Business & Finance: February 2011

Disney Battles Hong Kong Government Park as Buzz Lightyear Rides to Rescue

6:56 AM |

For 15 minutes, 11-year-old Lily Li stared through a glass panel at hammerhead sharks and bluefin tuna in Hong Kong´s newest attraction, Aqua City. "It´s like a dream," said Li, from China´s Guangdong province, who crowded with her mother and about 50 others at the window, the width of a basketball court, on the packed Jan. 27 opening day. The egg-shaped building, with nightly water shows, is part of a HK$5.5 billion ($707 million) redevelopment by government- owned Ocean Park to profit from a jump in mainland Chinese visitors. The revamp adds pressure on Walt Disney Co.´s Hong Kong Disneyland, which has trailed Ocean Park since its 2005 opening, has yet to make a profit, and is spending HK$3.6 billion on its own expansion, including "Toy Story Land." "Home-grown theme parks like Ocean Park have proven that they can compete with a big global corporation like Disney," said Jonathan Galaviz, managing director of Galaviz & Co., a tourism industry economist. "As consumer disposal income increases in Asia, the first place that Asian consumers will spend that money on is travel, tourism, and fun experiences."

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Newcrest Mining Posts First-Half Profit of $440 Million, Missing Estimates

6:53 AM |

Newcrest Mining Ltd., Australia´s largest gold mining company, said first-half profit more than doubled after the purchase of Lihir Gold Ltd. and a surge in prices. Net income was A$438 million ($440 million) in the six months ended Dec. 31, compared with A$176 million a year earlier, the Melbourne-based company said today in a statement. This was less than the A$457 million mean of four analyst estimates surveyed by Bloomberg. Gold recorded a 10th straight annual gain in 2010 as concern about rising inflation and currency debasement spurred investors to seek the metal as a store of value. Sales from Newcrest´s mines in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and West Africa rose 66 percent to A$1.97 billion. Greg Robinson, Newcrest´s executive director finance, will succeed retiring Chief Executive Officer Ian Smith from July 1, the company said in a separate statement.

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Fed Governor Kevin Warsh Resigns; Bernanke Adviser Had Questioned Stimulus

6:51 AM |

Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, who was one of Chairman Ben S. Bernanke´s closest financial-crisis advisers before becoming the only governor to question the expansion of record monetary stimulus in November, resigned after five years at the central bank. Warsh, 40, a former investment banker who was the youngest- ever Fed governor when then-President George W. Bush appointed him in 2006, will leave "on or around March 31," he said in a letter today to President Barack Obama that was released by the Fed in Washington. His departure may give Bernanke a stronger hand to complete or potentially expand $600 billion in Treasury purchases through June. At the same time, Bernanke loses a link to Wall Street executives and Republican politicians as he carries out Congress´s overhaul of financial regulation and faces criticism from a political party that in the midterm election gained control of the U.S. House. "You lose a forceful internal advocate for ending QE and trying to renormalize policy quicker," said Vincent Reinhart, the Fed´s director of monetary affairs from 2001 to 2007, referring to the stimulus program known as quantitative easing.

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U.S. Consumer Credit Rose $6.1 Billion in December, Declined 1.3% for 2010

11:28 PM |

U.S. consumer borrowing rose in December for a third consecutive month, led by the first increase in credit-card charges in more than two years as holiday sales improved. Credit rose by $6.1 billion to $2.41 trillion after increasing a revised $2.02 billion in November, according to Federal Reserve data issued today in Washington. Economists projected a $2.4 billion increase, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey. Borrowing remains below the peak of $2.58 trillion in July 2008. For all of 2010, credit contracted. A thawing of credit makes it more likely that consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy, will keep increasing after climbing last quarter at the fastest pace in four years. Gap Inc. and General Motors Co. are among companies that beat sales estimates at the start of this year as customers took advantage of post-holiday discounts. "People are starting to get out, little by little, and spend," said Yelena Shulyatyeva, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York. "This is in line with consumer spending, and the overall economy, picking up."

