European Trading: October 2006

Euro inflation
Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The European Union has the world's largest economy, larger than the United States of America according to the International Monetary Fund.
But Europe is still behind US in term of economic growth and unemployment.
The European Central Bank(ECB) rate policy settings may be too tight, but at least these low figures can make the lower economic growth seem better.

Euro inflation continues to cool

Lower oil costs helped push headline eurozone inflation down to 1.6% in October, official data shows.

Annual inflation for the 12 nations using the euro fell from 1.7% in September, the EU Eurostat agency said.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has set a 2% inflation comfort zone and raised benchmark interest rates to 3.25% this month to tackle rising consumer prices.

Check the rest of the article at BBC News

posted by IntoBlogs @ 4:10 PM, ,

Nokia enters car navigation market

Nokia enters the GPS Wars with Route 66's Software against other manufacturers like Tom tom's varied product offer.

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia unveiled on Monday its first dedicated personal navigation device, the Nokia 330 Auto Navigation, as the world's top handset maker tries to increase its foothold in the fast-growing navigation market.

The Nokia 330, with preinstalled Europe-wide map data from navigation firm Route 66, is expected to be available in Europe during the fourth quarter of 2006, retailing for 360 euros (241 pounds) excluding taxes.

The 330 does not function as a phone.

Nokia sees navigation as a growth area and already has such functions on some of its more advanced mobile phone models.

Article Here

posted by IntoBlogs @ 4:02 PM, ,

Portugal
Sunday, October 29, 2006

Today's topic is Portugal.
We, at European Trading, believe that Portugal can really rise in terms of quantity and quality in the next 5 years.
One former minister said "Portugal creates well, but sells bad". Maybe this tide can be turned with the new ICEP programs (please see www.icep.pt and www.portugalinbusiness.com/), and the good work and good will of both portuguese business and foreign business man.
The cork oak tree is arguably Portugal's finest asset, representing 30% of the world's cork forests and accounting for over half the world's total cork production.

Cases of sucess, such as Compal SA, the company which gives its name to the brand, belongs to the group Nutrinveste SGPS, SA which operates in the sector of juices, tinned vegetables, tomato-based products and bottled water. Founded in 1952, the company focuses its activities on producing high quality fruit juices, a sector in which it leads with a 65% share, as well as tinned vegetables, where it has a 50% share. One of Compal's main commitments is to innovation using a strategy that aims to anticipate the different market trends and which has turned out to be a decisive factor in maintaining and reinforcing its position as market leader. Another of Compal's major commitments is to internationalize the brand, a project that is now starting to bear fruit. In Spain, Compal already has a strong presence in large-scale distribution, positioning itself as a premium brand in the high quality juices and nectars segment and as a fruit specialist. Compal's expansion policy is based not only on Spain but on an entire export infrastructure that covers several points of the globe. Present in more than 30 countries, Compal is currently marketing its juices and nectars in countries as diverse as the UK, France, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Senegal, Ireland, Germany, Estonia, Macau, Hong Kong, Portuguese-speaking Africa (Angola, Cap Vert and Mozambique) and countries with large Portuguese emigrant communities.

The Vicri brand is aimed at the top-end sector and is positioned in the nouveau luxe segment where what matters is image, perception and feel. Combined with high standards of quality and modern design, the aim is to awaken in the consumer a desire and irresistible impulse to buy Vicri. Customers are offered the opportunity to discover new sensations by means of the perception of unique and surprising pieces, produced using luxury fabrics and elaborate and perfect techniques. To wear a Vicri piece is to discover the elegance and sheer daring of being well-dressed. Aimed at the informed consumer who is extremely demanding and has a high level of purchasing power, perfection is an indispensable requirement in manufacture, distribution, retailing, after-sales service and the constant monitoring of customers. More than just selling a Vicri piece, the brand appeals to the customer's emotional attachment and involvement in the concept that originated the product. The values associated with the brand are differentiation, originality, creativity and uniqueness. Of course, high quality in both the luxury fabrics and the manufacture goes without saying. Vicri is a pioneering brand in Portugal, being the only ready-to-wear company positioned in this market segment. In addition to the Portuguese market, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Brazil are its traditional customers where the brand enjoys considerable visibility, with its ranges stocked by the leading luxury retailers such as Biffi, Cascella, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, Liberty, Gonzalo Comella and Equus, to mention just a few. The USA and Japan are priority markets for the company where it plans to invest even more in promoting the brand that is already stocked by leading customers such as Oxigénio (USA). Although its ranges are already being marketed in Russia and China, these markets are on the company's list.

Critical Software S.A. supports mission and business critical information systems across diverse markets with customers that include Telecom, Aerospace, defence, industry and government. The company provides full-cycle software engineering services and develops innovative technologies and products for mission and business critical systems, being a world leader in the software segment for reliability-testing by fault injection. The company operates a quality system accredited to ISO 9001:2000 TickIT, is IS15504 assessed and holds EU/NATO Secret clearance, offering outstanding value for money by virtue of Portugal's rare combination of high quality with low cost.
Customers include renowned companies in Europe and worldwide such as NASA, ESA, Siemens, Infineon, EADS, Vodafone, Astrium, Westland Helicopters, Alcatel Space, Eurocontrol, Soporcel, Portugal Telecom, CGD and many others. Founded in 1998, Critical Software is among Europe's 500 fastest growing companies according to BusinessWeek. Based in Portugal, it has offices in the USA and the UK and representatives worldwide.

