Volkswagen enters the World Rally Championship (WRC)

German concern Volkswagen will launch its own team in the World Rally Championship (WRC) from 2013

The automaker will participate in the race with Polo R WRC "and will participate in the competition between these factory teams of Citroen, Ford and Mini, which starts this weekend in the Rally of Sardinia.

"We look forward to this new challenge. We work on the project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the last three years," said the director of the department of motor sports Volkswagen Chris Nissen.

For the company's entry in the WRC is spoken by about 3 years and as a major motivation indicating potential withdrawal at the end of the season with a dominating seven consecutive world titles for Citroen Sebastien Loeb. The German team will have a record budget of 100 million.

In the ranks of motorsport there were comments that the vast amount implies the withdrawal of Volkswagen in the Dakar Rally, dominated after penetration with relatively the same annual budget. These claims now remain officially unconfirmed.

"We can rely on an experienced and proven team that work great in the sport at the highest level in recent years. WRC is a new area for us and we must learn in many ways," said Nissen. He added that Volkswagen will do, thanks to their professionalism. As a consultant to the team will include four-time World Rally Champion and the first pilot in the Dakar Carlos Sainz.

Volkswagen enters the World Rally Championship with a budget of 100 million


WRC offers a variety of competitions against other popular sports car. Teams are drawn from various surfaces, in which pilots show their skills. Along with great technical resemblance to production cars, these are the main factors that have caused Volkswagen to present the possibilities of "Polo" in the WRC.

This year the calendar includes 13 races on four continents. This season introduced some technological innovations, the most significant of which is the 1.6-liter turbocharged four that are considered the main reason for the entry of Volkswagen in the WRC.

Oil fell to a record $ 16 per week

Oil prices continue to become cheaper in Friday trading on Friday as the variety "Brent" finished the week with prices lower by unprecedented over 16 dollars a barrel to start on Monday.

The largest decline was recorded on Thursday, when the depreciation was $ 12 in wild session sell-off of huge amounts of real and futures contracts.

The reason is concern about demand and reduction of investors' positions in commodity markets.

Explanations for analysts are the most different - from the effect of eradication of Osama bin Laden in the monetary actions of leading economies to try to avoid stifling demand excessive prices.

It was a domino effect because the vacuum created by fewer buyers and more sellers, told Reuters Tom Benz, director of trading commodity futures in New York the banking group BNP Paribas.

This spring, oil aspire to record levels since 2008. As "Brent" touched a level of $ 127 a barrel and U.S. light crude - $ 114.

Brent, however, fell on Friday with another $ 1.67 and reached $ 109.13 a barrel as sales volumes were twice higher than the average indicator for the 30-day period.

Contracts for this variety were concluded at prices lower by 16.76 dollar to levels a week earlier. This is the greatest week in history in dollar depreciation.

U.S. light crude was selling for $ 97.18 a barrel, which is cheaper per week to $ 16.75 - the biggest since 1983. now, since records began marketing the variety.

The final blow dealt speculative news that on Friday the euro zone finance ministers have discussed option of leaving the club by Greece of the single currency - something that was categorically denied by Athens, but predizika appreciation of the dollar.

Another factor was concern that the U.S. can stop its program in June for the printing of dollars and gaining federal debt - something that flooded the markets with U.S. currency and raised the price of oil in dollar dimensions.

The third cause concern in India by lifting interest rates and expectations that China, № 2 oil consumer in the world, may soon follow.

Banking group Goldman Sachs, which was predicted in April slump this week, warned that in 2012. Oil may surpass this year's peak due to shortage of raw material market and in particular if the Libyan oil does not return soon to the exchanges.

Michelle Williams

Cabelas

Cabela's opens in grand style by LocalNews-GrabNetworks

Kentucky Derby 2011

77 percent expect revenue growth of applications for phones in 2011

Total revenues of the four main store for mobile applications - those of Apple, Google, Nokia and RIM, will grow from 77% to a total of 3.8 billion dollars this year.

The lion's share of about 75% of these revenues is expected to grab from the App Store of Apple, shows an analysis of IHS Screen Digest.

"Against the backdrop of continuing strong and undying interest of consumers to download games and other applications for devices such as smartphones and Tablet PCs, the total revenue of the four major stores will increase significantly this year," said analyst Jack Kent for IHS.

In 2010, four stores had total revenues of 2,1 billion dollars a year earlier, revenues were 830.6 million dollars. In 2008, the only application store was App Store, as its revenues were 206 million dollars.

During the next few years, revenues of stores applications to continue to increase at a rapid pace. The outlook for 2012 is 5.6 billion dollars for 2013 to 6.9 billion dollars for 2014 to 8.3 billion dollars.

