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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014, new year, 2014, new year message, happy new year messages, new year quotes, new year text  quotes, New year image, new year logo, New year pictures


Goodbye to the year 2013
Let us leave the Memories of the Past behind
We now Welcome The Brand New Year of 2014
Let us all Look Forward
To a year Full Of Promises and Love.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Dollar Gains vs Yen in Asia

The US dollar soar against Yen to a 5-year high in trading in Asia Thursday because of a strong Japanese share prices. US dollar climb to 104.85 yen in early trade, its highest since October 2008, before settling at 104.71 yen.

On Wednesday, it was 104.39 Yen. Trading in New York is close for Christmas holiday. The Euro stands at $1.3679 and 143.27 yen against $1.3668 and 142.71 yen on Wednesday in Tokyo.

Strong Japanese stock prices were a major market-moving factor. The benchmark Nikkei index ended at a six-year high of 16,174.44, up 1.03 per cent.

Many stock markets globally have been rising as more signs of a US economic recovery emerge.

In other news, China will aim for 7.5% growth in 2014 as exports recover. Their growth will rely on a steady recovery of China's exports next year, they benefited on the stronger demand from developed economies, the commerce ministry said.








Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

May this day bring you health and success. May you and your family experience God’s loving embrace. Merry Christmas to all!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

As Fed Deflates Gold Plunges Below $1,200

Prices of Gold an ounce dropped below $1,200 which is a 5 month low at the time that the Federal Reserve pare down the economic stimulus that reduced that reduce the demand for haven assets.  

The stimulus propped up the prices of gold to 70% from December 2008 to June 2011 as the Fed expanded its balance sheet through debt purchases that fueled expectations of accelerated inflation and a weaker dollar.

Bullion for immediate delivery is down by 1% to $1,205.98 an ounce by 10:31 a.m. in London after dropping as much as 1.5% to $1,199.63 an ounce, the lowest since June 28. Prices tumbled into a bear market in April and are heading for the first annual drop in 13 years, as investors lost faith in gold. Prices plunged as much as 38% since reaching a record $1,921.15 an ounce in September 2011.

Gold exchange-traded products lost $72.44 billion in value since the start of the year and mining companies wrote down at least $26 billion after investor appetite waned.

Friday, December 13, 2013

US stocks Falls

On Thursday US stocks closed lower after a good retail sales report that raised speculation that the US Federal Reserve could soon lessen its stimulus program.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 104.10 points (0.66 %) to 15,739.43.

The broad-based S&P 500 declined 6.72 (0.38 %) to 1,775.50, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 5.41 (0.14 percent) at 3,998.40

Thursday marked the third straight day of losses after strong gains throughout the year.

The retail sales data follows better economic reports on growth and unemployment. These reports have led to speculation the Federal Government might lessen its $85 billion a month bond-buying program at its policy meeting that wraps up Wednesday.

Hotel chain Hilton Worldwide made a successful return to the stock market, gaining 7.5 percent to $21.50 on its first day of trading following its IPO price of $20.

Social networking company Twitter go up by 5.7% after it unveiled a new form of online advertising through its MoPub platform.

Facebook rise 5.0% after the S&P 500 announced the company would be added to the prestigious index after the close of trade Friday.

Technology company Oracle fell 2.8% after RBC Capital slashed its rating to "sector perform" from "outperform," citing tough competition from other cloud computing vendors and spending concerns in China. Morgan Stanley also downgraded Oracle due to uncertain growth prospects.

Women's sports attire chain Lululemon Athletica dived 11.7% after issuing a disappointing profit forecast for the fourth quarter. Lululemon projected profits of 78-80 cents per share, below the 84 cents seen by analysts.

General Motors fell 0.3% after announcing it was selling its remaining stakes in Ally Financial and French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 2.88 percent from 2.84 percent Wednesday, while the 30-year increased to 3.90% from 3.88%. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Euro Performs, while China Outpace others

The Euro are gaining on both the yen and U.S. dollar on Wednesday, while Shanghai stocks shake off geopolitical concerns to outdo others in the region.

