Top 50 Asian Business Blogs

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I came across this list of 50 best blogs for following Asian business:

Asian Business

These blogs cover a wide range of countries and topics when it comes to business.

  1. AsiaBizBlog: Follow along with the latest news related to business in China and other Asian nations on this blog.
  2. Eye on Asia: This Bloomberg Businessweek blog is a great, authoritative source for commentary on everything Asian business.
  3. Asia Business Media: Mark Cochrane of Business Strategies Group in Hong Kong reports on Asian business to business news here.
  4. Asianbiz: Keep up with sports, technology, business and culture news out of Asia with this blog.
  5. Asia Unbound: The Council on Foreign Relations maintains this great blog, full of the economic and political news you need to know about Asia.
  6. CNN Asia News Stream: CNN correspondent Kristie Lu Stout provides a steady stream of Asian business news on this blog.
  7. Blog of Asia: From business news to how to get around as a visitor in Thailand, you’ll find a bevy of great articles here.
  8. BBC Asia Business: Get your Asian business news from an authoritative source, the BBC, through this blog.

China

Learn more about the business and economic spheres in China through these blogs.

  1. China Business Blog and Podcast: Whether you like to read your news or listen to it, you’ll find some great information on doing business in China here.
  2. Asia Business Intelligence: This Chinese business blog focuses on the technology markets, from green energy to mobile phone developers.
  3. China Business Services: Through this consulting firm’s blog, you can read some interesting posts about what it’s really like doing business in China.
  4. China Law Blog: Curious about Chinese law that might affect your business? This blog is the place to find answers.
  5. China Business Blog: Visit this blog to find news and information about Chinese business.
  6. Larry Salibra: Learning another language can invaluable to a businessperson, something this entrepreneur in the language learning and tech industries knows very well. On his blog, you’ll find updates about Chinese language, entrepreneurship and much more.
  7. China Hearsay: You’ll find great commentary on Chinese law, business and economics from lawyer Stan Abrams here.
  8. ChinaSolved: Learn more about effective management strategies for working overseas in China through this blog.
  9. China Dialogue: With articles in both Chinese and English, this blog can be a great resource for learning about not only the business world of China but its culture and politics as well.
  10. Managing the Dragon: Check out this blog to read some great articles about being a manager in China as well as commentary on the business world in general.
  11. The China Observer: If it’s related to Chinese business, economy and consumerism, you’ll find it on this blog, a great resource to anyone working or planning to work in or with the country.
  12. China Economics Blog: Written by an academic economist, this blog is a trusted place to get insights into the Chinese economy and its impact on the world.

India

These blogs are a great place to learn about Indian economics, technology and business.

  1. India Business Blog: Stay in the loop when it comes to all the latest news in Indian business with a little help from this blog.
  2. MoneyMint.in: You’ll get some great access to articles about the Indian economy here.
  3. Squamble: From management strategies to investing in India, you’ll get a wide range of business blogs posts here that can help you become more knowledgeable.
  4. Indianomics: Sriram Vadlamani, an IT professional working in India, shares his insights into the tech market in India.
  5. The Big Picture: Professor of Finance and Accounting, TT Ram Mohan, shares his thoughts on everything India here.
  6. Ajay Shah’s Blog: Find updates about a wide range of Indian economic and finance issues here.
  7. Capital Mind: Follow the markets, trading and finance world in India through this blog.
  8. One Million by One Million: Follow Sramana Mitra, a leading Indian entrepreneur, through this blog.
  9. The Startup Guy: Find out more about startups in India with a little help from Vijay Anand.
  10. Atanu Dey on India’s Development: From politics to business investments, you can learn more about the growing and changing face of India’s economy here.
  11. Blogworks: If you’re more interested in the role Indian businesspeople are playing on the web, check out this blog to learn more about social media, marketing and public relations.

Japan

Japan’s economy is one of the biggest in the world. Check out these blogs to learn more about Japanese business and more.