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National Australia First-Quarter Cash Profit Rises 18% on Business Lending

11:25 PM |

National Australia Bank Ltd.

National Australia Bank Ltd., the nation´s fourth-largest lender, posted an 18 percent increase in first-quarter profit and said it´s well placed to absorb fallout from government banking reforms and natural disasters. Unaudited cash earnings for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose to A$1.3 billion ($1.3 billion), the Melbourne-based bank said in a statement today. That compares with A$1.1 billion profit reported in the same period a year earlier. Chief Executive Officer Cameron Clyne has stoked earnings by expanding the bank´s business lending, which outpaced rivals in the quarter, after Australia´s regulator rejected his bid for asset manager Axa Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd. The shares rose to the highest in three months after Clyne said he expects to see demand for business lending accelerate this year. "The market´s assessment of the risk associated with NAB will continue to decline each time the bank delivers a sound `business as usual´ outcome, as they have today," said Angus Gluskie, who manages about $350 million at White Funds Management Pty in Sydney. "The continued reduction in bad debts, and limited impact of recent weather events were important issues the market was looking for."

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The upcoming travel-website consolidation

11:21 PM |

RIVALS can quickly become allies if it makes business sense. Last year AXA Private Equity and Permira competed fiercely in takeover battles of two European travel websites. AXA won the upper hand in the bidding war for Go Voyages, a French travel website, while Permira snapped up eDreams, a Barcelona-based travel website that AXA also coveted. Now the two private-equity firms have joined forces in a takeover bid for Opodo, Europe’s biggest travel website.

With their recently formed alliance AXA and Permira are hoping to merge Opodo with Go Voyages and eDreams to create a proper European rival to Orbitz and Expedia, two American firms which are the market leaders. The official deadline for the bids in the auction of Opodo, run by JPMorgan, an investment bank, was January 25th. Apart from the private-equity duo, Carlyle, an American private-equity firm that owns Orizonia, a Spanish tour operator, and Expedia are likely to have submitted bids. In a few days Amadeus, the Spanish travel-technology firm that owns Opodo, is expected to reveal to whom it will sell the website, which was founded by a consortium of European airlines and first launched in 2001 in Germany.

Is consolidation good news for travellers? Generally a higher number of competitors means more choice for consumers, but in the fragmented online-travel business some consolidation is good news for buyers. The market leaders in France (Go Voyages) and Germany (Priceline) capture only a bit more then one-tenth of the online-travel market in their respective countries. Bigger companies have more negotiating power when they haggle over prices with airlines, hotels and insurance companies. “I don’t see a threat to consumers in a little more concentration,” says Christoph Klenner at the European Technology and Travel Services Association in Brussels.

The bigger question for European travel websites is how they can manage their relationship with airlines in the future. In America, the gloves are already off in what is increasingly a stand-off between airlines that want consumers to book directly on their websites and price-comparison websites, which lure consumers with claims that they offer the easiest way to shop around and find the cheapest flights. In December 2010 American Airlines stopped using all of Orbitz’s services as well as Expedia’s service for individual travellers because of a contract dispute. Southwest Airlines only makes its fares available on its website. And Delta Airlines told three smaller sites—CheapOair, OneTravel and BookIt—that their services were no longer required.

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Starting Small Business check out Bridging Finance

11:18 PM |

Starting a business up could be hard, but obtaining a small business loan sure got easier. Getting overwhelmed by bills and costs could easily drive a new business bankrupt, and some funding is usually enough to pull you through. Remember that everything needs to start small, so businesses are no exception. Who knows, in a few years the small business you started could make you a millionaire. Before dreams are realized however, you still need to survive arguably the most difficult part of starting a business; the investment you make at the start.