European stocks were poised for a subdued start with financial spreadbetters expecting flat to small gains for Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE, Germany's DAX .GDAXI and France's CAC 40 .FCHI.

The single currency touched a four-year peak against the yen and a one-month high on the dollar as speculators wrestled with major chart resistance at 138.00 yen and $1.3600. A break here would likely open the way to further gains for euro bulls.

While most share markets were subdued after a flat finish on Wall Street, China's CSI300 .CSI300 of leading Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares stood out with a 0.9 percent gain.

Investors there seemed unperturbed by the step up in tensions over Beijing's demands that airlines inform them when flying over disputed islands in the East China Sea, a move the White House termed "unnecessarily inflammatory."

The United States responded on Tuesday by flying two unarmed B-52 bombers over the region, while ANA and Japan Airlines (9201.T) stopped sending Chinese authorities their flight plans for routes that pass through the zone.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Regulators See Value in Bitcoin Digital Currency

Financial regulators, law enforcement, and even the chairman of the Federal Reserve show support for digital currencies at a Senate hearing.

Bitcoin is a crypto-currency that is designed to be use on the Internet. It has gained support at a U.S. Senate hearing on Monday including law enforcement, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and financial regulators.

The value of the currency skyrocketed after the senate hearing.

Interested observers might have expected yesterday’s hearing on the potential risks, threats, and promises of virtual currencies to presage a regulatory crackdown: the hearing came just a month after the bust of Silk Road, a notorious online market that accepted bitcoins for guns, drugs, and other illicit goods. Though the hearing was nominally about digital currencies in general, the focus was really on Bitcoin, a currency that uses cryptographic techniques to allow money transfers directly between peers, rather than through a central authority like a bank or PayPal.


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Investors welcome Twitter

Investors welcome Twitter to the New York Stock Exchange, and U.S. stock futures traded with moderate losses.

Twitter is a micro-blogging service, they will begin trading Thursday under the TWTR symbol. The company priced its shares at $26 each on Wednesday, which means it will raise around $2.1 billion from the IPO amid strong demand.

Dow Jones industrial average index futures, Standard & Poor's 500 index futures and Nasdaq index futures were all down by more or less 0.1%.

Majority of Asian stock markets are weak on Thursday, with a cautious mood prevailing ahead of key U.S. data that will provide further clues on when the Federal Reserve will cut monetary stimulus. The Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8% in Japan.

The major European benchmarks were trading mostly flat. Germany's DAX 30 index was down 0.1% and the FTSE 100 index fell by a similar amount in the United Kingdom.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

World Bank: Singapore is the Best Place to Run a Business, HK second

Singapore is the world’s best place to run a business according to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Hong Kong is on second place despite problems on their real estate regulations.

The rankings done yearly score 189 economies on 10 indicators, focusing on the conditions faced by small or medium-sized businesses.

New Zealand is third, United States bagged the fourth place, while Denmark is fifth. The top five retained their positions from a year ago. The mainland China rose to 96th from an adjusted ranking of 99th.
Chad is the worst place to do business, claiming the position which Central African Republic holds last year.



  1. Singapore
  2. Hong Kong SAR, China  
  3. New Zealand           
  4. United States  
  5. Denmark         
  6. Malaysia         
  7. Korea, Rep.    
  8. Georgia           
  9. Norway
  10. United Kingdom        
  11. Australia         
  12. Finland
  13. Iceland
  14. Sweden
  15. Ireland 
  16. Taiwan, China  
  17. Lithuania         
  18. Thailand         
  19. Canada           
  20. Mauritius        
  21. Germany         
  22. Estonia
  23. United Arab Emirates          
  24. Latvia  
  25. Macedonia, FYR
  26. Saudi Arabia 
  27. Japan  
  28. Netherlands    
  29. Switzerland      
  30. Austria
  31. Portugal          
  32. Rwanda         
  33. Slovenia         
  34. Chile   
  35. Israel   
  36. Belgium           
  37. Armenia         
  38. France 
  39. Cyprus
  40. Puerto Rico (U.S.)  
  41. South Africa  
  42. Peru    
  43. Colombia
  44. Montenegro

