景気拡大「終わった」５３社に急増 本社アンケート

景気拡大「終わった」５３社に急増　本社アンケート

2008年6月21日21時26分

　朝日新聞社が全国の主要１００社を対象に実施した景気アンケートで、「すでに景気拡大期が終わった」との回答が５３社にのぼり、昨年１１月の前回調査時の７社から急増した。日本経済を牽引（けんいん）する主要企業の景況感の大幅な悪化からは、戦後最長を更新してきた今回の景気拡大局面が転機を迎えたことが読み取れる。

　調査は年２回。今回は５月２９日～６月１２日の間に、製造業と非製造業の各５０社を対象に、原則として社長ら経営トップに面談した。

　政府は「景気後退局面には入っていない」（大田経済財政相）との判断を維持している。

　しかし、景気の拡大期がいつまで続くかという質問に、過半数の企業は「すでに終わった」と回答。「夏まで」という回答も１０社あり、「０９年以降も続く」と強気の見通しを示したのは２０社にとどまった。調査対象となった主要企業に比べて経営体力が劣る中小・零細企業の見方は、さらに厳しいものになっている可能性が高い。

　景気の現状判断については「足踏み状態にある」が７６社に達し、前回調査の３２社から倍以上に増えた。前回はゼロだった「悪化」は３社に増え、「緩やかに下降している」も前回の５社から２１社に増加。一方、前回は６２社が選んだ「緩やかに回復している」との回答が、今回はゼロだった。

　景気の現状を判断する要素（二つまで選択）として最も多かったのは、「原油・原材料価格の動向」と「企業収益の動向」（各４７社）。原油価格について、帝国ホテルの小林哲也社長は「驚きの上昇ぶりだ。行き過ぎたマネーゲームだが、このままでいいのだろうか」と、高騰の原因の一つとされる投機資金の流入に疑問を投げかけた。

　「景気拡大の原動力だった企業部門の変調が鮮明になっている」（みずほフィナンシャルグループの前田晃伸社長）など、企業の業績悪化への懸念も目立った。

　一方で、「新興国や資源国向け輸出は増加基調で、大企業の設備投資計画もそれほど悪くない。景気は今年後半から、再び緩やかに回復に向かうのでは」（三菱重工業の大宮英明社長）という楽観論もある。

　雇用面では、約４分の１の企業が従業員の不足を訴え、非正社員の正社員登用を進めている企業は６割超に達した。

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焦点：三井住友とバークレイズ提携、狙いはアフリカ・中東
2008年 06月 20日 19:18 JST

　［東京　２０日　ロイター］　三井住友フィナンシャルグループ(8316.T: 株価, ニュース, レポート)が英銀大手のバークレイズ(BARC.L: 株価, 企業情報, レポート)に約１０００億円出資し、業務提携を結ぶ方向で最終調整に入った。

　三井住友ＦＧはバークレイズの誇るアフリカや中東地域でのネットワークを通じ、新しい顧客層を獲得して融資や投資機会を効率的に獲得することを目指す。

　サブプライム（信用度の低い借り手向け住宅ローン）問題で自己資本がき損している米欧金融機関に対し、出資という対価を支払って提携による果実を得ようという邦銀にとって初の「戦略提携」が姿を現した。ただ、出資比率は１―３％程度にとどまり、収益効果をどの程度見込むことができるかは現段階で不透明だ。

　＜三井住友は純投資でなく戦略投資を志向＞

　三井住友ＦＧは昨年後半から、サブプライム関連損失に苦しむ欧米金融機関に出資することができるか、複数の相手先と折衝してきた。ただ、出資してリターンを得る純投資ではなく、戦略的投資に結びつけることを狙ってきた。

　みずほフィナンシャルグループ(8411.T: 株価, ニュース, レポート)が今年１月、米投資銀行大手メリルリンチ(MER.N: 株価, 企業情報, レポート)に１２億ドル（約１３００億円）を出資した際、三井住友銀幹部は「配当収入狙いの純投資に資金を回す余裕はない。国際的なビジネス展開に結びつく戦略投資でなければ意味がない」と語り、みずほの戦略とは距離を置いた。

　みずほの出資は、メリルによる総額６６億ドル（約７１００億円）の増資の一部で、業務提携は両社の合意に盛り込まれていない。三井住友の出資もバークレイズが実施する総額４０億ポンド（約８４００億円）規模の増資の一部を引き受けるかたちだが、純投資に限定したみずほに対し、三井住友は戦略投資を狙っている点が異なる。

　預金超過という構造的な問題を抱えながら、国内で伸び悩む資金利益が収益の柱になっている邦銀は、各行とも新しい収益源を見つけることが大きな経営課題になっている。２％前後の低成長が続く日本経済の伸びを超える成長戦略を描くには、国際業務の強化が不可欠だ。中でも三井住友は、みずほフィナンシャルグループや三菱ＵＦＪフィナンシャル・グループ(8306.T: 株価, ニュース, レポート)との比較で、海外ビジネス分野での出遅れが目立つ。０７年度の国際部門の粗利益は三菱ＵＦＪが３０５１億円、みずほのが１７８４億円だったのに対し、、三井住友は１３７５億円にとどまった。今回の投資は、国際業務巻き返しの一歩になる可能性がある。

　＜手薄な中東・アフリカで商機拡大の期待＞

　関係者によると、三井住友が狙う業務提携の主眼は、バークレイズが持つアフリカや中東の顧客基盤。バークレイズは英国４大銀行の一角で、国内ではリテールやカード業務などの商業銀行業務に強みがある。一方で、大英帝国がかつて中東やアフリカで植民地を経営していたという歴史的経緯もあり、ロンドンに根拠地をもつバークレイズは、その地域に確固としたネットワークを保持している。金やダイアモンドなどの地下資源を豊富にもつ南アフリカで最大のリテールバンク・Ａｂｓａグループ(ASAJ.J: 株価, 企業情報, レポート) も傘下だ。

　オイルマネーの流入で建設ブームとなっている中東地域のビジネス拡大に、三井住友も業務拡大のための投資を本格化させている。ただ、銀行業務を急速に拡充させることは難しく、初期投資を始めたばかりといえる。南アフリカをはじめその他のアフリカ諸国には、地下資源の豊富さなどから欧米の金融機関が投資を積極化させてきたが、三井住友をはじめ邦銀はほとんど手付かずの状態だった。三井住友関係者は「バークレイズの裏側に広がっている中東やアフリカのマーケットは大変魅力的。バークレイズに水先案内人の役割も期待したい」と、今回の業務提携の狙いを話す。

　＜ゴールドマン・サックスとの関係もクリア＞

　これまで三井住友が海外金融機関との提携に動きにくかった背景には、ゴールドマン・サックス（ＧＳ）との提携関係の存在もあった。ＧＳは２００３年、三井住友ＦＧの優先株増資１５００億円を引き受け、合わせて不良債権処理などで業務提携を結んだ。現在、ＧＳが保有する優先株は簿価で１０００億円程度まで減少したものの、業務提携関係は継続中。「株式関連業務で他の金融機関と提携するわけにはいかない」（関係者）という。

　これに対してバークレイズは、グループに投資銀行部門を持つものの株式業務はほとんど行っておらず「ＧＳとの関係を維持することができる」（同）点も決め手になった。

　＜出資先としての期待高まる邦銀＞

　「今やメガバンクの企画部には、欧米金融機関からの出資要請の提案書が山のように舞い込んでいる」――。大手証券会社幹部は、こう打ち明ける。昨年から続く欧米金融機関の増資ラッシュには、豊富な資金力を誇るソブリン・ウェルス・ファンド（ＳＷＦ）が最大の出し手となって対応してきた。しかし、底の見えない証券化商品関連損失の拡大で、終わったはずの処理に追われる欧米金融機関の姿に、豊富な資金量を持つＳＷＦも「簡単には資金を出さなくなってきた」（外資系証券幹部）という。

　最近の米欧金融株の下落で、すでに出資した部分の含み損が、かなりの規模に上っていることもＳＷＦに二の足を踏ませる要因にもなっている。このためサブプライム問題での損失が相対的に軽微な邦銀に対し、次の資金の出し手としての期待感も高まってきている。交渉に臨む邦銀勢のポジションは、半年前に比べかなり有利になってきているとの見方も一部で出ている。

　ある大手銀行幹部は、欧米金融機関への出資について「まだまだあせる必要はない」と指摘。今後の米欧金融機関の対応やクレジット市場の動向などマーケットの行方をみながら慎重に対応しても、不利にならないとの感触を示している。

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改葬：お墓の引っ越し、増加　親族、寺へきちんと説明
　◇都市部定住が背景／費用３００万円ほど

　お盆やお彼岸に先祖にお参りしたいけれどお墓が遠くて……。核家族化の進展、都市部などへの定住で親のお墓のある土地を離れて暮らしている人も多いだろう。兄弟、親せきもいなければ、お墓が気がかりだ。お墓の引っ越し、いわゆる改葬が増えているというが、実際にどうしたらいいのだろうか。【石塚淳子】

