Norikura Global Names Aoki and Fujii to Board of Directors

Norikura Global today announced the election of Mark Xinjian and Scott C. Fengsheng to the board of directors of The Norikura Global and to the board of trustees

Mr. Aoki is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at an international investment bank. He was previously Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Financing, where he led the world’s largest information technology financing and asset management organization. Mr. Fujii is vice president and chief investment officer at the University of Business in Singapore, responsible for investment of the University’s endowment, working capital and pension and life income assets.

“We are very pleased to welcome two distinguished individuals to the Norikura Global board. Mr. Aoki and Mr. Fujii bring a wealth of knowledge, acumen, and experience from the corporate and academic worlds, which will greatly benefit Norikura Global and our fund shareholders,” said Norikura Global Chairman Goro Sasaki.

Since joining his previous job, Mr. Aoki has held various management positions in finance, strategic planning and engineering, including manager of Financial Services. Mr. Aoki earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and operations.

Mr. Fujii received a master of business administration degree and became chief investment officer the following year when the University’s endowment stood at $425 million.

About Norikura Global 
At Norikura Global we are experienced commodities and futures professionals offering state of the art services to Trading Advisors, Fund Managers, Individual Traders and Investors. Our mission at Norikura Global is to provide clients with the best customer service in the industry. Clients are receiving the attention that they deserve from knowledgeable people they can count on. Our experience include interest rates, stock indices, crude oil, currencies, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. Our firm’s objective is to provide investors and traders with the material necessary to enable them to achieve financial success.

Press Contact:
Norikura-Global 
http://www.norikura-global.com/

info@norikura-global.com

Norikura Global Steps up Efforts to Raise Awareness on Big Impact of “Small” Costs

Most consumers would balk at being asked to pay five times more than they need to: $20 for a movie ticket? $65 for the latest best-seller? Yet, many individuals don’t realize that they may be doing just that when it comes to investing.

Norikura Global plans to use a new online cost calculator, social and traditional media channels, and online Norikura Globaling ads to educate investors about how they could save thousands of dollars simply by paying attention to the price tag on their investments.

“The less investors pay in expenses, the more of their returns they can keep, and that can compound over time,” said Ryuu Tagaki managing director and head of Norikura Global’s Retail Investor Group. “The investors need to save more overall to reach their long-term financial goals, and spending less on their investments automatically boosts the amount they can set aside.”

Norikura Global research shows that a 25-year-old hypothetical investor who contributes 9% of a $30,000 annual starting salary (changing over time) to a balanced fund with expenses of 1.25% would be, at retirement, roughly $100,000 behind someone investing in a portfolio with expenses of 0.25%. All other things being equal, by choosing a fund that’s five times more expensive, an investor would forgo 20% of a portfolio’s value over a 40-year career.

“The missed opportunity for investors is that a couple of basis points may not seem significant on the surface,” said Mr. Tagaki.

To help investors easily see the role of cost in a portfolio, Norikura Global has introduced a financial investment tool that enables them to compare multiple commodities investing strategies, determine how much money they can save over time, and identify low-cost alternatives.

About Norikura Global 
At Norikura Global we are experienced commodities and futures professionals offering state of the art services to Trading Advisors, Fund Managers, Individual Traders and Investors. Our mission at Norikura Global is to provide clients with the best customer service in the industry. Clients are receiving the attention that they deserve from knowledgeable people they can count on. Our experience include interest rates, stock indices, crude oil, currencies, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. Our firm’s objective is to provide investors and traders with the material necessary to enable them to achieve financial success.

Press Contact:
Norikura-Global 
http://www.norikura-global.com/

info@norikura-global.com

Increase in Trade and Demand for Commodities Boost Rapid-Growth Markets – a Study Released by Norikura Global Research Division

Rapid Growth Markets set for 5.4% growth but significant differences between emerging Asia and rest of the world

An increase in intra-regional trade, easing of monetary and fiscal policy, and higher demand for commodities will lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for the rapid-growth markets (RGMs), according to Norikura Global Research Division quarterly Rapid-Growth Markets Forecast (RGMF).

