economic condition of our customers; the impact of government regulation; and the economic and political situation in Israel. We are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
COMPANY CONTACT:
Simona Green VP Finance +972-3-766-4249 simonag@rit.co.il
SOURCE RiT Technologies Ltd
Howard Hughes Lincoln Sells for $1 Million at Tulsa Auction
Total Sales for the 3-Day Leake Car Show & Auction Exceed $12.2 Million
TULSA, Okla., June 18 /PRNewswire/ — A 1936 Lincoln Boat Tail Speedster once owned by Howard Hughes sold for $1 million at the Leake Car Show & Auction in Tulsa on June 13. Previously used as his personal limo, Hughes completely redesigned and restructured the limo into a Boat Tail Speedster. The $1 million dollar sale is the largest single sale in Leake’s history in Tulsa. Over 60% of the cars consigned were sold.
“This was a very unique vehicle, and it was a privilege to auction it in Tulsa,” stated Richard Sevenoaks, president of Leake Auction Company. “Howard Hughes was a very complex man and this car is a reflection of its unique creator.”
“Our Tulsa show was outstanding, and it exceeded our expectations,” Sevenoaks continued. “The auction kicked off on Friday with a large crowd and vigorous bidding. The excitement continued to build throughout the weekend, resulting in record attendance and enthusiastic bidders. This shows that the collector car market is still strong. Nationally, many car auctions have seen a decrease in sales. Industry wide, our Tulsa auction was one of the strongest in the nation for 2009.”
Approximately 10,000 people attended the 2009 Leake Car Show & Auction. Total bids for the auction reached $22 million. Leake registered more than 600 bidders for the show, including a bidder from Australia. The Tulsa auction also had a strong increase in Internet and phone bidding.
Other top selling cars included a 1936 Lincoln Model K Brunn Cabriolet at $187,500, a 1931 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan at $185,000, a 1953 Buick Skylark at $165,00 and a 1932 Packard 903 Super 8 Coupe Roadster at $160,000. A 1937 Lincoln Series K that was used a presidential limo during the Truman and Teddy Roosevelt presidencies sold for $105,000. The SC2000 from 2 Fast 2 Furious did not sell and was bid to $37,000.
The 37th annual Leake Collector Car Show and Auction was held June 12-14 in the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square. 750 cars crossed the two-lane auction block. Leake Auction Company was established in 1964 as one of the first car auctions in the country. More than 40 years later the auction company has sold more than 31,000 cars. Leake Auction Company currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
For more information, leakecar.com or contact Leake at info@leakecar.com or 918-254-7077.
SOURCE Leake Auction Company
Bipartisan Leaders Call for Radical Reinvention of Illinois Schools
Advance Illinois report calls for higher bar for students, teachers and principals
NOTE: Recommendations available at www.advanceillinois.org
CHICAGO, June 18 /PRNewswire/ — Advance Illinois, the education reform group co-chaired by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and former Secretary of Commerce William Daley, today issued recommendations for radical reform of the state’s education system to dramatically raise the bar for Illinois schools and reverse an alarming decline in student performance.
“The need has never been more acute, as our student achievement is slipping dangerously,” said Robin Steans, Advance Illinois executive director. “The opportunities have never been greater, as the federal stimulus is pointing us toward aggressive reform. And never before has such a bipartisan group of people come together around comprehensive, student-focused reform.”
Advance Illinois today published a report, We Can Do Better: Advancing Public Education in Illinois. The report calls for setting world-class standards, holding school districts and teacher training programs accountable for results, linking teacher and principal evaluations to academic outcomes, and empowering local schools and districts to stimulate innovation.
Data shows Illinois has been falling behind the rest of the country and the world.
“For the first time in history, a generation of young people is at risk to be less educated than that of their parents,” said Daley. “It’s time to think differently.”
For every four students who enter high school in Illinois, one will drop out, two will finish school but be unprepared for work or further education, and only one will graduate ready for whatever comes next.
“We hurt our young people most by low expectations,” said Governor Edgar. “We can and must do better. Every student has the right to a diploma that means something. We do children a great injustice by failing to prepare them to succeed in a highly competitive world.”
