Posts Tagged ‘China’

China and Taiwan’s New Influence in the Tech Industry

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

China recently overtook the USA as the largest automotive consumer market. Do not be too quick to dismiss this as irrelevant though. China is on the other side of the world but customer demands from China reflect what the consumer can expect in the US.

This is a new source of globalization. This new found influence is termed as the ‘C-Factor’ by journalists.

South Korean and Japanese companies have been revered for their technological expertise and insightful approaches to economy and business. The tech and digital market is dominated by these companies making everything from computers to watches. However in recent years we have seen the rise of Western technology companies that continue to thrive. Step forward China and Taiwan, two new international players on the tech scene.

The manufacturer of the world’s most popular, high-end technology devices is located in China. China’s Lenovo PC manufacturer is now the 4th top selling company and continues to grow.

Taiwan does not normally receive the amount of headlines as China but the Taiwanese technology industry is starting to make business headlines. Taiwan is now home to the second largest computer manufacturer in the world. This shows the technology industry to be a continually developing market. It will be interesting to see if the C-Factor (and T-Factor) affects industries such as health, food and so on.

Western companies often find it difficult. Although it goes without saying, what is popular on one continent may be unheard of on another. To crack the Asian market Western companies often offer radically different brands, products and marketing campaigns. This can simply be explained by cultural differences - ideas do not always translate. Asian countries tend to be game changers for online companies.

Most people like to think of the world as converging into one globalized culture. The spread of English and international brands fuels these ideas further. Yet when it comes to the Internet and technology, there are still many cultural differences.

One example is the prevalent use of texts and SMS messages commonly used by young people in Europe. In certain Asian countries, it is largely unused and email technology is used instead. Furthermore, while people in the West see the desktop computer as being the main method to access the Internet, mobile phones and other devices may be more popular in Asian countries. This creates genuine problems for online companies - if the technology that is favored is different then you cannot merely translate a website and expect it to gain traction.

Social networks are a good example of these differences. Facebook is one of the most popular websites in the world. The number of Facebook users would rank it the third biggest population behind China and India if it was a country. However, social networking has yet to be fully embraced by South East Asian countries. Facebook is only ranked 27th in the top 100 websites in Japan and it is not even inside the top 100 for China. Twitter, another huge online social networking website also has much small user numbers in East Asian countries.

Furthermore, online bookmarking (allowing you to save all your bookmarks) is not used as much. Most users come from English speaking countries whilst the number of users from East Asian countries is significantly smaller. Language differences may be accountable for some of this but other factors also play a part. The design, layout and content should all be tailored for specific cultures. Arguably this is why there are few global brands.

You might be wondering what is popular in Asian countries. Blogs are much more prolific than in the West. Blogging is popular all around the world but Asian cultures have a big blogging culture. Celebrities often own blogs and frequently publish posts and blog pictures. Friends also work together on joint blogs. There are blogging platforms specifically marketed for specific countries, each with individual quirks and unique features. Online personalized home pages are also popular and many people set up home pages which feature images, links, music and so on.

Seeing how the social network marketplace is not universal speaks volumes on the differences in cultures and struggles faced by marketers and international businesses. Combine the C-Factor and Asia’s new immergence in the technology industry, we may soon be examining the East’s influence on the West. Ultimately, it will be interesting to see if these new companies can continue at this pace and if they can continue to stay ahead of the competition once they reach the top.

This article has been written by the author, Eric James. Should you require anymoreSony Ericsson W850iplease visit his Sony Ericsson resources!

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Becoming Global

Monday, June 6th, 2011

China is making aggressive moves to eventually rival the U.S. in economic dominance on a global scale. According to U.S. News and World Report, in the year 2020, China’s economy will pass Japan’s to become the second largest in the world. Second, of course, only to the U.S. China’s superior industries involve oil and petroleum, as well as telecommunications. And the country is home to an estimated 2 million people who have a net worth of a least $40 million. That number is only imagined to grow, and with it, so will openings for investment.

Diversification has long been a basic rule of thumb for investment. But there has never been such a wide range of opportunities for diversification outside of the U.S. and those opportunities seem to go up daily. China’s experiment with capitalism means more and more opportunity for U.S. investors who wish to be apart of a rapidly growing and potentially flourishing worldwide market.

The world markets haven’t always done so well, and are often inconsistent, which is another reason to keep a reasonable balance within your portfolio between foreign and domestic holdings. But others advise investing up to 20% or more of your portfolio in the worldwide markets to increase diversification.

Diversification seeks to lower risk while maximizing returns by investing in dissimilar asset classes. It should be noted that this strategy doesn’t prevent losses from occurring in a down market.

A great deal of the emerging markets success, many believe, can be attributed to restructuring by countries around the world. Most believe that Japan is expected to begin moving from a manufacturing economy to a service economy soon. Experts believe that the transition will possibly bring numerous opportunities for success, both in Japan and all over the globe.

