National City®

Financial Market Outlook
Capex Caution
While all eyes have been fixed on the housing market, another, less anticipated weakness has recently emerged. Business spending on fixed capital—including equipment, software and structures—declined during the fourth quarter for the first time since early 2003, when war jitters were pronounced. Based on early indicators for the first quarter, a dip almost certainly afflicted that period as well. And since capital spending accounts for nearly 12 percent of GDP  (compared with just under 5 percent for housing), this softness is clearly unsettling.

Read Richard DeKaser's Financial Market Outlook here…

Legislative & Regulatory
Will the SEC's National Market System Stifle the Innovation it Hopes to Promote?
In the best possible marketplace, all buyers see the prices asked by all sellers and all sellers see the prices offered by all buyers—and little guys are treated the same as big ones. The result: competition that ensures the most efficient interplay of supply and demand.

In theory, it sounds great. And indeed, this is the idea behind the Security and Exchange Commission's push for an integrated stock market called the National Market System, or NMS. It is meant to assure that every trader gets the best price available at any moment on any exchange in the country.

But here’s where things get tricky…

Business Planning & Strategies
The New Dynamics of Managing a Corporate Portfolio
As investors demand that companies actively manage their business portfolios, executives must increasingly balance investment opportunities against the capital that's available to finance them.

How can you navigate such tricky waters? Find out here…

International & Trade
How Trade Finance is Changing and Who Will Lose Out
The face of international trade is changing rapidly. There is an unprecedented growth in both the number of markets and the volume of financial investment across the world as new economies and investment opportunities combine to expand the global economy. How will this rapid expansion affect your business?

Find out in this informative article. Start here…

Trends & Technology
Earth, Wind, and Fire
To say that Jack MacDonald's company sells hot air would be wrong. In fact, EcoSecurities, where MacDonald is CFO, sells the absence of hot air.

The Dublin-based, London-listed firm is one of many companies which develop projects to cut greenhouse gases in China, India and other developing countries, generating emission-reduction credits that companies in Europe can use to offset their obligations under the EU's CO₂ cap-and-trade scheme. The trade in developing-world credits will be worth €4.6 billion ($6.1 billion) this year, double the total two years ago, according to consultancy Point Carbon.

Go here to read more…

Small Business
Need to Succeed? Check Here!
Our Small Business Resource Center is a treasure trove of information, advice and resources to help you prosper. Check out the latest things to help you manage your business.

Read on…