Monday, September 29, 2008

人民币不升 外资将撤出大陆



中国大陆重量级QFII(合格境外机构投资者)业者英国马丁可利投资管理公司警告,若人民币确定停止升值,停留大陆的庞大国际资金将撤出大陆,导致资金外逃。


彭博信息报导,马丁可利中国区共同主席Chris Ruffle指出,随着当前全球金融危机逐步升高,外国投资人已经开端把资金导出大陆,但若人民币不再升值的态势明确,大陆金融市场就会出现下一波的资金外逃。

从今年6月底至今,人民币对美元汇率仅攀升0.45%,可能创下两年多年全年第三季涨幅最小的一次,中共官方试图藉此缓和对出口商的冲击。从2005年7月汇改至今,人民币对美元已足足升值21%。

巧合的是,上周五人民币对美元汇率大贬0.46%,创下汇改以来最大单日跌幅,收人民币6.8495元兑1美元。

报导指出,中共国家发改委宏观经济研究院副院长陈东琪,本月12日在上海一项会议上表示,中国大陆应该「防止股市与房市出现过度的资金外流,并且推估早从今年6月开端,投机热钱已经流出大陆,而且7、8月可能还有。

马丁可利的说法获得美国一位市场人士证实。美国市场谘询机构Hale Advisors创办人兼董事长海尔在大连举行的夏季达沃斯经济论坛上透露,人行(大陆央行)有意降低人民币对美元的升值速度。

海尔说:「(上)周五我与人行吃饭,他们告诉我将放慢人民币升值的脚步。现在全球经济状况如此说不准,他们不敢说应该怎么做。他们没有达成实际决策,只是考虑要放慢升值速度。」

海尔并未透露人民银行与他共餐的官员身分,而人民银行也没有证实这项消息。

马丁可利的Chris Ruffle还认为,若大陆经济确实变糟,北京当局刺激经济扩张的压力将会更大,而方法之一就是让人民币贬值,而不是升值。

他指出,经济成长放缓加上人民币升值变慢,可能使大陆投资人把投资对象转往大陆之外,特别是QDII(合格境内机构投资者)商品。

Chris Ruffle说:「当你看到人民币持平,甚至往下走,你可能就想分散风险。在年底以前,QDII将会受到更多投资人欢迎。

河北破三聚氰胺制售网络 41家牧场拘捕13人

在河北石家庄三鹿奶粉被验出含三聚氰胺引致逾万婴儿患肾结石后,河北警方侦破一个包括生产、销售和使用三聚氰胺组成网络,并指这是三鹿问题奶粉的源头。目前,警方已对有添加三聚氰胺重大嫌疑的22名犯罪嫌疑人予以刑事拘留,检察机关已经批准拘捕13人。

质检总局日前对海口市各大超市供应的奶製品进行了三聚氰胺抽样检测,均未检出三聚氰胺。为了让百姓购买乳製品能够明白、放心,海口市各大超市对通过检验的各类乳製品打出了检验合格标牌

据新华社石家庄29日报道,「三鹿集团重大食品安全事故专桉组」介绍,在原奶中添加三聚氰胺等物质,主要发生在牧场、养殖小区、奶站(厅)等原奶储存、运输环节。河北警方组织800多名警力,对石家庄市41家牧场、养殖小区、奶站(厅)进行突击搜查,缴获了222.5公斤三聚氰胺。目前,警方已对有添加三聚氰胺重大嫌疑的22名犯罪嫌疑人予以刑事拘留,检察机关已经批准拘捕13人,涉及17个牧场、养殖小区、奶站(厅)的经营负责人19人。



警方表示,石家庄市一些不法分子为了牟取暴利,在地下工厂内非法生产含有三聚氰胺的蛋白粉,大都销售给了牛奶养殖小区及奶站、场、厅的不法经营者。9月23日非法生产出售三聚氰胺的重要犯罪嫌疑人高某落网。据他供认,从2007年下半年以来,他在正定县一地下工厂非法生产含有三聚氰胺的蛋白粉,通过犯罪嫌疑人薛某等出售给一些奶站、挤奶厅。

据河北媒体报道,警方查明,该高姓犯罪嫌疑人共非法生产含有三聚氰胺的蛋白粉达70馀吨,桉发时,警方在其地下工厂内缴获了剩馀的6吨蛋白粉。

一些奶站、挤奶厅的不法经营者为使向三鹿集团供应的鲜奶蛋白质检测指标合格,向鲜奶中掺入三聚氰胺。犯罪嫌疑人耿某交代,他在正定县投资建了一家挤奶厅,并与人合伙建了个奶牛养殖小区,曾因向三鹿销售的牛奶检验不合格屡次被拒收。后来得知,向牛奶中掺加某种化工原料(三聚氰胺),能够增加蛋白质检测指标,可以蒙溷过关。他便开始将三聚氰胺等化工原料掺入鲜奶中。目前,河北警方对「三鹿问题奶粉」重大食品安全事故桉件的调查还在进行中。

新闻周刊:庞大的中国快速增长的日子到头了

关于中国繁荣硬着陆的预言通常会遭到怀疑,以为又是再喊狼来了。但寓言给我们的教训是,第三次的时候狼真的来了。如今,经过2004年和2006年两次伪警报,经济放缓来了。中国成长得如此庞大,无法保持过去三十年10%的增长。到明年以及可预见的将来,它可能最多增长8%。双位数增长率时代的决定性终结就在此,这对这个国家和这个世界而言意义重大。

