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China passed Japan in 2010 to become the world’s second-largest economy after the U.S., a historic shift that has drawn mixed emotions in the two Asian powers: resignation tinged with soul-searching in long-stagnant Japan, pride but also caution in an ascendant China wary of shouldering new global responsibilities.
WSJ Assistant Managing Editor John Bussey is joined by Beijing Bureau Chief Andrew Browne and Tokyo Bureau Chief Jacob Schlesinger to discuss China overtaking Japan as the world’s #2 economy.
The Japanese government made official the long-expected flip Monday morning in Tokyo, reporting that the economy shrank at a 1.1% annual rate for the last three months of the year, a period when China’s gross domestic product surged 9.8% from a year earlier. With those figures, Japan’s full-year GDP was $5.47 trillion—about 7% smaller than the $5.88 trillion China reported in January.
Both still remain considerably smaller than the American economy. Japan and China combined are still worth less than the U.S.’s 2010 GDP of $14.66 trillion. But the news marks the end of era. For nearly two generations, since overtaking West Germany in 1967, Japan stood solidly as the world’s No. 2 economy. The new rankings symbolize China’s rise and Japan’s decline as global growth engines.
For the U.S., while Japan was in some ways an economic rival, it also has been a geopolitical and military ally. China, however, is a potential challenger on all fronts.
Obama: Budget is ‘down payment,’ challenges loom
Seeking to balance cuts while maintaining U.S. competitiveness and facing pressure from Republicans seeking even bigger reductions, President Barack Obama said on Monday his proposed 2012 budget was a “down payment,” on reducing the federal budget deficit, but said more work was needed to address “long term challenges.”.
From Politics & Policy
Merger mania again hits global stock exchanges
Global stock exchanges have apparently entered into a new round of consolidation that promises to radically alter trading activities for millions of investors.
From Global Markets
US stocks open lower after recent gains ?
U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Monday as investors awaited the release of President Obama’s budget.
From Companies
Boeing launches its new 747-8 Intercontinental
Heralded by the aircraft maker as its airspace footprint into the future, the new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental shed the traditional blue imprint of the old days and instead opted for a flaming red an…
Swiss freeze Mubarak family bank accounts
Financial Times
Telegraph.co.uk – Ha’aretz – NPR – Hindustan Times –
MBA Employment and Salaries move up as recession fades: Alumni Survey
The median base salary for business school alumni in the survey topped US$94,500 in 2010 – well above the pre-recession level of US$89,000 recorded in 2007.
TMX Group in Talks With London Stock Exchange
read more ABC NewsThe Associated Press By ROB GILLIES Associated Press TORONTO February 8, 2011 (AP) TMX Group, the operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange, said Tuesday it is in advanced talks to merge with the London Stock Exchange in a deal that would make it one…
UK government irons out pact with major banks over lending, and pay
The British government has entered into a comprehensive agreement with the nation’s largest banks on matters related to lending, transparency and bonuses payments to executives, after four months of negotiations and wrangling.
Critics set to blast Fed on Paul’s monetary policy panel
Collectively, the critics set to testify on Wednesday have previously said the Fed operates for its own advantage, interferes with the market much as a price-control board does, and has not targeted unemployment as much as it has low inflation.
US stocks open modestly lower after China raises rates
U.S. stocks opened modestly lower on Tuesday after China raised interest rates for the third time since last October in response to accelerating consumer and asset inflation.
Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president, is reported to have an extensive network of business connections and homes in some of the most sought-after locations around the world.
But while Egypt’s economy may be suffering, Mubarak’s personal wealth remains strong.
Ascent Into Madness
As deficit and debt aggressively climbs, Bernanke warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences of default
Wall Street Journal – Min Zeng
China Beckons West Coast Architecture and Building Firms
Feb 1st
The firms may be in the West, but the new business is now in the East — the Far East, that is. China’s construction growth, fed by a thriving economy and a massive population movement from rural to urban …
Egypt businesses hit by instability
Egypt, Day 7 – Demonstrators continue to demand that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak step down, and CNN.com’s “This Just In” is live, blogging developments as they happen. While Americans were waking up Monday, thousands in Cairo defied a midafternoon government curfew despite a greater military presence on the street. Many in the city’s Tahrir Square said they spent the night there. In Alexandria, 2,000 to 3,000 people gathered, and an armored personnel carrier fired warning shots in an apparent effort to intimidate protesters near a hotel.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said 42 Americans have been evacuated from Egypt and more will be transported. Read about their journey. The recent Tunisian uprising helped inspire the Egyptian unrest following the buildup of years of social, political and economic grievances. The lack of opportunities, corruption and poverty have coalesced into a push to oust Mubarak from power.
