Most extensive talks in the history of modern relations of the United States and China concluded some agreements on contentious issues such as exchange rates and trade, announced Wall Street Journal. China is committed to gradually change the exchange rate of yuan, but did not specify deadlines for this. Regarding the actions of Beijing that foreign companies identified as protectionism from Chinese side have any hope of a resolution establishing the World Trade Organization. Moreover, Chinese authorities have promised to work with the U.S. and other countries to solve the crisis in relations between North and South Korea, however, again without giving details of how this will happen. Finance Minister of the United States has appointed Timothy Gaytnar agreements reached as “progress.
(more…)

The U.S. plans to circulate a new 100-bill. According to information circulated in Washington, the model will be presented to the public on 21 April at a special ceremony in Washington. The presentation will be attended by Finance Minister Timothy Gaytnar, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and the head of the secret services in the country Mark Sullivan. The U.S. government usually decides to renew the design of the currency after a careful assessment of the situation around the production of counterfeit money and the risk of occurrence of “Fake”, as created by digital copying and printing with traditional methods. Following the entry into circulation of the new 100-bill, citizens will be informed that all U.S. banknotes are legal tender in any year of printing and old banknotes will need to be replaced with new, state authorities. The presentation of the new design of 100-dollar bills to the start of a global information campaign on the initiative of the authorities. The aim of the campaign will be to inform the holders of 100-dollar bills on the specifics of the new design before the official circulation of the revised bill.
(more…)

The company of billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has made major changes to its portfolio of investments over the last quarter. Significantly restricted shares in two of the biggest oil companies of the United States, as well as Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. With the money from sales is probably facilitated the acquisition of the largest investment in Berkshire so far - the railway company Burlington Northern Santa Fe. It will cost the Empire Buffet on 26 billion dollars. Evidence of regular operations in the last quarter of last year, submitted to regulators in the United States make clear that Berkshire has been eliminated 34.3 percent of its stake in oil company ConocoPhillips. This means that they were sold a total of 19.7 million shares of the company. ExxonMobil to share even a whole is reduced 67 per cent and so the company Buffett already owns 421 800 shares of oil company. This happened after the significant trade in shares of Exxon in 2009, Berkshire acquired a lot of them in the second quarter. Significantly reduced investment in Buffett’s company Johnson & Johnson - by as much as 26.5 percent to 27.1 million shares. This is roughly as much as Berkshire has owned at the end of 2008, forward CNBC. Capital of Procter & Gamble even sold 9.1 per cent, being 8,8 million shares. Thus, Berkshire Hathaway already owns 87.5 million shares of the company. Among companies that have a sell by Berkshire, are still Carmax (11,1 per cent of the investment), Gannett (a decline of 36.1 per cent), Ingersoll-Rand (37,6 percent), SunTrust Banks (22 1 per cent), United Health Group (a decline in the proportion of targets 65.4 per cent), etc.
(more…)

The strong jump in gross domestic product of the United States failed to halt fall in oil prices. The price of energy raw materials fell below $ 73 a barrel due to the appreciation of the dollar and concerns that energy consumption in the largest economy in the world will remain lower than average this year. U.S. light crude for March delivery fell 75 cents, or 1 percent, to 72.89 dollars per barrel in late New York session today’s oil market. This is the lowest closing level for the last month as the price of oil was down during seven of the last eight sessions. International petroleum exchange in London Brent crude slipped by 67 cents, or 0.9 percent, to 71.46 dollars a barrel, sent Wall Street Journal. Initially, the price of oil soared to nearly $ 75 a barrel after news that the U.S. economy has grown with the record for the past six years 5.7 percent in the last quarter of 2009 but the economic expansion has so far not been able to increase energy consumption in the U.S. Demand for energy resources in the country is still less compared to prior year, while crude oil stocks increased in the last four weeks. It was clear from the data of the Ministry of Energy, which was published in mid-week. Moreover, the U.S. Dollar is rising by about a fourth day against the backdrop of stories about the financial problems of Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland which are associated with their large budget deficits. Appreciation of the dollar makes the price of oil higher, expressed in other currencies.
(more…)

Optimism of Wall Street investors were able to prevail at the end of today’s volatile session, which helped the three major indexes to finish the day and the week in positive territory. This happened despite the negative start of stock trading, triggered by disappointing data on unemployment in the largest economy in the world last December, cited by CNN. They showed that unemployment in the United States remains at 10% and the number of jobs lost in non-agricultural sectors of the U.S. economy amounted to 85 thousand, which was more than expected. The index of the 30 largest and most traded stock companies, Dow Jones IA closed with a growth of 0.1% to 10 618.19 points, although in most of today’s trading was on negative territory. Top losers among companies in its composition were Boeing, Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase and Travelers. Depreciation of their shares, however, was offset by good performance of IBM, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard. The broad measure of stock S & P 500 also overcame their initial decreases and ended with a growth of 0.3% to 1 144.98 points. Only the index of companies by the exchange Nasdaq - Nasdaq Composite, managed to hold onto positive territory for much of the session. It grew by 0.7% at 2 317.17 points, supported by technology and transportation companies. Within the past five sessions Dow Jones IA has increased by 1,8%, S & P 500 - by 2.7 percent and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2,1 percent. Other economic data today showed that inventories at U.S. wholesalers rose unexpectedly in November, taking into account record for the last five years grew by 1.5 percent on a monthly basis. Inventories are involved in the calculation of gross domestic product and its growth could improve data on U.S. economy in the fourth quarter of 2009.
(more…)