With regard to the application downloads is expected that by the end of this year will be reported total 18.1 billion downloads. Last year they were 9.5 million, and forecast for 2014 is that there will be about 33 billion downloads of applications.

Apple

Hardly anyone will be a surprise, but App Store, Apple is ahead of its competitors. For this year we expect revenue growth of 63.4 percent to 2.91 billion dollars. Given that the products of Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod are leaders in their segments, the company is expected to grab 76% of total revenues of the four stores this year.

Estimates are that, despite increasing competition Apple will be able to maintain a market share of at least 60% over the next three years.

Google

Analysts' expectations in 2011 were the largest revenue growth to be achieved by store Google Android Market. Forecasts are for growth of 295.4 percent to 425.36 million dollars, which is a serious request for the second position in the sector.

RIM

Last year, the second highest revenue of the four shops was that of Research in Motion (RIM). The company that makes smartphones Blackberry, will give way to Android Market, despite growth in revenues from 69.2 percent to 279.11 million dollars.

Regarding downloads of applications, RIM has worst - only 772.2 downloads. In comparison, App Store downloads are 10.3 billion, and if Android Market - 5,8 billion

Nokia

Finally in revenue this year is expected to be Ovi Store of Nokia. At 1.1 billion downloads store the Finnish company will reach 201.48 million dollars, says the analysis.

Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway, with 58% drop

Warren Buffett's conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc announced on Friday that first-quarter profit fell by 58% from a year earlier because of insurance losses related to major natural disasters in Japan, New Zealand and Australia, reported AP

The sharp drop answer the preliminary results outlined by Buffett's annual shareholders meeting last Saturday.

Berkshire's net profit for the quarter to end-March amounted to 1.5 billion dollars or 917 dollars per share Class A year earlier it was 3.6 billion, or 2,272 dollars per share.

Revenue rose to 33.7 billion dollars from 32 billion a year ago.

The biggest problem for the results during the quarter are insurance losses worth 1.7 billion dollars related to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11 earthquake in New Zealand on 22 February and floods in Australia.

"This probably was the second worst quarter for the insurance industry in terms of disasters worldwide," said Buffett told shareholders.

Despite losing zastrohovatelniya business conglomerate has contributed 131 million dollars to Berkshire's net profit for the quarter, which is significantly less than 1,2 billion dollars a year earlier.

Berkshire owns about 80 subsidiaries, including companies from the textile, furniture and jewelry sector. Insurance business and utility companies usually form more than half of net profit of the company. Berkshire also has major investments in companies like Coca-Cola Co. and Wells Fargo & Co.

The results of the conglomerate are backed by strong performance of the railway company Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which acquired a year ago. Railway segment has contributed 607 million dollars to net profit to 282 million a year earlier, although the results for the previous year does not include the entire quarter.

Manufacturing, retail trade and services have generated a profit of 558 million dollars, more than 477 million dollars a year earlier.

Utility companies and those from the energy sector, which includes MidAmerican Energy, has added 301 million dollars to Berkshire's net profit to 223 million dollars a year ago.

The quarterly report does not mention David Sokol, former manager of Berkshire, tipped to succeed Buffett, whose sudden resignation at the end of the quarter set up a scandal and prompted examination of the U.S. Commission on securities and stock transactions.

Bloomberg presented a budget to New York for 66 billion dollars

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented the revised budget of the city of around 66 billion dollars, which does not provide for increases in taxes, but relies on cuts in about 7000 employees, Reuters reported.

Although the city already spends most of its reserves, even that will not be enough to avoid redundancy of some employees, including teachers, "said Bloomberg, who is not tied to any party, during a news conference.

The school system, which is the largest in the country with over 1 million students would be cut about 6000 teachers. These are the first layoffs of teachers for decades.

Politicians in New York have long complained that the city sent to federal and state government billions more tax revenue than it receives in aid. The problem is particularly acute today, Bloomberg said, because Washington and Albany completed their deficits by cutting billions in funds to cities and counties.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley

The next hard lumps on boxer Manny Pacquiao is for Shane Mosley. On 07 May 2011, the two meet at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. The good news we owe Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who sent on Tuesday after a meeting with Mosley's adviser James Prince this message on the ticker.

Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO) was his reputation as the best boxer in the world in 2010 further requirements. After Fights against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito now no boxing expert doubts the outstanding quality of the Phillipino. For Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO) in 2010 was rather mixed. He lost in May against P4P No. 1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on points, and his fight against Sergio Mora in September was anything worth seeing. The draw was also rather flattering to Shane Mosley.

The bookmakers have no doubts about a Pacquiao victory. It is faster, harder, and overall the better boxer, as the aging of Shane Mosley.