   直到现在,中国都在挑衅发展中国家可能增长多快以及维持多久的传统理论。在过去三十年,中国经济的年平均增长率为10%,这个纪录超过了日本和韩国等其他奇迹经济体。如今,大数字规律在追上中国:在1998年,要让它一万亿美元的经济增长10%,它就得让经济活动扩大1000亿美元,消耗世界工业商品的10%。目前,要以这么快的速度增长它3.5万亿美元的经济体,它一年需要增长3500亿美元,并吮吸全球商品生产的近30%。更为重要的是,中国对经济放缓的回应透露出明显的迹象:中国领导人明白这个时刻是不可回避——在那个时刻,要放弃旧式的、不惜一切代价增长的心态,不要试图人为地恢复双位数增长。

  当然,在不久以前,中国的新闻头条仍然看涨。上半年火热的增长只有略微放缓的迹象,而且大多数经济学家把责任归咎于西方国家的疲弱增长,因为它们是中国最好的出口客户。他们还猜想出口的迟缓可以被强劲的国内需求抵消,认为北京庞大的基础项目开支以及中国消费者购买力的上升可以推高国内需求。然而,最新的迹象显示中国的国内经济并非免疫于低迷:它也开始步履蹒跚了,而且和很多国家一样,不动产领域是麻烦的核心。

  自中国房市九十年代末的全面私有化以来,首次出现各大省份房市齐齐低迷的情况。价格上涨和需求增长疯狂已经让位于价格下降需求放缓的恶性循环。

  房地产的熊市对整个经济会产生普遍没有预见的涟漪效应,虽然人们一致认为2008年和2009年的增长仍然是强劲的9%到10%,然而出口增长预计将从近年来的20%下滑到明年的个位数,一个占中国投资支出三分之一的领域熄火。而房地产的建设又占总投资支出的三分之一,它的崩溃至少会给经济增长减掉一个百分点。

  走低的风险还不止于此。

  财产价格下跌将进一步抑制消费。由于股市比高峰期下跌三分之二,很多中国人感到自己变穷。而且从历史来看,随着消费信心减弱,房地产和汽车领域也会走弱。

  如今更为重要的问题是这种低迷会持续多久,这个阶段结束时中国将如何?一些政策帮助已经出台。中国人民银行最近下调基准利率0.27个百分点。随着CPI放缓,货币政策会进一步松动。而且由于财政近乎平衡,而且负债占GDP比重是非常低的16%,政府有很大的空间通过增加支出刺激经济。

  但中国投资界愈发失望,质疑政府为什么不采取更加果断的措施稳定增长,特别是不动产领域。政府的反应透露出领袖层重点的转变。在过去几年,房价快速增长,决策圈总体感觉到普通买家被高价摒除在市场之外,开发商像强盗一样刮钱。因此政府会乐见房价下跌,这可能是它抑制收入差距扩大以实现“和谐社会”的大目标的部分内容。

  中国仍然是一个伟大的经济增长故事,而且正走在与工业化世界趋同的道路上。但过去一年的事态发展(从商品价格导致的通胀到政府重点的稍微转移)显示在未来几年趋同的步调将会放缓。去年11.9%的增长率很可能是中国经济奇迹的高位线;在2009年,增长很可能放缓至8%。尽管政府会采取刺激措施,但中国增长轨道不大可能回归到2003年至2007年间的低通胀高增长。毕竟,固定资产投资多年来占GDP的比重超过40%,政府可以修建的新电厂和道路的数量总有个限度。

Sunday, September 28, 2008

底特律自由报:美国梦被卖给了中国!

很多人预测说21世纪是“中国世纪”。看起来华尔街那帮家伙和监督华尔街的管理人员正加速这一预言的实现。

中国人担心美国引发的全球经济衰退会减少工作机会,正是这些工作机会使成千上百万中国人摆脱贫困,为中国人创造了类似“美国梦”的“中国梦”。

如果中国政府和美国纳税人没受到连累背负一身债的话,我们金融系统的乱象没准会让他们在一旁偷着笑。

现在,美国纳税人已经接管了房利美和房地美以及美国国际集团,雷曼兄弟公司突然破产,美林公司被迫卖给美洲银行。从美国老百姓到华尔街,人们担心会有更多多米诺骨牌倒下。

财政部长保尔森和很多国会议员一直呼吁中国解决货币操纵问题。我们必须承认,在我们国家还没把自己国库理顺的情况下,这种呼吁难以让人信服,还有一点讽刺意味。

美国欠了中国和日本巨额债务,从这两个国家借钱支付伊拉克战争带来的亏空。当美国借钱和消费时,中国人在储蓄,建造基础设施,借给我们钱,以继续我们的自我毁灭。

今年早些时候,我从北京乘火车48个小时后到达拉萨。我不仅看到了北京为奥运会基础设施建设投入了400亿美元,而且还见识了中国内陆地区正在修建桥梁、公路、铁路、医院和学校。

在新疆,我花了数天时间沿着古老的“丝绸之路”旅行。在沙漠里,数千架风力发电机和太阳能电池板在向吐鲁番和乌鲁木齐居民提供可再生能源。我知道你可能从来没有听说过这些地名,但当谈到寻找替代能源时,他们比我们先进得多。

中国人正在为发展而投资,可我们却在为美国和美国人民减少投资。

我们的行为和拙劣的外交、国内政策正使我们成为世界舞台上的笑柄。我们在向世界推销资本主义和自由市场的同时,却在国有化我们最大的保险公司和贷款公司。坐拥大量现金的中国将密切注视美国,盘算着他们将从“火灾受损物资大拍卖”中挑选哪家美国银行和公司。

在中国,他们的经济制度被称作是“具有中国特色的市场经济”。而今天的美国看起来是“具有自由市场特点的社会主义”。世界颠倒了个儿。

南华早报:看看“大白兔”落魄到了什么地步!




