Analyst Visits China And Comes Back With Some Bad News


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The data so far from China in 2012 has been a major disappointment for the global economy.

One thought we had was that the typical January-February Lunar New Year slowdown was exaggerated thanks to it being the Year Of The Dragon, and that because of that the rebound would come harder/sooner than people expected.

But so far that theory isn't being born out.

Barclays analyst Gayle Berry recently visited China, and met with various industrial firms, and came back with some grim news: Things are weak, and it's not just a matter of the Lunar New Year.

Here is our summary of Berry's key points:

  • Demand for copper in China remains weak, and the outlook for the rest of the year doesn't look so great.
  • Some manufacturers cranked up production in January/February in anticipation of a rebound in Q2, but "demand has been softer than they expected."
  • Appliance demand is weak thanks to slow construction and poor real estate sales.
  • Copper inventories are rising.

Bottom line:

Overall, we believe Chinese demand in the short term is likely to disappoint before beginning on a recovery trajectory later in Q2. Subsequently, we think that imports will weaken until bonded stocks are run down to more normal levels, possibly in Q3 12. With the market already expecting a drop in Chinese imports, we doubt this alone would have a significant negative impact on LME prices. That’s more likely to be determined by the market’s evaluation of how long imports will weaken for and whether it's the result of short-term dislocation or longer lasting core weakness. The LME backwardation meanwhile is likely to continue unless Chinese exports are big enough to begin offsetting the draws in LME inventories, in our view.

So there you go.

Meanwhile, the Chiense market got crushed last night >

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/M_yGnvDRgdc/barclays-observations-from-china-2012-3

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Cigarette Warning Labels Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Here's What Doesn't Curb Cigarettes' AppealIf, as a smoker, you were forced to look at a warning label like this before lighting up, would you be less likely to buy cigarettes?

Your conscious mind might say, "Of course this would affect me." But research is showing that, in truth, that isn't necessarily the case.

The first major move in regulating the tobacco industry came in 1964, when a report from the surgeon general was able to link smoking with emphysema and lung cancer.

Tobacco companies were required to include warning labels on their products and were no longer allowed to advertise on the radio or television. These changes had the desired effect, as you can see in the graphic below, with the percentage of adults age 18 and older who smoked dropping from 42% in 1965 to just more than 19% last year.

The reduction was caused by a confluence of factors. Veterans -- many of whom had gotten hooked on tobacco that was given to them free during the wars -- no longer had such cheap access to cigarettes. Increased awareness of the unhealthy side effects of smoking combined with an out-of-sight-out-of-mind effect caused by the lack of advertising.

In essence, there was a lot of low-hanging fruit for anti-smoking campaigners to go after.

But with smoking rates leveling out and smoking-related ailments still one of the major causes of death in America, opponents are heating up their tactics once again.

Scary Labels Scaring Up More Business?

Earlier this month, a federal court ruled in favor of granting the FDA the right to include such graphic labels as the one shown above, covering 50% of both sides of a pack of cigarettes. Cigarette makers such as Lorillard (LO) and Reynolds American (RAI) are fighting to stop rule from going into effect.

But if you think such labels will doom the industry, think again.

Some research suggests that this type of advertising could actually increase smoking in America and that both sides in this fight could be misusing their resources.

Branding expert Martin Lindstrom in his book Buyology describes how he and a team of scientists went about studying the brains of current smokers. Using fMRIs to study brainwaves as smokers were exposed to such shocking warning labels, he uncovered some surprising results.

Inside the Brains of Smokers

Although participants in Lindstrom's study were quick to say that gruesome warning labels were enough to help them curb their habit, their brain scans revealed a different story. According to his findings, "Warning labels on the sides, fronts, and backs of cigarette packs had no effect on suppressing smokers' cravings at all. Zero."

And if those findings aren't a little surprising, then consider this: those very same warnings may have subconsciously encouraged smokers to light up: "Cigarette warnings ... had in fact stimulated an area of the smokers' brains called the nucleus accumbens, otherwise known as the 'craving spot.'"

