International Business Times

India Moves Forward In Policy To Lower Cost Of Pharmaceuticals; Medicine Is Expected To Be 25% Cheaper, 80% Less For Cancer Drugs

Angelo.Young — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:26:50 GMT

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Indian government has implemented a new pharmaceutical pricing policy aimed at lowering the cost of general treatment medicines by as much as 25 percent and some life-saving treatments by as much as 80 percent.

European Auto Sales April 2013: First Sales Increase In 18 Months For Troubled Market

Angelo.Young — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:39:48 GMT

European consumers bought more cars last month than in any month since September 2011, fuelled largely by ongoing higher demand in the U.K., Germany and Spain.

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association said Friday that automobile registrations –- the key indicator for sales in the region -- increased 1.7 percent in April compared to the same month last year, with British sales leading the way with a 14.8 percent increase.

Detroit Loses In Small SUV Crash Tests; Subaru Forester Tops, Jeep Wrangler Bottoms

Angelo.Young — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:39:25 GMT

SUVs are widely regarded as the safest cars on the road, and for the most part they are -- albeit woe to any wimpy hatchback that gets into an accident with one. But in the small SUV segment, which includes vehicles like the Honda CR-V, Jeep Patriot and Kia Sportage, the safety situation changes considerably.

Chinese Police Seize Millions Of Counterfeit Condoms

s.song — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:31:42 GMT

In the latest example of Chinese fakery -- remember rat meat masquerading as lamb rolls a few months ago? -- counterfeiters are trying to pull one over on condom users.

Pop-Tarts New Flavors: Peanut Butter Flavor Available For The First Time In 27 Years

n.deninno — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:26:32 GMT

Most Expensive Bottle Of Cognac In The World: Croizet Cognac Leonie 1858 To Be Sold For $156,760

Cvand003 — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:24:16 GMT

Photo: Financial District Wine & Liquor

Work Resumes At Bangladesh Factory Despite Wal-Mart's Demands Government Shut It Down After Inspection Reveals Cracks In Walls

msingleton — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:10:35 GMT

Stitch Tone Garments Ltd garment factory has resumed operations in its six-story factory building in Chittagong, Bangladesh, against requests by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) that all production stop.

Wal-Mart said on Monday that its inspectors had identified structural concerns at an adjacent factory, owned by Dresswell Ltd, which is not part of the super store's supply chain.

Skechers Lawsuit: Sneaker Company To Pay $40M To Settle Case And Refund Toning Shoes

Cvand003 — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:30:29 GMT

Photo: Skechers Wiki

AT&T No-Contract Cell Phones Now Offered Through Aio Wireless

Cvand003 — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:07:19 GMT

Photo: Reuters

Mother’s Day 2013 Freebies: List Of Free Stuff And Deals For You (And Mom!) On May 12

n.deninno — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:01:15 GMT

You may have already locked down your Mother’s Day gift, but there are still tons of freebies for you and mom to enjoy together.

Here's a list culled by IBTimes of 10 online and brick-and-mortar restaurants and retailers that are offering great deals and freebies for Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.

Redbox

It’s Bankers Vs. Wal-Mart (WMT) In Push To Force Financial Regulation Upon The World’s Largest Retailer

Angelo.Young — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:44:25 GMT

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has been trying for years to expand into retail financial services, having gone as far as trying to buy a California bank in 2002 to acquire its state charter, a move that was blocked by lawmakers there, and failing a bid to open a bank in Utah in 2005 to circumvent debit and credit card swipe fees charged by Visa Inc (NYSE:V) and Mastercard Inc (NYSE:MA).

Three years ago, Canada granted the behemoth of Bentonville, Ark., a charter that allowed it to issue its own credit card through Wal-Mart Canada Bank of Mississauga, Ontario.

China's Internet Shoppers Are Among Busiest In The World: 58% Of Them Shop At Least Once A Week Compared To 42% Of American Online Shoppers

s.song — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:42:54 GMT

Five years ago, Internet shopping barely existed in China, but now Chinese netizens are clicking the BUY button at a rate far outpacing their counterparts in other major developed countries, a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said.

The report surveyed 11,000 Internet shoppers in 11 countries, Sina Tech said Wednesday, and the results show China rapidly becoming one of the biggest e-commerce markets in the world.

2014 Chevy Silverado: Auto Maker Set To Enter Luxury Pickup Truck Market With New 'High Country' [PHOTOS]

Cvand003 — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:59:20 GMT

Photo: General Motors

Pfizer Viagra Online: Drug Manufacturer Begins Selling Erectile Dysfunction Pill Via Its Website

Cvand003 — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:02:25 GMT

Photo: Reuters In an unprecedented move for the pharmaceutical drug industry, Pfizer will begin selling its popular erectile dysfunction pill Viagra directly to patients on its website.

