"Where Are Most Secure Bank in the World?"

NEW YORK - The latest survey of Global Finance launched 50 safest banksaround the world. Like the site disitat Forbes, Sunday (28/08/2011), almost halfof the list are in Europe, including two in Spain and two in Italy.

The list includes five American banks which BNY Mellon (NYSE: BK),JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), and CoBank. The rest, scattered all over the world, mostly in Australia,Singapore, Middle East, Japan, and China.

Actually, the top ten safest banks in the world are in Europe. If so, why doinvestors actually dispose of the shares of European banks and other relatedstocks around the world? Is this the fault of investors who launched the agencyor agencies the data?

The answer, both. As it happens generally when the crisis, investors in the stock market overreact. On the other hand, the three agencies which rating agencyStandard & Poor's (S & P), Moody's and Fitch, in general, are responsible fortheir negligence to enter the housing crisis on the wider margins.

"Gold Price Drops Sharply on US Economy Hopes"

The price of gold plunged by 5.6% on Wednesday to close at $1,757.30 an ounce in New York, a drop of $104 on Tuesday's finish.

During a volatile week for the precious metal, its price has fallen since topping $1,900 an ounce during trading overnight in Asia on Tuesday.

Analysts put the falls down to profit-taking and hope of new measures in the US to try to bolster its recovery.

Gold is perceived as a safe investment in times of uncertainty.

Its price rose steadily this month during a tumultuous period on the markets caused by fears about the global recovery and euro debt crisis.

Some predict that Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke will signal a new round of quantitative easing to try to kick start the US' sluggish economy when he speaks at a gathering of central bankers on Friday.

But that explanation, cited as a potential reason for the sharp fall on Wednesday, was also given on Tuesday when gold rose to a record price of $1,913 an ounce.

According to this line of thinking, investors assume that quantitative easing, in which the central bank injects new money into the economy, could depress the value of the dollar, making gold a more attractive investment.

European stock markets also rose, with London's FTSE ending 1.5% higher, the Cac 40 in Paris up 1.8% and Frankfurt's Dax closing up 2.7%.

Stronger-than-expected US durable goods data, a leading economic indicator, could also have helped shares. The latest figures showed that companies ordered more big ticket items such as cars and planes in July.

( source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14656210)

"Brokers and Economic Transition"

   MUHAMMAD Nazaruddin. This name is known to the public not only because of allegations of corruption that befell the giant-scale private self and his wife, Sri Wahyuni ​​Neneng, or the drama of pursuit up to Cartagena, Colombia, but also because he could speak about the involvement of a number of prominent politicians in the activities of bribery and misappropriation of funds public.

   There is a curiosity that was aroused because of the fishing possibilities Nazaruddin disclosure of all names the parties involved in major corruption cases, even members of the Democratic Party, which incidentally is the ruling party in this country. Awesomeness cases revealed by the statement of the Chairman Nazaruddin Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Busyro Muqoddas.

   Nazaruddin Busyro states involved at least 31 cases of alleged corruption and almost all of these cases are in various ministry projects financed negara.Nilai project budget is estimated at more than Rp 6 trillion. Regardless of what will next happen in Nazaruddin when the process of investigation and trial took place later, there is a gaping unrest in society.

With the capture Nazaruddin, an alleged network that systematically undermine the state budget through parliament again as if not groundless. Unrest caused by corruption is being expanded in a number of countries in the hemisphere dunia.Ketika boosted the economy to grow taller, there was also the seeds of corruption grew thick.

   Funds are disbursed funds for the construction of easily exploited for personal gain and other interests that are far from the original intention. India and Vietnam, including two state of rapid economic growth which is also being diresahkan by corruption scandals.

   Returning to the case of Indonesia, I am reminded of a book written by Timothy Frye entitled Brokers and Bureaucrats (2003) published by the University of Michigan. Frye combing the reason why in countries like Russia have a strong role of the broker once in the economic and political practices.

