Page 26 - Aruba Today 18 April 2015
P. 26
BUSINESS A25
Saturday 18 April 2015
Barbie shows signs of life as Mattel plots comeback
NEW YORK (AP) — Things better-than expected fi- of the stronger dollar. Fashionista line. on cable channel Nickel-
are finally looking up for nancial results for the first Barbie sales have fallen as “This will be an important odeon and be released on
Barbie. Mattel, the toy quarter and its shares rose kids turn to tablets and oth- cultural milestone for the DVD, can increase sales of
company behind the plas- more than 5 percent on er toys. Mattel hopes to re- brand,” said Richard Dick- the doll, the company said.
tic dolls, said there were Friday.Mattel said late invent the brand this year. son, Mattel’s president and To develop new toys, Mat-
some signs of improving Thursday that more people In June, Barbie have 23 chief operating officer, in a tel announced Friday that
demand for Barbie ahead were buying Barbie dolls new looks with different skin conference call with inves- it will partner with Quirky,
of its planned makeover of in U.S. stores. BMO Capi- tones and hair colors. One tors on Thursday. a company that helps in-
the brand, including Bar- tal Markets analyst Gerrick has freckles, a wide nose As part of the launch, Barbie ventors bring their ideas to
bie dolls with different skin Johnson said the rise was a and curly hair. Another has will also get a photo spread life. With the partnership,
tones, eye colors and nose “positive” development, in almond-shaped brown in Italian version of fashion Mattel and Quirky will seek
shapes to better relate to a note to clients. However, eyes and dark skin. Mattel magazine Vogue. Mattel ideas from customers for
multicultural girls and their Mattel said overall sales of said it wants to make dolls said that it will also release new toys and games. “This
mothers. the brand including sales to that girls and their moms three Barbie movies this marks a new era for Mat-
The El Segundo, California, retailers were still down 14 can better relate to. The year, one more than usual. tel,” said Dickson, in a writ-
company also reported percent, largely because dolls will be part of its core The movies, which will air ten statement.q
Bellwether GE posts $13.6 billion loss on finance unit sale
JONATHAN FAHEY A General Electric light bulb glows as it is turned off in Buffalo, N.Y. General Electric Co. (GE) on subsidiary, the latest and
AP Business Writer Friday April 17, 2015 reported a first-quarter loss of $13.57 billion, after reporting a profit in the same most dramatic move by
NEW YORK (AP) — The in- period a year earlier. the company to transform
dustrial heart of General itself into a more focused
Electric, the company’s (AP Photo/David Duprey, File) industrial conglomerate
new focus, posted lower that makes large, compli-
revenue and earnings in pected. mained “volatile” but that provided opportunities for cated equipment for oth-
the first quarter amid an GE CEO Jeff Immelt said in investments in large infra- growth. GE announced last er businesses.
enormous overall loss re- a statement that the global structure projects being week it would sell most of Costs and charges associ-
sulting from its recently- economic environment re- made around the world the assets in its GE Capital ated with the sale totaling
announced sale of most $14.1 billion pushed the
of the assets in its finance company to an overall loss
subsidiary. of $13.57 billion in the quar-
Net income from the part ter, down from a profit of
of GE that the company $3 billion during last year’s
will retain after the sale fell first quarter. On a per-share
5 percent to $3.1 billion, the basis, the company lost
company said Friday. Ad- $1.35.“This is the plan for
justed earnings per share the future of GE as a fast-
fell 6 percent to 31 cents, a growth, high-tech industrial
penny better than analysts company,” Immelt said in
polled by Zacks Investment a statement Friday.
Research expected, on Investors cheered the plan
average. last week when it was re-
Revenue fell 12 percent vealed, bidding GE shares
to $29.4 billion, below the up 11 percent after the an-
$34.4 billion analysts ex- nouncement. q
Volkswagen board leaders back CEO Winterkorn after struggle
GEIR MOULSON Winterkorn.” the same vigor and suc- Winterkorn has received Winterkorn represents “his
Associated Press That surprised observers cess as before, and that he backing from the head of private opinion” and wasn’t
BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen and prompted fevered has the full support of the Volkswagen’s influential cleared with his family.
