Bamboo Innovator

Investment sentiment is drastically turning around as opinions diverge over the direction of corporate governance realignment by Samsung Group, following the announcement of Samsung Everland’s planned listing

Stock market swayed by speculations on Samsung’s conversion into holding co structure

2014.06.10 15:05:15

Investment sentiment is drastically turning around as opinions diverge over the direction of corporate governance realignment by Samsung Group, following the announcement of Samsung Everland’s planned listing.
Brokerages shifted their focus from Samsung Group’s possible conversion into a holding company structure to strengthened control of the Group through spinoffs and mergers of major affiliates or handover of shareholdings to the third generation of the owner family after Everland’s listing.  Read more of this post

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is soon forecast to impose harsh disciplinary action on Amorepacific, which was embroiled in an unfair trade controversy over using forceful sales tactics against door-to-door sales distributors

Amorepacific likely to face hefty penalty

Park Yoon-soo

2014.06.10 17:54:36

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is soon forecast to impose harsh disciplinary action on Amorepacific, which was embroiled in an unfair trade controversy over using forceful sales tactics against door-to-door sales distributors last year.  Read more of this post

The “brain drain” that has afflicted developing countries for decades is now going into reverse. But success requires more than plugging a leak; economic development requires countries to make active efforts to attract talent

MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

JUN 8, 2014

The Brain Regain

DUBAI – In 1968, while studying at the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom, I needed to visit a hospital. There I met a doctor who, to my surprise, spoke fluent Arabic. I learned that he was new to the UK, so I asked if he intended to stay long or return home. He replied with an Arabic saying that translates as: “My home is where I can eat.” Read more of this post

Chinese Shoppers Change Hong Kong Border Area; Vast numbers of mainland Chinese traders and shoppers are pumping money into Hong Kong, leading to rapid development of the territory’s border area

Chinese Shoppers Change Hong Kong Border Area

JUNE 10, 2014

By CHRIS HORTON

HONG KONG — Smoking a cigarette outside a mall in the border town of Sheung Shui, a man who gave his name only as Chen stands next to a wheeled cart filled with purchases. He is visiting from the Chinese city of Shantou, 177 miles away, a trip he makes several times a year.

“When I come to Hong Kong, it’s mainly to buy medicine — maybe some food products, too,” said Mr. Chen, who declined to provide his full name because of a crackdown on illegal exporting. “There are more brands available here, many of which you can’t find back home. On the mainland, there is also a lot of counterfeiting.” Read more of this post

Hong Kong Regulators Tense About China Loans

Hong Kong Regulators Tense About China Loans

By KEITH BRADSHER

JUNE 10, 2014 5:44 PM Comment

Updated, 8:25 p.m. | A surge in business loans to the slowing mainland Chinese economy has prompted Hong Kong regulators to impose strict financial rules four years before they are required under new global standards.

The move is aimed at discouraging banks in Hong Kong from raising money by relying too heavily on short-term funds that can evaporate during periods of tumult. But big global banks have been resisting, over fears that the rules will cut into their profit by driving up loan costs. Read more of this post

Joko Plans to Abolish National Exam for Younger Students; “It’s better to look stupid but be smart, rather than to look intellectual but be stupid. It’s better to listen to people’s opinion rather than act like a know-it-all.”

Joko Plans to Abolish National Exam for Younger Students

By SP/Arnold Sianturi on 11:52 pm Jun 10, 2014

1.  Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko Widodo on Tuesday said that he would eliminate Indonesia’s national exam for elementary and junior high school students if elected.

“It’s better if there’s no national exam for students in elementary school and junior high school,” Joko said at a teachers’ workshop in North Sumatra. “It’s better to look stupid but be smart, rather than to look intellectual but be stupid. It’s better to listen to people’s opinion rather than act like a know-it-all.”

The teachers said “Amen.”