   In 1992 when reforms stalled market economy in Russia, the economic stabilization package is not running for months, the rate of inflation reached 30-40 percent per month, and the privatization of state companies has just begun, but the relationship the president and Parliament deteriorated, there was a currency trade is facilitated brokers.

   The power brokers gathered to form The Moscow Exchange, a sort of stock market run by the broker on a small scale, with a capital of less than USD30.000. They trade with each other to make a living while getting rid of dilapidated company.

   Meanwhile, the brokers also play a role in commodity trading in Rusia.Para broker selects prospective buyers and sellers, find a "mate" suitable and if the trade happens, they get a commission from the buyer and seller.

   Is a fairness in Russia that the brokerage is also "sell" protection (including armed protection) for the needy, including when it occurred sengketa.Intinya that the system of economic management in Russia shows how weak the state role in providing certainty for economic actors.

   As a result, interested parties need each other to exploit the situation to make profits through the role as a broker. What's interesting is that the earlier Frye analysis in a process of economic reform, there is a consequence of uncertainty, even for those who are usually easily obtain allocations of power.

   They is then moved to find certainty in his way sendiri.Dalam world corruption, it is the principle of "for-for". If a person takes so many dollars from the flow of funds passing in front of him, those who saw the incident and facilitate it to happen to get a portion of the funds taken.

   If not, it will be opened as a cheating scandal in the public eye. In the transition phase of economic reforms, as well as undertaken since the collapse of Indonesia's New Order regime in 1998, the uncertainty of the results was tightened neck. Some employers repeatedly complained the high cost of production in this country.

   The high cost is true not merely because of policies that fail to support the cost-efficiency, but because employers require brokers to ensure that their projects succeed or at least not terlibas by other projects. In this kind of transition period, state institutions do exist, but in name.

   Existing institutions can not guarantee that the transactions that occur will not be cheated by those who used to take profit. This is where the ironic role of liaison between the broker alias and the other one. They help the transaction process, getting the project, draw profits, and paid a commission for that role.

   This broker is sucking funds, public funds even though, but a broker is usually rare breach of contract with a pay for her. A broker's reputation is determined by its ability to hold promise on his client. So in an uncertain world, it should at least talk a broker can be held.

   Thus, in the case Nazaruddin, our attention should not be taken up in the drama disclosure of the parties involved as a broker as he is usually well aware of the "contract" - was as a broker. Do we just missed fortify themselves from networks of brokers who continue to try to suck funds from each of the opportunities they see in the system that is still versatile patchwork in this transition era.

   Given that the risk of large-scale corruption is quite plural kinds occur in countries with economies in transition, it is now challenged to Indonesia as soon as possible to build an institution that is suppoarted by the reputation mechanism.

   Required a special selection for screening reputation parties involved in managing the economy and entered in the budget team in Parlemen.Necessary smooth circulation of information about the parties involved so that she no longer needed a broker to ensure that the information circulating is true.

   Incentive mechanisms are needed for members who obey such they must refrain from violating the boycott on shared norms. Learning from experience in other countries, the role of institutions such as the Commission needs to be buttressed by revamping the institution where the negotiations took place public funds.

"Moody's Cuts Japan's Debt Rating on Deficit Concerns"

Rating agency Moody's has cut Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating, citing concerns about the size of the country's deficit and borrowing levels.

The rating was cut to Aa3 from Aa2, though Moody's also said the country's outlook was stable.

Japan, the world's third-largest economy, has the highest public-debt level amongst developed economies.

The 2009 global financial crisis, and this year's earthquake and tsunami have increased the pressure on its finances.

"The rating downgrade is prompted by the large budget deficits and the build-up in Japanese government debt since the 2009 global recession," Moody's said in its statement.

"The March earthquake also undermined Japan's recovery from the 2009 global recession," it added.

Difficult times

Japan's economy is currently in a recession, and has contracted for three consecutive quarters.

According to the latest government figures, Japan's economy shrank by an annualised rate of 1.3% in the three months to the end of June. It shrank 0.3% from the previous quarter.

While that figure was better than many analysts had expected, there are concerns about the increased levels of borrowing and spending that Japan will have to undertake to rebuild after the tsunami.