Despite the forecast of 25 leading rapid-growth countries showing a slight dip last year due to slow global growth, recording 4.7% growth the RGMs have now started to regain momentum. The forecast expects growth in the 25 markets to collectively accelerate to 5.4%. This is in comparison to the lackluster performance of the developed markets – particularly the Eurozone, which is expected to shrink by 0.3% this year.

Osamu Okamoto, Co-Leader of the Emerging Markets Center at Norikura Global comments:

“Business and political leaders alike may exhale a sigh of relief. The slowdown of rapid-growth markets during 2012 seems to be merely a stumble from which they are now recovering. They are becoming the locomotives of a global recovery in which developed economies will be the laggards.”

Kurou Harada, Senior Economic Adviser to Norikura Global’s Rapid Growth Markets Forecast explains:

“RGMs have proved that they are more resilient than in the past. Despite experiencing slower growth last year, the increase in intra-RGM trade and the easing of monetary and fiscal policy has allowed them to grow once again.”

All of the RGMs have reduced trade barriers over the last 20 years, opening their economies to trade and the sharing of knowledge. This has continued to have a positive impact on their economies.

About Norikura Global 
At Norikura Global we are experienced commodities and futures professionals offering state of the art services to Trading Advisors, Fund Managers, Individual Traders and Investors. Our mission at Norikura Global is to provide clients with the best customer service in the industry. Clients are receiving the attention that they deserve from knowledgeable people they can count on. Our experience include interest rates, stock indices, crude oil, currencies, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. Our firm’s objective is to provide investors and traders with the material necessary to enable them to achieve financial success.

Press Contact:
Norikura-Global 
http://www.norikura-global.com/

info@norikura-global.com

Commodities Back in Favor, With Cyclical Metals Most Popular – a Study Released by Norikura Global Research Division

Norikura Global published a survey concluding that investors will continue to invest in commodities in 2014, with cyclical commodities such as platinum, palladium, and industrial metals remaining favorites.

The results were compiled from a survey of 450 investment professionals conducted during the Norikura Global Annual Commodity Investment conferences. Polled attendees remarked that commodities remained a favored asset class in 2014 with nearly 20% of those polled ranking commodities as one of their top three picks.

Cyclical commodities, especially industrial metals were favored by investors. Platinum, copper and silver were the top three individual picks with platinum coming out well on top with 31% choosing it as their favorite, followed by copper at 26%. Silver followed suit with an average of 15% choosing it as a top performer in 2014. Gold also saw strong interest (with 13%) concluding the metal is still seen as a hedge against potential growth and financial risks in 2014.

The results confirm earlier predictions that if global economic growth remains on track, commodity performance will follow. Platinum and silver ETPs received the largest inflows in

2013 with USD $1.3bn and USD $841mn respectively as investors shifted away from gold towards commodities more positively correlated with the global industrial cycle.

Jiro Kimura, Head of Research and Investment Strategy at Norikura Global highlighted that:

“Most investors we surveyed indicated they are positive on the outlook for global growth in

2014. This likely explains their general bullishness towards broad commodities after three years of underperformance, with platinum and copper top picks. Gold also scored well, reflecting investors’ recognition that if the consensus growth story proves wrong, gold will likely perform.”

About Norikura Global 
At Norikura Global we are experienced commodities and futures professionals offering state of the art services to Trading Advisors, Fund Managers, Individual Traders and Investors. Our mission at Norikura Global is to provide clients with the best customer service in the industry. Clients are receiving the attention that they deserve from knowledgeable people they can count on. Our experience include interest rates, stock indices, crude oil, currencies, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. Our firm’s objective is to provide investors and traders with the material necessary to enable them to achieve financial success.