CEO Martin Winterkorn will speculation about the posi- committee in doing so.”The employee council, while Volkswagen shares initially
remain in his job and can tion of Winterkorn, 67, Volk- committee will propose ex- the governor of Lower Sax- rose on Friday’s news but
look forward to having his swagen’s CEO since 2007. tending Winterkorn’s con- ony state, a minority share- closed 1.1 percent lower at
contract extended, the Winterkorn’s contract runs tract at a board meeting holder, criticized the public 235 euros ($251.66). Frank-
leadership of the board said until the end of next year. next February, it said, with- discussion about the com- furt’s DAX index of blue
Friday, after a comment by Winterkorn “is the best pos- out specifying how long pany’s leadership. Union chip stocks was 2.6 percent
chairman Ferdinand Piech sible” chief executive for the extension may be. and employee representa- lower overall.
raised widespread doubts Volkswagen, Friday’s state- The 78-year-old Piech, him- tives make up half of major Also Friday, Volkswagen
about his future. ment from the six-strong ex- self a former CEO, didn’t German companies’ su- said it delivered 2.49 mil-
A turbulent week for Eu- ecutive committee of Volk- specify last week what his pervisory boards. lion vehicles worldwide in
rope’s biggest automaker swagen’s 20-member su- issue with Winterkorn was, The Piech and Porsche the first quarter, 1.8 per-
started when Piech, who pervisory board said. Piech though experts have point- families together control a cent more than a year ear-
has long been the compa- is part of the committee. ed to concerns about prof- majority of shares in Volk- lier. Sales in Europe rose 4.1
ny’s key powerbroker, was It added that the body itability at the core Volk- swagen. Board member percent and deliveries in
quoted last Friday as tell- “places great importance swagen brand and a dis- Wolfgang Porsche said in China were up 2 percent,
ing Der Spiegel magazine on the fact” that Winterkorn appointing market share in a statement Sunday that but U.S. sales declined 1.4
he was “at a distance from “will pursue his role ... with the U.S. as possible factors. Piech’s comment about percent.q
Saturday 18 April 2015
Barbie shows signs of life as Mattel plots comeback
NEW YORK (AP) — Things better-than expected fi- of the stronger dollar. Fashionista line. on cable channel Nickel-
are finally looking up for nancial results for the first Barbie sales have fallen as “This will be an important odeon and be released on
Barbie. Mattel, the toy quarter and its shares rose kids turn to tablets and oth- cultural milestone for the DVD, can increase sales of
company behind the plas- more than 5 percent on er toys. Mattel hopes to re- brand,” said Richard Dick- the doll, the company said.
tic dolls, said there were Friday.Mattel said late invent the brand this year. son, Mattel’s president and To develop new toys, Mat-
some signs of improving Thursday that more people In June, Barbie have 23 chief operating officer, in a tel announced Friday that
demand for Barbie ahead were buying Barbie dolls new looks with different skin conference call with inves- it will partner with Quirky,
of its planned makeover of in U.S. stores. BMO Capi- tones and hair colors. One tors on Thursday. a company that helps in-
the brand, including Bar- tal Markets analyst Gerrick has freckles, a wide nose As part of the launch, Barbie ventors bring their ideas to
bie dolls with different skin Johnson said the rise was a and curly hair. Another has will also get a photo spread life. With the partnership,
tones, eye colors and nose “positive” development, in almond-shaped brown in Italian version of fashion Mattel and Quirky will seek
shapes to better relate to a note to clients. However, eyes and dark skin. Mattel magazine Vogue. Mattel ideas from customers for
multicultural girls and their Mattel said overall sales of said it wants to make dolls said that it will also release new toys and games. “This
mothers. the brand including sales to that girls and their moms three Barbie movies this marks a new era for Mat-
The El Segundo, California, retailers were still down 14 can better relate to. The year, one more than usual. tel,” said Dickson, in a writ-
company also reported percent, largely because dolls will be part of its core The movies, which will air ten statement.q
Bellwether GE posts $13.6 billion loss on finance unit sale
JONATHAN FAHEY A General Electric light bulb glows as it is turned off in Buffalo, N.Y. General Electric Co. (GE) on subsidiary, the latest and
AP Business Writer Friday April 17, 2015 reported a first-quarter loss of $13.57 billion, after reporting a profit in the same most dramatic move by
NEW YORK (AP) — The in- period a year earlier. the company to transform
dustrial heart of General itself into a more focused
Electric, the company’s (AP Photo/David Duprey, File) industrial conglomerate
new focus, posted lower that makes large, compli-
revenue and earnings in pected. mained “volatile” but that provided opportunities for cated equipment for oth-
the first quarter amid an GE CEO Jeff Immelt said in investments in large infra- growth. GE announced last er businesses.
