November 12th, 2012, Hollywood, CA – Sycamore Entertainment Group, Inc. (OTC Pink:SEGI), a leading innovator in hybrid film distribution, is pleased to announce that the residents of the Motion Picture & Television Funds’ Country House have requested a private screening of its film “The Eye of the Storm” on December 13th, 2012.

Residents of the Country House, Woodland Hills retirement community is home to some of Hollywood’s most prominent film and television professionals, including many active voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In a L.A. Times article 99-year-old academy voter Connie Sawyer discusses choosing films for consideration for an Academy award.

“Each year the residents of Woodland Hills request the films they most want to screen at the on-site Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. ‘The Eye of the Storm’ has become one of the most requested films as chosen by the selection committee,” says Ed Sylvan CEO of Sycamore. He goes on to say, “Based on the history behind this selection process and the influence the residence exhibit during award selection, we are very excited that our film is screening during awards season. It gives the film yet another opportunity to be screened by Academy voters”.

The Motion Picture & Television Fund recently made headlines when Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen Donated $30 Million Each to the Fund campaign.

The film’s is now playing in theaters and is available nationwide on Video-On-Demand. To View “The Eye of the Storm” at Apple movies, on iTunes click here.

Follow the movie on Facebook: The Eye of the Storm USA and Twitter: Sycamorefilms

About Sycamore Entertainment Group, (SEGI):

Sycamore Entertainment is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, marketing and worldwide distribution of quality finished feature-length motion pictures. Sycamore’s management team utilizes its long standing relationships to provide market specific publicity, promotion, media buying, theatrical placement and Print & Advertising financing for theatrical domestic release.

Visit: www.sycamoreentertainment.com / Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement

SOURCE: http://www.sycamoreentertainment.com/news-20121112.php

The Eye of the Storm

In the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter as her expatriate son and daughter convene at her deathbed. But in dying, as in living, Mrs Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her.Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Patrick White, THE EYE OF THE STORM is a savage exploration of family relationships – and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy, which define them.

SOURCE: http://www.theeyeofthestormthemovie.com/about/

Starbucks Corp.’s SBUX -0.84% board has approved the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of common stock, in the coffee giant’s latest effort to return value to shareholders.

This bring Starbucks’s total buyback authorization to 37.1 million shares, including 12.1 million shares outstanding from an existing program. The company had 760 million shares outstanding as of July 25.

Starbucks has repurchased a total of 184 million shares at a cost of $5.1 billion since its first buyback program was authorized 11 years ago.

The company on Wednesday agreed to acquire loose-leaf tea retailer Teavana Holdings Inc. TEA -0.13% in a roughly $620 million all-cash deal. Starbucks has been branching out from its core coffee business and has also been investing in bakery and fresh juice stores.

Shares rose 28 cents to $48.71 in after-hours trading. The stock was up 10% over the past 12 months.

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SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/starbucks-ups-buyback-program-by-25-million-shares-2012-11-15

Targacept Inc. TRGT +3.96% said it will close its laboratory operations by the end of this year and reduce its current staff by 38% in order to conserve capital.

The drug developer said last month it would longer develop TC-5619 as a treatment for adults with inattentive-predominant attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder because the drug didn’t meet the primary endpoints of a Phase II study. Targacept had said it would cut more jobs and limit investments to its ongoing or previously announced clinical programs until it finds a new chief executive.

The company said Monday the additional job cuts will leave it with 43 employees.

Targacept expects to record a fourth-quarter charge of about $1.5 million for severance and other charges.

The company projects it will save roughly $22.5 million a year from its latest actions and other steps implemented earlier this year.

Targacept currently has cash and investments of approximately $195 million, which it predicts will be sufficient to fund its operating requirements through at least 2015.

Targacept’s potential treatments target receptors known as neuronal nicotinicreceptors, or NNRs. The company has seen staffing and management shake-ups after setbacks in several of its key clinical trials–including a study of its TC-6987 drug candidate for asthma and the treatment of diabetes.

The drug developer and partner AstraZeneca PLC (AZN, AZN.LN) had also scrapped plans to develop TC-5214 as a potential adjunct treatment for patients for major depressive disorder late last year.

The company said in September it was planning a Phase IIb study of TC-5214 as a treatment for overactive bladder in the first half of next year.

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SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/targacept-to-close-lab-operations-by-years-end-2012-10-08

Global Payments Inc.’s GPN +1.25% fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 27% as the payment-processing company was hit by continued remediation charges related to a security breach earlier in the year.