He was referring to controversy surrounding the exam: critics have argued that the test is so difficult that it encourages rote learning and memorization aimed at achieving a high exam score rather than depth or subtly of comprehension.

Education Minister Muhammad Nuh last year said that he would eliminate the elementary school exam in 2014, which he did. But the government replaced it with a new, similar test, 75 percent of which was written by local education agencies and 25 percent of which was written by the central government.

Indonesian Election Fever Grips the Nation After Presidential TV Debate

Election Fever Grips the Nation After TV Debate

By Dessy Sagita on 11:11 pm Jun 10, 2014

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, second to left, greets his opponent Joko Widodo, center, next to vice presidential candidates Hatta Rajasa, left, and Jusuf Kalla, right, before their presidential debate in Jakarta on June 9, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Supri)

1.  Election fever has gripped the nation after the first TV debate between Governor Joko Widodo and former general Prabowo Subianto, flanked by their respective running mates, Jusuf Kalla and Hatta Rajasa, engrossed viewers on Monday night.

Read more of this post

Asia’s New ‘Axis of Reform’?

Asia’s New ‘Axis of Reform’?

By William Pesek on 07:17 pm Jun 10, 2014

Asia’s three biggest economies are suddenly experiencing a burst of change that could alter the growth trajectory for the world’s most populous region. Are we seeing the birth of a new “Axis of Reform,” one which could revive the global economy?

China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi and Japan’s Shinzo Abe are simultaneously sketching out vague-but-promising plans to revitalize their rigid economies. It’s not a coordinated process — more of a serendipitous coincidence, driven by a dire need for change in all three nations. Still, the possibilities are enticing: A truly dynamic and innovative Asia would raise living standards for billions and fresh hope for a world wondering where all its big growth engines went. Read more of this post

Keeping It In the Family: Even though Isia has the largest economy in ASEAN, it remains a small stock market; Family-owned businesses are avoiding equity offerings to the public because they can raise money by borrowing from banks

Keeping It In the Family

By Dominic G. Diongson, Vanesha Manuturi and Dion Bisara on 09:02 pm Jun 10, 2014

A worker shorts Sido Muncul’s best seller herbal remedy Tolak Angin. (JG Photo/Dhana Kencana)

Some family-owned businesses are avoiding equity offerings to the public because they can raise money by borrowing from banks. They also don’t want to cede control or dilute ownership, because they believe that everything should remain in family hands.

In their journey to expand and develop, why do some family-run firms choose banks and loans over an initial public offering? Globe Asia examine the various factors at play. Read more of this post

MSCI Keeps China Out of Indexes as Korea Upgrade Abandoned

MSCI Keeps China Out of Indexes as Korea Upgrade Abandoned

By Belinda Cao on 08:27 am Jun 11, 2014

China’s mainland-traded shares won’t be included in MSCI’s emerging-markets index, while South Korea and Taiwan were removed from consideration for an upgrade to developed market status.

MSCI, which based its decision on limitations to investing in China’s so-called A shares, may consider an inclusion in 2015, the index provider said in a statement on Tuesday. The MSCI Korea and MSCI Taiwan indexes will be removed from potential reclassification because of the absence of “any significant improvements” in areas such as the limited convertibility of local currencies and market accessibility. Read more of this post

In Japan, labor crunch pushes businesses to reform

In Japan, labor crunch pushes businesses to reform

TOKYO – Don Quijote and Uniqlo, two of Japan’s best-known mass-market retailers, aren’t waiting for the government’s new growth policies due later this month before implementing their own labor reforms.

JUNE 5

TOKYO – Don Quijote and Uniqlo, two of Japan’s best-known mass-market retailers, aren’t waiting for the government’s new growth policies due later this month before implementing their own labor reforms.

While many labor-intensive businesses face a shortage of low-wage workers as Japan’s economy perks up, discount chain Don Quijote Holdings is drawing five times more job seekers since it bucked tradition and eased application requirements. Read more of this post