NEW YORK (AP) Yoga clothing seller Lululemon Inc. said Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit jumped 34 percent on strong demand for its pricey wares. But its earnings outlook for the year fell shy of analyst estimates, and shares dipped.

For the quarter ended Jan. 29, Lululemon earned $73.5 million, or 51 cents per share, up from $54.8 million, or 38 cents per share, in the same three months a year earlier.

Revenue rose 51 percent to $371.5 million from $245.4 million.

The Canadian company's results beat Wall Street predictions. Analysts expected a profit of 48 cents per share on $360.2 million in revenue, according to a FactSet poll.

Revenue at stores open at least a year jumped 26 percent when the effect of changing currency values was excluded, while online sales more than doubled to $50.1 million.

Revenue at stores open at least a year is a key measure of a retailer's health because it excludes sales at newly opened or closed stores.

The company, which sells $98 yoga pants, has outperformed many of its competitors due to high demand for its yoga, running and other athletic gear. For the full year 2011, Lululemon earned $184.1 million, or $1.27 per share, up from $121.8 million, or 85 cents per share, in 2010. Revenue rose to $1 billion from $711.7 million.

But like other retailers, it's been dealing with higher costs and the effects of cautious consumer spending.

Lululemon projected a first-quarter profit in line with analysts' predictions, but its full-year earnings estimate fell short.

The company said it expects first-quarter net income of 28 cents or 29 cents per share on $265 million to $270 million in revenue, while analysts are predicting profit of 29 cents per share and $256.2 million in revenue.

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Yoga pants seller Lululemon 4Q net climbs 34 pct

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21-03-2012 00:39 An short overview of services offered at Save Your Sanity Life Coaching, LLC

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save Your Sanity Life Coaching LLC - Coaching Services - Video

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Life Insurance arm of London-based Prudential Plc posted a 33 percent growth in total gross premium last year propelled by a more active and larger sales force and increased sales through brokers.

Pru Life UK's total gross premium income in 2011 was P10.4 billion, up from P7.8 billion in 2010. Of the amount, first-year premiums and single premiums amounted to P8.1 billion, an increase by 26.56 percent from P6.4 billion in the previous year and renewal premiums totaled P2.3 billion.

"Our improved performance was brought about by recruiting more financial advisers and increased productivity. We recruited over 1,000 agents in 2011. Furthermore, there was significant growth in the business brought to us by brokers," Antonio De Rosas, Pru Life UK president and chief executive said.

De Rosa also said Pru Life's new businesses were mostly made up of variable unit-linked insurance policies, accounting for about 94 percent and the remaining balance was made up of traditional policies.

In 2011, De Rosas added that Pru Life's net income also increased by 6.56 percent to P682 million from P640 million in the previous year.

De Rosas attributed the company's continued growth to its aggressive recruitment strategy, training and coaching programs for financial advisers, and the launch of innovative products.

These products are Pru Link Exact Protector, a revamped version of one of Pru Lige UK's bestselling unit-linked or investment-linked products, the PruLink Exact Plus.

"This year, we will be aggressively expanding our agency force," De Rosas said.

The company recruited more than 1,000 agents last year. De Rosas said they want to hire some more this year. To date, Pru Life UK has about 3,000 agents.

"This year we'll have much more than that. We're aggressively requiring agency force," De Rosas said.

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Prulife Grows Premium By 33%

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20-03-2012 15:41 Bob gives us his impressions of the pro7 and his theory regarding the evolution of fitness. Can you say "punctuated equilibrium?"

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Power Plate IHRSA 2012 Interview With Vitality Health

CHESTERTON A group cardio training session with celebrity trainer Brett Hoebel had about three dozen members and visitors pumped up at the Fransciscan Omni Health and Fitness Center Sunday afternoon. The facility hosted Hoebel at its annual Spring Open House.

Hoebel, who was featured in Season 11 on the popular television series, The Biggest Loser, led an intense one-hour session highlighting his high-energy style. The diverse class included personal trainers from Omnis staff as well as adults of all ages and fitness levels.

It was just one of the many activities included for the Catch the Spirit event at both the Chesterton and Schereville locations. Other celebrities attending included contestants from the The Biggest Loser season 12 and Marci Crozier, a local resident who appeared on Season 11.

A newly-decorated lounge in the womens locker room was unveiled at the open house and displays advertised the services offered in the facility. Raffles for free memberships and other prizes, tours of both locations and new fitness classes also helped draw a crowd.

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Exercisers ‘catch the spirit’ at fitness open house

Maui, Hawaii (PRWEB) March 21, 2012

Womens Luxury SUP Adventure: The Suzie Cooney Stand Up Paddle Fitness Experience at Lumeria Maui

May 27th June 2nd, 2012 Maui, Hawaii

Your health is your wealth, so join world-renowned professional stand up paddler and fitness expert, Suzie Cooney, and live the Maui SUP lifestyle. You will feel healthy the moment you arrive. Four women will paddle daily on warm waters, enjoy yoga, massages and fresh organic meals, explore and experience luxurious and tranquil accommodations for a week to remember.

"Suzie Cooney combines imagination, inspiration and perspiration. She's a one-of-a-kind waterwoman; a brilliant and patient teacher. Oh, and she is also a complete badass, which is the highest compliment I can possibly give." Susan Casey, bestselling author and editor in chief of O, The Oprah Magazine.

We invite you to our exclusive luxury stand up paddling health and fitness experience on the worldwide SUP island destination Maui, Hawaii. Each guest will enjoy tropical warm waters, personalized SUP coaching and instruction, expert fitness training, organic meals prepared by Chef Ben Diamond, massage, yoga and premium products representing the SUP lifestyle, while staying on the beautiful North Shore at Mauis new stunning and tranquil retreat center, Lumeria Maui.

