| Net auctioneer's profit jumps
EBay Inc., the world's largest online auction company, says its first-quarter profit soared 52 per cent after the company raised fees on items for sale and held more auctions outside the United States. Net income climbed to $377.2 million (U.S.), or 27 cents a share, from $248.3 million, or 17 cents, a year earlier, eBay said yesterday. Excluding some expenses, eBay earned 33 cents, three cents more than analysts estimated. Revenue increased 27 per cent to $1.77 billion as a weaker U.S. dollar and demand in western Europe boosted results internationally. Last year, eBay chief executive officer Meg Whitman more than doubled fees for merchants selling goods at fixed prices. A higher percentage of listings are now leading to sales. "They're still the gorilla," said Rachel Wakefield, portfolio manager for Coldstream Capital Management in Portland, Ore.
Minister blocks auction of Burke and Wills trek relic
THE South Australian Government has barred the sale of a ceremonial breastplate linked to the ill-fated 1860 Burke and Wills expedition to cross Australia. The 20-centimetre brass breastplate, valued at up to $200,000 was found by brothers Eric and Klaus Ganzert in the state's far north-east in 2001. It was to have been auctioned today but state Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jay Weatherill yesterday stepped in to declare it an Aboriginal object of significance, preventing its sale. He said an investigation would determine the breastplate's rightful owners. It was presented to the Yandruwandha people of Coopers Creek by the Royal Society of Victoria in 1862 for the help given to explorers Robert Burke, William Wills and John King. Burke and Wills died of starvation during their expedition but King survived thanks to the care and compassion of the Yandruwandha.
Bidding for second auction of YUKOS assets to close
RBC, 02.04.2007, Moscow 10:38:13.The Russian Federal Property Fund (RFPF) will close its call for bids to participate in the second auction for YUKOS's assets, which will take place on Wednesday. Some 25 assets of the bankrupt company will be put up for sale, including a 20-percent stake in Gazprom Neft, as well as shares of other companies. Gazprom and Rosneft are considered to be the main bidders for YUKOS's assets. No official information has been released about potential bidders. According to unofficial data, an independent natural gas producer NOVATEK may participate in the auction, as well as an Italian consortium of Eni and Enel together with Grigory Berezkin's ESN Group. Ten latest news Other news .
Modern art under the hammer
PAINTINGS by the most significant contemporary Greek artists will be offered at auction by Evangelos Kapopoulos Auction House of Greece and Nicosias Alpha Gallery at their annual Spring Auction this week. The auction, on Wednesday at the Hilton in Nicosia, will offer upwards of 90 artworks, mostly by living Greek artists, as well as several prominent modern European artists. The selection will also include works by a number of young promising Greek artists. Among the major artists whose works are represented are: Christoforou, Arman, Prassinos, Fassianos, Mytaras, Stephanou, Stathopoulos, Sperantzas, Carras, Valirakis, Pantaleon, Manolides, Droungas, Zouni, Pavlos, Sorongas and Samios. Director of the Alpha Gallery, James Christoforou told the Mail that there would also be a few sculptures and small Plexiglas constructions up for sale.
|
