Possible EPL destinations for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hinted he would be open to a move to England in the summer when his contract expires at Paris St Germain. Only a few clubs are likely to be able to afford his wages and here we look at who he might play for - and one he almost certainly will not.

Manchester United --

Ibrahimovic enjoyed a great relationship with Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and should the ex-Chelsea boss replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford it would be little surprise to see Ibrahimovic join him. The Sweden international has never hidden his admiration for his former boss, right down to his delight about receiving a text about his performance ahead of Mourinho's arrival in Milan. United need more goals and he could provide them. However, Champions League football, and its possible absence from Old Trafford next season, could be a consideration.

Arsenal --

The 34-year-old was close to joining the Gunners early in his career and held talks with Arsene Wenger, admitting he felt like a little boy when he was in the Frenchman's office. The Gunners definitely need a striker but his age would count against him with Arsenal cautious of signing over 30s, and with the forward only likely to be available for 12 months the cost may outweigh the pay-off for Wenger.

Chelsea --

Any move would depend on who takes charge at Stamford Bridge once Guus Hiddink leaves his temporary role at the end of the season. Ibrahimovic won the Serie A title at AC Milan with current Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, who has been linked with the Chelsea hot-seat. With Diego Costa having had peaks and troughs this season, and Falcao flopping, there could be room at the Bridge for a big character like Ibrahimovic. However, Ibrahimovic would almost certainly have to forego European football.

Tottenham --

Should Spurs maintain their title challenge and win the Barclays Premier League they will be catapulted into another realm in terms of the players they can attract. It would be a surprise to see Ibrahimovic move to Spurs, going against their policy of signing young players, and whether the numbers would add up for them remains to be seen. However, if they were interested they could be legitimate contenders should Mauricio Pochettino's side win their first league title since 1961.

Manchester City --

Ibrahimovic worked with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona but their relationship turned sour with the striker calling Guardiola 'a coward' in his autobiography. He has praised the Spaniard's work as a coach but has repeatedly hit out at his man-management style. While at Barcelona Ibrahimovic felt Guardiola never trusted him and that he was always behind Lionel Messi. Even though City would be one of the few to afford his wages it is unlikely the pair will resolve their differences to work together again when Guardiola moves to the Etihad in the summer.

Source: Possible EPL destinations for Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Destination XL Group Inc (DXLG) Upgraded by Zacks Investment Research to Buy

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Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Destination XL Group Inc (NASDAQ:DXLG) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. Zacks Investment Research currently has $5.50 target price on the stock.

According to Zacks, "Destination XL Group, Inc. is a multi-channel specialty retailer of big & tall men's apparel with operations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. It operates under six brands: Destination XL(R), Casual Male XL, Rochester Clothing, B&T Factory Direct, ShoesXL and LivingXL. Its stores offer sportswear, dress clothing, footwear, suits, loungewear, neckwear, and accessories, basic items and lifestyle products. The Company also has electronic commerce and catalog operations. Destination XL Group, Inc., formerly known as Casual Male Retail Group Inc., is headquartered in Canton, Massachusetts. "

Other hedge funds and institutional investors have bought and sold shares of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Destination XL Group by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,862,603 shares of the company's stock worth $10,282,000 after buying an additional 74,690 shares during the last quarter. Greenwood Investments Inc. raised its position in Destination XL Group by 2.7% in the fourth quarter. Greenwood Investments Inc. now owns 2,186,612 shares of the company's stock worth $12,070,000 after buying an additional 57,800 shares during the last quarter. EAM Investors LLC raised its position in Destination XL Group by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. EAM Investors LLC now owns 298,954 shares of the company's stock worth $1,650,000 after buying an additional 1,177 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Destination XL Group by 7.1% in the fourth quarter. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,848,336 shares of the company's stock worth $10,203,000 after buying an additional 121,895 shares during the last quarter.

Shares of Destination XL Group (NASDAQ:DXLG) traded up 2.41% on Tuesday, reaching $4.67. The company had a trading volume of 20,432 shares. The firm's market capitalization is $229.38 million. The company's 50-day moving average price is $4.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $5.24. Destination XL Group has a 52-week low of $3.95 and a 52-week high of $6.70.

Destination XL Group (NASDAQ:DXLG) last released its earnings results on Friday, November 20th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of ($0.09) by $0.02. The firm earned $99.60 million during the quarter. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.08) EPS. On average, analysts predict that Destination XL Group will post ($0.11) earnings per share for the current year.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on DXLG. Brean Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Destination XL Group in a research note on Monday, November 23rd. Sterne Agee CRT reiterated a buy rating on shares of Destination XL Group in a research note on Sunday, November 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Destination XL Group presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $7.13.