当理查德•尼克松1972年对北京进行历史性访问时,在与周恩来总理进行的国宴上,大白兔奶糖被放在了餐桌的中央。这种糖果还作为国礼送给了这位美国总统,毫无疑问,这是中国生产出的最高质量的奶糖。但是看看这么一个重要的国家品牌现在已经落魄到了什么地步!

考虑到奶粉占了大白兔奶糖原料比重达45%这一事实,该公司从一开始就应该全部召回其产品。毕竟,吃这种糖果的大部分人是孩子。

如果大陆的公司想在全球舞台上进行竞争,他们必须学会采取快速而负责任的行动来保护他们的“生命源泉”:消费者。一只跳跃而带着微笑的兔子图案曾经是毛泽东时代中国的骄傲,也是“文化大革命”时期为数不多的出口产品之一。

今天,中国成为了世界上的一个工业发电站。当前,3名中国宇航员正在环绕着地球进行飞行。然而,“中国制造”标签却在世界上沦落为了不光彩的形象。过去,中国意味着能够提供价廉物美的商品,而现在,不管对不对,很多大陆产品被认为具有潜在的危险性。受三聚氰胺污染的牛奶丑闻事件已经增加了人们对大陆消费品安全和可靠性的严重怀疑。

这些丑闻不是一些孤立的事件,它们威胁着这个国家的经济前景。一个能把宇航员送入太空———或许很快就会送到月球上———的国家必须有能力生产出更多的符合世界标准的消费品。

现在是到了努力工作重塑“中国制造”品牌的时候了,只有这样,人们才能再次体味“中国制造”的魅力。

伦敦奥运缺35.9亿盼中国投资 发改委大感兴趣

2012年伦敦奥运会经费不足,市长约翰逊不得不向中国招手,吸引投资。图为伦敦奥运会奥林匹克体育馆的模拟图。资料图片



信贷危机下英国楼价下跌,冲击英国经济,导致2012年的伦敦奥运会经费不足,落差足有2.5亿英镑(约35.9亿港元)。市长约翰逊不得不向中国招手,吸引中国投资,提出将选手村和新闻中心改建成大学,由北京和伦敦的大学一起经营管理。

英国《星期日泰晤士报》报道,约翰逊(见图)在北京残奥会上,与原北京副市长、现任国家发改委副主任张茅讨论了上述建议。据报,张茅对中国投资伦敦奥运会和大学感到兴奋。

经费落差共35.9亿

伦敦选手村建设费需10亿英镑(约143亿港元),英国政府奥运大臣蒋黛思已表明,不可以用纳税人的金钱填补,约翰逊只好自行另找资金。他的发言人表示:“在该处(选手村和新闻中心)原址建大学,市长感到十分吸引人。”

该发言人透露,目前伦敦方面与张茅的磋商尚处于早期阶段,但双方的合作单位应包括北京一所著名的商学院,和伦敦一所著名大学,可能是伦敦政治经济学院,或者是伦敦帝国理工学院。发言人指,约翰逊下月会在伦敦再晤张茅。



2012年伦敦奥运会经费不足,市长约翰逊不得不向中国招手,吸引投资。图为伦敦奥运会奥林匹克体育馆的模拟图。(资料图片)


发改委大感兴趣

该报报道,中国政府对伦敦市内的其他大型基建也感与趣,包括伦敦拟建的新火车路线、伦敦地铁,以及尚在讨论阶段的泰晤士河口机场。

《独立报》披露,伦敦奥运会的相关官员低估了保安工作的成本,预料现已升至约15亿英镑(约215亿港元),远高于原来估计的8.38亿英镑(约120亿港元),令整个奥运会的预算由当初预估的34亿英镑随之升破100亿英镑(约1,435亿港元)。

Friday, September 26, 2008

"特供"信息纯属谣传?中国到底有没有特供?

中国到底有没有特供?

连日来,各网站上都在转载一篇“祝咏兰主任在中央国家机关特供产品授牌仪式上的讲话”的贴文,揭露了“领导吃特供,百姓喝毒奶”的现象。今天,国务院机关老干部活动中心负责人说,国务院机关老干部活动中心没有所谓的“国务院中央国家机关食品特供中心”,没有举行过所谓的“授牌仪式”,也没有“祝咏兰”这个人,网上相关信息纯属谣传。

究竟是怎么回事?

首先,中国有没有特供这么一个制度?我想,40岁以上的人都不会怀疑这个制度的存在,从毛时代到邓小平,特制卷烟,特制茅台,特制茶叶……这些都是不争的事实吧?难道说到了江泽民,胡锦涛这个制度就消失了?请拿出事实来让百姓们信服!别说胡温家喝的牛奶也是从超市里买的吧?本人三个月前去杭州梅家坞还亲耳听茶农说极品雨前茶是专门送到北京去的……

这个辟谣的负责人姓甚名谁?老干部活动中心没有“特供中心”,那中国有没有?“特供”制度到底存在不存在?玩弄文字游戏意义不大吧?

那么这个“祝咏兰”讲话到底是怎么回事?

