Content about Asia

Annette Verschuren, the former president of Home Depot Canada and Asia, has joined a Toronto-based start-up that will commercialize energy storage technologies. Verschuren will serve as executive chair of NRStor Inc., a new company backed by Northwater Capital Management.

Fastener maker Simpson Manufacturing Co. reported net sales of $130.7 million for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, a 9.3% increase over sales of $119.6 million for the same quarter of 2010. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based  company had income, net of tax, of $4.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to a loss, net of tax, of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Organizers of the Internationale Eisenwarenmesse -- or, International Hardware Fair -- are seeing growing industry demand in worldwide hand-held power tools.

According to Koelnmesse, the 2010 growth rates in Europe matched the ones in Asia with 8%. Europe is currently the world’s largest market for handheld power tools (EUR 3.2 billion) followed by North America (EUR 1.9 billion) and the Asia Pacific region (EUR 1.5 billion).

Tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker reported net sales of $2.62 billion for its second quarter, an increase from $2.37 billion in the same period a year ago.

Net income for the New Britain, Conn., company was $197.3 million, up from $45.8 million in the second period last year. 

A price index of lumber and panels used in actual construction for March 18, 2011