Pharmasset Selected to Join the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index Date: 5/12/2008PRINCETON, New Jersey, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS - News), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing novel drugs to...
treat viral infections, is pleased to announce that it has been selected to join the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index effective with the market open on May 19, 2008.
The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is the basis for the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index(sm) Fund (AMEX: IBB - News), which seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. In addition, options based on the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index Fund trade on various exchanges. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit http://www.nasdaq.com.
Universal Studios Forges Exclusive, Long Term Marketing and Financial Services Partnership With GE Money and American Express Date: 5/12/2008STAMFORD, Conn., NEW YORK and UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide media and entertainment company Universal Studios has entered into a multi-year marketing and financial...
services alliance with GE Money, the consumer lending unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE - News), and American Express (NYSE: AXP - News). By joining forces, American Express becomes the official payment of choice at Universal Studios Theme Parks Resorts; GE Money becomes the Parks' official financial services sponsor; and the companies launch the new Universal American Express® Card issued by GE Money. Stephanie Sperber, executive vice president, Universal Studios Partnerships made the announcement today.
Qualified applicants can receive their new Card within minutes by visiting GE Money Access Centers at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood. This innovative technology is unique to the GE Money-Universal-American Express partnership and is currently available only at Universal Parks & Resorts properties in the U.S. New Cardmembers receive valuable offers the day they sign up. This may include discounts on select merchandise and restaurants throughout Universal Parks and CityWalk, plus exciting premiums such as front of line attraction admittance or exclusive VIP access at Universal Parks and other special events.
The newly-launched Universal American Express Card issued by GE Money, is issued exclusively on the American Express network and provides one of the broadest and most robust entertainment rewards programs in the industry. Cardmembers of this unique co-branded credit card can earn Universal Rewards points towards valuable redemption opportunities including Universal movie premieres, private screenings, theme park tickets, Universal Studios VIP tours, special vacation packages and cash rewards. Cardmembers also earn double points on qualifying purchases within Universal Parks and Resorts properties and for every day purchases at stand-alone gas stations and grocery stores.
Through the agreement American Express has the first opportunity to participate in product placement and co-promotion on Universal Pictures and Focus Features' films in the payment services category. GE Money will have a presence at high-profile theme park attractions including Jurassic Park and Twister, with American Express named the exclusive sponsor of the VIP Tour. The partnership also sets the stage for ongoing offers and promotions for anyone holding an American Express Card, ranging from discounts at the park to special once-in-a-lifetime entertainment experiences.
"With this partnership we are maximizing the assets of three great brands: American Express, one of the world's premier payment card companies, GE Money, an internationally renowned financial services provider, and Universal Studios, a leading media and destination-based entertainment company," said Stephanie Sperber, executive vice president, Universal Studios Partnerships. "The nature of this alliance provides Universal with an endless range of potential marketing opportunities, of which the consumer is the ultimate beneficiary."
"We are delighted to deepen our relationship with GE Money and begin a new partnership with Universal," said Robert Glick, corporate spokesperson, American Express. "Through this new Card and sponsorship, we're able to open up new opportunities for all American Express Cardmembers to experience unprecedented access to amazing entertainment experiences."
"GE Money is very pleased to partner with Universal and American Express as the official issuer of this exciting card program. The card provides a wide variety of ways to earn points for use at many popular Universal venues and events," said Margaret Keane, president and CEO of GE Money's Retail Consumer Finance unit in Stamford, Conn. "We're very optimistic that the Universal American Express Card from GE Money will become the sought after payment product among consumers interested in leveraging their everyday purchases toward exciting entertainment rewards."
To learn more about the program, go to http://www.myuniversalcard.com.
Green Builders, Inc. Honored at NAHB National Green Building Awards Date: 5/12/2008AUSTIN, Texas, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Who says it's not easy being green? Just ask the folks at Green Builders, Inc. (Amex: GBH - News), a leading large-scale community developer of...
sustainable homes in the Austin, Texas area, who have been selected as the 2008 Single Family Affordable Home of the Year at the National Green Building Awards held by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Now in its 10th year, the National Green Building Awards recognizes individuals, companies and organizations for excellence in residential green design, construction practices and for green building programs and advocacy efforts. Competition for this award was particularly intense, but Green Builders stood out amongst the nominees for their continued innovation and advancement in the field of environmentally sustainable home building, a hot topic throughout the housing market.
"We were thrilled to be nominated. We are even more thrilled that we won. I think that this award speaks to how important environmentally sustainable home building has become nationwide. We look at this as not just a win for our company, but a win for the green movement and those in our industry who truly care about the efficient use of natural resources when building homes," stated Clark Wilson, President and CEO of Green Builders, Inc.
North American Gem Inc. Continues to add to its Coal permitting position West of Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan Date: 5/12/2008VANCOUVER, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - North American Gem Inc. (TSX-V symbol: NAG - News) is pleased to announce that the Company has submitted coal permit applications for another 96,478 acres,...
in addition to the previous acreage as stated in the Thursday May 8, 2008 release. This now brings the current total land staking to approximately 349,379 acres. The Company continues to add to its potential land position in proximity to the recent Goldsource Mines Inc. (TSX-V symbol: GXS - News; Goldsource) discovery, in east-central Saskatchewan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Charles Desjardins, President of North American Gem Inc. said, "The Company believes in the long term viability of this promising coal basin and has continued to stake based on the quality information that has been made available to North American Gem Inc."
