Visa USA reported that its volume on purchases less than $25 in targeted small ticket segments totaled $27.3 billion in the first six months of the year, an increase of 17 percent over the same period in 2005. The double-digit growth indicates that Visa payment cards are increasingly being used instead of cash and checks for everyday purchases less than $25.
62 percent of customer relationship management (CRM) users surveyed in the UK think that the financial services sector, compared to any other, is leading best practice when it comes to client management. That is according to a survey of CRM users commissioned by CDC Software, a leading global provider of enterprise software applications.
Over 250 Chinese companies worth in excess of $14 billion have been bought by international acquirers over the past year, with the United States, UK and Singapore leading the way in establishing a foothold in China's rapidly-expanding economy, according to an analysis by Grant Thornton.
More and more American consumers are carrying less and less cash. A "Consumer Payments Survey," commissioned by MasterCard and conducted by Ipsos, shows that 74% of respondents no longer carry large amounts of cash with them, and 62% say they have switched to other forms of payment. More than half (56%) said they usually could find stores that accepted other forms of payment besides cash.
Hitachi Power Systems America, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi America, Ltd., today announced that it has been awarded a contract to retrofit wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems to five of Ameren Corporation's power generation units at its Sioux, Coffeen, and Duck Creek plants. The scrubbers are capable of removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) from either low sulfur or high sulfur coals, providing continued flexibility for Ameren to use the least cost fuels for each plant.
Dell reported revenue of $14.1 billion for the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, an increase of 5 percent year-over-year. Operating income was $605 million, or 4.3 percent of revenue, which includes $119 million of stock-based compensation. The company priced aggressively in a slower market resulting in operating income which was lower than its May expectations on similar revenue. As a result, EPS for the quarter finished at 22 cents.
HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2006, with net revenue of $21.9 billion, representing growth of 5% year-over-year, or 6% when adjusted for the effects of currency. GAAP operating profit was $1.5 billion and GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.48 per share, up from $0.03 in the prior year period. GAAP financial information for the third quarter 2005 reflects a tax adjustment resulting from HP's decision to repatriate $14.5 billion in cash from foreign earnings.
Logitech and Skype, the global Internet communications company, today announced that they have expanded their relationship by bringing a complete solution for Internet calling dedicated to Skype(TM) users worldwide: the Logitech(R) EasyCall(TM) Desktop. The European version of the desktop combines a mouse, headset and speakerphone with a Skype-specific keyboard for the first time ever.
