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HTC was the first company to come out with a smartphone using Google's Android software in 2010. By the second quarter of 2011 HTC's share of the global smartphone market climbed to 10.7%, only to see a sharp decline in 2012 dropping to 2.2% according to IDC, as it faced stronger competitors Samsung and Apple. Second quarter 2012 revenues were down 27%, and an expected drop of about 50% in the third quarter. Samsung and Apple invest significantly more in distribution and marketing, and discount prices on older high end models making it difficult for HTC to compete. In 2012 the company's value declined by 50%.

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Ford announced a 5 cent quarterly dividend starting in the spring, implying a 1.8% yield. The annual $800 million payout appears doable because of free cash flow after capital expenditure of $3.7 billion in the 3 quarters of 2011. This also shows Ford is making one more step to recovery.

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Younger next generation franchisees now account for 30% of total McDonald's franchisees, reaching 37% in five years, according to McDonald's. This brings new ideas from the younger franchisees. Some of the ideas compete with older notions of fathers, other ideas have to win the approval of McDonald's management. Management at McDonald's implements ideas that it sees as acceptable for all 14,000 restaurants. Local changes such as including book activities for children and sponsoring community events were tried at one franchise in Tolleson, Arizona, and then adopted by 220 restaurants in Arizona. A similiar situation happened at Subway where local franchisees in California tried new ideas in pricing. Ideas implemented throughout the franchises which originated from young next generation franchisees were the use of credit cards which has increased sales, ordering system which uses pictures which reduces wait times, free Wi-Fi, and Angus burgers.

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HTC Corp., Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer, says strong competition from Apple and Samsung hurt its position in the U.S. market which will be hard to recover. HTC was one of the first companies to market smartphones in the U.S. in 2010, gaining the top spot with 11.8% market share that year. HTC started as a contract manufacturer, shifting to making smartphones on its own brand name in 2006.

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Renault-Nissan acquired a controlling stake in AvtoVAZ for $750 million in April 2012.

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Google is putting its imprint on Motorola Mobility by bringing in new mangers and changing the executive team. Replacements come from Google, Amazon.com and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The new chief is Dennis Woodside, a lawyer and consultant before he joined Google in 2003. He ran Google's sales and operations in the Americas.

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Competition from HTC for the Samsung Galaxy and Apple iPhone. HTC puts out its new Android smartphones the HTC One S and One X in June 2012.

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HTC's declining market share in Brazil and its decision to concentrate on the mid to high priced market segments in India and China. It is pulling out of the Brazilian market where the low priced phone segment is growing. HTC has about 7.2% of the global smartphone sales and is experiencing slower sales in 2012. HTC was a Taiwanese contract maker till recently when it launched its own line of Android smartphones.

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HTC is building its own operating system for mobile phones designed to work closely with China's apps and websites.

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The depreciation of the yen lifts Toyota's financial results. Currency rates account for 73% of Toyota increase in the July-Sept quarter 2013 profits, and are expected to account for 70% of expected increase in operating profit for the full year. Third quarter profit increased to 438 billion yen in the thrid quarter of 2013 from 257 billion yen for the same quarter in 2012, increasing by 70%.