China

LONDON -- Disappointing economic news from China sent Japan's Nikkei index down 7% overnight and had a knock-on effect on the FTSE 100 this morning: The blue-chip index is down 1.8% to 6,719 points as of 8:15 a.m. EDT. News from the U.S. Federal Reserve that economic stimulus could be cut back in the coming months didn't help, either. Plenty of company shares are falling today as well, but here are three from the various indexes that look set to hold up against the FTSE. United Utilities Final results from United Utilities sent the firm's share price up 1.2% this morning after the final dividend was raised 7.2% to 22.9 pence per share to take the total annual dividend to 34.3 pence per share. That's in keeping with policy and bang in line with expectations, and it represents a yield of 4.3% on the current share price. The water company recorded an 8% rise in underlying pre-tax profit to £354.3 million, with underlying earnings per share up 11% to 39.1 pence. On those earnings, the shares are on a P/E of 20 today, with forecasts for 2014 dropping that to 18. Booker Wholesaler Booker Group's shares have picked up a modest 0.2% to reach 130 pence this morning, taking the price up more than 75% over the past 12 months. Today's driver came in the form of full-year results, which saw sales up 3.5% to £4 billion, with like-for-like sales up 3.3%. Pre-tax profit gained a substantial 13% to £101.4 million, and the firm was able to lift its final dividend by 15% to 2.25 pence, taking the total annual payment up a similar 15% to 2.63 pence per share for a yield of 2%. After the recent price appreciation, Booker's shares are on a forward P/E of 25 based on 2014 forecasts. BTG Shares in specialist health care firm BTG remained flat this morning, but that should still be enough to beat a falling FTSE. The news today was of the acquisition of EKOS Corporation, a firm involved in interventional vascular treatment, for an initial payment of £120 million in cash -- there may be up to £27 million in additional cash depending on milestone targets. Chief executive Louise Makin said: "EKOS is a fast-growing and profitable business, and the acquisition provides an exciting opportunity to build on our existing interventional medicine business and to enter an area with a significant addressable market opportunity." Finally, if you're looking for investments that should take you all the way to a comfortable retirement, I recommend the Fool's special new report detailing five blue-chip shares. They'll be familiar names to many, and they've already provided investors with decades of profits. But the report will only be available for a limited period, so click here to get your hands on these great ideas -- they could set you on the road to long-term riches.

Filed under: Investing Ralph Lauren Reports Better-Than-Expected Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2013 Profits Fourth Quarter Net Revenues were $1.6 Billion, Reflecting Strong Retail Segment Growth Consolidated Operating Income Rose 33% in the Fourth Quarter and Operating Margin Expanded 270 Basis Points to 11.1% Earnings Per Diluted Share Increased 38% to $1.37 in the Fourth Quarter Full Year Fiscal 2013 Net Revenues were $6.9 Billion and Diluted EPS Increased 12% to $8.00 NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYS: RL) today reported net income of $127 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013, compared to net income of $94 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012. In the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company recorded approximately $6 million in pre-tax impairment and restructuring charges associated with winding down its Rugby operations. Excluding the Rugby-related charges, net income rose 39% to $131 million and net income per diluted share increased 42% to $1.41 in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013. Net income for the full year Fiscal 2013 period was $750 million, or $8.00 per diluted share, compared to net income of $681 million, or $7.13 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2012. Excluding $19 million in Rugby-related charges, net income for Fiscal 2013 rose 12% to $762 million and net income per diluted share increased 14% to $8.13. "We achieved record sales and profit levels in Fiscal 2013," said Ralph Lauren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our relentless focus on innovation and our commitment to superior craftsmanship continued to build our global customer base. We have an exciting next few years ahead of us, especially as we grow our global store network and e-commerce platforms to showcase the full scope of our brand portfolio and lifestyle sensibilities." "Our better-than-expected profitability in the fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2013 periods is a direct result of the strong operational management of our global teams," said Roger Farah, President and Chief Operating Officer. "Enhanced profit flow-through was achieved despite sustained macroeconomic challenges and strategic decisions that mitigated revenue growth during the year. We are excited about the Company's diverse and compelling opportunities for future growth, and have planned Fiscal 2014 as a year of accelerated investment in our highest priority strategic initiatives." Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2013 Income Statement Review Net Revenues. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013 rose 1% to $1.6 billion, reflecting strong retail segment expansion that was partially offset by lower wholesale segment sales. Excluding the impact of strategic decisions to discontinue American Living and store closures associated with the Company's Greater China network repositioning efforts, in addition to the net negative impact from foreign currency translation, net revenues increased approximately 4% in the fourth quarter. Net revenues for the full year Fiscal 2013 period increased 1% to $6.9 billion, as strong retail segment growth was partially offset by a decline in wholesale segment sales and net unfavorable foreign currency effects. Excluding the impact of strategic decisions to discontinue American Living and store closures associated with the Company's Greater China network repositioning efforts, in addition to the net negative impact from foreign currency translation, net revenues increased approximately 5% in Fiscal 2013. Wholesale Sales. Wholesale segment sales of $796 million in the fourth quarter were 4% below the prior year period, primarily due to the discontinuation of American Living in Fiscal 2013 and a proactive reduction in shipments to certain European custo

