Fisher Capital Management: Market Performance – US Economy

Fisher Capital Management Report, Part 1 - Output growth exceeded what were once considered lofty expectations during the third quarter, as real GDP (inflation adjusted Gross Domestic Product) rose by a 3.5% annual pace from the previous quarter. To be sure, this was the first gain in economic activity after four consecutive quarterly declines in GDP. While technically this indicates an end to the recession, we point out that on a year-over-year (YOY) basis, economic activity has still declined 2.3%, yet it represents an improvement from the -3.8% YOY in the second quarter, the worst annual drop in seven decades.  The components of GDP were led by growth in personal consumption, which increased 3.4% as stimulus programs such as “Cash for Clunkers” allowed consumer spending to increase by the largest amount in two years. Home construction surged at an annual rate of 23%, spurred on by the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers. Another decline in business inventories also added to output, as did the growth in government spending (2.3%). Though businesses increased spending on equipment and software, fixed investment remained weak.

Market Performance, US Economy: Fisher Capital Management Report - As the positive effects of federal stimuli diminish, we continue to project an economic recovery that is “less spectacular” than in previous experiences. While output growth has improved as government programs spurred consumption relative to housing and autos, our concern rests on the economy¹s ability to sustain these rates of growth as government programs wane. Indeed, personal spending fell 0.5% in September after the “Cash for Clunkers” program concluded in August. Consumer confidence also weakened in October as the unemployment rate approached 10%. Until we experience a sustainable floor in housing and a ceiling on the unemployment rate, we suspect output growth will rely on exports, inventories, and government outlays, areas that we characterize as “cushions” for growth.

Market Performance, US Economy: Fisher Capital Management Report - As the unemployment rate lingers within the range of 10% and Fed policymakers remain committed to keeping interest rates low for an “extended period,” we look for real GDP to expand at an average rate of approximately 2.5% in 2010.

Fisher Capital Management, Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world.

As a full service company Fisher Capital Management, Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

LBX and Sumitomo Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Co., Ltd. Acquires

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FISHER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others – 100% Ownership of LBX Company.

Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (SCM), a leading manufacturer of hydraulic crawler excavators headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, announced today that effective as of April 30, 2010 it has acquired full ownership of LBX Company (LBX) headquartered in Lexington, KY.

LBX was originally formed as part of a global alliance between SCM and Case Corporation, and holds the manufacturing rights to SCM's excavator products in North and Latin America. LBX has been marketing and selling Sumitomo excavators, forestry, material handling and demolition products under the Link-Belt excavator brand name since the company's formation.

"This acquisition underscores SCM's dedication to LBX and the Link-Belt® excavator brand, and will contribute greatly to our success and expansion throughout North, South and Central America," stated Robert Harvell, CEO of LBX Company. "Over the years, our long-term relationship with SCM has been built on a solid foundation of providing superior product quality, innovative designs, and dedicated commitment to our dealer network and customers."

"We believe that this acquisition will allow both LBX and SCM to achieve our common long-term global growth strategies," said Kensuke Shimizu, President of Sumitomo Construction Machinery.

Since its formation, LBX has passed several growth milestones, including the creation of a corporate campus in Lexington, KY that includes a world-wide parts distribution center, product testing grounds, training facilities and testing and service bays. Additionally, the Link-Belt® excavator products have evolved to meet the needs of today's marketplace, including the introduction of new models such as the Link-Belt® 360 X2 Rubber Tire material handling excavator, which was unveiled at the ISRI Convention last week in San Diego, CA.

"We look forward to working very closely with SCM in the development of future products and our dealer network to further expand our position in the marketplace," Harvell said. The management team of LBX will remain in place.

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - Stocks closed lower in October for the first time in seven months, as investors questioned whether the huge rally off the March lows had exceeded the economy’s ability to generate growth in output and profits.

Indeed, equities capped off a volatile month (the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experienced triple-digit moves in ten trading sessions!) with a volatile week, as the S&P 500 Index experienced its worst five-day span since early July.