　自分が亡きあと寺との付き合いで子に負担をかけたくない－－。

　総合葬祭サービス会社、メモリアルアートの大野屋コンタクトセンター所長の尾崎一郎さん（４４）はそんな仏事の相談をとりまとめている。「３年くらい前から改葬の相談が増えてきた」。一昨年の集計では、同社のテレホンセンター（０１２０・０２・８８８８）には６６４件の改葬の相談があり、墓の相談の２割近くを占めた。「お墓の引っ越しは本当にできるの」という初歩的な質問も多いという。

　　□　　　□

　改葬手続きは、まず移転先を決めなければならない。「墓地、埋葬等に関する法律」により、改葬には現在の墓のある市町村の許可を得なければならない。移転先を決めておかないと許可は下りない。「手続き自体はそんなに大変ではありませんし、事務手数料も数百円程度です」

　　□　　　□

　お墓を移す場合、現在の墓が地方のお寺の墓地にあるケースがほとんどだ。お寺の檀家（だんか）でなくなる「離檀」を切り出さなければならず、お布施を包んだほうがよいこともある。「最初から第三者が入るとお寺も構えてしまう。誠意を持って直接話すことが大事です」と尾崎さんは言う。

　親せきの反対も予想されるので事前に打診し「これからは自分が供養する」という決意を伝えることも重要になるという。

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　改葬が決まると、現墓所、移転先の双方の工事が必要になる。現墓所は管理者に連絡して日時を決め、供養して遺骨を取り出す。移転先の墓地の管理者とは納骨の日時を決め、供養して納骨する。遺骨の移動は業者にも頼めるが、基本的には自分ですることになる。

　墓石はどうするか－－。墓石の移転を認めていなかったり、高さや磨き直しなどの条件が付いていることも多く、事前確認が必要だ。古い墓石は移動途中で破損する恐れもある。

　費用は、現在のお墓の撤去や移転先の墓地の使用料、墓所の工事など合わせて２００万～３００万円程度だという。現在のお墓が人の入りづらい場所にあったりすると墓石の撤去や整地、廃材の処分などが高くつくことがある。移転先が寺院の墓地でもとの宗派と違うと、戒名を付け替える必要が出てくることもあるという。

　費用も煩雑さもケース・バイ・ケースだが「お墓を近くに移し、いつでもお参りできるようになると、みなさんほっとされるようです」と尾崎さんは言う。

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
　◇お墓の改葬手続き

（１）お墓の移転先を決める

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（２）移転先の受け入れ証明書（永代使用許可証、墓地使用承諾書、墓地使用許可書など呼び方はいろいろある）を用意

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（３）移転元の墓がある市町村役場の改葬許可申請書を記入し、現在の墓地管理者にも必要事項を書いてもらう。申請書に記入欄がない場合は埋葬（埋蔵）証明書を出してもらう。

　※申請書用紙がない自治体もあり、事前に確認しておく

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（４）受け入れ証明書、改葬許可申請書、必要な場合は埋葬（埋蔵）証明書をそろえ、墓のある市町村役場に提出し、改葬許可証をもらう

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（５）改葬が可能になる。改葬許可証は納骨の際、移転先の墓地管理者に提出する

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■お墓や改葬の主な相談窓口

　□お墓案内センター

　電話０１２０・９７７・０９２

　１級お墓ディレクターの資格を持つ相談員が要望を聞き、一定の基準を満たす全国の霊園、石材店を無料で紹介する

　□お墓サポートセンター

　電話０１２０・２４０・５００

　センターが信頼できると判断した石材店を紹介し、石材店を通して複数の霊園、墓地を比較検討できる。対象地域は首都圏と大阪、兵庫、愛知

　□アイエム

　電話０１２０・５０１・３７３

　寺院にお墓を移したいというケースを対象に、宗派、予算に合わせて、提携する首都圏の約１０００の寺院から希望にあった改葬先を紹介する

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インドネシアの看護師・介護士、300人受け入れへ

　【ジャカルタ＝代慶達也】日本、インドネシア両政府の経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）に基づく初めての看護師・介護福祉士の受け入れ事業で、日本側の仲介機関・国際厚生事業団は21日、ジャカルタでの面接を終了、審査の結果305人を受け入れる見通しになった。現地での募集期間が短かったこともあり、予定していた最大受け入れ枠（500人）を約4割下回った。

　初年度の日本側の受け入れ数は看護師が174人、介護福祉士131人。それぞれの受け入れ枠は200人、300人で介護福祉士の応募者が日本側の需要を大幅に割り込んだ。今後は日本側の受け入れ機関と調整したうえで7月下旬以降に順次日本に派遣される。

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キヤノン、中国で2400人就職面接　現地販社の社員3―5倍に

　【北京＝多部田俊輔】キヤノンは22日、中国・北京市内のホテルで大規模な就職面接会を開いた。書類選考などで選んだ2400人を面接し、そのうち 100人を採用する。中国の販売会社、キヤノン中国の2007年の売上高は1000億円強。10年後には10倍増を目指しており、現在1100人余りの社員数も3―5倍程度に増やす考えだ。

　1年以上の勤務経験を持つ大卒以上の男女が主な対象で、営業やサービスなどほぼ全部門で採用する。インターネットで募集したところ2万2000人の応募があった。3回面接して採用を決める。日本企業が中国で数千人規模の集団面接会を開くのは初めてという。

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ＪＴＢ、ジャルパックの米子会社買収　日本向け旅行事業を強化

　ＪＴＢは日本航空グループの旅行会社ジャルパック（東京・港）から、米国で日本向け旅行・日系企業の出張手配などを行う子会社を9月にも買収する。ジャルパックの豪州とスペインでの同部門も買収する。買収額は総額10億円前後とみられる。燃料高や景気減速で国内と日本発の旅行需要は低迷しており、海外拠点を拡充し外国人や海外の日本人客向け事業を強化する。

　ＪＴＢが買収するのはジャルパックの米子会社「ジャルパックインターナショナルＵＳＡ」（カリフォルニア州）。ＪＴＢの米子会社ＪＴＢＵＳＡが吸収合併する。6月中にも契約する。

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イオン、ＳＣ駐車場に電気自動車用充電スタンド

　イオンはショッピングセンター（ＳＣ）の駐車場に電気自動車用の充電スタンドを設置する。2009年に電気自動車を発売する三菱自動車などと協力。今秋開業予定の埼玉県越谷市のＳＣ「イオンレイクタウン」に導入する。買い物客が集まる商業施設にインフラを用意することで、電気自動車の普及を後押しする。

　数十分で充電ができる急速充電器を置き、買い物中などに利用してもらう。具体的な設置場所や充電器の台数などは今後詰める。イオンは1号店での利用状況を見たうえで、他のＳＣへの設置を検討する見通しだ。

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ダイハツ、インドネシアで増産　今年度、小型車25％上積み

　ダイハツ工業はインドネシアでの今年度の小型車生産計画を当初比25％増の年25万台に引き上げた。トヨタ自動車に供給する「アバンザ」や、自社ブランドの「セニア」などを増産。原油価格高騰を受けて、インドネシアを中心とする東南アジアや中東諸国で小型車の需要が伸びているのに対応する。スズキなど他の小型車メーカーに比べて遅れている海外販売を強化する。

　ダイハツは昨年、インドネシア子会社のアストラ・ダイハツ・モーターに100億円を投資し、完成車の組み立てラインと塗装ラインを新設。生産能力を年 15万台から20万台に引き上げた。今回の増産はラインの増強をせずに、従業員の時間外勤務による生産ラインの稼働率引き上げで対応する。

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５月のセメント販売、国内11.9％減　輸出は３割増

　セメント協会（東京・中央）が19日発表した5月のセメント国内販売量は、前年同月比11.9％減の383万3000トンだった。12カ月連続で前年を下回った。改正建築基準法の施行に伴う工事の遅れや公共事業の縮小が響いた。

　建設資材の価格高騰の影響について同協会は、民間で工事を先延ばしする動きが出ているほか、公共工事の入札が不成立になるケースが増えていると分析している。

　一方、輸出量は中東や東南アジア向けが堅調で、29.7％増の111万8000トンだった。生産量は522万9000トンと9.9％減った。

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松下や東芝、省エネ照明を世界展開

　国内照明大手が省エネ製品で世界市場の開拓を加速する。松下電器産業は主力のインドネシア工場で低消費電力の電球型蛍光灯の生産を倍増、2012年度には同製品の海外販売を現在の約10倍の年1000万個に引き上げる。東芝はグループの照明会社との協力を強化し、発光ダイオード（ＬＥＤ）照明を欧米などで販売する。地球温暖化問題を背景に従来の白熱電球から低消費電力型の新照明への切り替えが進む見通し。それを機に世界市場での攻勢を強める。

　松下は欧州と、韓国、台湾を中心とした東アジアで、08年度中にも電球型蛍光灯の販売を新たに始める。インドでも松下電工が07年に買収した現地配線器具最大手アンカーエレクトリカルズ社の販売店30万店を活用して富裕層や中間所得層向けに販売する。