RealD Inc. to Report Fiscal 2013 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results on June 6, 2013 LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- RealD Inc. (NYS: RLD) , a leading global licensor of 3D technologies, today announced that it will release its Fiscal 2013 fourth quarter financial results after the market close on Thursday, June 6, 2013. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss the results the same day at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET. Participating in the call will be Michael V. Lewis, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Drew Skarupa, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. To participate in the call, please dial (855) 769-4820 (U.S.) or (407) 374-0083 (International) ten minutes prior to the start time and use conference ID 73037700. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.reald.com. To listen to the live webcast, please visit the site prior to the start of the call in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will also be available on the Company's website. For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a telephone replay will be available through June 20, 2013. To access the replay, dial (855) 859-2056 (U.S.) or (404) 537-3406 (International) and use conference ID 73037700. About RealD Inc. RealD is a leading global licensor of 3D technologies. RealD's extensive intellectual property portfolio is used in applications that enable a premium 3D viewing experience in the theater, the home and elsewhere. RealD licenses its RealD Cinema Systems to motion picture exhibitors that show 3D motion pictures and alternative 3D content. RealD also provides its RealD Display, active and passive eyewear, and RealD Format technologies to consumer electronics manufacturers and content producers and distributors to enable the delivery and viewing of 3D content. RealD's cutting-edge technologies have been used for applications such as piloting the Mars Rover. RealD was founded in 2003 and has offices in Beverly Hills, California; Boulder, Colorado; London, United Kingdom; Moscow, Russia; Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan; and Rio de Janiero, Brazil. For more information, please visit our website at www.reald.com. © 2013 RealD Inc. All Rights Reserved. RealDErik Randerson, CFAVP, Investor Relations424-702-4317eranderson@reald.comKEYWORDS:   United States  North America  CaliforniaINDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The body of a young woman who disappeared in March after falling down a manhole during a heavy rainstorm in Changsha was found in Hunan Province's Xiangjiang River on Sunday, according to Shanghai Daily. [ more › ]

International man of mystery Dennis Rodman has had enough of being America's unofficial ambassador to North Korea. Gawker's Camille Dodero caught up with the Worm at his recent 52nd birthday party in New York. Dodero was told in no uncertain terms by his representatives that "We’re not gonna talk about North Korea, we’re gonna move on." [ more › ]

Two new species of tiny spiders, each less than one millimetre long, have been discovered in Sichuan. Wired describes them as "adorably chubby". That's one reaction. Another reaction is terror. They are less than 1 mm long and could be anywhere. [ more › ]

iSun Affairs, a Hong Kong-based weekly magazine known for shocking covers and high quality journalism, is to switch to an online-first publishing approach, with only a monthly edition appearing in print. Despite winning several awards, the Chinese-language magazine never reached its targeted 25,000 circulation, SCMP reports. [ more › ]

by Stuart Burns Iron ore is in a bear market, according to Bloomberg, as prices have fallen to their lowest in five months amid a wave of negativity that has led Chinese traders and steel mills to sell down their stocks of the key steel ingredient.The price of benchmark Australian iron ore with 62% iron content has fallen 12.5 percent in the past month. On Monday, it dropped to $123 a metric ton, the lowest since December, according to sources quoted in the paper. Perversely, daily steel production in early May rose to 2.19 million tons, on track for a monthly record, data from the China Iron Ore & Steel Association and the National Bureau of Statistics quoted in Bloomberg show; while at the same time, prices for finished steel continue to tumble.Not surprisingly, the Baltic Dry Index is down as well, as shipping rates

Global Markets Roiled by Nikkei’s 7.3% Slide (AP) Several reasons have been blamed for the 7.3 percent fall in the Nikkei index to 14,483.98, including a spike in Japanese government bond yields and unexpectedly weak Chinese manufacturing figures. Euro-Zone Business Activity Falls Again (WSJ) Markit Economics said its composite purchasing managers’ index for the euro… Continue reading »Follow Dealbreaker on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Chinese political dissident and installation artist Ai Weiwei has released the first song from his previously reported forthcoming metal album...