RBC CANADIAN CONSUMER OUTLOOK - Percentage of share of responsibility for ensuring a financially secure retirement

Alberta residents acknowledge that their investment knowledge is limited

TORONTO , May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Albertans on average say they are responsible for most (62 per cent) of their financial security in retirement - three percentage points higher than the national average, according to the latest RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook (RBC CCO).

Thirty-seven per cent of Albertans are confident they will have enough money to have a secure retirement. On the flip side, 35 per cent are concerned about securing their financial future and nearly one-third (29 per cent) say they will have to return to work or continue working after 65 to maintain a steady income stream.

"We're here to provide Canadians with the information and advice they need to make informed decisions about their financial future," said Michael Wood , regional vice-president, RBC. "Thinking about retirement from an early age and putting a plan in place builds a strong foundation for financial security whether they're saving $50 or $500 a month."

However, when it comes to understanding the array of investment options, two-thirds (62 per cent) of Albertans say that they don't know enough about how all retirement savings options work and 44 per cent say they don't have the time to learn and understand their retirement savings options.

Other highlights from the survey found:

The RBC CCO is Canada's most comprehensive consumer assessment of the economy, personal financial situation and economic and purchasing expectations.

About RBC's savings and other financial advice and interactive tools Canadians can freely access savings advice and resources at rbc.com/savingsspot. In addition, all personal RBC online banking clients can use myFinanceTracker, a no-cost interactive financial management tool, to create a budget and track their spending habits. Whether Canadians want to get more from their day to day banking, protect what's important, save and invest, borrow with confidence or take care of their businesses, the RBC Advice Centre can help answer their questions. Interactive tools and calculators provide customized information covering many facets of personal finance. In addition, online advice videos are updated regularly to reflect current trends and to answer the questions that are top of mind with Canadians. With the guidance of RBC advisors who are available to chat live, Canadians have access to free, no-obligation professional advice about RBC products and services and personalized one-on-one service at rbcadvicecentre.com.

About the RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook The survey is conducted online via Ipsos Reid's national I-Say Consumer Panel to 3,398 Canadians (489 British Columbia, 481 Alberta, 539 Saskatchewan/Manitoba, 778 Ontario, 525 Quebec , 586 Atlantic Canada ). Weightingwas thenemployed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. Data collection was April 2 to 9, 2012. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of 1.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

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Albertans taking retirement matters into their own hands: RBC

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) Retirement health-care costs are enough to cause a severe anxiety attack. Even with Medicare benefits, a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 will spend at least $240,000 in retirement, according to the latest estimate from Fidelity Investments.

That doesnt include long-term-care costs, over-the-counter medications and most dental costs.

Plus, that $240,000 estimate is based on average life expectancy for a 65-year-oldthe husband living until age 82 and the wife until 85but average means half of people live longer than that.

In other words, that 65-year-old couple may well need much more than $240,000.

No wonder almost half of wealthy Americans close to retirement said they are extremely worried about the effect health-care costs will have on their plans, according to a recent survey, by Harris Interactive for Nationwide Financial, of people with more than $250,000 in household assets.

When youre young, you cant envision what its actually going to cost you, said Henry Hebeler, a former Boeing executive who created AnalyzeNow.com, a retirement-planning website.

As you get older, thats when you start having the medical bills, said the 78-year-old Hebeler. I missed one day of work for sickness in 33 years at Boeing. And then I retired, he said.

Despite being relatively healthyhe and his wife still ski, for instancehes been in the hospital a number of times since retiring, he said, including for knee surgery. He details some of his experiences on his website.

Get your budget straight

If youre still in the retirement-planning stage, you might be envisioning lower living costsno more commuting, buying business attire, setting aside huge sums for retirement.

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Your retirement health-care tab will run $240,000

SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- HP (HPQ) today showcased its unparalleled line of computers and printers, the first show of resolve for the newly created HP Printing and Personal Systems group.

More than 500 media influencers from around the world gathered at the Shanghai Expo Center to view the new products, which include:

The newly merged HP Printing and Personal Systems group, announced March 21, enables HP to rally more energy and resources in service to customers. The combined organization enables greater investment in innovation and marketing, as well as streamlines HP's collaboration with channel partners globally.

"The products we unveiled today are inspired by our customers, and confirm our passion to fuse form, function, style and reliability into great computers and printers," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Printing and Personal Systems, HP. "We are well positioned to continue delivering innovation in the future for customers in China and everywhere else around the globe."

