New Delhi, Feb 18 : Coca-Cola said Tuesday its sales volume increased by one percent in the October-December 2013 period, led by 8 percent jump in India and 5 percent growth in China.

"Our Pacific Group's volume grew 4 percent in the quarter, representing a sequential improvement versus the third quarter year-to-date results. Growth was broad based with 8 percent growth in India, 5 percent growth in China and 3 percent growth in Japan," Coca-Cola said in a statement here.

For the year 2013, the company's volume increased by 2 percent.

"Our Bottling Investments Group's (BIG) volume grew 7 percent in the quarter o

  Washington, Feb 18 : Following claims from Dyson that a Samsung product looked like a " cynical rip-off" of its design, the latter is reportedly suing the British company for 10 billion won (around 9.4 million dollars).

Dyson had filed a lawsuit against Samsung last year, accusing the company of infringing on its patented vacuum-steering system.

According to the Verge, that lawsuit was later dropped, but not before depicting Samsung as a repeat patent violator, the Korean company alleged.

Samsung said that the accusations made by Dyson had seriously hurt its corporate image, adding that the British vacuum maker's groundless

  New Delhi, Feb 18 : Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to announce the introduction of Ghost V-Specification; a limited series of Ghost and Ghost Extended Wheelbase motor cars, that will be available for customers to commission immediately.

"This limited series celebrates one of Ghost's defining characteristics; the exquisite 6.6 litre Rolls-Royce V12 engine," said Torsten Muller-Otvos, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

"Since its introduction in 2009, an extraordinary marriage of assured presence and remarkable driving dynamics has endeared Ghost to a new generation of highly discerning businessmen and women, ensuring the car

  IHG, which owns InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, has said that it has recorded a 10 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to the level of $US600 million.

The company said that profit after tax fell to the level of 31 per cent to $US372 million or about $A413.26 million compared to the previous year. IHG said that its revenues recorded an increase 4.0 per cent to $US1.9 billion in 2013 while revenue per available room rose to 3.8 per cent.

Company's chief executive Richard Solomons said in the statement said, "We delivered good underlying growth in revenues and profits. Looking into 2014, although economic conditions in some mar

  A consortium including Starr Investment Holdings LLC and Switzerland's Partners Group AG has said that it is planning to acquire medical claims processor MultiPlan.

The consortium will acquire the New York-based firm from private equity firms Silver Lake Partners and B C Partners. The companies have not announced the details of the deal but it is believed that the deal to acquire MultiPlan might be valued at about $4.4 billion. MultiPlan offers comprehensive transaction-based solutions to healthcare payers in the country.

MultiPlan CEO Mark Tabak said in a statement that, "Starr's historical relationship with MultiPlan and its executives wa

Abu Dhabi, Feb 18 : The United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based low cost carrier Air Arabia has announced a net profit of 435 million dirhams (around $118.4 million) for 2013, an increase of two percent compared to the same period in 2012.

Turnover for the full year ending Dec 31, 2013, stood at 3.2 billion dirhams, up 14 percent compared to the same period in 2012.

"Air Arabia has enjoyed consistent and sustained growth since launching operations back in October 2003, and our performance in the year of our tenth anniversary was no exception," Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammad Al Thani, chairman of Air Arabia, said in a statement Monday

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  Jerusalem, Feb 17 - The global internet giant Google is acquiring SlickLogin, an Israeli developer of sound-based password alternative, in an "acqui-hiring deal", which means SlickLogin's staff and knowledge will be integrated into Google, SlickLogin confirmed the deal on its website Sunday.

"Today we're announcing that the SlickLogin team is joining Google," Xinhua quoted the three founders of the young start-up as saying. They added that Google "shares our core beliefs that logging in should be easy instead of frustrating... We couldn't be more excited to join their efforts."

No financial figures of the transa

  New Delhi, Feb 12 : Mobile service provider Uninor has expanded its network by deploying 5,000 additional sites in six telecom circles to cover more subscribers, the company said here Wednesday.

The circles are UP West, UP East, Bihar (including Jharkhand), Maharashtra and Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. This is a 30 percent expansion of network sites in one go - the largest since launch of operations - and will be completed within the next five months, the statement said.

"With this expansion Uninor will now extend its Sabse Sasta services to millions of new subscribers in its six circles even as we strengthen our network in the areas we already

Virgin America has said that it is planning to launch its Initial public offering this year and the company has appointed Barclays and Deutsche Bank for managing the issue.

According to people closer to the matter, the company might launch its offer during the second half of the year. California-based airline, Virgin America, which is backed by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, is planning to go public this year following two consecutive profitable quarters. Investment banks Barclays and Deutsche Bank will manage the initial public offering that is expected to second year of the year but the company did not comment on the matter.

But Virgin America Chief Executiv

  Vienna, Feb 12 : The basket of 12 crude oils of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stood at $105.30 a barrel Tuesday, compared to $105.52 Monday, according to the OPEC Secretariat.

