January 31, 2008

Business News Update

Yeah it's been a while since I posted these. 

Business News Update

In today's update we've got snippets about the fiscal stimulus package circulating in Congress, the Dept. of Agriculture, Altria's foreign tobacco operations, an example of liberal media self-parody, free trade, highly-skilled workers in shipping and heavy industry, alternative energy sources, and GDP growth.

Click the below link if you'd like to read more.

GDP Growth -- 2007

The economy grew in inflation-adjusted terms in Q4. That marked the 25th consecutive quarter of real GDP growth, which equals 6.25 years.

The quarter-by-quarter rates in 2007 of inflation-adjusted GDP growth:

Q4 - 0.6%
Q3 - 4.9%
Q2 - 3.8%
Q1 - 0.6%

Certainly not stellar. But by historical standards not too shabby, especially when completing the sixth year of a growth cycle and with enormous headwinds, e.g., high energy prices.

P.S. - It's likely the growth rate for Q4 upwardly will be revised. Not that the media would report such a thing.

* * *
Wyoming Eyed for New Coal-to-Gas Power Plants

* * *
If you decide to read that article you'll have to dodge the writer's and editor's "global warming" agenda. Other than that point, however, it's worth a pretty close read. There's a lot of interesting stuff in there.

* * *
Shipyards Fight Shortages of Skilled Workers,
U.S. shipbuilders grapple with shortages of trained, experienced labor

* * *
Read the whole thing. There are half-a-dozen major and connected items, ranging from macroeconomics to labor economics to H2B visas for skilled trade workers.

* * *
Peru, Canada Sign Free Trade Agreement

* * *
Read the whole thing.

* * *
Proxy Fight Planned at New York Times

* * *
Read the whole thing. You can't even make up that sort of stuff.

What's particularly ironic is knowing the young liberal journalism students who've marched off to join the Gray Lady and her ilk -- "to change the world" -- are clueless to the fact they're working in a cutthroat industry in which they're employed by huge corporations and in which they're bought and sold -- like cattle.

* * *
Altria Gives Plans for Spinoff of Philip Morris International

* * *
Ah, yes, Altria.

Back in the halcyon daze of 1999-2000, the Lemmings on Wall St. despised Altria so much, and were selling that company with such ferocity, it simply *had* to be purchased. Its P/E ratio was bid down to the single digits. Its share price was less than the value of the company's *non* cigarette-related businesses. Sure enough, if you bought Altria in 1999-2000 and held on through Wall St.'s screaming and frothing you made out very, very, very well.

BTW, in 5-7 years, and perhaps much sooner, we'll be discussing financial companies such as Citigroup in the same glowing terms as those by which we're discussing Altria. You literally can bet on it.

* * *
Senate Confirms New Secretary of Agriculture

* * *
That's a D-minus article from the AP. The key issue -- over which that article glosses -- is that of farm subsidies.

Farm subsidies always have been a bad idea. That the government still is paying farmers public money *not* to produce food -- in a period of massive food demand and high food prices -- is absurd. Hopefully new Secretary Schafer -- a Republican former governor and businessman -- will be able to get something accomplished on that front.

* * *
Fiscal Stimulus Plan -- The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

The Good -- Tax rebates for the middle class. For reasons that are beyond obvious.

The Bad -- Expansions of the public-money mortgage loan purchase agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and of FHA loans, which are insured with public money. The less of those things the better.

The Ugly -- The Senate's proposed extension of unemployment benefits. Extending someone's unemployment benefits extends their unemployment. The general public needs a good swift kick in the ass, not a reassuring pat on the back from Uncle Sam.


Posted by: Robert Woolwine at 08:08 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 690 words, total size 6 kb.

1 You must wait the juicy couture tracksuits large longer than the well-known superstars accomplish to buy your Christian Dior Purses, apart from you are able to do juicy couture sweat suits. In its place of juicy couture sweater costs may be the too much money or even extra one solitary from the juicy clothing Dior purses at the moment in the juicy couture clothing market place.

Posted by: yy at January 11, 2013 11:11 PM (eEN1A)

2

We’vereceivedeverykindofmonclervestwomenwithhigh-qualityinyourcase.Whenyouwouldliketoproduceourselveslookandfeelalittlemorebeautifulthanothermostwomenmonclervestforwomen,we’vemonclerwomensjacketsarmswomenofallagesmonclervestwomenssothatyoucanmeetyourcurveflawlessly.


Posted by: bkjz123 at January 19, 2013 01:45 AM (portN)

3

We’ve received every kind of moncler vest women with high-quality in your case. When you would like to produce ourselves look and feel a little more beautiful than other most women moncler vest for women, we’ve moncler womens jackets arms women of all ages moncler vest womens so that you can meet your curve flawlessly.


 

Posted by: bkjz123 at January 19, 2013 01:47 AM (portN)

4

Nowthankstothe<ahref="http://www.love-juicycouture.com/">juicycoutureoutlet</a>,itgivesmetheopportunitytorealizemydreamofaprincess.FromthefirstmomentIsawthis<ahref="http://www.love-juicycouture.com/">juicycoutureoutletonline</a>itremindsmeofthecherrycakewithcream,<ahref="http://www.love-juicycouture.com/">juicycouturebags</a>lookingsofreshandsweet.Andthenittakesmebacktomydreamychildhood.

Posted by: davidali668 at January 24, 2013 11:06 AM (a2yTc)

5

Now thanks to the juicy couture outlet, it gives me the opportunity to realize my dream of a princess.From the first moment I saw this juicy couture outlet online it reminds me of the cherry cake with cream, juicy couture bags looking so fresh and sweet. And then it takes me back to my dreamy childhood.

Posted by: davidali668 at January 24, 2013 11:06 AM (a2yTc)

6 The hair can be curled, teased clip in real hair extensions, or combed to get the desired look. Finishing spray that will hold it in place and offer shine is next brazilian hair sale. The Barbarella hairstyle is fun red hair extensions and one that allows a woman to be very creative. human hair extensions uk a great way to experiment with various styling products and tools.

Posted by: vanilla at January 30, 2013 04:26 AM (50oUJ)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.
23kb generated in CPU 0.0098, elapsed 0.1356 seconds.
35 queries taking 0.1285 seconds, 101 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.