Shop til you drop (over the keyboard)

It seems that Australians and Kiwis share the rare distinction of being the nationalities most likely around the globe to make online purchases. Who would have believed that?
A survey conducted by Coremetrics, a digital marketing company revealed that Australian and New Zealand consumers are twice as likely to buy products online, when compared to their UK counterparts. With a conversion rate of 4.4 orders per 100 online sessions for Australians and 4 for New Zealanders, the ANZ region sits above the average global conversion rate of 2.96 orders per 100 sessions.
The analysis is based on a six-month benchmarking study undertaken in the US. The study looked at buyer activity across 72 million e-commerce retail web sessions, with a specific focus on analysing the habits of nearly one million Australian and New Zealand visitors.
Kevin Mackin, general manager for the local operations of Coremetrics commented that “The US and UK are thought to be the most tech-savvy, but the conversion rates suggest otherwise when it comes to e-commerce. US consumers tend to place 3.3 orders every 100 sessions, while the UK only place an average of 1.7.
Interestingly, the participating businesses that enjoy the lengthiest visits from consumers are the ones engaging consumers with relevant content, including third party references and recommendations. These sites were also experiencing a higher number of page views, demonstrating a strong ability to hold people’s attention by capitalising on the more engaging Web 2.0 technologies.

(Source: MyBusiness eNews)

商人语录（一）

严介和

企业的“好”“差”：
市场化很低的企业是好企业，高的是差企业。

讨债：
能不采取法律措施就尽量不采取。
常作被告是无赖，常作原告是无能。
对待无赖就用无赖的方法，如有背景的就找他的上级部门；对有头有脸的则用媒体的方式。

企业相对优势和绝对优势：
相对优势——turnover
绝对优势——profit

用人的标准和留人的方法：
用人——
高管看心胸；
中层看道德；
基层看才华。
留人——
高管用事业；
中层用情感；
基层用钞票。

（source: extract from CBN programme)

Extract: Awaken the Giant Within (2)

Different actions produce different results:
Any action is a cause set in motion, and its effects builds an past effects to move us in a definite direction. Every direction leads to an ultimate destination: our destiny.

The power of decision:
It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
If you truly decide to, you can do almost anything.

The Ultimate Success Formula:

1. Decide what you want
2. Take action
3. Notice what's working or not
4. Change approach until you achieve what you want

The three decision that control your destiny are:

1. Your decision about what to focus on.
2. Your decision about what things mean to you.
3. Your decision about what to do to create the results you desire.

工商银行（601398）

Price: 4.76 (16/7/08 Close)
Change; -2.46%
总股本(万股)：33401885.0026
流通股本(万股)：33401885.0026
所属行业：银行业
所属地域：北京市
每股收益(元)：.2455
每股经营现金流(元)：.3281
每股资本公积金(元)：0
每股净资产(元)：1.6963
净利润(万元)：8199000
每股未分配利润(元)：0
净资产收益率(%)：15.06
股东户数(户)：1732169

建设银行 （601939）

Price: 5.71 16/7/08 Close)
Change: -2.56%
总股本(万股)：23368908.4
流通股本(万股)：23368908.4
所属行业：银行业
所属地域：北京市
每股收益(元)：.3017
每股经营现金流(元)：-.0565
每股资本公积金(元)：0
每股净资产(元)：1.9129
净利润(万元)：6914200
每股未分配利润(元)：0
净资产收益率(%)：16.37
股东户数(户)：1810075

WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION (WBC)

Price19.430 (16/7/08 Close)
Change0.750
% Change4.015
Bid19.430
Ask19.450
Open18.870
Volume10,465,766
High19.450
Low18.870
52-Wk High31.320(11/01/07)
52-Wk Low18.360(07/15/08)
1-YrReturn-22.137

Shares(Millions)1,894.286
Market Cap(Millions)36,805.980
Earnings1.869
Price/Earnings8.987
RelativeP/E0.700
ROE22.920
Last DividendReported0.700 Interim
Dividend Yield(Trailing 12mo.)10.146
Rel. DividendYield2.016
90-DayVolatility43.407
Betavs. AS511.017

(Source: Bloomberg)

Extract: Awaken the Giant Within (1)

How to create lasting change:
Step 1: Raise your standards
Step 2: Change your limiting beliefs
Step 3: Change your strategy - find a role-model

The five areas of life that impact us most:
1. Emotional Mastery
2. Physical Mastery
3. Relationship Mastery
4. Financial Mastery
5. Time Mastery

Woolies shares jump on Big W sales

AUSTRALIA'S largest retailer Woolworths reported a 7.5 per cent rise in total fourth-quarter sales, but sales in its key supermarkets and liquor division slowed as food inflation moderated.

Total sales, adjusted for the timing of Easter, rose to $11.4 billion for the three months to June 29 from $9.83 billion a year ago.

Like-for-like growth at its key Australian Food and Liquor division rose 4.9 per cent for the quarter, slowing from 6.7 per cent growth in the third quarter. The growth rate was below analysts' expectations of around 5.9 per cent, but appeared mainly due to a sharp decline in food prices.

Inflation during the quarter declined to 2.9 per cent from 4.5 per cent in the third quarter, due to significant deflation in fruit and vegetables, Woolworths said.

By late morning, Woolworths shares were up 74 cents, or 3.15 per cent, at $24.20, against a 0.1 per cent rise in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index.

Fourth-quarter sales at Big W rose 2.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Analysts had forecast 1.7 per cent growth, according to the average of three brokers surveyed.

Several retailers, including fashion retailer Just Group, have recently downgraded their earnings guidance due to the tougher economic conditions.

Woolworths' consumer electronics division, which includes the Dick Smith chain, posted a 3.8 per cent rise in like-for-like sales.

In New Zealand, where Woolworths owns the country's second-largest supermarket chain, like-for-like supermarket sales rose 3.5 per cent, which it said reflected the tighter macroeconomic environment.

Hotel sales in the fourth quarter fell by 1.6 per cent on a comparable basis, which Woolworths said was due to the effects of smoking bans together with tighter trading conditions. Gaming sales decreased by 2.6 per cent in the quarter.

(Source: The Australian, Business)