G.O.O.D

Source: Hindustan Times

The world could go through its worst recession since the Great Depression as a massive financial crisis has slashed global investment and sharp drops in commodity prices severely hurt poor-country exports, the World Bank warned on Tuesday.

The global development bank slashed its previous estimates for global growth to 2.5 per cent in 2008 and 0.9 per cent in 2009, well below the 3 per cent rate typically considered the dividing line between global growth and contraction. “The financial crisis is now likely to result in the most serious recession since the 1930s,” said the World Bank’s chief economist Justin Lin, as the group released its annual report on the global economy.

The current economic slowdown was notable for both its length and breadth across all regions of the world, leading to a contraction in the most wealthy nations and a sharp slowdown in emerging countries, the bank said.

The bank’s analysis pointed to a number of indicators of a dramatic slowdown. Global trade volumes will contract for the first time since 1982. Worldwide investment will fall 50 per cent in 2009, compared to 2007. The financial crisis has cut access to loans in advanced and developing countries, pulling investment out of poorer nations and reducing consumer spending.

Lin urged all countries with the ability to increase government spending to use it to boost domestic demand.

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Technorati Tags: World Bank, Great Depression

Source: Reuters

Global miner Rio Tinto, saddled with nearly $40 billion in net debt, said it would cut 13 percent of its workforce, slash capital spending and sell more assets as it battles a collapse in commodity prices.

Rio, which mines a range of metals and minerals from aluminum and copper to gold and diamonds, has been under pressure to detail plans to cut borrowings since its share price slumped after larger rival BHP Billiton scrapped a $66 billion takeover bid for the company last month.

“What they’ve done has more than allayed fears in the market that they were going to come and have an equity issue,” said Tim Schroeders, portfolio manager at Pengana Capital in Melbourne.

“Drastic times call for drastic measures. They’ve addressed all parts of the equation. They’ve definitely gone into survival mode, which is appropriate given the market circumstances,” Schroeders said.

Rio’s London shares jumped 11.3 percent to 1,400 pence by 9:15 a.m., outperforming a 4.2 percent increase in the UK mining index. Its Australian shares closed up 12 percent as investors had anticipated its announcement, said UBS analyst Glyn Lawcock.

The group’s shares had dropped 54 percent in the past month, more than five times the drop in the broader market.

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Technorati Tags: Rio Tinto, mining

Source: NYTimes.com

Food Prices Rising

For more than a year, food manufacturers have been shaving package sizes and raising prices, declaring that they had little choice because of unprecedented increases in the cost of raw ingredients like corn, soybeans and wheat.

Prices are dropping for commodities like this corn being harvested near Auburn, Ill., but economists predict the cost of food for consumers will continue to increase through next year.

Now, with the price of grains and other commodities plunging, it may seem logical that grocery prices will follow. But while prices for some items like milk and fresh produce are dropping, those of most packaged items and meat are holding firm or even increasing. Experts warn that consumers should not expect lower prices anytime soon on most items at the grocery store or in restaurants.

Government and industry economists project that the overall cost of food will continue to climb in 2009, led by increases for meat and poultry. A big reason, they say, is that food companies still have not caught up with the prolonged run-up in commodity prices, which remain above historical averages despite coming down from their highs early this year.

The Agriculture Department is forecasting that food prices will increase 3.5 to 4.5 percent in 2009, compared with an estimated 5 to 6 percent increase by the end of this year.

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Technorati Tags: commodities, corn, soybeans , wheat