Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Pacific Asia Travel Association the First 60 Years PATA



Published on Feb 8, 2013
Video brought to you by Travelindx (http://Travelindex.com) and PATA (http://www.PATA.org)

In the 60-years since it was founded in Hawaii, PATA has helped to put the region on the global tourism map -- not just as a destination but also as a rapidly growing source of tourism business for destinations around the world. PATA has been an essential catalyst and manager of tourism in the region since it began back in 1951. With PATA as a steward, Pacific Asia travel went from about 100,000 annual visitors per year in the early 1950s to the 566 million it attracted last year. The Pacific Asia region today is the second most visited region in the world, according to the UNWTO. Sixty years ago the region lacked everything from airports and hotels to telecommunications and decent highways.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA's private and public sector members, we enhance the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region.

Here's the View from Google's New Glasses


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- This new advertisement of Google Glass showcases the product's functionality, from photos to maps to sharing. The company is now soliciting applications for invitations to purchase a Glass Explorer Edition for $1500. (Source: Bloomberg)

Go Global or Should You Stay Invested at Home?


Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- On today's "Street Fighters," Raymond James' Kevin Giddis, Russell Investments' Mike Dueker and JPMorgan's Joyce Chang discuss whether it's better to invest in domestic or international markets. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart." (Source: Bloomberg)

South East Asian Stocks Highest in Over 15 Years


Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Citi Head of Asia Trading Strategy Mo Apabhai discusses Asia markets. He speaks with Susan Li and Rishaad Salamat on Bloomberg Television's "Asia Edge." (Source: Bloomberg)

Gold Headed for Longest Slump in Over a Year


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Kitco Metals Global Trading Director Peter Hug talks about the price of gold. (Source: Bloomberg)

The Top Ten Stocks for Feb. 20


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg’s Trish Regan, Adam Johnson and Matt Miller report on today’s ten most important stocks including Six Flags, Brink's and Herbalife. (Source: Bloomberg)

Stocks Fall as Dollar Gains on Fed’s Easing Debate


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks retreated from five-year highs while oil, gold and silver led commodities lower as minutes from the Federal Reserve’s last meeting showed policy makers debated the risks and benefits of bond purchases. Matt Miller, Trish Regan and Adam Johnson report on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart." (Source: Bloomberg)

UK employment up, living standards fall



Published on Feb 20, 2013
http://www.euronews.com/ The number of people in work in Britain hit an all-time high in the final three months of last year, despite the stagnant UK economy.

Unemployment benefit claims also fell much more than expected in January.

A total of 29.73 million Britons had jobs in that period, the most since records began in 1971.

But there has been a big increase in part-time working since the financial crisis started.

In the final quarter of 2012 full-time workers accounted for 73 percent and part-time 27 percent.
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Are Tech Stocks Unstoppable in Earnings Season?


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) - Bloomberg's Dominic Chu reports that tech companies are leading the pack in beating earnings estimates this season and that has some analysts calling it a comeback for the sector. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."

Breaking Down U.S. Housing Starts


Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- On today's "The Real Deal," Michael McKee reports on U.S. housing starts on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop." (Source: Bloomberg)

OECD economies contract for first time since 2009



Published on Feb 19, 2013
http://www.euronews.com/ More signs of global economic slowdown have emerged.

The world's richest countries - those in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development - saw a contraction in economic activity in the final three months of last year.

The eurozone continues to struggle and economists expect the region to decline again in the current quarter before finally returning to moderate growth later this year.

OECD economists said the eurozone suffering a steep drop at 0.6 percent from the previous quarter, Japan's GDP fell 0.1 percent and the US economy neither grew nor shrank.

For all the 34 OECD members, the decline was 0.2 percent.
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Hollande in Greece, calls for new investment



Published on Feb 19, 2013
http://www.euronews.com/ A nationwide news blackout greeted French President Francois Hollande as he arrived in Greece on Tuesday for his first visit there since taking office.

The entire media staged a one-day strike - not because of him - but over the country's continuing austerity measures.

While German Chancellor Angela Merkel was greeted by 30,000 protesters on her visit last October, so far Hollande has not been met with any personal bad blood from the Greek people.
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Two Nobel Prize winners share their success stories



Published on Feb 20, 2013
Fifteen internationally-renowned scientists were in Singapore recently for the inaugural Global Young Scientists Summit. Among them were Nobel Prize winners Eric Cornell and Ada Yonath, who gave talks, participated in panel discussions and mentored young scientists during their time in Singapore. The discoveries that garnered them the prestigious Nobel Prize were years in the making.

Wall Street sets fresh multi-year peak (2:05)



Feb. 19 - Summary of business headlines: Dell sales drop 11 percent, Herbalife revenues up 20 percent; OfficeMax and Office Depot in the midst of office romance; Google tops $800 for first time; U.S. homebuilder sentiment dips; UniCredit warns of major branch closings. Conway G. Gittens reports.

Mega-miners tighten their belts (1:47)



Feb. 20 - Despite dismal results, hopes of a demand recovery in China have sold investors on miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. But a volatile environment means the metals giants aren't yet ready to celebrate.