  1. Japan Economy News & Blog: Make sure you always know what’s going on in Japanese business by following this great blog.
  2. Japan Inc: From diversity in the workplace to investing in Japanese real estate, this blog covers all the basics of Japanese business.
  3. Japan Trends: Planning on marketing and selling a product in Japan? Keep up with the latest trends here.
  4. Japan Intercultural Consulting: If you’re an American businessperson working in Japan, this blog is a must-read to better understand how business works there and examine cultural faux pas you don’t want to make.
  5. Japan Economy Blog: Follow the ups and downs of the Japanese economy with commentary from Edward Hugh on this blog.

Other Countries

If you’re interested in exploring some other Asian countries’ business, these blogs can help, with posts about everywhere from South Korea to Malaysia.

  1. The Korean Law Blog: This blog will help you learn about the legal issues that may affect doing business in South Korea.
  2. Bridging Culture Worldwide Blog: You’ll find some great posts on Korean global business through this blog.
  3. Malaysia Finance Blogspot: If you’re planning to do some business with Malaysia, learn more about the finance and economics of the country through this blog.
  4. Guide Me Singapore: Here you’ll find a wide variety of posts on business in Singapore, including articles on everything from branding to entrepreneurship.
  5. Picture Thailand: Find business, cultural economic and travel news related to Thailand here.
  6. Thai Business: The Business Exchange has a great archive of articles all about Thai business on this site.
  7. PinoyDeal Business: From e-business to regulations to tech news, you’ll find some good information on this blog about Philippine business.

International Business

These blogs aren’t focused exclusively on Asia, but you’re bound to get some coverage in through their posts on international business.

  1. Global Edge: Find all the international business news you need through this blog.
  2. The Global Small Business Blog: Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you can’t go global. Read this blog for inspiration, news and advice.
  3. ibt Blogs: This site is home to a great number of international business blogs, perfect for finding news on topics like energy, finance and technology.
  4. International BS Blog: Help build a better business strategy in Asia and beyond with advice found on this blog.
  5. Business 360: CNN’s Business 360 is a great source of information for those working in international business.
  6. HBR Blog Network: The Harvard Business Review posts some interesting articles that can help you expand, manage and build your business at home and abroad.
  7. Customs and International Trade Law Blog: Through this blog, you’ll learn more about the laws and regulations that will dictate your business overseas.

Source: http://www.bschool.com/blog/2011/50-best-blogs-for-following-asian-business/

Via: Malaysia Finance Blog

Despite Rising Dividends Some Investors Are Avoiding Bank Stocks

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After the recent financial crisis many banks have shored up their balance sheets and are now raising dividends due to increasing earnings. However some investors are still avoiding bank stocks according to a piece in the Journal yesterday. From the article:

Nearly 300 banks had reduced or discontinued their dividends since 2008, saving the industry nearly $100 billion in shareholder payouts, according to boutique investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.

Now, more than a dozen banks have raised dividends so far in the second quarter, on top of the 39 financial institutions that raised payouts earlier this year, according to KBW research.

After passing regulatory tests to probe banks’ readiness to withstand financial shocks, 10 of the nation’s largest banks are poised to return more than $10 billion to shareholders this year, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Still, some investors who were badly burned by the financial crisis are steering clear of bank stocks.

Despite the improved earnings that many banks reported last month, shareholders worry the fragile economy could crimp nascent demand for new loans. Rising regulatory costs and more-stringent capital requirements may slow revenue and profit growth for the next few years, they fear. At the same time, regional and smaller banks continue to grapple with piles of bad precrisis loans.

“My clients, especially the retired ones, are still scared,” said Frank Shull, vice president at Lara, Shull & May LLC, a money-management firm in Falls Church, Va., that invests on behalf of wealthy individuals.

“Obviously, the resumption of dividends is good, but we would rather not be early” investors in the stocks, he said. “There are still a lot of banks that we are unsure of.”

Rising earnings suggest more dividend increases on the horizon.

The rate of the industry’s earnings recovery is outpacing the amount of capital being returned to shareholders. The banking industry’s dividend ratio—as measured by dividing the payouts by earnings—stood at 25.7% in the first quarter, the lowest first-quarter level since 1993, according to Sandler O’Neill + Partners.

