Saturday 26 October 2013

Zacks Investment Ideas Feature Highlights: Manitex International, Express and General Motors

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Value investors have long looked to the price-to-earnings ratio as a means to finding value stocks. However, Benjamin Graham, long considered to be the "father" of value investing, found that a low price-to-earnings ratio wasn't enough to unearth the true undervalued companies.

Graham combined the low price-to-earnings ratios with the power of growth by using the PEG ratio. The PEG ratio is calculated by taking the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and dividing it by the growth rate. Normally, a stock with a PEG ratio under 1.0 is considered a "value".

With the S&P 500, the Russell 2000 and the Mid-cap 400 trading at new record highs, you might think it would be hard to find ANY value.

Screening for PEG
I created a screen for PEG ratios under 1.0 on Zacks free Custom Screener.
Just this one criteria gave me 372 stocks. That's not too shabby.
But all 372 companies are not necessarily good value stocks. I eliminated companies that had a Zacks rank of 4 or 5, which are Zacks Rank Sells, and only searched for Buy ranked stocks.  I also then considered other fundamentals such as the price-to-sales ratio. I plugged in a P/S ratio under 1.0 which can also mean a company is undervalued.

3 Stocks with Magic PEG Ratios
The following 3 companies stood out because they had both stellar value fundamentals, including a low PEG ratio, and a solid business story, including strong earnings growth.
Manitex International
Express Inc.
General Motors

1. Manitex International, Inc. (MNTX-Free Report)

Manitex manufactures lifting solutions including cranes, reach stackers and container handling equipment, rough terrain forklifts, and indoor electric forklifts. Headquartered in Illinois, it supplies crane parts to customers throughout the world.

It is a micro cap company with a market cap of just $163 million. But analysts expect outsized earnings growth in 2013 and 2014 of 26.5% and 39.2%, respectively.

Even though shares are at a new 52-week high, it has a forward P/E of just 15.5. Combined with the earnings growth, that gives it a PEG ratio under the magic level of 1.0.

PEG ratio: 0.8
P/S ratio: 0.7

Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)

2. Express Inc. (EXPR-Free Report)

Express operates men's and women's apparel stores targeting the 20 and 30-something demographic in the United States, Canada and Puerto. Its 620 stores are located primarily in shopping malls, although you can also find them in some big city neighborhoods.

Express is also a small cap, but at a $1.9 billion market cap, it dwarfs Manitex.

While the company isn't expected to see any earnings growth this fiscal year, it is set to rebound with earnings growth of 13.5% in fiscal 2014.

Compared to the S&P 500, Express is cheap. It has a forward P/E of 13.9 while the index trades at 16.2.
Combined with next year's double digit earnings growth, Express has the magic PEG ratio under 1.0.

PEG ratio: 0.95
P/S ratio: 0.9
Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)

3. General Motors (GM-Free Report)

General Motors produces cars and trucks worldwide. Car sales in the United States are hot and have nearly recovered pre-recession highs.

Earnings growth is expected to be just 4.5% in 2013 but 2014 is expected to see the big turnaround with earnings expected to rise another 34%.

Shares were on a hot streak over the summer, as they soared to new 52-week highs. Still, the stock is cheap, with a forward P/E of 10.6.

That means it has the magic combination of both growth and value which produces a PEG under 1.0.
PEG ratio: 0.8
P/S ratio: 0.4
Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)

Dig Deep for the Magic

It's not that easy in this momentum driven market to find stocks with value AND growth. But if you can find this rare combination, those are stocks you might want to keep on your wish list.

 About Zacks

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.



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Sunday 20 October 2013

Auto Industry, Japanese Nissan in US plant

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The United Auto Workers is ratcheting up pressure on Nissan in the hopes it may finally succeed at organizing the Japanese automaker's plant in the typically anti-union southern US state of Mississippi. It has taken its campaign to the world stage in a bid to pressure Nissan to cease what the UAW has called union-busting tactics.  They efforts have won the endorsement of Nissan's Japanese unions and sympathetic unions have staged demonstrations protesting Nissan's tactics in Brazil and at the Geneva auto show.

