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In the The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010 published by the World Economic Forum, the USA fell to number two position from first last year.The report attributes this fall to the weakening financial markets and macroeconomic stability. Switzerland topped the rankings this year.Similar to US, the UK also fell one position to 13th place this year.
“The rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum together with its network of Partner Institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations) in the countries covered by the Report.”
The Top 10 Competitive countries are:
Switzerland
US
Singapore
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Japan
Canada
Netherlands
Among the developing countries India ranks 49th, Brazil 56th and China 29th.
It is the longest automated metro system in the world, complete with luxury compartments, Wi-Fi and air conditioning. But will Dubai succeed in luring sheiks out of their cars in an emirate where gasoline only costs 25 cents a liter?.Dubai’s New Metro Is Fit for a King, But Will Locals Ride It?
The Top 50 ranks the top publicly traded companies listed on the stock exchanges of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan, as compiled at the close of business on April 8. Top Gulf Companies 2009
GDP Fetishism – by Joseph E. Stiglitz
Striving to revive the world economy while simultaneously responding to the global climate crisis has raised a knotty question: Are statistics giving us the right “signals†about what to do? In our performance-oriented world, measurement issues have taken on increased importance. What we measure affects what we do.
No quick end to the recession
Consumer credit will hold back economy for years
Declaring the end to the economic recession in light of the sharp fall in consumer credit conjures up images of former President Bush aboard the Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in May 2003 declaring the end to “major combat” in Iraq.
Divining the future prosperity of Asia through tortoise shells and tea leaves of the past or market indices of the present yield equally questionable results. Talk of an Asia-led global recovery, based principally on stock-market performance and a very modest uptick in exports to China, overstates the effects of stimulus spending and the as yet unsolved restructuring challenges ahead for most of the export-oriented region.Which Way Up for Asia?
Dubai Metro
The Top 250 Global Energy Companies for 2009 will be announced by Platts, the highly respected energy consultancy, in November. Some of the companies from emerging markets in Asia are expected to move up in this list compared to last year’s rankings.
Crude oil futures for October delivery traded at above $72 in the New York Mercantile Exchange yesterday. Due to rising domestic consumption and infrastructure spending, demand for energy in Asian countries will go up. As we wait for the 2009 rankings, lets take a look at the companies that made it to the list last year.
The Top 20 Energy Companies of Asia in 2008:
Source: Platts
Chinese and Indian companies dominate the above list. The two large Chinese oil companies listed in the New York Stock Exchange are CNOOC Ltd.(CEO) and PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PTR). All the other companies do not trade in the organized U.S. exchanges. Many of the Asian energy companies are still owned by the state. Hence governments have to fast-track deregulation and public listing of these companies.
The U.S. food giant Kraft Foods (KFT) has made a £10.2bn bid ($16.7 billion) to acquire Cadbury (CBY), the most famous confectionery company of U.K. The deal values Cadbury share at 745 pence a share.(Note:1 British Pound (£)= 100 pence)
Cadbury’s board quickly rejected the offer saying that saying that the deal undervalues the company. Some of the large shareholders including Legal and General, one of U.K.’s top investment and insurance services company, are backing the board. Shareholders want at least 800 pence a share. Now other companies such as Nestle and Hershey may join the battle for the control of Cadbury. If Kraft is successful with this takeover bid, the global food industry will be changed for ever. So what are the largest food and beverage companies in the world?
The Dow Jones Food & Beverage Titans 30 Index contains the leading companies in the global food and beverage sector. As of August 31, 2009 the index is up 14.38%. Last year when financials were down heavily, this index lost 25.85%. The top 10 components are listed below:
1.Company: Nestle S.A. (OTC: NSRGY)
Country: Switzerland
Current Yield: 3.02%
2.Company: Pepsi (PEP)
Country: USA
Average Annual Earnings Growth (5 years): 9.44%
3.Company: Coca-Cola Co.(KO)
Country: USA
Average Annual Earnings Growth (5 years): 7.08%
4.Company: Monsanto Co. (MON)
Country: USA
Current Yield: 1.29%
5.Company: Unilever N.V. (UN)
Country: The Netherlands
Current Yield: 5.11%
Average Annual Earnings Growth (5 years): 11.59%
6.Company: Diageo Plc.(DEO)
Country: USA
Current Yield: 4.57%
Average Annual Earnings Growth (5 years): 3.04%
7.Company: Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT)
Country: USA
Current Yield: 4.13%
Average Annual Earnings Growth (5 years): (8.94%)
8.Company: Unilever Plc.(UL)
Country: U.K.
Current Yield: 4.56%
9. Company: Danone S.A.(OTC:DANOY)
Country: France
Current Yield: 3.13%
10.Company: Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V.(OTC:AHBIY)
Country: Belgium
Current Yield: No regular dividends paid
Cadbury’s portfolio includes brands like Bourn Vita, Dairy Milk, Halls, Trident, etc. These brands are highly popular in many emerging countries especially in the former British colonies.Any acquirer of Cadbury is sure to benefit from its brand values.