Conscientia Research

More Articles - Week of 7.22.07

2007-07-23T22:56:00.000-07:00

Economics
Major Changes in Global Egg Production
U.S. Labor Market Blooms
Do National Security and Environmental Energy Policies Conflict? Becker
Health spending
Steel Imports Decline in April
Gas, Jobs, Inflation: Consumers' Top Complaints About U.S. Economy

Public Policy, Compliance and Regulatory Issues
FDA says food recall is urgent health threat
The Net Gets Real on Copyrights
Small tech needs a louder voice in the patent reform debate
Call For Specific Regulation Of Nanopesticides
USDA OKs 38 Non-Organic Items In 'Organic' Labels
Regulations: Updating Organic -- July 2007
Senators introduce stringent health records privacy bill
Half of Grocery Shoppers Seek "Made in America" Label
Bill would tighten HIPAA privacy protections

Food Traceability
Another Food Recall - Botulism In Chili Sauce
Botulism Recall Widened

Petfood
Petfood 2011: the global outlook
Shoppers' habits are changing

Specialist Manufacturing
TPI Composites And Armor Holdings Unveil First All-Composite Military Vehicle
Semi suppliers court MEMS, PV, emerging markets
At last, semiconductor industry begins embracing nano
Market for printed and organic lighting to exceed $2.9 billion by 2012

Apparel
California blocks sale of kangaroo shoes

Health Sciences
Stem cell movement faces setbacks in Mo.
Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Pitches Biotech Plan
Nano-fiber Surface Attracts or Repels at Scientists' Will

Science and Technology
'$100 laptop' production begins
One Laptop Per Child approaches full production
Buses to travel at high rate of Internet speed
SaaS driving customer management software sales
Nanoparticles send peptides round the twist
Why Small Tech Companies Aren't Outsourcing

Key Public Domain Articles: Week 7.22.07

2007-07-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some key articles in the news this weekend:

Housing
It’s Going To Be A Bumpy Ride In California
Florida Housing In The Doldrums Now
Riskiest U.S. Housing Markets

Other Economic News
Gas prices rise on U.S. refineries' record failures

Policy
Container scanning requirement agreed
Senate Panel Approves Patent Reform Bill
U.S. could reverse suspect endangered species rulings
Governors address climate change

Specialist Manufacturing
Pratt And Whitney Rocketdyne Awarded NASA Contract For J-2X Ares Rocket Engine
Lockheed Martin Conducts PAC-3 Missile Test At White Sands Missile Range
Chevron dives into wave energy
Engineering Software accelerates design visualization.

Google News
Google acquires ImageAmerica to boost mapping
Google Earth now does night by NASA
The Google backlash begins
Google Maps: A users guide to personalization
Google mulls auction bid
Google profits miss expectations
Google's Free Trade Agenda
Google's Disappointing Quarter
Google Starts the Wireless Bidding at $4.6 Billion

Health Sciences
Novel Hydrogels for Tissue Repair, Regeneration

Market Briefing July 2007

2007-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Market Briefing July 2007
Overview

The economy still shows signs of sluggish growth, despite gains in productivity, earnings and easing of the jobless situation. The signs are generally the same: a weak dollar combined with continuing problems in the housing sector – coupled with a fragile bond market, and weak consumer spending has fuelled less than stellar results. Some key current economic conditions are summarized below:
· The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) report which covers manufacturing health posted a reading of 56.0, its best level since early 2006. The inflation component of the report noted slightly tamer prices. After holding at or below a breakeven reading of 50 on a number of occasions late last and early this year, the headline index steadily improved during the second quarter of 2007, so factories have been coming back to life after a rough-and-tumble period. That said, Factory Orders put in what could be called a better-than-expected showing in May, even though that figure was a decline of 0.5% in orders recorded for the month. Market watchers were expecting for a much larger falloff after a trio of positive readings covering February, March and April.
· Signals of stronger economic growth pushed money into stocks at the expense of bonds, and mortgage rates closed the week on an upward trend.
· After testing a 5% level early in the week, the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond made its way back to as high as 5.20%
· Weekly claims for unemployment benefits nudged higher a few weeks ago, only to settle back to more familiar ranges. During the week ending June 30, some 318,000 new applications for benefits were filed. Low and steady was the trend in layoff announcements recorded by Challenger, Gray and Christmas, who totaled some 55,726 announced job cuts in June, down from over 71,000 in May. Although the Fed continues to look for slackening in labor markets, so far, none has revealed itself.
· The surprise jump in Consumer Confidence Improvement will be difficult to sustain. June retail sales tumbled, especially in the automotive sector. The nation's consumers, uninspired by this season's fashions and rattled by high gas prices and the weak housing market, shopped gingerly last month, extending the misery of retailers who have struggled with a spending slowdown since February.
· The nationwide economy has exhibited below trend GDP growth for the last two years (trend growth is 3%). This marks the longest recorded period of below-trend growth without a recession, according to the forecaster. Housing was the primary culprit for slowed growth, decreasing net GDP growth by 1%. Despite decreasing residential construction and declining housing prices, strong growth worldwide is keeping the U.S. economy afloat. Rapid GDP growth worldwide coupled with lower U.S. currency value has resulted in an improving net export rate. Export growth and business investments should keep the economy out of recession until mid-2008, when GDP growth returns to an on-trend rate of about 3% and housing starts to recover.
· America's trade deficit rose to its second highest level of the year, reflecting higher prices for foreign oil and a continued appetite for Chinese goods despite this year's recalls of tainted products.

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2006-04-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

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