UFO Info Week-End

The increase in gross marginrate was primarily due to a favorable change

The increase in gross marginrate was primarily due to a favorable change in sales mix toward higher marginproducts, partially offset by selected price reductions. Grossmargin as a percent of net sales was 36.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009,up from 36.0% during the same period last year. Foreigncurrency translation decreased net sales by approximately $104 million. For the first quarter of fiscal 2009, theInternational segment reported a 5.4% decrease in comparable store net sales,driven by the aforementioned decrease in entertainment product demand.

Net sales for the segment during the first quarter of 2009 were $854 millionversus $1.008 billion for fiscal 2008. Operating loss wasfavorably impacted by a decrease in certain SG&A expenses, offset by the grossmargin effect of lower net sales. InternationalOperating loss for the quarter in the International segment was $21 million ascompared to $38 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Despite the difficult sales environment, gross margin for the segmentwas unchanged from the first quarter in the prior year at 35.9%.

The salesof consumables and traditional toy categories were relatively strong, whilevideo game systems and higher ticket juvenile items (furniture and gear) wereweaker. Comparable store net sales for theDomestic segment decreased 5.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2009. Net sales for the segment during the first quarter of 2009 were $1.623 billionversus $1.711 billion for fiscal 2008. The increase for thequarter was primarily due to reduced operating expenses, offset by the grossmargin effect of lower net sales. Ross, président de Biogen Idec, a déclaré, « Nous souhaitons labienvenue à Alexander Denner et Richard Mulligan au sein du conseil et nousavons hâte de travailler ensemble pour continuer à offrir la même qualité deservice. Leur mandat prendraeffet une fois que les résultats définitifs du vote des actionnaires serontconfirmés par IVS Associates.

CHINA DAILY () — Xinwen Lianbo, the country’s most authoritative andpopular news programme, will change its format to include morehuman-interest segments and critical reportage from June 20. China CHINA SECURITIES JOURNAL — Chinese investors should fully learn that the country’sNasdaq-style stock board brings relatively high risks whileproviding the possibility of high investment returns, Zhou Ming,the vice president of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, warned at abriefing. But SAG said 78 percent of members voted to approve thecontract. Stocks The Screen Actors Guild, which represents about 120,000actors, was bitterly divided during negotiations over the newcontract, with hardliners demanding better terms.