HP's premier client event, HP Discover, takes place June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

About HPHP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Based on market research of comparable A4 mobile inkjet printers less than $500 as of September 2011.

Ultrabook is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP's businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP's intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2012 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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HP Unveils Powerful and Stylish Technology for Consumers and Businesses

SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- HP (HPQ) today announced powerful business products packed with energy-efficiency, security and performance features designed to meet customer needs across industries such as healthcare, retail, and media and entertainment.

Among the products announced for businesses are:

"HP's new high-performing business products allow our customers to get an exceptional user experience with better graphics and video performance, while still keeping operating costs low," said Jim Zafarana, vice president and general manager, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP.

Lower power usage and enhanced performanceThe HP t410 AiO operates within 13 watts of power envelope over PoE,(1) delivering great energy efficiency for businesses. It combines an 18.5-inch diagonal display and high-performing smart zero client in one space-saving unit. The HP t410 AiO requires no external power supply because it is powered via Ethernet connection. This offers customers a cleaner, more reliable power source and requires less cabling and set-up time.

The HP t410 AiO supports multiple protocols and can be reprogrammed on the fly. Auto-sensing technology automatically connects to the network and searches for a customer's existing client virtualization environments, be it from Citrix, Microsoft or VMware. This allows companies with a mix of infrastructures to use the HP t410 AiO across any of these solutions.

The HP t410 AiO delivers a rich multimedia computing experience using an innovative system-on-chip design. It also features a powerful, energy-efficient ARM processor technology with an integrated digital signal processor that gives the HP t410 AiO the capability to display full-screen high-definition (HD)(2) video, complex graphical content and rich media, while still running at optimum performance levels.

Customizable features for diverse retail environments The HP RP7 is a powerful and versatile all-in-one retail system that offers a variety of configurations and integrated peripherals that can be customized to meet retailers' diverse needs.

"HP's broad retail solutions portfolio, which includes the RP7 Retail System, combines the latest technologies with HP innovation to introduce several exciting new products designed with today's retailer in mind," said Ray Carlin, vice president, Retail Solutions, HP.

The HP RP7 is built to handle the rigorous demands of retail environments and includes a 15-inch or 17-inch diagonal touch-enabled display that is sealed to provide resistance against environmental contaminants, such as water and dust. Retailers can add an optional magnetic-stripe reader, biometric fingerprint reader or webcam, and either a two-line or 10-inch diagonal customer display to enhance promotional activities.

The new 15-inch and 17-inch HP L6015tm and L6017tm Retail Touch Monitors feature multitouch projected capacitive touch technology and offer maximum usability and durability, as well as a sleek modernized appearance. The 10-inch diagonal non-touch HP L6010 Retail Monitor is designed for use as a customer-facing display for order verification or promotional activities, or as an associate-facing display in space-constrained environments.

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HP Unveils New High-Performance Business Solutions

The LIFEBOOK family of notebooks includes the new UH family of "Made in Japan"(1) Ultrabooks(TM). Lightweight and measuring just 15.6mm at their thickest point-making them the world's thinnest(2) notebook PCs with an integrated hard disk drive-the UH family features a seamless, beautiful design and is equipped with a CPU from the powerful 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

From the ESPRIMO family of desktops, the FH family of all-in-one LCD models (FH98/HM, FH/77HD and FH56/HD) comes with a new Quick TV feature that can launch the PC's built-in TV viewer in approximately five seconds.

Fujitsu today also announced "My Cloud," a revolutionary new concept for PCs. In aiming to bring about a human centric intelligent society, the announcement is part of Fujitsu's continued efforts to create a prosperous future through a wide range of transformational technologies. Based on Fujitsu's human-centric approach of placing top emphasis on the user, My Cloud is a fresh concept in personal computing that will offer customers a new kind of experience. My Cloud will take advantage of Fujitsu's portfolio of transformational technologies-both past and future-and will present new possibilities for employing cloud computing.

1. Key Features of the Summer 2012 FMV Series Models

The new lineup includes the latest models from the UH and SH families of LIFEBOOK notebook PCs, which have been designed with a total emphasis on slimness. In addition, the ESPRIMO family of desktops boasts new models from the FH family that feature enhanced TV functionality and a revamped design.