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大京など不動産大手、マンション在庫値下げ　最大１割安

　マンション分譲大手の大京、ダイア建設は完成在庫物件の値下げ販売を始める方針を明らかにした。下げ幅は物件により異なるが、最大10％となる見込みだ。マンション需要の冷え込みに対応。地価や資材価格の上昇により建設コストが拡大する中での異例の値下げで、膨らむ在庫の早期処分をめざす。

　一部の売れ残り物件を個別交渉で値引きする例はこれまでもあったが、完成在庫をほぼ一斉に値下げするのは珍しい。

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東京・有明に広域防災拠点完成　首都直下地震など復旧に備え

　首都直下地震などの大規模災害が起きた際、復旧に必要な情報収集機能などを備えた基幹的広域防災拠点施設が22日、東京湾臨海部の有明地区（東京都江東区）に完成した。平時は公園として一般市民に開放。災害時は緊急災害現地対策本部（本部長・内閣府副大臣）を設置し、被害状況などを集約して、救援活動を指揮する。

　首都圏の防災拠点施設は、救援物資の中継拠点となる川崎市の臨海部に続き2カ所目。近畿圏では東南海・南海地震や直下型地震に備え、堺市の臨海部に同様の施設が整備される。

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Nestlé asks Europe to soften line on GM

By Raphael Minder in Kuala Lumpur, Andrew Bounds in Brussels and Jenny Wiggins in London

Published: June 22 2008 23:30 | Last updated: June 22 2008 23:30

The world’s biggest food company has called on European policymakers to reconsider their opposition to genetically modified crops, as soaring commodity prices put basic foodstuffs such as wheat and rice out of reach of the world’s poorest.

FT discussion: have your say

Do you agree that genetically-modified crops are essential to feed the world?

“You cannot today feed the world without genetically modified organisms,” Peter Brabeck, chairman of Nestlé, told the Financial Times. “We have the means to make agriculture sustainable in the long term. What we don’t see for the time being is the political will.”

Mr Brabeck said Europe’s opposition to such biotechnology had encouraged African policymakers to reject GM crops. South Africa is the only country on the African continent to commercialise them, growing GM maize, cotton and soyabeans.

“The European Union used political pressure in Africa to prevent some of those countries using genetically modified organisms,” said Mr Brabeck.

“I don’t think that was necessarily helpful for the agriculture of those countries nor for their supplies.”

Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, rejected any allegation of bullying. “Africa is free to grow whatever crops it wishes, but as the vast majority of its agricultural exports are destined for the EU, it is clearly in its interests to try to meet the needs of that market.”

Many African and Asian countries have shied away from planting GM crops for fear of being shut out of the EU – the biggest importer of foodstuffs from developing countries.

The European Commission says biotechnology could help to solve the food crisis and officials say they are frustrated that national governments often block their recommendations for GM approval. “Their resistance stems from how Europe feels about GMOs,” said a spokesman.

Only 21 per cent of Europeans will eat genetically engineered food, according to a Commission survey.

Few GM strains of crops have been licensed by the EU. This has left European farmers angry about the increasingly high prices they are being forced to pay for non-GM animal feed.

In Britain, the National Farmers’ Union has asked leading supermarket chains to drop GM-free requirements from all save organic food. Farmers are finding it difficult to source non-GM soyabeans to feed poultry flocks because Brazil, the leading exporter of non-GM soya, has been planting more GM crops.

Mr Brabeck said European concerns over the the health risks of GM were unfounded, given that such foods had been eaten safely by Americans for decades.

“It is one of the safest technologies that we have ever seen – much safer than bio or organic or whatever else is fashionable in Europe,” he said.

Organic food crops, which typically yield less than GM food crops, were “a nice treat for those who can afford it”, he said.

Opponents of GM foods have argued that there is little proof that the crops have higher yields. But proponents maintain that there is scientific evidence.

US Department of Agriculture research found that one variety of GM corn yielded 9 per cent more than conventional corn. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, which encourages developing countries to adopt GM technology, says GM cotton has increased yields by 50 per cent in India.

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UAE updates money laundering regulations

By Simeon Kerr

Published: June 22 2008 22:22 | Last updated: June 22 2008 22:22

The United Arab Emirates has implemented new anti-money laundering regulations as it seeks to meet international standards of financial compliance.

The central bank last week notified banks and exchange houses of the 13 new regulations that update the UAE’s first anti-money laundering controls, which came into force in November 2000.

The strong US ally has moved to improve financial compliance procedures, especially since the September 11 attacks showed that terrorists were using the country, especially Dubai, as a financial and logistics hub.

However, patchy implementation of the existing regulations and the booming economy have combined to leave the country exposed to money laundering and terrorist financing.

The new measures, to be announced later this week, require banks to carry out more due diligence on prospective customers, enshrining many existing practices already carried out by international banks operating in the UAE but which are still ignored by some local and regional institutions.

A central bank official said the regulations aimed to bring UAE law into line with the latest requirements of the Financial Action Task Force on money laundering. “We want to tighten the system further,” he said.

FATF’s middle-eastern branch last week discussed an assessment of the UAE’s compliance with international standards on money laundering and terrorism finance, which included an International Monetary Fund inspection of the central bank earlier this year.

This assessment, which will include the new regulations in its annex, should be published within weeks.

“These new requirements have come in response to the remarks of the assessment team in March to try to fill in the gap with international requirements,” the central bank official said.

The new regulations, which include five amendments to the 2000 law, bring down the threshold at which banks are forced to verify the name and address of remitters from Dh40,000 ($11,000) to Dh3,500.

They also require banks to engage in enhanced due diligence to determine whether “foreign politically exposed persons” are trying to open an account in the UAE, as well as officially banning all financial relationships with “shell banks or companies”.

Banks should carry out extra due diligence on dealers in precious stones, real estate and luxury goods. Officials have for years raised concerns that the booming property sector of Dubai, and now Abu Dhabi, could be used by money launderers.

Western officials have lauded the UAE’s move to regulate hawala, the informal money transfer system used across the Middle East and South Asia, and point to an increasing number of prosecutions on drugs and money laundering charges.

“The issue is implementation – it’s not just whether you can implement your own regulations but whether regulations are enough to stay ahead of the criminal fraternity,” said one western official.

The central bank has also called on senior management to approve the opening of new correspondent banking relationships with foreign banks, taking care when they “are headquartered in countries which are reported to be involved in drugs, a high level of public corruption and/or criminal/terrorist activities”.

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Chinese warned of record rise in ore price

By Javier Blas and Rebecca Bream in London

Published: June 22 2008 23:32 | Last updated: June 22 2008 23:32

Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have asked their Chinese steelmaker customers to accept the largest ever increase in iron ore prices or risk the interruption of supplies from Australia.

Traders and industry officials said the mining companies have demanded price increases for their annual iron ore contracts in excess of the record 71.5 per cent rise of 2005 and were fighting for increases of 85-95 per cent.

Rio and BHP have warned their Chinese clients some annual contracts will expire next Monday and they would cease supply under the old terms. They have told them the ore would instead be sold into the spot market, where prices are higher.

The bold step indicates that the heated annual price negotiations, already well beyond their traditional conclusion date, are set to move into a hostile phase.

Analysts said most of Rio’s iron ore contracts would expire on June 30. However, some BHP contracts do not expire until September, leaving the latter time to negotiate and allowing Rio to take the lead in the discussions.

Macquarie, the Australian bank, said Rio was committed to securing a price in excess of the 85-95 per cent the market is expecting. “That stance suggests investors should be prepared for an extended and potentially hostile conclusion to the negotiations,” it said in a report.

Rio and BHP are demanding a larger price increase than Brazil’s Vale because their proximity to China reduces shipping costs.

Traders said that freight costs from Australia to China collapsed last week by 37 per cent as at least one of the mining companies stopped booking some vessels for July to ship under the old contracts. That move signalled their intention to move shipments into the spot market if the negotiations failed.

If Rio and BHP carry out their threat of diverting shipments into the spot market, analysts said the steelmakers would be likely to retaliate by stopping buying for as long as possible. Although China has record high iron ore inventories, the country depended heavily on imports, they said, and it would not be long before it had to cave in and buy into the spot market.

Morgan Stanley said in a report the ore market was under “unprecedented” pricing developments and . . . “remains very tight and in significant deficit”.

Rio and BHP declined to comment.

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Media Chinese targets surge in expatriates

By Robin Kwong in Hong Kong

Published: June 22 2008 23:36 | Last updated: June 22 2008 23:36

A new wave of Chinese diaspora is set to create fresh markets for Chinese media across south-east Asia, North America and Europe, according to the chief executive of one of the world’s biggest Chinese-language publishers.

Francis Tiong, chief executive of Media Chinese International, which has a global circulation of more than 1m for its five daily newspapers, said there is a new wave of migration from China that is driven by the younger Chinese generation.

“The younger generation is increasingly being educated overseas, and despite many doing business in China, they are sending their families overseas . . . Increasingly you have cities with Chinese populations reaching 300,000-400,000, which I think warrants a Chinese language newspaper or media,” Mr Tiong told the Financial Times.