For the month, the DJIA eked out a fractional gain, while all the other major equity market indices suffered losses. Small cap stocks, which had been among the performance leaders of the seven-month rally, experienced the worst hit, with the Russell 2000® Index falling by almost 7%. In another sign that the market may be growing skeptical of the “higher risk, higher reward” strategy, the NASDAQ Composite Index, dominated by technology holdings, declined 3.6% for the month.

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - Yet perhaps emblematic of the struggles experienced in the markets recently, growth stocks outperformed value in October, contradicting the idea that the pursuit of “risk” had become out of favor over the past several weeks. Moreover, the weakness in U.S. markets failed to extend beyond our borders last month, as developed markets (MSCI EAFE) experienced just a fractional loss, while the emerging markets (MSCI EM) managed to rise by up to 1%, adding to their impressive year-to-date (YTD) returns.

From a sector perspective, two of the three leading performers off the March lows (financials and materials) declined by the largest amounts in October, as investors appeared to lock in gains of approximately 150% for the financials sector and 75% for the materials sector. Despite the weakness in the technologyladen NASDAQ Composite last month, the higher-quality and larger-cap tech names comprising the S&P 500 Index’s information technology sector simply dropped fractionally. Rising oil prices pushed the energy sector higher by 3%, and the “defensive trade” was still evident within the consumer staples sector, which held on for a 1% gain.

Market Overview December 2009: Fisher Capital Management - In other asset classes, fixed-income was mixed last month. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note backed up by seven basis points, as traders likely moved funds elsewhere as the Federal Reserve concluded its $300 billion Treasury purchase program. The dollar continued to weaken, hovering near 14-month lows, which helped drive up the prices for oil, gold, and most commodities.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Major Equity Markets 2010: Fisher Capital Management Part 2

The euro-zone economy improved much faster than expected in the

second quarter of the year. Growth is estimated to have been around

the 1% level, the fastest quarterly level for three years; and this has

eased the fears about a move into a “double-dip” recession, at least for

the moment. But it is a two-speed recovery, with the German economy

estimated to have grown by 2.2% during the quarter, the Netherlands

economy by 0.9%, and the French economy by 0.6%, but with Spain

and Portugal basically unchanged and the Greek economy falling further

into recession. With domestic demand weak, it is therefore essential

that overseas demand remains buoyant if German exports are going

to continue to drive the overall economy forward; but this is now very

uncertain, and so growth projections for the rest of this year and for

2011 are still fairly cautious.

However the European Central Bank is maintaining its optimistic view

of prospects. Speaking before the latest figures were announced, the

chairman, Jean Claude Trichet, argued that the second quarter outturn

would be better than expected, that there would also be an encouraging

result in the third quarter, and that there was no prospect of a move

into a “double-dip” recession.

He also defended the bank’s actions during the recession, suggested

that the economy has responded well to those actions, and was anxious

to ensure that “perhaps part of the credit could come to the central

bank”.

There is an obvious risk that his comments will prove to be premature.

Since the latest downgrade in Ireland’s credit rating has provided

further evidence that the problems in the European banking system

are far from resolved, and that the threat of sovereign debt defaults

remains. It is not surprising therefore that markets have been unable

to resist the downwards pressure despite the relatively good corporate

results from European companies.

The UK market has also fallen sharply over the past month. The UK

economy is currently performing better than expected, with consumer

spending holding up well so far; and the markets are continuing to

give the latest measures by the new UK government to reduce the fiscal

deficit the benefit of the doubt. But there are fears that those austerity

measures with have a significant effect on growth in the second half

of the year, and into 2011, and that corporate activity will be badly

affected. The mood amongst investors has therefore become much more

cautious.

The latest news on the UK economy has been encouraging. The Office

of National Statistics has recently estimated that retail sales volumes

were 1.1% higher in July than in the previous month, and 1.3% higher

than in July last year, the strongest monthly gain since February;

unemployment remains much lower than might have been expected;

the latest Purchasing Manager’s index for July confirms that

manufacturing activity is continuing to expand; and exports also appear

to strong.

There are weaknesses in the housing sector, and apparently some loss

of momentum in the services sector, and bank lending remains low;

but overall there are hopes that growth in the current quarter will be

at reasonable levels. But there are already indications that the austerity

measures announced by the government are beginning to have an effect

on activity, and so the situation remains very uncertain.