The UAW is hoping to gain the backing of the powerful French unions of Nissan's partner Renault by bringing workers to Paris this week to describe their plight.  "The UAW's approach in Mississippi has been very innovative and very patient," said Harley Shaiken, a labor expert from the University of California, Berkley.  The aggressive campaign comes as the UAW celebrates a big break in its decades-long efforts to organize the plants of foreign automakers. Volkswagen is currently engaged in talks with the UAW about how to get employees at its Tennessee plant a seat on the German automaker's works council. It has never managed to organize workers at the plants of foreign automakers except in a handful of joint ventures with unionized General Motors, Ford or Chrysler. But its president Bob King insists the tide is finally turning.  "We've never been this far along in an organizing drive in the South," King said in a recent interview. "It's going really well."

King, a veteran of several failed organizing attempts, said the number of employees supporting the UAW inside Nissan's Canton plant has continued to grow since the latest campaign was launched more than a year ago. The campaign is being carefully watched by other automakers.

One former official from Honda, who has observed UAW organizing efforts in the past and asked for anonymity, said it is likely the UAW has gained a foothold in Canton because of the widespread use of temporary workers.  That appears to have unsettled the regular employees, who thought they had finally won a measure of job security in a state with the lowest per capita income in the United States. But those same job security fears could work against the UAW, said Sean McAlinden, chief economist at Michigan's Center of Automotive Research.  "They worry about Mexico," McAlinder said, noting that several automakers -- including Nissan -- will be opening new factories there this year.

The Nissan campaign has attracted the interest of labor leaders looking for a way to gain more leverage over big companies in a global economy that has driven down wages in industrial countries, said Kent Wong, a labor expert at the University of California, Los Angeles.  "I don't know if they are going to be successful," he cautioned.

The UAW faces powerful opposition from the political establishment in Mississippi and from workers who have been raised on a diet of anti-union sentiment.  It has also accused Nissan of employing union-busting tactics like using implicit threats to close the plant if it unionizes, charges Nissan denies.  "Nissan has never violated labor standards and would never tolerate threats or intimidation of our employees," Nissan spokesman Justin Saia said. "Nissan will continue to abide by US labor laws and support the rights of employees to decide whether they wish to be represented by a union.”  The standard anti-union playbook being used in Canton isn't working, King insisted.  "They use 'one-on-one' meetings to attack the union and if we call a meeting after work they'll schedule overtime," King told AFP. "But we're still getting support."

Nissan worker Raphael Martinez said one of the reason he supports the UAW is because the union's positive message is focused on making Nissan a better company overall.  "One thing I appreciate about the UAW is that they don’t tend to demonize Nissan," Martinez told AFP. "Nissan, on the other hand, tends to demonize the UAW with negative propaganda." Nissan dismissed the pro-union sentiment as unrepresentative of the bulk of the workforce.  "If you notice, they bring out the same people all the time," said one Nissan executive, who asked not to be identified while commenting on the UAW effort.


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Friday 18 October 2013

Caravan Insurance Protract Yourself and Your Property

It's so easy to find the best deal on your Caravan Insurance

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We have searched the market for specialist insurance providers for an easy-to-use service to help you get quotes for your caravan or motor home cover.

Your steps.
Fill in our easy form
Receive up to six quotes
Choose the policy that suits you and contact the broker to arrange your cover.
Start your quote on the panel to the right, or follow the links below for Park home, Leisure home or European static caravan insurance.

Caravan insurance is a sound investment for peace of mind. Why worry about your caravan on holiday when all you want to do is relax?

When summer rolls around and you excitedly book time off work for a break, don’t forget to consider taking out some good caravan insurance. With increasing rates of caravan theft and vandalism, you want to make sure you are covered for this and every other eventuality. Even though you are sure to have a wonderful time, there are many things that could go wrong, from the caravan blowing over on the motorway, to damage caused by weather (it is Britain after all).

These are some reasons why you should consider purchasing caravan insurance before you venture on holiday.