The Company will confirm permit grants as documentation is received regarding these coal permits that have been forwarded to the government of Saskatchewan's permitting office. The time frame will be determined by the permitting office. North American Gem Inc. has submitted money in trust to the Saskatchewan permitting office.
North American Gem has made a commitment to be active in Saskatchewan for the exploration of coal, whether it be through successful staking by the Company or through joint venture opportunities. The recent coal discovery by Goldsource Mines Inc. of bituminous coal in two drill holes 1600 meters apart, suggests the potential for a much larger coal system. Goldsource believes the coal it encountered is from the Mannville/Swan River Group of Creataceous age (Goldsource Mines Inc., Release May 5, 2008). Coal structures of the Creataceous age are generally very large and can encompass several thousand square kilometers.
North American Gem Inc. would like to announce that pursuant to its stock option plan, the Company has granted incentive stock options to its directors, officers, consultants, and employees to purchase 1 million common shares in the capital stock of the company, exercisable for a period of two years, at a price of 15 cents per share. These options are subject to a four-month hold period.
RDM Corporation Announces TSX Acceptance of Normal Course Issuer Bid Date: 5/9/2008WATERLOO, ON, May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - RDM Corporation (TSX: RC - News), a leading developer of specialized software and hardware products for electronic payment processing, announced today a...
Notice of Intention to make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "Bid") has been filed with and accepted by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Pursuant to the Bid, RDM may purchase of up to 1,074,391 common shares, representing approximately 5 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares as of May 1, 2008. The purchases may commence on May 13, 2008 and will terminate on May 12, 2009, or on such earlier date that RDM completes its permitted purchases pursuant to the Notice or provides notice of termination of the Bid. All purchases will be made through the facilities of the TSX at prevailing market prices in accordance with regulatory requirements. Subject to any block purchases made in accordance with TSX rules, RDM will be subject to a daily repurchase restriction of 8,168 common shares. RDM will cancel any common shares purchased pursuant to the normal course issuer bid.
RDM's Board of Directors believes the Company's common shares are currently an attractive investment and that normal course purchases at recent market prices represent an attractive investment and a desirable use of its available funds. As at May 1, 2008, the Company had 21,487,826 issued and outstanding common shares.
Platts Survey: OPEC Pumps 31.87 Million Barrels per Day of Crude Oil in April, Down 350,000 b/d Date: 5/9/2008LONDON, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The 13 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped an average 31.87 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in April, a 350,000 b/d...
decrease from March, according to a Platts (http://www.platts.com/) survey of OPEC and oil industry officials released Friday. The sharp drop was largely the result of steep output losses in Nigeria.
Excluding Iraq, the 12 members which participate in output agreements pumped an average 29.49 million b/d, 360,000 b/d down from an estimated 29.85 million b/d in March.
"OPEC production has been relatively steady in recent months, but the sharp fall in Nigerian output shows how vulnerable overall supply from the group can be to developments in one country," said John Kingston, Platts global director of oil. "Given that spare capacity is also relatively tight, any disruption has a bigger impact on markets."
Ongoing losses in Nigerian supply as a result of continuing strife in the Niger Delta were exacerbated by a week-long pay strike at ExxonMobil, which shut down most of the company's 800,000 b/d of production and forced it to declare force majeure on exports from the 400,000 b/d Qua Iboe terminal.
Other smaller decreases came from Angola, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
Iraqi volumes were a shade higher at 2.38 million b/d, with a slight dip in exports offset by slightly higher internal supply. Libyan output also edged up, to 1.75 million b/d from 1.74 million b/d in March.
The latest estimates show the OPEC-12 missing their 29.673 million b/d output target by 183,000 b/d.
Platts OPEC Survey 2008
Country April March February January Target
Algeria 1.390 1.390 1.390 1.390 1.357
Angola 1.850 1.900 1.900 1.850 1.900
Ecuador 0.500 0.500 0.490 0.500 0.520
Indonesia 0.860 0.860 0.860 0.830 0.865
Iran 3.940 3.960 3.930 3.980 3.817
Kuwait 2.550 2.550 2.550 2.550 2.531
Libya 1.750 1.740 1.740 1.740 1.712
Nigeria 1.800 2.020 2.100 2.100 2.163
Qatar 0.830 0.840 0.830 0.830 0.828
Saudi Arabia 9.100 9.150 9.150 9.200 8.943
UAE 2.590 2.590 2.590 2.590 2.567
Venezuela 2.330 2.350 2.400 2.400 2.470
OPEC-12 29.490 29.850 29.930 29.960 29.673
Iraq 2.380 2.370 2.400 2.290 N/A
Total 31.870 32.220 32.330 32.250
For more information on OPEC, go to the "Platts Guide to OPEC" at http://www.opec.platts.com.
American Stock Exchange Launches Trading In Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF Date: 5/9/2008NEW YORK, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Stock Exchange® (Amex®) today announced that it has launched trading in the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF (Amex: GRI - News) by ALPS ETF Trust...
(ALPS). This new and innovative fund represents ALPS' first foray as an issuer in the ETF product category.
GRI aims to track the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors Index which consists of the largest and most liquid securities within the global real estate universe that Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. believes are likely to lead the global securitization of real estate.
"The Amex is proud to be partnering with ALPS on the launch of their first ETF," said Scott Ebner, Senior Vice President of the Amex ETF Marketplace. "GRI provides investors with a portfolio of large securities in the global real estate market."