Russia will encourage car sales and try to export more

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Automotive Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Automobile Manufacturing ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Car Sales ◽  
First Time

Significance New car sales in Russia are rising for the first time since 2012 with a 5% year-on-year increase reported for January-May. Despite the automotive sector slump of 2014-15, most foreign companies with existing manufacturing or assembly capacity have taken the long view and remained in the market. Impacts Russian-badged cars will remain market leaders due to their affordability. Growth in local automobile manufacturing will provide additional impetus to related sectors such as metallurgy and chemical industries. Energy ministry projections that Russia might have 200,000 electric vehicles by 2020 seem overly optimistic.

Platinum price outlook clouded by uncertain demand

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Far East ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Uncertain Demand ◽  
Automotive Sector ◽  
Far East Of Russia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Far East ◽  
Car Sales ◽  
Market Outlook

Subject The platinum market outlook. Significance After declining in 2015, the platinum price has remained modest this year, underperforming other mined commodities. The closely watched ratio to the gold price is near a historic low. Demand from the automotive sector has yet to recover from emission test scandals, despite car sales in China growing by 15.6% year-on-year in the first eleven months of 2016. South African miners are capital-constrained and the global market is currently estimated to be in a supply deficit of around 500 thousand ounces (koz). However, registered above-ground stocks are still significant at 1.9 million ounces (moz). Impacts Higher steel prices may increase scrap-steel demand, which may boost vehicle scrapping and increase recycling of platinum auto-catalysts. World leader Amplats will lose 75 koz of refined platinum production following a leak at the Waterval smelter. Production of alluvial platinum in the far east of Russia is entering terminal decline after two decades of operation.

Supply limitations will boost lithium for now

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Lithium Ion Battery ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tenfold Increase ◽  
Battery Capacity ◽  
Vehicle Production ◽  
First Time

Subject Lithium market Significance Lithium consumption by the battery sector is expected to outstrip traditional sources of demand for the first time this year. Over the next three years, around 70% of the increase in incremental demand for lithium is expected to be driven by growth of electric vehicle production. However, after nearly doubling over the last five years, the pace of growth of lithium demand from the consumer-electronics sector is likely to slow. Impacts Several ventures are investigating lithium clay projects as a by-product of geothermal power plants, but these are untested commercially. Many lithium deposits contain harmful materials and research will continue into ways of safely extracting these materials. Lithium-ion battery capacity needs to add 600 gigawatt hours or 60 billion dollars investment to achieve 30% vehicle sector penetration. Beijing has established a new sales target of 7 million electric vehicles for 2025, which would represent a tenfold increase on 2016.

Brazil's auto sector will face mounting challenges

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Market Share ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Automotive Sector ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Plant Closures ◽  
Large Contraction

Significance Ford, which has been operating in Brazil since 1920, attributed the decision to its global business restructuring plans. However, two other companies, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, had earlier taken similar decisions, highlighting the challenges faced by the Brazilian automotive sector. Impacts The effects of the pandemic on auto sales and production will continue to be felt for some time. Further restructuring or plant closures in the auto sector cannot be ruled out. The sector is still likely to see some recovery in 2021 following last year’s large contraction. Lower-cost automakers, or those focusing on hybrid and electric vehicles, may gain market share going forward.

Conference report: innovation, interaction … and a lot of data: first time reflections on Internet Librarian International, UK 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-22
Author(s):  
Ray Harper
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Conference Report ◽  
Library Services ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Making A Difference ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Physical Spaces ◽  
First Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarise a number of presentations at Day 1 of the Internet Librarian International conference, London, UK (16 October 2018). This was the 20th conference in the series, and the three key themes included were the next-gen library and librarian; understanding users, usage and user experience; and inclusion and inspiration: libraries making a difference. Design/methodology/approach This paper reports from the viewpoint of a first-time attendee of the conference. This summarises the main issues raised by each presentation and draws out the key learning points for practical situations. Findings The conference covered a variety of practical ways in which libraries can use technology to support users and make decisions about services. These include developing interactive physical spaces which include augmented reality; introducing “chat-bots” to support users; using new techniques to analyse data; and piloting new ways to engage users (such as coding clubs). A key theme was how we use and harness data in a way that is ethical, effective and relevant to library services. Originality/value This conference focussed on practical examples of how library and information services across sectors and countries are innovating in a period of huge change. The conference gave delegates numerous useful ideas and examples of best practice and demonstrated the strength of the profession in adapting to new technologies and developments.