The price of crude oil, finished with a slight decrease today’s volatile session, after an unexpected contraction in the services sector in the U.S. reinforce concerns about the recovery of U.S. economy, Reuters reported. Today’s data showed that the index of business activity in the services sector of the United States fell to 48.7 points in November and thus returned to pessimistic zone below 50 points. Moreover, market participants remained cautious and in anticipation of Friday’s unemployment data for the United States in November. Earlier this week it became clear that weak demand has increased the country’s oil reserves more than expected. The U.S. dollar slipped slightly against a basket of major currencies, which raise the price of oil briefly before to take down quotes. The euro advanced against the dollar after European Central Bank announced its first steps to repeal some of the emergency measures to help the economy. U.S. light crude for January delivery fell 14 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 76.46 dollars per barrel of oil exchange in New York.
(more…)

The recession in the United States has extended its grip more than the previous data showed, writes Bloomberg. The trade ministry revised U.S. GDP data for the country to a decline of 0.7 percent for the second quarter versus the first made with seasonal adjustment. Two initial estimates show a decline of 1%. The decrease was significantly less than the reported first-quarter decline of 6.4 percent. According to the reasons for the positive economic perspective correction are the revised data for consumer spending (accounting for about 2 / 3 of GDP). For the second quarter, they decreased by 0.9% instead of the original 1%. Cost of business expenses are decreased by 9.6% compared to previous data for a decrease of 10.9%. Least one distributed data indicate that the decline in U.S. GDP for the second quarter in the U.S. over the same period last year was 3.8%. It is the largest annual declines after a 1.9% and 3.3% respectively in the last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009.
(more…)

Exchange week in Europe began with decreases in most of the major indexes. Thus, the regional benchmark Dow Jones Stocks retreated for the first time after seven consecutive increases. It lost 0.34 percent of its value to 241 points. Cause for concern among investors gave the sparks that fired between China and the United States and the danger both sides to start trade war. Pressure indexes proved and auctions in the extractive sector after the retreat in commodity prices. At national level, the German DAX index was down by 0.07 pm to a 5 620 points while the French CAC 40 fell 0.11 percent to 3 731 points. The green area but managed to keep the British FTSE 100 index, which advanced by 0,15 percent to 5 019 points. Overall, there was negative sentiment in Central and Eastern Europe. With the largest drop was reported index, Polish WIG, which fell 2,1 percent. In Romania, Beth slid 1.94 percent and the Czech PX50 - by 0,7 percent.
(more…)

Soon, all bound for the United States may pay an entrance fee. This measure is provided in the draft, which is discussed in U.S. Congress. Its purpose is to attract more tourists in the country. Sreashtu commission strongly protesting the proposal and says the message is spread that it may consider introducing visas for American tourists. The draft is intended to be a special fund created to promote tourism. But his promotion will be funded with money collected from tourists in the form of an entrance fee. According to the Deutsche Welle radio entry in the United States would cost 10 or 20 dollars. New idea according to which the promotion of tourism in the United States will be paid by tourists is certainly comical, but the EU does not induce laughter and anger and threats, countermeasures, notes in his comment on Sonia Kanikova Deutsche Welle. She informed that the Head of European Commission Delegation in Washington, Ambassador John Bratan has protested strongly against the proposal. “To impose a tax to tourists, to promote tourism, it is questionable if not paradoxical idea,” he said in a special statement. “Proposal to pay” fines “for our entry into the U.S. is sold as a measure of” promoting tourism, but only in “Alice in Wonderland” is a possible fine to be viewed as something that promotes the activity for which fined us, “said one European ambassador.
(more…)

Demand for manufactured goods in the United States rose for 4th consecutive month in July and has given another signal that the recession in the industrial sector may have already been completed. Orders in industry rose 1.3 percent on data from the Ministry of Commerce today after data for greater activity in the factory sector. Market expectations were for an increase of 2.2%. Outstanding orders, which are considered an indicator of future demand remain unchanged. Is unchanged and the supply of all manufactured goods. Manufactured goods outside aviation and non-defense decreased by 0.3 percent in July after rising by 3.8% in June. These goods are considered an indicator of capital spending. Today was clear and the revision of data for long-term contracts, which increased by 5.1% compared to the preliminary data that showed an increase of 4.9%. Durable goods have been produced to be used at least three years. Non-durable goods orders decreased by 1.9%.
(more…)