Destination XL Group, Inc along with its subsidiaries is a specialty retailer of big & tall men's apparel with retail and direct operations in the United States and London, England. The Company operates under the trade names of Destination XL, DXL, Casual Male XL, Casual Male XL Outlets, DXL Outlets, Rochester Clothing, ShoesXL and LivingXL.

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Source: Destination XL Group Inc (DXLG) Upgraded by Zacks Investment Research to Buy

Watch Tom Curren’s free-form exploration of France

Episode 1 of a three-part series exploring the unique lives of surfers who call the Old World home.

For surfers, Europe has always been a destination that offers promise of something more than simply wave riding. The remnants of eras long past often stand right at the water's edge, defying the ocean's penchant for constant, radical change. Unsurprisingly, such an environment inspires Europe's sons, daughters, and lifelong visitors to foster unique approaches to the act and art of surfing.

In the first instalment of our Made In Europe series, Southern California-based filmmaker Matt Payne visits Hossegor, France, where he spends time with Tom Curren.

Tom Curren, from funboard to skim in one drop © Xavier Renaudin/Royan Glisse

Curren, a three-time world champ, first visited France in 1980 as a young pro, and has been an on-again, off-again resident ever since. Payne follows Curren as he explores the French coast, catches up with old friends, and experiments with all manner of finless craft, from lopped-off soft-tops to skimboards.

"It's really fun to be able to go and create virtually anything you can think of, surfing-wise," Curren says. "And I don't feel uncomfortable about it."

Source: Watch Tom Curren's free-form exploration of France

Travel to Europe continues to surge amidst a migration crisis.

This positive performance is attributed to the on-going economic recovery of the Eurozone, the decrease in oil prices and favourable exchange rates that make the region a more affordable option for visitors from overseas.

Growth spread across the majority of European countries, buoyed by Iceland (+30%), Romania (+17%) and Slovakia (+16%). Montenegro (+15.5%) and Ireland (+14%) recorded a substantial increase fuelled by the strong demand from key European source markets. Portugal (+10%), Croatia (+8%) and Greece (+9%) also enjoyed sustained growth. Croatia, particularly, benefitted from their on-going efforts to extend the pre- and post-summer period, while Greece owes its performance to improving flight connections and to the flow of tourists avoiding competing destinations perceived at risk of terrorist attacks.

"Travel to Europe continues to surge amidst a migration crisis, and safety and security concerns. Prospects for 2016 remain optimistic with growth expected to increase by 3%", said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of ETC. 

Weaker performance was recorded in a few markets, directly attributable to the fall in arrivals from Russia. Bulgaria, Turkey (both -1%), Estonia (-3%) and Finland (-5%) all saw a decline compared to the previous year. Montenegro was the only European destination that enjoyed growth from the Russian market (+6.4% overnights). 

Key intra-European and long-haul markets to fuel a steadily strong performanceTravel demand from key intra-European markets continues to thrive within Europe. Growth from UK and Germany is in line with positive economic trends whereas increased demand from France and Italy is resulting from the strong appetite for traditional summer destinations. 

In the US, the upswing of the economy, a strong US Dollar, and the ever-growing consumer confidence contribute to the appeal of Europe as a holiday destination. The United States accounts for 5% of total arrivals (25.7million) to Europe with further growth expected (+6% annual average) towards 2020.

The majority of European destinations also reported growth, +30% Chinese arrivals to Europe, what suggests that the economic slowdown in China failed to deter tourists´ enthusiasm to travel internationally.

The full report can be downloaded here. 

Source: Travel to Europe continues to surge amidst a migration crisis.

European tourism gathers momentum

16 February 2016 08:15

Icelandic tourism is growing rapidly

Holidaymakers are flocking to European destinations in significantly increasing numbers for the sixth successive year, according to new figures.

Nowhere is fuelling this growth more than Iceland, the European Travel Commission (ETC) reports.

Its European Tourism 2015 - Trends & Prospects study shows that Iceland enjoyed a 30% increase in international tourism numbers last year.

Europe's biggest tourism winners

The biggest-growing countries in terms of international tourism are:

- Iceland 30%

- Romania 17%

- Slovakia 16%

- Montenegro 15.5%

- Ireland 14%

Other countries which have shown substantial growth include Croatia and Portugal (both 10%) as well as Greece (8%).

Well covered in Europe

Europe pretty much covers all bases whether visitors want culture, architecture, natural attractions, sun-kissed beaches or parties.

It is a similar story with travel insurance, which can give holidaymakers peace of mind no matter where in Europe or elsewhere they travel.

Travel cover can reimburse tourists for a range of losses - from suitcases to sunglasses, from passports to medication.

Other end of the scale

According to the ETC report, the fastest-shrinking countries regarding overseas arrivals are said to be:

- Finland -5%

- Estonia -3%

- Turkey -1%

- Bulgaria -1%

All have suffered from a drop in visitor numbers from nearby Russia. Montenegro is the lone European exception in the region, enjoying a 6.4% growth in Russian arrivals.

