US foreclosure filings surge 48 percent in May Friday June 13, 5:07 am ET By Alan Zibel, AP Business Writer Housing crisis worsens as number of US homes facing foreclosure in May up 48 percent WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of U.S. homeowners swept up in the housing crisis rose further last month, with foreclosure filings up nearly 50 percent compared with a year earlier, a foreclosure listing company said Friday. Nationwide, 261,255 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in May, up 48 percent from 176,137 in the same month last year and up 7 percent from April, RealtyTrac Inc. said. One in every 483 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing in May, the highest number since RealtyTrac started the report in 2005 and the second-straight monthly record. Foreclosure filings increased from a year earlier in all but 10 states. Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida and Michigan had the highest statewide foreclosure rates. Metropolitan areas in California and Florida accounted for nine of the top 10 areas with the highest rate of foreclosure. That list was led by Stockton, Calif. and the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area in Florida.
The top 10 risks for business The greatest strategic challenge facing leading global businesses in 2008 will continue to be regulatory and compliance risks, according to "Strategic business risk: 2008 — the top 10 risks for global business" (pdf, 764kb). This is closely followed by global financial shocks, workforce and consumer aging, and the rise of emerging markets.
Will women rule the business world? By Naseem Javed, Special to Gulf News - Published: March 06, 2008, 00:53 The American model clearly demonstrates that women all over the world could possibly lead the business world of the future. In the US alone, some 10 million women-owned businesses employ over 13 million people, grossing close to $2 trillion. These mostly privately held businesses have achieved double the growth rate than the rest. The same is occurring in most other G8 countries. This is not to ignore men and their great contribution, but to explore the rationale behind women's increasing participation in universities and all walks of life, particularly the rapid global rise of business ownership.
International Economy
Environmental Defense A unique approach to the most serious envrionmental problems We show how economic growth and a healthy planet can go hand in hand. Rather than engaging in confrontation, we prefer to sit down with other stakeholders, roll up our sleeves, and introduce change. With more Ph.D. scientists and economists than any similar group, we don’t just point out problems; we create lasting solutions. We work directly with businesses, government and communities in a nonpartisan manner, developing constructive alternatives that make sense for all.
The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 The United States tops the overall ranking in The Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008. Switzerland is in second position followed by Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Singapore, respectively. The rankings are calculated from both publicly available data and the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum together with its network of Partner Institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations) in the countries covered by the Report. This year, over 11,000 business leaders were polled in a record 131 countries.
China overtakes France Leading economist says it is now number three after the US and UK Melanie Gerlis | 7.2.08 | Issue 188 LONDON. China is the third most important art market by value, replacing France, which has long held the coveted spot, after New York and London, a leading economist has said. A report by Dr Clare McAndrew, who runs a research company Art Economics, commissioned by the organisers of The European Fine Art Fair (Tefaf), Maastricht, and including both auction and dealer data, found that by the end of 2006, China had already become the fourth largest global art market by value, with a 5% share. The US, UK and France were at 46%, 27% and 6% respectively.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.
Traidcraft is the UK's leading fair trade organisation, fighting poverty through trade. Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, we combine a trading company and a development charity. Our vision is a world freed from the scandal of poverty, where trade is just, and people and communities can flourish.
Extend Limits XL is ontstaan vanuit het boek 2020, Een hel(s)e onderneming. Dit boek schetst de wereld in 2020 op onder andere het gebied van marketing, communicatie, technologie en innovatie. Het boek biedt een antwoord en geeft een richting voor de mogelijke wereld die ons te wachten staat. Naar aanleiding van het succes van het boek is Extend Limits begonnen. De schrijvers achter Extend Limits zijn Tony Bosma en Maurits van Wijland. Zij zijn tevens de auteurs van het boek 2020 en hebben inmiddels ook bijgedragen aan diverse andere boeken.
Business - Lender Sees Mortgage Woes for ‘Good’ Risks By VIKAS BAJAJ - Published: July 25, 2007 Countrywide Financial, the nation’s largest mortgage lender, issued a pessimistic outlook of the housing market, helping to ignite a sell-off in the stock market.
Assets of High-Net-Worth Individuals Reach $37.2 Trillion Driven by a strong global economy, the wealth of the world's high-net-worth individuals (HNWI*) increased 11.4 percent to (U.S.) $37.2 trillion in 2006, according to the 11th annual World Wealth Report, released last week by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, MarketingCharts reports. That was the first double-digit growth in seven years, according to the report. The number of HNWI in the world increased 8.3 percent in 2006, to 9.5 million, and the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (Ultra-HNWI**) grew 11.3 percent, to 94,970.
Key Trend Alert: Investing in the Future By Buying Up Foreign Companies, Emerging Economies Show their Power By Michael Akerib In the 16th century, Machiavelli was one of the few to have the foresight to see the importance of political change in terms of its potential to revitalize the economy. He called these agents of change the "new princes" and saw in them enemies of the established order, whether they were consciously trying to be or not. Today's new princes are the BRIC economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China - gradually establishing themselves as economic heavyweights with major political ambitions threatening the economic weight of the European Union and the United States. A key indicator for monitoring the development and international economic standing of a country are the flows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The table below summarizes the situation of the four BRIC countries in 2005. In many cases, the outward flow has been carried out by government-owned natural resource companies often in pursuit of national policies rather than profits alone through the capture of distribution outlets. The creation of "national champions" that can become major global players and influence strategic decisions in developed countries are, increasingly, being considered by countries that do not want to stay at the edge of development.
