The markets will watch China's growth rate for signs of an economic hard-landing as efforts to curb inflation begin to bite. Domestic unrest is firmly contained, but underlying tensions remain unresolved. Simmering international disputes over trade and territory remain susceptible to sudden flare-ups as China's assertiveness continues to grow.

Apple reported strong second quarter 2011 results, which comprehensively beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate, on the strength of iPhone, Mac and iPad sales.

With the exception of the sharp fall provoked by the global crisis, commodity prices have experienced a sustained increase in the last decade. This is a secular trend, provoked by a significant rise in emerging-market demand and a slow response in supply. Nevertheless, prices could suffer a short-term drop if special factors fade.

The duration and magnitude of the shortages will do much to determine the economic effects of the disaster, and thus shape various recovery scenarios.

What are the prospects for the 2011 vintage of U.S. CMBS originations? To help answer this question, we analyzed correlations between a set of macroeconomic and underwriting variables with 10-year cumulative losses for CMBS origination cohorts from 1998 to 2008. From this data, we constructed a CMBS "leading indicators" (CLI) index that summarizes credit risk factors for CMBS. Our CLI index ranges from a low of 74 (least risky) in 2010 to 133 (most risky) in 2007. We find that the current CLI index value of 80 is at a low level by historical standards, indicating low potential losses for loans originated in 2011. The components of the index relating to both CMBS underwriting and the macro economy, however, are

A textual analysis of the financial results for First Solar, Inc. compared to selected competitors. Also included are quantitative analyses of the company's financial statements, extensive ratio analyses and up to 10-year history of sales, earnings, dividends and security pricing. A business description of the company, including contact information, senior officers and Wright Quality Rating analyses is also provided.

Introduction

After a lull for a couple of years due to the global recession, the energy industry witnessed a recovery during 2010. In this decade, the market is likely to witness interesting changes that will provide new opportunities for industry players.

A summary of our popular Plunkett's E-Commerce & Internet Business Almanac 2011 ? a market research tool for strategic planning, competitive intelligence or financial research. Our industry analysis covers complete statistics and trends; bricks & clicks and other retailing strategies; technologies and Internet usage trends. Also includes business to consumer and business to business trends, Internet research and development, online services and markets, and emerging e-commerce technologies..

A Brighter Economic Outlook In 2011 T he US economy is finally showing signs of a stronger recovery. We believe that the expansion in 2011 could exceed expectations, assisted by easy monetary policy and new payroll tax cuts.

Apple's posted stellar first quarter 2011 results beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The outperformance was driven by strong iPhone, Mac and iPad sales.

Egypt politics: Three scenarios - how the crisis could unfold February 07, 2011 FROM THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT Egypt s political crisis continues, as thousands of protestors remain in Cairo s Tahrir square to press home their core...

In 2010, private equity funds invested 68 billion dollars in Europe alone -- three times the 2009 figure. This recovery is reflected worldwide. However, in the near to medium term, changes in the private equity industry could have an impact on the attractiveness of this asset class for investors.

...Applied Materials is one of the world s largest suppliers of fabrication equipment to semiconductor, LCD and solar PV cell manufacturers. Applied s product breadth, its strong position in China, improving trends across served markets, new design wins, market share gains, management execution and solid financials are the reasons for our positive opinion on the shares. Management s decision to discontinue the thin film business also makes sense in our opinion. Although it is apparent that the equipment cycle has peaked, we expect the company to outperform its peers this year. We are, therefore, upgrading AMAT shares to Outperform....

The predictability of economic policy-making depends on the common acceptance of core economic assumptions, ideas and models. The onset and development of the economic crisis challenged commonly held views. Should a new paradigm emerge it would change the predominant policy framework. Conflict over the economic paradigm would make policy-making more unstable and harder to predict.

The failure of the G20 to tackle global macroeconomic imbalances means that surplus savings in net exporting countries will continue to inundate investment markets in net importing countries. Financial bubbles will continue to emerge and burst as a result. In the worst-case scenario, the global financial crisis could repeat itself.

...The Economist Intelligence Unit s central forecast is that the government will collapse and an early election will be held by early 2011....

