ICIS Blogs

The deleveraging tsunami continues

2008-10-13T11:30:55Z

Sir Fred Goodwin, CEO of RBS, was one of the poster boys of the new banking model. Along with his peer group, he preached the virtues of the 'efficient balance sheet'. Equity was for wimps. The blog warned over a year ago that the 'seeming Read More......(read more)

Soy in urinals

2008-10-13T11:24:08Z

No, you won't see any soybean plant sprouting in men's bathroom anytime soon. This No-Flush urinal does not only saves water but the resin being used is made up of 30% soybean-based resin. US-based Waterless Company LLC , the maker of the urinals Read More......(read more)

ICIS bioresources summit

2008-10-13T08:56:55Z

ICIS (the people that I work for: About ICIS ) will be holding the 2nd ICIS Bioresources Summit , in Hardwick Hall, County Durham, UK on November 25. The conference will discuss the advances in bio-engineering and their impact on biofuels, bio-polymers Read More......(read more)

Hydrogen from sewage

2008-10-13T08:42:21Z

Here's one interesting development in the hydrogen arena. Researchers in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University said they have developed a technology for producing hydrogen gas using several types of biowaste including ordinary municipal Read More......(read more)

Ineos to sell some US assets?

2008-10-13T08:22:26Z

The UK's Sunday Telegraph newspaper reports that 'Ineos, the chemicals group which is one of Britain's biggest private companies, is considering selling assets in an effort to reduce its debt burden'. It adds that 'the company, which Read More......(read more)

EU agrees bank rescue

2008-10-13T07:15:08Z

Finally, as the blog noted with relief last week, there is a workable plan on the table to rescue the global banking system. On Saturday, the IMF warned of potential 'meltdown' if the plan was not approved. In the blog's view, they were right Read More......(read more)

The $700bn man

2008-10-12T11:25:39Z

You're looking at the man who, according to today's New York Times , is now responsible for 'choosing which US financial institutions live, and which die'. He's 35, and the assistant Treasury secretary for financial stability, Neel Read More......(read more)

2009 Budgets

2008-10-12T05:19:36Z

It is nearly time for the blog's annual forecast of chemical industry prospects. Of course, past performance is not necessarily a guide to future outcomes. But it is one of the better guides that we have. So before publishing the forecast next weekend Read More......(read more)

Worse than divorce

2008-10-11T15:20:25Z

"This is worse than a divorce. I've lost half my net worth and I still have a wife," said one shell-shocked share trader at the end of the worst day on the stock market for twenty years. This line came in to me from the US via yahoo messenger Read More......(read more)

Chemical travel - the periodic table taxi

2008-10-10T17:37:58Z

It's a taxi with a periodic table on it! I was driving out of Oxford in the dark last night when I saw this taxi in my rear view mirror. I couldn't stop to get a photo, but I've found it on the web . It's joined the Blog's collection Read More......(read more)

Global financial crisis jokes

2008-10-10T17:26:00Z

As the crisis deepens and chemical markets tumble, the jokes are circulating on yahoo messenger to get the industry through a Friday afternoon. 1 Japanese joke You think things are bad in the USA, but have you heard about the crisis in Japan? Apparently Read More......(read more)

GM, Ford, Chrysler may face bankruptcy - S&P

2008-10-10T16:31:48Z

Ratings agency S&P warn today that a major recession might force the 3 top US carmakers to file for bankruptcy. Clearly they share JD Power's fears, noted yesterday , about the potential for an 'outright collapse' in global auto markets Read More......(read more)

The right image for the recession

2008-10-10T09:07:09Z

The soundbite of former Lehmans boss Fuld being grilled by a US congressional committee about his beachfront home and multi-million dollar art collection made for great radio this morning. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme on my drive in, you got the Read More......(read more)

Is your company truly globalised?

2008-10-10T08:41:20Z

Globalisation is an attitude of mind as what might now be a slightly descredited economic doctrine. Many companies are international but few - from talking to friends and contacts - are truly global in the sense that they recruit senior managers from Read More......(read more)

OPEC tries to hold the oil price

2008-10-10T08:05:50Z

OPEC has called an emergency summit for 18 November 'to discuss the global financial crisis, the world economic situation and the impacts on the oil market'. Its president, Chakib Khelil, added that it was 'very likely' they would cut Read More......(read more)