Asia stocks fall as China manufacturing slows

BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets mostly fell Wednesday after four days of gains as China's manufacturing slowed despite government stimulus efforts. European shares rose.

Global markets have been buoyant since last Thursday on hopes that policymakers will back powerful new measures to battle Europe's debt crisis after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi vowed to do what it takes to keep the euro currency union intact.

But sentiment in Asia took a hit after an expected improvement in China's manufacturing failed to materialize. Doubts have also grown about whether the ECB's bold talk will translate into definitive action. As so often before in the debt crisis, the risk is that Europe's leaders overpromise and under-deliver.

The U.S. Federal Reserve finishes a two-day meeting Wednesday. Hopes it will announce new stimulus for the world's No. 1 economy have waxed and waned. The ECB meets Thursday.

"A bit of doubt is starting to creep in after the monster rally we have seen over the past week," said IG Markets strategist Stan Shamu in a commentary. "Concerns over how aggressive the ECB will be in backing Mario Draghi's pledge to save the euro seem to be keeping some investors at bay ahead of the ECB meeting."

China's manufacturing remained weak in July, according to surveys released Wednesday, and analysts said weakening export demand pointed to the need for more efforts to revive growth in the world's second-biggest economy.

The state-affiliated China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers' index, or PMI, fell 0.1 percentage point to 50.1 in July, the slowest growth in eight months and just above the 50 level signifying expansion.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average closed down 0.6 percent at 8,641.85 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.1 percent to 19,820.38. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.2 percent to 4,262.80. South Korea's Kospi shed 0.1 percent to 1,879.93. Markets in Indonesia and India also fell while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.9 percent to 2,123.36.

In morning European trade, France's CAC 40 climbed 0.3 percent to 3,302.75 and Germany's DAX rose 0.2 percent to 6,785.56. Britain's FTSE 100 was up 0.6 percent at 5,670.29. Wall Street was poised to gain with Dow futures up 0.3 percent and S&P 500 futures higher by 0.2 percent.

In energy trading, benchmark crude for September delivery was up 11 cents at $88.17 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude lost $1.72 to settle at $88.06 in New York on Tuesday.

The euro was up 0.1 percent at $1.231. The dollar pared losses to be little changed at 78.12 yen.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/asia-stocks-fall-china-manufacturing-slows-041954271--finance.html

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Your Small Business Should Hire A Dedicated Social Media Expert

On July 1, 2012 on this very site, Matthew Bellows talked about the importance of e-mail as a tool for converting warm sales leads. He noted that while social media is important, it is ultimately e-mail that will drive sales.

It?s a good point, and thus a worthwhile read for any marketer or salesperson operating in the world of business today. ?It does not, however, change the fact that social media is a vitally important piece of your strategy.

For sales, e-mail may remain the most critical wrench in your business toolbox, but your specialized tools for social media can reach a different crowd entirely. Many of your customers lean heavily on their mobile devices and their electronics to keep them connected to the world, and are increasingly savvy about sales messaging. They don?t want to be sold to so much as they want to be talked?to, to have someone carry on a conversation that just so happens to be about your business philosophy and products.

Because this requires a different worldview than your usual sales or marketing team member has been trained to have, your company should have a dedicated social media expert.

The Ideal Expert

It?s becoming increasingly trendy to staff your social media guru spot with someone young. That?s wise to a point ? the younger generations have grown up with social media and are very comfortable navigating it ? but it should not be a mortal lock.

Instead, look for a deep understanding. Your expert-to-be should know the major platforms in and out, have at least a working knowledge of writing, video and webinars/podcasts and be able to grasp how SEO works. ?If they?re 22 or 40, every candidate and especially?every hire should exhibit an active mastery of at least the basics of social media.

They also need to have one heck of a work ethic. Social media management is relatively easy to get started with and requires little time per post or update, but that time adds up fast. I would estimate that I spend about 30 hours a week on theBizEngine blog, Twitter feed, Facebookand various other platforms in order to promote our content and have conversations around small business.

