HSBC: Asia’s Giant Asset Bubble Unsustainable

From a report in The Asset Magazine:

“It is time. According to HSBC, one of the biggest banks in the region, it is time for sharper rises in interest rates and more restrictive monetary policies to counter the disturbing trend of asset prices in the region that are rising to unsustainable “bubble” levels.

In a report entitled “Tayloring Asia” released to the media on April 8, the bank’s economists argue that the time might have finally arrived for monetary authorities across the region to finally start adopting more restrictive monetary policies to quell the potential of a massive asset bubble surfacing in Asia.

The economists say the spectre of a massive asset bubble underway in Asia could threaten the region’s prospects, bringing it to the edge of an economic precipice similar to what the US experienced in recent years.

They argue that the time has come to finally adopt more prudent policies after the massive stimulus spending pursued by governments last year and the willing cooperation of central banks to ease monetary policies to allow many economies to shield themselves from the impact of the global financial crisis.

“You’ve probably read it in these pages first. And you’ll read it here several times more: unless something more drastic is done, Asia is headed straight into an asset bubble,” warns the report by economists Frederic Neumann and Song Yi Kim.” (emphasis mine)

To read the full report go here.

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The Ten Most Traded Nordic Stocks

The following are the ten most traded stocks on the Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange as of market close today:

1.Nokia (NOK)
Dividend Yield: 3.62%

2.TeliaSonera (OTC: TLSNY)
Dividend Yield: 4.28%

3.Volvo (OTC: VOLVY)
Dividend Yield: 2.30%

4. Nordea Bank (OTC: NDBAY)
Dividend Yield: 3.32%

5. Swedbank (OTC: SWDBY)
Dividend Yield: N/A

6. SEB A

7. Ericsson (ERIC)
Dividend Yield: 2.21%

8. Stora Enso (OTC: SEOAY)
Dividend Yield: 3.87%

9. Hennes & Mauritz

10. Sandvik (OTC: SDVKY)
Dividend Yield: N/A

Five Foreign Stocks Paying More Than 5% Dividends

The following five foreign ADRs have dividend yields of more than 5% as of market close April 6, 2010:

1.CPFL Energia (CPL)
Current Dividend Yield: 6.39%
Electric Utilities
Brazil

2. Alto Palermo (APSA)
Current Dividend Yield: 8.12%
Real Estate Operations
Argentina

3. Mobile Telesystems(MBT)
Current Dividend Yield: 5.71%
Telecom
Russia

4. Babcock & Brown Air Ltd(FLY)
Current Dividend Yield: 7.73%
Rental & Leasing
Ireland

5. Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd(CHT)
Current Dividend Yield: 5.93%
Telecom
Taiwan

Economic Roundup of Latin America

In this post lets take a quick look on the economic situation of a few Latin American countries.

Argentina: Capital flight out of the country has slowed from 2009 but still is a cause for concern according to data released by The National Statistics Office. In 2009, $7.47B left Argentina according to Balance of Payments data. Capital flight is an important indicator of internal turmoil especially with respect to Argentina. The political conflict due to the government’s plan to pay down debt is accelerating capital flight again this year.

Brazil: According to minutes of the Central Bank Monetary Committee the reference interest rate is likely to be raised.

Chile: Foreign trade rose 37.5% reaching $8.14B in February. Trade with Asia and Mercosur countries grew significantly which is good since those regions are experiencing rising economic growth and income levels.

Colombia: The GDP grew 1.14% in the last quarter of 2009. The country achieved ten years of consecutive positive GDP growth since 2000. Economists predict a GDP growth of 2.35% this year and 3.58% in 2011.

Mexico: Manufacturing industry recorded a 3.6% in January due to rising exports to the U.S. Mexican exports to the U.S. grew by 25.5% year-over-year in January due to strong U.S. demand.

Peru: Private investment in the country is expected to rise 8% this year after a fall of 15% in 2009.The GDP is expected to grow by 5.5% this year.

Source: CEIC Macro Watch, Latin America

Related ETFs:
iShares MSCI Brazil Index ETF (EWZ)

iShares MSCI Chile Index ETF (ECH)
iShares Mexico ETF (EWW)
iShares Peru ETF (EPU)