By Brian Baskin 

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The rebound in oil prices is coming too fast for some, and too late for others. Brent crude futures traded above $50 a barrel for the first time since November, a "sweet spot" that should rescue some beleaguered producers while not overly squeezing consumers, writes the WSJ's Georgi Kantchev and Riva Gold. But the nearly 40% surge since the start of April means drivers hitting the road in near-record numbers this Memorial Day won't see the rock-bottom gasoline prices they'd grown accustomed to over the winter. And oil prices haven't risen enough to pull the energy industry out of its swoon. Bristow Group Inc., the world's largest helicopter operator, says it expects energy-related work to decline and may cancel some aircraft orders.

Apple Inc. will have to start manufacturing its electronics in India if the company wants to build its sales presence in the country. India's finance ministry won't grant the technology giant an exemption from local sourcing requirements, the latest twist in the technology-world competition for an enormous market that also comes with big regulatory and infrastructure hurdles. India wants to use the interest that Apple and other electronics companies have in the country to attract investment and create manufacturing facilities and jobs, the WSJ's Rajesh Roy and Newley Purnell report. The government decision effectively blocks Apple's plan to open retail stores as it tries to boost its meager share of the country's smartphone market. India's rules demand that foreign retailers buy at least 30% of their materials from local vendors, but Apple's in a bind because there are few high-end components makers in India to buy from.

Supply chain technology firm Descartes Systems Group Inc. is preparing to go on a shopping spree. The company has the potential to raise over $600 million in debt and share issues in order to pursue acquisitions, and CEO Edward J. Ryan says there are plenty of buying opportunities. Descartes' technology is in demand from retailers that must manage increasingly complex supply chains designed to move goods both to stores and online customers' homes. The company is looking to acquire niche technology firms that will help Descartes offer a broad array of services. Meanwhile, retail giants like Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are pursuing massive investments of their own to tackle logistical challenges.

RETAIL

Sears Holdings Corp. is looking outside its stores to pull sales out of a downward spiral. The department store chain, which also operates Kmart stores, has been hard hit by the rise of e-commerce, and fixes like tighter inventory management and savvier procurement aren't doing enough to improve the bottom line. Now, Sears is considering more drastic measures, including making house brands like Kenmore appliances and Craftsman tools more widely available outside its stores, writes the WSJ's Anne Steele. This runs counter to the course many other retailers are taking to develop house brands in the hopes that loyal customers will choose them over online competitors. But with Sears' same-store sales down 6.1% last quarter, it may be time to try something new.

The Logistics Report will not publish on Memorial Day. The newsletter will return on Tuesday, May 31.

QUOTABLE

IN OTHER NEWS

South Korean shipbuilder STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. filed for receivership and is facing possible liquidation. (WSJ)

Weekly jobless claims fell for a second consecutive week, reflecting modest economic growth. (WSJ)

Pending home sales hit their highest level in over 10 years in April. (WSJ)

Dollar General Corp. and Dollar Tree Inc. reported strong sales in the last quarter. (WSJ)

Australia's antitrust regulator said it needed more time to evaluate a $6.5 billion takeover of rail and port operator Asciano Ltd ., raising doubts about the deal. (Reuters)

The International Maritime Fund is questioning South Korea's efforts to save its ailing shipping lines and shipbuilders. (Splash 24/7)

Greater parts variety and added supplier locations have raised complexity in North American auto manufacturing supply chains, logistics executives say. (Automotive Logistics)

Faraday Future is seeking approval to build electric vehicles in California. (Los Angeles Times)

Sales of used dry bulk vessels are spiking as asset prices fall. (Platts)

Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. Ltd. plans to order mega-ships to gain entrance into a new shipping alliance. (Journal of Commerce)

The European Commission proposed rules to make cross-border e-commerce sales easier. (Ecommerce News)

China's Commerce Ministry criticized new U.S. steel tariffs. (USA Today)

Freight rail traffic fell 9.2% from a year earlier in the week ended May 14. (TI News Daily)

The U.S. Airforwarders Association plans to lobby for wider use of dogs to screen air cargo. (The Loadstar)

A judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a beekeeper who became allergic to bee venom after responding to an accident where a truck carrying millions of honeybees overturned. (Bellingham Herald)

ABOUT US

Brian Baskin is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Follow him at @brianjbaskin, and follow the entire WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @lorettachao, @RWhelanWSJ and @EEPhillips_WSJ, and follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.

Subscribe to this email newsletter by clicking here: http://on.wsj.com/Logisticsnewsletter .

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 27, 2016 06:51 ET (10:51 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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