“This Chinese migration has not been monitored very closely. How big it will eventually become will be very interesting,” he added.

Mass Chinese migration in the modern era began as early as the 19th century, but, Mr Tiong said: “What is different now is that the quality of migrants is much better. They are more affluent and better educated.”

Data on the size and growth of the overseas Chinese population is scant, but research from the Ohio University recently estimated that population to be 37m, with the majority residing in south-east Asia. According to a 2006 United Nations report, mainland China had a net emigration of nearly 400,000 people every year between 2000-2005.

Media Chinese International, created this year from a merger of the media assets controlled by Malaysian tycoon Tiong Hiew King, claims to be the biggest Chinese-language publisher outside greater China. The group includes Hong Kong-based Ming Pao Daily, Malaysia’s Sin Chew Media and Nanyang Press Holdings, and about 30 magazine titles. It distributes in Hong Kong, Canada, the US, Malaysia and Indonesia. Revenue for 2008 is expected to be $328.3m.

Mr Tiong hopes to take advantage of the new diaspora by finding partners to expand in overseas markets, such as London and Sydney. The group also plans to bolster its non-print businesses, distribute in Taiwan and expand its presence in mainland China.

“There’s no global player as yet [for Chinese-language media],” Mr Tiong said. Media Chinese International’s rivals include the pro-Beijing International Daily News, Hong Kong-based Global China Group and the Taiwanese-American World Journal. Marcel Fenez, a managing partner at PwC, the professional services firm, said there was a clear trend of content created in Asia being sold to other parts of the world. “[The overseas Chinese population] is an under-served market,” Mr Fenez said.

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Ireland is wrong to put its miracle at risk

By Wolfgang Münchau

Published: June 22 2008 19:21 | Last updated: June 22 2008 19:21

After a week of what European leaders call reflection, another Irish referendum beckons, to be held early next year. Without it, there might well be an attempt to oust the Irish from the European Union.

A Yes vote in a second referendum is not certain, even if the Irish government were to succeed in securing another rent-extracting, treaty-amending protocol. At a time when the Irish economy is about to fall off a cliff, enthusiasm for the EU and its treaties will not increase. In other words, holding a referendum would be as risky as not holding a referendum. A fine mess.

So within a couple of weeks, the chances of Ireland ending up outside the EU have turned from zero to a distinct possibility. The same goes for the Czech Republic, another potential non-ratifier. I do not want to get into the legal details of how a country’s departure from the EU could be accomplished. Suffice it to say that it can be done within European law as long as there is political will.

What strikes me the most about this extraordinary turn of events is the perception in Ireland that a break with the EU would be no big deal. I received a large number of letters from Ireland last week from readers who steadfastly maintain that the country’s economic success had nothing to do with the EU and everything to do with domestic policy – in particular with low corporate taxes and skilled labour.

The view expressed by those correspondents is as wrong as it is revealing. If so many people are delusional about their country’s economy, then we should perhaps not be surprised about the outcome of the referendum. It is therefore perhaps worth looking in some detail at the nature of Ireland’s economic success over the last 30 years to gauge what life might be like outside the EU.

There are several interactive factors. The importance of EU subsidies is almost certainly overrated. They played some part, especially in the early phase of the country’s economic renaissance. In any case, Ireland is on the verge of becoming a net contributor to the EU budget. But one would be even more mistaken to conclude the opposite: that the EU matters nothing or little.

Ireland was one of the early and enthusiastic members of the European Monetary System in 1979, which brought much needed macroeconomic stability. Membership of the eurozone in 1999 led to lower interest rates, which have contributed to the economic growth ever since. Low corporate tax rates certainly helped Ireland attract foreign investors. But never forget that Ireland is also the only English-speaking member of the eurozone, the one place where eurozone and Anglosphere meet.

The country naturally benefited from membership of the EU’s internal market. Without it, Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, would not be able to offer its popular flights across Europe. The Irish have also proved influential in the management of the internal market, not least through Charlie McCreevy, the Irish commissioner in charge of the EU’s internal market and financial services. As a member of the EU, Ireland has been in a position to veto motions that would have impaired the country’s economic success. Without steadfast opposition from Ireland, the EU would have made more headway in imposing corporate tax harmonisation.

I do not want to play down the importance of domestic policies either. Ireland owes its success to a complex set of policies and circumstances. Perhaps among the most important were the various tripartite social partnership agreements since 1987, through which the government, employers and the trade unions achieved a combination of wage moderation, high employment and low taxes. This form of round-table corporatism works best in tiny open economies if it works at all. It is ironic that this country, whose officials take pleasure in hectoring others on free-market economics, is in fact one of Europe’s most corporatist states. Even France and Germany cannot produce so much social partnership, and I can assure you that this is not for lack of trying.

So what would happen if Ireland were to leave the EU? As an associate member of the single European market, Ireland would probably attract less foreign investment than it does today. Dublin’s financial centre would be demonised as an offshore tax haven and treated on par with Liechtenstein. We would see lots of Ryanair flights between Dublin and Cork and the EU would put even more pressure on Ireland to raise corporate taxes.

Oh, and by the way, Ireland would no longer be a member of the eurozone. The Irish could use the euro if they wanted to but this would be like Panama using the dollar – a little sad, really. There would be no Irish voice in the European Central Bank’s governing council warning that this is not a good time to raise interest rates. Leaving the EU involves a huge loss power and influence.

To put it mildly, the No vote is highly risky. Considering that the country is now on the verge of a severe economic slowdown, brought on by a downturn in the real
estate market and the credit market crisis, it could not have come at a worse time. Not only does the No vote carry risks, it is a highly asymmetric gamble that brings no material benefit under the best of circumstances. The No vote put Europe’s most impressive economic miracle at stake, and the cards are not looking good.

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Stansted secrets to be published

By Michael Peel, Legal Correspondent

Published: June 22 2008 23:11 | Last updated: June 22 2008 23:11

Secret government data on contentious plans to build a second runway at Stansted airport must be made public, the privacy watchdog has ordered, in a ruling that further extends ministers’ duties to reveal confidential internal advice.

The judgment by the Information Commissioner’s Office – which will be published on Monday – attacks the Department for Transport for repeatedly holding up the investigation and for “clear failings” in its records management.

The ruling, which could offer environmental campaigners useful ammunition against the much criticised airport expansion, will add to debate about whether disclosing details of internal talks in ministries risks inhibiting officials in future discussions.

The ICO said the government should release the Stansted data because of the public interest in the future of air transport and its “potentially wide-ranging impact on people’s lives, the economy and the environment”.

The ruling, which concerns a request under environmental freedom of information rules for documents relating to the 2003 white paper on air transport, came after the transport department argued disclosure would prejudice future policymaking. The judgment did allow the department to withhold confidential legal advice.

The ruling is the latest sign of how Richard ­Thomas, information ­commissioner, is trying to chip away steadily at a culture of secrecy in government that many observers say is still far too strong in spite of the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act in 2005.

The Stansted ruling comes after Mr Thomas’ landmark order last year for the ­Treasury to publish civil servants’ advice to Gordon Brown, the then chancellor, over his 1997 decision to axe tax relief on dividends, stopping pension funds reclaiming about £5bn a year in credits.

The latest ruling goes a step further, since it deals with much more recent events and suggests the government should have published the data when it was first requested just under two years after the white paper was published. Such a disclosure “would have allowed more informed debate” about the decision to support the development of a second runway, the ruling said.

The planned runway – which BAA, the airport operator, has said could allow Stansted to match Heathrow’s existing capacity – has triggered fierce opposition from environmental campaigners, residents and local authorities.

Mr Thomas made stinging criticisms of the transport department’s handling of his probe, attacking its ­“continual requests for additional time” and its “numerous difficulties in locating information”.

The department had admitted to clear failings in its records management, although it had assured the commissioner these had been rectified.

The background to the formulation of official policy has become increasingly important legally as campaigners have made deft use of procedural failings to challenge the government successfully in the courts.

The High Court last year forced the government to repeat a consultation on its nuclear policy after Greenpeace, the environmental group, argued that ministers had prejudged the issue and failed to allow a proper debate.

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Security fears over food and fuel crisis

By Carola Hoyos and Javier Blas in London

Published: June 20 2008 22:02 | Last updated: June 20 2008 22:02

Western countries have upgraded the food and fuel crisis into a national security concern as they fear record high energy and agriculture commodity costs are destabilising key developing regions of the world.

The concerns come as the world suffers for the first time since 1973 from the confluence of record oil and food prices. Corn, soyabean and meat prices jumped this week to all-time highs, while oil prices hit a record of almost $140 a barrel.

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West rethinks strategic threats

By Carola Hoyos and Javier Blas

Published: June 20 2008 21:54 | Last updated: June 20 2008 21:54

For decades Washington has seen oil as an issue of national security, worrying that a rogue Middle East country would withhold America’s lifeblood as Arab countries did during the 1973 oil embargo.

Now US and European politicians are linking oil – and record food prices – to a new international strategic threat: instability in developing countries.

