2010 Consumer Trend Report from TREND HUNTER
Rental Culture, Next Besting and Nomadabodes, today we hunt Trends in 2010.
Merrill Lynch forecasts Risk Flare for the global econonmy
The latest BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research report, titled, “BofA ML Economics – Global Economic Weekly: Risk Flare” dated 5 February, authored by the Global Economics Team at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. forecasts that GDP Growth of the United Arab Emirates will reach 2% in 2010, while in 2011 is expected to near 5.3%. According the report inflation will remain as low as 1% and eventually increase to 3% during the next year.
Major chapters of the report cover economic developments around the world.
Despite nervousness in the markets, the growth forecast remains the same. A key signpost of economic healing is bank lending. While policy actions have opened up much of the capital markets, bank lending remains weak due to both weak supply and weak demand for bank credit.
United States: Budget bubble
While the administration’s estimates out to FY2012 seem pessimistic, beyond that point they appear optimistic. We expect the deficit to trough at 4.7% of GDP in FY2013, and then start creeping higher. Conversely, the administration assumes the deficit will fall to less than 4% of GDP in 2013 and remain there until 2020.
Euro area: Vigilantes with a vengeance
The next hurdles to clear before sentiment might take a turn for the better are:
1) the Greek public sector strike on 10 February; 2) the EU summit between heads of state to debate on fiscal policy on 11 February; and 3) the Ecofin vote on the new Greek stability program on 15-16 February.
Japan: Reconciling fiscal soundness and reflation
Given the very high budget deficit and rising government debt, we think it has become clear that a framework needs to be developed to restore fiscal soundness over the medium term.
Australia: No change to RBA call
We had four 25bp hikes (from 3.75% to 4.75%) by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in our call for this year over 11 meetings, frontloaded into the first half of the year. Despite no rate hike this past week, we still expect four out of 10, though a bit more evenly spread.
Emerging Asia: Near a transition point
We are nearing a transition point for Asia, as the extraordinary drivers of the recovery (Chinese policy stimulus, the rebound in global trade) give way to the ordinary drivers (domestic consumption and investment and the stabilization of G3 demand).
Emerging EMEA: South Africa: monetary policy review
Given endemic inflationary pressures in the South African economy and amid significant increases in administered electricity prices over the next three years, we believe any changes to the SARB’s mandate would be damaging to its independence and credibility.
Latin America: Mexico: Top questions for 2010
We expect the Mexican economy to bounce back in 2010, growing at least 3.0% after contracting 6.8% in 2009. We expect Mexico’s recovery to be an external demand led-recovery in H1 2010. Q3 2009 GDP grew 2.9% QoQ on a seasonally adjusted basis, confirming that the economy is bottoming out.
Aldar launches partnership programme
Offers strategic alliance opportunities across the company’s diverse portfolio
Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s leading property development, management and investment company, today launched the Aldar Partnership Programme, a strategic initiative designed to integrate exclusively selected, well-established partners across the breadth of the firm’s development assets.
The programme will strategically and commercially align Aldar with reputable regional and international companies to build mutually beneficial long-term partnerships. IMG, the globally recognised marketing consulting firm, was engaged to research, conceptualize and bring to market these exclusive partnership packages.
The first of its kind in the UAE, the Aldar Partnership Programme will offer partners value and investment benefits from one or more of Aldar’s developments across the residential, commercial and leisure sectors in Abu Dhabi.
In the first instance, the programme will offer participating companies opportunities in relation to a selection of Aldar’s projects that are either already operational or will be completed by the second quarter of 2011. Further Aldar developments will be incorporated into the programme in the future as they near completion.
Economy »
Merrill Lynch forecasts Risk Flare for the global econonmy
The latest BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research report, titled, “BofA ML Economics...
Construction »
Arabtec wins five-star Syrian hotel contract
Arabtec has been awarded the contract to build a new five-star hotel valued at $120m...
Transportation »
Iyad Kamal takes over as Chief Operations Officer of Aramex
Aramex, the global logistics and transportation solutions provider, announced today...
Oil & Gas »
OPEC basket price slips to USD 69.71 pb
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Monday that its...
Banking »
Dubai Bank ties up with Dubai Land Department to offer custom-made payroll packages
Payroll account features include Takaful cover for account holders Bank develops...
Markets »
Dubai Financial Market up 0.98%
Foreign investors net DFM sellers by AED 7.45 mln Dubai Financial Market General...
Industries »
Kanoo Machinery participates with Perkins in Middle East Electricity Exhibition 2010
Showcases Perkins’ best-in-class Power Generation Engines Series at the leading...
Technology »
Facebook gets a Facelift
Starting Feb 4, social networking service Facebook rolled out a new user-interface...
The Cultural Observer »
Dubai to honour all international patronage in visual arts, film, literature and performing arts
Submissions now open for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the...
Health »
Leading Humanitarians meet in Dubai in April to discuss Health Impact during Global Crisis
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President...
Education »
GEMS Wellington International School hosts Model United Nations for students
Two day conference comes to a close on Feb 5 Participants contributed to...
Kids »
The Little Big Club begins today
The Little Big Club Show, a musical featuring a host of favourite international cartoon...

