emergingmarkets posts
FeedPosted Sep 15th 2009 10:40AM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Bad news, Industry, Marketing and advertising
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) is planning to cut 5,500 jobs over the next few years and reorganize into five business units. The company is looking to reduce costs and accelerate how long it takes new drugs to get to market, especially as its top performers see their patents expire. This translates to a workforce reduction of close to 14% – to 35,000. This measure doesn't include new positions in emerging markets with high potential and Japan.
The company hopes to cut as much as possible through attrition and retirements – and it would not indicate how many other positions would have to be cut.
Eli Lilly's goal is to slash its annual cost by $1 billion during this restructuring. The new business units will be: cancer, diabetes, established markets, emerging markets and Elanco, which is its animal health business. This is a change from the existing functional model, which separates U.S. and global marketing for each drug in the company's portfolio. Through the new structure, Lilly says, drug development and marketing will be tied more closely.
Continue reading Eli Lilly to restructure, bet on drug portfolio
Posted Aug 24th 2009 2:40PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: China, Brazil, Newsletters, ETF Investing, DJIA, Stocks to Buy
"Our latest pick combines two highly profitable asset classes, small caps and emerging markets," says Nicholas Vardy. In The Global Bull Market Alert, he an emerging markets ETF.
"The SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF (NYSE: EWX) offers you access to small caps in emerging markets that otherwise would be off limits.
"While some of the larger emerging market stocks trade in the United States, these smaller players never will.
"In addition, it's well known that U.S. small caps tend to outperform large caps over the long run. Their small size makes them nimble and quicker to react to changing market conditions.
Continue reading Vardy's view: Bet on emerging markets small caps
Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:00AM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Agriculture, Stocks to Buy
"When most people think of Africa, images of business and commerce don't usually spring to mind -- more like wildlife, safaris and famine," suggests Nathan Slaughter.
In The ETF Authority, he explains, "But those perceptions are beginning to change as these countries continue to industrialize. And at the vanguard of this transformation is South Africa." Here, he looks at the iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (NYSE: EZA).
Slaughter explains, "Once a backwater country shunned by most of the international community, South Africa has made great strides over the past decade and continues to evolve. Fifteen years ago the government began an aggressive overhaul of South Africa's economy.
Continue reading Out of Africa: ETF expert eyes South Africa
Posted Jun 22nd 2009 5:00PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Kimberly-Clark (KMB), Stocks to Buy

Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable, global trend as a support. And with the aforementioned in mind,
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:
KMB) is worth a review.
In general, analysts expect a sales decline of 4-6% for KMB in FY2009, including a negative foreign currency effect. Kimberly is being hurt by both the recession -- which has prompted widespread belt-tightening by consumers -- and by increased competition. The First Call FY2009/FY2010 EPS estimates for KMB
are $4.16 to $4.64.
Continue reading Kimberly-Clark is undervalued
Posted Jun 15th 2009 4:40PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Stocks to Buy
Monsanto Company (NYSE:
MON) is another one of those demonstrated business companies that was treated rudely by Wall Street in 2008. Pushed to highs over $130 during the commodities mania of 2008, the Street then proceeded to take shares to the mid-$60s. Rational? Hardly.
Hopefully, rationality will re-assert itself in the years ahead. In general, analysts see 6-9% revenue growth for FY2009, led by stable corn and soybean seeds sales.
Continue reading Monsanto provides the seeds of success
Posted Apr 23rd 2009 5:00PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Hershey Co (HSY), Stocks to Buy

Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable, global trend as a support. And with the aforementioned in mind,
The Hershey Company (NYSE:
HSY) is worth a review.
In general, analysts see only modest revenue growth for HSY for FY 2009. However, an improved supply chain should reduce costs, and also free-up more capital for strategic growth initiatives at home and abroad.
Continue reading Hershey delivers sweet profits
Posted Apr 9th 2009 2:00PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Brazil, Newsletters, Mutual funds, ETF Investing, Commodities, Oil, Agriculture
"We have been recommending iShares MSCI Brazil (ASE: EWZ) in our speculative portfolio," says mutual fund and ETF expert Mark Salzinger.
In The Investor's ETF Report, he adds, "But we now think Brazil's solid long-term economic fundamentals and the ETF's 'scompelling valuation and well-positioned companies offer exceptional return potential as a portion of some investors'core portfolios, too."
"Brazil's stock market was assailed on all sides in 2008, when EWZ declined by about 55%. Robust gains in the previous five years had priced Brazil's stocks dearly, and investors'decreased tolerance for any perceived risk saw them abandon emerging markets stocks in droves.
Continue reading ETF expert looks to Brazil
Posted Mar 18th 2009 12:15PM by Elizabeth Harrow (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Management, China, Brazil, MasterCard Inc'A' (MA), Options
While most companies are taking steps to conserve cash, the CEO of MasterCard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) is pondering an overseas spending spree.
In a recent Reuters interview, President and Chief Executive Robert Selander expressed his willingness to ramp up MasterCard's investment in emerging markets, including high-profile countries such as Brazil and China.
"We are making investments in some of the emerging markets where we continue to see growth. We will probably increase some of those investments as the relative growth rate in those markets is better than some of our more mature and struggling economies," Selander told the news service.
Continue reading MasterCard CEO eyes investments in China, Brazil
Posted Mar 18th 2009 9:50AM by Mark Fightmaster (RSS feed)
Filed under: China

Late in Tuesday's session, the World Bank
cut its growth forecast for China to 6.5% from 7.5%. The bank cited dropping exports as a reason for the lowered forecast, but it did note that it is confident in China's ability to expand its economy in the current environment. The bank's quarterly report say that the drop in trade is going to negatively impact China's investment and job creation. Nevertheless, China should grow faster than other countries thanks to its stimulus package coupled with its strong banks, which have escaped the financial crisis unscathed.
A week ago, China's Premier Wen Jiabao announced that the country should meet its official 8% growth target (which some believe must be met for the country to create enough jobs for its influx of new workers) although exports fell 25.7% in February. Economists expect China's growth to come in between 5% and 8%, which is sharply lower than 2007's 13% expansion, but better than any other major country.
Continue reading World Bank lowers China's growth forecast
Posted Feb 13th 2009 7:30AM by Connie Madon (RSS feed)
Filed under: International markets, Bad news, China, Brazil, Russia, Economic data, Commodities, Eastern Europe, Financial Crisis
The world's emerging markets are falling with amazing speed. This has caught everyone off guard. Let's look at some statistics that show the severity of this plunge:
- Taiwan's exports plunged 44% from the same month last year.
- Brazil's industrial production plunged 12.4% in December from the previous month.
- The Russian ruble and the Hungarian forint have dropped about 14% against the dollar.
- The South Korean currency, the won, has shed 8% of its value against the dollar and South Korea's industrial output dropped to its lowest level on record.
- The Mexican peso is at an all time low against the dollar.
- South Korea's exports fell more that 30% in January.
Continue reading Emerging markets are sinking fast
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