Economic news while sleeping

In India’s economic growth accelerated for the first time in the past six quarters and clocked a rate of 6.1% for the first three months; the gross domestic product (GDP) suggest that the worst is over for Asia’s third largest economy beating all pessimistic estimates.

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Shares declined on Wall Street and prices of copper and crude oil fell after China’s benchmark Shanghai Composite Index slumped 6.7%, stoking concern the Asian economy won’t be strong enough to help underpin a global recovery.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5% to 9496.28 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 0.8% to 1020.62. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1% to 2009.06.

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And in Japan, a new government is in place. Its main tasks and challenges;

1.Get the Budget Under Control
2.Find a New Way to Grow the Economy
3.Wrest Power From the Bureaucracy — Gently
4.Buddy Up with the Rest of Asia (ASEAN, China and Korea)

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Indeed, it seems the recession is almost behind everyone's back.

Noynoy Aquino for President?

Noynoy Aquino
Mar Roxas
Manny Villar
Erap Estrada
Noli de Castro

From these five is the next President of the RP. There are many more people dreaming for the top job, but it is only these five that have the chance to go to Malacanang in 2010.

Sino?

Aquino? Possibly, but will need financing.
Roxas? ? Could be, has the money
Villar? Good chance, has the money
Erap? will be disqualified
De Castro? Most likely, if endorsed by GMA and supported financially.

But given that it will be computerized, then there will only be two criteria that weigh most:

• Machinery including money and party influence in the grass roots
• Popularity

So let me put it this way:

Aquino: P 65%, M 15% = 80%
Roxas: P 50%, M 20% = 70%
Villar: P 50%, M 15% = 75%
De Castro: P 55%, M 30% = 85%

So?

For Aquino to win, he will need machinery ( Liberal Party and possibly another party) and money. If INC, Velarde, or Erap or Ramos supports him, he will win.

For Villar, he needs to be more popular. He has time to do it. He could win but it will cost him lots of money. If Erap supports him he will have a better chance. And if INC and Velarde supports him, he will be right by the door.

De Castro, his machinery should work harder in Mindanao and Visayas. He could win. If the GMA operators work for him - he will be the next President.

My guess is, the next President will be among these 3. But who?

7 new National Artists

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the nomination of Cecile-Guidote Alvarez, Manuel Urbano (aka Manuel Conde), Magno Jose “Carlo” Caparas, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Lazaro Francisco, Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa and Jose “Pitoy” Moreno as National Artists.

Among these national artists, the only one I know is Magno Jose “Carlo” Caparas. I didn't know that he is a Magno and Jose as well.

I grew up during the time when Komiks was a natural past time in our village. To be honest, I learned Tagalog or Filipino (we live in the Visayas), through Komiks. The national language, culture, life and many other things we learned from Komiks. We eagerly wait the arrival of new komiks weekly..until I grew up and TV became rampant, hehehe.

IMO, as among the nominees, I only know “Carlo” Caparas. I, honestly think that he is the only one deserving to be a National Artists among the recently proclaimed National Artists by Malacanang.

But that is my opinion. I am sure my views are shared by those who grew up in the Komiks days...whenever that was lolz.

Are gasoline and diesel prices at the pump overpriced?

Last year when the price of oil in the world market was at 147$ per barrel, the gasoline retails at 59 pesos per liter. Today, the price of oil in the international market is around $70 per barrel, or less than half of what it was last year. So..by simple math, is the price per liter at the pump 30 pesos?

It is not!

Joe Concepcion, Neda and Recto had asserted that gasoline pump prices in the country is P8 a liter higher than they should be. If true, (it seems it is) then the oil companies have been making undue profits at the expense of the Filipino consumers.

What's your take on this?

Is there a cartel in the local market? Are the retailers colluding among themselves to rip off the the Filipino consumers?

Your guess is as good as mine.

I am wondering about the role of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes on all these.

Is silver a good investment?

Duh! Of course, it is. IMO, the best of times to go into silver is now, let me repeat it, now..that is if you plan to hold silver for a very long time.

Why is that?

1. Silver is synonymous with gold.

2. Doubts on recovery, are we out of the worst or not?

A nasty little crash in October would send investors scurrying for safe haven assets in a renewed belief that the end of the world is coming. It would also mark a definite top for the bond market and investors would have no other alternative then except precious metals, fearing a surge in inflation from a second bailout package.

3. For the past 2 weeks the SILVER PRICE has risen twice as fast as gold.

4. And if you watch the video below, the Chinese are being encourage to buy bullions of silver...a billion of buyers there...so it could only mean one thing and not the other....is there enough silver for them to buy...cheaply? Do they something about hyper sumthin sumthin that we don't?


What are you waiting for?

Time frame: until we are clear of the woods.