It?s critically important to do it and I thoroughly enjoy doing so, but it?s not a gig for a part-time employee.

Above all, though, you need someone who knows their stuff. The only question is, what if you can?t find someone?

Should You Outsource?

If you can?t find a candidate who satisfies your requirements, you can outsource the work to a dedicated SEO company.

There are so many great companies out there who can really take your social media marketing efforts to the next level. In essence, all you will need to do is consult with these companies, keep abreast of the work they are doing on your behalf and be sure that everything is up to brand standards.

The question here is cost. Chances are good that you will pay at least?as much per year for a quality social media firm as you would for an employee, and those who enjoy being in total control of what comes out of their company might not find that to be a palatable option.

If you don?t want to have someone in-house and you have the revenue to make it a reality, though, outsourcing can be an excellent choice.

Either way, I believe a social media expert can make an enormous difference for your business. With their ability to reach wide swaths of people quickly and easily and a chance to make a lasting impact on customers past, present and future, they are essential. Just make sure you hire a great one.

Does your business have a dedicated social media expert?

Social Media Photo via Shutterstock

About David Choate

Dave Choate is a business writer by day and by night. David has been writing about small business, marketing and financing for BizEngine since 2011, and has penned guest articles for a host of sites.

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Source: http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/08/hire-a-dedicated-social-media-expert.html

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Spanish regions rebel against deficit targets

MADRID (AP) ? A growing number of Spain's regions are rebelling against central government attempts to rein in their spending, threatening the country's efforts to convince investors that it can manage its finances.

A meeting called Tuesday to slash the 17 semiautonomous regions' total deficit to 0.7 percent of Spain's economic output by next year was boycotted by the powerful northeastern region of Catalonia while the chief financial officer for the southern Andalusia left the meeting early in protest.

Two other regions, Asturias and the Canary Islands, voted against the proposal, which was eventually approved by a majority of the regional governments.

Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro warned the regions that the federal government would not tolerate any deviation in the deficit targets. Curbing Spain's central and regional deficits is seen as key to satisfying Spain's 16 euro partners that it is in control of its finances and in bringing down the country's borrowing costs.

"I am not worried because nobody is going to put the deficit at risk," Montoro said. He intimated the regions could be obliged by law to comply.

The rebel regions accuse the central government of being inflexible in maintaining 2012 national deficit targets of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product and 1.5 percent for the regions despite the fact that Spain has been allowed to raise its overall 2012 target of 6.3 percent from the originally agreed 5.3 percent.

Andalusia complains that its finances are in relatively good shape and that such austerity this year and again in 2013 would choke it.

Meanwhile, Catalonia, the region with most debt, said it boycotted the meeting because Montoro was not open to alternative proposals.

This week Catalonia announced that severe cash flow problems meant it won't be able to make July payments to dozens of private social service suppliers including hospitals, child-care centers and retiree homes. The region also admits it may have to join two other regions in tapping a new central government loan fund for cash-strapped regional governments although it denies that this would basically constitute a bailout.

Spain's is in its second recession in three years while its regions and banks have mounting debt and deficits following a real estate crash in 2008. The country has an unemployment rate of nearly 25 percent unemployment and is struggling to avoid having to seek a financial bailout like those sought by Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus.

The other 16 countries that use the euro have already agreed to lend Spain up to ?100 billion ($123 billion) in loans for its troubled banks. A sovereign bailout for the country, the eurozone's fourth largest economy, would be far costlier and could seriously challenge the eurozone's finances.

U.S. rating agency Standard & Poor's Wednesday acknowledged the Spain's commitment to its austerity and reform measures when it affirmed its credit score at BBB+. However, the agency warned the country could be subject to further downgrades.

The country's Treasury will face a fresh test of investor sentiment Thursday when it auctions bonds maturing in 2014, 2016 and 2022.