Interest rate option hedging portfolios without bank account

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-142
Author(s):  
Alberto Bueno-Guerrero
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Contingent Claim ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient Condition ◽  
Barrier Option ◽  
Bank Account ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Option Hedging ◽  
Hedging Portfolio ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
First Time

Purpose This paper aims to study the conditions for the hedging portfolio of any contingent claim on bonds to have no bank account part. Design/methodology/approach Hedging and Malliavin calculus techniques recently developed under a stochastic string framework are applied. Findings A necessary and sufficient condition for the hedging portfolio to have no bank account part is found. This condition is applied to a barrier option, and an example of a contingent claim whose hedging portfolio has a bank account part different from zero is provided. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that this issue has been addressed in the literature.

A “Learning from Action” workshop in Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-83
Author(s):  
Robert Douglas Hinshelwood ◽  
Luca Mingarelli ◽  
Simona Masnata
Keyword(s):  
Far East ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Defensive Role ◽  
Feedback Data ◽  
Experiential Workshop ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Many people in severe mentally disturbed states do not use language or other symbolic media well or coherently. Therefore, the non-verbal medium needs to be understood by workers with such people. The “Learning from Action” experiential workshop was developed in order to provide an opportunity to learn about hidden messages in the relationships and roles occurring in activities. In August 2017, a workshop was run for the first time in Japan. The purpose of this paper is to report the experience and dynamics observed by the three consultants, who are here the authors of this paper. Design/methodology/approach After the workshop all the staff and members, including interpreters, were invited to give feedback. Findings Analysis of the feedback data showed certain important dynamics, concerning especially dependence, cultural defences and the defensive role of activity in a multicultural context. Research limitations/implications This is an initial experience to be followed up by later feedback and further workshops. Practical implications Workers awareness of non-verbal communication within the roles of work activities is a training possibility. It faces various resistances including the mental health assumptions of meaninglessness of any communication outside the verbal. Originality/value This is a method of training not widely used even in European countries, and is the first in a country in the far east.

Whirling in between the personal and the impersonal

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-284
Author(s):  
Armen E. Petrosyan
Keyword(s):  
Organization Theory ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Organizational Life ◽  
Critical Perspective ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Goals ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
First Time ◽  
Current Paradigm

Purpose The paper aims to present a systematic conceptual analysis of the problem of organizational goal and to reduce the insights into it provided by the main conceptions taken in their development from one to another, to break out of the ruling paradigm and outline a new solution. Design/methodology/approach The study has been carried out from the historical and critical perspective. Findings The paper discovers the logic of the evolution the approaches to organizational goals have undergone and portrays it in a matrix form in the heart of which is the “zigzag effect”: each posterior stage returns to the essential elements rejected by those preceding it, and the last stage, being diametrically opposite to the first, is, at that, as well as the latter, akin to the intermediate stages. The opportunities afforded by the current paradigm have been exhausted and it seems to run to an impasse. Instead, the author suggests a new frame of orientation: organizational goals are closely interknit with personal, but not reducible to them and bear fundamentally transpersonal character, while the mechanism of involving the preferences of individuals and groups in goal-setting is based on the self-contained interests of the organization they pertain to. Research limitations/implications The findings, conclusions and generalizations obtained can serve for a necessary ground to researchers getting deeper into the essence of what bonds organizational life and activity. Practical implications The material empowers practitioners to comprehend the difficulties of framing cohesive goal and find efficient ways to overcome them. It is of value also to the teachers seeking to present a more exact and elaborate view of teleological foundations of management and organization theory. Originality/value Both the conceptual analysis of the evolution of the approaches to organizational goals and the author’s exposition of its logic and vision of their nature are provided for the first time.