Not least because the devastation caused by the natural disasters has seen consumer and corporate spending in Japan soften. With consumers and companies spending less, the government is set to earn fewer yen in tax revenues, further impacting their budget plans.

At the same time, Moody's warned that power problems may cap the ability of the economy to rebound quickly.

Japan's electricity production has been compromised by the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which was damaged by the the earthquake and tsunami. The government has cut the country's nuclear power output and is asking people to limit their use of electricity.

The fear is that continuing uncertainty about the supply of power will deter or delay investment by both the public and private sectors.

"These developments further hamper the economy's ability to achieve a growth rate strong enough to steadily reduce the budget deficit," Moody's said.

Political will?

Japan's current government has pledged to turn its annual budget deficit into a surplus by 2020.

However, Moody's said that while the government may have the will to reduce the deficit, political instability in the country was hurting its plans.

Japan has seen five different prime ministers in the last five years.

"Frequent changes in the administrations have prevented the government from implementing long-term economic and fiscal strategies into effective and durable policies," the agency said.

To make matters worse, the current prime minister, Naoto Kan, is expected to resign within the next few days.

"The imminent change in the party's presidency and the election of a new prime minister reflect the factious nature of the country's politics," Moody's warned.

Analysts said that Moody's decision to cut the debt rating may have been triggered in part by the change in leadership.

"Looking at the candidates, there seems to be nobody among them who would seriously tackle financial reform, so that's why Moody's went ahead and cut the rating," said Yuuki Sakurai of Fukoku Capital Management Inc in Tokyo.

"Moody's probably has the view that Japan's finances will continue worsening," he added.

 ( source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14625969 )

"Stock Markets Rise on Hopes of More US Fed Stimulus"

Stock markets and gold have rallied, while the dollar has fallen, as markets anticipate further stimulus measures by the US Federal Reserve.

European markets rose 1%-2% in morning trading, while gold hit a new record.

The Fed's chairman, Ben Bernanke, is widely expected to discuss further stimulus actions at a keynote speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday.

This may involve more "quantitative easing" - buying up US debt to inject more cash into the financial system.

The Fed has already carried out two rounds of quantitative easing (QE), to stabilise the 2008-09 financial crisis, and more recently to boost the flagging recovery.

Earlier this month, the US central bank also took the unusual step of saying that it expected to keep short-term interest rates close to zero until 2013.

The second round of QE and the interest rate commitment were hinted at by Mr Bernanke when he spoke at last year's Jackson Hole gathering of central bankers.

Dollar vs gold?

The price of gold briefly rose above the $1,900 an ounce mark for the first time during Asian trading hours, setting a new all-time high of $1,913.50.

Gold, which is viewed by investors as a haven investment, has been boosted both by anticipation of QE - which is expected to erode the value of the dollar - as well as recent signs of weakness in the US and European economies.

"If they push through with more stimulus, gold could rise even further," said Colin Whitehead of Fat Prophets.

He explained that a fresh stimulus package would mean that the US would have to print more money to boost liquidity in the markets, which in turn could see the US currency weaken further.

"The underlying driver of gold prices is the depreciating US dollar value," he said, "so the more money they print, the stronger gold gets."

However, following the open in Europe, stocks rallied strongly, while the gold price fell back somewhat, with the London morning price fixing at $1,886.50 an ounce.

Analysts say that the previous round of QE boosted share prices, as investors sought to reinvest the cash received in return for debts sold to the Fed.

Meanwhile, the dollar fell against most currencies in Tuesday morning trading.

The euro rose 1.2 cents to $1.448, though some of the gains were due to industry surveys that revealed that eurozone manufacturing and services were not performing as badly as expected.

Libya uncertainty

Meanwhile, oil prices also rose in Tuesday morning trading, because of continued fighting in Libya and expectations that official figures will show a decline in US crude stockpiles.

Brent was up 25 cents to $108.61 a barrel, while US light crude advanced 87 cents to $85.58.