Caravan Insurance  Check your Policy

Many people believe they don’t need caravan insurance for their touring model because it is covered under their car insurance. What they might not realize is that the insurance may only be valid for when the caravan is attached to the vehicle, and not, for example, when left alone at a campsite. To prevent a nasty holiday headache, double-check your policy, and consider taking out specialist caravan insurance to ensure your mobile holiday home is protected at all times in all circumstances.

Caravan Insurance - Beat the Thieves

The main reason for ensuring you have full-cover caravan insurance is to take into account the increasing levels of caravan theft. There is nothing more disheartening than leaving your caravan unattended whilst you go to visit a site of interest, only to find it gone on your return. It gets worse when you check your insurance policy to find you weren’t covered because the caravan wasn’t being towed! Prevent this disaster happening to you by taking out caravan insurance and taking every possible security measure while you’re away.

Caravan Insurance  Protection from the Elements

Another misfortune that can easily befall British holidaymakers is being struck by freak weather. No one could forget the flash floods in Cornwall a few years ago, and the amount of loss and damage they caused. If you don’t have full caravan insurance, and your touring or static caravan is damaged by extreme weather, then you could be facing costly repairs  or may even have to buy a replacement caravan. Don’t take the risk  check your caravan insurance.

Caravan Insurance  In case of Accidents

Unfortunately an incident is all too easy in a caravan, whether it’s being blown over on the motorway or being involved in a pile-up. You may even incur small dents from minor accidents, such as in busy car holiday car parks. It would be such a shame to have your holiday ruined by realizing that your existing policy does n’t cover you for such eventualities, so give yourself peace of mind by taking out specialist caravan insurance.

Looking for Caravan Insurance? Try InsuranceForCaravans.co.uk 

InsuranceForCaravans.co.uk  is the site to visit if you are looking for caravan insurance. With a range of financial promotions for firms who provide Caravan Insurance, simply visit our advertisers websites to find out what each insurance policy covers and you are bound to find a product that suits you, whether you have a static or touring caravan. Don’t take any chances with the safety of your caravan  try InsuranceForCaravans.co.uk  today.


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Wednesday 16 October 2013

Pet Insurance in the UK

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Gross written premiums in the pet insurance category grew by 35.5% in absolute terms during the review period (2008-2012), making it the fastest-growing category of insurance sales. The category's expansion was promoted by rising veterinary fees and advances in veterinary treatment. Despite the recessionary environment and the squeeze on household incomes, demand for pet insurance remained strong during the review period. Lifestyle changes and an increase in the number of smaller households have made it more difficult to own a pet, but almost half of all UK households owned at least one pet in 2012. Household expenditure on veterinary care rose by 22.2% during the review period. Despite fast growth, pet insurance market penetration remained low, with approximately 46% of dogs and 66% of cats left uninsured in 2012, resulting in huge potential for new product providers.

Key Highlights
Aviva Now Underwrites Pet Insurance Policies Itself
RSA Renews Pet Insurance Partnership with Tesco Bank
L&G Extends its Range of Personal insurance Cover with Launch of Pet Insurance
Capita Insurance Distribution Selects Zenith Insurance to Underwrite Pet Policies
Sainsbury's Bank Partners with Allianz Insurance for Pet Insurance
M&S Reappoints RSA for Pet Insurance
Axa Pulls Out of Pet Insurance Market

Key Topics Covered:
1 Executive Summary
2 Introduction
3 Market Analysis
4 Competitive Landscape
5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
6 Deals and News
7 Regulation and Compliance
8 Economic Backdrop
9 Company Profiles

Name of Insurance Co.
Agria International Forsakring AB
Allianz Insurance Plc
Axa Insurance UK Plc
Direct Line Insurance Group Plc
Pinnacle Insurance Plc
QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd
Red Sands Insurance Company (Europe) Ltd
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group Plc
Ultimate Insurance Company Ltd
Zenith Insurance Plc


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Saturday 12 October 2013

Will MOOCs Help Your Best Career



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We’re living through an incredible moment in the history of learning. Suddenly, anyone with an Internet connection can take courses, for free, from some of the world’s top universities. On sites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy, you can learn how to run a clinical trial that will satisfy the Food and Drug Administration, study aircraft design, or dive into the basics of environmental law. The offerings are commonly called MOOCs, for massive open online courses, and they tend to offer participants certificates of achievement if they finish, as opposed to course credits or grades. But will taking these online courses at schools like Harvard and Stanford improve your prospects in the job market?

