Fisher Capital Management News: Equity Markets

Equity Markets: All the major equity markets, and most of the emerging markets, Are stable over the past month. There had been expectations that the Fed might introduce further quantitative easing measures at its recent OMC meeting, and this provided some support for the markets

in the early part of the month; but it made only very modest.

Government Bond Markets: The major government bond markets have made further significant gains over the past month, despite the funding pressures resulting form huge fiscal deficits, and the renewed concerns about debt defaults.

Short-term interest rates have remained low, and monetary policy has been supportive; but it has been the enhanced “safe haven” status of these markets that has provided most of the momentum, as investors have sought “shelter from the current storm”. However the moves have surprised most commentators, and this has led to warnings about “bond bubbles” that will not be sustained.

Financial Markets: Sentiment in the financial markets has deteriorated. Signs of slowdown in the Chinese economy, have produced a much more cautious view of prospects for the rest of this year and in 2011;  and there have been renewed fears about banking problems in Europe, and the likelihood of sovereign debt defaults. There have also been further indications of the conflicting views of central banks about the most appropriate response to the current problems.

Currency Markets: Uncertainty has been the main feature of the currency markets over the past month. The dollar has recovered from earlier weakness after the Fed made only very modest changes in its monetary policy at the latest OMC meeting, and is ending the period basically unchanged; sterling has weakened slightly against the dollar but is higher against the euro; and the euro has also fallen back against most other currencies as the fears about sovereign debt defaults in Europe have increased.

But the feature of the currency markets over the month has been the sharp appreciation of the yen because of its enhanced “safe haven” status. The move is obviously an unwelcome development for the Japanese authorities, and there has been considerable speculation about

intervention by the Bank of Japan to reverse it; but there has been no action so far.

Short-Term Rates: There have been no changes in short-term rates in the major financial centres this month.

Commodity markets have followed the trend in the other markets,  improving in the early part of the period, but falling back towards month-end.

The main features have been the continued strength of wheat prices after the Russian decision to suspend wheat and grain exports, and the sharp fall in oil prices.

Fisher Capital Management Korea is a leading global financial institution holding extensive relationships with financial institutions, institutional investors and corporations across the world. As a full service company Fisher Capital Management Korea provides a full range of investment banking services including advanced risk management, corporate strategy and structure, plus raising capital through debt and equity markets. With this as our backbone we continue to provide a client service second to none.

Fisher Capital Management - Japan Elects a New Premier Part 2

Fisher Capital Management Eight and a half months after riding the Democratic Party of Japan’s (DPJ) historic lower house victory into office, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced his resignation, having haphazardly frittered away a chest brimming with political capital.

Major newspapers said that Hatoyama was resigning mainly for two reasons: his failure to keep his promise to relocate the functions of US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, out of Okinawa Prefecture, and a political funding scandal that included his mother’s provision of some ¥1.26 billion to him over years.

Fisher Capital Management - Japan Elects a New Premier Part 2: Instead of deregulation and lower corporate taxes, he envisions increased employment and consumption through focused government spending in nursing, medicine and other social welfare fields. But some economists expressed doubts; they say there is no guarantee that the positive effect of government spending can steadily outpace the negative effects of tax hikes.

Kan seems to be open to the idea of raising Japan’s consumption tax from its current level of 5%, though the approach of the upperhouse election on July and concerns over a political backlash suggest caution will be the government’s modus operandi.

“Any rise in the consumption tax rate must be offset by lower levies on daily goods as well as refunds for low-income households”, he recently said. But he also hopes to reduce corporate taxes from the current 40% rate to around 25%, in line with other major countries. In the foreign exchange market, Kan has earned a reputation as a weak-yen advocate. “The business community says that a yen in the mid-90s against the dollar is appropriate, so it would be better

if it weakens a bit further”, he said in January, shortly after becoming finance minister.

Fisher Capital Management - Japan Elects a New Premier Part 2: Market observers believe that Kan still supports a weaker yen and that the Japanese currency could depreciate against the US dollar. Regarding monetary policy, Kan is generally considered an advocate of inflation-targeting and quantitative easing. As finance minister, he has put some political pressure on the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to fight deflation more aggressively, he nudged the BOJ to double a special bank lending program introduced in December. The bond market believes Kan is a wise choice to manage the sustainability of Japan’s government debt.

