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This Week Around the World
From Rundt's World Business Intelligence, Updated Weekly
  September 2, 2010

TRENDS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Costa Rica - efforts to restrain the colon; Slovenia - a long-awaited return to growth; Sweden - robust economy and higher interest rates; Switzerland - high-flying Swiss franc.
Page 2
JAPAN
Increasingly desperate to halt the yen's relentless climb and prevent another economic slump, the government has talked  the CB into a fresh monetary easing and has announced yet another fiscal stimulus program. Neither will show the desired effect. Which way the authorities will turn next may depend on the outcome of the impending DPJ leadership contest.
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Page 13
BAHRAIN
Moody's has downgraded the sovereign debt with reference to an anticipated budget squeeze. Concern on this front is almost certainly overdone. So is that about a supposed negative outlook for the banking sector. But the agency has a point in warning about domestic political tensions ahead of elections next months.
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Page 3
SOUTH AFRICA
Investors have begun to ask serious questions about the country, startled by proposed restrictions on the news media and a bitter public sector strike. The governing ANC alliance will not fall apart, but the coalition that brought President Zuma to power is disintegrating.
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Page 14
CHINA
Important for those engaged in trade with China from a longer-term vista, Beijing is making slow but steady progress toward internationalizing the yuan. Contrary to some analysts, we do not expect a "Big Bang" liberalization, but the trend has become unmistakable.
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 Page 5
TAIWAN
The economy put in a rather formidable performance in the second quarter of this year, prompting the authorities to raise their projections for 2010 as a whole. A slow-down predicted for the second semester may not materialize.
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Page 15
IRAN
There are increasing signs that the latest sanctions are having more of an effect than earlier ones and are adding to the country's already considerable economic problems. This will not deter the regime from pursuing its nuclear arms ambitions, but it is aggravating the forces that are clawing at the nation's unity from within.
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Page 6
VENEZUELA
Even if  President Chavez does not obtain the majority he wants in the upcoming parliamentary elections, for which he is pulling every conceivable trick out of his bag, he will retain a firm grip on the tiller - in fact, his control  of the economy, armed forces, and institutions, including the judiciary, has never been stronger.
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Page 16
IRAQ
Now that the last of the American "combat" troops have left the country, we will soon find out if the Iraqi security forces can take over, and whether Iraqi politicians can meet the democratic responsibilities and opportunities US blood and treasure have bought them. Many risks persist, also in the economic arena, where much of the business sectors is still in a dire state.
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Page 8
EXCHANGE MARKET TRENDS
FX FORECASTS
STATISTICAL TABLES

Internat'l. interest rates, spot and Forward exchange rates, EURO, SDR, GOLD

 



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