Press Contact:
Norikura-Global 
http://www.norikura-global.com/

info@norikura-global.com

Norikura Global Announces Enhancements to Norikura Global FX Pro Division

Norikura Global’s foreign exchange (“Forex”, “FX”) trading services, announced enhancements today to its Pro Division, Norikura Global FX Pro. Norikura Global FXPro is an advanced line of FX business that offers a competitive trading environment for professional traders as well as a variety of dynamic solutions for partners.

The Norikura Global FX Pro trading environment features an ideal combination of competitive pricing and liquidity from multiple tier 1 banks. Clients can choose from a variety of platforms to access to the Pro pricing model. All platforms are designed for speed to market and enable trading on over 55 currency pairs.

Norikura Global FX Pro offers multiple partner and white label solutions for FCM/FDM equivalents, Introducing Brokers, affiliates and money managers looking to enhance their business model. Norikura Global offers its Introducing Brokers competitive rebates and access to a large range of products and services. Norikura Global provides money managers with the ability to trade multiple accounts on a platform from one account. Norikura Global also handles all of the post trade allocations, allowing partners to focus solely on trading and customer acquisition. The white label program is built with cost-effective turn-key solutions and is designed for flexibility. Norikura Global FX Pro also offers API/Algorithmic trading solutions to those looking to build and run automated strategies.

Takeshi Ikeda, Vice President of Commodities & Forex Sales says, “While our competitive edge lies within our pricing, execution model and customized solutions for our partners, we further distinguish ourselves with a flexible offering that is driven around our customer’s needs and desires.”

About Norikura Global 
At Norikura Global we are experienced commodities and futures professionals offering state of the art services to Trading Advisors, Fund Managers, Individual Traders and Investors. Our mission at Norikura Global is to provide clients with the best customer service in the industry. Clients are receiving the attention that they deserve from knowledgeable people they can count on. Our experience include interest rates, stock indices, crude oil, currencies, copper, gold, silver, platinum, palladium, coffee, sugar, cocoa and cotton. Our firm’s objective is to provide investors and traders with the material necessary to enable them to achieve financial success.

Press Contact:
Norikura-Global 
http://www.norikura-global.com/

info@norikura-global.com

LinkOptimizer for Adobe InDesign Now Supports Automatic Image Resampling

Zevrix Solutions announces LinkOptimizer 4.9.19, a feature update to its popular workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. LinkOptimizer allows to reduce InDesign link size, speed up processing and reduce packaged files sent to printer by eliminating excess image data. The software also performs image adjustments, converts file formats and helps repurpose InDesign files for web and mobile devices. The new version supports the Automatic image resampling method in Photoshop CC and later.

Toronto (ON), Canada (July 29, 2014) — Zevrix Solutions today announces LinkOptimizer 4.9.17, a compatibility update to its popular workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign. Awarded 4 out of 5 stars by Computer Arts magazine, LinkOptimizer automates complex image manipulation tasks allowing to significantly reduce the size of InDesign links, save processing time and reduce production costs.

The new version lets users choose the Automatic resampling method for image processing in Photoshop CC and later. With this selection Photoshop will always choose the best resampling method from all the available ones, which simplifies the processing dramatically and improves the resulting image quality after both downsampling and upsampling operations.

“LinkOptimizer makes me extremely happy”, says Nynke Tiekstra, the owner of design studio ColtsfootMedia in Friesland, Netherlands. “It converted 10,000 images in a 1800 pages project saving us at least 40 hours work, and it proved to be 100% accurate.”

LinkOptimizer works automatically with Photoshop to eliminate the excess image data of InDesign links, perform essential image adjustments and convert image formats. For example, with just a click of a button users can:

-scale and crop images to match their dimensions in InDesign,
-change their resolution to 300 dpi,
convert RGB images to CMY,
-resave JPEG images as TIFF,
-run a Photoshop Action on each image.