"It could take months before oil can start to flow again from Libya," said John Vautrain, oil analyst at energy consulting firm Purvin & Gurtz.

"I think there was a lot of euphoria on Monday. But the whole country is not completely pacified yet and we don't have an organised government. A lot is lacking."

( source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14625918 )

"Thailand's Economic Growth Slows on Supply Chain Woes"

Thailand's economic growth slowed in the second quarter due to supply chain disruptions caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Growth was 2.6% in the three months to the end of June, from a year earlier, down from 3.2% in the first quarter.

Compared with the previous three months, the economy shrank by 0.2%.

The destruction in Japan resulted in a shortfall in parts for manufacturers in Thailand, especially for auto makers, which hurt exports.

"The net exports position remained a drag as expected, with the post-quake impact on the manufacturing sector weighing on the economy's performance." said Radhika Rao of Forecast Pte.

Foreign vs domestic demand

Thailand's exports are one of the biggest contributors to the country's economic growth. But as key markets like the US and Europe face a slowdown in growth, analysts said the Southeast Asian economy may witness further slowdown.

"A key downside risk to growth is slowing global demand due to debt problems in developed countries, which is likely to weaken Thailand's export growth." said Usara Wilaipich of Standard Chartered Bank.

However, analysts said robust domestic demand will continue to fuel growth.

"You still do have some domestic buffer coming in terms of consumption and investment," Wellian Wiranto of HSBC told the BBC.

Analysts said that higher incomes in the agricultural sector and the restoration of consumer and business confidence due to political developments in the country were among the key factors driving domestic demand in the country.

"Overall we still see the economy expanding," HSBC's Mr Wiranto added.

Policy change?

While economic growth in Thailand has led to increasing domestic demand, rising consumer prices have seen the central bank tighten its monetary policy in the past year.

The Bank of Thailand has raised benchmark interest rate eight times since July 2010, with the latest hike taking the cost of borrowing to 3.25%.

However, analysts said the weaker-than-expected data may force the central bank to change its stance.

"The data could see the newly elected government pile pressure on the Bank of Thailand to rethink its aggressive policy approach," said Forecast Pte's Ms Rao.

The central bank is expected to meet later this week to decide on monetary policy.

Ms Rao added that even though she expected a rise in the cost of borrowing, she "will not be surprised if the central bank cites global volatility and soft Q2 GDP to sit on their hands this time around."

( source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14611211)

"Rupiah Still Strong in Rp8.544"

JAKARTA - The trend is still color the strengthening of trade dollars. Today, the rupiah closed at the level Rp8.544 per USD.

Data Bank Indonesia middle rate (BI), Tuesday (08/23/2011) shows, the tradeearlier in the week opened with the strengthening of the rupiah to six points andparking at the level of Rp8.552 per USD. Meanwhile, today's rupiah gainedeight points in the range of Rp8.544 per USD.

The data was released yahoofinance also menasbihkan rupiah strengtheningtrend in the level of Rp8.537, 5 per USD with a trading range,5-Rp8 Rp8.537.553. Yesterday, the rupiah parking at Rp8.547, 5 per USD.

Meanwhile, the dollar against the euro at 1.4465 dollars per euro level.Meanwhile, the dollar appreciated 76.6150 yen.

Before Idul Fitri, inflation in August is estimated no more than one percentmom. However, this figure is expected to be higher than the inflation-fasting Idul Fitri season which recorded 0.76 percent in 2010 mom. The reason, Ramadanand Lebaran occur in the same month.

Digit inflation in July recorded 0.67 percent or 4.61 percent yoy mom.Cumulatively, up to July 2011 inflation rate of 1.74 percent recorded ytd.

Thus, the cumulative inflation rate is predicted to remain safe, and is stillpossible to achieve the inflation target according to 2011 state budgetassumption of 5.3 percent. Another factor is, guarantee the absence ofsubsidized fuel price increases.

"Eratex Target Sales USD 30 Million at End of Year"

JAKARTA - PT Eratex Djaja Tbk (ERTX) targeting the sale until the end of theyear could reach $ 30 million.

