BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gustav's insured losses could reach $10 billion, fraction of Katrina's]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/02/gustavs-insured-losses-could-reach-10-billion-fraction-of-kat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/02/gustavs-insured-losses-could-reach-10-billion-fraction-of-kat/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/02/gustavs-insured-losses-could-reach-10-billion-fraction-of-kat/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The losses from Gustav are significant, but not nearly as bad as they could have been.

That's the early read regarding onshore / offshore property and infrastructure damaged caused by Hurricane Gustav, with losses pegged at $4 billion to $10 billion, according to estimates by Risk Management Solutions. In contrast, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused about $50 billion in damages.

Risk Management said losses from Gustav were lessened by the fact that the storm weakened, and hit the coastline as a Category 2 hurricane, and the fact that it came ashore about 70 miles southwest of New Orleans. Those factors, combined with better preparation by companies with vulnerable property in the area, will result in lower damages totals, Risk Management said.

However, RMS was quick to point out that the $4-10 billion damage total does not include loses from flooding in New Orleans that could occur in the days ahead.

Gustav: Little U.S. GDP impact

Economist David H. Wang, who runs U.S. GDP models each quarter, said Tuesday he expects "only a minimal U.S. GDP impact from Gustav."

"Of course human safety is the primary concern. But regarding regional GDP, the Southeast U.S. will incur a 0.1-0.3% GDP reduction in the third quarter from the hurricane, but the overall impact on U.S. GDP will be minimal," Wang said.

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Gustav's insured losses could reach $10 billion, fraction of Katrina's originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gdpGustavHurricane GustavHurricane KatrinainsuranceinthenewsKatrinaleveesNew Orleansproperty damagerefineriesRisk Management SolutionsU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. economyTue, 02 Sep 2008 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart's road to nowhere]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/02/wal-marts-road-to-nowhere/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/02/wal-marts-road-to-nowhere/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/10/02/wal-marts-road-to-nowhere/#commentsFiled under: , ,

During the third quarter of the year, Wal-Mart's stock went from $48.91 to $49.32, or 1.1%. In an unusual show of solidarity with WMT's investors, same-store sales rose only 1.8% in September. The company's customers must have called its investors on the phone.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) had all kinds of reasons why its store sales were not more robust. Comparisons with Katrina-related events were at the top of the list. But, the company had said that same-store figures would be up as much as 3%, so the news was not good.

The unavoidable truth for Wal-Mart is that sales in the US are, if the months are evened out, slowing sharply. The company is just too big with too many stores. The easy share is not longer there for the taking.

As investors combine the news in the US with the sale of Wal-Mart units in South Korea and Germany, the evidence is mounting that China has become an absolutely critical part of the company's ability to grow.

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Wal-Mart's road to nowhere originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 02 Oct 2006 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>economistkatrinaretailsalessame storesame-store salesSame-storeSalesSameStorethe economistTheEconomistwal-martwalmartwmtMon, 02 Oct 2006 13:13:00 EST