The interest rate for Spain's benchmark 10-year bond on the secondary market remained perilously high Wednesday at 6.6 percent. A rate close to 7 percent is deemed unsustainable for a country over the long term.

The financial market pressure has eased on Spain over the past week after remarks from European leaders that they work to help save the euro.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/spanish-regions-rebel-against-deficit-targets-085443015--finance.html

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The LeBron James of MMA to Get One Last Shot at Glory

When he debuted in the Octagon back in October, 2005, he held chambered in each deadly, decapitating head-kick all the potential in the world.? And it seemed?like that potential was being realized with a pair of wins by KO, a submission via guillotine, and a quick and violent mauling of Frank Mir.? But Brandon Vera was a Cleveland Cavalier then, stuck banging his head against a ceiling that would forever prevent him from basking in the warm glow of an NBA championship victory party at Dwyane Wade's sprawling crib.? Then came the announcement that Vera would be headlining UFC on FOX 4 opposite Brazilian hitman Mauricio "Shogun" Rua ? and today's shocker from Dana White, that the winner of the bout gets to face?UFC champ Jon Jones next ? and it's as if "The Truth" has turned his back on his beloved home state and beaten a path to Miami.? It's as if Brandon Vera is the MMA equivalent of LeBron James, eschewing Ohio for the Heat, and going where he could very well find that glory that has thus far eluded him.? Well, you know what?? Y'all needs to chill.

The truth about the Truth is that his losses in the cage have come at the hands of top guys (more or less), and they came with "circumstances".? Against former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia, Vera broke his hand in the first round; against jiu-jitsu master Fabricio Werdum, the stoppage was controversial; against UFC legend Randy Couture, it was a slow death via hugging. ?Vera has only truly been smashed by one fighter, UFC light-heavyweight king Jones, and at this point, you aren't anyone in the 205-pound weight class until you've been smashed by Jon Jones.?

Even Shogun has been destroyed by the reigning champ ? and when it comes down to it, who else is left for Jones to face?? Plus, the Brazilian stud, though legendary himself for all he's accomplished in both the UFC and in PRIDE FC, has been injured and rebuilt so many times, there's a high probability he could literally fall to pieces if Jones ? or even Vera ? hits him wrong.

So Vera gets his chance, about as worthy and capable as the rest on the UFC's roster.? Just, please, don't begrudge the LeBron James of MMA his shot glory.? Wouldn't you rather live in Miami instead of Ohio?

Follow Jim Genia here for more crazy.? Or don't.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/lebron-james-mma-one-last-shot-glory-220436958--mma.html

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India Lacks a Strong Culture of Philanthropy | INDIA CSR

The foundation?s CEO Jeff Raikes, who spent close to three decades at Microsoft before taking up the assignment in 2008, talks about the milestones and challenges during his recent visit here.

Jeff Raikes, Chief executive officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The $33.5-billion Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is constantly exploring innovative ways to tackle challenges in global healthcare, sanitation, poverty, education and agriculture.

These include bringing in business techniques to problem solving, partnering with global corporations for low-cost solutions and funding R&D in areas of neglected diseases such as tuberculosis.

The Foundation has committed $1 billion to programmes in India and is also expanding its role globally. However, it faces the criticism of aligning with interests of big pharma and agri-business giants such as Monsanto and Cargill. Raikes debunks such criticism.

?We are taking advantage of a range of solutions, some of which come from those organisations and some from others. They make a difference for the people we serve. For example, we may work with an agricultural development company to take advantage of their intellectual property and pay royalty fee on behalf of the poor. The partnership benefits the poor, not the company.?

So, is the Foundation against open innovation? ?Certainly not. Take, for example, agriculture ? we take intellectual property from agricultural companies and help, say, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). That is essentially open innovation (like developing water-efficient maize crop for AATF in partnership with Monsanto and others),? says Raikes.

