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A party to show the Dreamliner was held in Seattle, the first flight is palanned for September, 2007. 677 orders from 47 customers, estimated at $5.2 billo without discounts is the estimated order volume for this plane which is fuel efficient costing 20% less to operate and one third less for maintenance costs. First deliveries are planned for May 2008. Boeig has rented the Seattle Seahawks stadium to show the plane' debut on a giant screen, gives an indication of the interest aroused by this Boeing plane.

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Emmerentze and Germano provide this exceptional look with wide ranging interviews at a brand which has failed to make headway in the U.S. market for 2 decades, after being a prominent brand in the 70's and slipping ever since. Adidas share price declined by 38% in 2014, declining to 57 euros, recovering to 70 euros by March 2015. The economic crisis in Russia affected Adidas sales. A major problem area is the U.S. market where Nike has made major progress, and other competitors such as Under Armour and Skechers are rapidly increasing market share. Adidas is now No. 3 behind Under Armour in retail sports apparel and footwear sales, according to Stern Agee and SportsScanInfo. The U.S. operation has been tightly controlled from headquarters in Herzogenaurach, in a rural part of Germany. During CEO Herbert Hainer's leadership since 2001 share price quadrupled but the U.S. operation has languished, because say retail experts the operation does not reflect the culture savvy management style of Nike and other U.S. competitors. U.S. sales are 43% of the global athletic apparel and footwear market, and the global market of $51.6 billion moves in relation to fashion trends set in the U.S. market. CEO Hainer and managers in Germany are seen as very focussed on spreadsheets and analytical approach to sales in over 100 countries. The only design studio outside headquarters in Portland, Oregon, was setup in Brooklyn, N.Y. recently, and the 4th CEO during Hainer's leadership since 2001 is the first to be given some degree of autonomy in making design and marketing decisions. Nike's market share in athletic footwear has increased from 35% in 2005 to 47% in 2014, as Adidas remains stuck at about 10%. The Reebok acquisition for $3.8 billion in 2005 is seen by U.S. Adidas managers as a distraction. Retail store executives visiting Germany say Adidas product cycle from design to product introduction of 18 months was just too long to meet the rapidly changing preferences in the U.S. This is now being cut to 6 months. In recent years Adidas has expanded rapidly in emerging markets but management has failed to grasp the fact that trends in growing markets such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico are set by pop culture trends in the U.S. ...

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China and India as rooted today in the original scientific mind of the Buddha and the Rishis are capable modern science based societies that can not only coexist with Christian Europe and Americas but also inspire other societies. About 33% or one third of the 1.2 billion Chinese people believe in Buddhism or a Bodhisattva, and 18% believe in Taoist deities. 47% believe in feng-shui arranging objects in space for environment and harmony. This is shown in a Pew Research survey. Buddhism is a religion that is not practiced officially with hierarchy and churches as in Catholicism. As a result faith and prayer happens in visits to small shrines in the home or in the neighborhood. Only 4% of people will say that they identify with a religion as religious beliefs are seen as close to superstition and backwardness that held China back from adopting science and modern technology from 1400 to 1900. This makes surveys difficult to trust in a Communist society.   A close observation from a Buddhist perspective in Asia would show that the vast majority of Chinese have a faith in Buddha or Taoism. Buddha's writings show a modern mind asking scientific questions about the mind and about life which can be consistent with science and technology and being modern. As in the original Upanishads and Vedic writings of Rishis what is called Hinduism in western language also ask questions with a scientific mind which were obscured by myth and superstition over 1000-1900. Both the original Vedic and Buddhist writings are not only not going to hold India and China back, when correctly presented they are capable of becoming a new force for advancing science and technology in society while retaining the roots of civilization in Four Forms of Mindfulness of the Buddha that give societies hope for the future. This offers hope for the future of China and India as a modern, scientific civilization with roots in the writings of the Buddha. ...

