Coca-Cola, beverage giant, which seemed to have lost its design savvy in the absence of consistent global design standards: 1. It is trying to boost income through the marketing mileage of good design. 2. Its design leaders are tirelessly advocating good design. 3. It has begun a review of the 350 brands...

Baugur, the Icelandic retail investment group with strategic investments or controlling stakes in retailers, department stores, jewellery chains, womenswear chains, and fashion conglomerates: 1. It makes an overwhelming majority of its investments in food, department stores and fashion chains. 2. It...

Apple, converging technology company which launched its 3G iPhone this year: 1. It boosted its production plans when initial sales proved stronger than the company expected. It will build 40 million to 45 million iPhone 3Gs in the 12 months through August 2009 instead of the initial plan for 30 million...

Hyundai and Kia, South Korean carmakers of the Hyundai Group: 1. They have spent billions to go upmarket: Hyundai's new Genesis sedan will start at $33,000. Kia's new Borrego midsize SUV will start at $31,745 2. They will not abandon its strength in entry-level models 3. They are focused on fuel...

Strauss Group, an Israeli coffee outfit: 1. It has boosted income in the past through cooperation (with Danone in yogurt; with Unilever in ice cream). 2. It ventured into the larger and fragmented wholesale roast and ground coffee market instead of the instant coffee market dominated by Nestle and Kraft...

Multinationals like Cisco, Motorola, General Electric, and Hewlett-Packard: They are increasing R&D initiatives in India because: a) The quality and experience of India's huge technical workforce is rising supplemented by an influx of returnees from the U.S., Britain, and Australia, many boasting...

Tesco, the supermarket chain: 1. It aims to increase profits from its services (i.e. financial, telecommunications and internet services) from £400m to £1bn 2. It hired a new CEO for the services and a new head for the bank 3. It purchased Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) share of their personal finance...

Microsoft, software giant, trying to turn around its limping online operations after failing to acquire Yahoo: 1. It will invest 5% to 10% of operating income on online operations, which might increase to 20% to 40% if it is successful - and continue spending until it gets greater scale 2. It will provide...

Amazon.com Inc., the world's largest Internet retailer, which sells products in more than three dozen categories, ranging from power tools to musical instruments. 1. It added electronics and digital-book downloads. It expanded digital sales, introducing the Kindle electronic-reading device last year...

Hedge Funds: They borrowed almost 15 per cent, or about 550 million, of HBOS shares, which faced intense pressure from investors betting on the share price falling, and sold them to be able to buy them back cheaper. [Short sellers borrow shares they do not own and then sell them hoping to buy them back...