“We are executing on our fiscal 2013 goals and initiatives while we make steady progress on the data intrusion remediation,” Chairman and Chief Executive Paul R. Garcia said Thursday.

The company also said it has signed an agreement with Discover Financial Services DFS +7.27% to offer PayPal acceptance to Global Payments’s U.S. merchant base.

Increased competition in the payment space from fast-growing mobile-payments provider Square has led to industry incumbents looking for more ways to expand. Last month, Global Payments agreed to buy payments-technology company Accelerated Payment Technologies for $413 million in cash, and in July, the firm said it had agreed to acquire the remaining 44% interest in its merchant services joint venture in the Asian-Pacific region, Global Payments Asia Pacific Ltd., from HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC, HSBA.LN, 0005.HK) for $242 million. The company said Thursday it expects to close both deals in the second quarter.

Strength in international markets has bolstered Global Payment’s recent results, helping to offset rising operating expenses tied to its stepped-up infrastructure investments and expansion efforts. In the most recent quarter, operating expenses rose 17%.

For the quarter ended Aug. 31, Global Payments reported a profit of $46.7 million, or 59 cents a share, down from $64 million, or 79 cents a share, a year earlier. Cash earnings slipped to 87 cents from 88 cents. Revenue rose 8.8% to $590.3 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had recently projected a per-share profit of 87 cents and revenue of $583.6 million.

In the larger North American market, revenue rose 13%. International merchant services revenue edged down 0.4%.

Global Payments affirmed its full-year outlook.

Shares closed at $43.80 and were flat after hours. The stock has fallen 7.6% since the start of the year.

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SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/global-payments-profit-hit-by-data-breach-charges-2012-09-27

Charles Schwab Corp. SCHW +1.04% has slashed fees on 15 of its proprietary exchange-traded funds, reducing expense ratios by 25% to roughly 60% in a move designed to attract more investors, and one that follows BlackRock Inc.’s BLK 0.00% disclosure that it plans cuts of its own.

During a conference call with members of the media, Marie Chandoha, president of Charles Schwab Investment Management, said the weighted average on Schwab’s lineup of ETFs would now be 7.7 basis points, down from 12.9 basis points.

She said the fee cuts took effect Thursday afternoon.

ETFs, which trade like stocks, have gained in popularity in recent years as the investment tools track a particular index, sector, industry or even commodity.

Schwab, which launched its first ETF in November 2009, faces stiff competition in the sector from more-established rivals such as BlackRock and Vanguard Group Inc.

Last week, BlackRock Chief Executive Laurence Fink may have fired the first salvo in an ETF fee war after telling investors the money manager would lower the fees on its iShares ETFs to better compete with Vanguard.

During the call Friday, Schwab Chief Executive Walt Bettinger downplayed his company’s own disclosure as a response, saying Schwab wanted to “take this next step on behalf of the average investor.” He noted that expenses “can detract from returns” and that it “shouldn’t cost a lot for [investors] to do the right thing with their money.”

Mr. Bettinger hinted that further fee cuts could come in the future, telling participants during the call that “we’re not going to stop here in terms of doing the right things by clients.” He added that future measures “sometimes may take the form of fee cuts and sometimes it may take the form of additional capabilities.”

Schwab, which had $142 billion in client ETF assets at Aug. 31, said its own ETFs had $7.2 billion in assets.

Shares of Charles Schwab recently traded down 0.7% at $13.35. The stock is up 19% year-to-date.

–Joe Light contributed to this article.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/charles-schwab-cuts-fees-on-etfs-by-up-to-60-2012-09-21

Urban Outfitters Inc.’s URBN +2.11% fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 8.6% as the apparel retailer posted weaker margins and higher overhead costs, though same-store sales improved.

Still, shares rose 5.1%, to $27.50 in after-hours trading, as the profit beat expectations. Through the close, the stock is down 5.1% this year, trailing the broader market.

The company, which operates namesake stores as well as Anthropologie and Free People locations, has reported strong top-line growth even as same-store sales had deteriorated in prior quarters and as margins have weakened. Higher commodity costs have also been a concern, and retailers have had mixed success in their ability to pass on those costs to consumers.

Chief Executive Richard A. Hayne said sales growth in the latest period was partly driven by “positive regular price ‘comp’ sales” as well as “the steady progress our brands have made in creative and product execution.”

For the quarter ended April 30, Urban Outfitters reported a profit of $34 million, down from $38.6 million a year earlier. On a per-share basis, earnings were flat at 23 cents as share outstanding declined. Revenue increased 9% to $569 million.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters most recently projected earnings of 20 cents on revenue of $579 million.