最初这个新闻和照片是出现在山东科尔生物医药科技开发有限公司(www.krbio-cn.com/html)的网站上,但是目前这个网址链接已失效。但是,从21保健品网(http://www.bjspw.com/trade/zs_info.jsp?id=1007284)上可以看到该公司生产的 “科尔益康胶囊”介绍:“科尔益康胶囊”的研发紧紧依托于中国药科大学211工程重点学科建设项目所属单位之一的生命科学与技术学院的研发实力,并由该院博士生导师李继珩教授担任产品研发带头人,经过反复研究论证,历时六年最终研发而成。 2006年12月,“科尔益康胶囊”被国务院中央国家机关食品特供中心甄选为“中央国家机关特供”产品,面向中央国家机关和国务院机关老干部特供专用。

另有报道:

国务院中央国家机关有机食品特供中心下辖三个公司。

1、北京国佑特供产品有限公司,企业经济性质:股份合作企业。经营模式:政府或其他机构。经营品牌:国A特供产品。地址:北京朝阳区东土城路12号

2、北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司,成立于2005年4月,是国务院机关老干部活动中心为中央国家机关特供有机食品的合作单位,是中国领先的优质零污染食品——有机食品的供应商和有机食品配送服务提供商,具有极高的市场感召力和客户忠诚度。

自特供中心成立以来,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司依托国务院后勤基地、中央警卫局农场、武警边防后勤基地等基地,一直为国家94个部委办局办别老干部们(其中,部级以上老干部2000多人,局级老干部6000多人,处级以上在京老干部共约130000人)提供优质、放心的有机食品。

3、北京国佑世昌保健食品有限公司,2008年4月成立。该公司承担着“国A”特供保健食品、健康食品的考察、甄选工作。

二、中央国家机关主要“国A”特供食品介绍

目前,中央国家机关“国A”特供食品有十余种,例如:

特供有机大米:原产地:辽宁省丹东市前阳五四农庄稻米生产基地,出产的“越光”有机大米。
特供有机杏仁油:原产地:山西左权县太行山中段海拔1200米的生态自然地区,纯天然,无污染。
特供国A鲍参酒:原产地:山东省。
特供国A茅台酒:原产地:贵州茅台。

三、国务院中央国家机关有机食品特供中心近年来的主要工作介绍

2006年5月,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司,派出由多位专家组成的“国A”特供酒考察组,赴贵州茅台镇实地考察, 以茅台基酒为原料,调制出首款“中央国家机关特供茅台酒”。

2006年10月,中央国家机关有机食品特供中心甄选山东科尔生物医药科技开发有限公司出品的“壳寡糖”系列保健食品为“中央国家机关特供产品”。

2007年4月至10月,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司“国A”特供产品考察组在公司副总经理杜毅带领下,先后几次赶赴东北三省,最终于2008年元月,选定辽宁省丹东市前阳五四农庄,越光有机大米作为“国 A”特供产品。越光有机大米为日本新潟县鱼沼地区越光米粳稻品种,目前选择中国丹东前阳鸭绿江口滨海湿地国家级自然保护区内的稻米生产基地,当地气候及自然环境均极有利于水稻种植生长,并采用多机轻碾加工工艺,加工出的大米晶莹透亮,光亮如玉。越光大米一年一收获,量少口碑好,无论香味、白度、光泽以及吃起来的甜度、弹性与粘度,堪称米中之最。

2007年4月,受中国海洋大学生命科学学院邀请,国佑世昌派员考察其最新科研产品—“鲍参酒“。次日,国佑世昌公司与中国海洋大学、青岛海能海洋生物技术有限公司签订了《“国A”特供产品合作协议》,这标志着“国A”特供体系更近丰富。

2007年9月“鲍参酒”被甄选为“国A”中央国家机关特供产品。

2007年10月,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司,应山西省左权县政府、左权鸿鹏油脂有限公司邀请,赴山西左权考察有机杏仁油项目。与左权鸿鹏油脂有限公司签订了杏仁油采购协议。有机杏仁油将进入 “国A”中央国家机关特供体系。

2008年3月27日,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司副总经理杜毅一行考察组,来到江苏省盐城市考察农业项目。与盐城市签订了《有机农业合作开发意向书》,这对双方在日后合作项目的开展做出了铺垫。
2008年4月18日,北京国佑万悦有机食品有限公司应邀赴承德鑫达食品有限公司考察。在鑫达公司相关人员陪同下,国佑万悦负责人实地考察了荞麦、莜麦生产基地,有望在六月份推出“国A特供”有机杂粮礼盒。

还有一个“中央国家机关特供食品网”但是目前该网站被Google警告有恶意软件攻击,不知是被人攻击还是自身带有病毒,请网友小心。

从该网站可以得知,“特供”食品有米、酒、茶、蔬菜、水产、水果……无所不保,获得“特供”资格的产品确有证书和防伪标识。


也许,这次老百姓应该像相信官方说的“中国体操队员年龄没有造假”那样再相信一次“没有特供中心”。但是,中国“特供”的存在是不容置疑的。
————————————————————

补充:

深圳市泓熙酒业有限公司为一家商贸型企业。公司以设立正规品牌专卖的形式经营“国特专供”产品。
“国特专供”品牌由“北京中食国特商贸有限公司”在国家工商总局统一注册专利,主要的目的是通过设立正规的品牌专卖平台,将我国各省的名优、精特产品向广大群众进行正式、规范的共享展示。