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Boeing's alliance with Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (Comac).

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About 60% of Americans think the testing for coronavirus and getting medical supplies to health care workers is too slow, in a poll by Wall Street Journal/NBC News. About 6 in 10 Americans in a new survey say they are concerned that the U.S. would move too fast to loosen coronavirus restrictions to slow the spread, and only 3 in 10 say they are concerned that it is not moving fast enough. About twice as many Americans thinking the risks were higher that public authorites and governors would reopen states too soon. About 75% of respondents in the survey say they are very or somewhat worried about themselves or a family member getting the virus. Mr. Trump's approval rating  remains unchanged from March with 46% approving. Most people place their faith in the governor of their state- 66%, and Mr. Fauci, Director National Institute of Infectious Diseases- 60%, than anyone else. On the economy president Trump is seen as being better at handling the economy 47% to 36% than Democratic nominee Biden, even though Biden has a nine point lead. This confirms the widespread dissatisfaction at the way medical supplies shortages are felt at hospitals, and the way testing for coronavirus is happening with not enough testing. President Trump perceived by business and the public as better at handling the economy is also confirmed in this survey. The dissatisfaction with the president for supplies shortages and testing lagging behind may also be tempered by a sense that the public has not taken aggressive action in supporting an early lockdown with many governors and people not supporting or following strict distancing rules till late March. By contrast the president acted quickly to stop all flights from China. ...

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China's C919 built by Comac is China's versionof the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 planes. China will need 6000 such jets by 2041 as passenger air travel doubles from today's levels. Air travel has recovered in China to prepandemic levels.Comac was formed out of the military as a company to make civilian aircraft with subsidies larger than estimated $70 billion. The first flight of the C919 took place from Beijing to Shanghai this week. It has a range of 3500 miles and seats 192 passengers. 

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Because not much money is being spent the velocity of money as measured by the ratio of GDP to M2 money supply is at a low not seen since 1991, in the 4th quarter 2008. If GDP shrinks in the 1st quarter 2009 at 6% annualized rate as expected, then M2 velocity will be the lowest since 1987, even with the accelerating growth of money supply growth. The M2 money supply, a measure of money in the system including time deposits has grown by $767 billion or 10% in the past year accoding to the Fed. Money that is not being spent is building up in amountain of cash reserves. Banks have about $679 billion in reserves of cash, and this matches the $653 billion by which money supply has increased during that time as aresult of the Fed's repeated infusions. This suggests that inflation is not the risk that it would appear to be, even with the governments huge spending plans and the Fed's efforts to add so much liquidity. Says one economist, the money multiplier is just not working and is broken. Will consumers start borrowing and spending again. Not as long as they are so overstretched and with job losses mounting. And will banks continue to cautious and slow to led? Most likely as long as the bank's balnce sheets are broken, and the bad assets remain on them. This may explain last weeks efforts by the Fed to buy Treasury bonds upto $300 billion and more efforts to get credit flowing again by buying up mortgage securities and raising the ceiling to $1.25 trillion for purchases. cash...

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Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai is moving quickly to address higher costs for workers at its manufacturing sites in coastal regions of China. After extensive media coverage of conditions at Foxconn factories, a number of suicides, and Chinese government policy that encouraged higher wages for workers in foriegn owned plants, Foxconn has moved to sharply increase wages at its plants. By the end of 2011 production in cities in the interior of China- Chengdu, Chongqing, and Wuhan, where costs are one third less- will be 25% of production, up from 10% in 2010. By 2012, this will be up to 50% of Foxconn's production, according to Yuanta Securities of Taipei. Hon Hai is lowering dividends to finance the shift. Fourth quarter 2010 earnings of Hon Hai were $742 million, down 26% over the prior year, even though revenues went up by 56% to $33.1 billon- reflecting the higher costs. Hon Hai's stock is down 20% in the past year on the Taipei stock exchange. Other locations being considered by Hon Hai are Brazil, Turkey and Slovakia. Brazil's President Dilma Roussef, said that Foxconn is considering a $12 billion plan for Brazil. Hon Hai is the only manufacturer of Apple iPads and one of two manufacturers of the iPhone....