The equity markets responded with exuberance when the Federal Reserve Bank announced on Nov. 3, 2010 that it intends to buy $600 billion in U.S. government bonds. This planned second round of "quantitative easing" (or "QE2," as industry participants have dubbed it) led the Dow Jones Industrial Average to rise to its highest level since Lehman collapsed in September 2008. It gained 2% overnight, with the S&P 500 Index rising 1.9% and the NASDAQ up 1.5% on Nov. 4. Nevertheless, the message is more sobering from the U.S. banking sector's point of view. The true test of QE2's success for U.S. banks will be its ability to deliver sustainable economic growth, which would in turn prompt asset growth. By contrast,

A moderation in growth is on the cards, but emerging markets will continue to fuel international expansion. Regulation and currency-related factors will create uncertainty during the year ahead.

Many U.S. corporations have taken advantage of near record-low interest rates to issue new debt. From January through August 2010, issuance averaged $75 billion, and then jumped to $138 billion in September. Yet at the same time, economies in most of the developed world remain sluggish, with stubbornly high unemployment. Furthermore, this debt issuance has been happening while many corporations have amassed large amounts of cash, and across multiple categories. Issuance of speculative- and investment-grade debt, convertible debt, and bank loans has all risen in recent months--even as companies generally have maintained large amounts of cash on their books. Why would companies want to issue so much debt? Standard&Poor's Ratings Services answers that and other frequently asked questions

Although WTO e-commerce negotiations are mired in a stalemate, many of the organisation's member countries, both developed and developing, have signed preferential trade agreements (PTAs) containing provisions on this kind of trade. This changes the regulatory landscape for companies that engage in e-commerce.

Summary

The Power industry has traditionally been the market for technology majors such as ABB, Siemens and Areva T&D. The scope of service providers have been limited in the power transmission and distribution systems across the globe. However, the willingness to improve the service quality of the power delivery mechanism has led to incorporation of new features in the system. The smart grid aims at improving the involvement of client in the power delivery mechanism. The services at the consumer end will be vital for customer participation and improvement of customer satisfaction.

The oil sector contracts signed between Iraq and international energy companies in 2009 reflect the first stirrings of what the oil and gas industry hopes will be the reestablishment of a strong working relationship. Following years of underinvestment as a result of the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq is hoping to tap the expertise and capital of international oil companies (IOCs), their state-run national oil company(NOC) competitors and service companies in order to boost the technical capabilities of its infrastructure as well as the production and export capacities of the country's crude oil, natural gas and refined products.

...The political climate is becoming increasingly partisan in the run-up to the November mid- term congressional election, a trend that is likely to continue in the coming months.

We are upgrading our recommendation on Goldman to Neutral from Underperform. Second quarter earnings were significantly ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting lower operating expenses.

Proposed changes in leasing accounting standards would increase the reported debt loads of companies that make heavy use of leased property. A proposed extension of fair value accounting standards would have a similar effect on bank balance sheet

The summer's latest available economic data have brought no surprises for Western Europe. Standard&Poor's is still forecasting a two-track recovery, with Europe's Southern rim countries experiencing slower economic growth than their Northern neighbors. Although we expect overall growth to slow in the fourth quarter of this year and in the first six months of 2011, we continue to foresee sustained, though relatively gradual, economic improvement in Western Europe. In particular, broader-based fiscal tightening in most countries will likely weigh on domestic demand, while high unemployment will continue to reduce real income growth. The possibility of a double-dip scenario, under which these economies would teeter back into recession in the next 18 months, now appears more remote to us.

...In March 2010, The Black & Decker Corporation and Stanley Works merged; data from each company's separate 10-K filing is presented here. Continued on next page. Source: Company filings, Fitch....

This carefully researched report will be your ready-reference guide to the Biotechnology and Genetics Industry 2011. This summary includes our analysis of major trends as well as statistical tables?a tool for strategic planning, business development or industry analysis. Trends analyzed range from the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology, to the evolution of breakthrough new drug delivery systems, to the abounding ethical issues connected with biotech. Topics include: biotechnology funding and investments, FDA, gene therapies, personalized medicine, systems biology, clinical trials, stem cells, therapeutic cloning, nanotechnology, agricultural biotechnology (GM seeds), drug delivery systems and ethical issues.

China ? The Slowdown Begins We believe that cracks are beginning to appear in the Chinese economy, which should grow in magnitude over the coming months.

Much like first-quarter 2010, the large U.S. regional banks in Standard&Poor's Ratings Services' rated universe reported improving, albeit still-weak results in the second quarter.

...This report provides an overview of liquidity, debt structure, and covenants for select high yield food, beverage, and restaurant companies with total aggregate debt of $24 million.

...The historic coalition between the centre-right Conservative Party and centrist Liberal Democrats is currently enjoying the honeymoon period traditionally accorded to newly elected governments.