As the world moves forward, economies are steadily changing and always adapting. The ones that are doing it quickly and efficiently are seeing a great deal of success. Investing in global markets is not without risk. The unpredictability can be a bit much at times. But that’s why diversification has become such a popular investment strategy.

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Purchasing an Asian Doll at a Bargain PRice

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Dolls have long been a favorite plaything for children - since time immemorial, children in all cultures receive them as gifts and even make their own. They’re not just for girls anymore, either; boys play with them and later on, realize the financial value of having a collection of rare dolls as an investment. Read on for more information on finding Asian dolls that you can purchase for not a lot of money.

First, realize that while the doll market may be saturated, it takes a bit of work in order to find just the right doll for your child; not all dolls are toys and not all dolls that are would be appropriate for all children at any age. It’s a good idea to consult with an expert in this area; namely, a seasoned collector who has experience in buying and collecting dolls of all kinds. Most of these people have a real passion for this hobby, and if such a person is part of your extended family, you are fortunate indeed.

The next decision is whether to purchase from a brick-and-mortar shop or on the World Wide Web. This is especially an issue if you are more interested in exotic ethnic dolls, such as Asian dolls. You aren’t likely to find these in the Western World, so you might want to check out merchants in Asian countries, such as Korea, Japan, China or Thailand.

One of the problems here of course is that shipping from Asia can be costly. However, these costs can be lower if you choose to have your purchase brought to North America by ship rather than air. This can reduce shipping costs substantially, though some patience is necessary; your doll will spend at least two to four weeks in the cargo hold and have to go through customs.

When dealing with a foreign company on the World Wide Web, the advice “caveat emptor” definitely applies. Make certain you understand the company’s return policies, and check out the company thoroughly. More reputable manufacturers in Asia, particularly Japan, operate on a strict code of honor; however, others that are outsourced sweatshops for American-based companies may not be so reliable.

You may instead choose to visit a local specialty shop and find what you’re looking for. This can take some time; most typical big-box stores and “supercenters” carry a lot of products made in China, but not too many Asian dolls. Your best bet is to visit the Asian community in your city, such as Chinatown or Little Vietnam. These shopkeepers will be happy to give you advice.

Your last step is to make sure that your doll comes with a warranty against defects in materials and manufacture. With all the second-rate imitations on the market today, a warranty will make certain that if the item falls apart, you can get your money back.

If you have read these paragraphs carefully, you should find it little problem to find the proper Asian doll at the right price.

Anne Harvester regularly writes about collectibles, such as the Asian doll. Count on Anne’s experience before you go out and invest in valuable collector dolls..

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Liverpool Football Club: Chinese Buyout

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

There has been wild speculation over the future ownership of Liverpool Football Club, most notably prospective buyout by Chinese businessman Kenneth Huang. He was first linked to the club in 2008 but was put off by the 650m valuation; the club is currently valued at 350m.

Chairman of Hong Kong based QSL Sports Group, Huang has the financial backing of a wealthy investment fund behind him. The move could see an end to Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr’s controversial ownership of the club.

RBS have insisted the owners are obliged to consider any offer for the club due to their 237m debt. Huang has offered to buy the debt from RBS in order to seal the deal, but the American owners have told RBS that they are in negotiations with former football international and Syrian Businessman Yahra Kirdi, this is expected to be an attempt to prise more money from the Chinese.

Huang’s current offer would make no profit for Hicks and Gillett from the sale of the club which they bought in 2007 for 218.9m, they are reportedly hoping for an offer in the region of600m.

Earlier in the year the club appointed Roy Hodgson as manager, he has explained that the uncertainty of the club needs to be resolved before it is too late, preferably to bring in new players before the transfer window. If there is no successful buyout, RBS could request a percentage of their loan and potentially push the club into administration.

There has been some controversy surrounding Huang’s bid as he is said to be backed by the Chinese government particularly because of the clubs popularity in the country and the readily available capital.

However if Huang does secure possession of the club and has government backing, it will mean a great deal of investment for Liverpool, more money for players and an ability to charge larger amounts for sponsorship contracts as their games will undoubtedly be viewed in great numbers in china, particularly if they conveniently sign some Chinese talent.

If the buy out goes ahead there’s a chance we could see a new, Chinese sponsor on the Liverpool football shirt and possibly a Chinese alternative to the popular Adidas Predators boots that many of the players favour.

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Buy Gold To Protect Yourself

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

It is important to note several things if you are wondering how to buy gold. First, as governments over print paper currencies around the world, we are all losing value by holding dollars. Second, we are experiencing criminal activity on Wall Street, and the manipulation of gold prices by our government to help sustain the dollar.