"The sales target is based on the company's production operations are now more efficient. If the first of its exports often late, because of unstable financialcondition, but now now because its financial condition has improved, so that everything on time so no need to pay overtime, so to end my year optimistic that sales could reach $ 30 million, "said Financial Controller ERTX WordWahyudi when met in the EGM, Jakarta, Tuesday (23/08/2011).

Until the first half of 2011 the company had posted sales of $ 14 million andestimated seebsar July to December 2011 sale of the company will be posted sales of approximately USD16-USD17 million.

As information, the issuer is engaged in textile products produced as much as 98 percent in exports to foreign countries, namely the United States (U.S.) and Europe while its local only approximately 1.2 percent.

So far, the company claimed to have been hit by the worsening U.S. economy and Europe. This is due to bookings from August to October 2011 sales havebeen booked so that the company had not yet felt the impact of the worseningpersekonomian of the two countries.

"Although it has not been felt, I thought not would not be too influential on the company because the crisis is not as bad as the 2008 set," he concluded.

"What is operations management?"

Operations management is an area of management concerned with overseeing, designing, and redesigning business operations in the production of goods and/or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as little resources as needed, and effective in terms of meeting customer requirements. It is concerned with managing the process that converts inputs (in the forms of materials, labor, and energy) into outputs (in the form of goods and/or services). The relationship of operations management to senior management in commercial contexts can be compared to the relationship of line officers to the highest-level senior officers in military science. The highest-level officers shape the strategy and revise it over time, while the line officers make tactical decisions in support of carrying out the strategy. In business as in military affairs, the boundaries between levels are not always distinct; tactical information dynamically informs strategy, and individual people often move between roles over time.

Operations traditionally refers to the production of goods and/or services separately, although the distinction between these two main types of operations is increasingly difficult to make as manufacturers tend to merge product and service offerings. More generally, operations management aims to increase the content of value-added activities in any given process. Fundamentally, these value-adding creative activities should be aligned with market opportunity (through marketing) for optimal enterprise performance.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, operations management is the field concerned with managing and directing the physical and/or technical functions of a firm or organization, particularly those relating to development, production, and manufacturing. Operations management programs typically include instruction in principles of general management, manufacturing and production systems, plant management, equipment maintenance management, production control, industrial labor relations and skilled trades supervision, strategic manufacturing policy, systems analysis, productivity analysis and cost control, and materials planning. Management, including operations management, is like engineering in that it blends art with applied science. People skills, creativity, rational analysis, and knowledge of technology are all required for success.

Operations management focuses on carefully managing the processes to produce and distribute products and services. Major, overall activities often include product creation, development, production and distribution. (These activities are also associated with Product and Service Management.) Related activities include managing purchases, inventory control, quality control, storage, logistics and evaluations of processes. A great deal of focus is on efficiency and effectiveness of processes. Therefore, operations management often includes substantial measurement and analysis of internal processes. Ultimately, the nature of how operations management is carried out in an organization depends very much on the nature of the products or services in the organization, for example, on retail, manufacturing or wholesale.


( source : http://managementhelp.org/operationsmanagement/ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management )

" UK, Decline in Family Finances Speeds up, Markit Survey Finds"

Household finances in Britain are deteriorating at a faster rate than at the height of the recession in 2009, while hopes that exports would take up the slack and get the economy back on track are thwarted.

A household finance index from financial information firm Markit has fallen for the third month running to its lowest level since the survey was first compiled in February 2009. Almost 40% of households, whose spending accounts for two-thirds of the economy, saw their finances worsen between July and August, compared with fewer than 6% who reported an improvement.

The findings will do little to soothe nerves in the financial markets where investors have been panicked in recent weeks by poor data, prompting fears about a slowdown in western economies and the continuing European debt crisis.

Last week the FTSE 100 index fell more than 5%, and traders will be braced for the prospect of more sell-offs when the markets open again today.

"With a global economic slowdown and an escalating eurozone debt crisis lapping on the shores, it was unsurprising to see households' appetite for major purchases reverting to its lowest since the start of the year," said Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit.