The choices a person can make will determine their future. If you didn't make your business investment right, then all will go to waste. It is quite a risk to take, but it is something that is necessary for a bright future. Not all is dependent on the choice either. Depending on the choice made, a lot of funding might be required. This is where business loans come into play. Business loans are designed to fund your investment choices, and hopefully push you towards success.

With business loans, the lender will usually keep in touch with the borrower throughout every step of the way. This lasts for the duration of the loan, since the lenders offering business loan packages are usually experienced in that area. Therefore, if they foresee a loss in the near future, they are able to warn you beforehand and discuss your remaining options. Remember that if you become bankrupt, then the lender won't have their loan repaid, and hence will also be at a loss. They are almost forced to steer you towards success, which is a win-win situation for new business starters as they receive both funds and guidance.

Not all investments need to be business related. Some see starting new businesses as a hassle, and prefer a different type of investment. The most commonly seen ones may be homes, and for a good reason too. Not only are the value of property very steady (and highly unlikely to decrease in value), but you can also make an additional profit by putting it up for lease.

There are a range of options open to the owner, and they all have their benefits. Live in the house, lending it to others for extra profit, make it a holiday resort, etc. There is a special type of loan for this, known as bridging finance, and it is quite similar to any other loan. It does have a noticeably higher limit, making this ideal for housing investments. All in all, properties are a relatively safe investment, and they are a good investment at the same time.

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Credit card debt management

11:14 PM |

People are facing credit card debt, but few understand how to use debt consolidation or debt management to solve it. Some people use the excuse that credit card payment credit so quickly that we did not understand most of the concepts behind it. Unfortunately, the concept may have been misinterpreted by some, but the reality is that the concept of credit and borrowing needed to pay the bills only in accordance with the terms agreed upon with your existing creditors for having money - thousands of the year. Now is the time to stop finding excuses to blame others for irresponsible borrowing, and begin to manage credit card debt. The first step is to stop the deterioration of the situation that was not well. You have to get control of your spending habits. Interest is to make your balance grow. Exercise control and learn how to manage credit card debt responsibilities will help you to avoid this in the future. Start using what you have - cash. Avoid buying a boost simply because there is a sale. If you have to use a credit card, and use what you already have the budget to cover daily expenses and the regular use of just less than 70% of available credit you has. However, try to leave the credit card spending to cope with emergencies and a tent, if you have self-discipline to do it.

loan consolidation is a possible solution. April low cards allow you to transfer multiple balances on one card, and the elimination of many of the monthly repayments might encounter. Again, it is not extra money for free. Compare all the options available and the transfer of understanding all the terms and conditions. All else fails, talk to your creditors and negotiate lower interest rates and fees. In fact you can also ask you to extend the loan. There is no guarantee that it will not agree to it, but you should try at least. Of course, if you can achieve this you can reduce your credit card debt and eventually pay off all of us.

other critical key is not to apply for another card every time you reached the limit of the current card. That is asking for trouble. Chances are that, if there are too bad your circumstances you probably would not have approved anyway. In addition to your credit card, before all others try to avoid any additional insurance balance in other areas, such as a loan from family or friends, or creditors. However, if you can afford to pay, and you just increase your debt load. At the end of the day it should focus on the needs rather than luxury spending. You can achieve a life free of tension, manage your money wisely and to remove any outstanding debts, credit card or otherwise. No better time than the present to start!

