Although my blog is focused on business talk, this post features a random and fun event!
I want to share a couple of very interesting videos with everyone! I found a few that captured an egg phenomenon. The credibility seems reliable because multiple sources have discovered the same thing. So, which came first? The chicken or the egg?
1. Big Egg from Elman511 in the United States
2. Double Egg - 2 eggs in 1! Mutant! from itzoa in Bulgaria
3. 日本一！？ 大きな鶏卵！！ 衝撃の中身 BIG EGG from la76ayk in Japan
Monday, April 11, 2011
China Posts First Quarterly Trade Deficit In 7 Years
Surprise! Just when everyone is criticizing China for "fixing" their Yuan, China throws a curve ball at us by posting a quarterly trade deficit of $1.2 billion for the first time since 2004. From WSJ's China Real Time Reports Blog, this is a significant step signaling the impact of rising commodity prices on China.
Xianfang Ren and Alistair Thorton from IHS Global Insight reports that "the headline data — that China recorded its first quarterly trade deficit since 2004 — may suggest some significant progress on the rebalancing agenda, but it remains far too early to make such a bold call."
Lu Ting from Bank of America-Merrill Lynch is optimistic that China will most likely post a trade surplus for the year despite month deficits here and there. The slow trade growth is due to weaker terms of trade and rising prices.
By keeping Yuan at a lower exchange rate than other currencies, China continues to export its goods at a reasonable price. Can China keep this charade up? Will China be the next superpower?
Xianfang Ren and Alistair Thorton from IHS Global Insight reports that "the headline data — that China recorded its first quarterly trade deficit since 2004 — may suggest some significant progress on the rebalancing agenda, but it remains far too early to make such a bold call."
Lu Ting from Bank of America-Merrill Lynch is optimistic that China will most likely post a trade surplus for the year despite month deficits here and there. The slow trade growth is due to weaker terms of trade and rising prices.
By keeping Yuan at a lower exchange rate than other currencies, China continues to export its goods at a reasonable price. Can China keep this charade up? Will China be the next superpower?
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Johnson & Johnson Pays $70 million for Bribery Charges
WSJ reports:
The Justice Department said the terms of the settlement reflect J&J's voluntarily disclosures to the government, its cooperation and the company's "role in identifying improper practices in the life sciences industry."
J&J's payments to settle the various probes include $48.6 million to the SEC in disgorgement and prejudgment interest, a $21.4 million criminal penalty to the Justice Department, and £4.8 million ($7.8 million) to the U.K. Serious Fraud Office.A $70 million settlement to Johnson & Johnson seems like a drop in the ocean for this corporate giant. Compared to my previous post on AstraZeneca's $1.1 billion payment. Is bribery a less serious charge than tax evasion? Or is this a "sweetheart deal"?
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