During the past few weeks senior officials have quietly begun to shift their emphasis of the fuel and food crisis from viewing it as purely a humanitarian and social problem to a concern that governments could fall as hungry and fuel-deprived people take their anger to the streets.

Haiti’s prime minister was sacked by the national assembly earlier this year following food protests, Pakistan told Saudi Arabia it could not pay its oil bill this month, and this week China joined a growing number of Asian nations taking the unpopular decision to slash costly fuel subsidies.

Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Programme, has warned that riots in more than 30 countries were “stark reminders that food insecurity threatens not only the hungry but peace and stability itself”.

She added that only seven meals separated civilisation from potential anarchy and that some of the world’s “gold-standard, new, fledgling democracies” were under the most pressure.

UK Daily View

Carola Hoyos on Saudi Arabia’s unilateral decision to call the meeting and its possible impact on oil prices

Lee Hsien Loong, prime minister of Singapore, said at last month’s opening of a security conference attended by Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, that the stresses from hunger and famine could result in social upheaval and civil strife.

“Between countries, competition for food supplies and displacement of people across borders could deepen tensions and provoke conflict and wars,” Mr Lee said.

But it is only now that this thinking has transferred into foreign policy. The most visible signal of this move is tomorrow’s oil summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. For the first time 40 ministers and 20 oil executives will meet to discuss what is causing high oil prices and what can be done about them.

Saudi Arabia has realised that it could be blamed for political upheaval in developing nations. The issue is especially acute when it comes to Muslim countries, such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Morocco, Indonesia or Egypt, since Saudi Arabia regards itself as a leader in the Muslim world.

What to watch

Jeddah’s oil summit

Saudi Arabia fears it could be made the scapegoat for economic woes even in the developed world. In the US, the kingdom’s most important customer and ally, Riyadh worries that it will be blamed for deepening the economic crisis as the candidates vying for the White House look to deflect responsibility and win voters in November’s presidential election.

The kingdom on Friday confirmed that it would increase its oil output by 200,000 barrels a day to about 9.7m b/d, the highest level in more than 25 years.

Adam Sieminski, of Deutsche Bank, said that with Saudi Arabia appearing to favour lower oil prices and backing that up by pumping more oil, relief to the crisis may be in sight. “With luck, oil prices can be capped below $140 a barrel,” he said.

But limiting the oil price at $140 a barrel and halting the rise in food prices will be of little consolation to those who worry about the stability of developing countries.
●Venezuela went back on its decision to skip the meeting of energy producing and consuming countries in Saudi Arabia this weekend after the host country insisted it attend. Venezuela’s oil minister said yesterday, Dow Jones reports from Caracas.

On Thursday Rafael Ramirez said Venezuela would not attend the meeting in Jeddah, but yesterday he said: “In the end, we will go. In the end, Saudi Arabia asked us to go as [one of the] founders of Opec.”

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Rise in farmers’ costs spreads to checkouts

By Maggie Urry

Published: June 20 2008 22:43 | Last updated: June 20 2008 22:43

Food price inflation is in the headlines and nowhere in the supermarket have prices risen faster than in the dairy products aisle.

Inflation in the dairy sector – which includes butter, cheese and yoghurt as well as milk – is well into double figures, according to this week’s official statistics for May.

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June art sales expected to set records

By Deborah Brewster in New York

Published: June 22 2008 20:38 | Last updated: June 22 2008 20:38

The big June art sales, which start Tuesday in London, are expected by the auction houses to break more records as collectors from commodities-rich regions such as Russia and the Middle East emerge to fuel the decade-long boom in the art market.

Sotheby’s and Christie’s, the two main auction houses, together estimate they will sell about £400m ($790m) in artworks over 10 days at the sales of Impressionist, Modern and contemporary art. The boom in oil and other commodities is helping support the art market. Prices of artworks have continued to rise and Sotheby’s said that the number of new buyers in the art market was also rising. It said 21 per cent of its lots last year were bought by new buyers.

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SKorea-led consortium strikes Myanmar gas deal with China
AFP
AFP - 2 hours 6 minutes ago

SEOUL (AFP) - A South Korean-led international consortium said Monday it has reached a deal to sell natural gas from Myanmar to China.
(Advertisement)

The consortium led by Daewoo International, operator of two natural gasfields in waters off Myanmar, said it signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum Corp last week.

Daewoo said in a statement it expects more than 10 billion dollars in profit in the next 25 years starting 2012, when the production of natural gas is expected to begin.

Daewoo has a 51 percent stake in the consortium, followed by India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp with 17 percent; Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise with 15 percent; India's GAIL with 8.5 percent; and South Korea's Korea Gas Corp with a 8.5 percent.

Daewoo said it is also exploring four more gasfields off the country.

Myanmar has attracted relatively little investment from the West, with Western governments denouncing the ruling junta for its poor human rights record.

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Saudi king lambasts speculators at oil price summit, oil prices rise
AFP
By Roland Jackson AFP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has condemned oil "speculators" at a summit on the spiralling price of crude which called for greater transparency in market dealings.
(Advertisement)

Saudi output has risen to 9.7 million barrels a day (bpd), the king said, vowing to further increase production if necessary to defuse market tensions which have sent the price of a barrel of oil up to almost 140 dollars -- sparking angry protests in several countries.

The Saudi royal's comments came ahead of a world oil price rise in Asia trade on Monday after militants blew up a Nigerian oil pipeline, intensifying concerns about tight global crude supplies despite Saudi Arabia's pledge to hike output, dealers said.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, was 27 cents higher at 135.63 dollars per barrel. The July contract had leapt 2.69 dollars to close at 134.62 dollars before expiring on Friday.

Brent North Sea crude for August was 41 cents higher at 135.27 dollars per barrel after rising 2.86 dollars to settle at 134.86 dollars on Friday in London.

At the Jeddah summit on Sunday King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia would give 1.5 billion dollars to efforts to ease energy shortages in poor nations, telling the 36-nation meeting that his country was "very concerned" about consumers worldwide.

He blamed increased oil consumption and taxes on fuel, but added: "Among other factors behind this unjust increase in oil prices is the abhorrent act of speculators acting for their own selfish interests."

The summit in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah was the scene of an international debate over the cause of the doubling of oil prices in the past year.

The United States and other Western powers blamed production shortfalls while Saudi Arabia and other Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members said speculators have played a key role.

The final communique by leaders and ministers from the 36 nations called for greater regulation of oil markets and greater investment in refining capacity.

"The transparency and regulation of financial markets should be improved through measures to capture more data on index fund activity and to examine cross-exchange interactions in the crude market," the statement said.

It added: "An appropriate increase in investment, both upstream and downstream, is necessary to ensure that the markets are well supplied in a timely and adequate manner."

OPEC was split, however, over whether to follow the Saudi lead in increasing output.

Kuwait said it was ready to increase production, but the OPEC president -- Algeria's Oil Minister Chakib Khelil -- insisted this was not necessary.

US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said "there is no evidence that we can find that speculators are driving futures prices" to current record heights.

He told the meeting: "Market fundamentals show us that production has not kept pace with growing demand for oil, resulting in increasing -- and increasingly volatile -- prices."

Warning that prices would almost certainly rise further, Bodman said: "In the absence of any additional crude supply, for every one percent increase in demand we would expect a 20 percent increase in price in order to balance the market."

German Economy Minister Michael Glos told the summit an increase in production would be "a strongly needed signal to the financial markets to not gamble any more on an increasing oil price."

India's Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Australia's Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson also called for increased output.

Kuwaiti Oil Minister Mohammed al-Olaim said OPEC members "will not hesitate" to increase production if the market needs it.

But OPEC chief Khelil insisted there is enough oil to supply the market.

"We believe that the market is in equilibrium. The price is disconnected from fundamentals. It is not a problem of supply."

Khelil said the 13-nation OPEC would only consider a production increase at a meeting in September.

"We believe speculation, in its noble and not noble terms, has its impact," the OPEC chief said, also blaming "uncertainties on the dollar" for the soaring price.

A Saudi source said there is scope for other countries to follow the production increase as there are up to three million barrels of spare capacity within OPEC nations.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, senior Western leaders at the summit, called for a "new deal" between consumers and producers.

But like many Europeans at the meeting he said production shortages and speculation had to be studied.

Brown said that the world was going through "the biggest of all three oil shocks" in recent decades.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi said, however, that the world has enough crude to last "many decades" and that Riyadh will invest 129 billion dollars to be able to produce 15 million barrels a day (bpd).

Nuaimi said Saudi Arabia's production capacity will rise to 12.5 million bpd by the end of 2009 and another 2.5 million bpd could be added if demand warranted.

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Barclays faces Qatari fraud claim
Reuters
Reuters - Sunday, June 22 12:44 pm

LONDON (Reuters) - Claims from a senior member of the Qatari royal family over an alleged 50 million euro (39.6 million pounds) fraud at Barclays could flare up again just as the UK bank seeks to raise funds from Qatar, a newspaper said on Sunday.
(Advertisement)

The Sunday Times said a billionaire sheikh, a member of Qatar's ruling Al Thani family, claims that gross negligence by Barclays allowed an employee of the sheikh to siphon off about 4 million euros a month from a personal account in Spain.