Give it a second to sink in, and what this study reveals isn't that revolutionary. Simply by seeing the smoke in the warning above, a smoker's brain is activated to think of nicotine and the rush that comes with it. Once that process is set in motion, it's hard to think of anything else. It's not that different from giving a teenage boy an abstinence-only promo with a scantily clad woman on the cover.

When it comes to helping the roughly 50 million American smokers kick their habit, all of the legal haggling and money spent on this campaign are wastes of time.

Is It Worth Fighting Over Warning Labels?

But just because current smokers seem to be a lost cause when it comes to such warning labels, that doesn't mean they are a complete waste. Lindstrom's studies only focused on current smokers, not potential ones.

It stands to reason that if one hasn't become addicted to nicotine, the same type of reaction to the labels wouldn't be present -- or at least wouldn't be as strong. In that sense, both the tobacco companies and the government are using their resources wisely -- whether to increase future profits or to lower future health-care costs.

Either way, it's important to understand what this battle hopes to accomplish. Current smokers are being sacrificed to prevent potential smokers from joining their ranks. To me, that's a trade-off that makes sense, but that's just my opinion. Sound off in the comments section below to let us know what you think.

Motley Fool contributor Brian Stoffel does not own shares of any companies mentioned in this piece, or any tobacco companies in general. You can follow him on Twitter, where he goes by TMFStoffel.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/03/27/cigarette-warning-labels-can-be-hazardous-to-your-health/

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Baby Quotes

Child Quotes To grow to be a mother is a single of life?s greatest blessings. It is a lifelong event that forever alterations you. Becoming a mother changes your heart, your thoughts, and your actions. Nonetheless, you may soon wish you had a few additional hands. As a mother, you uncover that they [...]

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/03/27/baby-quotes/

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Cigarette Warning Labels Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Here's What Doesn't Curb Cigarettes' AppealIf, as a smoker, you were forced to look at a warning label like this before lighting up, would you be less likely to buy cigarettes?

Your conscious mind might say, "Of course this would affect me." But research is showing that, in truth, that isn't necessarily the case.

The first major move in regulating the tobacco industry came in 1964, when a report from the surgeon general was able to link smoking with emphysema and lung cancer.

Tobacco companies were required to include warning labels on their products and were no longer allowed to advertise on the radio or television. These changes had the desired effect, as you can see in the graphic below, with the percentage of adults age 18 and older who smoked dropping from 42% in 1965 to just more than 19% last year.

The reduction was caused by a confluence of factors. Veterans -- many of whom had gotten hooked on tobacco that was given to them free during the wars -- no longer had such cheap access to cigarettes. Increased awareness of the unhealthy side effects of smoking combined with an out-of-sight-out-of-mind effect caused by the lack of advertising.

In essence, there was a lot of low-hanging fruit for anti-smoking campaigners to go after.

But with smoking rates leveling out and smoking-related ailments still one of the major causes of death in America, opponents are heating up their tactics once again.

Scary Labels Scaring Up More Business?

Earlier this month, a federal court ruled in favor of granting the FDA the right to include such graphic labels as the one shown above, covering 50% of both sides of a pack of cigarettes. Cigarette makers such as Lorillard (LO) and Reynolds American (RAI) are fighting to stop rule from going into effect.

But if you think such labels will doom the industry, think again.

Some research suggests that this type of advertising could actually increase smoking in America and that both sides in this fight could be misusing their resources.

Branding expert Martin Lindstrom in his book Buyology describes how he and a team of scientists went about studying the brains of current smokers. Using fMRIs to study brainwaves as smokers were exposed to such shocking warning labels, he uncovered some surprising results.

Inside the Brains of Smokers

Although participants in Lindstrom's study were quick to say that gruesome warning labels were enough to help them curb their habit, their brain scans revealed a different story. According to his findings, "Warning labels on the sides, fronts, and backs of cigarette packs had no effect on suppressing smokers' cravings at all. Zero."

And if those findings aren't a little surprising, then consider this: those very same warnings may have subconsciously encouraged smokers to light up: "Cigarette warnings ... had in fact stimulated an area of the smokers' brains called the nucleus accumbens, otherwise known as the 'craving spot.'"