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GM and Ford are burning cash at a rapid rate. And the Energy Department says it is unlikely that any of the $25 billion in loans already approved for fuel eficiency retooling of plants will be disbursed by the end of 2008. GM used up $6.9 billion in cash in the third quarter of 2008 leaving cash reserves at $16.2 billion. It needs $11-$14 billion to fund ongoing operations. Ford burned through $7.7 billion in cash in the third quarter of 2008, leaving it with $18.9 billion. Both companies cannot fund salaries and ongoing operations if the market continues to collapse the way it did in the third quarter 2008 with losses of 30-45% in sales. Government support is the only way to fund operations but instead of the $50 billion initially talked about for lifesupport by the government the numbers will run into much more and even then there is no limit to what may be needed. Chrysler is in much worse shape, because it depends on the US market entirely for sales, and is the weakest of the three Detroit carmakers. It is privately owned so figures are hidden, one can guess that big numbers are involved for Chrysler being rescued or merged or taken over by the government....

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Foreign investment in the electricity generation industry has be encouraged by Russia. Ane Eni the Italian electricity generating company is a big investor acquiring one of the 5 OGK companies when its investments are complete of about $6 billion. And other European companies are following suit. E.ON a German utility has bought 47% of another wholesaler OGK-4 one of the five companies of the former UES parent of these 5 generation companoies and will acquire 70%. And a Finnish utility has invested in a regional generator. Gaz France and Korea Electric Power Corporation are looking at making investments. Russia's electricity generating business is growing at 6% and Russia is the world's fourth biggest power market. Though profits are small at present it is hoped that with deregulation profit margins will be good. The market to businessusers is already being deregulated.

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New version of 747 wins Lufthansa's approval. It is fueled by the same fuel efficient engine as the Dreamliner and can hold 467 passengers. It is a rival to the Airbus 380.

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The German government under Chancellor Merkel and the German public's preference for continuity and continuing the course Germany is in at this time. This is to continue the export emphasis for as long as possible to countries like China and India, which neede the machinery Germany makes. Exports makeup 47% of German GDP, the highest of large industrialized countries. German industries are being assisted by the government to keep employees and tide over the transition period as markets in Aisa and emerging countries stuggle to recover form the economic crisis. GErman industries in chemicals, automobiles, and machinery are feeling the change and are scaling down and moving to other countries where its advantageous to manufacture. The alternative of promoting entrpreneurial sectors such as software and computers has not met the same degree of success as building a large solar energy industry, in which Germany is taking a leadership role.

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This NYT report looks at the last minute negotiations on the day the trial was to begin that led to the FNN television network working out a deal with Dominion.It says in a conference room down the hall from Judge Eric Davis's courtroom in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, were the head of Dominion, John Poulos, and the top investor in Dominion, State Street Capital co-founder Hootan Yaghhoobzadeh. In a call from Los Angeles was Viet Dinh, chief legal officer, close to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. Also calling in was a mediator who knew both sides, Jerry Roscoe, a veteran of wartime negotiations in the Balkans on a Danube river cruise with his wife. Roscoe says he had two things working for him- the about to begin opening statements of Dominion ("lies have consequences,") and the finalization of the jury selection (12 jurors presenting much uncertainty for Dominion) that had given pause to both sides. That Viet Dinh's hardline was just that an appearance, was Fox head Lachlan's earlier decision unknown to each side to raise the money needed for a larger settlement close to $787 million the company actually paid. It suggests that Fox heads Lachlan and Murdoch really wanted to settle in the final moments using as skilled a mediator as Jerry Roscoe . FNN television network also owned the WSJ, and WSJ had independently supported the 2020 election results from the beginning, as WSJ pointed out in its editorial this week. Murdoch's own position being ambivalent about his positions, never quite convinced what was the right thing to do whether his own judgement was dependable. FNN was simply following the practice of creating controversy to increase circulation, a practice going back to the Melbourne Herald in the 1920's when competing with papers from Sydney, under Keith Murdoch. Setting the early twentieth century origins of News Corporation, parent of FNN, following  the practices of increasing news circulation by pursuing controversy of British newspaper businessmen Beaverbrook and Northcliffe through the prewar period in the 1920's to the 1950's. In that period it had led to Beaverbrook to support Neville Chamberlain, and to oppose Truman and Churchill during the early days of the Cold War till the Berlin Blockade in 1948, positions which were speedily retracted in that time to back Churchill in 1940 and in 1948.   ...