Let us look at why you should be invested in gold. In 2001, the gold price was sitting at around $250/oz. Today the gold price is sitting at over $1,100/oz. So, for a one ounce gold coin it would cost you over four times the amount it did just 8 years ago. What other investments do you know have gained 400%, and not lost any value due to inflation like dollar related investments have?

Paper investments like stocks or bonds may have achieved the same returns, but the dollar has fallen sharply in value. The Dow Jones is proof that the dollar is crashing silently. When you price the Dow in gold rather than dollars it tells a different story. Gold’s price rises when the dollar falls in value.

If the Dow has been in a bull market then you may be asking how this can be. The Dow may even crash as it rises to 20,000 or maybe 40,000. The dollar will be losing value faster than the Dow even if the Dow rises to those levels.

As the USDX falls below 76, there is suddenly the realization that the dollar will certainly be in trouble through the coming years. For those invested in dollar related assets it is time to get out. The USDX will most certainly fall to 65 next year like many economists are saying. Many experts believe that it will go as low as 40 in the next couple of years.

There is only one safe haven in a real world scenario like this. Gold and silver are the only safe hedge against inflation. As we see some people naively sit by and expect the government to throw them a bailout, others are preparing, and they know that the dollar’s days as the world’s reserve currency are limited.

This bull market is the greatest bull market that has ever been witnessed in history. Paper currencies are being over inflated, and we are in the middle of some very bad economic times. The unemployment rate just passed 10%, and those are the conservative numbers.

The gold price is expected to reach $7,000/oz just to compensate for inflation. This bull market has just begun, and our government is going to do all they can to keep you uninformed. They will not promote gold and silver to citizens because if people get out of dollar related assets, as they should, then the dollar is doomed.

Gold bullion and silver bullion are smart investments. It may be difficult to afford silver bars or gold bars. If that is the case, you can buy American Gold Eagle Coins or American Silver Eagle Coins.

God bless.

For more information on how to buy gold check out my site.

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Buy Gold During Times of Inflation

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Many are turning to gold in these times of inflation and economic uncertainty. Gold hedges your money from the risk of inflation. If you assume that gold is just a piece of pretty metal that people strap on their bodies, then you are sorely mistaken.

Gold has been money for over 6,000 years. Gold and silver were the first forms of real money that met the requirements of sound money. Plato and Aristotle spoke of sound money to be

1. The ability to be durable. It must stand the test of time and not wither.

2. The ability to be portable. Good money needs to hold value in a small space.

3. The ability to be divisible. Real money should have the ability to be divided evenly and still hold its value. Also known as fungibility. Diamnonds are not fungible because each diamond has it’s own value.

4. It must hold a rare value or quality.

Aristotle was aware of something about money that most people today would struggle to comprehend. Paper money has no value, and that is what Aristotle described in his qualities of money.

Paper has very little value. It can be printed on demand. Paper has no rare or durable features. The value that the dollar has is only held up by our faith in it.

A dollar bill is nothing more than a piece of paper with ink stamped on it. That’s it. It would be the same thing if someone gave you a sheet of writing paper to mow their lawn. There is no difference between the two. The two are paper.

If someone gave you oil, silver, copper, or gold to wash their car then it is different. Those are real assets. It indicates hard work and sweat to bring those assets about.

Our money becomes more worthless each day our government prints more money. A dollar crisis is happening right now, and most don’t know it. Gold and silver were the first real established currencies that stood the test of time. This is because gold cannot be printed at will.

Gold and silver exploration companies have to survey and drill sites, and then they must mine the ore out of the ground. All of this takes energy and time. Only until relatively recently have governments used paper money as currency. It is important to not that there have been hundreds of paper currencies in history, and they all effectively went to zero.

Buying gold coins and silver coins are the only proven way to protect your assets during times of inflation. Gold will hold its value while paper money falls in value.

Not only is our dollar falling in value, but gold is in the middle of a 20 year bull market. The gold price is at an all time high of over $1,100/oz. People flock to gold in times of Inflation. Why do people do this? It’s because gold can not be inflated. What does inflated even mean?

Think of a balloon that you inflate. Basically, you are making that balloon bigger by blowing air into it. Well, our dollars are being inflated in much the same way. The more dollars that our government prints at will means more dollars in circulation. In this situation you have more dollars chasing the same amount of goods, which results in higher prices.

If you print more money then you have inflation, but inflation does not mean higher prices. Higher prices are the result of inflating the money supply. Basically, you should be diversifying out of dollars as soon as possible.

You should only be invested in gold bullion, silver bullion, gold coins, silver coins, and mining stocks over the next few years at least. India, China, Arab states, and several other countries are dumping dollars and buying gold. You decide if it’s time to get invested in gold and silver.

God bless you.

Garrett Strong can give you more information on how to buy gold.

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