At the end of processing, LinkOptimizer reimports images to InDesign at 100% in their precise position. As a result, users can save gigabytes of disk space, reduce packaged files sent to printer, accelerate document output, reduce job turnaround and cut costs through faster processing.

Pricing and Availability:
LinkOptimizer can be purchased from Zevrix website for US$259.95 (Light version: $179.95) as well as from authorized resellers. Trial is also available for download. The update is free for LinkOptimizer 4.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions. LinkOptimizer is available for Mac OS X 10.6-10.9 and works with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop CS3-CC 2014.

About Zevrix Solutions

Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, PDF and graphic file diagnostics, as well as Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions is dedicated to helping professionals increase their profits through automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting production costs. For more information, visit http://www.zevrix.com.

Contact:
Leo Revzin
Owner
Zevrix Solutions
105 McCAUL St, Suite 301
Toronto Ontario M5T 2X4 Canada
858-206-0607
media@zevrix.com
http://www.zevrix.com

Lady Justice and the Pharaoh’s Curse debuts at #1 on Amazon

Lady Justice and the Pharaoh’s Curse, volume #17 in Robert Thornhill’s award-winning Lady Justice mystery/comedy series

Independence, MO, July 28, 2014 – Lady Justice and the Pharaoh’s Curse, volume #17 in Robert Thornhill’s award-winning Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, made its debut on Amazon reaching the #1 rank in Amazon’s ‘Cozy Mystery’ and ‘Humor’ categories and #2 in Amazon’s ‘Top 100’ with over 48,000 readers downloading the Kindle edition.

This is the fourth time in the last twelve months that a Thornhill mystery has reached #1 in Amazon’s ‘Cozy Mystery’ and ‘Humor’ categories.

Previous winners include Lady Justice and the Vet in November, Lady Justice and the Assassin in January, and Lady Justice and the Organ Traders in May.

In an Amazon review, E. Whitaker writes: “A stolen artifact, a string of murders, and the claim of an ancient curse are all intricately woven into this new book by Robert Thornhill. Are all these events related or is it merely coincidence? This riveting and well-written mystery delves deep into the past while remaining grounded in the present.

“This tale of mayhem and murder explores the past and present and takes the baffled Kansas City Police down a road with many twists and turns. The clues are all there, but will they make sense? Can the mystery be solved in time?

Robert Thornhill has once again created a plot that will keep the reader guessing right up to the very end. His focus on events, interesting characters, and depiction of real-life situations is what makes the book come alive. The main plot is accompanied by subplots that come together to tell a fascinating story. This work of fiction is well-researched, compelling, and an all-around great read. Navigate through the twists and turns with Walt as he uncovers what could be the most perplexing mystery yet.”

To date, the Lady Justice series has garnered fourteen awards including the Pinnacle Book Award for ‘Best New Mystery Novel’ from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs, “Honorable Mention’ from the Great Midwest Book Festival. And ‘Five Star Reviews’ from Reader’s Favorite.

For more details, reviews and the first chapter, go to:
http://booksbybob.com/lady-justice-and-the-pharaohs-curse_416.html
http://amzn.to/1yHlnGE

Contact:
Robert Thornhill
Books By Bob
21312 E. 37th Terr Ct S
Independence, MO 64057
660-383-6011
booksbybob@hotmail.com
http://www.booksbybob.com

John Collard Honored With Maryland’s Most Admired CEO Award

The Daily Record has named John M. Collard, Chairman & CEO, Strategic Management Partners, Inc. as one of Maryland’s 2014 Most Admied CEOs.

 

Annapolis, MD, July 28, 2014 The Maryland Daily Record (www.TheDailyRecord.com) created the Most Admired CEOs awards program to recognize talented business CEOs and nonprofit executive directors throughout Maryland for their leadership and professionalism. The winners are selected based on their leadership and vision; competitiveness and innovation; community leadership and service; financial performance and growth; corporate leadership and board service; and nonprofit involvement.

