Travel and Tourism – Economic Impact 2020: Infographic

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During this global pandemic it seems silly to discuss about travel and tourism. But it is important to understand the impact of this industry on the economy of many countries. While travel has plunged heavily this year in normal times tourism is a major contributor to the GDP and provided jobs to millions of people. In some tiny countries, tourism is the only industry to speak of.

The following infographic shows some of the important economic impacts of travel and tourism in 2019:

Click to enlarge

Source: World Travel & Tourism Council

Stock Market Participation by Retail Investors is Rising in Brazil

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Individual investors are participating more in the Brazilian equity market according to an article by Claus Born at Franklin Templeton. He notes that low-interest rate is driving more people looking for yield to the equities. Currently the short-term interest rate, the selic, is at just 2% relative to about 14% four years ago.

So it is not just in the US where people are indirectly forced to invest in stocks with interest on savings earning practically 0%. In Brazil also low-interest rate is leading more savers to invest in the stock market.

From the article:

In this low-yield environment, many of them have started turning to the equity market. The number of trading accounts has been increasing exponentially. Brazil’s stock exchange has seen a surge from around 600,000 accounts in 2008-2017 to nearly three million accounts today.2 (See chart below)

Is this the peak of the trend? In our view, probably not. With a population of more than 210 million inhabitants, still less than 1.5% of Brazilians are currently engaged in the stock market. However, new investors are discovering the potential opportunities. Not only are more women investing in Brazil’s market, up from 22% in 2018 to 25% today, but it is attracting growing interest among the younger generations of both genders.3 More than 70% of investors are aged 46 and under, representing more than 25% of value invested in the stock market.4

Notes:

2. Source: Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (B3). Number of individual trading accounts in Brazil, as of July 30, 2020.

3. Source: B3, as of August 2020.

4. Ibid.

Source: Local Investors Discover Brazilian Stocks, Franklin Templeton

Also see:

China’s Economic Growth After Coronavirus: WSJ Video

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The economy of China grew 3.2% in second quarter relative to last year. WSJ notes that China could be the only major economy to grow in 2020. While other countries including the US and developed Europe are struggling to contain the corona virus, China is able to focus on economic growth as it first brought the virus under control. For instance, a recent article noted that Wuhan, the original epi-center of the virus has seen air traffic and passenger volumes reach pre-pandemic levels recently. This is surprising indeed given that Wuhan seemed to collapse earlier this year.


Source: WSJ

The World’s Top 100 Non-Financial MNEs based on Foreign Assets 2019

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The World’s Top 100 Non-Financial Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs) based on Foreign Assets in 2019 are listed in the table below:

Rank based on Foreign assetsCorporationHome economyIndustryForeign Assets ( in million $s)Total Assets ( in million $s)
1Royal Dutch Shell plcUnited KingdomMining, quarrying and petroleum376 417402 681
2Toyota Motor CorporationJapanMotor Vehicles307 538485 422
3BP plcUnited KingdomPetroleum Refining and Related Industries259 860295 194
4Softbank Group CorpJapanTelecommunications253 163343 306
5Total SAFrancePetroleum Refining and Related Industries249 678273 865
6Volkswagen GroupGermanyMotor Vehicles243 469548 271
7Anheuser-Busch InBev NVBelgiumFood & beverages192 138237 142
8British American Tobacco PLCUnited KingdomTobacco184 959186 194
9Daimler AGGermanyMotor Vehicles179 506339 742
10Chevron CorporationUnited StatesPetroleum Refining and Related Industries172 830237 428
11Exxon Mobil CorporationUnited StatesPetroleum Refining and Related Industries169 719362 597
12Vodafone Group PlcUnited KingdomTelecommunications168 394184 253
13EDF SAFranceElectricity, gas and water155 021340 692
14CK Hutchison Holdings LimitedHong Kong, ChinaRetail Trade143 367155 523
15Honda Motor Co LtdJapanMotor Vehicles143 180188 541
16Enel SpAItalyElectricity, gas and water135 691192 570
17Siemens AGGermanyIndustrial and Commercial Machinery134 634163 598
18China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC)ChinaMining, quarrying and petroleum133 636595 935
19Deutsche Telekom AGGermanyTelecommunications132 443191 723
20BMW AGGermanyMotor Vehicles126 609256 160
21Microsoft CorporationUnited StatesComputer and Data Processing117 460286 556
22Johnson & JohnsonUnited StatesPharmaceuticals116 200157 728
23Apple Computer IncUnited StatesComputer Equipment114 719338 516
24Takeda Pharmaceutical Company LimitedJapanPharmaceuticals113 414118 140
25General Electric CoUnited StatesIndustrial and Commercial Machinery112 676266 048
26Nissan Motor Co LtdJapanMotor Vehicles111 795156 431
27Eni SpAItalyPetroleum Refining and Related Industries109 441138 665
28Nestlé SASwitzerlandFood & beverages105 661132 416
29Glencore PLCSwitzerlandMining, quarrying and petroleum105 588123 568
30Telefonica SASpainTelecommunications105 378133 540
31Iberdrola SASpainElectricity, gas and water102 889137 462
32Bayer AGGermanyPharmaceuticals100 947141 831
33Hon Hai Precision IndustriesTaiwan Province of ChinaElectronic components96 897110 865
34Tencent Holdings LimitedChinaComputer and Data Processing95 453137 037
35GlaxoSmithKline PLCUnited KingdomPharmaceuticals93 156105 232
36Sinopec - China Petrochemical CorporationChinaPetroleum Refining and Related Industries90 492328 607
37EngieFranceElectricity, gas and water89 247179 502
38Fiat Chrysler AutomobilesUnited KingdomMotor Vehicles88 262110 137
39Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Korea, Republic ofCommunications equipment87 435305 544
40Rio Tinto PLCUnited KingdomMining, quarrying and petroleum87 23187 443
41Medtronic plcIrelandInstruments and related products86 70189 694
42Nippon Telegraph & Telephone CorporationJapanTelecommunications85 984212 063
43ArcelorMittalLuxembourgMetals and metal products85 12588 092
44IBM CorpUnited StatesComputer and Data Processing82 388152 186
45Linde PLCUnited KingdomChemicals and Allied Products82 20586 612
46China COSCO Shipping Corp LtdChinaTransport and storage81 190315 020
47Roche GroupSwitzerlandPharmaceuticals78 84685 998
48Orange SAFranceTelecommunications76 795119 415
49Pfizer IncUnited StatesPharmaceuticals76 273167 489
50Mitsubishi CorporationJapanWholesale Petroleum and Fuels76 196166 318
51Ford Motor CompanyUnited StatesMotor Vehicles75 811258 537
52Walmart incUnited StatesRetail Trade74 653236 495
53Mitsui & Co LtdJapanWholesale Metals and Minerals73 653108 789
54Airbus SEFranceAircraft69 722128 521
55China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC)ChinaMining, quarrying and petroleum69 517176 882
56Christian Dior SAFranceTextiles, clothing and leather68 261105 403
57Novartis AGSwitzerlandPharmaceuticals68 049118 370
58Huawei Technologies Co, LtdChinaCommunications equipment67 839123 344
59Amazon.com, IncUnited StatesE-Commerce67 166225 248
60SanofiFrancePharmaceuticals65 149126 641
61Unilever PLCUnited KingdomFood & beverages64 56972 350
62Enbridge IncCanadaElectricity, gas and water63 989125650
63SAP SEGermanyComputer and Data Processing63 96967 642
64Alphabet IncUnited StatesComputer and Data Processing63 589275 909
65Procter & Gamble CoUnited StatesChemicals and Allied Products61 060115 095
66Robert Bosch GmbHGermanyMotor Vehicles60 199100 011
67Fresenius SE & Co KGaAGermanyHealth care services60 18875 271
68Equinor ASANorwayPetroleum Refining and Related Industries60 131118 037
69Atlantia SpAItalyConstruction59 54891 685
70BASF SEGermanyChemicals and Allied Products59 01897 675
71Lafargeholcim LtdSwitzerlandBuilding materials58 61660 376
72Renault SAFranceMotor Vehicles57 983137 240
73Sinochem GroupChinaMining, quarrying and petroleum57 27571 200
74China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina)ChinaChemicals and Allied Products54 090117 011
75The Coca-Cola CompanyUnited StatesFood & beverages54 00686 381
76Anglo American plcUnited KingdomMining, quarrying and petroleum53 70355 922
77Raytheon Technologies CorpUnited StatesAircraft53 551139 716
78Mondelez International, Inc.United StatesFood & beverages53 09364 549
79RWE AGGermanyElectricity, gas and water51 72572 110
80Sony CorporationJapanConsumer electronics50 915212 295
81Saudi AramcoSaudi ArabiaMining, quarrying and petroleum50 558398 434
82Intel CorporationUnited StatesElectronic components49 605136 524
83Unibail-Rodamco SEFranceReal Estate49 09973 021
84National Grid PLCUnited KingdomElectricity, gas and water49 08782 918
85John Swire & Sons LimitedUnited KingdomTransport and storage48 75151 317
86Altice Europe NVNetherlandsTelecommunications48 25553 000
87Peugeot SA (PSA Peugeot Citroen)FranceMotor Vehicles47 86978 371
88Comcast CorpUnited StatesTelecommunications47 137263 414
89Danone Groupe SAFranceFood & beverages47 09950 957
90Schneider Electric SAFranceElectricity, gas and water47 05850 554
91Vinci SAFranceConstruction46 754102 339
92TC Energy CorpCanadaElectricity, gas and water46 42876 404
93Legend Holdings CorporationChinaComputer Equipment46 33189 647
94Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SAFranceBuilding materials46 20456 148
95AstraZeneca PLCUnited KingdomPharmaceuticals45 88661 126
96Air Liquide SAFranceChemicals and Allied Products45 41649 052
97Petronas - Petroliam Nasional BhdMalaysiaMining, quarrying and petroleum45 031153 978
98General Motors CoUnited StatesMotor Vehicles45 008228 037
99Repsol YPF SASpainPetroleum Refining and Related Industries44 93665 036
100Barrick Gold CorporationCanadaMining, quarrying and petroleum43 80344 392

Source: World Investment Report 2020, UNCTAD

A few observations:

  • Among the top five firms are oil majors Royal Dutch Shell(RDS-A), Total(TOT) and BP(BP).
  • Japan-based multinational conglomerate Softbank Group took the fourth spot.
  • China has the largest representation from emerging markets with a total of 9 firms.
  • Overall the list is dominated by companies from the US, developed Europe and Japan.

Disclosure: No Positions

 

14 Facts About The Fantastic City of Paris: Infographic

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Paris, the capital of France is known as the City of Lights. As the largest and most populous city in France, Paris is a city that has been experienced. Millions of tourists from around the world visit the city (at least during normal times) to explore its variety of tourist attractions ranging from Arc de Triomphe to Eiffel Tower to Louvre museum and everything in between. There are over 130 museums to explore. Simply put, Paris is a city that one must visit at least once in their lifetime.

With that brief intro, let’s take a quick look at 14 fascinating facts about Paris in the following infographic:

Click to enlarge

Source: The Local