China Mad For Star Wars,But For How Long?

China may be having stock market troubles,but it's people have gone out and spent their entertainment dollars anyway.Disney's Star Wars had a more than 53 million dollar opening in China-the largest film opening ever.*
You can't walk into a mall without running into Star Wars,it's been said.Our gross box office there is up 54% on the year,said Richard Gelford,CEO of Imax Corporation.I think there's a disconnect between the market and consumer discretionary in China.Star Wars had a more than 8.1 million Imax opening.We were up about 6% in China last night.We get real time feedback from a thousand theatres worldwide,Mr.Gelford explained.*
China has a massive buildup in debt,added Ruchir Sharma of Morgan Stanley Investment Management.Just when exactly this leads to a meltdown is hard to predict;but this is the main threat faced by the global economic community.The Chinese economy has become so large and important today.*
In the US, what we're looking for in 2016 is that growth forecasts will come down by a percent to just 1.5%.If you look at the history of commodity prices,they spend a long time,15-20 years,correcting the excesses.What you can expect is,an extensive trading range.I doubt we'll get much beyond 10-15% down.We'll probably get back to 40-50 dollar oil and languish there for a long time.*
Walt Disney (DIS),Imax Corp (IMAX),Morgan Stanley (MS)

Walt Disney's New Segment-a good idea or not?

The Walt Disney Company has launched a new combined segment,Consumer Products and Interactive Media.It will be led jointly by the two current presidents of the constituent divisions,Leslie Ferraro and Timmy Pituro.There is also a new laboratory in the segment to develop high tech toys.DCPI Labs will focus on using cutting edge technologies to create new immersive products.
As technology and digital entertainment continue to evolve,a shared innovation strategy will enable the new segment to create unique and engaging products and experiences that exceed consumer's expectations,said Disney chief operations officer Thomas Staggs.
The former Interactive division had developed the Infinity video game,combining onscreen play with collectible Disney character toys.The Consumer Products division had introduced a line of wearable toys that interact with one another by radio waves and other technologies,Playmation,which will be promoted during the Christmas shopping season.
In response to changing consumer preferences in a marketplace increasingly influenced by technology,and as technology and digital entertainment continue to evolve,a shared innovation strategy will enable this new segment.The new structure is designed to share technological expertise and maximise opportunities and efficiencies across two divisions that have increasingly focused on similar objectives of delivering cutting edge consumer experiences and products,Disney said.
Functional areas of the divisions such as Finance,Strategy and Business Development,Technology,Human Resources and Communications,will be combined into joint teams.*
The Walt Disney Company (DIS)

Commentary:Media At Play at The Players Championship

Top world golfers including World Number One Rory McIlroy,Sergio Garcia,Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer have gathered at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach,Florida for The Players Championship,which begins Thursday morning.Tiger Woods and 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth will be teeing off as well.In press conferences,the attention was focused on Spieth and his rising status on the PGA Tour.Spieth denied that he was McIlroy's equal.
I could certainly appreciate if I could be where he's at,but right now I don't see myself there,Spieth said.It's sort of anybody's game to get up there and get even with him.*
For his part,McIlroy praised Spieth:Everything he does,he does it very well.His short game has been phenomenal.Just a very solid all-around player.*
Is he "the one" ? asked World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer,echoing a reporter's question about Spieth.What is "the one" ? If he stays healthy,he can be one of the top players in the world for a number of years,Langer concluded.*
The media have been busy weaving a narrative about Spieth since last season.They miss Tiger Woods' dominance so much.It's bad for TV ratings not to have Tiger winning all the time.Surely Jordan Spieth will be their new Tiger Woods.Now they are adding a new twist:surely there is a great rivalry between Spieth and McIlroy;but judging from the golfers' remarks,that isn't the case.The media often exaggerate in order to draw in more viewers or readers.