30.72Asian Markets
- Asian consumer growth index bullish for Thailand, China and India
Asia Market Research dot com's August update to the Asian Consumer Growth Prospects Index is marked by the first tentative upturn for the long suffering Japanese consumer market, more confidence in the Chinese consumer market with the containment of SARS, and a quite substantive uptick for India (and to a lesser extent Pakistan), where decreased tensions with each other has reduced country risk significantly. - RFP trends from market research company show softening of China upward trend for Q1-2 2003
According to one Asian based consumer market and brand research company, the proportion of Requests for Proposals for market research so far this year reduced for China and East Asia, and increased for Thailand. - The Asian Women's Shopping Experience: New research from Thailand
Similar to the yuppies of the 80's, Asian women are earning and spending, but this newly found wealth is part of a newly found freedom as well as an economic evolution. According to a recent study in Thailand a key female demographic go on brand shopping sprees four times a month. - SARS, Thailand, tourism and business travel: How fast for recovery?
Latest data on recent tourist arrivals to Thailand reveals major plunges in the usually leading incoming tourist countries of Japan and China but less or nil affect on travel from Europe and Australia. Nobody really knows when the travel and tourism industry and business travel in Thailand and South East Asia will rebound now that all ASEAN countries apart from Singapore are seen as 'SARS free'. Best guesses are that it will be a gradual and steady recovery. Managing perceptions is key. - Chinese market research agency SARS procedures
Market research is an essentially social activity when it requires primary data collection among consumers. While much publicity on the effects of SARS in China has been focused on the airline, health-care, tourism, and restaurant industries, secondary effects are wide ranging. - Consumer growth prospects fall in the wake of SARS
April's Asian Consumer Growth Index, AMR's index of consumer growth prospects for the next 12 months, shows almost all of the 12 economies surveyed on the decline, in particular Hong Kong, Singapore and China. - SARS strikes market research in Asia
SARS is already perceived as a greater threat to the sustainability of the market research and advertising business in Asia than the war on Iraq according to a quick survey of major market research and advertising agency executives based in Asia yesterday. Postponements and cancellations of projects due to inability to attend briefings and observe focus groups by clients are the major cause - Thailand TV Ratings Technology battle shapes up
There's a bull-fight shaping up in Thailand for the TV ratings measurement market with Video Research Japan announcing this week that they have developed Thailand's 'most accurate audience measurement technology' following two years of research and development by their local unit Video Research International (Thailand). - Prospects of War affect Asian consumer demand growth for the next 12 months
War is on the minds of many consumers in Asia, possibly causing many to delay purchases due to increased unknowns from an anticipated war in Iraq. Both foreign and domestic investment has also slowed in most Asian equity markets this month. - Asia Pacific IT professionals to outnumber other regions by 2006
It was only a matter of time before the center of the IT and computer programming world moved towards Asia. A new IDC report estimates that the Asia Pacific will house more computer programmers than any other region including North America and Europe by 2006.
- Samsung warns of sagging profits
Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest technology company by sales, unveils record operating profits but warns profitability could sag in the second half of the year due to a difficult consumer climate - Nomura sees profits fall 80%
Nomura, the Japanese bank, reported an 80 per cent plunge in quarterly net profit on Friday, joining western rivals in suffering from a broad downturn in trading and underwriting activity - Charles River calls off $1.6bn Wuxi tie-up
US drug research firm calls off a $1.6bn deal to buy China’s Wuxi PharmaTech after its largest shareholders voiced strong opposition - US divided on how to tackle Huawei
US government agencies charged with reviewing sensitive acquisitions are engaged in a debate over how to handle Huawei, the Chinese software and telecoms equipment-maker viewed with deep scepticism by government security experts - Signs of slowdown in Japanese recovery
Fresh data reveal an unexpected rise in the unemployment rate and a drop in industrial production amid the country’s ongoing battle with deflation - Li Ka-shing buys EDF arm for £5.8bn
EDF Networks has low-voltage electricity distribution networks in the east and south of England, long-term contracts with businesses such as London Underground, Heathrow and Gatwick, and the Channel Tunnel - Cameron needs more subtlety on subcontinent
David Cameron has led the largest official delegation to India since its independence from Britain 63 years ago. By doing so, he has tested Britain’s place in the world, and how far it has travelled since 1947 - US banks in rush for cheap finance
US banks are taking advantage of improving earnings and growing investor demand to raise billions of dollars in debt at low interest rates, a move that could boost the sector’s profits - Results underline strength of Europe’s corporate recovery
Industrial companies have led the recovery after a crushing fall in earnings last year - FSA unveils tough pay and bonus code
The FSA is broadening the scope of its pay code to more than 2.500 financial services companies to comply with EU legislation that introduced some of the world’s toughest restrictions on bankers’ bonuses