Oil steady around $73 amid worries over demand
PERTH (Reuters) – Oil was little changed on Monday, trading close to six-week lows amid concerns about global growth and sluggish oil demand.
Cosmetic Surgery Prices Decline Slightly in 2009 While Demand Increases
MANCHESTER, England, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ — The US may have experienced a 12% decrease in the number of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments, but the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons have a different story to tell. They found…
Strife-torn BA tries to start all over again
Squeezed by falling demand and rising fuel prices, the UK carrier has turned to radical plans to cut the cost of cabin crew staff. Can it succeed?A conference room in TUC headquarters is an underwhelming place to relaunch a blue-chip airline. But British Airways is steeped in aviation tradition and so are its staff, led [...]
S. Korea’s Kia posts record net profit in 2009
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – South Korea’s second largest carmaker Kia Motors Friday reported its biggest-ever annual net profit for 2009, thanks to a weaker Korean currency and global stimulus efforts to increase demand.
China sees room for auto sales growth
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – China’s auto sales will not rise as quickly this year as in 2009, but can still easily grow by double-digits thanks to strong demand and stimulus policies, a Commerce Ministry official said Friday.
Samsung jumps back to profit in 4th quarter
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – Samsung Electronics Co. returned to profit in the fourth quarter as demand for flat screen televisions and mobile phones helped push sales to a record high, underlining Samsung’s rise to the top tier of global technology companies.
Taiwan bonds gain this week as stocks slump; currency steady
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – Taiwan’s five-year bonds advanced this week as a decline in Asian stocks spurred demand for the relative safety of fixed-income securities. The local dollar was little changed.
Gold heads for 2nd monthly drop as dollar’s gain cuts demand
(ChinaPost.com.tw) – Gold fell in London, heading for a second monthly drop, as a stronger dollar curbed the metal’s appeal as an alternative investment.
Money Velocity, Demand and GDP
Calafia Beach Pundit submits: I’ve read lots of commentary about what caused the larger-than-expected increase in GDP in the fourth quarter. Most observers note that the main driver of the 5.7% annualized growth rate was a decline in the pace of inv…
Cushioning a Portfolio with Utility ETFs
Tom Lydon (ETF Trends) submits: In bear markets, utility stocks and exchange traded funds have appeal for the yields and cushion they can provide. Right now, there are nearly 20 utility focused ETFs. How do you begin to sort through them to find the…