Why Companies Suffer Large, Unexpected Credit Losses; The risk of businesses defaulting on their obligations may rise in the coming years

March 25, 2014

CFO.com | US

Why Companies Suffer Large, Unexpected Credit Losses

The risk of businesses defaulting on their obligations may rise in the coming years.

Marc Wagman

For companies that sell business-to-business products and services, many things can contribute to a company incurring a loss from a bad debt. The most important factor is probably the quality of the organization’s finance and credit management process. But even the best-managed corporate finance and credit departments experience large, unexpected and painful credit losses. The effect of such a loss on the company’s stakeholders can be devastating. Lenders, vendors, customers and even employees can also be affected, especially when a large, key customer defaults on its obligations. Read more of this post

Why Employee Turnover Hits the Bottom Line; Employees leaving an organization can influence financial performance, and some of the reasons may not be obvious

March 26, 2014

CFO.com | US

Why Employee Turnover Hits the Bottom Line

Employees leaving an organization can influence financial performance, and some of the reasons may not be obvious. Read more of this post

A cautionary tale of using red flags?

A cautionary tale of using red flags

Wednesday, Mar 26, 2014

Goh Eng Yeow

The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – First, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) was accused of doing too little. Now, it is accused of doing too much. Read more of this post

Myanmar army role to be ‘gradually’ decreased: President

Myanmar army role to be ‘gradually’ decreased: President

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 – 19:01

AFP

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar, March 26, 2014 (AFP) – Myanmar’s leader on Wednesday said the role of the powerful military should be reduced slowly in the transition to democracy amid opposition campaigns to ease the army’s grip on political power. Read more of this post

Is Olam price spike due to market misconduct?

Is Olam price spike due to market misconduct?

First Published in Business Times on March 19, 2014

Letter to the Editor

Mak Yuen Teen

THE commentary, “Why no SGX query on Olam price surge? (BT, March 15), mentions the perception that SGX may be less willing to query government-linked companies (GLCs). Read more of this post

SGX should be more proactive against potential insider trading

SGX should be more proactive against potential insider trading

First Published in Business Times on March 26, 2014

Mak Yuen Teen

LAST week was not a good week for the regulatory side of SGX. On the one hand, it was criticised for not querying Olam, while on the other, it was told that it was too easy on the trigger for “Trade with Caution” (TWC) alerts. Read more of this post

South Korean prosecutors Wednesday overturned a controversial landmark ruling allowing a convicted property mogul to pay off a multi-million dollar fine with 49 days of prison labour

S. Korean tycoon to pay fine after jail work overruled

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 – 20:32

AFP

SEOUL – South Korean prosecutors Wednesday overturned a controversial landmark ruling allowing a convicted property mogul to pay off a multi-million dollar fine with 49 days of prison labour, a report said. Read more of this post

Indonesia Election 2014: Technocrat Gita Wirjawan says he’s seeking change; Politics is a different ball game altogether for Mr Gita, who only joined the Cabinet in late 2011, and whose rise on the national stage has been meteoric

Indonesia Election 2014: Technocrat says he’s seeking change

Thursday, March 27, 2014 – 03:25

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

The Straits Times

JAKARTA – At a time when many thought striking a global trade deal was impossible last December, Bali meeting chairman and then trade minister Gita Wirjawan showed sceptics it could be done by sealing an agreement for the World Trade Organisation. Read more of this post

Icelander goes into currency cyberspace, central bank frowns

Icelander goes into currency cyberspace, central bank frowns

Tue, Mar 25 2014

By Robert Robertsson

REYKJAVIK (Reuters) – Iceland grew a little richer on Tuesday, at least in cyberspace, with the launch of a virtual currency its pseudonymous founder hopes will circumvent the island’s capital controls and eventually replace the crown. Read more of this post

GM’s new recall risk – the spare parts market

Exclusive: GM’s new recall risk – the spare parts market

4:19pm EDT

By Ben Klayman, Marilyn Thompson and Julia Edwards

DETROIT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As General Motors Co recalls 1.6 million vehicles that have defective ignition switches linked to at least 12 deaths, it faces another potential risk – this time in the spare parts market. Read more of this post

