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China focuses on domestic growth

In September, the blog wondered whether "China's interest in remaining the manufacturing capital of the world may be starting to wane". Yesterday , Lou Jiwei, the chairman of China's sovereign wealth fund (China Investment Corporation) confirmed the new focus on domestic growth. He...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 12-03-2008
Japan's industrial output collapses as exports dive

Japan has an ageing population. Since 1990, it has relied on exports to boost its economy. Yesterday , official figures showed industrial production is now being badly affected by the global recession. Output fell 3.1% in October, and a 6.4% decline is expected in November. Observers forecast the September...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-30-2008
US equities and crude oil follow each other

An interesting note from PetroMatrix highlights the close linkage that has now developed between changes in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and WTI crude oil prices. The chart, showing market action on Thursday, makes the point very clearly. PetroMatrix's analysis suggests that "the correlation...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-18-2008
Survival tips for CFOs

The Financial Times series on surviving the downturn focuses this week on CFOs . It includes advice from Feike Sijbesma, CEO of DSM, who suggests that "you need to see how creditable your debtors are, very quickly", and advises that "maintaining a good relationship with your creditors...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-14-2008
Russia's economy stalls

A few months ago, Russia's economy seemed to be recovering from its problems in the late 1990's. High prices meant oil revenues were increasing, and the currency was strong. Now, the combination of the oil price collapse and the credit crunch has reversed the position. Yesterday , the central...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-12-2008
The blog's forecasting record

The blog's forecasting record is reviewed in ICIS Chemical Business this week . The blog's aim is to "highlight relevant information for the busy executive, and to provide relevant and actionable analysis of key issues". The article particularly notes the blog's willingness to challenge...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-12-2008
G-20 tries to support growth

The G-20 was created in 1999, after the financial crises that had hit emerging countries from 1997 onwards. It includes the G7 group of major industrial companies, plus the main emerging economies, including the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China). Its ministerial meeting this weekend became...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-10-2008
Obama wins, Bush stays in office

Sen. Barack Obama duly won a landslide victory in yesterday's US Presidential election, but will not take office until 20 January. I suggested last month in ICB, that "this delay, at such a critical moment, is not good news for chemical companies or for their customers". The blog therefore...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 11-05-2008
"Basically, orders just stopped"

The moment the blog has long feared has now begun to happen. Celanese chairman David Weidman said on Tuesday that acetic acid prices in Asia had dropped sharply in recent weeks. "Basically, orders just stopped", he added. It is almost certain that this moment will now be repeated in other product...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 10-23-2008
The last few days

There are clearly a lot of critical developments at the moment. So I thought it might be helpful to index recent postings: Financial crisis US to follow UK in buying bank shares 'Incompetence and denial' Iceland calls in IMF Europe, N America, China cut interest rates The zeitgeist continues...

Posted to ICIS Blogs (Weblog) by Anonymous on 10-10-2008

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