The report focuses its proposed reform in three main areas:
* Recruit, Develop and Empower the Most Effective Educators * Set World-class Expectations and Provide Essential Supports * Empower Local Innovation in Exchange for Accountability and Results
The report calls for teaching, arguably the most important job in America, to be treated as a profession. It recommends re-allocating resources away from strategies that don’t improve student achievement to those that do. For example, the report notes that, currently, more than $400 million is spent every year to reward teachers for completing graduate coursework and degrees. This despite the fact that, with minimal exceptions, there is no evidence that advanced degrees increase teacher effectiveness in the classroom.
In the same vein, the state should retool how teachers and principals are evaluated and reach career milestones, starting with measuring their impact on student achievement. At the same time, teacher training programs should be evaluated based on the quality of their programs and their graduates.
“Our focus should be on what the evidence shows works for students, and on rewarding strategies and people who help students meet new, tougher standards,” said Steans.
The state’s standards have slipped. While Illinois Standards Achievement Test scores are rising, Illinois students’ scores on national tests have shown little improvement.
To that end, the report recommends adopting internationally benchmarked college- and career-ready standards and raising graduation requirements to match college and career requirements.
“We are failing our students and their families who believe making the grade in Illinois means you are ready to take on college or the workplace,” said Edgar. “Sadly, that’s often not the case because our standards in Illinois are so low.”
School reform in Illinois has often been presented as a choice between local or state control. Advance Illinois calls for breaking free of what is a false choice; there should be more state support but it should be designed to empower local communities with more resources and information to adopt the best available practices that suit their particular circumstances.
“While it may seem self-evident or just plain common sense, many simple steps like tracking student outcomes to determine what works and what doesn’t just hasn’t been done in Illinois,” said Miguel del Valle, Chicago City Clerk, former Chair of the Illinois Senate Education Committee and Advance Illinois board member. “This is just a starting point, but we have to start getting serious before it’s too late for Illinois students.”
Among the report’s recommendations is the creation of a State Innovation Fund, to support districts and schools willing to creatively tackle priority issues.
Advance Illinois recommends tracking progress against aggressive measures to match the achievement of the most successful states. Illinois must lower achievement gaps and raise graduation rates. Now in the middle rank of U.S. performance, Illinois should aim to be in the top 5 states, across a range of measurements, including academic proficiency, student achievement and educational attainment.
The group’s proposed reforms correspond to criteria the federal government will use to award additional education stimulus dollars on a competitive basis starting this fall. These sound reform steps should be implemented regardless of the stimulus, but — taken seriously — could trigger significant federal dollars for cash-strapped Illinois schools.
“Not all new funding means more money out of the pockets of Illinois taxpayers, and Illinois should actively pursue federal funds,” said Edgar. “Education Secretary Arne Duncan has warned us that Illinois may not have implemented enough reforms yet to get some of those federal funds. That is why we must show we are willing and capable of changing our ways when it comes to education.”
“While there are some very encouraging initiatives coming out of Washington to help our schools, we have to roll up our sleeves here in Illinois because no one is going to do the hard work for us,” said Dennis Hastert, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and an Advance Illinois Board member.
The recommendations are based on nearly a year of consultation with experts across the nation, research into successful reforms elsewhere and dozens of meetings and public Town Hall sessions with parents, educators, academics and community leaders across Illinois.
Advance Illinois is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, the Grand Victoria Foundation, The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, McCormick Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust and the Boeing Company Charitable Trust.
About Advance Illinois
Advance Illinois is an independent, objective voice to promote a public education system in Illinois that prepares all students to be ready for work, college, and democratic citizenship.
For more information visit www.advanceillinois.org.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
We Can Do Better: Advancing Public Education in Illinois
RECRUIT, DEVELOP AND EMPOWER THE MOST EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS
* Evaluate and accredit teacher training programs based on the quality of their program and their graduates * Evaluate teachers and principals based on their performance, starting with their impact on student achievement * Award tenure and certification of principals and teachers based on performance, not coursework or years served * Give schools and districts serving at-risk children greater control and flexibility to attract and hire effective teachers
SET WORLD-CLASS EXPECTATIONS AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORTS
* Adopt internationally benchmarked college- and career-ready standards * Revise current assessments, agree on a mechanism for measuring student growth, and develop end-of-course exams to measure mastery of subjects throughout high school * Raise graduation requirements to match college and career requirements * Make cutting-edge curricula and formative assessments readily available to teachers * Provide parents with early, relevant information about student development and progress
EMPOWER LOCAL INNOVATION IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS
* Create a State Innovation Fund, to support districts and schools willing to creatively tackle priority issues * Build a world-class data system * Develop the measures, capacity and strategies to constructively intervene in failing schools
The report recommends Illinois commit to meeting the following goals by 2020:
* Increase Illinois’ proficiency rate on the Nation’s Report Card to 50 percent for reading and math, placing us among the top five states. Illinois currently trails more than half the states with a rate of 30-35 percent. * Increase graduation rates by 10 percent to 85 percent, and increase the rate of students receiving post-graduate education by 12 percent to 40 percent. * Raise the number of students receiving a college and career-ready curriculum to 70 percent, from 45 percent today. * Close the gap in reading and math on the Nation’s Report Card between minority and white students and poor/non-poor students to less than 10 percent from 20 to 40 in all areas, among the worst in the nation.