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Highest Relative Yields Since 2009 Spoil Company Debt Sales: India Credit

7:36 AM |

Indian companies are finding it too expensive to sell local-currency bonds after central bank Governor Duvvuri Subbarao raised interest rates seven times in a year, spurring relative yields to the highest level since October 2009. Rupee bond offerings plunged 95 percent to 1 billion rupees ($22 million) in the week ended Feb. 4, from 21 billion rupees in the same period last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. January sales were the lowest for 15 months as Subbarao increased the repurchase rate to a two-year high of 6.5 percent, forecasting wholesale-price inflation may rise to 7 percent by March 31 from a prior 5.5 percent estimate. "The current rate environment doesn´t give much confidence to long-term investors," Suresh M. Hegde, group finance head at Videocon Industries Ltd., India´s biggest consumer electronics maker, said in a phone interview yesterday. "They´ll wait till inflation is under control and rates start to soften." Bond sales jumped to a record 1.94 trillion rupees last year as borrowers raised money to finance airports, power plants and roads in Asia´s third-largest economy. The difference between yields on top-rated Indian five-year company bonds and similar-maturity government debt has since widened to 122 basis points, or 1.22 percentage point, the most since it reached 131 basis points on Oct. 9, 2009. The spread is 76 more than last year´s low, amid speculation Subbarao will need to raise rates further.

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Goldman Sachs Turns Bullish on Stocks in European Banks Bond Market Shuns

7:30 AM |

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is telling investors to buy European bank stocks for the first time in more than 16 months. Bond buyers are taking the opposite view on concern that policy makers will fail to staunch the debt crisis. Banks in Spain, Italy and Greece have led the Bloomberg Europe Banks and Financial Services Index 16 percent higher since November. While shares of Spain´s Banco Santander SA rallied 23 percent and Italy´s UniCredit SpA jumped 28 percent, both lenders had to offer investors record premiums over government debt when they sold covered bonds in the same period. Equity investors are betting political leaders will bridge their differences over the mandate of the European Financial Stability Facility and stop the region´s debt crisis from spreading. Bond buyers are skeptical that the talks will succeed and concerned banks may be forced to accept losses on the more than $2 trillion of loans and other assets they have in Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Analysts say that while equity investors may be right in the short term, they risk ignoring a jump in funding costs that will erode future profit. "The fundamental split here is about whether policy measures in Spain and the rest of Europe are going to work in halting the crisis -- or not," said Huw van Steenis, a banking analyst at Morgan Stanley in London.

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Japan Stocks Rise for Third Day; Mitsui Mining, Japan Tobacco Lead Advance

8:59 PM |

Japan´s stocks rose for a third day, after U.S. takeovers boosted investors´ optimism, and as companies reported improving earnings or raised their forecasts. Honda Motor Co., a carmaker that gets more than 80 percent of its revenue overseas, rose 0.6 percent. Sharp Corp., Japan´s biggest maker of liquid-crystal displays, advanced 0.8 percent. Japan Tobacco Inc., the world´s third-largest publicly traded cigarette maker, rose 2.1 percent and Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. Japan´s biggest producer of refined zinc, gained 3.9 percent after the companies raised their full-year profit forecasts. "Stocks will likely continue to rise since U.S. business sentiment is improving steadily," said Mitsushige Akino, who oversees about $450 million in Tokyo at Ichiyoshi Investment Management Co. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 0.4 percent to 10,630.42 as of 9:18 a.m. in Tokyo, headed for its highest level since May 6. The broader Topix index gained 0.3 percent to 943.31 with about two stocks advancing for each that fell.

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American Roamer Expands Executive Team

8:51 PM |

American Roamer, the worldwide mapping intelligence source for mobile and network coverage information, today announced it has expanded its executive team to further leverage the company’s 20-year success in delivering the most advanced and comprehensive network coverage mapping tools for the mobile and network ecosystem. The company shifts help further position the organization for continued growth in 2011.

“As American Roamer continues to grow and offer new products and solutions, we have a strong team in place for a successful 2011,” said Bryan Darr, president and CEO of American Roamer. “We maintain the largest wireless coverage database in the world and this year will bring new tools and platforms that will continue to help our customers make sound business decisions, acquire and retain customers, and execute with a solid information base.”

Debbie Pearce has been named VP of Finance and Administration, Chip Strange is now VP of Products and Technology and Ray Westbrook continues as Senior Vice President of Sales.