The DPJ had promised to unveil a long-term plan to improve public finances. However, “postponement is likely because of the current political churn, and any real ‘meat’ in the plan will probably not be disclosed until after the Upper House election” … says Flemming Nielsen, senior analyst at Danske research.

Kan is a self-made man, ascending into politics after years toiling in citizen movements and he has a reputation as a quick learner and a pragmatic politician, with sharp elbows and an aversion to any criticism.

The country he now leads is facing dire long-term problems that beg for strong leadership, including a staggering level of public debt, a stagnant economy, and an ageing population. He has a few weeks to fix the impression left by nine months of incompetent DPJ governance.

If he fails, the party will be routed in the elections for the Diet’s upper house.

China - World's First Internal Combustion Engine Manufacturing Power by Fisher Capital Equipment Update

Fisher Capital Equipment Management Update- China has become the world's first internal combustion engine manufacturing power - engine oil - construction machinery industry. Avoid online internet scams; get latest updates on Fisher Capital Equipment Management website.  At Tianjin University in a few days ago " Energy Power "Academic Forum, Tianjin University, State Key Laboratory of Combustion Yao Ming-Fa fellow director, said China's current annual production has more than 60 million internal combustion units, is the world's first internal combustion engine manufacturing country. With internal combustion engine as the power source of the power system in the next 30-50 years is still the main driving force for most, it will be the internal combustion engine energy saving energy saving in China the main battlefield of the future

 "Energy and Power," Academic Forum, Tianjin University to celebrate the State Key Laboratory of Combustion opened in 20 years held. Forums, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences Gob, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Hui Guo, Tianjin University, State Key Laboratory of Combustion chief scientist Wan-Hua Su, China FAW Car Research chief engineer Li Kang and other experts, including prior agreement will concern the focus of great concern in the current domestic and international economic  and energy savings on carbon.

China - world's first internal combustion engine manufacturing power – Fisher Capital Equipment Update. Avoid online internet scams; get latest updates on Fisher Capital Equipment Management website. Researcher, according to Yao Ming-Fa, the internal combustion engine Oil Oil consumption is about 66% of total consumption, China's dependence on oil imports more than 50%. Engine emissions and noise are also major sources of air and the environment, the city more than 50% of the harmful gases from motor vehicle emissions from combustion engines. "But the burning Engine Still the main power source in the future, fuel efficient and clean burning combustion technology is still theoretical and academic frontier. Conventional internal combustion engine is still 50% of the energy potential of renewable fuels, new synthetic fuel efficient and clean combustion is an important aspect of new energy to pursue low-carbon power has become an important international political issues, combustion engine fuel diversification energy diversification is a trend. “

 Laboratory Academic Committee, Chinese Academy of Sciences said Xu Jianzhong, although in recent decades, fossil energy is still the main source of energy, but from now on to create carbon-free, low-carbon energy system, the occupation of energy technology and industrial high ground, China's Industrial development.

1989 Tianjin University completed an open State Key Laboratory of Engine Combustion engine of China's only State Key Laboratory of the field. Combination of the laboratory "energy", "environment" and "power" major national needs and international academic front, the main research interests include internal combustion engine combustion process and optimum control of the internal combustion engine generates harmful emissions, and atmospheric environmental impact post-processing technology research, alternative fuels and new engine Power Plant Study, dynamic mechanical structural strength, vibration, noise and lubrication technology research.

Experts at the forum agreed that the green energy and low-carbon economy is becoming the leading technology and industrial revolution in the next major direction of our country is facing domestic pressure to reduce carbon emissions, carbon emissions will be the internal combustion engine technology to drive future the development of one of the main sources of power. The face of this international situation, Yao Ming-fa introducing the laboratory researcher, said the future direction of development, energy-efficient internal combustion engine and reduce harmful emissions and reducing carbon emissions are the characteristics of the laboratory, while the aircraft engines, space propulsion in the field expansion side laboratory has also made encouraging progress. "We will continue to innovate and operational mechanisms to accelerate the pace of development, take on the achievement of national goals of scientific research and high-level personnel training duty. Efforts to build a world-class laboratory research center of the engine, to meet China in the 'energy,' 'Environment' and 'advanced power' to make a significant contribution to the demand. "

Fisher Capital Updates Avoid Scams- New Swiss Style Agency Nexturn

Most recently by the financial turmoil sweeping the globe, has been leading the international trend of the European heavy truck heavy truck giant constantly laying off employees and cut-off of the news. Avoid scams. Keep posted and don’t be a victim.