(1) LIFEBOOK UH family: World's thinnest Ultrabook(TM)

There are two new models in the LIFEBOOK UH family of Ultrabooks(TM): LIFEBOOK UH75/H (14" wide-format LCD model) and LIFEBOOK UH55/H (13.3" wide-format LCD model). The LIFEBOOK UH75/H measures only 15.6mm at its thickest point, making it the world's thinnest LCD notebook PC with an integrated hard disk drive, weighs only 1.44kg, and offers 9.1-hours of battery runtime(3). Continuing with its efforts to pursue thinness and compactness, Fujitsu hasutilized Ultra Compressed Grid Construction technology and a durable magnesium alloy clamshell, which has undergone load testing of approximately 200kgf(4). These enable both durability and thinness, making this the ideal Ultrabook(TM) to accompany users wherever they go.

LIFEBOOK UH75/H is extremely beautifully designed thanks to an ultra-thin frame that is only 4.3mm on the top of the LCD screen and 4.1 on the left and right, and a full flat fine-panel. Both models are available in two different colors-LIFEBOOK UH75/H in Satin Red and Satin Silver, and LIFEBOOK UH55/H in Alumite Red and Alumite Silver. LIFEBOOK UH75/H also comes equipped with the latest high-performance CPU from the 3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) processor family.

(2) LIFEBOOK SH family: World's thinnest13.3-inch wide-format LCD notebook PC with an integrated optical disk drive

In addition to boasting high-spec performance that makes it perfect for use as a main machine, the thin, lightweight and long-lasting SH family of notebook PCs also features a built-in Super Multi Drive, enabling it to be carried anywhere at any time, both at home or when on the road.

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Fujitsu Announces Summer 2012 Line of FMV Series of Personal Computers

NEW ORLEANS, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Phiaton Corporation, a premium manufacturer of high-performance personal audio products, is making it easy for everyone to "go wireless" with the debut of its new PS 210 BTNC Bluetooth Stereo Earphones (MSRP: $159). The stylish personal calling and music listening solution combines the total freedom and flexibility of wireless Bluetooth technology with dramatically improved audio performance. Notably, the PS 210 BTNC's enhanced noise cancelling technology neutralizes up to 95% of ambient background noise.

Phiaton's second-generation Everplay-X technology--made exclusively for the PS 210 BTNC earphones--allows you to plug your wireless earphones into most portable music players with a 3.5mm output. Plus, just like the first-generation Everplay, this feature allows you to continue listening to music even if the battery runs out. Phiaton's PS 210 BTNC's provide a calling time of 12 hours, 14 hours of music-listening time and 250 hours of standby.

The PS 210 BTNC features built-in Bluetooth 3.0 technology, which provides greater bandwidth, clarity, and sound quality compared to previous generations of Bluetooth. Now, users can easily answer phone calls without having to remove their earphones using the attached dongle microphone and remote control. The special "Echo-Off" noise reduction technology virtually eliminates most background noise from the microphone while on a call.

The PS 210 BTNC's powerful 14.3mm drivers produce pure and accurate sound. The ergonomic "half in-ear" design provides outstanding comfort and fit.The dongle easily clips onto a bag or clothing.Alternately, there is an included neck strap for extra convenience. Full inline musical controls allow you to take charge of your songs without having to find your device.

About Phiaton Corporation

Phiaton Corporation is a premium manufacturer of high-performance noise cancelling headphones and earphones for consumers who appreciate authentic sound reproduction, eye-catching design and superior technology. The Phiaton brand is created for audiophiles who demand the extraordinary from the consumer electronics they buy.

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Phiaton Makes it Easy for Everyone to "Go Wireless" With Bluetooth 3.0 Technology and Everplay-X in PS 210 BTNC ...

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Boingo Wireless, Inc., the Wi-Fi industrys leading provider of software and services worldwide, today announced the availability of its latest Wi-Finder app for iOS devices. The new version of the award-winning software includes a personal VPN that helps users ensure their data is protected in public hotspots.

The updated app also includes an enhanced hotspot directory that includes not only Boingos 500,000+ commercial hotspots, but also more than 70,000 free hotspots that have been validated by other Wi-Finder users. The app maintains the ability to log into Boingo hotspots and partner networks with a single click, simplifying the process of getting online and eliminating the need for multiple accounts.

Our customers have said loud and clear they want more places to connect, and they want to feel secure when they get online, said Stephen Stokols, vice president of product for Boingo Wireless. Our latest Wi-Finder app adds more than 70,000 free hotspots plus a free VPN service for peace of mind at any Wi-Fi location.

