Business watch

Global cellphone use soars

GENEVA -- The world now has nearly as many cellphone subscriptions as inhabitants.

The UN telecom agency says there were about six billion subscriptions by the end of 2011 -- roughly one for 86 of every 100 people.

In a report Thursday, the International Telecommunication Union said China alone accounted for one billion subscriptions, and India is expected to hit the one-billion mark this year.

The Geneva-based agency says 2.3 billion people -- or about one in three of the world's seven billion inhabitants -- were Internet users by the end of 2011, but there's a strong disparity between rich and developing countries.

ITU says 70 per cent of people who use the Internet live in wealthier, industrialized countries, compared with 24 per cent who live in poorer, developing nations.

Court backs Samsung

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A federal appeals court has sided with Samsung Electronics Corp. in one aspect of its ongoing patent dispute with Apple Inc.

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday overturned a judge's order blocking Samsung from selling its Galaxy Nexus smartphone pending a patent lawsuit by Apple.

Apple accuses Samsung of stealing its smartphone and tablet computer technology.

A jury in September agreed with the company and ordered Samsung to pay $1 billion. Samsung has moved to set the judgment aside.

In its Thursday ruling, the appeals court said Apple had failed to show any of the patent violations it accused Samsung of in regards to the Galaxy would immediately and irreparably hurt its own smartphone sales. It said Judge Lucy Koh had abused her discretion in granting Apple a preliminary injunction earlier this year.

The decision allowed Samsung to continue selling the Galaxy Nexus.

Mini-Wheats recalled

OTTAWA -- Kellogg Canada has recalled one of its most popular brands of cereal due to pieces of metal being found in the packaging.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the company is recalling most sizes of Mini-Wheats brown sugar and original frosted cereal sold nationwide.

The food-safety watchdog says pieces of potentially harmful metal were found in the cereal.

The products have best-before dates between April 1 and July 29, 2013.

The CFIA issued the recall with little fanfare on Oct. 7 and has not reported any injuries since.

Agriculture on rebound

CALGARY -- A report by the Bank of Montreal says Canada's real agricultural output is on track to increase 7.5 per cent this year, laying fertile ground for the sector's performance heading into 2013.

David Rinneard, the bank's national manager of agriculture, calls the rebound impressive and says improved demand, prices and growing conditions have been a boon to the industry.

BMO says emerging markets with expanding populations and incomes are a key growth opportunity for the sector.

Producers are also shifting toward higher-return products other than wheat that are of high demand in developed economies.

Canadian growers also benefited from a rise in corn and soybean prices caused by a major U.S. drought this summer.

Although Ontario suffered from dryness as well, generally Canadian growing conditions were much better than they were south of the border.

Ministers reach smog deal

LAKE LOUISE, Alta. -- Canada's environment ministers have announced an agreement they say will reduce smog and improve air quality across the country.

The agreement includes updated standards for air pollution most commonly associated with smog problems.

Some industries have also agreed to emissions limits for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Others, such as the energy industry, are still negotiating their emissions requirements.

The agreement will be overseen by the provinces and is likely to be implemented differently across Canada.

The announcement comes after a two-day meeting of ministers in Lake Louise, Alta.

CP Rail names new CFO

CALGARY -- Canadian Pacific Railway has appointed Brian Grassby to the roles of senior vice-president and CFO, the latest change in senior management following a bruising shareholder battle that saw a new CEO installed earlier this year.

Current CFO Kathryn McQuade will retire as of Nov. 1, but will remain with the company as an adviser to Grassby until next May.

"My decision to retire at this time reflects my belief that a CFO should have a long-term commitment to the company," McQuade said in a statement.

-- from the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 12, 2012 B10