Fed stays interest rates
Mumbai: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has decided to keep federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent.

According to a press release from the federal reserve, "Economic growth slowed in the first part of this year and the adjustment in the housing sector is ongoing. Nevertheless, the economy seems likely to expand at a moderate pace over coming quarters," the release said.
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Index shows Japan's growth slowing down
Tokyo: Japan's economic outlook indicator has shown that the country's longest expansion in more than 60 years may be slowing down.

The leading index stood at 40 per cent in March this year according to the Cabinet Office in Tokyo. This matched the median estimate of 22 economists surveyed. A number below 50 indicates the economy may cool in three to six months.

Japan's economy is estimated to have grown at 2.7 per cent in the first quarter, half the rate of the previous three months, as companies spent less in anticipation of a US slowdown.

Japan's economy may lose more steam as US demand for the country's electronics and cars wanes and falling wages subdue consumer spending at home.
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Intel to launch new hardware for Centrino laptops
San Francisco: Intel Corp will launch new hardware for Centrino laptop computers in order to maintain its position at the top of the fastest-growing segment of the personal computer market. Intel has used the codename of 'Santa Rosa' for the overhaul of Centrino, Intel's hugely successful laptop platform brand
The new product is not a processor but is a platform — a whole package of components including the main processor as well as all the secondary chips that add features such as the ability to connect to a wireless network. The overhaul is generating wider interest for the platform because its new products are the first to use flash memory chips, which should translate into faster performance and longer battery life that helped popularize the Wi-Fi wireless technology now standard in the industry.

Analysts said the overall message of Santa Rosa is more features, more performance with little or no impact on battery life.

The company said the new hardware will boost performance and battery life by storing some data on flash memory like that found in digital media players and digital cameras. Flash chips can be accessed more quickly than a hard drive and also use less power.

Intel says it has also improved the integrated graphics of Centrino laptops, adding features and software that make video richer and more akin to what people would see on a television.

In addition, Intel is supporting the latest version of the Wi-Fi wireless technology that can deliver a maximum access speed of 300 megabits per second, about five times faster than the current popular version.
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