Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Europe and America:A Standard Chartered View

The key question is,how quickly a Euro debt agreement will actually be implemented,said David Mann,Regional Head of Research Americas at Standard Chartered.It's a huge round of detail.As long as the European Financial Stability Fund can be levered up without downgrades or extra haircuts,only then can we feel more confident and that we've turned a major corner.
We won't see a pre-crisis level of employment till 2015.It's a more vulnerable economy.It's more likely you're going to see very weak growth.If you get a major shock,it will be closer to stall speed and negative growth.
We've already seen an incredible ability to cut costs,but we need to see the National Federation of Independent Business survey turn around before we can grow confidence and exceed expectations,in Mr.Mann's view.
Founded in 1853,Standard Chartered Bank's core geographies are in Asia,Africa and the Middle East.It has five locations in the U.S. offering wholesale and private banking to corporations,institutions and affluent individuals.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Managing Director:Where To Shelter Now

We're still very concerned about the situation in Europe,said Adrian Mowat,Managing Director and Chief Emerging Markets Strategist at JP Morgan Chase.What's gonna happen with France and Germany as they recapitalise their banks?We look forward to the G20 meeting November 3-4 in Cannes.
Our advice would be to reduce into that rally.We're concerned because the European Central Bank doesn't seem to get it.At the moment,they're still concerned about regulatory matters and they don't want to grow their capital base.
We need to look out for Chinese inflationary numbers.Inflation will eventually come off there.Our belief is that Europe will get worse before it gets better.Think about capital preservation at this point in time,keeping to U.S. dollar cash,Mr.Mowat advised.
JP Morgan Chase(JPM)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Columbia University View:Occupy Wall Street and Beyond

The uncertainty is huge,notes Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs.Will the euro survive?Will Europe survive?We shouldn't underestimate how deep we've gotten ourselves into this bind we're in right now.
What's happening at the Occupy Wall Street protests is happening all over the world.Those kids are saying it's global.From the Arab Spring to Tel Aviv to Chile,they're saying we need help;we don't have the future.
We need to be attentive to the 99%.The inequality in this country is out of control.We've been on an economic path that's not working.That top 1% is gonna have to do more,in Dr.Sachs' opinion.
Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit said he would be happy to speak with the protesters.Their concerns are very understandable.
The protesters are active in nearly 200 U.S. cities now.In a recent poll,40% of those in the upper income bracket expressed support for the protesters-the most support of any bracket.
Dr.Sachs is Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia,which aims for a sustainable earth,and is a special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Citigroup(C)

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Venture Capital In China

Chinese stocks are over-amplified according to what U.S. markets are doing,in David Chao's view.Mr.Chao,who is co-founder and general partner at venture capital firm DCM,says the stocks are perceived as higher risk.In reality,Chinese listed companies in the U.S. are just as transparent as U.S. companies.They have to follow the same rules.
Chinese entrepreneurs and management are learning day by day.China is characterised by its 500 million Internet users and the burgeoning rise of their middle class.They are starting to spend money.That's a great opportunity.We have a local team in China,and also teams in Japan and the U.S.That's the best way to do it,Mr.Chao believes.
DCM invests in mostly early stage companies in core technology sectors such as Cleantech;Components;and Software and services.Some of its projects include About.com,Pay Cycle and RenRen(RENN).