enormous overall loss re- a statement that the global structure projects being week it would sell most of Costs and charges associ-
sulting from its recently- economic environment re- made around the world the assets in its GE Capital ated with the sale totaling
announced sale of most $14.1 billion pushed the
of the assets in its finance company to an overall loss
subsidiary. of $13.57 billion in the quar-
Net income from the part ter, down from a profit of
of GE that the company $3 billion during last year’s
will retain after the sale fell first quarter. On a per-share
5 percent to $3.1 billion, the basis, the company lost
company said Friday. Ad- $1.35.“This is the plan for
justed earnings per share the future of GE as a fast-
fell 6 percent to 31 cents, a growth, high-tech industrial
penny better than analysts company,” Immelt said in
polled by Zacks Investment a statement Friday.
Research expected, on Investors cheered the plan
average. last week when it was re-
Revenue fell 12 percent vealed, bidding GE shares
to $29.4 billion, below the up 11 percent after the an-
$34.4 billion analysts ex- nouncement. q
Volkswagen board leaders back CEO Winterkorn after struggle
GEIR MOULSON Winterkorn.” the same vigor and suc- Winterkorn has received Winterkorn represents “his
Associated Press That surprised observers cess as before, and that he backing from the head of private opinion” and wasn’t
BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen and prompted fevered has the full support of the Volkswagen’s influential cleared with his family.
CEO Martin Winterkorn will speculation about the posi- committee in doing so.”The employee council, while Volkswagen shares initially
remain in his job and can tion of Winterkorn, 67, Volk- committee will propose ex- the governor of Lower Sax- rose on Friday’s news but
look forward to having his swagen’s CEO since 2007. tending Winterkorn’s con- ony state, a minority share- closed 1.1 percent lower at
contract extended, the Winterkorn’s contract runs tract at a board meeting holder, criticized the public 235 euros ($251.66). Frank-
leadership of the board said until the end of next year. next February, it said, with- discussion about the com- furt’s DAX index of blue
Friday, after a comment by Winterkorn “is the best pos- out specifying how long pany’s leadership. Union chip stocks was 2.6 percent
chairman Ferdinand Piech sible” chief executive for the extension may be. and employee representa- lower overall.
raised widespread doubts Volkswagen, Friday’s state- The 78-year-old Piech, him- tives make up half of major Also Friday, Volkswagen
about his future. ment from the six-strong ex- self a former CEO, didn’t German companies’ su- said it delivered 2.49 mil-
A turbulent week for Eu- ecutive committee of Volk- specify last week what his pervisory boards. lion vehicles worldwide in
rope’s biggest automaker swagen’s 20-member su- issue with Winterkorn was, The Piech and Porsche the first quarter, 1.8 per-
started when Piech, who pervisory board said. Piech though experts have point- families together control a cent more than a year ear-
has long been the compa- is part of the committee. ed to concerns about prof- majority of shares in Volk- lier. Sales in Europe rose 4.1
ny’s key powerbroker, was It added that the body itability at the core Volk- swagen. Board member percent and deliveries in
quoted last Friday as tell- “places great importance swagen brand and a dis- Wolfgang Porsche said in China were up 2 percent,
ing Der Spiegel magazine on the fact” that Winterkorn appointing market share in a statement Sunday that but U.S. sales declined 1.4
he was “at a distance from “will pursue his role ... with the U.S. as possible factors. Piech’s comment about percent.q
