PResentations today, and possibly some other content, but probably just presentations.First presentation is on melamine. Related to the contaminated milk and dog food recently. The issues I’d heard about originated in China, but presenter is focusing on Indonesia. A bunch of popular candy brands have apparently been contaminated, via milk.
Second presentation is on foreign exchange rates and multi-national corporations. Exchange rates between national currencies is a big deal for any company the operates across multiple countries or does business with companies that are located in foreign countries. Foreign exchange markets operate independent of most government regulation. In general, having a strong currency is good for importing and bad for exporting. The reverse is also true. Weak dollar helps U.S. exporters, and hurts U.S. importers. High interest rates in the home country contributes to having a strong currency. Shifts the demand curve right.
Third presentation is on outsourcing and a recent strike at Boeing. Dealing with the new 787s. They’re very far behind schedule. Partly because of foeign suppliers, partly because of 27,000 strinking workers from the machinists’ union. Presenter isn’t a fan of offshoring.
Fourth presentation is on InBev eating Anheuser-Busch. InBev is a Belgian beer company. Anheuser-Busch is also a beer company. New name will be called Anheuser-Busch InBev. It’s always interesting seeing mergers of large companies; most mergers don’t turn out well, but these companies are at least similar. May be culture clashes between Belgian and U.S. corporate cultures.
Fifth presentation is on global cities. Global city, in this case, means a city important enough to world commerce that it’s a major node in the global economy. New York, Tokyo, London, etc. Global cities are attractive to larger companies because they have access to huge financial, technological, and labor resources.
Sixth presentation is on globalization. Focused around a company called Aperian Global, which makes GlobeSmart, an online training tool.
Seventh presentation is on GM selling the Hummer brand of vehicles to a French company. GM is selling off a lot of assets, not just Hummer.
Eighth presentation is on the drug industry and outsourcing. Some pharmaceutical companies are outsourcing their R&D functions. That surprises me; I wouldn’t have thought you’d be able to get major financial advantages on intensive operations like R&D. Apparently, though, it’s possible in places like India with highly educated populations.
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Getting very sleepy. Going to duck out soon.