U.S. to require casinos to vet high rollers’ funds – sources

Exclusive: U.S. to require casinos to vet high rollers’ funds – sources

3:33pm EDT

By Brett Wolf

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) – U.S. casinos may soon have to vet where their high rollers’ funds come from under a requirement being developed by the U.S. Treasury Department, according to two people familiar with the matter. Read more of this post

Chinese airlines caught in forex crosswinds as Beijing eases grip on yuan

Chinese airlines caught in forex crosswinds as Beijing eases grip on yuan

5:03pm EDT

By Fang Yan and Matthew Miller

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese airlines, already grappling with half-empty premier cabins due to Beijing’s austerity drive, will be tested next in their ability to hedge against currency risks as China looks set to allow greater two-way swings in the yuan. Read more of this post

What Counts at China’s Banks

What Counts at China’s Banks

AARON BACK

March 26, 2014 9:02 a.m. ET

China’s widely loathed bank shares got a boost after one of the biggest state-owned lenders reported decent earnings. But a sustained rally won’t be possible until transparency improves. Read more of this post

China’s Long Road to Shale-Gas Boom

Mar 26, 2014

China’s Long Road to Shale-Gas Boom

Eric Yep

The development of China’s shale-gas industry has moved forward over the past year, but far more remains to be done than has been accomplished if the nation’s ambitious production targets are to be met, according to executives attending an energy conference here. Read more of this post

After the public backlash over a court’s decision to allow a disgraced chaebol owner to pay off a 25.4 billion won ($23.5 million) fine by spending 49 days in a prison labor house making tofu

A day’s work for 500 million won?

Mar 26,2014

A former corporate kingpin who used to run the largest business group in Gwangju and South Jeolla before the conglomerate fell apart in 2010 returned to Korea over the weekend to comply with a local court order to work off his massive fines. The former chairman fled to New Zealand to dodge hefty fines after he was convicted of embezzlement and tax evasion. Read more of this post

Zhejiang Xingrun’s collapse highlights property sector risk

Zhejiang Xingrun’s collapse highlights property sector risk

Xinhua

2014-03-26

The insolvency of a property developer in east China’s Zhejiang province has shed light on the risk in the country’s formerly red-hot real estate sector. Read more of this post

Cracks Appear as Shanxi Steel Firm Builds Up Big Debt

03.21.2014 15:45

Cracks Appear as Shanxi Steel Firm Builds Up Big Debt

Highsee Iron and Steel Group could be up to 20 billion yuan in the red, and owe as much as 3 billion yuan to Minsheng Bank Read more of this post

S. Korea ‘bureaucracy risk’ derails economic innovation

S. Korea ‘bureaucracy risk’ derails economic innovation

2014.03.26 17:51:09

The ‘bureaucracy risk’ is re-surfacing in South Korea. President Park Geun-hye continues to call for a three-year economic innovation plan and regulation reform, but civil servants at the central and local governments who are in charge of implementing such plan and reform still remain mired in outdated practices.  Read more of this post

Childcare operator G8 Education has broken its own rules on how much it is willing to pay for new centres, buying 91 from Sterling Early Education for $228 million

Jessica Gardner Reporter

G8 Education breaks its own rules to buy 91 childcare centres

Published 25 March 2014 12:53, Updated 26 March 2014 10:55

Childcare operator G8 Education has broken its own rules on how much it is willing to pay for new centres, buying 91 from Sterling Early Education for $228 million, just a week after Sterling’s float was pulled. Read more of this post

Report: Researchers Are Becoming Too Obsessed with Chasing Pageviews

Report: Researchers Are Becoming Too Obsessed with Chasing Pageviews

JASON KOEBLER

@jason_koeblerjasontpkoebler@gmail.com

March 21, 2014 // 04:10 PM EST

An urge to publish in one of several high profile academic journals is causing a “mania” that has caused scientists to focus on publishing newsworthy studiesinstead of focusing on doing good science, according to a new paper. Read more of this post