Steady job gains seen bolstering economy

By Jason Lange

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American employers likely hired at a moderate pace in March, a sign the economy was gathering momentum even as Washington stepped up an austerity drive by enacting painful spending cuts.

The economy probably added 200,000 jobs last month, with the jobless rate steady at 7.7 percent, according to a Reuters survey of economists.

That would mark the fourth time in five months that nonfarm payrolls increased by least 200,000, a robust trend considering the drag on the economy from a January tax increase and federal budget cuts that began in March.

Indeed, with Europe bogged down in a sovereign debt crisis that has fueled record joblessness, the apparently resilient U.S. economy is looking like one of the world's star performers.

"It looks like growth in the first quarter of this year was actually pretty good," said Paul Dales, an economist at Capital Economics in London.

The Labor Department will release the March employment report on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

The job gains could fuel discussion at the Federal Reserve about whether the central bank should dial back its bond-buying stimulus program, perhaps as soon as this summer. Optimism over the U.S. economy has helped drive a 6 percent gain in the Standard & Poor's stock index since the beginning of the year.

At the same time, analysts note that the spending cuts have only just begun and will be a more substantial drag on the economy between April and June, when many government workers begin taking days off work without pay.

Government payrolls are expected to shed only 9,000 workers in March, roughly the same as in the prior month.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, who has said the labor market must show sustained improvement before monetary stimulus is eased, has voiced concern about the spending cuts.

BUMPS IN THE ROAD

Even a modest miss for the payroll reading would leave the labor market's recovery broadly on track, analysts said.

Unusually cold weather in March might have dulled hiring in areas such as construction, while nervousness over the federal budget cuts might have made businesses shy about hiring.

These factors could explain some of the slowdown in job growth last month tracked by private payroll processor ADP. They also may have contributed to a dip in sentiment among factory managers and an increase in new claims for jobless benefits last month, said Carl Riccadonna, an economist at Deutsche Bank in New York

Nonetheless, these are widely seen as temporary headwinds for the job market recovery.

"The underlying momentum remains intact," said Riccadonna.

Since the 2007-09 recession ended, the U.S. economy has struggled to grow above a 2 percent annual pace, while output barely grew in the fourth quarter. But growth is widely expected to rebound in the first quarter before growing at around a 2.5 percent in the second half of the year. Rising incomes and progress made by families in reducing debt are seen fueling the above-trend growth.

In March, average hourly earnings are expected to have risen 0.2 percent. That would be the fifth straight month of gains. The length of the average work week is expected to have remained steady at 34.5 hours.

Employment gains last month should be below the 236,000 jobs created in February, but that would still be well above what has passed for normal in recent years. Since the country emerged from a deep recession and payrolls began growing again in 2010, hiring has averaged just 159,000 per month.

Another indicator of labor market health will come in the share of the population that is either employed or looking for work. The jobless rate has fallen a half percentage point since July, but some of this is due to workers' leaving the labor force, either because they retired, went back to school or gave up looking for work.

The labor force participation rate fell to 63.5 percent in February, matching a three-decade low. A stabilization of this indicator could point to more healing in the labor market.

(Reporting by Jason Lange. Editing by Andre Grenon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/steady-job-gains-seen-bolstering-economy-040319942--business.html

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National Restaurant Association Challenges Mixologists Nationwide ...

Thursday, April 4th, 2013 ?

Chicago, IL? (RestaurantNews.com)? The National Restaurant Association invites professional mixologists to show off their most creative cocktail talents using American Harvest Organic Vodka to vie for the sought-after title of Star of the Bar. The competition, which features a $5,000 cash prize, will take place at the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) at NRA Show 2013 with the winner being selected at the Restaurants Rock party on Sunday, May 19 with special guest judges, master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and celebrity chef, personality and culinary author Anthony Bourdain.

Held at Chicago?s McCormick Place May 19-20, IWSB is the only forum in the world focused exclusively on the role of beverage alcohol in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

?The Star of the Bar competition is an exciting way for mixologists to test their skills against each other to see who can shake, stir, and muddle the most imaginative and marketable cocktail of the year,? said Jeffrey W. Davis , Convention Chair for NRA Show 2013 and IWSB and CEO of the United States Beef Corporation. ?The competition is judged by both the public and industry peers so it allows mixologists passionate about crafting cocktails their time in the spotlight.?