The negative effect protests have had on U.S. stocks may be waning, but world markets are not doing as well.
Spain’s unemployment rate passes 20 percent – AFP
Suffering from the world recession, Spain has the highest rate of unemployment of any industrialized country
DeLeo Industry Mass Photos Wikipedia :Biotech The Boston Globe
Mass. Speaker DeLeo to address biotech industry
| BOSTON-Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo is planning to address biotechnology executives about how changes in health care law could effect their industry. | DeLeo is scheduled to deliver the … (photo: AP / James A. Finley)
Economy Photos Taxation US Wikipedia: Corporate tax in the United States The New York Times
Corporate Tax Code Proves Hard to Change
| WASHINGTON — Large trucking companies paid the government more than 30 percent of their income in 2009. Biotechnology companies paid less than 5 percent. Blogs | The Caucus | The latest on Pre… (photo: AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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Davos WEF 2011: Urbanisation in emerging economies could cause future crises The pace and scale of urbanisation in fast growing economies could be a source of future crises as could the moral and ethical limitations of the current capitalist system, according to business leade… (photo: WN / Marzena J.) Economy Europe Future Photos Urbanisation Wikipedia: Urbanization |
The Daily Telegraph
Euro Rises to Two-Month High Against Dollar
Wall Street Journal – Eva Szalay
Another huge recall for Toyota includes Lexus sedans in US
USA Today – Fred Meier
Video: Toyota Recalls 1.7m Vehicles Worldwide
The Associated Press
Toyota Recalls 1.7m Vehicles Worldwide
The Associated Press
Boeing 4th-quarter profit slips on deliveries
Reuters – Steve Orlofsky, Maureen Bavdek
Davos 2011: World leaders struggle to rebuild trust
Banks and governments alike have found it hard to regain trustPublic trust in business, governments, non-governmental organisations and the media is slow to rebuild, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer.
The United States are the exception, where trust fell sharply last year.
Chief executive Richard Edelman said scepticism had “increased as a result of the systemic impact of corporate and government crises”.
While trust in business had “stabilised globally,” its nature had changed, Mr Edelman said. Trust was now “different and conditional, premised on what a company does and how it communicates”.
For one thing, he still sees a fiscal trainwreck.
Home Prices in US Declined 1.6% From Year Earlier
Bloomberg – Shobhana Chandra
Class Action Lawsuit Has a Beef with Taco Bell’s Meat
DailyTech – Mark Kurlyandchik
United Western Bank Says Its Seizure Was Premature
Wall Street Journal – Eric Morath
US Steel loss bigger than expected, stock down
Reuters – Steve James, Lisa Von Ahn
Stocks Slip at Start After Mixed Earnings Reports
Fox Business – Matt Egan
CORRECTED – UPDATE 2-McDonald’s December sales disappoint; shares fall
Reuters – Ben Klayman, Derek Caney
UK’s economic growth slows in fourth quarter
Economy in the U.K. grew slower in the fourth quarter though it was above economists’ forecasts, according to the latest report by the U.K. Statistical Department.
Treasury’s Rise On Moscow Blast, Fed Buying
Wall Street Journal – Min Zeng
The $8.869 billion buying in notes maturing in 2016 and 2017 was at the top end of the $7 billion and $9 billion range the central bank intended to buy for this operation. It is part of the Fed’s $600 billion bond buying program launched in early November as a second round of monetary stimulus to support the economy.
A suicide attacker blew himself up at Russia’s busiest airport Monday, killing at least 31 people and wounding more than 100 others, authorities said. The 4:32 p.m. blast near the international arrivals area of Moscow’s Domodedovo airport was the country’s worst terrorist attack since twin bombings left 40 dead in the Moscow subway last March.
“There was some demand for Treasurys from the Moscow blast and the Fed buying, but trading in the market has been mundane with no U.S. data Monday,” said Paul Horrmann, a broker in New York at Tradition Asiel Securities, an interdealer broker. “The main driver for the bond market this week will be the new debt supply” and the first monetary policy meeting in 2011 from the Federal Reserve.