  1. Poland
  2. Bahrain
  3. Oman  
  4. Qatar  
  5. Slovak Republic         
  6. Kazakhstan     
  7. Tunisia 
  8. Spain   
  9. Mexico
  10. Hungary         
  11. Panama           
  12. Botswana        
  13. Tonga  
  14. Bulgaria         
  15. Brunei Darussalam    
  16. Luxembourg  
  17. Samoa 
  18. Fiji      
  19. Belarus
  20. St. Lucia
  21. Italy
  22. Trinidad and Tobago           
  23. Ghana 
  24. Kyrgyz Republic         
  25. Turkey
  26. Azerbaijan       
  27. Antigua and Barbuda         
  28. Greece
  29. Romania         
  30. Vanuatu
  31. Czech Republic         
  32. Mongolia
  33. Dominica        
  34. Moldova
  35. Guatemala       
  36. Seychelles       
  37. San Marino
  38. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  39. Zambia
  40. Bahamas, The
  41. Sri Lanka  
  42. Kosovo
  43. Morocco       
  44. Uruguay         
  45. Croatia
  46. Albania
  47. Barbados
  48. Russian Federation
  49. Serbia
  50. Jamaica           
  51. Maldives        
  52. China  
  53. Solomon Islands 
  54. Namibia         
  55. Vietnam        
  56. Palau     
  57. St. Kitts and Nevis  
  58. Costa Rica    
  59. Malta      
  60. Kuwait   
  61. Nepal     
  62. Belize     
  63. Grenada 
  64. Philippines
  65. Paraguay           
  66. Pakistan
  67. Lebanon
  68. Ukraine  
  69. Papua New Guinea 
  70. Marshall Islands 
  71. Guyana  
  72. Brazil     
  73. Dominican Republic         
  74. El Salvador        
  75. Jordan  
  76. Indonesia
  77. Cape Verde  
  78. Kiribati   
  79. Swaziland         
  80. Nicaragua         
  81. Ethiopia 
  82. Argentina           
  83. Honduras           
  84. Egypt, Arab Rep.
  85. Kenya
  86. Bangladesh        
  87. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  88. Uganda  
  89. Yemen, Rep.    
  90. India
  91. Ecuador 
  92. Lesotho 
  93. Cambodia         
  94. West Bank and Gaza
  95. Mozambique      
  96. Burundi  
  97. Bhutan   
  98. Sierra Leone  
  99. Tajikistan         
  100. Liberia   
  101. Tanzania
  102. Uzbekistan        
  103. Nigeria   
  104. Madagascar      
  105. Sudan    
  106. Gambia, The
  107. Iraq      
  108. Iran, Islamic Rep.
  109. Algeria   
  110. Burkina Faso    
  111. Mali        
  112. Micronesia, Fed. Sts.     
  113. Togo     
  114. Comoros
  115. Lao PDR    
  116. Djibouti  
  117. Suriname           
  118. Bolivia   
  119. Gabon    
  120. Afghanistan        
  121. Syrian Arab Republic         
  122. Equatorial Guinea 
  123. Côte d'Ivoire
  124. Cameroon         
  125. São Tomé and Príncipe         
  126. Zimbabwe         
  127. Malawi   
  128. Timor-Leste   
  129. Mauritania         
  130. Benin     
  131. Guinea   
  132. Niger      
  133. Haiti       
  134. Senegal  
  135. Angola   
  136. Guinea-Bissau 
  137. Venezuela, RB
  138. Myanmar
  139. Congo, Dem. Rep.
  140. Eritrea   
  141. Congo, Rep.    
  142. South Sudan  
  143. Libya     
  144. Central African Republic         
  145. Chad      

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

US Dollar Slightly Up

(Reuters) - The dollar recovered a little from an eight-month low and shares began cautiously on Tuesday as investors anticipate the delayed U.S. jobs data. The US dollar has been battered lately by a budget fight in Washington that put the country close to a default and by the Fed opposed cutting its stimulus in September.

