ReleaseWire

Latest data released by the General Statistics office of Vietnam (GSO) showed that real GDP accelerated by 5.0% year-on-year (y-o-y) in Q1 2014, slightly faster than the 4.9% print registered in the Q1 2013. Although it showed a deceleration from 6.0% recorded in Q4 2013, we believe that the economy is still on track to hit our 2014 growth forecast of 5.9% in 2014. This would mark a slight acceleration from the 5.4% registered in 2013, and is above estimates by the Asian Development Bank, which forecasts real GDP to reach 5.6% in 2014.

Sweet and savoury snacks saw retail value sales growth of 5% to reach Won1,056 billion in 2013. All categories saw positive retail value sales growth in 2013, despite concerns over the high calorie content of products and the use of artificial additives. Extruded snacks remained the largest category in 2013, in accounting for a retail value sales share of 81%, while it also saw the most dynamic retail value sales growth of 5%. A number of brands in extruded snacks enjoy long standing popularity in South Korea and these continued to drive category performance in 2013.

MarketLines' Sika AG Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by Sika AG since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Non-life insurance was the largest segment in the Kuwaiti insurance industry in 2012, accounting for 61.0% of total industry premiums. The segment's value increased during the review period (2008-2012) at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6% . Non-life insurance is expected to retain its position as the largest segment over the forecast period (2012-2017). Motor insurance was the largest category within the segment in terms of written premium during the review period. The category accounted for 39.7% of the overall non-life insurance written premium. Agencies and direct marketing were the main channels of distribution for non-life products in Kuwait, accounting for 40.1% and 25.6% of the new business written premium respectively in 2012. The growth in non-life insurance can be attributed to increased construction activity and mandatory motor insurance.

Vending machines, besides notes, also receive coins, but in 2012 Banco de La Republica launched new coins of Col$50, Col$100, Col$200 and Col$500. Although the old coins will continue circulating along with the new ones for a long period, this will have an impact on machine owners, who will have to make changes to adapt the machines for them to also receive the new coins. However, sales through the channel will not be affected as the changes can be made gradually.

Bulgaria's commercial real estate market is showing signs of life in 2014, with the most recent set of industry indicators pointing to an uptick in demand and rental activity across the retail and industrial subsectors in particular. A gradually improving macroeconomic backdrop should provide some stimulus to investment and growth in rental rates in 2014. However, the real estate sector faces a number of headwinds in 2014, including oversupply, weak consumer spending and deflationary pressures.

Paraguay Mobile Operator KPI Market to 2015: Subscriptions by Operator report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Paraguay and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

Nicaragua Smartphone Market to 2015: Mobile Handset Sales by Technology and by Generation report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Nicaragua and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

BMI View: Switzerland 's high income status and demand from local consumers for the latest technologies has made it one of the highest value per capita telecoms markets in Western Europe and globally. This has driven investment by operators in infrastructure, with the incumbent Swisscom investing in fibre, while it also launched LTE in 2012. The competition have also been investing in LTE, with all three mobile network operators offering commercial services since June 2013. The outlook is relatively bright for the wireless and wireline markets, despite the squeeze from market saturation , Swisscom's Infinity tariffs and threats to traditional revenues from IP alternatives.

Market research services in Saudi Arabia expand 36% in value terms from 2007 to reach SR1.0 billion in 2012, underpinned by growth of economy and population. Business-to-business is the major customer group of market research services, accounting for almost 100% of total market in 2012. Value of imports increases 34% over review period; penetration remains at 19% in 2012. Local market researchers' turnover reaches SR819 million in 2012, up 36% from 2007, exports remain negligible over period under review. Local market researchers' turnover expected to see 8% CAGR over forecast period to reach SR1.2 billion in 2018.

As the lifestyles of Turkish consumers have been changing, companies are continuing to launch new wipes products, offering convenience for more households looking for effective hygiene with practicality. Consumers use wipes in a variety of ways, such as for personal hygiene, facial cleansing and baby care.

Market for pasta and noodles in Saudi Arabia reaches value of SR991 million, following 11% review period CAGR. Sales of foreign products account for 57% of market in 2012. Asian expat community represents large consumer group for noodles in Saudi Arabia. Domestic production of pasta and noodles predicted to see 6% CAGR over 2013-2018 to reach SR779 million.

Biscuits saw retail value growth of 1% in spite of negative volume growth, to reach sales of Won966 billion in 2013. Overall biscuits has shown negative volume growth since 2012 due to the falling growth of savoury biscuits and crackers, cookies and sandwich biscuits. Retail value sales of savoury biscuits and crackers showed a decline of 1% in 2013, as local consumers prefer sweet biscuits for snacks. Moreover, manufacturers rarely develop new products in the category, since it is hard to differentiate them from existing products as value-added products.

Taiwan Mobile Operator KPI Market to 2015: Average Revenue Per Subscription (ARPS) by Operator report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Taiwan and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

The positive effects brought about by external and domestic growth could be outweighed by the reduction in refining capacity, which risks limiting local feedstock availability, warns BMI's latest Czech Republic Petrochemicals Report. There is the potential for increased reliance on imported ethane and propylene, which creates uncertainty around the cost of Czech petrochemicals production. Meanwhile, the government's sustained fiscal austerity drive will feed through to lower household and government spending.

BMI View: BMI 's forecasts call for nearly 100% growth in new vehicle sales over the 2015-2018 period, to reach over 200,000 units sold. Our positive outlook on the market continues to be based on rising government expenditure, a growing population and increased spending on construction ahead of Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA Football World Cup.

Honduras Smartphone Market to 2015: Mobile Handset Smartphone Sales by Vendor and by Operating System report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Honduras and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

BMI View: Due to saturation in the mobile market opportunities for operators are primarily in encouraging subscribers to upgrade their handsets or move to higher capacity data services to generate additional revenues . There is additional pressure on traditional service revenues as smartphone users substitute voice and messaging usage to IP alternatives. Meanwhile, there is a significant opportunity for wireline service providers in migrating subscriptions to higher speed services such as cable over DOCSIS3.0 and FTTx, thereby raising ARPU. The medium term outlook is therefore mixed, with operators that position their product to capture growth from customers upgrading services likely to outperform.

Vending remained a small channel with only 1% of non-store retailing sales in 2013. Value growth came mostly from increased prices instead of expansion of vending networks. The variety and penetration of vending products are still in the early stages of development. The growth rate in 2013 was similar to previous years of the review period. Price increases were the main driver of growth.

The looming exit of Glencore Xstrata's stake in the US$5.9bn Tampakan copper-gold project reinforces our conviction that mining investment in the Philippines will become less attractive amidst the downturn in commodity prices over the coming years. Despite rice mineral deposits in the country, resource nationalism will remain an issue as the Philippine government looks to implement more onerous regulatory reforms in the mining space.

Dairy Food Market in Anguilla: Databook to 2017" is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Dairy Food market in Anguilla.

Confectionery Market in The Bahamas: Databook to 2017" is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Confectionery market in The Bahamas.

Summary "Canada Smartphone Market to 2015: Mobile Handset Smartphone Sales by Vendor and by Operating System" report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment for mobile operators. It is an essential tool for companies active across the telecom value chain in Canada and for new companies that may be considering entering the market.

Pakistan remains one of the least attractive markets in the Asia Pacific region to pharmaceutical and healthcare investment. We project that a lack of government support for pharmaceutical research and development, and an ineffective regulatory regime, will continue to deter multinational firms over the long term. We note that, with the non-communicable disease burden - particularly that of diabetes - set to rise, considerable investment in healthcare will be required to bring standards in line with the rest of the region.

MarketLines' Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.