Gains were limited as the bond market is bracing for this week’s $99 billion new government notes supply. The sales include $35 billion in two-year notes on Tuesday, followed by $35 billion in five-year notes on Wednesday and $29 billion in seven-year notes Thursday.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union address in 2011 on Tuesday evening. The Fed will conclude the two-day meeting on Wednesday afternoon with a statement featuring policymakers’ latest assessments on the economy and interest rates.
TechBytes: Apple Announces 10 Billionth iTunes Download
ABC News – Brett Levy, Molly Hunter
US Jobs Outlook Rises to Decade High, Survey Says
Bloomberg – Alex Kowalski
Citigroup Bailout Warrants Will Be Auctioned by US
BusinessWeek – Rebecca Christie, Donal Griffin
NVIDIA Tegra 2 3D chip revealed
Mobile Burn – Todd Haselton
Nadal storms into Melbourne quarters
CNN
World number one Rafael Nadal could become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles at once. (CNN) — Rafael Nadal maintained his bid to become the first man since Rod Laver to hold all four grand slam titles on Monday
Shakira & Rafael Nadal in ‘Gypsy’ Video
NewsX
McDonald’s Profit Climbs 2.1% as Frappes Draw Customers
BusinessWeek – Leslie Patton
Rock-Tenn to Buy Smurfit-Stone for $3.5 Billion on Paper Demand
BusinessWeek – Elisabeth Behrmann, Thomas Biesheuvel
Halliburton Profit More Than Doubles on North America Rebound
Wall Street Journal – Tess Stynes
U.S. to Auction Citi Warrants Tuesday
Wall Street Journal – Jamila Trindle
Private equity suitors queue up for Sara Lee
Sydney Morning Herald – Michael de la Merced –
Wall Street Journal – Chicago Sun-Times – Portfolio.com
Genoptix shares rise as Novartis plans acquisition
Bloomberg
Sanofi extends Genzyme tender offer
Boston Globe – Robert Weisman
Facebook raises $1.5 billion
CNNMoney – Laurie Segall
From Economy
Snow hits UK retail sales
UK retail sales slid 0.8 per cent in December as food, petrol and clothing sales remained under pressure and the adverse effects of the snow dented high street spending.
From Economy
Is China’s economy already the world’s biggest?
New GDP figures at purchasing power parity (PPP) seem to suggest that China may have already overtaken the U.S. as the world’s largest economy.
From Economy
China rate hike looms as inflation becomes political issue
Close on the heels of a China central bank adviser hinting at an imminent rate hike, a state-controlled newspaper has said more rate hike is on the cards, probably as early as in February, confirming …
US stocks open higher on upbeat earnings
US stocks advanced in early trade on Friday as upbeat quarterly results from General Electric and Google and strong German IFO business sentiment data boosted investor sentiment.
General Electric’s quarterly net profit jumps 51%
MarketWatch – Christopher Hinton –
What Google’s Executive Reshuffle Means for Investors
DailyFinance –
Bank Of America Posts Billion-Dollar Loss Tied To Mortgages
Forbes – Halah Touryalai – ?
After summit pomp, China’s Hu to face US lawmakers
President Hu Jintao on Thursday will try to persuade often hostile U.S. lawmakers that China is a threat-free engine of growth, after a White House summit sought to narrow rifts between the world’s top two economies.
2010 weakest year for home sales since 1997
Initial Jobless Claims in US Fell to 404000 Last Week
From Politics & Policy
House passes health repeal
The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to repeal last year’s health care overhaul.
From Tech
Apple criticized for lax green standards in China
Chinese green groups on Thursday accused iPhone maker Apple of failing to properly oversee its Chinese suppliers, leading to poor environmental and safety standards, and dozens of poisoned factory workers.
From Politics & Policy
US, China tout $45 billion in export deals
The United States and China on Wednesday agreed on $45 billion in U.S. export deals and to give U.S. companies greater access to China’s $88 billion-plus government contracts market at the start of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s four-day state visit.
From Education
Green jobs outpace overall employment growth in California
Research shows that jobs in the green sector in California grew by three percent over a period when the total employment growth in the state grew by one percent.
From Economy
QE2 not working miracles, but Fed unlikely to roll it back
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve, which meets next week, is unlikely to curtail its plan to buy $600 billion of Treasury securities by June despite the stronger tone of the incoming economic data, research firm Capital Economics said in a note on Wednesday.