By 0800 GMT the US dollar was holding up 0.1% at $1.3674 against the euro, off an 8-month low of $1.3704 marked on Friday, and gained by similar margin against the yen, at 98.31 yen, adding to Monday's 0.4 percent bounce.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Rates rise at weekly US Treasury auction

WASHINGTON  — Short-term Treasury bills interest rates shoot up to it's highest levels since late August in Monday's auction.

$35 billion in three-month bills were auctioned by the Treasury Department at a discount rate of 0.035%. Last week the discount rate was 0.010%. While the 30 billion in six-month bills was auctioned at a discount rate of 0.060% which has risen from 0.040% last week.

The discount rates indicates that the bills sell for less than face value. For a $10,000 bill, the three-month price was $9,999.12 while a six-month bill sold for $9,996,97. That would equal an annualized rate of 0.035 percent for the three-month bills and 0.061 percent for the six-month bills.

The Federal Reserve also said on Monday that the average yield for one-year Treasury bills was up to 0.11 percent last week from 0.10 percent the previous week.

Source AP

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Oil falls under $102 after a Partial US Government shutdown

Prices of Oil fall below $102 per barrel on Wednesday after a budget impasse in Washington that resulted to a partial US Government shutdown. It also resulted to 800,000 Federal Workers being furloughed.

The benchmark oil for November delivery fell 44 cents to $101.60 per barrel. The contract fell 29 cents to close at $102.04 a barrel in New York.

It is also expected to weaken the demand for oil in the U.S. as the shutdown curbs economic growth and keep 800,000 federal workers from driving to work.

"Oil prices are very much linked with U.S. consumption," said Andrew Sullivan, sales trader at Kim Eng Securities in Hong Kong. "With 800,000 workers not being paid, short-term demand is likely to be curtailed."

Friday, September 27, 2013

BlackBerry reports large second quarter loss

BlackBerry, loss, smartphones
Stumbling smartphone company BlackBerry reported a major net second quarter loss Friday and said it is burning cash at a higher rate as it moves to execute a deal that could take the company private.

Revenue for the quarter ended Aug. 31 was at $1.6 billion, with a net loss of $965 million, or $1.84 a share. That compares with revenue of $2.9 billion and a loss of $229 million, or 44 cents a share, for the same quarter last year.

Adjusted net loss from continuing operations was $248 million, or 47 cents per share. The per-share loss was on the low side of the 47 cent-to-51-cent range that BlackBerry warned of last week, when it announced preliminary results and plans to lay off 4,500 employees. Wall Street analysts had expected a loss of 49 cents a share.

Most of the financial results tracked last week's announcement. But BlackBerry disclosed that its operations consumed roughly $136 million in cash. That compares with $630 million in cash flow from operations in the previous quarter that ended June 1.

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins said that he is "very disappointed" with the company's latest earnings report, which was released before financial markets opened Friday. BlackBerry shares were up 10 cents at $8.05 in premarket trading.


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

The Forbes Top 100 Richest People in America

RankNameNet WorthAgeResidenceSource
1

Bill Gates

$72 B57Medina, WashingtonMicrosoft
2

Warren Buffett

$58.5 B83Omaha, NebraskaBerkshire Hathaway
3

Larry Ellison

$41 B69Woodside, CaliforniaOracle
4

Charles Koch

$36 B77Wichita, Kansasdiversified
4

David Koch

$36 B73New York, New Yorkdiversified
6

Christy Walton & family

$35.4 B58Jackson, WyomingWal-Mart
7

Jim Walton

$33.8 B65Bentonville, ArkansasWal-Mart
8

Alice Walton

$33.5 B63Fort Worth, TexasWal-Mart
9

S. Robson Walton

$33.3 B69Bentonville, ArkansasWal-Mart
10

Michael Bloomberg

$31 B71New York, New YorkBloomberg LP
11

Sheldon Adelson

$28.5 B80Las Vegas, Nevadacasinos
12

Jeff Bezos

$27.2 B49Seattle, WashingtonAmazon.com
13

Larry Page

$24.9 B40Palo Alto, CaliforniaGoogle
14

Sergey Brin

$24.4 B40Los Altos, CaliforniaGoogle
15

Forrest Mars, Jr.