Stat attack

- One in 20 European-bound tourists come from the US, at 25.7 million visitors.

- This percentage is likely to grow a full percentage point to 6% by the start of the next decade.

- The ETC's executive director Eduardo Santander predicts that European tourism will grow by a further 3% this year.

Beneficial factors

Europe is already the world's most visited area. The ETC says there are several factors behind the continued desire to travel there, including:

- The drop in the price of oil.

- More affordable holidays due to better exchange rates.

- The eurozone's continuing economic upsurge.

Source: European tourism gathers momentum

The Return of the Eastern European Middle Class

The headlines emerging from Davos this year show that concerns about inequalities are continuing to grow. According to Oxfam's latest report, the billionaires that are as rich as half of humanity can now fit on a bus. In 2010 they would have required a Boeing.

But the picture is in many ways much more complex. Take the region I cover: Eastern Europe, Turkey, and Central Asia. Over the past twelve years, the number of people earning 10 to 50 dollars per day has tripled from 33 to 90 million. That's not just an increase in absolute terms, but also a proportional rise. In countries where the data stretch back to before 1990, they show that socialist-era middle classes (or their children and grandchildren) have managed to reconstitute themselves.

But as is the case with so much that has gone right in the past decade, these accomplishments are fragiIe. Growth in GDP has not been matched by the creation of decent jobs--growing numbers of workers are without social protection.

Moreover, the drivers of growth in the region are coming under increasing pressures. Slow economic growth in the EU is no longer offset by a boom in Russia fueled by high oil process. Instead, the region is the scene of renewed geopolitical tension and the remittances from Russia that have been a lifeline for many vulnerable households have dropped dramatically since 2014.

Stable jobs are also a serious concern. In the Western Balkans, for instance, up to 90 percent of unemployed women and men have been in that situation for at least a year. Much more needs to be done to modernize economies, build skills and nurture entrepreneurship. Above all, we need to invest in women so that they too can increase their participation in the labor force.

But there are signs that labor market policies are improving. Bosnia and Herzegovina is becoming an outsourcing destination for Western European car companies. In the FYR Macedonia, thousands of jobs have been created thanks to a state-sponsored entrepreneurship programme.

Over the long-term, keeping inequalities down will also depend on the ability of countries to protect and cultivate their natural capital. The region is home to Chernobyl and the Aral Sea tragedy -- among the world's largest man-made ecological disasters -- and is known for its dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. Greening economies isn't just a fancy aspiration. It is an urgent necessity.

Keeping inequalities down will require measures to protect the region's booming population of HIV-positive men and women; to reduce corruption and ensure everyone can access legal services; and to prevent conflicts from derailing hard-won development gains.

The commitment to 'leave no one behind' has been at the center of all the discussions on the newly-inaugurated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). So is the idea that "no goal should be met unless it is met for everyone". If we make them a reality, Eastern Europe and Central Asia will be in a much better position to become peaceful and prosperous.

Source: The Return of the Eastern European Middle Class

Pacific World Global Destination Index Report identifies Italy and France as top destinations for MICE in Europe

MICE Vicky Karantzavelou - 15 February 2016, 09:29 Improved transport links and investment in infrastructure resulting in the opening of a number of new hotels and venues were factors accountable for the fact that Milan and Paris have both been voted as most popular European cities for Meetings and Incentives.

Results from a recent Global Destination Index, compiled by leading Global DMC and Event Management Company, Pacific World, have identified Italy and France as the most popular countries in Europe for meetings and incentives.

Improved transport links and investment in infrastructure resulting in the opening of a number of new hotels and venues were factors accountable for the fact that Milan and Paris have both been voted as most popular European cities for Meetings and Incentives.

Emanuele Pinna, Destination Manager of Pacific World Italy, commented, "Thanks to its geographic centrality, recent economic and political stability and very good direct flight connections, Italy is becoming and increasingly popular destination for meetings and incentives. The destination is also seeing a great deal of interest from Middle East meeting planners, due to the Alitalia acquisition by Etihad in 2014."

Emirates flying daily from Dubai to Bologna from November 2015, has m ade Bologna's Marconi Airport the fourth largest in Italy for global connections. From February 2016 Verona will accommodate three flights a week from Paris Orly International Airport, operated by Transavia, Air France's low cost company.

Cecile Dubeau, Destination Manager of Pacific World France, commented: "We've seen an increased demand for Paris as a meetings and incentives destination from countries including USA, UK, Germany and Brazil. Factors contributing towards its rise in popularity include the impact of the exchange rate for US clients, affording them greater buying power and the constant demand from the EU zone source markets."

PACIFIC WORLD Destination Index Dec15

Source: Pacific World Global Destination Index Report identifies Italy and France as top destinations for MICE in Europe