Gross margin fell to 35.6% from 36.9% amid an increased number of store openings and slightly higher markdowns on a few women’s apparel categories. Overhead costs were up 11%.

Urban Outfitters said that its comparable retail segment sales, which include its catalog and online businesses, increased 2% in the period, as 6% growth at its namesake brand and a rise of 2% at Free People offset a decline of 2% at Anthropologie. Direct-to-consumer comparable net sales climbed 15% while its wholesale business reported growth of 2%.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/urban-outfitters-profit-hit-by-weaker-margins-2012-05-21

Safeway Inc. SWY -0.69% raised its quarterly dividend 21%, looking to boost shareholder value with an increased payout.

The supermarket operator raised the dividend to 17.5 cents a share from 14.5 cents, which should cost the company an additional $8.2 million a quarter.

Safeway–which operates regional grocery chains such as Vons and Randalls–has warned that a slower-than-expected economic recovery and high gasoline prices will continue to pressure consumer spending and hurt sales across the supermarket industry. The company has tried to manage margins by selling more private-label products, controlling expenses and improving marketing.

Last month, the company said its first-quarter profit nearly tripled as a hefty tax charge weighed on the company’s year-ago results.

Shares closed Tuesday at $18.78 and were up 12 cents after hours. The stock is down 11% so far this year.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/safeway-boosts-dividend-by-21-2012-05-15-178390

Pro-Dex Inc. PDEX -5.62% said Chief Executive Mark P. Murphy resigned from all his positions with the company and its subsidiaries Friday, and was immediately replaced by Director Michael J. Berthelot.

Pro-Dex develops powered surgical devices and other tools used in the medical, dental, semiconductor and scientific research markets.

“We welcome Mike’s leadership in guiding Pro-Dex through a time of major change,” Chairman William Healey said in a statement. “We also thank Mark Murphy for his six years of service and for the contributions he has made in preparing our company for its next phase. We wish Mark well in whatever he may pursue in the future.”

A Pro-Dex representative wasn’t immediately available for further comment.

Berthelot, 61 years old, has served on the company’s board since 2009 and is the chief executive of Cito Capital Corp., a consulting firm.

“I am honored to be asked to take on this assignment and am excited about the future of Pro-Dex,” Berthelot said.

In February, the company said it swung to a fiscal second-quarter loss, amid lower sales of medical device products to its largest customer, it said.

Shares closed Friday at $2.18 and were inactive after hours. The stock is down 11% so far in 2012.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pro-dex-ceo-murphy-resigns-replaced-by-berthelot-2012-04-21

Dreams Inc. DRJ +30.27% agreed to be acquired by privately owned online sports merchandiser Fanatics Inc. in a deal that values the sports retailer at roughly $156 million.

Fanatics is offering Dreams shareholders $3.45 a share under the agreement, a 32% premium to the stock’s Friday closing price and above a 52-week high of $3.04 hit last month.

Shares surged 45% to $3.79 in premarket trade, topping the offer price.

The companies pegged the value of the deal at roughly $183 million, which includes roughly $25 million of Dreams’ outstanding debt.

The company’s chief executive, chairman and other shareholders that together own roughly 35% of Dreams’ outstanding shares have agreed to vote in favor of the deal.

“This combination will enhance Dreams’ ability to achieve its goals, while realizing a significant and immediate all-cash premium for our shareholders,” said Chief Executive Ross Tannenbaum.

The transaction, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the third quarter.

The company has been putting a heavy focus on its e-commerce business, reporting last month that growth in the business drove a 24% increase in fourth-quarter revenue. Profit for the period was up 26% at $5.2 million.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dreams-inc-to-be-acquired-by-fanatics-inc-2012-04-16

TAIPEI -(MarketWatch)- Chunghwa Telecom Co. , Taiwan’s largest telecommunications operator by subscribers, plans to expand its workforce by around 8% this year to tap into new business opportunities brought on by the closer economic ties between Taiwan and China, the company’s Chief Executive Shyue-ching Lu said Saturday.

Lu said the company plans to add 2,000 staff this year to boost its cloud computing, sales and customer service. It has around 25,000 employees currently, he said.

The once-frosty relations between Beijing and Taipei have thawed since China-friendly Kuomintang took over Taiwan’s government in 2008. Among the business ties between the two sides on the telecom front, Chunghwa Telecom agreed to build an undersea cable, connecting Taiwan and China across the Pacific, with China Telecom Corp.

SOURCE: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chunghwa-telecom-to-expand-workforce-by-8-in-2012-2012-02-04