Debbie Pearce joined American Roamer in 1995 and now holds the title of Vice President, Finance and Administration. Pearce oversees all human resources, finance, and business operations for the company. For the past 11 years she was American Roamer’s Corporate Secretary/Treasurer.

Chip Strange has been promoted to Vice President, Products and Technology. He is responsible for managing American Roamer’s product portfolio and software development. In addition, Strange works with industry workgroups and prospective business partners to evaluate opportunities to expand business relationships and alliances. He joined American Roamer in March 2010 as Director, Product & Business Development and spent nearly 14 years with Alltel Communications and Verizon Wireless.

Spencer Dillard has assumed the newly created position of Director, Software Development. He is responsible for leading the software development team with a mission to continually expand the use of innovative technologies to deploy powerful solutions. Prior to joining American Roamer, Dillard founded Spencer Dillard Consulting, a technology consulting company focused on serving financial services firms throughout the United States and Europe.

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Edelweiss to hire up to 40,000 staff in between 3 to 5 years

8:35 PM |

Financial services major Edelweiss Group is planning to hire 30,000-40,000 people in the next three to five years as it plans to expand its presence in businesses like insurance, mutual fund, housing loan and other retail-focused markets.

"We are planning to increase our headcount by 30,000-40,000 people in the next three-five years," Edelweiss Group chairman Rashesh Shah told said.

The company, which currently has about 2,500 employees, will hire most of the people for the insurance and other retail-focused financial services businesses , Shah added.

Edelweiss, which has so far focused mainly on the wholesale side in all its businesses-brokerage, NBFC, asset management, is now re-orienting itself and would start focusing on the retail side of the businesses.

The wholesale businesses could still see hiring in the range of a 100-150 employees, Shah said.

The group is present in businesses like investment banking, institutional equity brokerage, asset management, private client brokerage, investor advisory services as also retail and wholesale financing.

As part of the expansion in the retail sector, "We had acquired Anagram Stock Broking recently, which has a very strong retail customer franchise and branch sub-broker network across the country. We now plan to aggressively push this business," Shah added.

In the insurance sector, Edelweiss Tokyo Life Insurance Company has recently received the first-stage clearance from the insurance regulator IRDA and is hopeful of getting the other approvals over the next few months. Edelweiss has joint-venture with Japan's Tokyo Marine for the life insurance business.

Shah said,"2011, will see the launch of another retail focused business-Life insurance business."

Last month, Edelweiss Group had started retail housing finance business through its arm Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd which started operations in September 2010, in order to cash in on its existing customer base.

The company is looking to capture about 2 per cent of the housing finance market over the next five years.

The current housing finance market size is about Rs 1.5 trillion and Edelweiss Group expects it to double by the end of FY15.

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Online Personal loans

12:25 AM |

We surely know that loan is a solution for some people who are in need of money. This kind of situation is often happened in business world. Business players sometimes don’t have the money with them when they need to use it. In this condition, they will surely need some help, especially help that can provide them the money they need as fast as possible.

Nowadays, there is payday loans that can provide a fast loan for those who are in need. For business people or business players, they might be familiar with loan. If they used to get loan from a shark loan with a high interest, now they can get a loan with lower interest. This will surely become a better choice for those business players. This service will provide you the money you need in an hour after you requested it.

There is also a special loan that is provided, which is a business loan. This kind of loan will be divided between enterprise and small business. This is to avoid any unnecessary problems that might occur. This will provide loans according to the level of your business, so that you won’t get any trouble in the future when you are about to pay back.

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Radian Group Acquiring MIAC

12:14 AM |

NEW YORK - Mortgage-insurer Radian Group is purchasing Municipal and Infrastructure Assurance Corp., the muni-bond insurer shell company that Macquarie Group has struggled to launch since late 2008.

Radian Group announced the $82 million acquisition plan Thursday. The Philadelphia-based company is the parent of municipal bond insurer Radian Asset Assurance Inc., which is no longer writing new insurance.