$20.5 B82Big Horn, Wyomingcandy
15

Jacqueline Mars

$20.5 B73The Plains, Virginiacandy
15

John Mars

$20.5 B77Jackson, Wyomingcandy
18

Carl Icahn

$20.3 B77New York, New YorkInvestments
19

George Soros

$20 B83Katonah, New Yorkhedge funds
20

Mark Zuckerberg

$19 B29Palo Alto, CaliforniaFacebook
21

Steve Ballmer

$18 B57Hunts Point, WashingtonMicrosoft
22

Len Blavatnik

$17.8 B56Londondiversified
23

Abigail Johnson

$17.2 B51Milton, Massachusettsmoney management
24

Phil Knight

$16.3 B75Hillsboro, OregonNike
25

Michael Dell

$15.9 B48Austin, TexasDell
26

Paul Allen

$15.8 B60Mercer Island, WashingtonMicrosoft, investments
27

Donald Bren

$14 B81Newport Beach, Californiareal estate
27

Ronald Perelman

$14 B70New York, New Yorkleveraged buyouts
29

Anne Cox Chambers

$13.5 B93Atlanta, Georgiamedia
30

Rupert Murdoch & family

$13.4 B82New York, New Yorkmedia
31

Ray Dalio

$12.9 B64Greenwich, Connecticuthedge funds
32

Charles Ergen

$12.5 B60Denver, ColoradoDish Network
33

Harold Hamm

$12.4 B67Oklahoma City, Oklahomaoil & gas
34

James Simons

$12 B75East Setauket, New Yorkhedge funds
35

Laurene Powell Jobs & family

$11.7 B49Palo Alto, CaliforniaApple, Disney
36

John Paulson

$11.4 B57New York, New Yorkhedge funds
36

Jack Taylor & family

$11.4 B91St. Louis, MissouriEnterprise Rent-A-Car
38

Philip Anschutz

$10.3 B73Denver, Coloradoinvestments
39

Richard Kinder

$10.2 B68Houston, Texaspipelines
40

George Kaiser

$10 B71Tulsa, Oklahomaoil & gas, banking
40

Harold Simmons

$10 B82Dallas, Texasinvestments
42

Andrew Beal

$9.8 B60Dallas, Texasbanks, real estate
43

Steve Cohen

$9.4 B57Greenwich, Connecticuthedge funds
44

Edward Johnson, III.

$9.3 B83Boston, MassachusettsInvestments
45

Patrick Soon-Shiong

$9 B61Los Angeles, Californiapharmaceuticals
46

Samuel Newhouse, Jr.

$8.9 B85New York, New YorkMedia
47

Charles Butt & family

$8.5 B75San Antonio, Texassupermarkets
47

Pierre Omidyar

$8.5 B46Honolulu, HawaiiEbay
49

Elaine Marshall & family

$8.3 B71Dallas, Texasdiversified
49

Hank & Doug Meijer

$8.3 B-Grand Rapids, Michigansupermarkets
49

Eric Schmidt

$8.3 B58Atherton, CaliforniaGoogle
52

Donald Newhouse

$8.2 B83Somerset County, New JerseyMedia
53

David Tepper

$7.9 B56Livingston, New Jerseyhedge funds
54

Ralph Lauren

$7.7 B73New York, New YorkRalph Lauren
54

Stephen Schwarzman

$7.7 B66New York, New Yorkprivate equity
56

Leonard Lauder

$7.6 B80New York, New YorkEstee Lauder
57

John Menard, Jr.