Five of the six semifinalists will be determined by an IWSB panel of judges, with the sixth picked by the general public as the ?people?s choice? contender, which will be determined through online voting from April 22-24. All six semifinalists will be flown to Chicago to demonstrate their cocktail live on the exhibit floor in front of top food and beverage industry leaders at IWSB on Sunday, May 19.

IWSB attendees will narrow the field down to the top three Star of the Bar finalists, who will then advance to the final live competition to be judged by Tony Abou-Ganim , Anthony Bourdain , and Todd Richman , Corporate Mixologist, Sidney Frank Importing Company at Restaurants Rock, the official party of IWSB and NRA Show.

Interested individuals who would like a shot at the title, a trip to Chicago to demonstrate their skills at IWSB, as well as a chance at the $5,000 prize should complete the following:

• Design a signature cocktail recipe that prominently features American Harvest Organic Vodka
• Create a video no more than 2 minutes long, describing and mixing the drink, and upload it to YouTube
• Submit the entry form online by April 19, 2013, including a link to the video in the recipe instructions

No purchase is necessary for submission. Limit of one video submission per person. Content is open to all legal residents of the 50 United States, 21 years of age or older. Void where restricted by law. See Official Rules online. Please bartend responsibly; depictions of unsafe or reckless mixology will not be accepted.

Now celebrating its sixth year, the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event is co-located within the 2013 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. IWSB features domestic and international brewers, distillers, and vintners showcasing hundreds of established and emerging labels, beverage alcohol-focused, industry expert-led education sessions, hands-on demonstrations, dynamic mixology competition, and access to professionally paired menu items from local Chicago restaurants.

The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice, and lodging professionals. NRA Show 2013 will be held May 18-21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the 2013 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event held in conjunction with the NRA Show will take place May 19-20. The events attract 61,000+ attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and the event showcases the latest products, services, innovative ideas, up-to-the-minute information about trends and issues, and more growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the NRA Show and IWSB Websites at Restaurant.org/Show and WineSpiritsBeer.org, and find the NRA Show on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, YouTube and its widely read NRA Show Blog.

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 980,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of more than 13 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We operate the industry?s largest trade show (NRA Show May 18-21, 2013, in Chicago); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF?s ProStart, including the National ProStart Invitational April 19-21, 2013, in Baltimore, Md.); as well as the Kids LiveWell program promoting healthful kids? menu options. For more information, visit www.restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.

Source: http://www.restaurantnews.com/national-restaurant-association-challenges-mixologists-nationwide-to-battle-for-coveted-star-of-the-bar-title/

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Air Canada, WestJet shares continue to soar

Airline investors know it?s a cyclical business. When times are bad, airline stocks are among the first to feel the pain and the last to break free of it.

But when times are good ? as they are now ? the sky?s the limit.

Shares in Air Canada have had an impressive run lately, soaring more than 83% since the start of the year as demand remains strong in the Canadian market and capacity remains tight allowing carriers to raise prices.

Over the same time, WestJet?s shares have gained a more modest ? but still impressive ? 26%.

Walter Spracklin, RBC Capital Markets analyst, said doesn?t believe the good times are over either.

?With another quarter completed, we believe both Air Canada and WestJet are set to report another round of better than expected operating results,? he said in a note to clients Friday.

He noted industry traffic and yield growth has been robust while fuel prices have remained relatively rangebound.

?The key here is that despite fairly high expectations on the earnings front, better than expected first quarter data is prompting us to raise our estimates which now sit solidly above consensus,? he said.

Mr. Spracklin increased his price target on both Air Canada and WestJet on new fuel price assumptions as well. He has an outperform rating on both stocks.

He raised his price target on Air Canada to $4 a share, from $3.50 previously.

He also raised his price target on WestJet to $27 a share, from $25 previously.

