Business

Solar cell makers feel euro’s pinch

BEIJING – Chinese solar cell makers are striving to find ways to diversify sales after the export-oriented industry suffered huge losses from the depreciation of the euro.
Despite continued revenue growth, solar cell makers’ profits have shrunk significantly due to volatile currency markets.
China’s solar cell industry was an early victim [...]

Green Energy is the World’s Priority, Still‏

The BP Oil disaster has brought home one very strong point, we need to change the way we power our lives, from the electricity that runs our homes to the what powers our vehicles we can no longer accept the dangers of an Oil based society.
What the BP disaster may also do [...]

Taiwan’s TSMC to invest in US solar panel maker

TAIPEI (AFP) – Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said Thursday it was investing 50 million US dollars in an American solar-panel maker in its latest venture into the renewable energy.
TSMC, the world’s top contract microchip maker by revenue, said it was taking a 21-percent stake in California-based Stion via its [...]

Japan Airlines agrees staff pension cuts

Shares in Japan Airlines (JAL) rose again on Tuesday after more than two-thirds of its staff agreed to pension cuts.
The airline needs employees to agree to cuts in order to reduce its $3.6bn (£2.2bn) pension deficit and qualify for a state bail-out.
JAL shares rose by 3.4%, adding to the 31% jump seen on Monday.
On Sunday, [...]

China rail firm CNR in stock market flotation

The Chinese rail firm, China CNR, has made a muted start to stock market trading, rising just 4% on its first day of trade.
That is the smallest first-day gain for a stock debut in China this year.
CNR has raised $2bn (£1.2bn) to upgrade its technology from the share market listing. It is the fourth-biggest Chinese [...]

Shayne Heffernan looks at Asia’s Economic New Year

While Asia remains a hot topic for the world investors, and country to country Asia reflects strong growth in all directions, a new Free Trade Deal in the Region is set to embark many nations on the road to new levels of growth. We at Ebeling Heffernan feel the importance of this FTA has been [...]

Shayne Heffernan on Thailand 2010

 
Background
The Kingdom of Thailand was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until as recently as 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power.The country remains firmly independent of external influences. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to the formation of the current constitutional [...]

Japan’s economic growth slows threatening recovery

• Economy grew 1.3%, down on earlier estimate of 4.8%• Estimate did not take into account problems with soaring yen

Japan’s economy grew at a dramatically slower pace than previously thought in the three months to September, in a further sign that the country’s fledgling recovery is already running out of puff.
The economy grew at [...]

Hitachi Sale of $3.9 Billion Not Not Enough for Revamp

Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) — Hitachi Ltd., the Japanese industrial group saddled with 927 units, may need more than the record 350.7 billion yen ($3.9 billion) in stock and bonds it sold to fund a reorganization of the company, analysts said.
The unprofitable company should spend more money to finance factory closures and job cuts to focus [...]

Ebeling Heffernan: Thai CP Foods to raise $239m USD

Charoen Pokphand Foods CPF.BK, Thailand’s largest chicken exporter, would sell bonds worth 8 billion baht ($239 million) to repay debt and for working capital, according to its filing with the Thai Stock regulator.
The “A+”-rated bonds would be divided into three tranches, with the four-year issue, worth 2 billion baht, carrying a coupon of 3.90 percent, [...]