This uncertainty is reflected in the minutes of the latest meeting of the

Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. They state that the

economy is “on a knife-edge”, with “substantial risks” of a relapse

balanced against signs of “gathering momentum” in the recovery. This

uncertainty persuaded the majority of the members of the committee

that policy should remain unchanged for the present; but the minutes

indicated that “the risks were substantial, and that members stood

ready to respond in either direction as the balance of risks evolved”.

The subsequent Inflation Report from the bank was also a cautious

document, with growth forecasts revised lower, primarily because of

the expected effects of the austerity measures, and with the governor

of the bank, Mervyn King, stressing the need for “continuing monetary

stimulus” in the face of the “choppy recovery”. Interest rates are

therefore likely to remain low for some considerable time, despite the

fact that the inflation rate is well above the bank’s target rate, and so

monetary policy will continue to be supportive. But will this be enough

to justify the present market level? Global growing is slowing, and this

will add to the downward pressures on the economy resulting from

the austerity measures as they are introduced. The odds therefore seem

to favour further UK market weakness in the near-term, even though

we believe that the economic recovery will continue, and eventually

lead to higher equity prices.

The Japanese market has also moved lower over the past month. Recent

figures have shown that economic growth in Japan slowed very sharply

in the second quarter of the year because of weak domestic demand

and falling exports; and as a result China has replaced Japan as the

world’s second largest economy for the first time. Growth is estimated

to have been at a 0.4% annualised rate in the second quarter, after a

4.4% rate in the first three months of the year, and this has increased

the fears that the country may once again be slipping back into recession.

The dependence on exports has been an important adverse factor, as

overseas markets have weakened, and this has encouraged speculation

that the Bank of Japan will be forced to intervene in the currency

markets to prevent further appreciation of the yen; but even this might

not be enough to avoid a recession. In this situation, it is particularly

unfortunate that an impasse exists at the political level that is making

it extremely difficult for the government to take effective action. The

background situation therefore remains very disappointing, and the

weakness in the equity market looks set to continue.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Komatsu America Corp. Introduces the WA1200-6 Wheel Loader

Fisher Capital News Update: Keep updated on recent events, press releases and latest machineries to avoid scam.

FISHER CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - Construction Machineries, Suppliers Directory and Others.

Meets EPA Tier 2 Emissions Regulation With More Horse Power, Reliability, Durability, Lower Fuel Consumption, Increased Productivity, Enhanced Operator Cab and Easier Maintenance, 1892 Gross HP (SAE J1995), 1765 Net HP (SAE J1349) @ 1800 rpm, Engine RPM control system with auto deceleration New variable transmission cut-off system, New dual-mode active working hydraulic system, Additional torque converter cooler, Increased hydraulic cooling capacity, Extended service intervals

Rolling Meadows, IL, September 8, 2010 — Komatsu America Corp. (KAC) today introduced its new WA1200-6 Wheel Loader for use in mining applications. Based on extensive customer input and feedback, the new loader includes environmental, technological and ergonomic enhancements for even greater productivity, while lowering operating costs.

The new WA1200-6 is powered by a highly-efficient Komatsu SAADA16V160E-2 engine that delivers 1892 Gross HP at 1800 RPM. With an operating weight of 477,100 lbs., the new loader offers increased fuel efficiency, while meeting all EPA Tier 2 emissions requirements.

Special features of the WA1200-6 include:

Productivity Performance

The engine net output of the WA1200-6 has been increased by 132 HP to 1765 HP at 1800 RPM. The use of an electronic governor results in low fuel consumption, with quick throttle response to match the machine’s powerful tractive effort and fast hydraulic response.

The new dual-mode active working hydraulic system allows the operator to select between normal and powerful loading, while the optimum oil flow in the working system increases efficiency and reduces cycle times. Increased engine output and the optimized hydraulic system provide outstanding production and performance.

