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Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: elmatador who wrote (37429)	7/20/2008 1:08:34 PM
From: Haim R. Branisteanu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217588

elmo the US has the biggest coal reserves in the world, are the biggest grain exporters, not sure about beef chicken meat and pork - all those items rose substantially close to 100% it does not show yet in te trade balance. Add to this fine chemicals semi conductors software and pharmaceutical products and y will see where the trade balance goes That is why the EUR will weaken quite soon

To: elmatador who wrote (37429)	7/20/2008 4:17:19 PM
From: Haim R. Branisteanu	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 217588

Germany's Merkel: Econ Conditions Could Get Tougher BERLIN (Dow Jones)--Germany's economic conditions could grow tougher this year, warned Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview Sunday with German broadcaster ARD. "The economic situation could turn out to be a little tougher," she said. "A lot of people are worried about energy prices. I know that and we're going to do everything we can to advance Germany's growth and productivity." Merkel also reiterated her support for consolidating the German budget by 2011. The CDU Christian Democratic Union, which Merkel heads, has been under pressure from its sister party, the Bavaria-based CSU Christian Social Union, to reinstate a tax break for commuters. So far, Merkel and other leaders of the ruling grand coalition have brushed aside those calls, saying it is more important to focus on shoring up the federal budget. "There has never been a position in the union that you can only have one or the other, either budget consolidation or tax relief," she said. "We have to try to achieve both as soon as possible. But sometimes there is a chronological order to things." She noted that Bavaria, which is run by the CSU, has already made major steps toward consolidating the state budget. "In terms of budget consolidation, we're not as far along as Bavaria. We want to achieve it by 2011." Nonetheless, she said unity between the two parties is strong and the two hope to be able to form a coalition government in 2009 with the FDP Liberal Democratic party. "I think we have good chances for that," she said. At the same time, she said that the current grand coalition between the CDU and the SPD Social Democrats has had its successes. Some politicians have called for a continuation of the grand coalition in 2009. Merkel also repeated her stance that temporary workers should not be involved in a proposal approved last week by the federal cabinet that would make it easier for labor organizations to reach industry-wide wage agreements. She said since temporary workers all have individualized contracts anyway, they are not a priority for the legislation, which is designed to help groups fight wage dumping. She added each industry's contracts need to be considered separately. She also said she stands by her call to reconsider Germany's plans to phase out nuclear energy by 2020."I think it's prudent to consider, in light of the tightening of energy supplies, if we want to discuss this," she said. By Niels C. Sorrells, Dow Jones Newswires; +49-30-2888-4128; niels.sorrells@dowjones.com