“国特专供”品牌产品包括有:“G22产品配送中心”和“ 中央机关老干部”特供产品。

“ G22 产品配送中心”是由国务院机关事务管理局投资建立的,主要是把全国各地的名优精特食品引进到中央国家机关,为其提供安全、绿色、无污染的优质食品。所有选入的食品均经过各省市推荐,并经过权威部门的审核,一经选入,国务院机关事务局管理局及服务局将颁发证书,并在选入产品上加贴“ G 22 ” 防伪标识,可进行防伪查询。

“中央机关老干部康乐文化指导中心”是在中央机关老干部管理部门的领导下,由多年从事老干部工作的领导组成,专门为离退休党和国家领导人、老部长、军队老将军服务的机构,经有关领导批示,机构编制放在卫生部中国老年保健协会。中心的宗旨是:为中央机关老干部身心健康服务,负责协调中央各部委老干部服务部门,为老干部组织各项康乐文化活动,使老干部晚年生活丰富多彩,延年益寿。

中央机关老干部康乐文化指导中心名誉主任为田纪云同志,高级顾问包括张万年、迟浩田、彭佩云、任建新、许嘉璐、司马义·艾买提、阿不来提·阿不都热西提、孙孚凌等先任及原任党和国家、军队领导人。

中央机关老干部康乐文化指导中心主任为宋奎兰同志(原任中办老干部局局长),副主任为高仰岭同志(原任总政老干部服务局政委)、李梦锡同志(原任中组部机关党委书记)。主任宋奎兰,曾任中央警卫局副参谋长、中共中央办公厅老干部局副局长兼文津俱乐部主任。中办老干部处负责系统老干部管理工作外,还负责各省市区调中央人大政协工作的、到京离退休定居的、四副两高以外的省市区委书记的全方位管理服务工作,另外还有一个重要的工作就是在京党政军副部级以上的、部队副兵团以上的在职及离退休的领导干部建立了两个俱乐部——文津俱乐部、万寿路俱乐部,是中央规定的领导干部休闲康乐的场所。现有会员卡主卡 5000 多人,副卡 20000 多人。

为了更好地为中央机关老领导、老将军提供优质服务,让他们充分享受到改革开放的成果,以更高的质量安度晚年,我们拟委托中国最顶级的食品生产企业(在同行中必须是排在前几位的中国最具知名度、美誉度的企业)为他们订制一批“中央机关老干部特供产品”。

“国特专供”的产品包括:

中国八大名酒——贵州茅台、五粮液、剑南春、泸州老窖、汾酒、洋河大曲、古井贡、董酒;

红酒——张裕解百纳、张裕卡斯特;

黄酒——古越龙山;

保健品——东阿阿胶、西藏自治区选送的冬虫夏草、东北参茸等山珍;

茶类——西湖龙井茶、铁观音、普洱茶。

以上提供产品均是各食品生产企业为中央机关老干部特制的,代表各企业最好水平、最高质量的产品,每年限量供应。

2007年9月,本公司通过广东省总经销商“广州市番禺南沙安华有限公司”获得“北京中食国特商贸有限公司”授权为:“中央机关老干部”和“ G22 产品配送中心” 特供产品的深圳市总经销。

根据“对内搞好服务,对外搞好经营”的指导精神,深圳市泓熙酒业有限公司属下的“国特专供”产品展销中心,本着坚持质量至上,完美、诚信服务为宗旨,以弘扬民族产品品牌、建立名优、精特国货产品与广大人民群众共享平台,并且以合理的价格为广大人民群众、企事业单位、政府部门、部队及高消费群体提供安全、绿色、天然无污染的优质食品。

Thursday, September 25, 2008

毒奶粉危机爆发后 传中央享受特供食品引争议

根据中国工商行政管理总局公布的最新数字,到9月25号9点,经过工商执法人员的检查,共下架退市不合格奶制品7899.5吨。为消费者退换奶制品770吨。

毒奶粉引发中国食品安全危机。越来越多的亚洲和欧洲国家发出禁止进口中国奶制品的禁令。

国际组织批评

世界卫生组织和联合国儿童基金会的驻华机构周三发表联合声明,就三鹿及其他奶粉公司生产的奶粉毒害婴幼儿事件'深表痛心和关注'。

声明说'在食品生产和销售领域对公众的欺骗行为是无法接受的,故意污染婴幼儿食品的行为更应受到谴责。'

世界卫生组织和联合国儿童基金会还敦促母亲们对婴儿用母乳喂养。因为'没有任何一种奶粉同母乳一样安全可靠'。

目前,毒奶粉已经导致5万多婴幼儿患病。各地医院挤满了带着孩子就医检查的父母。

加强奶品安全措施
为挽回民众的信心,中国农业部日前发出文件,通知开展一个月的全国奶站专项整治行动。

通知要求各地立即成立由农业,畜牧兽医部门,工业,公安,卫生,工商和质检等部门参与的整治行动小组。

对所有奶站,特别是私人,流动奶站登记造册。将奶站百分之百的纳入监督管理范围,以保证生鲜奶和原料奶的质量安全。

同时,在刚刚召开的中国国际食品安全与质量控制会议上,中国质检局的高级官员表示,将在未来两年内在全国建立400个新的产品质量检测中心,安装先进的检测设备,其中80%将是食品质量检测中心。