Operator Enhancements

The engine RPM control system with auto deceleration allows the operator to set the engine RPM at the optimum work performance level and control speed smoothly with the accelerator. The variable transmission cut-off system for the left brake pedal is adjustable by a switch at the operator’s seat. When loading, the low setting reduces brake impact to prevent spillage, while the high setting can be used for traveling.

Improved Reliability and Durability

An additional torque converter cooler was added as standard equipment to reduce oil temperature and increase cooling capacity. For hydraulic cooling, a new pump with increased oil capacity was added and the circulation was revised to lower oil temperature. Two additional air cleaners were added and the size of the elements increased to 15 inches for more capacity.

Komatsu America Partners with Pedregon Racing, Two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Tony Pedregon’s Chevrolet Funny Car will feature primary sponsorship from Komatsu America Corp. for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Sept. 17-19, at Charlotte, NC.

“Komatsu America is excited to be sponsoring Tony Pedregon’s car,” said Erik Wilde, Vice President, Product Marketing, Komatsu America Corp. “Tony’s reputation as a world champion aligns well with Komatsu’s world-wide reputation for producing outstanding equipment.”

Komatsu will also be an associate sponsor on the Pedregon Racing Funny Car and on Cruz Pedregon’s Snap-on Racing Tools Funny Car, with races slated for Sept. 23-26 at Dallas, TX, Oct. 7-10 at Reading, PA, Oct. 28-31 at Las Vegas, NV, and Nov. 11-14 at Pomona, CA.

“Komatsu is an international leader in the field of construction and mining equipment,” said Pedregon during the announcement. “We are pleased to promote awareness of the brand to our race fans as well as the Komatsu dealers and their customers.”

Tony Pedregon is one of 10 Funny Car drivers competing for final positions in NHRA’s Countdown to one playoffs. This weekend’s event is the second of six title-deciding races.

Komatsu America Corp. is a U.S. subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd. which is the world’s second largest manufacturer and supplier of construction, mining and compact construction equipment. Komatsu America also serves forklift and forestry markets. Through its distributor network, Komatsu offers a state-of-the-art parts and service program to support the equipment. Komatsu has proudly been providing high-quality reliable products for nearly a century. Visit the website at www.komatsuamerica.com for more information.

The Boiler Room: GOLD CORPORATE MARKETING PARTNER Unilux Advanced Manufacturing

Unilux is the world’s original 5 pass forced draft bent tube boiler wit no room for inaccuracy. With over thirty years of manufacturing and operational experience in just about every industry requiring boilers, Unilux stands alone as the most pristine, highly engineered, ultimate quality boiler in it’s class. While the product speaks volumes, our success is our people; many with over 25 years at Unilux, we take enormous pride in every unit we manufacture. From immediate response to inquiries, performance data, drawings, product description and assistance with proper selection, everyone at Unilux has one important goal in mind…customer satisfaction. Unilux QA/QC boasts a stringent, internal program that emphasizes employee responsibility to safety, product and quality performance.

Richard Fisher of The Boiler Room: Unilux Advanced Manufacturing - Construction for all Unilux boilers starts with the vessel. All vessel material is controlled, ASME compliant material. Generous upper and lower drums are joined with large, external downcomer(s) allowing for maximum internal circulation. Tubes are a minimum 1.5” diameter, SA 178 Grade “A” material. Tube sizes up to 2.5” diameter are used for larger boilers. The Unilux housing is the most rigid available. Individual steel panels are manufactured with 11 gauge steel and reinforced by bending and welded stiffeners throughout. Refractory design is exclusive to Unilux. We utilize a three tier pour of different tolerance refractory for ultimate performance. All Unilux refractory is warranted for 5 years as standard. Finished insulated jacket panels are scratch resistant, polyester impregnated powder coat. Thermal losses from housing and jacket are 0.5 percent. The completed enclosure allows for up to +5” water column gas side pressure. All Unilux boilers are available with fuel burning equipment and control systems as desired.

Safety is paramount at Unilux. Every Unilux boiler has been engineered to be the safest, most efficient product available in its class.

At Unilux Boiler Corp., we engineer and manufacture bent water tube boilers of only the finest quality, built by experienced craftsmen and backed by a service history that is second to none. When others decline custom engineered projects, Unilux embraces the challenge with experienced, thought provoking ideas and the ability to assist engineers, contractors and end users with the most efficient, long lasting solutions to effectively meet their needs.