Summary

Carbon policies have taken a backseat in the major economies after the Copenhagen Summit in December 2009. A legally binding international treaty is still in place for the UN (United Nations) countries after the failure of the recent United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Summit in Bonn, Germany. The carbon laws as well as climate bills proposed in the US, Japan and Australia have also been delayed due to certain political conditions. This could be seen as a hindrance in the formation of an international carbon market post-2012, as well as the negligence of the major economies towards emission control initiatives. If this scenario continues in the near future, the global carbon market is expected to downturn with not much mandatory government support to push the carbon market mechanism post-2012.

Whole Foods Market with a strong brand image offers investors one of the strongest growth profiles in the industry, and we remain bullish on its future prospects, as the demand for natural and organic products improves. An uptrend in comparable and identical-store sales is being witnessed due to improved transaction counts. The company is also revamping its pricing strategy and concentrating more on value offerings, while maintaining healthy margins. The stringent cost-control measures, effective inventory management, and improved store-level performance are driving earnings growth. Moreover, a prudent capital investment is also translating into improved cash flows. Based on these factors we upgrade our recommendation on the stock to Outperform.

The financial crisis spurred a serious rethink of global financial regulation and supervision as embodied in the Basel Accords on banking supervision. The challenge of the overhaul is to prevent the financial sector's activities damaging the real economy as happened in the boom/crash period 2005-08 and to mitigate regulatory arbitrage between jurisdictions.

On course for 6% growth in 2010, but downside risks if current account deteriorates sharply or investors start to think that monetary policy is too loose for too long

Although global markets recovered in the latter half of 2009, pressure on U.S. corporate pension plans' funding levels recently has increased again. Equity markets remained weak in the first half of 2010, while high-quality corporate bond yields, which companies use to discount postretirement plan obligations, are generally flat. These conditions in our view are likely to make it more difficult for many U.S. issuers to improve the large pension funding gaps they reported at the end of fiscal 2009. Despite the pension-funding relief recently signed into law, the economic recovery is susceptible to further downturns, and severe market volatility, could continue to affect the value of many corporate issuers' pension plans, and therefore, affect credit quality. While equity markets rebounded

...Fitch CDS Implied Ratings Model, June 13, 2007 Fitch Equity Implied Rating and Probability of Default Model, June 13, 2007 Study: CDS Implied Ratings vs.

This summary contains the complete trends and statistics chapters excerpted from Plunkett's Nanotechnology and MEMS Industry Almanac.

Bayer reported first quarter core earnings per share of 1.20 surpassing 0.91 reported in the year-ago period. We are concerned about the disappointing performance of the CropScience segment in the most recent quarter. Moreover, the delay in approval of Xarelto also concerns us. Furthermore, the failure of Nexavar to prolong the overall survival in patients suffering from advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a late stage study is a setback for the company. The competitive environment in which Bayer operates is a further challenge for the company. Given these factors, we downgrade the stock to Underperform from Neutral with a price target of $54.00.

News in the US infrastructure sector over the past quarter has been dominated by public sector support for projects.

Summary

The advanced biofuel industry in the US is evolving fast due to technological innovations, large investments by private players, and support from the US government. The biofuel companies are focusing on developing advanced biofuel technologies aided by strong financing support through joint ventures, equity offering and venture financing. Major biofuel investors in the US are Range Fuels, Inc., BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. and Mascoma Corporation. Since 2008, some of the key players in the US advanced biofuel industry have invested $1.4 billion to commercialize the technologies and develop the market. Advanced biofuels has also attracted the focus of oil majors. US Department of Energy (DoE) has provided $718m in funding for the commercialization of advanced biofuels as well as to help the industry to meet the mandated production targets for advanced biofuels, which will increase from 950 million gallons in 2010 to 21 billion gallons per year in 2022.

GDP growth looks set to accelerate during the third quarter, as a slide towards double-dip recession is unlikely, barring a major external shock. Beyond final approval of financial reform legislation already on the verge of passage, domestic policy-making will largely grind to a halt amid campaigning for November's midterm congressional elections.

Until recently the euro had appeared a considerable success. It had established itself as a major currency and offered stability to countries with previously weak currencies. However, the euro area is now facing a major crisis and it is not certain that it will be able to regain market confidence. Scepticism about the willingness and ability of weaker states to carry out unprecedented fiscal adjustment reforms and restore very low competitiveness is matched by doubts as to the readiness of richer members to prop up and support the weaker states for a prolonged period of time. Addressing underlying problems of solvency and competitiveness, linked to low growth in the euro area, will require a long-term adjustment process. Can the euro area hold together long enough to see it through?

