China: new subsidy for electric cars may have major implications for the sector

The Chinese government is piloting a program for the subsidization of electric cars in five major cities across the country: Shanghai, Changchun, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Hefei. The move represents a huge business opportunity for the players involved across the electric vehicle value chain in China, and could lead to the nation becoming an international hub for the sector.

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Citigroup/BP: simplicity is secret of fuel card success

On August 21, 2006, Citibank and BP launched a co-branded credit card that offers consumers 5% cashback on BP purchases and also 1% cashback on all other purchases. The card is set to be popular because of its simplicity and also the fact that consumers will save in the face of rising petrol prices.

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Coles Myer: fuel wars

Coles Myer [CM] has bounced back in Australia's retail market thanks to its new fuel discount, offered via an alliance with Shell [SHEL.L]. The discount, which matches that of rival Woolworths [WOW.AX], has driven sales up by 12%, and now prospects are strong for further growth as the venture is rolled out nationwide.

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Contactless payment: Europe's forecourts are playing catch-up

In Malaysia and the US, credit card usage is high and, as a result, new payment technologies are flourishing. Advancements such as contactless payment have both positive and negative implications for the forecourt retailer. However, given the slow adoption of credit cards in some markets, it will be several years before Europe follows suit.

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Energy demand in 'BRIC' continues to grow - no end in sight

It has long been acknowledged that the commercial opportunities in the so called 'BRIC' markets - Brazil, Russia, India and China - remain significant for energy players. However, new research highlights the fact that, while these opportunities are substantial, major challenges need to be overcome if these opportunities are to be successfully commercialized.

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Forecourts set to benefit from $724 billion contactless payment market

The potential value of the global contactless payments market is estimated at $724 billion. These payments are gaining momentum in the US and Asia-Pacific, and developments in Europe are imminent. Furthermore, the speed of the technology's development - from early trials in 2002 to full commercial launches in 2005 - shows the strength of the proposition to issuers, merchants and consumers alike.

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India: auto manufacturers focus on compact cars and green vehicles

The on-going surge in fuel prices is increasingly becoming a cause of concern for car manufacturers in India. As a result, auto makers in the country are planning to adopt alternative fuel technologies and manufacture vehicles with smaller engines which will consume less fuel. These strategies will be essential in allowing auto makers to stay competitive in India's budget conscious market.

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India: oil price deregulation to have far-reaching effects

With the government's decision to begin deregulating the petrol and diesel markets, the Indian energy retail sector is likely to go through major pricing reforms. However, the country's past track record of excessive political interference in oil product pricing policies suggests that the change into a liberalized retail environment may not be straightforward.

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LPG demand: South Korea and Australia show the way

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New drinks review: El Paso launches quick fix cocktail mix

A range of novel drinks packagings have been noted by Productscan Online this month, which are designed to improve the taste of the product and its ability to stand out from the crowd. These include Coors' new beer can and Hain's Smoothies with a 4-way turbo straw. Some unusual dairy products have also recently been launched, from milk made from Kamut wheat, to a cucumber-flavored cow's milk.

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