As with many revolutions, Boston has been at the center of the action. In 2002, MIT launched a pilot website for its OpenCourseWare initiative, offering 32 courses. By 2003, Wired Magazine was writing about students in Nashville and Ho Chi Minh city taking MIT classes for free. Last year, MIT and Harvard University decided to work together, creating a new nonprofit called edX.  The Cambridge-based organization now offers courses from McGill University, Georgetown University, Cornell University, CalTech, and Wellesley College, among others. Many include not just recommended readings, but videos, quizzes, and interactive tools like electronic circuit simulators or protein builders.

Some people who have completed MOOCs say they’re including them on resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Avi Jacobson, who runs a sustainable energy program at a public agency in Seattle, says he isn’t looking for a job, but he posts the courses he has taken at MRUniversity on his LinkedIn page to test if it adds something positive. I am smarter for taking them.  Geoffrey Horwitz, who works in business development at Boston Children’s Hospital, says he is not in the job market either, but plans to eventually include courses he has taken on topics like drug discovery under an Additional Courses heading on LinkedIn.

Human resources executives and recruiters tell me they aren’t seeing significant numbers of candidates touting the MOOCs they’ve completed. But those who have seen mentions of MOOCs say it’s an indication of commitment to upgrading skills and knowledge.  At Massachusetts General Hospital, recruitment manager Megan Bradley says, I see these online courses as a form of professional development, like when people take adult ed courses. If a job requires a educational degree, these courses would not suffice.  Bruce Allen of the Wakefield recruiting firm Point B Search says, Any initiative that candidates take to update their skill set, acquire new skills, or simply extend their knowledge base will be viewed as positive.

Risa Pecoraro, an executive who hires engineers at Boston-based Homesite, an online insurance agency, says she views MOOCs as a strong positive, assuming that they can prove through our interview process that the course has been effective. Others point out that listing MOOCs can help you rise to the top if a recruiter is searching the resume database for keywords that match a course you’ve taken, like data visualization or social media marketing.

Recruiter Adriana Ganos of Rue La La, the Boston-based e-commerce site, says she wouldn’t necessarily write off the MOOCs a candidate has taken, but I value in-person content and communication. I’d rather see someone go and physically attend something and participate in a class at a place like Bocoup Loft or General Assembly or Intelligently. (Those are three local venues that offer continuing education, primarily focused on tech industry workers.)

Gray Chynoweth of Dyn says his company is encouraging its employees to take MOOCs. Before we figure out how to weigh them when we look at candidates, we want to experience what happens when our employees go through them, says Chynoweth, chief operating officer of the Manchester, N.H., networking and e-mail services firm.

While MOOCs seem like they can only enhance a job candidate’s appeal, many people I talked to noted an important shift in the world of hiring. Credentials, whether a MOOC certificate or an MBA degree, are declining in importance, while portfolios are on the rise.  What’s a portfolio? Some sort of evidence of your expertise and abilities online, like design work showcased on Dribbble.com, software code on GitHub, a mobile app you’ve built, or a sales presentation you developed and posted to SlideShare. Education is becoming less than 10 percent of a candidate’s total score when we hire, says Apollo Sinkevicius, managing director at One Mighty Roar, a Boston design and innovation firm. Portfolios and work samples have the highest weight in my hiring, he says.

What really carries the weight in hiring today is, have you worked at good companies in the past, and what have you built, says Tom Summit of Catalyst Recruiting in Newburyport, who has been recruiting techies for nearly 25 years. At Dyn, Chynoweth says, We want someone to come in and be able to create value for the company quickly. So we’re looking for evidence that they can do that.

Free MOOCs are a fantastic thing. But even if you’ve been a top student, sitting in the virtual front row, employers increasingly want to see what you can create.

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Thursday 10 October 2013

Drivers Sold Fake Car Insurance Policies

Thousands of drivers sold fake Insurance


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Police arrested 27 people, who are sold fake motor insurance policies.  More than 170 officers, led by detectives from the City of London police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department, carried out 28 search warrants in a series of dawn raids across the country.