The drivers of corporate governance disclosure: the case of Nifty 500 Index

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 681-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Androniki Katarachia ◽  
Electra Pitoska ◽  
Grigoris Giannarakis ◽  
Elpida Poutoglidou
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Leverage ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
Board Director ◽  
First Time ◽  
Governance Disclosure

Purpose Based on agency theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants on the dissemination level of corporate governance disclosure (CGD). Design/methodology/approach The sample of the study incorporates listed companies in Nifty 500 Index for the period 2009-2014. The Governance Disclosure Score calculated by Bloomberg is used as a proxy for the dissemination level of corporate governance information. In total, eight explanatory variables are uses, namely, board’s size, number of board meetings, CEO duality, presence of women on the board, company’s size, financial performance, Tobin’s Q ratio and financial leverage. Findings The results of study suggest a need for improvement in CGDs by Indian companies, as they fail to comply the majority of the proposed disclosure items. Furthermore, it is revealed that the number of board director, the value of company, the financial leverage and the presence of women affect negatively the dissemination level of corporate governance information. While, the size of company is the only determinant that positively affects the extent of CGD. Practical implications The results are valuable because they reveal the attributes that determines which companies needs less or extra monitoring by shareholders and investors regarding the applied corporate governance practices. In addition, the study can be valuable to policy makers responsible for the regulation of company’s accountability in relation to corporate governance practices. Originality/value The study extents previous studies by incorporating for the first time Bloomberg’s rating approach regarding the dissemination level of CGD in Indian context.

Loyalty program in Africa: risk-seeking and risk-averse adventurers

2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shogo Mlozi
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Loyalty Programs ◽  
Risk Averse ◽  
Loyalty Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Risk Seeking ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – This article aims to test the relationship between expected attractiveness-satisfaction-loyalty for international adventure tourists visiting Tanzania. The proposed model is based on travel consumer behavior theoretical constructs extracted from the literature. Design/methodology/approach – This article aims to test the relationship between expected attractiveness-satisfaction-loyalty for international adventure tourists visiting Tanzania. The proposed model is based on travel consumer behavior theoretical constructs extracted from the literature. Findings – The findings for overall model differed from the moderating factors of high risk, low risk, first-time visit and repeat visit. Also, the results are interesting when satisfaction is tested as a mediator. Practical implications – Practitioners could consider the fact that repeat visits may change tourists’ perceptions toward destination and may even increase their inclination to take on risks. This may impact innovation of consumer products in tourism. Also, policy makers could benefit on how loyalty programs can be developed to increase performance. Originality/value – The study offers specific strategic recommendations toward different groups of tourists (i.e. first-time, repeat visitors, risk averse, risk seeking) and proposes logic for setting up a loyalty program as a long-term strategy for success.

The carmine dilemma: does the natural colourant preference outweigh nausea?

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (8) ◽  
pp. 1915-1928
Author(s):  
Judith Müller-Maatsch ◽  
Johannes Jasny ◽  
Katharina Henn ◽  
Claudia Gras ◽  
Reinhold Carle
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Perception ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
German Population ◽  
Misleading Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Broad Cross Section ◽  
First Time ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the consumers’ perception of natural and artificial food colourants. Furthermore, attitudes towards the application of carmine, being technically important and ubiquitously used to impart red shades, are assessed and analysed. Originating from insects, carmine is considered as natural but may arouse disgust. Design/methodology/approach In total, 625 individuals were surveyed using an online, self-administered questionnaire to represent a broad cross-section of the German population. Findings Independent of their origin, the application of colourants was rejected by 57.0 per cent of the interviewees. In total, 31.8 per cent of the participants stated a neutral attitude, while only 11.2 per cent expressed a positive notion. Most respondents preferred colourants from natural sources to artificial ones. While consumers perceive natural food colourants composed of genuine plant pigments positively, 61.6 per cent of respondents disliked the application of animal-derived colourants, 24.8 per cent of them did neither reject nor like it, and only 13.6 per cent of the interviewees stated a positive attitude towards them. The findings of this paper further indicate consumers’ preference for colourants to be either artificial or plant-derived rather than carmine. Food colourants are being rejected, possibly due to misleading information and confusing labelling. Consequently, information about carmine, including its origin and production, did not increase the aversion to products that are dyed with it, but increased their acceptance. Originality/value This study outlines consumer perception and attitudes towards food colourants. For the first time, the findings of this paper report the effect of revealing information about an additive, which initially aroused disgust, and its influence on consumer perception.

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