Radian, the second-largest mortgage insurer in the U.S, disclosed in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission that its bond insurer subsidiary signed an agreement on Feb. 1 to purchase MIAC for $82 million, or $7 million above the shell company’s capital base. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval.

Radian said it was exploring potential uses for MIAC, which include writing new insurance policies and reinsuring its existing book. The “ultimate goal” is to reduce its financial guaranty exposure, according to Radian.

The acquisition “provides Radian Asset with the flexibility to consider using MIAC to pursue strategic alternatives in the public finance market, including possibly partnering with third-party investors to write new public finance insurance and-or reinsuring all or a portion of Radian Asset’s existing public finance business,” Radian told the SEC.

MIAC has held $75 million of cash, cash equivalents and Treasury securities since receiving approval from the New York Insurance Department to operate in October 2008. It never succeeded in obtaining ratings or writing business, but received licenses to operate in 36 states and the District of Columbia, according to Radian.

Radian Asset listed around $1 billion in statutory surplus with an additional $1.4 billion in claims-paying resources in the fourth-quarter earnings statement it filed Thursday. Its public finance portfolio includes $15.7 billion net par outstanding, plus $21.9 billion of public finance reinsurance. It also insures $39.3 billion of structured finance products and $1.8 billion of structured reinsurance.

A spokesman from Macquarie, an Australian investment firm, declined to offer additional comment.

A source at Macquarie disclosed in mid-October that it was “pursuing various options for the MIAC business, including an exit or sale of the business.”

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Garvey Joins ORIX USA as Managing Director of Municipal Finance

12:09 AM |

Garvey is well known in the public finance business with more than 25 years of experience in public finance, having worked with Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, Cain Brothers and Paine Webber. Garvey has a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from Harvard.

“I am excited by the opportunity to join ORIX,” said Garvey. “I expect to expand ORIX’s existing trading business via the direct origination of short-to-intermediate-term loans and leases in addition to other structured financings. I look forward to deploying ORIX’s financing expertise and capital strength to provide solutions to bankers, financial advisors, issuers, investors and other market participants.”

“Garvey is an important addition to ORIX Municipal Finance,” said Cliff Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of Municipal Finance. “Under Garvey’s leadership, ORIX plans to be more directly engaged with small issuers of non-bank eligible paper in 2011. We will also be active with our capital and restructuring expertise in distressed situations.”

About ORIX USA

ORIX USA is a Dallas, Texas-based financial services and investment firm with over 1,400 employees and primary offices in Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Columbus and Minneapolis. ORIX holds approximately $5.8 billion of assets and manages through various subsidiaries an additional $23 billion. ORIX USA Corporation (www.orix.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of ORIX Corporation; a Tokyo-based, publicly owned international financial services company with operations in 27 countries worldwide. ORIX Corporation is listed on the Tokyo (8591) and New York (IX) Stock Exchanges.

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AOL's Finance Officer Just Bagged A $2.25 Million Bonus (AOL)

7:42 AM |

AOL chief financial officer Artie Minson just took home a huge bonus -- $2,253,125, according to a filing with the SEC.

It's true that AOL posted surprisingly good results in its last quarterly report, for the third quarter of 2010. (The company reports Q4 earnings next Wednesday.) Those results were mainly the result of AOL selling two properties, Kayak and ICQ, during the quarter.

However, it's not clear at all that AOL is really turning in the right direction. The company's advertising business -- which is supposed to be AOL's future -- was down across the board in Q3. The company is also spending an estimated $50 million a year on writers and editors for Patch, its collection of local news sites, and so far has gained only 3 million unique users per month on the sites.

Meanwhile, AOL still gets about 80% of its business from monthly subscribers -- even though about 75% of those customers have cable or DSL and don't need to pay AOL a dime to keep getting Internet access, according to a recent remark from an AOL executive.