The City of London Police said the raids were the culmination of months of investigation into the sale of non-existent motor insurance – a relatively new but growing scam known as "ghost brooking". The arrests were made in Leicesters hire, London, Manchester, Thames Valley and the West Midlands, with 168 officers taking part in the operation.

"Ghost brokers" typically target young, newly qualified drivers by offering them bargain-basement deals, but no insurance is ever put in place and the victims only become aware that they have been duped when they submit claims that are not dealt with. Because they do not have valid insurance, they run the risk of having their cars seized by police as well as racking up fines, penalty licence points and even criminal records, police warned. In the most extreme cases, victims might be forced to pay costs which could run to millions of pounds if, for example, they were at fault for a crash in which a third party was injured.

IFED is a unit operating within the City of London police funded by insurance companies belonging to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Initial estimates suggest that thousands of motorists have been duped although the true scale of the problem is not known as many drivers will assume their cover is legitimate.

The bogus policies are often sold online – often through social networking and even phony websites – as well as genuine classifieds and even in university clubs and bars and motor repair shops. The police said many ghost brokers claimed to be linked to reputable companies or advertised their "businesses" as independent insurers. Documents and certificates of motor insurance are often faked.

Kerry Michael, director of insurance services at the RAC motoring group, said: "This is a new and worrying crime which preys on young drivers offering them cheap insurance rates with bogus policies. It is particularly worrying when you consider that many of the individuals taken in by 'ghost brokers' are those who can least afford the devastating financial and personal consequences of being involved in an accident without valid insurance."

The RAC advises buyers looking for cover to choose a reputable motor insurer and to ensure they check all of their paperwork. Michael went on: "If a deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is. The RAC's Report on Motoring 2013 identified that 71% of drivers aged 17 to 24 believe that motoring may actually become a rare luxury for them if costs continue to escalate. We are looking at ways to reduce the cost of insurance for young drivers including solutions like low-cost telematics and we are working with the government to understand what can be done to make owning and operating a car more affordable for this group of motorists."

The ABI is urging drivers to avoid falling victim to scams by checking that their insurance adviser is on the Financial Services Register before buying a policy. It is also warning them to beware of insurance policies offered through social networking websites, pubs, clubs and bars, newsagents and motor repair shops.


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Tuesday 8 October 2013

ISLAMIC BANKING REVOLUTION


Africa Is Seeing an Explosion In Banks 

Looking To Cash In On Continent's Growing Muslim Population


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Islamic banking is set to expand dramatically in Africa over the next two decades as the number of Muslims on the continent grows from 240 million to an estimated 400 million.  In Nigeria, for example, 80 million people are Muslim, but the first totally committed Islamic bank, Jaiz Bank, just opened in 2012 -- and has already expanded to 10 branches. Meanwhile, other banks have offered Islamic products to help customers maintain Islamic law, also known as Shariah, Euromoney said this week. By contrast, the U.S. opened its first stand-alone Islamic bank -- Lariba, based in Whittier, Calif. -- in 1987 despite having a far smaller population of Muslims.

Unlike conventional Western-style banking, Islamic banking operates according to the principles of Shariah, prohibiting the fixed or floating payment or acceptance of specific interest or fees for loans of money. In addition, Islamic banks that strictly follow Shariah do not invest in businesses that provide services or products that are considered sinful or prohibited.

Shariah banking offers an opportunity for Africa's existing banks. In Kenya, the Gulf African Bank experienced triple-digit growth last year, around 154 percent in net profit, after adding Islamic banking products. The First Community Bank grew by 238 percent. And because of this exceptional year-on-year growth, Standard Chartered PLC (LON:STAN) said it would soon start offering Islamic banking products in Kenya.

As African banks embrace Islamic practices, regulatory bodies are scrambling to issue Shariah-compliant policy statements and rules. In March, Nigeria brought in new guidelines to help deal with sukuk – the Islamic equivalent of bonds. A month later, guidelines were established to deal with takaful, Islamic insurance.