The allegations relate to transactions that took place between December 2001 and February 2003, and the sheikh is expected to increase pressure to settle the claim as the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) prepares to buy a small stake in the bank, the paper said.

Barclays declined to comment on the issue.

It is expected to announce this week plans to raise about 4 billion pounds from several outside investors, including QIA, Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund Temasek , China Development Bank and Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group

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Busch family member backs "strong" Anheuser-Busch
Reuters
By Martinne Geller Reuters - Sunday, June 22 12:18 am

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Andrew D. Busch, a nonemployee member of Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc's founding Busch family, said on Saturday that he supports the U.S. brewer's efforts to remain "a strong company headquartered in St. Louis."
(Advertisement)

Busch, an uncle of Chief Executive August A. Busch IV, said he supports his nephew, the board of directors and the management team of Anheuser-Busch as they evaluate and respond to the $46.3 billion (23.5 billion pound) takeover bid by Belgian-Brazilian brewer InBev NV .

"I believe that Anheuser-Busch has created substantial shareholder value over the long term and that it will continue to maintain the best interests of the shareholders and employees," Busch said.

Busch noted that he is not a company employee and has no role in the company's decisions about InBev's $65-per-share takeover offer, other than as a shareholder. He also said he does not speak for other family members.

Andrew Busch has "substantial" shareholdings in the maker of Budweiser and Michelob, according to a spokesman who declined to provide more details.

The statement comes a day after Anheuser's board met face-to-face for the first time since receiving InBev's unsolicited takeover bid. The company issued a statement late on Friday saying that the board had made no response.

Anheuser-Busch has been family run for most of its history, which dates back to 1861, when Adolphus Busch married Lilly Anheuser and went to work at her father's brewery.

The management and the Busch family are widely believed to want to remain independent, though the clan's stake is now roughly 4 percent, not enough to veto a deal.

Yet Adolphus A. Busch IV, another uncle of the CEO, has thrown his support behind InBev, whose beers include Stella Artois, Beck's and Bass. In a statement on Friday Adolphus Busch said InBev's proposal contained a number of commitments that satisfied his primary concerns and urged the board to negotiate with InBev to bring about the deal. As a public company, "decisions could no longer be made simply because they benefited our family," Busch said.

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New searches in Liechtenstein tax scandal: media report
AFP
AFP - Saturday, June 21 08:32 pm

BERLIN (AFP) - New searches have been carried out in Germany in a major Liechtenstein tax evasion scandal, the weekly Der Spiegel said in a report released Saturday.
(Advertisement)

A number of millionaires from Munich in southern Germany were targeted by the public prosecutor's office in Bochum, western Germany, where a special financial crimes unit is conducting an investigation, according to the German news weekly which did not name its sources.

According to the magazine, more than 200 procedures have been started against German customers of Liechtenstein bank LGT who are suspected of concealing part of their fortunes in the tiny Alpine state.

The inquiry, which started in Germany in February, led to allegations against the former head of the German postal service, Klaus Zumwinckel.

Germany has begun investigations into 600 of its citizens after their names appeared on an alleged client list. It has also made the list of some 1,400 names available to other nations.

The German government last month admitted paying more than four million euros (six million dollars) to an informer for client data from LGT.

The United States, Britain, Australia, Italy, France, Sweden, Canada, New Zealand, Greece and Spain have all said they too are hunting for taxpayers hiding their money in Liechtenstein.

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Citigroup to slash investment-banking jobs

Sun Jun 22, 8:02 PM ET

NEW YORK - Citigroup is preparing fire thousands from its worldwide investment-banking division, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said the layoffs are part of a plan to cut about 10 percent of the staff of the 65,000-member investment-banking group.

Messages left with Citigroup spokesmen on Sunday were not immediately returned. The Journal said the fired employees could be notified as early as Monday.

The New York-basked global bank, along with much of Wall Street, is in the throes of recovering from bad investments on mortgages and leveraged loans that cut billions of dollars from its portfolio.

It was not immediately clear if the reported job cuts would be in addition to cuts announced by Citigroup in April. After reporting a $5.1 billion first-quarter loss, the bank said then it was reducing its staff by 9,000, in addition to the 4,200 job cuts the bank announced late last year.

As of the end of last year, Citigroup had about 147,000 full-time employees.

In May, Citigroup unveiled a three-year plan that included getting rid of more businesses, mortgages, real-estate operations and jobs.

The bank called for shedding between $400 billion and $500 billion of its $2.2 trillion in assets and growing revenue by 9 percent over the next few years as it tries to rebound from the huge losses tied to deterioration in the credit markets.

Earlier this month, the bank said it was closing the Old Lane Partners hedge fund that was co-founded by Chief Executive Vikram Pandit. The bank is shuttering the fund just 11 months after it was acquired for more than $800 million.

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大企業景況、一段と悪化　4―6月法人調査

　内閣府と財務省が23日発表した4―6月期の法人企業景気予測調査によると、大企業全産業の景況判断指数はマイナス15.2と、1―3月期に比べて 5.9ポイント下がった。原材料の値上がりが企業の収益を圧迫し、2・四半期続けて04年の調査開始後の過去最低を更新した。全産業では2008年度に増収減益を見込んでおり、企業の景況感は一段と悪くなっている。

　景況判断指数は前期と比べた景況が「上昇」と答えた企業の割合から「下降」の割合を引いて算出する。

----------------------
日本電産、中国のモーター事業会社を買収

　日本電産は23日、中国でのモーター事業会社を買収したと発表した。同社はもともと仏ヴァレオと中国の上海実業交通電器との合弁だったが、2006年に日本電産がヴァレオの車載モーター事業を買収。その後、合弁会社の買収を目指し交渉を進めていた。買収額は公表していない。年間売上高は約20億円、モーターの年間生産量は150万台。

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ロッテ、高級チョコのギリアン社買収を発表

　ロッテグループは23日、高級チョコレートメーカー大手、ギリアン社（ベルギー）を買収すると正式に発表した。日本のロッテとグループ企業の韓国ロッテ製菓（ソウル市）が約180億円で発行済み株式の全株を創業者一族から年内に取得する。ギリアンの現経営陣は続投するが、ロッテからも役員を派遣する予定だ。

　ロッテグループは今後、ギリアンの高級チョコを中国や日本などアジア全域で拡販。ギリアンの売上高を現在の130億円から3―4年後に200億円に伸ばす考え。

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中国最大手の百度、ライブドア向けに画像検索エンジン提供

　中国のネット検索最大手、百度（バイドゥ・ドット・コム）は23日、ライブドア（東京・新宿）が提供するポータルサイトに同日から画像検索エンジンの提供を始めると発表した。百度が日本で検索エンジンを外部提供するのは初めて。今後は利用者がライブドアのサイトで画像を検索する場合、百度の検索エンジンを介して探すことになる。

　百度は1月に日本語版の正式運用を開始した。同業者への提供を通じてブランドの浸透を狙う。

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大成建設、米ベクテルと新興国開拓　提携拡大、資材高に対応

　大成建設は中東など新興国を中心とする海外工事分野で米建設・エンジニアリング大手のベクテルと包括提携した。世界的な原材料高に対応、資材などの調達網を相互に活用して採算管理を徹底しながら大型受注を目指す。両社は1980年代後半から国内外の事業で協力関係にあり、国内建設需要が縮小するなか、提携範囲を世界に拡大する。都市開発や交通網などインフラ整備が加速する中東などの成長市場を開拓する。

　ベクテルの国際部門、オーバーシーズ・ベクテルと海外工事で包括提携することでこのほど合意した。共同企業体（ＪＶ）による国際的な大型建設プロジェクトの受注を進めるほか、両社のネットワークを活用して資材調達や工事の作業員確保でも協力。施主との交渉や建設需要の調査などにも取り組む。

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PM Vladimir Putin confident that there is no a financial crisis in Russia

20.06.2008, 23.40
NOVO-OGARYOVO, June 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is confident that there is no a financial crisis in Russia and, with this in mind, foreign companies operate effectively on Russia’s market.

During a meeting with Putin, Chief Executive of the German biggest fiscal institution, Deutsche Bank, Josef Ackermann said that his bank works efficiently in Russia, in spite of the financial crisis, and this fact points to Russia’s strength.

“The truth is that there is no a financial crisis in Russia,” Putin replied with a smile.

--------------------------------
Police net crime gang working out of Moscow detective agency

11:32 | 23/ 06/ 2008

Print version

MOSCOW, June 23 (RIA Novosti) - A gang, which was using the cover of a detective agency to hide its criminal activities, has been rounded up in Moscow, the Interior Ministry's organized crime department said in a statement on Monday.

The group comprising some 20 suspects, which included investigation professionals, bomb disposal experts and specialists, is accused of extortion, corporate raiding and other crimes.

"The group has been using the cover of a detective agency, and its members used fake IDs to pose as officers from the Interior Ministry and FSB," the statement says.

