1. Bear hugs After swallowing markets from Germany to China, the bears reached U.S. shores in December. Markets there are fighting back but the outlook is not great. For one, growing numbers of global indices have notched up the 20 percent peak-to-trough drop denoting a bear market. U.S. stocks, which seemed invincible until mid-year, have posted the worst December performance since the Great Depression. Second, the world economic outlook is steadily darkening and upcoming PMI data should confirm that. Sure, the U.S. economy is still expanding nicely. But when high-growth, investor-darling tech stocks fall prey, it shows optimism about growth is fizzling. And segments such as the Russell 2000 small-cap benchmark are stuck deep in the bears’ lair. Small firms often carry higher debt loads than larger peers so falling share prices highlight credit risks. In Europe, Germany’s DAX fell to the bears in early December and the euro zone bank and auto sectors are down a whopping 40 … [Read more...] about Take Five: The Year of the Bear! World markets themes for the week ahead
World market indices
Vietnam struggles to export fruit to demanding markets
Viet Nam has exported its fruit to high-standard markets in recent years, such as the US, the European Union and Japan, but increasing export volume is no easy task. Vietnamese fruit face competition in quality, design and price with fruit from other exporting countries, according to experts. For instance, Viet Nam exports six kinds of fresh fruit to the US, including lychee, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, star apple and mango, but those have occupied a very small market share at about 3 per cent of total US fruit imports. According to experts, the low export volume is due to high costs of transport, preservation, quarantine and irradiation treatment for Vietnamese fresh fruit, reducing their competitiveness. Therefore, to expand market share in the coming time, Viet Nam should focus on processed products such as juice, dried and canned products, and especially organic products. Vietnamese fruit meeting international standards required at least five years of negotiation to enter … [Read more...] about Vietnam struggles to export fruit to demanding markets
Việt Nam struggles to export fruit to demanding markets
Việt Nam has exported its fruit to high-standard markets in recent years, such as the US, the European Union and Japan, but increasing export volume is no easy task.– Photo vietnambiz.vn HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam has exported its fruit to high-standard markets in recent years, such as the US, the European Union and Japan, but increasing export volume is no easy task. Vietnamese fruit face competition in quality, design and price with fruit from other exporting countries, according to experts. For instance, Việt Nam exports six kinds of fresh fruit to the US, including lychee, longan, rambutan, dragon fruit, star apple and mango, but those have occupied a very small market share at about 3 per cent of total US fruit imports. According to experts, the low export volume is due to high costs of transport, preservation, quarantine and irradiation treatment for Vietnamese fresh fruit, reducing their competitiveness. … [Read more...] about Việt Nam struggles to export fruit to demanding markets
Firms are teaming up to excel in insurance world
Firms are teaming up to excel in insurance world The firm’s CEO Khamsaya Soukhavong spoke to VIR about the company’s vision to grow sustainably in the Vietnamese market. Could you tell us about the development strategy of Mirae Asset Prévoir? Khamsaya Soukhavong Vietnam’s economy achieved a high growth rate and generally stable macro-economic environment in 2017. The insurance market has itself maintained a high growth rate of around 20 per cent with great potential to develop, as Vietnamese people have increasingly better incomes and a growing awareness of the necessity of insurance. Given these circumstances, Mirae Asset Prévoir (formerly known as Prévoir Vietnam) aims to increase its investment in key resources like professionals, technology, distribution, products, and services, to capture the growth opportunities of the market and anticipate its needs as well as those of the target customers. Shopping behaviours of consumers have been … [Read more...] about Firms are teaming up to excel in insurance world
Markets rise as Xi calms trade war fears
Stock markets across the world sprang higher Tuesday following a conciliatory speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping that reassured investors a trade war with the United States could be avoided. Following boosts to stock market indices across Asia and Europe, U.S. benchmarks also shot higher, with the Dow up more than two percent approaching midday. "U.S. stocks are higher in early action, with trade war concerns being tamped down by a conciliatory speech from Chinese President Xi, though uncertainty toward the White House continues to fester," Charles Schwab analysts said in a note. Xi, in a speech at the Boao Forum, pledged on Tuesday to lower tariffs on auto imports this year and take other steps to open the world's number two economy "wider and wider," addressing major complaints by the United States in an escalating trade row. The comments follow a series of tit-for-tat threats by the U.S. and China to impose retaliatory tariffs on one another that have rattled markets in recent … [Read more...] about Markets rise as Xi calms trade war fears