特供食品

然而,就在掺了三聚氰胺的三鹿等奶粉导致婴幼儿患病,民众对食品安全信心动摇的同时,另一个'中国特色'的现象也引起了人们的关注---特供食品。

近来,中国国家机关食品特供中心的存在在中国的互联网上曝光并广为流传,遭致网民非议。

据国务院中央国家机关食品特供中心的副主任说,特供食品是面向中央国家机关和国务院机关老干部的指定专用食品。包括粮食,蔬菜,水果,畜禽水产等日常食品。

特供食品的生产,选择标准极为严格,不使用化肥,农药,生长激素,保证无污染,无任何添加剂,防腐剂,不使用基因工程技术。

中国对高级干部这种安全的食品供应同广大民众的食品安全环境形成巨大反差。

在毒奶粉危机中,目前唯一污染奶制品中没被点名的名牌三元牛奶成了人们争购的对象。而三元牛奶是'国宴特供'的牛奶。

中新网9月25日消息 国务院机关老干部活动中心负责人今天接受中国新闻网记者采访时,就近日网上出现的所谓题为“祝咏兰主任在中央国家机关特供产品授牌仪式上的讲话”的贴文进行了说明。

这位负责人说,国务院机关老干部活动中心没有所谓的“国务院中央国家机关食品特供中心”,没有举行过所谓的“授牌仪式”,也没有“祝咏兰”这个人,网上相关信息纯属谣传。

PetroChina's Sacrifice Acknowledged

Buy-recommended PetroChina (PTR), with estimated net present value [NPV] of $220 a share, offers portfolio representation mainly in crude oil production and non-U.S. domicile at a low McDep Ratio. First half results reported today disclosed the effect of price controls on refined products that were not quite as adverse as anticipated. Rising production volume was close to expectations.

The integrated company may also have been able to reduce the unfavorable impact of the Chinese “windfall profits tax” by charging itself a lower than expected crude oil price for volumes sent to its own refineries. Allowing for reduced tax on crude oil, continuing price controls on natural gas and diminished price controls on refined products, NPV is supported by projected cash flow capitalized at unlevered multiples (PV/Ebitda) related to reserve life (Adjusted R/P). Sticking to its policy of paying out 45% of earnings in dividends, management reduced the declared dividend in line with lower reported earnings. The cost of sacrificing profits, hopefully only temporary, seems amply reflected in a decline in stock price of 52% from the high last year. Meanwhile, crude oil price trends upward with the latest quote of $118 a barrel for delivery over the next six years above the 40-week average of $107.

The Wall Street Journal: Web Users Fault China's Baidu

HONG KONG -- Chinese Internet-search company Baidu.com Inc. has been defending itself against claims in the media and Internet chat forums that it allegedly censored online information about the growing scandal over tainted milk powder.

The company, which runs China's largest search engine by market share, has faced criticism from users of popular sites such as online community Tianya.com and forum host Mop.com. The users accuse the company of working on behalf of milk producers to bury online links to news stories about the contamination that has killed several infants and sickened thousands of children.

Baidu acknowledged it was approached by several dairy producers who offered to pay the company to drop critical news articles from its search results. Baidu said it "flat out refused" to screen unfavorable news.

The Web site of Chinese newspaper 21st Century Business Herald posted screenshots of purported Internet searches on Sept. 12 for a blog post criticizing one of the country's milk producers. The newspaper's screenshot purported to show 11 search results, while Google Inc.'s China site, Google.cn, showed 11,400.

On Friday, a search for the article by its title turned up 378 results on Baidu and 13,500 results on Google.cn. Wednesday, the search showed 3,860 hits on Baidu and 39,300 on Google.

Baidu declined to comment on the alleged differences.

Internet analysts said technological differences could explain potentially different search results.

The Wall Street Journal: Chinese shares climb, bucking region's trend

HONG KONG -- Chinese stock markets jumped, bucking declines across much of Asia as investors generally preferred to await further word on negotiations over the U.S. government's $700 billion rescue plan for the financial sector.

The jump in Shanghai came after China Unicom raised its stake in China United Telecommunications, raising hopes that more mainland firms could buy back shares to support beaten-down valuations.

The Shanghai Composite gained 3.6% to 2297.50. China United Telecommunications gained 2.5%, adding to Wednesday's 7.7% surge, after its parent raised its stake to 60.97%, from 60.74%. China Unicom intends to buy as much as 2% of China United's shares.

"The market sentiment in the mainland markets has been steadily improving as some corporations are directly purchasing shares. Strong turnover in Shanghai and Shenzhen suggests the markets are stabilizing, and we could see more gains," said Patrick Yiu, associate director at CASH Asset Management in Hong Kong.

State-owned blue chips recorded the biggest gains. Baoshan Iron & Steel climbed 7.5%, and China Life Insurance jumped 7.9%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index eased 0.1% to 18934.43. Bank of East Asia gained 3.4% as tycoon Li Ka-shing bought into the lender, and a run on the bank showed signs of abating. The stock had skidded 6.9% on Wednesday.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei Stock Average of 225 companies fell 0.9% to 12006.53. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gave up 2%. Shipping firms were among the biggest decliners, with selling triggered by the overnight drop in the industry's benchmark Baltic Dry Index. Nippon Yusen lost 5.7%, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines sank 6.3%.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.1%. BHP Billiton lost 3.9% as metals prices remained weak.

In Mumbai, the 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, fell 1.1% to 13547.18. S. Tulsian, a member of India's National Stock Exchange, said the weakness was linked to the expiration of September derivative contracts Thursday as well as uncertainty hovering over the U.S. bailout proposal.

"Investors are not willing to take risks and are happy with the index trading in a range. The upcoming earnings season is also expected to throw some mixed results," he said.

