naked capitalism Fri 2010-03-19 15:24 EDT

China's Exporters Hanging by a Thread?

Has the Chinese export sector become hostage to WalMartization, the ability of powerful retailers to squeeze vendor profit margins?...Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, in an exclusive interview Thursday ahead of a visit to the U.S., said that the profit margin on many Chinese export goods was less than 2%. Most exporters absorbed the appreciation in the value of the yuan that followed its revaluation in 2005 by boosting innovation and cutting costs, but many were forced to close, he said. A further rise in the currency's value would endanger more exporters' survival, which China can't afford, he said... ...2% margins on export-oriented businesses is not representative of any sort of real competitive advantage. A real competitive advantage when it comes to exporting would show double-digits profit margins. This whole sector is hanging by a thread...nearly none of the activity China has engaged in since the downturn is secular or self-sustaining.

China's Exporters Hanging; naked capitalism; Threaded.

zero hedge Thu 2009-11-19 10:23 EST

Guest Post: Dear Prudence, Won't You Come Out To Play?

Contrary Investor

...consumers appear to have for now taken a vow of frugality. Whether by necessity or choice, prudence seems the order of the day. Does that mean consumers are not going to come out to play in the land of increased personal consumption any time soon? We think that's the theme, along with continued household balance sheet reconciliation that must come. Is monetary policy now impotent in an environment where consumers choose not to borrow and spend? If so, that leaves increased fiscal policy as the lever ahead for the government, with all the consequences that come along with that...it is critical to at least be open to the thinking that economic and financial market relationships we have grown to know and love over the past three to four decades are in the midst of meaningful change, perhaps secular change.

comes; Guest Post; play; prudence; Zero Hedge.

Sun 2008-08-24 00:00 EDT

Safe Haven | The Elusive Bottom

Safehaven | The Elusive Bottom, by Merrill-Lynch economist David A. Rosenberg; predicting lengthy recession, secular bear market dating from 2000, eventual bullish indicators include savings rate above 8%, housing supply below 8 months, household interest coverage below 10.5%; frugality is in; bullish on bonds

elusive bottom; safe haven.

Fri 2008-07-04 00:00 EDT

naked capitalism: Commodities "Dramatic Secular Reversal" Coming? (And Qatar Says Oil Markets "Oversupplied")

comes; Commodities; Dramatic Secular Reversal; naked capitalism; oversupply; Qatar Says Oil Markets.