Fisher Capital Management News: Commodity Markets 2010

The performance of the commodity markets remains very impressive.

Speculative activity is a major factor, and supply shortages, often the

result of adverse weather conditions, are also providing considerable

support; but there is clearly a view amongst both traders and investors

that the general level of prices is too low, and that they will move

higher. Over the longer-term that view is likely to prove to be justified.

Commodity markets have been extremely volatile over the past month,

rising strongly in the early part of the period, but falling back sharply

towards month-end concerns about the effects of the austerity measures

being introduced in Europe, and indications of a continuing slowdown

in China, have combined to increase fears but for most of the past

month traders and investors apparently decided that the gloom was

overdone; and commodity prices also benefited from some “safe haven”

buying by investment funds.

Base metal prices are still ending the month higher overall, but below

recent levels, with the further sharp rise in the tin price as the outstanding

feature; and food prices have also moved higher, with the continuing

surge in wheat prices as the outstanding feature of these markets, to

provide further support for the view that the era of cheap food is

coming to an end. The gold price has also improved, as investors have

sought “safe havens in the present storm”; but oil prices have fallen

back.

Base metal prices are closing higher again over the past month. Zinc

and tin prices still ended sharply higher, but overall improvements

elsewhere were fairly modest.

Chinese demand remains a critical factor in these markets. It is this

demand that has been the main driving force over recent months, and

that has pushed iron ore prices to record levels and enabled other metal

prices to recover from the lows of the recent recession.

Soft commodity markets have provided a mixed performance over the

past month, but prices are generally higher. The exceptions have been

the cocoa price, which has continued to fall as weather conditions in

the Ivory Coast have improved, crop estimates have been pushed higher,

and the effects of the technical squeeze created by the decision by

Armajaro, the London-based hedge fund, to take delivery of around

7% of the world’s annual cocoa bean production last month, have

eased; and soya-bean prices are also basically unchanged over the

month. But elsewhere there has been a sharp rise in Arabica coffee

prices, and a further improvement in the sugar price.

However the main interest over the month has been in the wheat

market, after the massive price gains, and also in other grain markets.

The most significant events during the month were the decision by the

Russian authorities to ban the export of wheat and other grains until

year-end because of the drought that has devastated crops and caused

widespread fires across the country; and to ask other neighbouring

countries to take similar action.

It is not yet clear how they will respond; but the action has already

created widespread concern.

Russia was the world’s third largest wheat exporter last year, sending

18.3 million tons abroad, and so the decision to ban exports for the

rest of the year has had a dramatic effect on prices. Attempts have been

made to limit the price gains, with the US Department of Agriculture

in particular indicating that US stockpiles of wheat are close to 30

million tons and at a 23 year high, and the UN Food and Agriculture

Organisation insisting that global stocks are more than adequate to

cope with the shortfall, even if other neighbouring countries join the

Russian ban.

But these countries were expected to supply around one quarter of

total global wheat exports this year, and so the panic conditions in the

markets have not been significantly eased. Evidence of significant

purchases of US grain by China for the first time in a decade have also

added to the concerns about the availability of global supplies, and

made it even more difficult to assess the full consequences of the Russian

decision; but it seems unlikely that the surge in the prices of wheat and

other grains in over.

After rising sharply in late-July and early-August, oil prices have

subsequently fallen back towards the $70 per barrel level. There have

been warnings from the International Energy Agency that “the short-

term global economic outlook is highly uncertain, presenting significant

downside risks to future oil demand growth”; there has been a cautious

view of future oil demand from OPEC; and also a report from the US

Department of Energy that US stockpiles of crude oil and refined

products have risen to their highest levels since weekly records began

in 1990. Much will depend on future demand in the US and in China;

but the fundamentals do not seem to point to an early and sustained

improvement in prices unless there is a serious deterioration in political

conditions in the Middle East.

