Business Markets

Italian and overall EMU industrial production are unlikely to have increased in April, as most of the correlated climate indicators deteriorated. Following its usual seasonal pattern, the EMU trade balance is likely to have gone down in April, just like the corresponding German figure.

Eurostat is publishing the final EMU HICP data for May. We expect the preliminary estimate of 2.7% to be confirmed. In the coming months, the inflation rate will probably remain at around the current level.

China’s factory sector barely expanded in June even as price pressures eased, a purchasing managers’ survey shows, reflecting the impact of monetary policy tightening and slack global demand.

The flash HSBC PMI, the earliest available indicator of China’s industrial activity, eased to 50.1 in June, the lowest since July 2010. A sub-index for new orders also dropped to its lowest since July 2010, showing marginal growth.

The flash PMI reading was just a whisker above the 50-point level that demarcates expansion from contraction and compares with the final reading of 51.6 in HSBC’s PMI for May.

“It certainly was not a great number,” said Robert Prior-Wandesforde, an economist at Credit Suisse in Singapore, who added the data was symptomatic of a further slowing of China’s economic activity.

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Earlier today, the White House announced its decision to release 30 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, half the estimated 60 million barrels that the International Energy Agency announced would soon flood the markets.

The White House in a statement says this unusual move is necessary to replace lost output due to the war in Libya, which has shut down most of the country’s oil fields. 

But what about unlocking the nation’s energy resources? “If President Obama really wanted to lower gas prices he could by opening up access to our nation’s resources, this action today is like putting a band-aid on a broken arm,” said Heritage energy and environmental policy Analyst Nick Loris.

That move could also create desperately needed U.S. jobs. 

The move to tap the SPR has raised eyebrows among oil analysts, and not just because oil was already trending down. 

The Dept. of Ene

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The ever-growing problem of identity theft means that businesses need to make concerted efforts to protect their customers’ personal information and other sensitive business data. Here are five more things you can do to prevent identity theft:

6) Protect your computer from hackers.

Hacking into company systems and databases appears to have become a favourite identity theft technique perhaps because in so many cases, its so easy. Your computer network needs to be protected by firewalls, which help keep out intruders by shutting out unauthorized people and letting others go only to the areas they have privileges to use. You can purchase firewalls at any computer store (or online). Another option for small or home businesses is to purchase and install a small (four to eight port) router. These often have firewall protection capability.

If youre running Windows operating systems, its also important that you keep your operating system updated, installing the various patches as they come out.

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The biggest problem that most small business owners have with PR is that they don’t fully understand the process or how it can help build their business or establish their brand. Most think that public relations is only for large corporations or those in the entertainment world and that it has to do with stunts and smoke and mirrors. None of those perceptions are correct. PR is a multi pronged process that includes traditional media, an online presence including blogs, sites and social media, byline articles, public speaking and establishing yourself as an expert in your field. PR can and should be utilized by entrepreneurs, authors, contractors, service providers, business professionals such as physicians and attorneys, home workers, as well as any and all small businesses.

It is inexpensive compared to other forms of marketing and the only marketing avenue that can offer you and your business credibility and validation and position you as a go-to expert in your field. A

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My weekend blog post routine includes posting links to a handful of tools or great content I ran across during the week.

I don’t go into depth about the finds, but encourage you check them out if they sound interesting. The photo in the post is a favorite for the week from Flickr.

Good stuff I found this week:

Boomerang for GMail – incredibly useful Firefox or Chrome plugin that allows you to schedule emails to be sent at specific times, set reminders and even hide email from your inbox until you need it for, say, a meeting.

Keepstream – tool that allows you to organize and publish an archive of things on Twitter such as events streams, specific conversations or a product launch and then embed the conversation on your site. Also

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Dunkin Donuts will hold a grand opening at its new store in Halfmoon at 325 Route 146 on June 25. They will give away a mountain bike, Dunkin’ Donuts rechargeable gift cards, and assorted prizes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to celebrate the opening, as well as offering beverages at discounted prices.

The store is located inside a new Sunoco station, which will also offer discounted gasoline during the opening celebration.

The Halfmoon location of Dunkin Donuts will have a drive-thru and be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.