 2008 12 16, Sweden Volvo Truck Group headquarters in Gothenburg, announced first quarter 2009 will be discontinued 20 to 25 days to avoid a drop in demand caused by product mix. Earlier, the German truck maker Man (MAN) Company announced major layoffs for temporary workers and cut production. Mercedes-Benz trucks were announced job cuts in Canada and the United States, 2300.

 Chinese auto companies have gradually felt the tremendous power of this financial crisis. In the heavy truck market, the independent brand of electric control and high-pressure EGR Track Product spreads win one or two million in full swing, not to mention the high price of imported heavy card. The face of tough international market, the European heavy truck giant can turn "crisis" into "opportunities" in China for more effective business support?

 Previous years, this time, each company will announce a new year of market objectives and development plans. But this year, most businesses still wait until. Interest rates, exchange rates frequently adjusted bailout plan were introduced, the situation changes so rapidly, so that hundreds of battles in the European heavy truck giant become more cautious than ever.

Benz trucks in China public relations manager, told reporters that Wang Hui, Mercedes-Benz on the Chinese market and customers’ long-term commitment is consistent. Slowdown in the current market circumstances, the Mercedes-Benz will continue to provide Chinese customers with high quality products and services. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz that the Chinese government to stimulate domestic demand, increasing investment in initiatives such as the opportunities for the commercial vehicle market, promising Chinese market, long-term, sustainable development.

 Insiders commented that, compared with the domestic heavy truck, imported products have a distinct performance advantage. However, due to the special needs of our commercial vehicles, heavy trucks have been no imports of high-end open market, even as imports of passenger cars did not bring in huge profits for multinational corporations. At present, this situation has not changed.

 Hard for many years in China, another giant of heavy trucks in Europe?? Volvo to the Chinese market showed cautious optimism. President of Volvo Trucks in China, said Lu Bo days, despite the international financial crisis, but the driving force for China's economic development still exist, with the timely measures taken by the relevant market better than in Europe and the United States. He said that both in good times or bad, both for China Volvo Cooperation Partner support, and will not lay off in China.

As the industry leader in commercial vehicles in Europe, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo is also China's imports of high-end heavy truck market leader, in recent years has annual sales of more than in 1000. Rely on much weaker than the company's own brand dealer network, can achieve such results is not easy, to keep victories is their primary goal. Man speaking for the company, but the adverse economic situation it saw an opportunity. Man Fischer, vice president of China, told reporters that the financial turmoil, China is likely in 2009 a temporary economic downturn. However, the Man for 2010 is optimistic about China's economic situation. On the one hand, the 4 trillion yuan in central government investment projects, traffic, transportation, logistics industry is the key; the other hand, the Chinese yuan to upgrade the user's purchasing power. By expanding dealer network to provide users of financial services and other measures, Mann hopes the Chinese market in 2009 heavy truck sales of more than 500 in 2010, and strive to reach 1,000 units in China imports high-end heavy truck market share from the current 8% to 20%.

 China called the world's largest truck market, regardless of existing capacity or growth potential is very attractive. At present, the global economy are shrouded in shadow of financial turmoil, the Chinese market for multinational auto giants significantly increased the importance of the European heavy truck giant too. Although China's own brand of technical level of heavy truck brand products in Europe there is still a gap, but their progress over the years is obvious to all. The industry believes that both the Chinese heavy truck market prospects are also notable features. This feature is changing for the right to speak; the Chinese heavy truck industry has gradually become rules of the game makers. Only able to adapt to the rules of Chinese enterprises to share the fruits of victory.