Give it a second to sink in, and what this study reveals isn't that revolutionary. Simply by seeing the smoke in the warning above, a smoker's brain is activated to think of nicotine and the rush that comes with it. Once that process is set in motion, it's hard to think of anything else. It's not that different from giving a teenage boy an abstinence-only promo with a scantily clad woman on the cover.

When it comes to helping the roughly 50 million American smokers kick their habit, all of the legal haggling and money spent on this campaign are wastes of time.

Is It Worth Fighting Over Warning Labels?

But just because current smokers seem to be a lost cause when it comes to such warning labels, that doesn't mean they are a complete waste. Lindstrom's studies only focused on current smokers, not potential ones.

It stands to reason that if one hasn't become addicted to nicotine, the same type of reaction to the labels wouldn't be present -- or at least wouldn't be as strong. In that sense, both the tobacco companies and the government are using their resources wisely -- whether to increase future profits or to lower future health-care costs.

Either way, it's important to understand what this battle hopes to accomplish. Current smokers are being sacrificed to prevent potential smokers from joining their ranks. To me, that's a trade-off that makes sense, but that's just my opinion. Sound off in the comments section below to let us know what you think.

Motley Fool contributor Brian Stoffel does not own shares of any companies mentioned in this piece, or any tobacco companies in general. You can follow him on Twitter, where he goes by TMFStoffel.

Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Script | Android Forums | Wordpress Tutorials

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/03/27/cigarette-warning-labels-can-be-hazardous-to-your-health/

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Baby Quotes

Child Quotes To grow to be a mother is a single of life?s greatest blessings. It is a lifelong event that forever alterations you. Becoming a mother changes your heart, your thoughts, and your actions. Nonetheless, you may soon wish you had a few additional hands. As a mother, you uncover that they [...]

Source: http://www.legaldebthelponline.com/2012/03/27/baby-quotes/

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AMD Completes SeaMicro Acquisition Headed to $9

If we assume SeaMicro?s revenues for 2012 will be somewhere around $50 million, it implies that AMD expects SeaMicro?s revenues to grow at an average annual rate of 43% to 44% over the course of our forecast period.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2012/03/27/amd-completes-seamicro-acquisition-headed-to-9/

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The Final Four: Baby Steps to Shoot For

Since November, 345 teams have been fighting to winning the NCAA basketball championship. When the NCAA tournament started a couple of weeks ago, 68 teams were still in the running. Now we?re down to the Final Four.

Along the way, these final four teams--Louisville, Ohio State, Kentucky, and Kansas--faced many ups and downs. None of them are undefeated, and none got through the season without hitting at least one roadblock. Most of them have several losses and setbacks that kept them up at night. Losing isn?t easy.

But they overcame that. And now they have the opportunity to achieve their goal of winning the title.

Sure, that?s cool and everything, but what does it have to do with you? And, especially, what does it have to do with you becoming debt-free?

The way we see it, the final four Baby Steps are a great place to be. If you?re in the process of getting out of debt, they are your ?Final Four,? your championship. Once you reach them, you?ll have the satisfaction of knowing you?ve endured the regular season and overcome setbacks along the way. You?ve gotten out of debt, kicked Sallie Mae and Murphy out of the house, and experienced the fruit of long-term discipline.

Regardless of where you are in the Baby Steps, keep your eyes on the goal and shoot for these final four:

Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement.

Now it?s time to watch your money grow. You?ve been paying off debt and saving, but now you get to invest! Let compound interest do its magic. Already there? Connect with an investing professional in your area that Dave recommends.

Baby Step 5: College funding for children.

You haven?t forgotten about the kids, have you? Whether your kids are in high school or in a high chair, this is one extremely important step. When you?re out of debt, the last thing you want to do is make them go into debt by taking student loans out later. Remember though, Dave recommends saving for your retirement first.

Baby Step 6: Pay off your house early.

Yes, you can actually own your own home ? outright! Amazing, isn?t it? Imagine walking barefoot through your front yard knowing that the grass beneath you is yours, not the bank?s! And how cool will it be when all of your mortgage payments can go toward investing and spending? That?s a lot of money!

Baby Step 7: Build wealth and give.