$7.5 B73Eau Claire, Wisconsinretail
58

James Goodnight

$7.2 B70Cary, North Carolinasoftware
59

Eli Broad

$6.9 B80Los Angeles, Californiainvestments
60

Richard DeVos

$6.8 B87Holland, MichiganAmway
61

Jim Kennedy

$6.7 B65Atlanta, Georgiamedia
61

John Malone

$6.7 B72Elizabeth, Coloradocable television
61

Elon Musk

$6.7 B42Los Angeles, CaliforniaTesla Motors
61

Blair Parry-Okeden

$6.7 B62Sconemedia
65

David Duffield

$6.4 B72Blackhawk, Californiabusiness software
65

Herbert Kohler, Jr. & family

$6.4 B74Kohler, Wisconsinplumbing fixtures
65

Thomas Peterffy

$6.4 B68Greenwich, Connecticutdiscount brokerage
68

S. Truett Cathy

$6 B92Hampton, GeorgiaChick-fil-A
68

David Geffen

$6 B70Malibu, Californiamovies, music
70

Micky Arison

$5.9 B64Bal Harbour, FloridaCarnival Cruises
71

Sumner Redstone

$5.8 B90Beverly Hills, CaliforniaMedia
71

Dennis Washington

$5.8 B79Missoula, Montanaconstruction, mining
73

Leslie Wexner

$5.7 B76New Albany, Ohioretail
74

Ray Lee Hunt

$5.6 B70Dallas, Texasoil, real estate
74

Charles Johnson

$5.6 B80Hillsborough, Californiamoney management
74

Richard LeFrak & family

$5.6 B68New York, New Yorkreal estate
77

Dannine Avara

$5.5 B49Houston, Texaspipelines
77

Scott Duncan

$5.5 B30Houston, Texaspipelines
77

Milane Frantz

$5.5 B44Houston, Texaspipelines
77

Jeffery Hildebrand

$5.5 B54Houston, TexasOil
77

Rupert Johnson, Jr.

$5.5 B72Burlingame, Californiamoney management
77

Ira Rennert

$5.5 B79New York, New Yorkinvestments
77

Randa Williams

$5.5 B52Houston, Texaspipelines
84

Stanley Kroenke

$5.3 B66Columbia, Missourisports, real estate
85

Leon Black

$5.2 B62New York, New Yorkprivate equity
85

Gayle Cook

$5.2 B79Bloomington, Indianamedical devices
85

Dustin Moskovitz

$5.2 B29San Francisco, CaliforniaFacebook
88

Patrick McGovern

$5.1 B76Hollis, New Hampshiremedia
88

Charles Schwab

$5.1 B76Atherton, Californiadiscount brokerage
90

Jin Sook & Do Won Chang

$5 B58Beverly Hills, CaliforniaFashion retail
90

Thomas Frist, Jr. & family

$5 B75Nashville, Tennesseehealth care
90

David Green

$5 B71Oklahoma City, Oklahomaretail
93

Robert Rowling

$4.9 B59Dallas, Texasinvestments
94

Stephen Ross

$4.8 B73New York, New Yorkreal estate
95

Bruce Kovner

$4.7 B68New York, New Yorkhedge funds
95

Henry Kravis

$4.7 B69New York, New Yorkprivate equity
95

Ann Walton Kroenke

$4.7 B64Columbia, MissouriWal-Mart
98

Gordon Moore

$4.6 B84Woodside, CaliforniaIntel
98

Daniel Ziff

$4.6 B41New York, New Yorkinvestments
98

Dirk Ziff

$4.6 B49North Palm Beach, Floridainvestments
98Robert Ziff

Robert Ziff

$4.6 B47New York, New Yorkinvestments
102Malcolm Glazer & family

Malcolm Glazer & family

$4.5 B85Palm Beach, Floridasports teams, 

Full List: http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/list/#page:1_sort:0_direction:asc_search:_filter:All%20industries_filter:All%20states_filter:All%20categories