The good news is that European housing markets are generally showing signs of pulling out of the recent price correction. With the exception of Ireland, the price slump has slowed in many countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and The Netherlands. And in the U.K., house prices began heading up last year in November. However, following upwards of a decade of fast house price growth in Europe, Standard&Poor's questions whether the correction that started in the final months of 2007 is really over. Nominal house prices continue to exceed 2005 levels, Ireland excepted (see chart 1). To us, this suggests that we may not yet have witnessed a full correction of some of the imbalances that the 1999-2007 housing

...Fitch Ratings expects M&A appetite to increase significantly in the European capital goods (CG) sector during the remainder of 2010 and through 2011, with a number of Fitchrated CG companies likely to be active buyers.

This summary is excerpted from Plunkett's Real Estate and Construction Industry Almanac. It presents analysis of the industry from mortgages to home equity loans to apartments to hotel construction. This market research tool includes our coverage of the major trends affecting the industry such as: real estate goes online, homes and commercial buildings go green, shopping center tenants face slow sales/store closings force landlords to become creative, and real estate markets in China and India fall. In addition, we provide major statistical tables covering the industry, from Estimates of the Total Housing Inventory for the U.S.: 2008-2009, to U.S. home mortgages by holder 2004-2009, to median and average sales price of new single family homes by region in U.S. 1985-2009.

GENZ: Zacks Company Report - UNDERPERFORM

...Covered bonds, as they're known in the English-speaking world, were first issued in the late 18th century.

US law makes the 'responsible parties' -- oil leaseholders BP, and its minority partners, Anadarko and Mitsui, fully responsible for the costs of clean-up; in addition, fines will be levied and additional state and private legal claims will certainly be made.

In recent weeks, a number of questions have been raised about synthetic collateralized debt obligations (CDOs).

Summary

GlobalData's 'Alternative Energy Monthly Deals Analysis: M&A and Investments Trends - April 2010' report is an essential source of data and trend analysis on the mergers and acquisitions and financings in the alternative energy market. The report provides detailed information on M&A, Equity/Debt Offerings, Private Equity, Venture Financing and Partnership transactions registered in the alternative energy industry in March 2010. The report portrays detailed comparative data on the number of deals and their value in the last six months subdivided by deal types, segments, and geographies. Additionally, the report provides information on the top financial advisory firms in the alternative energy industry.

In 2010-11 Portugal faces a period of lower political stability and decreased

SUBJECT: Understanding China's rise to global economic pre-eminence. SIGNIFICANCE: The scale of China's economic growth sets it apart from other emerging and middle-income economies. In some respects, suitable comparators can be found in the 'long 19th century' (1800-1914).

The underlying strength of the global recovery remains uncertain. GDP figures published so far for the fourth quarter of 2009 have shown that the global recovery remains on track, despite continued concerns about its underlying strength.

Major developing countries will continue to outpace advanced economies' performance. The United States will have a better quarter than most other developed countries, despite uncertainties about the sustainability of its recovery. As concerns about public debt and fiscal deficit mount, especially in Europe, governments are likely to phase out stimulus measures.

The administration has signalled that it is not planning any major GSE reform until the economic recovery has gained traction and financial markets have been fully stabilised.

The government is bowing to international pressure to take austerity measures to reduce the government deficit, but these will prompt widespread strikes over the forecast period.

...The beginning of 2009 was arguably one of the most challenging and important periods in the hedge fund industry's history.

In the following series of questions and answers, Diane Vazza, managing director of Standard&Poor's Global Fixed Income Research Group, discusses U.S. borrowers' upcoming refinancing needs and how their prospects may affect corporate defaults in 2010. This is part of a monthly series of question-and-answer sessions that Standard&Poor's Ratings Services conducts with Ms. Vazza, in which she comments on recent trends in, and near-term outlooks for, global fixed-income markets. About $480 billion of corporate debt is coming due this year, with another $568 billion maturing in 2011. Those are big numbers, but manageable, for the most part. We expect investment-grade nonfinancial issuers--with almost $93 billion due in 2010--to have little trouble refinancing. This is especially true given

The president, Lee Myung-bak of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), will continue to face difficulties in maintaining the full support of his party and in improving public confidence in his abilities as a leader. The GNP won two of the five available seats in the by-elections that were held on October 28th. This is not a major endorsement, but it is an improvement on its failure to win any of the seats in the by-elections in April. South Korea is holding talks with North Korea about a possible meeting between Lee Myung-bak and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il.