May 2015 - Midland Paper

Arjowiggins Graphic to increase CWF paper prices by 6-8% in Europe from July 1 (RISI)

Due to the steady and continuous increase of raw materials costs driven in particular by pulp price raise, Arjowiggins Graphic will increase the price of its coated woodfree papers in the European market by 6 to 8%. The price increase will take effect for all paper deliveries from first of July 2015.

Tukaiz Receives Second Outerwall-Redbox Continuous Improvement Award

Tukaiz, a leading marketing services production company, is the recipient of the Continuous Improvement Award given by Outerwall Inc., a leader in automated retail, for its work on Redbox kiosks’ outdoor and indoor signage and merchandising. Each year, the Continuous Improvement Award recognizes a supplier in three separate categories for being innovative and proactive when addressing the needs of Redbox. Tukaiz is the only supplier to capture this prestigious award twice.

Pacific Sunwear Announces First Quarter Operating Results

Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (Nasdaq:PSUN), announced today that net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 ended May 2, 2015, were $166.5 million versus net sales of $171.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 ended May 3, 2014. Comparable store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 decreased 2%. The Company ended the first quarter of fiscal 2015 with 605 stores versus 618 stores a year ago. On a GAAP basis, the Company reported a net loss of $3.5 million, or $(0.05) on a diluted per share basis for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to a net loss of $10.4 million, or $(0.15) per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Friday, 5/29/15

May 29, 2015
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National Average Price for Regular Unleaded: $2.736 Month Ago: $2.563 Year Ago: $3.651 National Average Price for Diesel: $2.885 Month Ago: $2.810 Year Ago: $3.924

Key Currency Exchange Rates for Friday, 5/29/15 at 11:52 UTC

May 29, 2015
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American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.804447 American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.161418 American Dollar to Euro = 1.097779 American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.008073 American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.065141

Resolute Increases Share Repurchase Program by $50 Million

"Today's announcement gives us another tool to continue to enhance shareholder value," said Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. "Share repurchases will complement our ongoing value-creating initiatives to build capacity in markets with future growth opportunities – such as the two new sawmills and the continuous pulp digester project – and upcoming initiatives as we continue to execute on our growth strategy."

Best Buy’s Carbon-Reduction Efforts Commended by U.S. Department of Energy

Best Buy’s five-year-long drive to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 20 percent by 2020 was recognized as an unparalleled retailer achievement at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) White House ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. The reduction is part of the company’s effort to address climate change. Thanks to a combination of an industry-leading energy management system, store lighting retrofit and improved fleet and distribution practices, Best Buy was commended for exceeding its goal and reducing emissions by 26 percent since 2010. The award was given at this week’s DOE Better Buildings Challenge Summit.

Crude Oil Prices Gain Slightly after the Declining Stockpile

May 29, 2015
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July WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil futures trading in NYMEX gained slightly by 0.30% and closed at $57.68 per barrel on Thursday, May 28, 2015. The oil price rally…

Destination XL Group, Inc. Reports First-Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Total comparable sales increased +5.5% versus +3.4% in prior-year quarter • 104 DXL retail stores, open at least 13 months, had an +8.7% comparable sales increase on top of +12.8% in the prior-year quarter • Operating income of $0.2 million versus an operating loss of $(2.9) million in the prior-year quarter • EBITDA from continuing operations of $6.8 million versus $2.5 million in the prior-year quarter • Sales per square foot for the DXL retail stores, on a rolling 12-month basis, were $168 as compared with $153 for the prior-year quarter

Europe’s first pilot facility for nanocrystalline cellulose

Nanocrystalline cellulose has many interesting material properties, and can be used for example as a building material, in biocomposites, printed electronics and dye additives. The operation in the pilot plant is based on technology developed by an Israeli start-up company Melodea. "Holmen is working actively to develop new products based on raw materials from our Swedish forests," says Ola Schultz-Eklund, Director of Business Development and Innovation at Holmen. "Nanocrystalline cellulose is definitely an interesting material for the future."