Signalpost

Bad news…

For a long time there has been nothing but bad news, bad news but all of a sudden there is good news. The latest key numbers from the US has managed to lift the stock market. This positive news was needed, as it arrived this afternoon, as a rapport showed that the numbers of production rose more than expected.

The ISM-index

The so-called ISM-index went up from 32,9 in december till 35,6. The financial expert had only expected a rise till 32,5, which was marginal in comparason to the 32,4, which the numbers of december ISM-index was estimated to. read more aboute the ISM-index here

States the evil financial spiral

More or less all the twelve federal reserve districtsn in the US have experienced that the financial situation has gotten even whorse in december. The bad guys in this contet is according to the repport the dried out loaning market combined with a drop in detail sales.

Bad news – once agian!

The Beige Book rapport from the departments of the American central Bank do eight times a year take the temperatur of the American economy. This year the reading of the rapport has – not surprisingly – been very depressing. read more aboute the Beige Book rapport here

The land of the rich

This statement could not  be more true when talking aboute the United States of America. It has always been the land of hopes and dreams, but when all comes to all, it seams as if, it still is more fun to be rich in the US.

The real wages

There has the past twenty years only been rises in the real wages for the richest part of the population. This is not only unfair, but also unwise. I mean, there is no question that the middelclass is the greatest class as a whole, and therefor ought to be looked gently upon. read more aboute the development of the real wages in the US here

Terrorist struck again

Last last night local time bombs of terror struck specifificly intented targets around Bombay. Most targets were picked because of the high concentration of foreigns staying there. The two hotels that were bombed and later the scene of hostage situationsn are the luxury Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Trident.

Will this scare the tourists away?

All day we have heard about the hostage situation on the news. I man who got out of one of the hotels told about how the terrorists had asked people with american and british pasports to step forward. This could only start speculations on how these western-hating terrorists would treat the western pasport owners. read more about the financial consequences of the terror attack in India here

I heard it on the radio

Just the other day I heard that consumers all over the world can expect food prices to drop. This would be a change to the rise that we had gotten used to. I know that the prices on food have to got up every now and then, but seriously, this past year has been somewhat crazy in my oppinion.

Salaries do not rise as much

To give an example: I usually buy detergent for washing cloth when it is on sale. I used to be able to get five bottles for 15 $ now it is 17 $. I also belive that the prices on meat has rosen dramaticly. The problem in my household is that me salary do not rise with the same speed as these prices. read more about food prices and western cry babies here

We want more!!!

Students in Scandinavia receive arround 4000 kr. a month which approximately is 673 $ each month in student grants. In personally believe that this amoutn schould be even higher yet! When receiving these grants there you can only earn 521 $ working study jobs.

Arguements against

Some people might think “what a spoiled child are you?”. In my oppinion this is not the case. I know that I am privileged to receive those grants and going to University for free….BUT I also have many expences that american university students do not have. I’m not able to live i dorms and the cost of food prices are higher here. As it is right now, I have arround 150 $ month for myself to buy everything that I need for me exclusive food.

I want more!

If the politiciens do not want to raise the grants, they could at least let us earn all we can on the side. I know that the rules are there to make sure that we do good in school, but the one thing do not eliminate the other.

Look at who’s passing

The politiciens could for instance just look at who is passing the exams. I have always worked all the hours that were allowed and never failed any exans in law school, now attenting 3. year. Well i do not know what else to say but, “I WANT MORE!!!”

What is this?

Consolidation is where organisations focus defensively on their current markets with current products. Formally, this strategy occupies the same box in the Ansoff matrix as market penetration, but is not orientated to growth. Consolidation can take two forms:

Defending market share

When faxing aggressive competitores bent on increasing their market share, organisations have to work hard and often creatively  to protect what they already have. Although market share should rarely be an end in itself, it is important to ensure that it is sufficient to subtain that business in the long term. read more about consolidation here

Product development

Product development is where organisations deliver modified og new products to existing markets. This is a limmited extention of organisational scope. In practice, even markets penetration will probably require some product development, but here product development implies greater degrees of innovation. However, product decelopment can be an expensive and high-risk activity for at least two reasons.

New strategic capabilities

Product development typically involves mastering new technologies that may be unfamiliar to the organisation. For example, many banks entered online banking, at the beginning of this century, but suffered many setbacks with technologies so radically different to their traditionally high street branch means of delivering bank services. Thus project development typically involves heavy investments and high risk of project faliur. read more about product develop

Ethical norms in business

At first sight ethical norms do not seem logical in combination with business, but these norms do indeed play a great role on this area of financial life. Some banks have denied investing in companies, that have money placed in the gun industry. Many companies will not co-orperate with partners using child labour or partners who do not respecting animal welfare in transportation. read more about ethical norms in economy here

Suppliers

Suppliers are those who supply the organisation with what it needs to produce the product or service. As well as fuel, raw materials and equipment, this can include labour and sources of finance. The factors increasing suppliers power are the converse to those for buyer power. Thus, supplier power can be high in certain areas.

Concentrated suppliers

Where just a few pruducers dominate supply, suppliers have more power over buyers. The iron ore industry is now concedtrated in the hands of three main producers, leaving the steal companies, relatively fragmented, in a very weak negotiation position for this essential raw material. read more about the power of suppliers here