The swing in sentiment towards a more cautious view of global economic

prospects, and the renewed concerns about sovereign debt defaults in

Europe, have provided further encouragement for investors to seek

“safe havens” in the present uncertain situation, and this has led to a

significant rally in the gold price over the past month.

The dollar has recovered well from weakness earlier in the month, and

so the fear of dollar weakness has not been a factor pushing the gold

price higher this month. The evidence that the sovereign debt crisis is

far from being resolved, and the indications of increased Chinese

buying of gold, have all helped to push the price higher. The latest

strength may well lead to a further period of profit-taking; but given

the present international situation, it would be unwise to assume that

the improving trend in precious metal prices is over.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Major Equity Markets 2010: Fisher Capital Management Part 1

Sentiment in the equity markets has been steady over the past month.

Markets in Europe have been unable to resist downward pressure. The

Japanese market is also lower; but there has been resistance amongst

the emerging markets in South East Asia that are supported by more

favourable economic conditions.

The Chinese authorities are obviously determined to prevent their

economy from overheating. The global recovery will therefore only

proceed at a very slow pace, and there may well be setbacks along the

way, although a move into a “double-dip” recession still seems unlikely.

There is also an increased danger of a sovereign debt default by Greece,

and possibly even by Ireland. But the swing in sentiment should not go

too far. So long as monetary policy remains supportive, the global

economic recovery is likely to continue, and this will eventually produce

a sustainable improvement in equity prices. Patience will therefore be

the most important requirement amongst investors until some of the

uncertainties have been resolved.

The Fed is in a very difficult position. The statement after its latest OMC

meeting was cautious about economic prospects, conceding that “the

pace of recovery in output and in employment has slowed in recent

months” and was likely to be “more modest” than anticipated in the

near-term. But monetary policy was left basically unchanged at the

meeting, perhaps because of the “unusual uncertainty” about prospects,

and this caused some disappointment. However there is little doubt

that further monetary easing will be introduced if the position continues

to deteriorate, because the bank’s main priority is to try to maintain

some momentum in the economy. And fiscal policy is also likely to

remain supportive, despite the massive size of the existing deficit.

Congress has been reluctant to authorise additional spending

programmes; but there is intense political pressure ahead of the elections

in November, and further programmes seem likely.

The critical question for investors therefore is whether the continued

monetary and fiscal support will be enough. They have been prepared

to adopt a bullish attitude to the situation, and this mood has been

helped by an encouraging flow of corporate earnings results that have

often exceeded expectations, and confirmed that the corporate sector

has been coping well so far with a difficult situation.

The gloom should not be overdone. So long as monetary policy remains

supportive, we believe that the odds favour the continuation of the

slow recovery, and that this will eventually produce better market

conditions.

Mainland European markets have fallen back sharply over the past

month, after the strong rally. There has been evidence of a further

improvement in the economic background in the euro-zone, and second

quarter corporate results have generally been encouraging; but the

signs of weakness in the US economy and the slowdown in China has

raised doubts about whether the German export performance that has

been providing most of the momentum for the recovery can be

maintained; and there have also been renewed concerns about the

possibility of debt defaults amongst the weaker member countries of

the zone. The markets have therefore been unable to resist downward

pressure.

The euro-zone economy improved much faster than expected in the

second quarter of the year. Growth is estimated to have been around

the 1% level, the fastest quarterly level for three years; and this has

eased the fears about a move into a “double-dip” recession, at least for

the moment. But it is a two-speed recovery, with the German economy

estimated to have grown by 2.2% during the quarter, the Netherlands

economy by 0.9%, and the French economy by 0.6%, but with Spain

and Portugal basically unchanged and the Greek economy falling further

into recession. With domestic demand weak, it is therefore essential

that overseas demand remains buoyant if German exports are going

to continue to drive the overall economy forward; but this is now very

uncertain, and so growth projections for the rest of this year and for

2011 are still fairly cautious.

However the European Central Bank is maintaining its optimistic view

of prospects. Speaking before the latest figures were announced, the

chairman, Jean Claude Trichet, argued that the second quarter outturn

would be better than expected, that there would also be an encouraging

result in the third quarter, and that there was no prospect of a move

into a “double-dip” recession.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.