Marketplace Fairness Act 2013: How The Internet Sales Tax Bill Will Affect Online Shopping In Different States

Cvand003 — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:21:09 GMT

The Senate on Monday is likely to pass an Internet sales tax bill that would end tax-free online shopping and require online retailers to collect sales tax on products sold in states other than the ones in which they have a presence.

California Pizza Kitchen, DiGiorno Pizza Recalled Voluntarily By Nestle USA’s Pizza Division

JJMcGrath — Sat, 04 May 2013 23:56:27 GMT

Because consumers reported they found small fragments of plastic in a frozen-pizza product, the Nestle USA unit of Nestle SA (VTX:NESN) has announced a voluntary recall of certain production codes of four different California Pizza Kitchen and DiGiorno frozen pizzas distributed nationwide in the U.S., according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Here’s What BMW Has Learned About Chinese Consumer Habits And Preferences

Angelo.Young — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:46:43 GMT

Like all other major car companies, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (FRA:BMW) is looking to China not just to offset the downturn in Europe but also because China is where the most lucrative growth in the global auto market will take place in the foreseeable future.

So it’s no surprise that the German auto manufacturer wants to know what makes Chinese consumers tick, especially young Chinese consumers.

Silk Road Anonymous Marketplace Shut Down; Administrators Offer $5K For Information On 'Lance G'

Cvand003 — Wed, 01 May 2013 22:09:25 GMT

Silk Road Anonymous Market, a popular online drug marketplace, has been closed to the public.

According to the website, administrators received an email from someone, identified only as "Lance G," threatening to crash the site unless it forked over the surprisingly small amount of $5,000. An Silk Road administrator confirmed in its online forums that the attacks were the work of an individual who had been trying to blackmail the company.

Hummus In America: Sabra Dipping Company Looks To Expand Chickpea Cultivation Amid Healthy Snack Boom

Cvand003 — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:08:33 GMT

Is hummus the new salsa? Judging from moves by the nation's biggest maker of the Middle Eastern Arabic food spread, it's becoming the hot healthy-snack-food choice.

Bangladesh Building Collapse: Western Clothiers Deny Responsibility For Bangladeshi Factory Tragedy But Cite Their Safety Initiatives; Cato Corp. (CATO), Benetton Group (BNGPY), Primark Stores, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP) Respond

msingleton — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:15:30 GMT

Following more than 300 deaths and 1,200 injuries in last week's collapse of an eight-story building that housed garment factories near the Bangladeshi capital, Western retail brands that buy from such factories are responding to questions about their possible indirect responsibility in the tragedy.

Swedish Discount Fashion Chain H&M Eyes Global Expansion, Including 50 Stores In India And E-commerce In US

Angelo.Young — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:42:36 GMT

Hennes & Mauritz AB (STO:HM-B), the Swedish retailer known to many as H&M, is on a quest to expand globally, with India and accessories as two key components of its expansion plan.

The world’s second-largest fashion retailer, known for its discounted fashion, intends to spend $130 million to open 50 stores in India, and it will be testing the troubled European market’s reactions to higher-priced accessories with a new retail chain.

Who Owns Wanglaoji Herbal Tea? Two Chinese Companies Fight Over Enormously Popular Canned Drink Brand

s.song — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:15:29 GMT

Wanglaoji, a domestic Chinese herbal tea brand has been contested over by its state-owned original owner, and the Hong Kong-based company that “rented out” the brand in 2005 and built it into the biggest canned drink brand in China today, ahead of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), with 13.72 percent of the market share.

JC Penney Wants To Borrow $500 Million To Boost Its Cash Reserves

Angelo.Young — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:20:33 GMT

J.C. Penney Company Inc. (NYSE:JCP) needs some extra cash and is said to be in talks with Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) to get it.

The news comes one day after a Manhattan court ruled in favor of the 111-year-old Plano, Texas-based department store chain’s battle with Macy's Inc. (NYSE:M) over the sale of some Martha Stewart products. The company also said two top executives have resigned. They were identified in a company regulatory filing as chief operating officer, Michael Kramer, and chief talent officer, Daniel Walker.

Margaret Thatcher Death Drives Launer Handbag Sales On Day Of Former Prime Minister's Funeral

Cvand003 — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:52:43 GMT

Less than two weeks after the death of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the consumer goods market is responding in positive fashion.

Budweiser Bowtie Can Shape Mirrors Brand's Longtime Logo, Release Date Set For May 6, 2013 [PHOTO]

Cvand003 — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:16:31 GMT

Budweiser is unveiling a bow-tie-shaped can that mirrors the brand's longtime logo.

The can, which will be available in eight-packs nationwide beginning May 6, is the result of several years of technological advancements and investments at its can-making facility in Newburgh, N.Y.