How does he assess the Foundation?s work in India? ?The success of Avahan (started in 2003) shows how you can build large-scale health intervention, in this case to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Another example was the eradication of polio. This is an important milestone.

Now we are focusing on an integrated approach to interventions across a range of our programmes, from vaccines, tuberculosis management, family health, improved sanitation, agricultural development to financial services for the poor,? says Raikes.

US president Barack Obama recently talked about concerns of US businessmen over the deteriorating investment climate in India. Are there similar impediments when it comes to philanthropy? ?Obama has his own problems back home. To be successful in India, you have to garner broad support.

So, if it is vaccine initiative ? like the pentavalent vaccine initiative with the Avahan programme or the Ananya (to improve health of women and new born) initiative in Bihar ? you have to be aware of the different set of interest groups that will have a point of view. I just consider that to be part of what we have to do to succeed,? says Raikes.

Is the business of making money different from that of giving money? ?The latter is tougher. There are similarities too.

R&D projects in software are similar to the kind of R&D we do here ? both need a disciplined approach. There are differences too. In the private sector, you have the market system giving you continuous feedback that is generally true, except for long-term R&D.

Here, you have to think about measuring the impact of your work. That could be number of lives saved, deaths reduced, disease burden reduced,? says Raikes.

He strongly believes that government support is vital to meeting the Foundation?s objectives. ?Partnership is the only way that these goals can be accomplished. What we essentially do is catalytic philanthropy. We make grants to our partners who develop innovative interventions.

Based on evidence of their success, they could be scaled up and sustained by the public or the private sector. For example, we underwrote meningitis vaccine development efforts where the Serum Institute was an important part.

There was no clear market opportunity because it was targeted at the poor in sub-Saharan Africa. We took that risk and they developed a vaccine. That is an example of investments in innovative interventions,? says Raikes.

He reckons that India with its technological leadership has the capacity to be a huge provider of vaccines to other parts of the world. ?If you take, for example, the meningitis vaccine programme in sub-Saharan Africa, Serum Institute was an integral part of that success,? says Raikes.

What is the difference in philanthropic work in emerging and developed markets? ?There is a strong culture of philanthropy in the US and charitable contributions account for a substantial portion of GDP.

In India, the culture is not the same. I am optimistic that it will develop here and those who have created great businesses will think about how they can put their resources back into society. One of my friends is Azim Premji and what he is doing with his foundation is an example and there will be more like him that follow.?

(Jeff Raikes is the Chief executive officer at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

(Source : Economic Times, 30 July 2012)

Posted by indiacsr on Jul 30 2012. Filed under Philanthropy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Source: http://www.indiacsr.in/en/?p=7192

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Head of Human Resources - Harvey Nash HNIT Job Search Details ...

Head of Human Resources - Shropshire

C?60k + car & benefits

Committed to providing their customers with the highest standards of care and advice, my client operates very successfully within their very niche market sector. Founded nearly 100 years ago, my client has clearly defined strategic goals to ensure the continued growth and delivery of their unique services for years to come.

This distinctive business now has an exciting vacancy for a new Head of HR. This is an opportunity to help shape and define the HR strategy to help support the achievement of strategic business goals. Reporting to the Director of HR, the Head of HR will support the business and Senior Management Team through the provision of pragmatic, creative and flexible people solutions. You will provide inspirational leadership to the HR team whilst ensuring that excellence in customer service is at the very heart of the HR culture.