Contacts: Laurent Pernot 773-865-5381 (c) Fuzz Hogan 312-467-5902 (w) 312-315-7221 (c)
SOURCE Advance Illinois
Foreign Investors: US Real Estate to Recover in Q2, 2010
Perceptions Shift from January Results
WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire/ — Foreign real estate investors say they expect to see a recovery in the U.S. real estate market by the end of the second quarter of 2010, according to the results of a new survey released today by the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE). Completed in the past month among the association’s nearly 200 members, the survey was conducted by The James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, University of Wisconsin – Madison. This is the first mid-year survey to be conducted by AFIRE.
Respondents projected their investments for the remainder of 2009 will substantially out-strip investments completed year-to-date. On the debt side, survey respondents say they expect to invest three times more than current investment levels year-to-date; equity investors expect they will place seven times more than current year-to-date investments. Overall, three quarters of the survey respondents had not yet invested in 2009; however, more than two-thirds of them plan to invest some debt or equity in U.S. real estate before the end of the year.
Survey respondents continue to be optimistic in their investment projections. Thirty-one percent said they were more optimistic than at the beginning of the year; 16 percent said they were more pessimistic; and 53 percent said they felt about the same as at the beginning of the year.
In the 17th Annual Survey, released in January, respondents named Washington, D.C., New York, and San Francisco respectively as the top three cities for their investment dollars. “In this survey, respondents echoed those choices saying they expected the same three cities to lead the recovery,” said James A. Fetgatter, chief executive of AFIRE. “However,” he added, “The perception that Washington, D.C. will be the first to recover has risen dramatically since the Annual Survey. Twice as many respondents named Washington as their city of choice over second-place New York.” Boston, which has not appeared among investors’ top five cities since 2001, was selected as the fourth city and Los Angeles, fifth.
Survey respondents also said that the office sector would recover first, followed by the multi-family and industrial sectors. This is a shift in investor perception from the results of 17th Annual Survey in which investors expressed an interest for multi-family over office buildings as the preferred property type for their real estate investment dollars.
AFIRE members have a common interest in preserving and promoting investment in cross-border real estate. Founded in 1988, AFIRE has nearly 200 members representing 20 countries. AFIRE is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC; (202)312-1400; www.afire.org.
Contact: Kathryn Hamilton (914) 767-3428 Kathryn@hamiltonink.com
SOURCE Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) Foreign Investors: US Real Estate to Recover in Q2, 2010
SOURCE Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE)
Bhelliom Taps Into a ‘Miracle Billion-Dollar Berry Blend’ With Their All-New Mr Energy 8 Hour Energy Shot
BOCA RATON, Fla., June 17 /PRNewswire/ — Bhelliom Energy Products, maker of Mr Energy 8-HR ENERGY Pills and other dietary health supplements, have released into the market their all-new 2 oz. Mr Energy 8-HR Energy Shot.
Due to the overwhelming demand worldwide for the powerful energy berries Acai, Noni, Goji and Pomegranate, Bhelliom has created a good-tasting blend of this quartet of health berries. Combining it with their timed release delivery system, Bhelliom has created the world’s first good-tasting, 2 oz., healthy, 8 hour release energy shot.
According to Casey McCarthy, President of Bhelliom Energy Products, “The Acai Berry is currently enjoying worldwide recognition not only as an antioxidant, but also as an energy supplement. Acai Berry’s other significant nutrients include amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals in addition to a variety of phytonutrients.”