?While the Canadian airline industry keeps posting solid traffic and yield growth, we believe that consensus expectations for the first quarter ? are once again ? set too low and we expect positive revisions heading into earnings set for the first week in May,? Mr. Spracklin said.

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/04/05/air-canada-westjet-shares-continue-to-soar/

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Sony Xperia ZL goes on sale in Germany

€549,99 inc. VAT or subsidized on contract, now available at Phonehouse.de

After going on sale in Canada yesterday, Germany now gets a chance to order Sony's premier smartphone, as the Xperia ZL is currently shipping from Phonehouse.de in black only. Those looking for a red or white version of this phone will have to wait a little longer, as is stock listed as "available soon." The phone is priced at €549,99, but can also be purchased with various subsidy prices on contract.

Potential buyers only have one option at present, because Phonehouse.de is the only retailer taking orders for the ZL at this time. Amazon.de has no launch date listed on their site, and Cyberport.de is reporting they will start taking orders and shipping phones in May.

While we here in the states are still waiting for our launch, time can be well spent looking over a close relative of the Xperia ZL, the Xperia Z, in our detailed review. Be on the lookout for a our review of the Xperia ZL, in the near future.

Source: XperiaBlog

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/fFW1EJ6FZ4M/story01.htm

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Indian PM says downturn passing, asks industrialists for faith

By Anurag Kotoky

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged business leaders on Wednesday to keep faith in his Congress-led government's efforts to improve a dire investment climate, without giving details of fresh steps to bring about a recovery in the sagging economy.

In a rare speech to the nation's top businessmen, Singh said the downturn that has dragged growth in Asia's third largest economy to a decade-low of around 5 percent was temporary and the mood among businessmen overly pessimistic.

"We must prove the prophets of gloom are wrong," Singh, a veteran economist, told a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry. "I would urge Indian industry to have faith in our determination and avoid getting swamped by a mood of negativism."

Singh launched a series of economic reforms late last year, but the economy is still struggling to refind momentum.

And with a national election due next year, the loss of support from a regional party based in the southern state of Tamil Nadu will hamper efforts by his minority government to introduce more measures that might be politically unpopular.

Singh acknowledged "bureaucratic inertia" and corruption were problems for investors, but said rates of economic growth above 8 percent were possible if government and industry worked together. The government is hopeful of annual economic growth as high as 6.7 percent this fiscal year.

Singh defended his government's economic track record, but the ruling Congress party has faced much criticism for policy drift during its two terms in office.

Investors have complained that while his government has promised much, India remains one of the hardest countries in the world to do business.

"Going by what happened in the last three years, we want elections. The sooner the better," billionaire Rahul Bajaj, said after Singh's speech. "We have suffered enough in the last three years."

Other business luminaries at the event included Adi Godrej, chairman of Godrej Industries , Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Indian information technology giant Infosys , and Sunil Mittal, chairman of India's top mobile phone operator, Bharti Airtel Ltd

Singh said the government was carrying out a comprehensive review of its policy on foreign direct investment and was committed to reining in the fiscal deficit and keeping funds flowing to finance a record current account deficit that hit 6.7 percent in the December quarter.

The prime minister forecast the current account deficit would be 5 percent for the 2012/13 fiscal year, and would lower further in the current year. However, he said the reduction would be small and India will need to finance a higher than expected deficit "for a few years."

He did not lay out any specific policies, but promised fast action to fix shortages of fuel for power companies, one of the most thorny issues facing Indian businesses.

The speech met with skepticism in Indian financial markets.

"These are very big statements, and unfortunately they are not likely to be followed. The government's intent has been there, but the execution is missing," said Deven Choksey, managing director of KR Choksey Securities.

The government needed to act forcefully to reverse the slump and balance the macro-economy, Singh said, but he also called on industry to do more to revive investment, which is estimated to have hit a five-year-low in 2012/13.

"Government is not the prime driver of growth ... the driver of growth is private investment," he said.

The full effect of measures taken since last year to revise fuel subsidies and speed up clearances in infrastructure projects will be felt in the next few months, Singh said.