Moore noted that August saw the steepest drop in take-home pay for nine months, and this reduced income was squeezed further by rising prices, with the rate of consumer prices annual inflation now running at 4.4% – or 5% on the retail prices index including housing costs. As a result, household savings and cash available to spend fell at the fastest rates in the survey's two and a half year history.

With consumers increasingly stretched, the British economy is becoming more dependent on exports to drive the recovery. But separate research from thinktank IPPR reveals Britain is failing to export its way to economic recovery.

The latest government figures show that after growing strongly last year, exports stalled in the first half of 2011. The IPPR says fewer than 7% of UK exports are going to Brazil, Russia, India and China – the so-called Bric economies. It argues that Britain is missing out on trading with these emerging markets and is being left behind by Germany and the US.

The report shows the UK share of global exports has dropped from more than 10% in 1950 to less than 3% today. The percentage of UK exports going to Belgium and Luxembourg – 2.9% – is almost double the percentage of UK exports to China, and yet the combined GDP of Belgium and Luxembourg amounts to less than one tenth of China's.

German exports to China totalled €53.5bn (£47bn) last year, up 44% on the previous year. The total value of German exports is more than double the value of British exports, despite the German economy being only one-third larger than the UK's. Even during the 2008-09 slump, German exports to China increased. This is partly because Germany mainly exports manufactured goods while Britain tends to export services. US exports to China are also proportionately greater than those of the UK, and Britain has invested less in China than Japan, the US and Germany.

The IPPR points to low levels of business investment in the UK (it is bottom of the league in the G7 for investment as a percentage of GDP), and notes that Britain also ranks behind most other industrialised nations in terms of infrastructure quality. Despite improvements over the past decade, productivity is lower than in the US, France and Germany, partly owing to a skills deficit – 30% of adults have low or no qualifications, twice as many as in Germany and three times worse than the US.

Tony Dolphin, IPPR associate director, said: "Economic success means looking to what needs to be achieved over the next few decades not the next few years. The UK economy has serious structural challenges that require an active industrial policy to tackle them. Only then will the UK survive 'the Asian century'.

"For example, Britain needs a state investment bank, like they have in Germany and Scandinavian countries, or even a major state-led investment fund, like in France … Other policies that should be considered are an expansion of the export credit guarantee scheme, greater efforts to identify and provide companies with the skills that will be needed to compete and a change to enterprise zones policy to strategically focus on innovation."

A separate survey from the manufacturers' organisation EEF and Royal Bank of Scotland shows that the soaring cost of raw materials such as metals and food ingredients has prompted manufacturers to redesign products or processes, seek different sourcing options or replace some materials with cheaper alternatives.

( source : http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/22/economics-economicgrowth)

"Gold Prices Continue to Create Record"

NEW YORK, KOMPAS.com - Contract price of gold soared to hit a record above U.S. $ 1880 per troy ounce in New York. This precious metal touchedU.S. $ 1.881.40. Thus, the price of gold has rallied for seven consecutive weeks.Investors are worried the global economy will slow down so as to make the stock market plummeted participate.

"The low level of confidence in the global economy prompted investors to hunt for gold. The price of gold will continue to rise, unless world leaders to solve problems of debt crisis in Europe and the U.S.," said Tom Pawlicki, an analyst at MF Global Holdings Ltd. told Bloomberg.

The same thing also expressed by Dennis Gartman, an economist. He said, at present, gold has become a world currency. "Especially if the world be convinced that the fiscal and monetary policy makers can not do anything to resolve the fiscal problems of the world today," he explained.

Record, the contract price of gold for December delivery rose 1.7 percent to1852.20 U.S. dollars per troy ounce on the Comex, New York. Throughout this week, gold prices have gone up 6.3 percent, the biggest since February 2009,and 14 percent this month. (Barratut Taqiyyah / Cash)

(source :http://bisniskeuangan.kompas.com/read/2011/08/20/08594976/Harga.Emas.Terus.Ciptakan.Rekor )