Most of Minson's bonus was part of the company's standard Annual Bonus Plan, which rewards execs for both individual and company performance. Another $500,000 was part of a discretionary pool, awarded for "Mr. Minson’s leadership and superior performance on major corporate initiatives and transactions in 2010," says the filing

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How does unrest in Egypt affect business in the U.S.?

7:37 AM |

From global stock-market selldowns to travel warnings for U.S. citizens, the effects of the ongoing protests and unrest in the North African country are spreading to every region on the planet. Finding connections between your local economy and companies, markets, products and industries affected by Egypt-driven slowdowns will be of interest to audiences keeping abreast of developments around the globe. According to this Jerusalem Post report from June 2010, Egypt trade with the United States grew 55 percent in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the same period a year earlier.

Here’s a U.S. Commerce Department site on doing business with Egypt, and a link to the U.S. Department of State’s backgrounder on Egypt. The CIA World Factbook section on Egypt also has basic facts and background information.

For businesses and consumers, the spreading effect on already-rising oil prices is of immediate concern. (In part due to fears about the closure of the crucial Suez Canal shipping route, though reports vary about that possibility.) Clearly – even ifyou’re not in a big oil-producing region – you’ll want to contact local refiners, distributors, gas stations, heating oil suppliers, construction firms and other companies that operate heavy equipment, commercial real estate facilities managers – any entity that buys or sells transportation and heating fuel, for starters. (Keep in mind that larger firms may hedge on prices by advance purchasing for contracted pricing, so market price increases won’t affect every company.) The federal Energy Information Administration hasn’t updated its short-term forecast vis a vis Egypt yet, but its analysts generally are accessible and helpful. And according to this EIA profile of Egypt, the country also exports a great deal of liquified natural gas. Will slowdowns create any hardship or opportunity for players in your area?

Egypt's effect on crude prices graphic

Be sure to check for local trade ties to Egypt via this Census Bureau site, which sorts imports/exports by state by country of origin; check with your state’s commerce department, large manufacturers, trade groups and economic development authorities for other current or pending relationships. Don’t forget university business schools and African/Egypt studies departments at area colleges; they may be aware of other business/economy oriented programs. And speaking of academics, check on local study-abroad exchanges with Egypt; will the current strife jeopardize any summer or fall programs, and what’s the status for students currently enrolled or participating?

Aside from energy, Egypt is an important tourism destination, increasingly popular with Americans. Here’s a PDF fact sheet noting that representatives from a number of U.S. travel organizations visited Egypt recently; you might glean sources from groups listed in the release. Or, find local travel groups (charter companies, senior citizen organizations, travel agencies, travel clubs like the Nomads) about how they’ll handle pending plans.

Textiles are another important source of trade; we’ve all heard of Egyptian cotton bedding, clothing and other housewares. Check with locally headquartered retail chains about supply concerns and alternative vendors. As we always say, Who benefits? If imported cotton becomes problematic, are domestic growers and suppliers likely to see any boost? What about purveyors of substitute products — synthetics, etc. The National Cotton Council may be another resource.

I’d check in with any defense contractors in your area, either OEMs like fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin, which is building F-16s for Egypt or parts suppliers – the federal Defense Security Cooperation Agency has oversight of these sales; might be worth a call to their Europe Africa Divison. The National Defense Industrial Association also offers a list and map of local chapters.

And here’s a timly just-out report from The Atlantic about Egypt’s lobbying ties to the U.S.

Shipping companies, supply chain logistics firms and airlines all are worth a check. Really, just about any key industry in your area may be feeling the effects of real or anticipated disruptions, the longer the unrest continues. Don’t feel shy about checking in with every company on your beat; you may uncover unexpected challenges or opportunities arising from protests half a globe away.

And one final, but important point: Check in with global firms about security risks to their personnel and operations; as this Wall Street Journal blog post notes, many multinational corporations already are working on safety and security processes to protect their overseas workers.

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