He said the government was also preparing to clear 31 oil blocks for production and exploration in the next two weeks.

Red tape and regulatory hurdles are often cited as obstacles to investing in India. The World Bank ranks India 132 in terms of "Ease of Doing Business."

Mixed economic data and weak capital investments offer little hope for a quick economic rebound.

While industrial output expanded for the first time in three months in January, infrastructure sector output shrank 2.5 percent in February. Manufacturing activity, too, slowed down in March on weak domestic and foreign demand.

(Additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh and Abhishek Vishnoi; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel, editing by Ross Colvin and Simon Cameron-Moore)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/indian-pm-says-downturn-passing-asks-industrialists-faith-112814811--sector.html

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The Bompas & Parr Heinz Beanz Flavour Experience, With Musical Spoons (PHOTOS)

We were going to try to reserve our "musical fruit" jokes, but then we realized it was impossible. The Heinz Beanz Flavour Experience is the brainchild of food nerd virtuosos Bompas & Parr (who you may know for their incredible jelly projects), and is a multi-sensory bean eating experience.

These newly debuted Heinz Beanz flavors include a customized bowl, textured and conceived to match each individual flavor, as well as a musical spoon, which plays a tune that only the eater can hear. These spoons work by transmitting vibrations via your jawbone to your ear, the same way that swimmers' headphones operate. Why go to all this trouble for a few cans of beans? We'll let the Bompas & Parr team explain that one to you:

Have you ever wondered why fish and chips never taste as good as the time you ate them by the seaside out of paper? The reason for this is that our taste buds are intrinsically linked to our other senses -? it?s not just about what we taste, but also what we see and touch. Our surroundings, shape, texture and even sound, can all affect our experience and enjoyment of food.

A limited number of these complex creations will be available from Fortnum & Mason, as they were the first retailer to carry the brand, way back in 1901. We haven't been able to find any information about ordering these online, so suspect that this may be an in-person experience only (any Londoners out there, do let us know if you see these!).

Want to read more from HuffPost Taste? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Tumblr.

• Barbeque Beanz

  The barbecue bowls are made from limewood and are turned on a traditional lathe. These are then heated over a flame until a layer of charcoal forms on the outer surface, evoking the idea of outdoor barbecues. As well as having the appearance and texture of charcoal, the bowls also have a traditional smoky, barbecue smell. Drawing a cultural reference to the Deep South, the music is inspired by gentle blues accompanied by harmonic phrases and sizzling barbecue sounds.

• Cheddar Cheese Beanz

  Made from over a kilo of yellow wax, the beautiful circular bowl is based on the form, texture and colour of a traditional round of cheese. The soundtrack has been constructed from a cheese wire playing the melody and percussion from tambourines and Heinz Flavoured Beanz cans, creating a very English sounding string composition reminiscent of Elgar or Holst.

• Chilli Beanz

  When taste receptors sense heat, the brain responds with increased heart rate, releasing endorphins and increasing perspiration. This has been translated into the processes used to make the chilli bowl, and to a lesser extent, the experience of actually handling the bowl, which has elegant spikes protruding from the exterior. The bowl is formed under extreme heat and pressure; the stainless steel is shaped using a fine jet of water cutting though the metal. The music used has been created from samples that have been produced by chopping, scraping, sorting and throwing of the chilli itself. The resulting track has high frequency elements, which demonstrate the hot zing of a fiery chilli pepper.

• Curry Beanz

  Made from a three part mould, the bowl takes inspiration from the form of piles of dried spices. Made with a mixture of sand and resin, the bowls have a granular, sandy finish that references the texture and colour of curry powder and sand dunes. The musical spoon includes the sounds of typical Punjabi Bhangra, but without a traditional instrument in sight. Each groove component is made from a Heinz Beanz can filled with dried spices including chilli peppers, cardamom pods and cumin seeds. The resulting track sounds dry and crisp, with a warmth that conjures up the vibrant atmosphere of a busy spice market.