Suzie Cooney is a globally recognized athlete and pioneer of SUP and as a professional fitness trainer, SUP clinic/event producer and instructor offers unique standup paddling fitness training techniques to better improve your standup paddling skills, body strength and water and ocean confidence. You will learn about water safety, board control, and fine-tune your stroke. Suzie will introduce you to beginner waves, a mini downwinder, and help you discover all the healthy benefits of SUP.

Maui is a worldwide SUP destination offering clear blue warm waters and tropical breezes. Everyone dreams of stand up paddling on Maui, for it is recognized as one of the birth places of the sport and presents the most amazing backdrops. Enjoy this special, healthy, one of a kind experience and glide across the ocean at some of the most renowned SUP setting locations.

Lumeria Maui is a stunning oasis of tranquility, operating a luxury educational retreat center, connecting people with the sacred 'aina and the mystery of Maui. Located on 6 magnificently landscaped ocean view acres in the North Shore just above the historic plantation town of Paia. The 1909 historic buildings features 24 luxurious guest accommodations. Lumeria Maui host daily educational classes in organic horticulture, watersports and yoga with a farm- to-table dining experience. The world-class menu is sourced from Lumeria Maui's own gardens and local organic farms.

For more information: Stand Up Paddling Fitness

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MAUI, HI: Endorsed by Oprah Magazine Editor in Chief: Women’s Luxury SUP Adventure with Suzie Cooney

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq7QDFk06dc

21-03-2012 04:10 The controversy within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Rajya Sabha nominations continues to simmer with the party-backed independent candidate Anshuman Mishra hitting out at LK Advani. Without naming Advani, he's said that it's time for those who admire Paksitan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah to plan their retirement. ibnlive.com

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Jinnah admirers should retire from BJP: Anshuman Mishra - Video

TOM PULLAR-STRECKER

Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan has labelled her $5.8 million budget "pathetic", telling MPs the commission needed three times as much money.

Crossan later upped that to "20 times", while acknowledging that was probably how many people felt about budgeting for retirement.

She is not alone in pleading poverty.

Chief ombudsman Beverley Wakem said last month that the Office of the Ombudsmen was in crisis and appealed for an extra $1m to be added to its $8.6m budget.

Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff last month told Justice Minister Judith Collins that its $3.4m budget had not increased since 2006 and rapid growth in ICT and online activity was "placing pressure on its regulatory, policy and communications capabilities".

Appearing in front of a select committee yesterday, Crossan said that if the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income had more money, the first place she would put it would be in schools.

"The Australians announced last year that $10m would go into teaching financial education in schools over the next three years. We get nothing in particular for this."

The Bankers Association and the Young Enterprise Trust had helped develop teaching resources and the commission had partnered with banks to provide education to schoolchildren, but Crossan said she believed financial literacy would best be taught by "ordinary classroom teachers".

ASB Bank's retail general manager, Ian Park, said it had helped 175,000 schoolchildren learn basic money management skills since it launched its free "GetWise" programme two years ago and last year doubled the number of "classroom facilitators" to six.

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Retirement commissioner seeks budget increase

Posted on 21 Mar 2012 at 4:23pm

Small-to-medium business (SMB) computer users are extremely mobile which is why Lenovo developed a thinner and lighter form factor personal computer (PC) that also addresses SMBs need for business-class performance at an affordable pricepoint.

ThinkPad Edge E120

Meet Lenovos most competitively priced ThinkPad Edge model, the 11-inch ThinkPad Edge E120laptop which features a thin and light profile at 0.93-inch thin and 1.36kgs in weight, making it easy for on-the-go entrepreneurs to lug it around.

Powered by Intel Pentium 967, the ThinkPad Edge E120 blends the best features of netbooks such as size and price, with that of ultraportables such as performance, better usability and business application support. It also boasts of sophisticated simplicity design-wise with its clean lines and polished metal accents.

The system is optimized for both work and play. It boasts of having best-in-classvoice and video conferencing capabilities like low-light sensitive webcam and keyboard noise suppression technology. And with a long battery life of up to 9.3 hours, SMB users can stay in touch with their business colleagues anywhere in the world. It also has HDMI, stereo speakers as an HD screen to keep the user entertained while on the road.

Business users will be delighted to know that the ThinkPad Edge E120 also offers secure mobile computing that the Lenovo ThinkPad models are known for such as: ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery which allows system restoration in case of asystem crash, Active Protection System to keep your data safe even in the eventof accidental drops or harsh movements that can cause hard disk drive failure.

TheThinkPad Edge E120 is exclusivelydistributed in the Philippines by PC Express, (Tel. no.: 632-725.8888) at a suggested retail price of Php24,990.

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ThinkPad Edge E120 offers SMBs with the right mix of size, price and performance

(RTTNews.com) - HP (HPQ) announced an organizational realignment to improve performance and drive profitable growth across the entire HP portfolio. HP said its Imaging and Printing Group or IPG and its Personal Systems Group or PSG are joining forces to create the Printing and Personal Systems Group, while the combined entity would be led by Todd Bradley, who has served as the executive vice president of PSG since 2005.

Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president of IPG, is retiring after a highly accomplished 31-year career at HP.

The company said that combining these two entities would rationalize its go-to-market strategy, branding, supply chain and customer support worldwide. HP said this realignment is anticipated to provide opportunities for cost savings and accelerate HP's ability to pursue profitable growth and reinvest in the business. Further to combining PSG and IPG, HP also is taking steps to unify and streamline certain key business functions.

Also, HP said it would unify its Marketing functions across business units under Marty Homlish, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, HP.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

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HP Realigns To Create Printing And Personal Systems Group - Quick Facts