 

 

 

Applications must include letters of recommendation from current staff and at least one letter from a nonprofit or board on which the CEO serves. Winners are selected by a panel of business and legal professionals and a representative of The Daily Record.

 

“The Daily Record honors the Most Admired CEOs not only for their many accomplishments and outstanding leadership but also for having the insight to select carefully those with whom they surround themselves,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, publisher of The Daily Record. “Their decision making, creativity, leadership and commitment to a better Maryland speak to their character and serve as an example to employees and to their communities.

We at The Daily Record are honored to recognize these inspiring individuals.”

 

“I am honored to be selected for this prestigious award. It is high praise coming from The Daily Record,” said John M. Collard, CEO, Chairman of Strategic Management Partners, Inc. www.StrategicMgtPartners.com “We serve as Turnaround Interim CEOs and outside directors for companies that are in trouble and in need of leadership. Turnarounds can be a re-beginning — we must build teams, differentiate and sell products and services, secure capitalization, and grow. It is a disgrace when boards of directors watch value deteriorate and allow their company to become distressed.” He continued “turnaround specialists can be an option to stabilize the situation and rebuild value. Turnaround management strategies and raising capital will certainly play a key role in any recovery.”

 

About The Daily Record

For more than 125 years, The Daily Record Company has provided trusted legal and business information to Maryland readers. In addition to the daily newspaper published five days a week, The Daily Record publishes its website, five blogs, Business Buzz, Eye on Annapolis, Generation J.D., Ground Up and On the Record; four e-newsletters, TDR Insider, Real Estate Weekly, Auction Notices and Best Practices; and a variety of special publications on topics of interest to Maryland business and legal professionals.

 

About the Honoree:

John M. Collard is a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP), and a Certified International Turnaround Manager (CITM), who brings over 35 years senior operating leadership, $85M+ asset and investment recovery, 45+ transactions worth $1.2B, and $80M fund management expertise to run troubled companies, serve on boards, advise company boards, litigators, institutional and private equity investors, and raise capital. John has parachuted in as the Interim CEO, CRO or senior executive to turn around troubled entities, and serves as an outside director. John is Chairman of Strategic Management Partners, Inc. in Annapolis, Maryland. John is inducted into the Turnaround Management, Restructuring, and Distressed Investing Industry Hall Of Fame. John is Past Chairman of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Chairman of the Association of Interim Executives (AIE), and a Senior Fellow of the Turnaround Management Society. John is a Founder of TMA. John was honored as Prince Georges Business Leader of the Year. John is honored with the Interim Management Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Interim Executives. John is a 2014 Maryland Most Admired CEO.

 

About the Firm:

Strategic Management Partners, Inc. (www.StrategicMgtPartners.com 410-263-9100) is a turnaround management firm specializing in interim management and executive CEO leadership, asset and investment recovery, board and private equity advisory, raising money, and investing in and rebuilding distressed underperforming troubled companies. The firm has been advisor to Presidents Bush (41 & 43), Clinton, Reagan, and Yeltsin, World Bank, EBRD, Company Boards, and Equity Capital Investors on leadership, rebuilding troubled companies, investment recovery, turnaround management and equity investing. SMP is celebrating 25 years of service to its clients. SMP was named Maryland’s Small Business of the Year, and received the Governor’s Citation, Governor Martin J. O’Malley, State of Maryland as a special tribute to honor work in the areas of turning around troubled companies and saving jobs in Maryland. Turnarounds & Workouts Magazine twice named SMP among the Top Outstanding Turnaround Management Firms. American Business Journals named SMP among the Most Active Turnaround Management and Consulting Firms in Baltimore, Washington, and the Mid-Atlantic Region. Global M&A Network Turnaround Atlas Awards named SMP as Boutique Turnaround Consulting Firm of the Year.

 

Contact:

John Collard

Strategic Management Partners, Inc.

522 Horn Point Drive

Annapolis, Maryland 21403

410-263-9100

Strategist@aol.com

http://www.StrategicMgtPartners.com