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This WSJ report shows how retirement looks in America from the financial and lifestyle aspects. The median net worth for people 65-74 years is about $266,000 compared to an average net worth of 5 times that of $1.2 million for this group. This means wealth is highly skewed in America today with a small percentage of high wealth group pushing the average up this much- a result of neglect of American manufacturing that sharply reduced income and savings security of working families, and the impact of laissez faire policies of the administrations since the 1970's with financial crises hurting workers and families. The impact of wars was also borne heavily by workers and families with the neglect of infrastructure and public services in a misallocation of the nation's wealth.  Other points of note are the way time is spent today in retirement with less educational activity or volunteer work than one would imagine, and not enough time for exercize. Only a miniscule amount of time goes to volunteer work (.17 hours) or reading (.57 hours) compared to watching television (4.50 hours) for retirees. Exercize that keeps people healthy one would expect it to go up in retirement only shows .29 hours. Arts and entertainment or cultural activities only 0.05 hours, people are lonelier spending less time with each other with 0.57 hours for socializing and communicating. All showing how Americans in retirement can do better and live better lives by increasing the amount of time they spend in these healthy activities and less on television. Television which is also a sedentary activity takes up 3 times all the other activities essential for healthy living just mentioned combined. Little or no time is spent in meditation, mindfulness or mental wellness, as this grouped under prayer shows only .07 hours or just a few minutes a day.  Small changes that are made in the right direction would do much good for the quality of living for all Americans. Combined with an effort for the renewal of infrastructure and public services this would be an effort in the right direction, contributing to the well being of America.   ...

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A CBS/New York times poll shows that 63% of the American people approve Obama's performance as President. And 77% are optimistic about him being the President for the next 4 years. 55% of Americans are just making ends meet, and more than 6 out of 10 fear that someone in their household may lose their job. Most say it will be years before any significant improvement. Over 53% feel the stimulus plan will improve things, half of them say it is not likely to shorten the recession, and two thirds expect more money will be needed. Nearly all Americans are concerned that the cost of the economic programs will have significant long term effects on future generations, with 65% being very concerned. Yet about 75% say they are more concerned about the economic crisis. On the partisan politics, of those polled 63% say Republicans opposed the legislation for political reasons, not policy ones. 79% want Republicans to work in a bipartisan manner. And 56% surveyed want Obama to folow the policies he proposed during the campaign, rather than working with Republicans, and to make this his priority. All this suggests that a large number of Republicans are supporting the President, even though both Republicans and Democrats are concerned about the cost of programs, because a large majority of those polled are more concerned about the effects of this crisis on jobs and the economy....