• Garlic And Herb Beanz

  Based loosely on the organic shape of a garlic bulb, the bowl also references the papery layers found on the exterior. The bowls are hand assembled using 96 layers of 750 micron thick card, giving it a delicate and soft natural appearance, which creates a really pleasurable tactile experience as the bowl is held. Taking inspiration from the Mediterranean where garlic and herbs are a staple, the musical track has been composed using the rustling of garlic and the simulated sound of Heinz Flavoured Beanz cans jostling around on a hot, dry truck in the searing sun.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/03/heinz-beanz-flavour-experience_n_2999691.html

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Most Americans back path to citizenship, most Republicans don't

Public Views on Immigration Reform Underscore the GOPs Conundrum

Nearly six in 10 Americans support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but with Republicans firm in their opposition by a wide margin - a challenge for a party torn between reflecting the views of its base and seeking to broaden its appeal.

With negotiations in Washington proceeding, 57 percent in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll support the most contentious part of immigration reform, a process by which illegal immigrants may gain citizenship. Two other elements - stricter border control and more visas for highly skilled workers - win broader backing, from 80 and 72 percent, respectively.

See PDF with full results, charts and tables here.

Partisan and ideological divisions on a path to citizenship remain vast and essentially unchanged in recent months. Democrats support the idea by a wide 73-25 percent; independents by a majority 58-39 percent. Republicans oppose it, 60-35 percent - numerically a new low in support in three ABC/Post polls since last November, albeit just by 2 percentage points.

Similarly, 78 percent of liberals and 59 percent of moderates favor a citizenship process; that falls to 42 percent of conservatives, including 37 percent of "very" conservatives.

Tellingly, a path to citizenship is backed by 69 percent of nonwhites, including 80 percent of Hispanics and 67 percent of blacks - groups that overwhelmingly favored Barack Obama in his successful re-election campaign. That falls to 51 percent of whites, who preferred Republican Mitt Romney by 20 points.

There's also a sharp generational break in this poll produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates: Adults younger than age 40 - a group that decisively favored Obama over Romney in the election - back a path to citizenship by 67-30 percent. Support drops to a bare majority, 51 percent, among those 40 and up, a majority of whom voted for Romney .

Those differences underscore the challenges facing Republican Party leaders: Stay loyal to the policy preference of their party faithful and core support groups including whites, older adults and conservatives, at the risk of clinging to an inadequate support base; or seek to appeal to groups such as Hispanics, younger adults and moderates, at the risk of alienating the party's core.

BORDERS and VISAS - Two other issues in the debate, as noted, are far less divisive. Substantial majorities overall and across groups support stricter border control and a more lenient visa program for skilled workers alike.

Views on skilled workers, notably, show no partisan divisions at all. Support for an expanded program for skilled workers declines among blacks, to 56 percent. It's supported by larger majorities in basic demographic and political groups ranging from a low of 65 percent (of Midwesterners) to a high of 90 percent (among Hispanics).

Hispanics are at the other end of the spectrum on increased border security; 61 percent support it, a low among groups, compared with 93 percent among Republicans.

Overall views on a path to citizenship and border security are essentially unchanged compared with ABC/Post polls earlier this year and in late 2012, but far higher than they were in a differently phrased question in an ABC/Post poll in 1984. (The question on visas - specifically, allowing more highly skilled individuals from other countries to live and work in the United States - is a new one.)

Bipartisan groups in the Senate and House are expected to unveil their proposals for an immigration reform bill shortly, building on an agreement between labor and business representatives on the contours of a new "guest worker" visa program. The legislation is expected to include a path to citizenship, stricter border security and more visas for high- and low-skilled workers alike.

Work on the issue in Congress already has paid one dividend: An ABC/Post poll last week found favorable views of the Congress jumping to 56 percent among Hispanics, up by 21 points from November 2011 and the only group in which it reaches majority popularity. Again the risks, particularly to the GOP, are of backlash from its base if immigration reform goes forward - and backlash from others if it doesn't.

METHODOLOGY - This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cell phone March 27-30, 2013, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,014 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points. The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, N.Y., with sampling, data collection and tabulation by SSRS/Social Science Research Solutions of Media, Pa.

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/public-views-immigration-reform-underscore-122812494.html

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