The Wall Street Journal: China Extends Resources Push With Global Deals

HONG KONG -- Corporate China struck deals Thursday to buy Syrian oil assets for $2 billion and to take a significant stake in an Australian iron-ore producer, furthering its quest to secure natural resources abroad.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., known as Sinopec, won the bidding for Tanganyika Oil Co., edging out Indian rival Oil & Natural Gas Corp. for access to the Canada-listed company's Syrian fields.

Separately, Chinese steel producer Jiangsu Shagang Group Co. made a complex deal to merge its Australian assets with Grange Resources Ltd., giving it a 45% stake in a combined entity that would be valued at one billion Australian dollars (US$833.7 million).

China's foreign acquisitions have been dominated by efforts to secure resources to satiate its economic engine. So far this year, Chinese companies have completed $26.3 billion worth of deals for businesses in the oil, natural-gas and mining industries, according to data provider Dealogic. Natural-resources deals represent 58% of the value of China's total outbound mergers and acquisitions transactions this year.

The Tanganyika transaction strengthens China's ties with the oil-rich Middle East. The company is based in Calgary, Alberta, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, but its oil production comes from Syria, which the U.S. State Department lists as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Still, Syria is a minor player in oil. Many of its fields are in decline, and its production last year accounted for only 1.6% of the Middle East's total, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy. In the three months ended June 30, Tanganyika posted gross average daily oil production of 16,700 barrels.

Chinese state oil companies have sought resources in many places where U.S. and European oil majors are reluctant to plant their flag. The latest deal follows an earlier acquisition by China National Petroleum Corp. and ONGC of a Syrian oil field owned by Petro-Canada Co. Sinopec is also developing a field in Iran, while rival PetroChina Ltd. is exploring for resources in Sudan.

The bidding for Tangayika pit Sinopec against ONGC for the second time this year. ONGC beat Sinopec to acquire London-listed Imperial Energy Corp., whose assets are in Russia, for $2.6 billion.

China's decision to target resources in politically risky nations comes after it suffered a major setback in the 2005 failed $18.5 billion hostile bid by China National Offshore Oil Corp., or Cnooc, to buy Unocal Corp. More recently, China has succeeded in extending its reach by taking a different approach. Cnooc unit China Oilfield Services Ltd. last month launched a $2.5 billion friendly takeover of a Norwegian oil field services provider, Awilco Offshore ASA.

Lehman Brothers Asia Ltd. advised Sinopec on the Tanganyika deal, showing the continued prowess of the future arm of Japan's Nomura Holdings Inc. in helping China land international deals. It also advised Cnooc's oil-field-services arm on the acquisition of Awilco as well as Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. on its joint bid with Alcoa Inc. for a stake in Rio Tinto PLC. Scotia Waterous Inc. advised Tanganyika.

Sinopec's offer for Tanganyika is 31.50 Canadian dollars (US$30.38) a share. That represents a 21% premium to the company's Wednesday close of C$26 a share. The transaction has been approved by both companies' boards but still needs regulatory approval. Tanganyika earned a $29.8 million net profit on revenue of $78.2 million in the first half of this year.

China's search for mining resources has focused on Australia. Booming demand for steel in China has driven up iron-ore prices and pushed steelmakers like Jiangsu Shagang to increase their investments in Australia. Sinosteel Corp. this year succeeded in a hostile bid for Australian miner Midwest Corp., a deal that was finalized in recent weeks.

Grange Resources said Thursday it plans to merge with iron-ore-pellet producer Australian Bulk Minerals, which is controlled by a consortium that includes Jiangsu Shagang. The companies said the deal would shore up funding for Grange's planned US$1.6 billion Southdown iron-ore project. Grange has a market capitalization of about A$219 million.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Bank fo China Takes Stake in Rothschild Bank

Bank of China, the world’s fifth largest bank, said it was opening its wallet for a stake in the Rothschild banking dynasty.

Bank of China is coughing up 236.3 million euros ($341 million) for a 20 percent stake in La Compagnie Financière Edmond de Rothschild, the family-held asset management and private banking business. One of the few remaining independent merchant banks in Europe, the French firm was founded in 1953 by Edmond de Rothschild and has been chaired by his son Benjamin de Rothschild since 1997.

While The Financial Times noted that the move was the first strategic investment by a leading Chinese bank in the eurozone, Min Zhu, the bank’s executive vice chairman, said Bank of China had no intentions of jumping into any deals for the growing list of struggling Western banks.

“We don’t have the capacity yet,” he told The Times of London.

China's Sovereign Wealth Fund Turns Inward

For all the Western attention devoted to China Investment Corp.’s big overseas purchases, the sovereign wealth fund’s mandate to trouble-shoot areas of the domestic economy has drawn less interest. But it is this mission that China called upon it to perform this week, specifically, to shore up the country’s distressed stock market, which has essentially wiped out all of the gains achieved over the past eight years.

After taking headline-grabbing, billion-dollar equity stakes in the Blackstone Group and Morgan Stanley (nyse: MS - news - people ) last year, China’s $200 billion sovereign wealth fund will buy shares in three of the country’s biggest state-owned banks, whose shares have more than halved in value this year. The fund will take stakes in Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (other-otc: ICBAF - news - people ), Bank of China (other-otc: BACHF - news - people ) and China Construction Bank (other-otc: CICHF - news - people ) to calm panicked investors amid a global credit crisis, the state news agency Xinhua said Thursday. The move sent all three banks’ shares soaring more than 15% in Hong Kong on Friday.