These 3 cases are a taste of many more. You can check for more on these links:
http://www.portugalinbusiness.com/
http://www.investinportugal.pt
http://www.bportugal.pt
http://www.visitportugal.com

posted by IntoBlogs @ 11:02 PM, ,

Spain's Coast Building Boom
Friday, October 27, 2006

By some estimates, as much as 40 percent of all European construction is occurring in Spain.

Spain's Booming Real Estate is just one in many worldwide real estate markets booms.
New luxury hotel/golf resorts, beach scrapers and others, are not only booming in south Spain but in other south European borders like Portugal, Italy and Greece.

By all accounts, Spain has experienced an economic boom over the last decade. It has “continued its prolonged economic expansion” and “weathered the international slowdown” making it “one of Europe’s best-performing economies”.

Economic growth—between 3 and 4 percent a year and twice the European average—has made Spain the world’s eighth-largest economy, up from 16th place 10 years ago. Companies such as the fashion house Zara, phone operator Telefónica, construction giant Ferrovial and real estate developer Metrovacesa have become globally recognised names.

Anyone who is a resident of a country belonging to the EU can buy property in Spain.
And that's what the rich north European tourists are doing, boosting the demand for new construction, whether it's well planned luxury resorts or ugly "concrete hills".

There are of course serious side-effects like corruption, money laundering and a very dangerous real estate bubble that could drag the whole south European market and economies to stagnation or worse.

In a recent article, from The Washington Post:

About 3 million houses have been started or built in Spain in the past four years, including 812,000 in 2005, with as many as half of them along the coast. By some estimates, as much as 40 percent of all European construction is occurring in Spain.

The boom is being fueled partly by the demand of northern Europeans for retirement homes on the Mediterranean. Drawn by the temperate climate, relatively inexpensive housing and the ease of avoiding taxes by conducting business under the table, foreigners now account for 70 percent of the population in some Spanish towns.

You can read the rest of the newsarticle here

More information about the Spain's Coast Real Estate Boom in the next days.

posted by IntoBlogs @ 9:57 PM, ,

Europe's Hot Growth Companies

There is a special report on BusinessWeek, about new and groing european companies, from eastern europe startups to luxury italian yachts.

You can check this vast and complete articles in BusinessWeek here:
Special Report: Europe's Hot Growth Companies

Although venture capital is common in USA, in Europe it's just starting, with plenty of new people, ideas and companies ready to take off.
There is an article in BusinessWeek regarding this subject too, in Europe's Young Entrepreneurs.

Check back tomorrow this blog with an article about the real state market in South Europe.

posted by IntoBlogs @ 2:26 AM, ,

European Economies: German, French Confidence Rose
Thursday, October 26, 2006

Today in Bloomberg:

Business confidence in Germany and France unexpectedly rose in October as lower oil prices and exports to Asia brightened the outlook for economic growth in Europe. Stocks rose to the highest in five years and bonds fell.

By European standards, it is almost a boom, and it looks set to continue for the time being,'' said Holger Schmieding, chief European economist at Bank of America Corp. in London. The Ifo report ``bolsters hopes that the German VAT hike in January will not derail the euro-zone upswing.

Read the rest here.

posted by IntoBlogs @ 12:21 AM, ,

DaimlerChrysler

DaimlerChrysler Net Falls Less Than Analysts Expected

By Jeremy van Loon

Oct. 25 (Bloomberg) -- DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's fifth-largest carmaker, said third-quarter profit fell less than analysts estimated as higher earnings at the Mercedes and truck units helped offset a loss at Chrysler. The shares gained the most in 15 months.

Net income fell 37 percent to 541 million euros ($681 million) from 855 million euros a year earlier, the Stuttgart, Germany-based company said today. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected net income of 27 million euros. Revenue declined 7.8 percent to 35.2 billion euros.

Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche slashed 9,300 jobs and introduced new models like the S-Class at Mercedes to reverse a slump in sales last year. The turnaround at the German luxury carmaker contrasts with a $1.5 billion loss at Chrysler, whose future became the focus of DaimlerChrysler's conference call when an executive failed to quell questions about a possible sale.

``The company needs to move quite quickly at Chrysler because the operating losses are quite substantial,'' said Peter Braendle, a fund manager at Swisscanto Asset Management in Zurich, which oversees the equivalent of $51 billion and is ``overweight'' in its holdings of DaimlerChrysler shares. ``Mercedes and the trucks did quite well. That seems always to be the case at Daimler, they fix one unit and immediately there is a problem at another one.''

The shares rose 1.74 euros, or 4.2 percent, to 43.23 euros in Frankfurt. U.S. shares gained $2.35, or 4.5 percent, to $54.68 at 4:17 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

You can see the rest of this news on bloomberg

posted by IntoBlogs @ 12:18 AM, ,