Key objectives and areas of accountability:
* Develop, agree and implement the HR strategy to support the delivery of the Business Plan engaging key stakeholders as appropriate.
* Lead on HR related projects across the organisation, delivering through effective use of the HR team and cross functional projects teams.
* Lead, manage and develop the HR team in providing an effective and efficient HR service, ensuring the delivery of HR plans in line with the HR strategy.
* Provide expert advice and guidance across the whole HR agenda to Directors, line managers and members of the HR team.
* Protect the business from risks arising out of HR related activities ensuring the effective management of employee relations issues underpinned by robust, legally compliant policies and procedures.
* Develop and agree HR related budgets on an annual basis. To track performance against budget on a monthly basis taking appropriate and timely corrective actions to address variances.
* Support the Director of HR in the effective running of the organisation?s pension arrangements in line with the principles of good governance.
* Ensure the fair and consistent application of reward policies. Ensure that the reward structure remains competitive in the market place through regular benchmarking and market reviews.
* Proactively seek ways to continually improve the HR function and its activities.
* Develop, monitor and review key HR indicators recommending and implementing actions where appropriate.

Qualifications/experience and skills
* Degree educated and CIPD qualified (or equivalent).
* Proven track record in change management, OD and employee relations.
* Good employment legislation knowledge and able to translate and apply it in practise.
* Commercially and financially aware with strong IT skills.

The ideal candidate for this vacancy will have a proven track record as generalist HR professional and will possess excellent communication and influencing skills. You will be accountable, engaging, credible, inspirational and highly professional, a strategic thinker with an operational approach in equal measure.

To apply for the exciting role, please submit your CV to Lisa Wormald by Friday 17th August including details of your current remuneration and availability.

ABOUT HARVEY NASH HR
Harvey Nash Human Resources Division specialises in the recruitment and development of HR professionals.

Harvey Nash HR was established with one simple vision in mind - to create a specialist HR division that has the passion and razor-sharp focus of a boutique, whilst at the same time provide our clients and candidates with the unique market insight, resources and international contacts of one of the most respected brands in recruitment.

We are part of Harvey Nash Plc, a global professional recruitment consultancy and IT outsourcing service provider and trusted advisor to some of the world?s leading businesses, governments and institutions. We operate from 40 offices covering the USA, Europe & Asia.

Source: http://www.harveynash.com/uk/hnit/jobs/details.asp?jobid=1417436&Sourceapply=4

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MacReportMedia - New York Institute of Photography Launches ...

NEW YORK, NY--( Jul 30, 2012) - On July 30th, the New York Institute of Photography answered the calls of thousands of graduates when they launched the NYIP Alumni Association. For the first time, NYIP-certified photographers all over the world will be invited to join a private online community developed especially for them.

Founded in 1910 in New York City, NYIP is the world's largest and oldest photography school. The alumni association will offer thousands of graduates all over the world a variety of member benefits, including a social networking community, business listings, a photography job board, webinars and events, and more.

"At NYIP, we've always stayed by our commitment to support our students long after they graduate," said NYIP Director Chuck DeLaney, "and this community is something we hope will benefit our photographers no matter what their goals are in the field."

For years, photographers who've completed one or more of the courses offered by the New York Institute of Photography have asked how they can connect with other alumni. In addition to the opportunity to befriend and learn from their peers, members of the NYIP Alumni Association will be able to sign up for free continuing education opportunities and receive discounts on photography gear and accessories.

"It's been a long time coming," said NYIP graduate and student advisor Chris Corradino. "Graduates of the program will benefit greatly from the opportunities they're given as a member of this exclusive community."

NYIP graduates who want to learn more should read about the NYIP Alumni Association or contact the school.

About NYIP

The New York Institute of Photography offers three great home-study photography courses. Founded in 1910, NYIP is the oldest and largest photography school in the world, having successfully trained thousands of photographers over more than 100 years. Located in the heart of the art capital of the world, New York City, NYIP brings high quality photography education straight to its students' doors. NYIP is owned and operated by Distance Education Co., LLC, with two sister schools also located in Manhattan, the Sheffield School and the New York Institute of Career Development.

Contact Information

Contact:
Zach Heller
zheller@nyip.com

SOURCE: New York Institute of Photography

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Source: http://www.macreportmedia.com/ViewSubmission.aspx?submissionRequest=16227

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