This inward recapitalization “may not be part of the long-term strategic direction of CIC,” said a Shanghai-based analyst for a foreign investment bank. The move is also a short-term setback, even if a necessary one, for the government’s overall program of partial privatization of state-run companies, some observed.

The desire to reap greater rewards on the country’s trillion-dollar reserves prompted Beijing to create the CIC in 2007. China traditionally invested those reserves in low-yielding U.S. Treasury bonds. But the sovereign fund has been continually called upon to assist domestic state-owned firms.

At its creation in 2007, CIC used one-third of its funds to recapitalize the Agricultural Bank of China and China Development Bank. Now, as shares in ICBC, BOC, and CCB have sunk 58%, 61% and 54%, respectively, on the Shanghai exchange this year, Beijing has been compelled to staunch the bleeding. The steep slide in Chinese stocks has eaten away at corporate profits, for which investment returns are a major source.

CIC’s latest move to buy up stakes in domestic banks signifies “a temporary reversal in the privatization” process undertaken by Beijing, but government officials were being “pragmatic” under “extraordinary” conditions, given the global financial crisis, said the analyst, who asked not to be named. The government has undertaken massive conversions of state-held shares to tradable shares in various state-owned enterprises this year.

After paying $5 billion for a 9.9% stake in Morgan Stanley last year, CIC is reportedly in talks with the Wall Street firm to increase its stake.

In Hong Kong trading on Friday, ICBC shares closed up 65 Hong Kong cents (8 cents), or 16.17%, to 4.67 Hong Kong dollars (60 cents). BOC shares closed up 48 Hong Kong cents (6 cents), or 16.67%, to 3.36 Hong Kong dollars (43 cents). CCB shares closed up 74 Hong Kong cents (10 cents), or 15.74%, to 5.44 Hong Kong dollars (70 cents).

The Wall Street Journal: China Seeks to Lift Market by Raising Stake in Major Banks

SHANGHAI -- China's government announced plans to buy shares and take other measures to support the nation's plummeting stock market, a program that analysts said will surely boost investor sentiment -- but could add to longer-term risks.

As the world's major central banks banded together Thursday to fight a meltdown in global financial markets, Beijing said an arm of China's $200 billion sovereign-wealth fund will increase its shareholding in the nation's three largest banks with direct purchases on the market, while other government entities will be encouraged to load up on stock in listed companies that they control. In addition, authorities canceled a 0.1% tax on stock purchases, although sellers will still have to pay the tax.

Already the principal shareholder in China's three largest banks, Central Huijin Investment Co. will buy additional stock in Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., Bank of China Ltd. and China Construction Bank Corp., according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The report said the buying began Thursday and aims to "shore up their share prices amid stock market slumps." No specifics on the planned purchases were announced.

"It is absolutely a market-rescuing message from the government," said Mao Nan, a strategist at Orient Securities Co. in Shanghai.

The announcement came as central banks around the globe flooded money markets with U.S. dollars, and on a day when other Asian governments were taking more technical and less blunt steps than China to support their financial systems -- for example, by adding local currency to their own money markets. Using similar monetary policy options in China, like this week's first lowering of interest rates in six years, would have limited impact on China's economy given the immaturity of its financial system.

By buying shares directly, Beijing will employ its most powerful tool to halt a painful market decline that has erased 64% this year from the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index. The move, which wasn't coordinated with any outside authorities, also marks what may be a last chance to resuscitate the confidence of tens of millions of investors -- and appears to reflect a recognition in Beijing that its strategy to carefully phase in market-oriented policies hasn't convinced the public that stocks are a suitable place to put their $4 trillion in savings. The Shanghai Composite Index fell about 70% from last year's all-time high of 6124.04 to Thursday's low point of about 1816.

The purchases will deepen China's government ownership of a market that by some estimates is still about two-thirds controlled by state interests. That state of affairs threatens to sustain a decade-long fear that big shareholders will ultimately dump their stock -- a factor that many blame for this year's collapse and a previous grind earlier in the decade that erased more than 40% of market value.

It is unclear whether the stock-market intervention suggests Beijing will suspend its hunt for investments overseas -- up to now the major focus of the country's sovereign wealth fund. Chinese entities haven't entered the fray to shore up Wall Street firms in recent weeks. Still, even as the market bailout was being announced on Thursday, Bank of China said it would pay 2.3 billion yuan ($336 million) to buy about 20% of Cie. Financière Edmond de Rothschild, the French arm of the LCF Rothschild Group headed by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild.

The U.S. government's recent massive bailouts of American financial companies have provided ammunition to those calling for official stock buying by Beijing. Chinese policy makers had debated for months whether to pull the trigger and buy shares, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday. For much of the year, proponents of freer markets appeared to be winning with their argument that authorities shouldn't target price levels. They advocated instead building a credible trading system of fair rules, robust infrastructure and trustworthy participants that would make the stock market a base on which to build a fuller financial system.

But as the market rout continued, Beijing's credibility was on the line. Investors, who had opened more than 100 million trading accounts, said the market's biggest investor -- the government -- had a duty to defend it.

As part of the new effort to boost stocks, the central-government entity that indirectly controls a vast array of major state-owned companies indicated Thursday that repurchases of shares in listed companies would soon begin. Among the companies in its stable is oil giant PetroChina Ltd., the largest stock on the Shanghai exchange.

Gao Lingzhi, an analyst at Great Wall Securities in Shenzhen, said if the market doesn't sustain the now widely expected rally when government entities start buying stocks, investors will clamor for more support.