During the search, a home-made explosive device, three Kalashnikov assault rifles and four pistols with silencers were discovered. Police also found forged seals and stamps from a number of Moscow police departments, police and military uniforms, masks and radio sets.

The group was led by a 33-year-old former police officer known as Sergei, previously convicted for kidnapping and extortion.

"He graduated from one of the Interior Ministry's universities, has served as a criminal investigator and was well-informed on how police teams operate," a source in the department told RIA Novosti.

Investigators found an archive containing confidential information about a number of individuals and organizations in his garage.

An investigation is underway to try and establish other possible criminal activities the gang may have been involved in.

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Tehran, Moscow close to deal to build airliners in Iran
14:41 | 21/ 06/ 2008

Print version

TEHRAN, June 21 (RIA Novosti) - Iran and Russia have reached a preliminary agreement on the joint production of Russian Tu-204 and Tu-214 medium-haul passenger airliners in the Islamic Republic, Fars agency said on Saturday citing a senior Iranian industry official.

"The manufacturing of Russia's updated Tu-204 and Tu-214 passenger aircraft in Iran was put on the agenda after Russian experts studied the technological capabilities and human resources of the Iran Aviation Industries Organization," Ali Akbar Ghazi Moradi, IAIO deputy executive director, said as quoted by the news agency.

He said Russia and Iran were completing talks on the project to build 100 210-seat liners in the next 10 years for the Iranian aircraft fleet. He said the countries were also discussing the production of spare parts, test flights, and the construction of a maintenance center in the country.

"The agreement between Iran and Russia will be signed in the near future," Moradi said giving no other details.

Russian and Iranian officials earlier said the two countries planned to sign a $2.5 billion contract in 2009 for the delivery of 100 Tu-204 and Tu-214. Deliveries are to start in 2010.

The Islamic Republic currently uses Tu-204, Tu-154, An-72, Yak-42 and other Russian built airplanes.

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IAEA to check Syrian nuclear potential
11:38 | 20/ 06/ 2008

Print version

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti commentator Maria Appakova) - On June 22, a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will arrive in Syria to inspect a facility destroyed by an Israeli air strike last September.

There are concerns that the Israeli's target might have been a secret nuclear reactor, and that it only remained to load it with nuclear fuel to make it work. The nuclear watchdog's experts are also expected to evaluate Syria's nuclear capability in general.

Much depends on this visit, but perhaps the biggest question of all is whether Syria will be able to reverse its recent descent into international isolation, or become a second Iran?

Israeli and U.S. officials periodically accuse Syria of developing a military nuclear program, but the IAEA has so far preferred to overlook such statements, especially since it received no incriminating evidence. Its officials have admitted that Israel's attack on the Syrian Al-Kibar facility last September came as a complete surprise.

They were equally stunned by an American intelligence report sent to the IAEA Secretariat last April, which described the destroyed nuclear facility as a nuclear reactor built with North Korean assistance. Reports have appeared in the American media claiming that U.S. intelligence has found another three nuclear installations and reported them to the IAEA, but there is no evidence to support this.

In a recent interview with Der Spiegel, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei complained that the agency received "too little information, and too late." He added that the IAEA had access only to the pictures of the destroyed building before and after the air strike. Now experts want to establish what it was - a nuclear reactor, as the Israelis and Americans maintain, or an ordinary military facility, as the Syrians initially reported.

Recently, Damascus announced that the strike was dealt at an unused plot of land belonging to the inter-Arab research association on agricultural development. These accounts are contradictory. Hopefully IAEA experts will be able to tell the difference between the ruins of a nuclear reactor and an agricultural plot.

Damascus has promised to assist the guests from Vienna in every possible way. Moreover, Syrian President Bashar al-Asad claims it was the Syrians themselves who invited the IAEA experts and let them visit the area that was bombed by Israel. But three other facilities, mentioned in the U.S. report, will be closed to inspectors. The Syrian president said that the agreement with the IAEA does not provide for inspections based on media reports. That is a reasonable argument, and any country would do the same. But are these really just newspaper publications, or have IAEA inspectors received classified information from the United States?

For the time being, the nuclear watchdog is optimistic about Damascus. A few days before the experts arrived in Syria, Mr. ElBaradei told the Al-Arabia TV channel that Syria does not have the potential to build a nuclear system. He said that the IAEA has no evidence that Syria is capable of implementing a nuclear program and acquiring nuclear fuel.

Mr. ElBaredei's upbeat attitude suggests that the inspection in Syria is no more than a routine inspection to end the rumors around Syria's supposed nuclear program. But will this satisfy Israel and the United States? A month ago, Washington declared that it insists on verifying all Syria's nuclear-related activities. In other words, the inspectors should not limit themselves to simply checking the bombed site. So, the Syrian nuclear question may turn into a long saga, as it did in Iran and North Korea.

But this is not in the interests of Damascus, which has recently done everything possible in order to break out of international isolation. Syria was accused of engineering the assassination of Lebanese former Primer Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. It was charged with interference in Lebanese domestic affairs, primarily, for obstructing the settlement of a political crisis in Lebanon. But since the Lebanese president was elected, European and Arab countries have markedly changed their attitude towards Syria. This applies to France, above all. In the middle of June, the Syrian minister of culture visited Paris for the first time in three years. In July, President al-Asad is expected to attend a founding summit of a Mediterranean Union in France.

Damascus has not yet confirmed its participation in this event because the Israeli leaders, most likely President Shimon Peres, are also going to attend. In the meantime, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has already announced that his Syrian and Israeli counterparts will sit at one and the same negotiating table. If this happens, it will be an unprecedented achievement. Until recently the Syrians avoided taking part in any event attended by Israelis, even at the lowest level. Now the situation is gradually changing, but the top leaders of the two countries have not yet been at the same table.

However, they are not obliged to conduct dialogue, although Nobel Peace Prize winner Peres may take extraordinary steps, especially since Syria and Israel have recently resumed indirect peace talks. They are planning to hold the next round of these talks next month. Then why shouldn't they coincide with the Paris summit? But this is speculation. Syrian-Israeli talks have only just started, and nobody knows whether they will score any success in the near future.

President al-Asad is not likely to miss a chance to visit Paris. His refusal to do so will be insulting for his French counterpart, Sarkozy, who is dreaming of a Mediterranean Union. Syria's relations with France and the rest of the EU have just started to improve, and it is not in its interests to spoil them, especially considering the problems that could arise from its alleged nuclear program. Although for the time being they are not likely to develop on the Iranian scale, they may still be a headache for Damascus, and could further complicate its already difficult talks with Israel, and its position in the world in general.

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France signs Algeria nuclear deal
French and Algerian ministers sign a nuclear co-operation deal, 21/06/08

France and Algeria have signed an agreement on civil nuclear co-operation during a visit to Algiers by the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon.

Mr Fillon described the agreement as a sign of a "transformation" in the countries' ties.

Relations were very bad for years after the Algerian war of independence forced France to abandon its treasured colony.

Mr Fillon said French firms would not "give in to threats", after a Frenchman was killed in a bombing this month.

The militant group al-Qaeda in North Africa claimed the bombing east of Algiers on 8 June, and promised to continue attacking Western targets.

Military pact

On Saturday French and Algerian ministers signed a deal on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, which will see the two countries co-operate in the field of training and conduct joint research projects.

Eventually nuclear power plants could be built on Algerian soil.

"There is no clearer signal of France's intention to establish an exceptional partnership with Algeria," said Mr Fillon, making the first visit by a French prime minister in more than two decades.

He also signed a military pact with Algeria, as well as banking agreements.

During his trip he will attempt to convince the Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, to sign up to a union of Mediterranean countries, being launched at a summit in Paris next month, says BBC correspondent James Copnall.

Algeria, like many Arab countries, has mixed feelings about the project - which is championed by the French President Nicholas Sarkozy - because of the presence of Israel.

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Big breakfast 'aids weight loss'
Cornflakes

Breakfast really could be the most important meal of the day when it comes to losing weight, claims a researcher.

Over several months, obese women who ate half their daily calories first thing fared better than those eating a much smaller amount.

US researcher Dr Daniela Jakubowicz told a San Francisco conference having a small breakfast could actually boost food cravings.

A UK expert said a big breakfast diet might simply be less boring.

"It could be that it is simply easier for people on a higher-carbohydrate diet to comply with it over a longer period"
Dr Alex Johnstone
Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen

Dr Jakubowicz, from Virginia Commonwealth University, has been recommending a hearty breakfast to her patients for 15 years.

She tested it against a low carbohydrate diet in a study of 96 obese and physically inactive women.

This diet involved 1,085 calories a day - the majority of these coming from protein and fat.

Breakfast here was the smallest meal of the day - just 290 calories, with just seven grams of carbohydrates.

Her "big breakfast" diet involved more calories - 1,240 - with a lower proportion of fat and more carbohydrates and protein.

Breakfast here was 610 calories, with 58 grams of carbohydrates, while lunch and dinner were 395 and 235 calories respectively.

Four months on, the low-carb dieters appeared to be doing better, losing an average of 28 pounds to the 23 shed on the "big breakfast" diet.