Kenya’s successes in the Islamic Banking Industry reflects the fact that the nation has since 2011 been making regulatory changes and working on some of the more complex Shariah products, such as real estate investment trusts.

South Africa, Africa’s biggest economy and home to about 750,000 Muslims, has rewritten its tax laws to ensure that Shariah-compliant products are more transparent.

Uganda, Botswana and Zambia are also looking to make regulatory changes to grow their Islamic banking sectors.



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Monday 7 October 2013

CHASE Bank Pulls Plug on Credit Card Insurance Plan

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Chase Bank is ending its Payment Protector plan that covered credit card debt left behind after a customer's death. For many, that may mean thousands paid in fees were for nothing. or years, Chase bank offered a Payment Protector plan. For an extra monthly fee  typically a bit less than 1% of the card balance  credit cardholders could insure themselves against job loss, illness or disability, with card payments deferred for up to two years.

They could also protect themselves from sticking their estate with the tab for any outstanding balances after their death. Payment Protector covered up to $25,000 in credit card debt per card left behind after customers went to that ATM in the sky.  Dorothy Cross, 95, has a combined balance of more than $38,000 on three Chase cards. For about a decade, she's paid Payment Protector fees so that, after she dies, this debt won't overwhelm what little savings she plans to leave family members.

But now, after more than $16,000 in fee payments on Cross' part, Chase says it will no longer honor its end of the bargain. Payment Protector will disappear in May 2014, the bank says, and no claims will be honored after that time.  Cross' situation, which is shared by potentially hundreds of thousands of Payment Protector customers, was brought to my attention by her son, Emory, who helps manage his mother's financial affairs.  "She's been paying these fees in good faith for many years," he said. "And now it's being jerked out from under her."

Unethical as the bank's move seems, Chase is acting within its rights. The contract for Payment Protector states that the company can change the terms of the deal at any time.  It also says that "if your account is closed by us for any reason, your enrollment in the plan will automatically be canceled without notice." By Emory Cross' reckoning, those conditions not only were buried in the contract but also make the agreement essentially worthless.  Customers were required to make payments every month for coverage, he observed, but the bank has no responsibility to make good on its responsibilities.  In his mother's case, Emory Cross said, she could have paid off almost half her card balances with the fees she paid for Payment Protector. Instead, she chose the peace of mind of being insured against financial catastrophe.  Now she's losing that insurance and must grapple with the card balances that went unpaid all these years. "She gets nothing for all those fees," he said.

It might seem as though his mother was trying to duck her obligations to the bank. She clearly intended to leave Chase holding the bag for thousands of dollars in credit card debt after her death.  But that's precisely what Payment Protector offered.  "You may be eligible for a balance cancellation because of an accidental death or death," the contract says. "'Balance cancellation' means that you will receive a cancellation of your account balance as of the date of your accidental death or death, up to $25,000."  Because Emory Cross' mother paid for Payment Protector for each of her Chase cards, she was covered for the full amount of her outstanding balance.  Now, he said, his mother will be covered only if she dies before June 1, 2014. If she survives past that date, all bets are off.  "She in pretty good shape," he said. "She plays bridge with friends who are 100. Who knows how long she'll last?"


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Saturday 5 October 2013

Prime Minister Nawaz Shrif Say "Pakistan is not in an Arms Race"

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ISLAMABAD:  Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif paid a rare visit to the country’s nuclear installations on the outskirts of the capital on Friday and spent the whole day with the military leadership. He also met Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss the appointment of a new chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

The premier visited the National Command Authority (NCA) accompanied by army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, outgoing Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shamim Wynne, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Director General Strategic Plans Division Lt Gen (retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai and other senior military officers and scientists.

The prime minister made it clear that Pakistan was not engaged in an arms race with any country and reiterated his resolve for peace and stability in the region, according to a press release.  He added that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals ‘are in safe and secure hands’, and that Pakistan’s strategic capability will continue to follow its policy of credible minimum deterrence.  “Pakistan is a peace-loving country and it harbours no aggressive designs against any country, but will maintain minimum nuclear deterrence, he said.
While the prime minister laid stress on minimum deterrence, he also said that nuclear technology was Pakistan’s basic right to meet its growing energy requirements.