Asustek Computer Inc (華碩), the world’s No. 5 PC brand, yesterday said it stopped shipments to Russia to avoid the tumbling ruble, adding that it would maintain its quarterly outlook.
“We stopped shipments two weeks ago due to the ruble’s decline against the US dollar,” Asustek spokesman David Chang (張偉明) told the Taipei Times.
Chang said Asustek will book foreign exchange losses this quarter, but the ruble would have only limited impact on Asustek’s fourth-quarter profitability.
Asustek said quarterly laptop shipments would grow 7.84 percent sequentially to 5.5 million units.
“We will resume shipments to Russia once the ruble stabilizes,” Chang said.
Russia contributes between 5 and 6 percent to Asustek’s total revenues, Chang said.
PC brand Acer Inc (宏碁) reportedly said that it has not decided whether to stop shipments.
Acer spokeswoman Claire Yang (楊琬如) was quoted by Unique Satellite TV (非凡新聞) as saying that products have already shipped.
Asustek shares dropped 0.3 percent to NT$335 yesterday in Taipei trading, while Acer shares jumped 2.91 percent to NT$21.2.
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With a tantalizing array of satay chicken, wok-fried mud crab and chilled tiger prawns, the dinner buffet at Singapore’s Grand Hyatt hotel typically sets diners back about US$70. Those on a tighter budget and with an eye on sustainability can fill a box for one-tenth of that price. Across Asia, tech start-ups are taking food otherwise destined for landfill and providing discounted meals through mobile phone apps. About one-third of food is lost or wasted every year globally, and the mountains of waste are estimated to cause 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions such as methane, the UN says.
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