As mentioned in the article above for some investors avoiding bank stocks may be the best option. But those that are willing to make a long-term investment and stomach some risk can nibble at a few of these bank stocks. With hundreds of banks trading on the markets it is a challenge to filter and identify candidates for potential investment.

I have listed ten mid-size bank stocks below with their current dividend yields. These were the top ranked banks from last year’s Top 150 Performers list published by the Bank Director magazine.

1.First Financial Bankshares Inc (NASDAQ:FFIN)
Current Dividend Yield: 1.73%

2.Bank Of The Ozarks Inc (NASDAQ:OZRK)
Current Dividend Yield: 1.62%

3.Glacier Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:GBCI)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.46%

4.Westamerica BanCorp (NASDAQ:WABC)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.84%

5.Republic Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ:RBCAA)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.63%

6.Bank Of Hawaii Corp (NYSE:BOH)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.69%

7.International Bancshares Corp (NASDAQ:IBOC)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.16%

8.1St Source Corp (NASDAQ:SRCE)
Current Dividend Yield:3.02%

9.CVB Financial Corp (NASDAQ:CVBF)
Current Dividend Yield: 3.49%

10.Northern Trust Corp (NASDAQ:NTRS)
Current Dividend Yield: 2.24%

Disclosure: Long GBCI

Sectors to Invest in as the Dollar Continues to Plummet

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The U.S. dollar has been on a downward spiral for many years now. The following chart makes it clear the severity of the dollar’s plunge against major currencies since 2002:

dollar-plunge.jpg

Source: The Wall Street Journal

As the dollar continues to fall many investors seek the shelter in gold which has driven the price of gold to record levels. From a journal article titled How to Profit From the Shrinking Dollar:

A slumping dollar historically has been good for stocks. The classic stock play during periods of dollar weakness is large-cap companies that export heavily: Companies in the S&P 500 index derive nearly half of their revenues from abroad, notes Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at Standard & Poor’s.

Such companies benefit from a weaker dollar in two ways. In the shorter term, profits rise as companies convert their foreign sales into dollars. In the longer term, their products become more competitive in overseas markets, boosting revenue as well.

Barry Knapp, U.S. equity portfolio strategist at Barclays Capital, says big stocks are poised to outperform. He points to the fourth quarter of 2003, when the Federal funds rate hovered at 1%, triggering inflation fears that sent the dollar down 5.8%. The large-cap S&P 500-stock index surged 11.6%.

Large-cap technology companies usually see an uptick in their stock price when the dollar flails, says Emily Sanders, chief investment officer at Norcross, Ga.-based Sanders Financial Management Inc. Of the 10 sectors in the S&P 500, information technology generates the highest proportion of revenues outside the U.S.—an average of 57%, notes Ms. Sanders.

She says she especially likes International Business Machines Corp., whose sales increased 8% during the first quarter, with more than one-third of the gain coming from a weakening dollar. Most of her clients own the company in their portfolios.

The surprise lately has been the performance of small and midcap companies—those with market valuations of less than $5 billion. During the past 120 days, midcaps have seen their “correlation” with the ICE US Dollar Index—the degree to which the two trade together—fall to minus-0.76 from minus-0.55. (A correlation of 1.0 means two assets trade in perfect lockstep; a correlation of minus-1.0 means they trade in perfect opposition.)

Small caps—companies with an average market value of less than $1 billion or so—have seen their dollar correlations fall to minus-0.68 from minus-0.53. Large caps’ correlation fell only slightly to minus-0.69 from minus-0.64.

In other words, as the dollar has weakened, midcaps have risen the most: The S&P Midcap 400 index has jumped 12% during the period, while the S&P Small Cap 600 has gained 10% and the S&P 500 is up 8.2%.

In a declining dollar environment which sectors of the equity market offer the best opportunities?

Stocks in the Technology and Materials sectors are the most attractive in the current situation as they have the highest overseas revenues as shown in the graphic below:

falling-us-dollar.jpg

Source: The Globe and Mail

Related ETFs:

  • iShares Dow Jones U.S. Basic Materials Sector Index Fund (IYM)
  • iShares Dow Jones U.S. Technology Sector Index Fund (IYW)
  • iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (IVV)

Disclosure: No positions