 Related Reading: 2009 debut all the new heavy truck market in China smoke resurgence

 In the global financial crisis, China's heavy truck industry is facing the most strong market impact in history, many users are forced to report truck stop, a sharp decline in market demand, but as the beginning of large-scale infrastructure and fuel tax implementation, some experts predict that 2009 will be the second half of the Chinese heavy truck market is expected to rebound. Then, the face of the current severe situation, how companies can survive the winter; future market rebound when the business first opened, how can the situation? In the face of this issue, China's heavy truck manufacturers have thought they were talking to the product. Recently, the China Heavy Duty Truck, Shaanxi Auto, Fukuda, SAIC Iveco Hongyan, Valin successively announced their new 09 models, can be predicted that in 2009 China's heavy truck market, a war broke out did not smoke.

How to avoid Engineering Scholarship Scams

Fisher Capital Equipment Tips - Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers. Civil Engineer site - How to avoid Engineering Scholarship Scams

Student or parents needs to be able to recognize the scholarship fraud profile. Following are top 10 Scholarship Scams.

1. The free seminar scam. Overwhelmed by all the information out there? Want to make the best financial aid decisions for you or your child? Often a free financial aid seminar is no more than a “come-on” for insurance sales pitches, matching services or investment products.

Signs that should make the warning bells go off: Are they using the hard sell? Sign-up today or the price shoots up tomorrow? Can only answer certain questions after you pay their fee? Wants your credit card information to “hold” a scholarship for you? Your ears should be ringing by now.

Remember, if you receive help from a consultant, he or she must sign the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If the seminar sales rep refuses to do so, it is another alarm bell. And never let a company consultant suggest that you adjust your income on the FAFSA in order to receive more aid. It’s unethical (a crime even). And it can backfire, big time.

2. Scholarships for profit. Scholarships are designed for many purposes—recruit talented athletes, assist low income applicants, encourage study in an academic discipline, promote campus diversity, attract the best students—but profit should never be one of them. Scammers that award modest scholarships of $1,000 (or no scholarship at all) can collect many times over that amount in fees by attracting thousands of applicants. You may only be out the 15 bucks or so, but multiple that by 1,000 scholarship hopefuls just like you and you just made for a nice payday for the scholarship scam artist. Being denied such a scholarship does not make you undeserving—but just one more scammed applicant.

3. The advance-fee loan. A low-interest loan with an upfront fee? Don’t think so, and neither should you. Legitimate lenders deduct fees from at the time disbursement checks are issue; they do not charge fees before paying out the loan to a borrower. Be wary of any lender that asks for money upfront—that is a loan that will likely never materialize.

4. Your Financial Aid Office. Huh? Your college Financial Aid Office is a credible and free resource for education funding. But beware; the Education Department recently banned the practice of lenders offering financial incentives to universities that recommend their service as a preferred lender (the university often receiving a “cut” for the loan). The move was prompted by investigations showing that some university officials accepted gifts, payments or stock on favorable terms in exchange for such practices. In other instances, marketing representatives for lenders staffed phones at student aid offices. In an $85 billion student loan industry, you have to ask yourself if your university steered you to the lender with the best rate available, or simply the one lining their pockets. Ouch.

5. The guaranteed matching service. If Match.com can’t guarantee you Prince Charming and firmer abs, scholarship matching services cannot guarantee you money in the bank. Matching services that promise guaranteed matching sources for a processing fee of $49.95 (and much higher) will at best provide you with information available for free on the web. Take note that these services often inflate their database when an individual sponsor offers hundreds of scholarships.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that many of the sources provided by scholarship matching services are inaccurate and “few, if any at all, receive the actual funds”. The BBB adds that information provided is often out of date, providing sources for deadlines that have long passed. And never mind that money-back guarantee—it comes with more hoops to jump through than any dog-and-pony show you could ever imagine.

6. Linked products. Don’t let any sales person ever convince you that a financial product, such as student life insurance, or an annuity, must be purchased to qualify for federal student financial aid. It just isn’t so. And it is a sure fire scam.

