Asia

Caterpillar has reported all time quarterly record profits for Q1 2011, driven by the continuing improvement in global demand for its products and its focus on cost management.

First-quarter revenues of $12.949 billion were up 57 percent from $8.238 billion in the first quarter of 2010. Profit was a record $1.225 billion in the quarter, an increase of 426 percent from $233 million in the first quarter of 2010.

The achievements of the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) over the past decade have transformed Port Louis Harbour into a world class shipping facility. Jayne Alverca reports.

As April draws to a close, the world’s major oil companies are coming out with their first quarter results for 2011, with ConocoPhillips, BP, EXXON and Shell all reporting this week.

Reporting yesterday, the third largest US oil company ConocoPhillips reported a 43 per cent year-on-year rise in quarterly earnings to $3 billion, but said it was disappointed not to have achieved its production and refining targets.

Journalists of a certain age all over the world are feeling a pang or two of nostalgia today, with the news that the last ever manual typewriter has been made in a factory in India.

Godrej and Boyce, the last company to make manual typewriters, has closed its plant in Mumbai, India, leaving the typewriter officially a product of the past.

With many famous names in hospitality presenting uniformity in appearance and approach, Alan Swaby looks at one group of hotels that prides itself on offering superior service and hospitality from breathtaking locations.

Don’t you just love rags-to-riches stories? Well in this case, the story doesn’t exactly begin with ‘rags’—but it’s certainly a tale of a man who punched above his weight, was never afraid to take chances and continually seized every opportunity that came his way.

Raghav Jindal, managing director of Jindal Drilling & Industries Limited, explains to Jayne Alverca why the company should be a preferred partner for international oil and gas corporations wishing to create a footprint in the Indian market.

Brewer SABMiller has revealed in its full year trading update that strong performances in Africa and Asia boosted overall results.

The London-based maker of Peroni and Grolsch said that revenues for the 12 months to 31 March 2011 grew by five per cent, with lager volumes rising by two per cent. Within this, lager volumes in Africa increased by 13 per cent and in Asia by eight per cent.

However Latin American volumes remained level with the previous year, and fell in Europe by three per cent.