Scrutinising Microsoft:Is The Future Promising

In its recent report to shareholders,Microsoft beat on the earnings estimate,but missed on revenue.The company will begin a new product cycle in October with the release of Windows 8.Brendan Barnacle of Pacific Crest Securities said we are a little concerned about the hype around Windows 8,so we might take a little off the table.
Microsoft experienced a net loss of 492 million dollars-the first in its 26 year history as a public corporation.That was mainly from a writedown it took in connection with its 2007 acquisition of online display ad company aQuantive,however.Excluding that,earnings were 0.73,versus the estimate of 0.62 a share.Microsoft's 2012 fiscal year revenue,or sales,was a record 743 billion dollars.
On 10-26,Microsoft will release its first tablet computer,the Surface.PC users on Windows 7,Vista or Windows XP will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for the price of 40.00 until the end of January 2013.
The online services division,including the Bing search engine,lost about 472 million on the quarter.Revenue for the Windows PC division was down 58 million versus the year ago quarter.
The company's enterprise segment was up 7% as businesses placed multiyear orders for Office 15 and database software.This enterprise business helped make up for consumers deferring purchases until Windows 8 comes out or buying competitors' products.The deferred revenue number was pretty good,said Mr.Barnacle of Pacific Crest Securities.This number gives you an indication of future growth,so that's encouraging.He rates Microsoft as "sector perform."Given all that we know about the weakness in PCs,it's not surprising that the sales numbers came in a little light,particularly on the Windows side.
The company's revenue in Entertainment and Devices,including the Xbox gaming console,rose an outstanding 20% to 1.78 billion dollars.Sales and marketing costs were cut 3.5% to 3.78 billion.
All in all,the company has a good deal to look forward to as it gears up for the Windows 8 release and the Surface tablet,continuing to serve its enterprise customers and Xbox denizens in the meantime.It's doing a reasonable job for a mature corporation navigating the highly competitive environment it finds itself in.
Microsoft(MSFT)

Asia This Day:China's Biggest Brokerage Gets Even Bigger

Citic Securities,China's largest brokerage firm,is buying Credit Agricole's CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets unit for a total of 1.25 billion dollars.CLSA is considered a jewel of an asset with its strong balance sheet.Describing itself as Asia's leading independent brokerage and investment group,it advises on stock sales and mergers and has a private equity arm,CLSA Capital Partners.Citic already owns 19.9% of CLSA.
An advisor to the People's Bank of China,Song Guoqing,said the country could see even weaker growth in Q3 than had been forecast.It may come in at 7.4%,rather than the close to 8% consensus estimate because of exports being crimped by the European crisis.This statement,along with a Der Spiegel article saying the IMF may withhold further aid for Greece,causing its insolvency by September,and German Vice Chancellor Phillip Roesler saying there can be no further payments to Greece if conditions are not met,and that a Greek exit from the Euro-zone no longer inspires terror,caused the MSCI Asia Pacific index to fall 1.47% in early Monday trading.
Tropical Storm Vicente is approaching Hong Kong.Warnings were issued about the storm,which is expected to hit China as a typhoon on July 24.
Meanwhile,Apple and Samsung have gone to trial in Sydney.They filed suits against each other for patent infringement.
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index Fund(AAXJ)

Cleanliness From Sweden:Molnycke Health Care Profile

Molnycke Health Care AB is a Swedish firm that makes wound care and infection prevention supplies,as well as operating room products.Based in Gothenburg,it has about 7,000 workers.The company has sales offices in 30 countries,as well as factories and distribution centers in 9 countries globally.It is expanding from its big European presence into North America and the Asia-Pacific Region.
One of Molnycke's most popular products is its anti-bacterial skin cleanser Hibiclens.It is used by patients and OR staff as a pre-surgical wash.The product is also useful for infection prevention at home.It is effective against dangerous staphylococcus bacteria found on the skin.Hibiclens is available at CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies in the U.S. in 15-packs.
Molnycke Health Care is privately held.
CVS Caremark(CVS),Rite Aid Corporation(RAD)

Pepsi: Now In a Moment (Extended Cut)

Farm Facts:Fear in the Grocery Aisles As Drought Deepens

Another heat wave is scorching farms from the Midwest to the East,prolonging a devastating and historic drought.Sentiment is cracking out there,said Ann Duignan,analyst at JP Morgan Chase.Only 40% of crops are in good condition.Farmers will probably take big losses and not spend.You can't switch crops this late.We are in a very,very serious situation as far as grain is concerned.We are likely to continue to see food prices increase.
Farming practices themselves have changed.Farms are becoming larger and adding technology like GPS and auto-steer.Now four people are running a 3,000 acre farm.
Soybeans are also in a squeeze.China's consumption of soybeans is way up.It's the urbanisation of their diet.Chinese consumers want more protein.
Forty percent of our corn crop goes into ethanol for a gasoline additive now.Ethanol drives all crop prices up because farmers planting the corn it is made from means less acreage for other crops,resulting in another scarcity factor.
Food prices are expected to rise markedly by autumn.The worst harvest since 1973 is projected.Cattle feed,ethanol and corn syrup may become more expensive from the drought.One third of the corn crop is in trouble.Corn prices impact 75% of the items in a grocery store.
Cattle is already being sold early because forage is scarce and farmers can't afford to buy feed.Corn and soybean prices were sharply up on Monday.
Archer Daniels Midland(ADM),Safeway(SWY)

Law Enforcement Jobs:University Police

The University of Maryland in Baltimore,the Founding Campus,is recruiting for University Police Officers I,II.Deliver quality crime control services that support the University's mission of education,research,and service.Join a department of 43 sworn officers and 69 security officers,along with administrative staff.All UM Police Officers are fully commissioned and certified by the Maryland Police Training Commission.
Level I requires HS diploma or GED
Level II requires HS diploma or GED+MD Police Training Commission
Excellent benefits are offered.Interested candidates may visit their website and apply online at www.hr.umaryland.edu/careers

Health Uncle:What Are Moles-and when they should be evaluated

Moles are concentrations of melanocytes,the cells that give your skin its color.They may be flat or raised.Normal moles are evenly shaped and colored.A mole with irregular borders;a size greater than a pencil eraser;an uneven shape;or more than one color or shade is atypical.Any mole that has changed,looks weird or suddenly appeared if you are over 40,should  be examined by a health professional as soon as possible.In rare cases,moles can be precancerous or cancerous.
Cancerous moles are called malignant melanomas.They are a kind of tumor of the skin.Some melanomas metastasize slowly;but others can spread rapidly to other organs,often with fatal consequences.Young people can get and die from malignant melanomas.
Melanomas are diagnosed by biopsy.The suspicious mole is normally removed in a doctor's office.Mole removal is one of the most common surgeries.It only takes about ten minutes and is done under local anesthesia.The tissue will be sent to a lab for analysis.If the mole is cancerous,it must be staged,or assessed to see if it has spread.If it is superficial,no further treatment is required.If it has spread,an oncologist,or cancer specialist,will draw up a treatment plan following tests to definitively stage the cancer.Treatment of these more advanced melanomas may involve more surgery,radiation and chemotherapy of various types,depending on the patient's situation.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation and heredity are significant factors that predispose to developing malignant melanomas.If any moles are worrying you,don't hesitate to have them examined.Remember,they don't have to be grotesque to be dangerous.