Boingo Secure VPN

As security issues surrounding open, public Wi-Fi signals continue to increase, Boingo delivers a personal VPN service to customers to ensure they can adequately protect themselves against exploitation. The Boingo Secure VPN uses nearly a dozen VPN servers in datacenters around the world to improve performance by delivering the service locally, while ensuring that the vulnerable air link is fully encrypted. Connecting to the VPN is a one-click process that uses the customers Boingo account to authenticate. The service is currently free to all Boingo Wi-Finder users who have set up an account.

Crowd-Sourced Hotspot Quality

The updated app includes more than 70,000 free hotspots in the location search utility that are confirmed usable hotspots based on successful connects with the Wi-Finder app from other users. This crowd-sourced approach to identifying and listing hotspots that have logged successful connects with the Wi-Finder app enhances a users ability to find and connect to a hotspot when they need a connection most. The app also includes a color-coded rating system for hotspots that identifies hotspots as Certified, Trusted and Unverified, which provides the user with additional, at-a-glance detail to assess a hotspots overall quality.

Boingos Wi-Finder app recently received the 2012 About.com Readers Choice award for Best Travel app. Boingo Wireless is a two-time winner of the Global Traveler magazine GT Tested reader survey awards program for Best Wi-Fi Service.

About Boingo Wireless

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Boingo Releases Latest iOS Wi-Fi App with Personal VPN and Free Hotspots

Triathletes often find themselves attracted to the allure of going long. Doing a half or full Ironman distance event seems to be a bucket list race for many who take up the sport. This isn't to say that there's anything less magical about shorter races but for most, our association with the sport is directly tied to the big race in Hawaii.

Athletes et goals. We may have taken up the sport to lose weight, improve our appearance, or simply to get healthier. But soon we realize that we enjoyed the training and started to race. Crossing the finish line for the first time opened up a new world to us; a world where we could measure our performance. We were now able to quantify our results. After all, in that first race, we set a personal record (PR) and our quest to beat that record grows stronger every time we toe the starting line.

When working with an athlete before an event, we often discuss specific time goals. While I try to discourage getting too caught up in time, I know how a triathlete thinks and there's no getting around the fact that there's a specific number on that clock that each of them wants to beat. In this case, we usually set three time goals. The first is what they would like to achieve. Given that things go relatively well, no unforeseen problems arise, and the conditions are favorable, this is a time they would be happy clocking. The next is a "perfect" race goal. This is a goal in which everything went as planned, the conditions were ideal and things just clicked perfectly. The final goal is the fall-back goal. This goal is one where things don't go as smoothly. Maybe a mechanical issue occurs or the weather is terrible and well, you're simply happy to cross the line in one piece.

However, things change when we delve into long course racing. This is especially true for athletes attempting the distance for the first time. In these cases, I stress that time isn't an issue and should be the last thing you use to measure your success. When you're out on the course for upwards of 17 hours, you have a lot of variables to deal with and obstacles to overcome.

Instead of measuring your success by the time clock, assess your effort level. Executing your race plan as designed and how you overcame the myriad of challenges thrown in front of you throughout the day is a much more accurate measure of your day. When things don't go exactly as planned, knowing that you did your best to get past them and continue on truly becomes a badge of honor. At the end of the day, when the time clock is finally taken down and the crowds have gone home, you can rest easier knowing you set a new PR.

Jeff can be found at http://www.CayenneEnduranceSports.com on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CayenneEnduranceSports and on Twitter @CayenneTriCoach

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Measuring success in long course triathlon racing

By John Mylant - May 8, 2012 | Tickers: FCX, NEM | 0 Comments

John is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (NYSE: FCX) has struggled recently as the 3 month strike in its Grasberg gold mine in Indonesia struck hard on gold production. A recent stoppage in mid February of the same mine for a day caused fear to rise in the hearts of investors again and a reactionary selloff ensued. Presently the stock is trading at 36.40. What will it take for the stock to really move up this year?

In the second half of April, Citigroup upgraded Freemont to a buy position with a price target of $45which represents a 23% upside! What will it take to get it there? Citigroup sighted the stock's recent underperformance relative to copper, but will it be copper that lifts the stock?