This is it. The pinnacle. To get to Baby Step 7, you have to truly believe you will get there. This isn?t some pie-in-the-sky dream. It?s a realistic goal that you can achieve. Once you get here, remember this is more than about ?being rich.? It?s about being a giver. Get motivated by reading what others are able to do at this stage.

What keeps you motivated to achieve the final four Baby Steps? Join the conversation below!

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Source: http://www.daveramsey.com/article/the-final-four-baby-steps-to-shoot-for/lifeandmoney_goalsetting

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Surprising Job That Gets Many Americans Into the Millionaire Club

Teachers MillionairesLooking to join the millionaire's club and wondering what it takes? Finding the right occupation is a good place to start. But some surprising occupations hold a greater chance of getting there than others.

According to a report released last week by the Spectrem Group's Millionaire Corner, the number of millionaire households in the U.S. rose 2% last year to 8.2 million. And capturing the greatest number of millionaire households were ones that included a manager as a breadwinner.

But while managers are tops on the list, accounting for 17% of households with $1 million to $5 million in net assets excluding their primary residence, educators are close behind with 12% of the millionaire pie, according to the report.

That's right -- educators.

What gives these occupations their relatively large slice is that many are living in dual-income households, says George Walper, president of the Spectrum Group.

Compare that to other high-paying jobs such as attorneys, doctors, or dentists, which only account for 2% of the millionaire pool. People in those ultra-demanding occupations are often the sole breadwinners in their families, with spouses or partners holding down the fort at home. And when it's time to retire, the payout may be less.

Age is another key factor in crossing the millionaire mark: The average age of U.S. millionaires is 63, according to the report.

Millionaire Household Occupations

Source: Spectrem Group Millionaire Corner


What It Takes to Get Wealthy

Getting from zero to a one and six zeros on the wealth meter takes more than hard work and education, although both were listed in the top spots with 95% and 85% of survey respondents, respectively.

Surprisingly, risk taking was listed as a reason by 56% of survey respondents, placing it No. 5 out of 11 factors, while "being in the right place, at the right time" took No. 6 with 42% and "luck" No. 7 with 39%.

If you're expecting people to claim their family connections paid off big, think again. It ranked dead last with only 9% of survey respondents citing the coattail factor.

Millionaire
(Note: In the chart above, UHNW refers to "ultra-high net worth" -- the folks whose net worth is at least $5 million without factoring in their primary residence.)

Tasting a Slice of the Millionaire Pie

As consumers consider their assets, they may want to take a gander at how the really rich align their portfolios.

According to the Spectrem Group, millionaires had 56% in investable assets last year. Of that, 29% was in IRAs, versus 22% in the previous year, while the proportion held in stocks and bonds dipped from 19% to 15%.

The market's free fall in 2008 cracked the nest eggs of millions of retirees, kicking many of them out the millionaire club. Although this group has seen its numbers inch up back for three consecutive years, their numbers are still substantially down from 2007, when the U.S. included 9.2 million millionaire households.

In order for the pool of millionaires to swell to pre-recession levels, Walper notes: "Investments in real estate would need to improve and the economy, since that would help privately owned businesses and entrepreneurs."

Those events would also be good for the average working Joe, too.

NEXT:

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/03/26/surprising-job-that-gets-many-americans-into-the-millionaire-clu/

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Denmark Has Agreed On An Incredibly Ambitious Green Energy Plan


Denmark

Last week we wrote about Germany's incredibly large push to shift its energy sector towards renewable sources.

That move, worth 8% of its yearly GDP, aims to result in Germany getting 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050.

But another European country agreed to an even more audacious plan this week.

Denmark's plan is for 35% of energy to come from renewables by 2020, Business Green reported yesterday. Crucially, half of that number is hope to come from wind power — an aim that will continue until 2050, when the country aims to have all of its energy coming from renewables.

"Denmark will once again be the global leader in the transition to green energy," Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Building, Martin Lidegaard said. "This will prepare us for a future with increasing prices for oil and coal. Moreover, it will create some of the jobs that we need so desperately, now and in the coming years."

Read more at Business Green >

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/mn2vkFZr3ik/denmark-wind-energy-2012-3

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