The new OPEC reference basket comprises Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (the United Arab Emirates) and Merey (Venezuela). A barrel is equal to 159 litres.(IANS)   Sourse : Top News

Thomas Cook, a leading British holiday operator, has said that it has reached its sell-off target about 18 months ahead of schedule, giving major boost to the company in its turnaround plans.

Thomas Cook said that it has already achieved a £45 million _54 million sell-off target ahead of schedule. The company is half way in its three-year plan to cut jobs, close branches and sell businesses in order to revive business. The company is facing pressure due to eurozone debt crisis, high fuel costs and political issues in Egypt and Tunisia.

The world's oldest travel firm has agreed to sell Gold Medal, which is a distributor of scheduled flights, hotels and

  UK's tough financial regulator, Andrew Bailey has indicated that he will take tougher line against the industry in the country than his predecessors.

He said that he will take a tough stance in supervising Britain's discredited banks following a series of scandals in in the financial sector in the country. Bailey will now act as head of the Prudential Regulation Authority and deputy governor of the Bank of England and will have authority to regulate the banking sector in the country.

He spoke tough on the Treasury Select Committee in a hearing into the Co-op Bank. He also released a letter stating that former Co-op executives went ahead with pla

 
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  Small and medium-sized business will have yet another year to comply with Obamacare.

Late Monday, the Obama administration said companies with between 50 and 99 employees would not have to make required payments under Obamacare until 2016 -- a year later than planned. Under the law, companies have to meet certain coverage requirements or pay a penalty of as much as $2,000 per worker.

Companies with more than 100 employees still have to comply by 2015, the Treasury Department said. However, they do get a break. These companies can avoid penalties by offering coverage to 70 percent of their full-time employees in 2015 and 95 percent starting in 2016. Comp

  India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that it has removed 26 per cent cap on the interest rate that can be charged by a microfinance company to its borrowers.

The central bank has also prescribed a new method of determining the rate for the industry. The RBI said that MFIs can arrive at their lending rate by calculating their cost of funds and adding the prescribed margin. The new method will allow the companies to determine their interest rates.

MFI is allowed to charge interest rate equal to 2.75 times the average of the base rates of the top five commercial banks. The bank said that the MFI will have to accept the lower o

  Thomas Cook India, which is owned by Canada-based billionaire PremWatsa, has announced that it will soon merge with Chennai-based resort company Sterling Holiday Resorts.

Thomas Cook Managing Director Madhavan Menon said on Saturday that the company will make a preferential allotment investment of Rs 187 crore at Rs 90.49 a share, which is 2.7 per cent discount to Sterling's Friday closing price of Rs
92.90, in the Chennai resort. After the deal, Thomas Cook will hold around 23 per cent stake in the company.

Thomas Cook will also acquire Rs 176 crore from Sterling's existing shareholders including Bay Capital, investors Sidharth Shankar,

  Shaftesbury PLC, a leading property company focused on London's Soho and other West End districts, has said that the business has remained strong in the market.

The company said that the business was strong for its tenants even after weather affected market conditions. It recorded strong demand across properties in Carnaby Street, Chinatown, Charlotte Street and other West End "villages" during the four months till 6 February, 2014.

The company said that the existing property has been taken up and refurbished properties are taken up as soon as they are available in the market. The company has acquired more sites during the third quarter of

  Banking giant, Barclays bank is planning to offer higher bonuses to senior executives at the investment bank even as the revenues fell during the year.

Chief executive Antony Jenkins and the board have approved a hike in bonuses even as the unit's revenues fell. The move might create tensions between the Bank of England and European regulators. Jenkins, the head of the Barclays bank has turned down the bonus offering from the bank for 2013 as the bank faced costs relating to the scandals.

The European Commission has ruled that banks cannot pay more than two times a banker's salary in bonuses. Bank of England governor Mark Carney has dismissed pr

  Vienna, Feb 7 : The basket of 12 crude oils of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stood at $103.34 a barrel Thursday, compared to $102.63 Wednesday, according to the OPEC Secretariat.

The new OPEC reference basket comprises Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Iran Heavy (Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (the United Arab Emirates) and Merey (Venezuela). A barrel is equal to 159 litres.(IANS)   Source: Top News

  Silverstone, Feb 7 : Sahara Force India Formula 1 team has expanded its driver development programme by teaming up with Hilmer Motorsport for the 2014 GP2 season.

"The new partnership will see Facu Regalia and Daniel Abt race on the GP2 grid in the distinctive colours of Sahara Force India in the Hilmer Motorsport GP2 car," Force India said in a statement Friday.

Hilmer made its GP2 debut in 2013, finishing sixth in the championship.

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said on the partnership: "As a team we've always placed great emphasis on nurturing young drivers so I'm delighted to announce our partnership wi