Copper prices were rising the first quarter and prices are expected to rebound in 2012, as demand continues to outstrip supply for the third straight year. Credit Suisse analyst Stefan Garber predicts that copper prices may reach $9,500 per metric ton over the next 12 months. But there are problems with that price projection looming. A leading Chinese Copper smelter stated it would begin to export the metal to ease the global shortage. Copper prices fell to $8,300 a ton. And the export can carry on for a while in 2012. Copper inventories in China, the largest consumer and importer of the metal, are currently at record levels.

It does not look like copper will be a short term answer to lifting Freemont stock, at least not for the next couple quarters.

It is going to be in the Grasberg mine. If they can make it work this year, money might just pour into it and notNewmont Mining (NYSE: NEM). Newmont has a headyprice-to-earnings ratio of 65 and a low earnings-per-share of 0.73. Does this signify investor confidence or is itsigns of an over valued company? On the other hand, Freeport-McMoRan has an EPS of $4.80 and a price to earnings ratio of 7.9. Could it be that Freeport is an undervalued company?

But it looks like it is all in the gold. At the end of February they had a new labor agreement but were experiencing work interruptions in connection with its efforts to resume normal operations so the mine was again temporarily suspended. But it is doing well in restoring operations at the mine. Freemont officials expressed optimism that negotiations with the government over contract extensions to keep operating in Indonesia will eventually be satisfactorily resolved.

Gold has a good chance of going up very soon! With the new developments in European debt and recession fears, the poor U.S.economic news, and the slow down in China, it may not take much for investors to flock back to gold. This could be the catalyst Freemont needs to start on a bullish run sometime this year.

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Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold: Success is in Gold not Copper

AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire -05/09/12)- The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company announced today that it has partnered with Socialware, the leader in social media compliance and relationship software, to build business through social media. Penn Mutual's HTK Registered Representatives will have the opportunity to access social networks including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to distribute valuable content and build personal relationships with clients and prospects online.

"We are a 165-year-old company that has always been committed to evolving with changes in consumer behavior and providing our producers with the best tools and resources to conduct business," said Rob Bonsall, AVP of Interactive Services for Penn Mutual. "In addition to compliance and social media relationship technology, Socialware provides knowledge, support, education and user groups throughout the process to ensure we approach our social initiatives in a manner that effectively supports our producers."

"Because our clients are communicating through social media, producers need to interact with them there, as well," said Nick Fournaris, Regional Director for Penn Mutual's Southeastern Region. "Personal relationships are important in our industry, and the bottom line is I am glad that Penn Mutual is supporting us in our efforts to do business when and how our clients expect."

Penn Mutual has implemented Socialware software, which is built on the industry leading compliance platform and enables efficient creation and management of a social media presence, distributing valuable content and measuring business results. The two companies also work together on cobranded education and outreach to producers, encouraging them to embrace social media efforts and take advantage of everything Penn Mutual provides to ensure a positive outcome.

"Penn Mutual is a great example of a company that is taking all the right steps to set up their producers for success with social business," said Chad Bockius, CEO of Socialware. "Through our joint efforts, there is peace of mind with the compliance technology in place and the Penn Mutual teams are receiving all the tools necessary to drive business and create an individual presence in their markets."

To join the conversation on social business topics, visit the SocialTurns community http://www.socialturns.com/. For more insight and commentary on the effective and compliant use of social networks, please visit http://www.socialware.com.

About The Penn Mutual Life Insurance CompanySince 1847, Penn Mutual has been driven by our noble purpose to create a world of possibilities. At the heart of this purpose is the belief that life insurance is the most protective, responsible and rewarding action a person can take, and is central to a sound financial plan. The company is committed to helping families unlock life's possibilities through life insurance and annuity solutions. This is accomplished through a national network of financial professionals, who help clients make great things possible. Penn Mutual supports its field representatives with brokerage services through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc., Registered Investment Advisor and wholly owned subsidiary. Member FINRA/SIPC. Visit Penn Mutual on the Internet at http://www.pennmutual.com.

About Socialware Based in Austin, Texas, Socialware provides software that allows companies to empower the workforce and employees to identify new and strengthen existing business relationships via social networks. With unmatched expertise drawn from work with more than 125 enterprise customers, Socialware is a trusted social business management partner. Socialware was named an innovative company to watch by leading analyst firm IDC. You can find out more about Socialware at http://www.socialware.com, as well as on Twitter: @Socialware. You can also read their blog: http://blog.socialware.com.

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Penn Mutual Partners With Socialware to Set Up Producers for Social Media Success