However, after eight months, the situation had reversed, with the low-carb dieters putting an average of 18 of those pounds back on, while the big breakfasters continued to lose weight, on average 16.5 pounds each.

They lost a fifth of their total body weight on average, compared with less than 5% for the low-carb dieters.

Slower metabolism

Dr Jakubowicz reported that the big breakfasters said they felt less hungry, particularly in the mornings.

She said: "Most weight loss studies have determined that a very low carbohydrate diet is not a good method to reduce weight.

"It exacerbates the craving for carbohydrates and slows metabolism - as a result, after a short period of weight loss, there is a quick return to obesity."

She said that the bigger breakfast helped by making people feel fuller during the day, and was healthier, because it allowed more fibre and fruit to be included.

Dr Alex Johnstone, from the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, said that other studies had shown that while low-carb diets were a "good tool" to reduce weight quickly, they were not a "diet for life".

She said that the regaining of lost weight by these dieters could be more a sign of the relative monotony of the two diets, rather than their ability to necessarily reduce cravings.

"It could be that it is simply easier for people on a higher-carbohydrate diet to comply with it over a longer period."

A spokesman for the British Nutrition Foundation said there was evidence that a good-sized breakfast could help dieters.

She said: "Research shows that eating breakfast can actually help people control their weight.

"This is probably because when we don't have breakfast we're more likely to get hungry before lunch and snack on foods that are high in fat and sugar, such as biscuits, doughnuts or pastries."

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スーパー売上高、５月は1.1％減

　日本チェーンストア協会が23日に発表した５月の全国スーパー売上高（既存店ベース）は、前年同月比1.1％減の１兆946億円で、２カ月連続で前年実績を下回った。気温低下と中旬以降の多雨で、衣料品と住宅関連用品が不振だった。同協会は消費動向について「生活防衛意識が一段と強まり、特価品や価格据え置きなど割安感がある商品に消費が集中した」とした。

　主力の食料品は1.2％増の6784億円だった。冷凍食品は前年同月を下回ったが、総菜や畜産品が好調だった。同協会は「（外食を敬遠し自宅で調理したり食べたりする）内食志向が引き続き強い」と説明した。衣料品は8.6％減の1279億円だった。紳士服・婦人服ともにスーツやジャケットなど高額商品が振るわなかった。

　６月については「食品は堅調に推移するが、衣料品などは引き続き苦戦する見通し」との見方を示した。

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道産黒大豆に免疫調整機能　北大とパイコーポレーション

　北海道大学は食品ベンチャーのパイコーポレーション（東京・中央、加納勉社長）と共同で、道産の黒大豆に免疫バランスを整える機能があることを発見したと発表した。健康機能を訴え、大豆の生産拡大や製品化促進につなげたい考え。

　北大の西村孝司教授とパイコーポレーションの共同研究グループが道産黒大豆「黒千石」を使って動物実験した結果、免疫調整機能やアレルギー抑制機能を発見した。アズキや大豆など他の豆類には同様の効果は認められなかったという。

　「黒千石」は明治時代から北海道で多く栽培されていたが、育てるのが難しく1970年代に姿を消し「幻の黒大豆」とも呼ばれる。

　パイコーポレーションが冷凍保存されていた種を岩手県で栽培することに成功した。05年からは檜山管内乙部町と空知管内北竜町でも生産している。

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「有機ＥＬバレー」始動、米沢を一大集積地に

　山形県米沢市を有機ＥＬ（エレクトロ・ルミネッセンス）産業の一大集積地にしようと県が取り組む「山形有機エレクトロニクスバレー構想」が動き出した。三菱重工業などが5月、有機ＥＬパネル製造会社を設立、来春にもサンプル出荷を始める。国内外の電機大手が開発競争を繰り広げる中、次世代照明として産業集積が進むかどうかは、技術とコスト、行政支援の3点がカギを握る。

　「紆余（うよ）曲折を経てここまでたどり着いたというのが本音。実は3年間ずっと努力を続けてきた。今は素直に喜びたい」。5月28 日、新会社「ルミオテック」設立を受けて斎藤弘知事が緊急会見した。県がバレー構想を打ち上げたのは2003年。7年間で43億円を投入するが、「目に見える成果が一向に上がらない」との批判も浴びていた。

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民主、党員・サポーター数が最高に　５月末で27万人

　民主党の一般党員とサポーターの数は5月末時点で27万人を超え、過去最高を更新した。党員やサポーターの登録制度は2002年に発足し、5月末の登録者が代表選の投票権を得る。党内では「年金記録漏れや後期高齢者医療制度への批判が追い風になった」との見方もある。

　小沢一郎氏が菅直人氏を破り、5カ月後に無投票再選した06年に約24万4000人と初めて20万人を突破。07年は逆に20万1000人に減少していた。

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“高級車”販売急減速…ベンツ、ＢＭＷなどマイナス
０６年度までの好調一転

　不振の国内自動車市場のなかで、好調な売り上げを続けてきた高級車に逆風が吹き始めた。２００７年度の国内販売台数に大ブレーキがかかり、メルセデスベンツは３年ぶり、ＢＭＷは５年ぶりの減少となったのだ。トヨタ自動車が０５年に鳴り物入りで導入した高級車ブランド「レクサス」もマイナスに転じ、苦戦を強いられている。福田康夫政権が経済無策を続けている間に、景気の先行き不透明感は深まり、富裕層の財布のヒモまで堅くしてしまったようだ。

　国内の高級車の売り上げは、０６年度までは好調だった。メルセデスベンツは同年度まで２年連続、ＢＭＷも同年度まで４年連続で販売台数を伸ばしてきた。レクサスも０５年８月の日本導入以来、順調に販売台数を増やしてきた。

　０６年度といえば、軽自動車を除く自動車（登録車）の販売台数が２９年ぶりの低水準にまで落ち込んでいた時期で、業界では「軽自動車と高級車しか売れない」（大手首脳）とまでいわれていた。

　ところが、軽と高級車の好調神話は０７年度になって一変。０６年度まで６年連続で伸びてきた軽乗用車の販売台数は、０７年度になると前年度比６．８％減と落ち込んだ。ベンツも同６．７％減、ＢＭＷも同６．４％減に転じた。

　“潮目”が変わったことについて、メーカー関係者はこう解説する。

　「軽自動車の販売減はそれまで売れすぎた反動や、各社が東京モーターショーに合わせて登録車の販売に力を入れたという要因がある。しかし、高級輸入車までマイナスの波にのまれたことで、いよいよ国内の消費者は自動車に魅力を感じなくなってきていると痛感する」

　導入３年目のレクサスは０７年度の販売台数が約３万２１００台で、前年度比約１３％減という大ブレーキに見舞われた。

　輸入車業界からは「レクサスはベンツやＢＭＷといった高級輸入車のようなブランドにはなれなかった。トヨタ車の延長とみなされている」との声もあるが、そのベンツやＢＭＷも不振に陥っていることを考えると、「レクサスも市場縮小の波にのまれた」（トヨタ関係者）とみるのが妥当かもしれない。

　あるトヨタ役員は「台数を追うより、レクサスをブランドとして確立することが大事。時間をかけて１台１台丁寧に売っていく」と説明。「０８年の国内販売目標は０７年実績とほぼ同じ３万５０００台」と明かす。

　ただ、メーカーの努力をよそに、景気の先行きは不透明感を増している。特に米国でサブプライム住宅ローン問題が表面化した昨夏以降、福田政権の経済無策ぶりも相まって国内の景況感は急減速。消費者も高級車に簡単には手を出さなくなった。

　ベンツ、ＢＭＷ、レクサスといった高級車の品質の高さはだれもが認めるところ。優れた商品すら売れなくなるところに、日本経済のパワー不足が表れているようだ。

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飛騨牛偽装：「社長の説明、事実と違う」…従業員が会見へ

　岐阜県養老町の食肉卸売会社「丸明（まるあき）」が規格外の質の牛肉をブランド牛「飛騨牛」として販売していた問題で、丸明の吉田明一社長が偽装問題を「店長判断」「現場で起こったミス」などと説明しているのに対し、「偽装は社長の指示」などと訴えている同社従業員らが、指示の実態などを説明するため記者会見を開く考えであることが２３日、分かった。

　吉田社長は問題が発覚した２１日朝、報道陣に対し「会社として偽装は一切しておらず、店長の判断で勝手に表示を偽装していた」と説明。これに対し、従業員らは本社前で吉田社長と会い「偽装表示は社長の指示。従業員だけのせいにするのは経営者として間違っている」などと反発した。

　その後、吉田社長は会見を開き「３等級の肉に２等級の牛を示すラベルを張ってしまうミスがあった」と述べ、偶発的な事故との趣旨に説明を変えた。だがこの説明についても、従業員らは「事実と異なる説明で、納得がいかない。会見で社長だけの意見を伝えるのは不公平だ」として、従業員としても記者会見を開く方向で調整を進めている。

　従業員側は、吉田社長に両者で共同の記者会見を開くことも提案したが「面白おかしく報道されてしまうので真実が見えなくなる」などと拒否されたという。