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The NASDAQ index reached 5000 by April 2015, a level reached in the stock market boom in 2000. Yet investment strategists who were wary of the stock market in the period before the 2000-2002 collapse of the market see this market differently. The NASDAQ itself is not what it was in 2000, with the 2015 NASDAQ component stocks being different for the most part, and the healthcare and other sectors better represented in the index. Only three of the stocks in the top ten in 2000 are in the top ten today, including Microsoft. The S&P 500 trades in April 2015 at 18.5 times its company earnings for the past 12 months, compared to an historical average of 15.5, according to research firm Bespoke. A big part of the difference today is the investment climate of low inflation, which gives the U.S. Federal Reserve flexibility in raising rates. Low rates make bonds with lower yields less attractive, and increase the present value of future earnings. The yield of the 10 year U.S. Treasury was 1.917% on April 25, 2015. In April 2000 it was 6%, and in mid 2007 it was 5.3% before the financial crisis in the two periods. James Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management oversees $347 billion in fund investments. He also was wary of the U.S. stock market in 1999, yet he does not see the similiar kind of risks today, and sees a long term bullish trend. The scenario he envisages is more of a pause or temporary decline. Paulsen has shifted money to European markets, as U.S. stocks are becoming more expensive relative to their European counterparts, a strategy that is being followed by other money managers since 2014. Higher price volatility is seen in the markets in 2015, with the S&P 500 up 2.9% for the first four months of 2015, and the Dow up 1.4%. ...

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Its generally known that US airlines except for Southwest fly older planes but the extent to which this has been going on may not be gauged especially when compared to the foreign airlines. Because of bankruptcies and reducing the number of seats available by shrinking their fleets to keep prices at levels that sustain their margins, airlines are not ordering new planes and using the existing planes. The average age of the big jets in US airlines is now 12.2 years according to Airline Monitor. Boeing has a huge backlog of orders for its new planes but its mostly from foreign airlines. Only 43 of 710 Boeing 787 Dreamliners are going to domestic airlines, 25 to Continental and 18 to Northwest. And none of the 165 giant Airbus A380's are going to US carriers. These numbers are amazing because they suggest the new airplanes more comfortable more fuel efficient with more space and better air quality are just bypassing the US domestic routes. Quite amazing. Of the airlines Northwest has 109 of the oldest jetliners in the industry with an average age of 35 years. And worse still they could remain in service for another 5 years as there are no plans to replace them. Airline cleaning is not as frequent as before because of cost cutting and the dirt and grime, the conditions of the lavatory, all show their age and passengers can tell the difference. The seating is cramped and one passenger described a Northwest plane seating as feeling like being in a tuna can. And the airlines in the US are using these planes for longer routes with more chance of mechanical bfailures leading to more flight delays which are a huge problem this year especially into and out of the New York area. American flies a fleet of 300 older MD-80's which actually cost more to operate because they are gas guzzlers compared to the newer planes. Credit Sights estimates that this will continue for another 5 years because airlines are trying to save a cash cushion for leaner times, payoff debt and strengthen their balance sheets, and shareholders want some of the money returned to them. US Airlines had cash of about $28 billion as of June 30, 2007 but this is not enough. J.D. Poer and Associates estimates that US airlines need to spend $280 billion over the next 20 years to replace the aging planes. Meantime discount airlines in Europe are ordering new planes and Asian airlines have big orders. Air Berlin has about 85 737's on order and Wizz Air of Hugary ordered 50 Airbus A320's. ...

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Brazil's unemployment rate dropped slightly in 2013 to 5.4% from 5.5% in 2012, according to Brazil's Institute for Geography and Statistics. Fewer people are entering the workforce as Brazil's population ages, which has helped keep labor markets tight even with a low rate of job creation. Industrial jobs have declined as a share of overall employment after the recent consumer boom in Brazil. More service jobs are being created than industrial jobs as a result of a stronger currency. GDP growth was less than 3%, according to the statistics agency. Higher inflation constrains growth and the central bank increased the interest rate by 0.5% to 10.5%. Wages have kept up with inflation as the average monthly wage increased by 1.8% after inflation to 1,929 reais ($798) for the ninth year. President Rousseff's Worker's party has governed Brazil since Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva became president in 2003. She is likely to be reelcted in this year's elections as polls show her support at 47%. The lower middle classes which benefitted as the middle class expanded in Brazil supports Rousseff. ...