Goji Berry, also in this revolutionary energy shot, has been used as a tonic by herbalists for generations to provide a sense of well-being and harmony to both the mind and body. Another antioxidant powering Mr Energy is Pomegranate, which helps to “free up your energy reserves.” Finally, Mr Energy 8-HR also contains Noni, known among herbalists as a tonic associated with greater energy levels, as well as a powerful immune system builder.
“We took our breakthrough crash-proof technology that has made Mr Energy 8-HR ENERGY Pills the most effective and longest-lasting energy pill on the market and combined it with the most sought-after ‘Billion-Dollar Berry Quartet.’ This first-of-its-kind blend has created a long-lasting, good-tasting, healthy, guilt-free energy shot. Our customers see it as ‘new found Time in a Bottle,’ and it is taking the country by storm,” stated McCarthy.
Mr Energy 8-HR Energy Shot is conveniently packaged in a resealable 2 oz. bottle. Consumers can now pace themselves to have the energy they need, when they need it. Mr Energy 8 Hour Energy Shot is now in distribution.
Bhelliom Energy Products has been in business since 2003 and distributes to wholesalers, distributors and health food stores throughout the US. Their products have stocked the shelves of more than 27,000 C-stores, nutrition stores and truck stops nationwide. In addition, Mr Energy 8-HR always gets top ranked listings on Google, Yahoo and most major search engines. All of Bhelliom’s products are developed, piloted, tested and manufactured in the USA.
Mr Energy 8-HR Energy Shot retails for $3.49 and the packaging is superb. Bhelliom provides free shipping for its distributors and all their products are backed by their unconditional 100% money back satisfaction guarantee.
For more product information on Mr Energy 8-HR Energy Shot, visit: http://www.8Hourshot.com.
For distributor information, see: http://www.bhelliom.com.
Bottle Image: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2009-Bhelliom.jpg
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Contact:
Lynn Baker, National Sales Mgr. info@bhelliom.com 888-277-8169
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SOURCE Bhelliom Energy Products
California Employee Confidence Report: Workers More Optimistic About Strength of the Economy
LOS ANGELES, June 19 /PRNewswire/ — In the midst of ongoing job declines being reported across the state, the California Employee Confidence Index rose 4.5 points to 49.2 in May, according to the latest Spherion(R) Employment Report. The monthly survey of California workers, conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Spherion Corporation, uncovers signs of economic optimism for the third consecutive month. Specifically, more workers indicated that they believe the economy is getting stronger, and fewer workers reported that fewer jobs are available.
Results from the California Employment Report:
* One quarter of workers (25 percent) believe the economy is getting stronger, an increase of seven percentage points from April. * More workers reported that they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months. Specifically 40 percent versus 36 percent in the previous month. * Nearly half of workers (49 percent) are confident in their ability to find a new job, an increase of six percentage points from April. * Sixty-nine percent of workers believe there are fewer jobs available compared to 77 percent in the previous month.
“We are pleased to see the continued uptick in confidence among California workers for the third consecutive month. While only time will tell if this is going to be a trend, we believe that ongoing fluctuation in our Index is highly probable in the months to come,” explained Beth Noseworthy, region vice president for Spherion. “However, it is promising to see that California workers are expressing higher levels of personal confidence and are increasingly indicating that they believe the economy is getting stronger, which are both positive signs in terms of economic recovery.”
Full Report: http://www.spherion.com/pressroom/index.php?s=43&item=811
About the Spherion Employment Report
Methodology
About Harris Interactive
About Spherion
Spherion Corporation is a leading recruiting and staffing company that provides integrated solutions and breakout specialties to meet the evolving needs of companies and job candidates. As an industry pioneer for more than 60 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in temporary, temp-to-hire and full-time jobs.
With approximately 630 locations in the United States and Canada, Spherion delivers innovative workforce solutions that improve business performance. Spherion provides its services to approximately 10,000 customers, from Fortune 500 companies to a wide range of small and mid-size organizations. Employing more than 215,000 people annually through its network, Spherion is one of North America’s largest employers. Spherion operates under the following brands: Spherion Staffing Services Group for administrative, clerical and light industrial workers; Technisource for technology professionals and solutions; The Mergis Group for accounting and finance and other professional positions; Todays Office Professionals for specialty administrative personnel; and Spherion Recruitment Process Outsourcing. To learn more, visit www.spherion.com
SOURCE Spherion Corporation