7. The telemarketer. Telemarketing was once the biggest bugaboos of scholarship fraud when the FTC first addressed scholarship scams in the 90s. Attention more recently has shifted to bogus financial aid and scholarship seminars, and deceptive practices among consultants. That does not mean that telemarketing scams still do not surface. The U.S. Department of Education warned consumers recently about telemarketing scammers posing as U.S. Department of Education (ED) officers offering grants to students for a $249 processing fee (by requesting a bank or credit card number). Contact the DOE’s Office of Inspector General at

1-800-MIS-USED begin_of_the_skype_highlighting,

1-800-MIS-USED end_of_the_skype_highlighting

(1-800-647-8733 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting,

1-800-647-8733 end_of_the_skype_highlighting) or oig.hotline@ed.gov to learn more.

8. Guaranteed financial aid consultants. What can you expect for your fee from a financial aid consultant? Help completing the FAFSA, estimating your expected family contribution (EFC), and advising you or child on types of aid. Information and assistance that is readily available and free from a financial aid office at any university, your local library, on the web, or from a high school guidance counselor. So what is free, free, free information worth to you? Plenty, if you pay fees to a financial aid consultant to get it.

Some may want the handholding of a consultant regardless. Then be aware of deceptive claims that should send you looking for help from other sources. A financial aid consultant may guarantee a minimum $2,500 in aid or promise to refund your money. That’s nice, but misleading. Yes, you will no doubt receive that $2,500 student loan, but then so will every applicant who completes the FAFSA (free and on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov). A federal entitlement available simply by completing the FAFSA should not be misrepresented or misconstrued as aid a consulting company can uniquely guarantee you as an enticement.

Likewise, if a consulting service guarantees you will receive every last penny to ship your child off to school (or your money back), you should not be fooled. You guessed it, another federal entitlement that is a byproduct of completing the FAFSA. That and a decent credit rating will earn you a PLUS loan for 100 percent of the total cost of attendance for you or your child. It is just good sense to steer clear of any company that entices clientele with benefits that are freely available to all students completing the FAFSA (whether they pay pricey consulting fees or not) as a federal entitlement.

Remember, if a consulting agency is completing a FAFSA (or any other form) on your behalf, review, sign it, and mail it yourself. You should maintain copies of the completed FAFSA and expect a refund if it is incorrect. And always agree to a flat fee for financial aid consulting services, never a percentage of aid received. Qualifications to consider when screening potential financial aid consultants include whether the consultant has experience at a financial aid office and is a Certified Public Accountant. Never be hesitant to ask for references.

9. The sweepstakes scholarship. Lucky you! You have just been selected as a finalist to win a scholarship in a sweepstakes that you never entered. (And you thought you never won anything.) The only obstacle standing between you and collecting your winnings is paying the redemption fee. Be wary of contests, websites and scholarships that collect personal data, payout a single dollar-amount (play the lottery today?) and repay the kindness with a barrage of advertisements. Which brings us to our next popular scam tactic.

10. The redemption fee. Common catchphrases by the scammer are disbursement fee, redemption fee, or processing fee. Notice the common denominator here? Legitimate scholarships do not ask a student to pay for an award. Be wary of any money awarded to you out of the blue that comes with strings, especially those with strings attached to your pocketbook.

Fisher Capital Updates - Bechtel-Enka Completes Albanian Motorway

Fisher Capital Equipment Management News Updates - TIRANA, ALBANIA -  Bechtel and joint-venture partner Enka today completed construction on the Albanian Motorway, a 37-mile (61-km), four-lane highway that stretches from central Albania to the to Kosovo border. The motorway is now open to traffic. 

Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers scams. Keep posted and don’t be a victim. 

The end of construction was marked by a ceremony to open a second tunnel bore, the final section of the motorway. Ministers of transport from Albania and Kosovo, and additional senior officials from both countries, attended the opening. Speaking on behalf of the Albanian government, Sokol Olldashi, the minister of transport and telecommunications, thanked Bechtel-Enka for its commitment and the quality of work performed during construction of the motorway.

The motorway is the central leg of a 106-mile (171-km) highway traversing the country from the Adriatic Sea to the northeastern village of Kalimash near Kosovo. The new roadway cuts travel time along the route from six to two hours, boosting coastal trade and northeast tourism. The motorway also provides a vital connection within Albania and across the region, linking markets to the Adriatic port of Durres and contributing to economic growth as Albania prepares for accession to the European Union.

The Albanian Motorway is one of the largest-ever infrastructure projects in the country and presented many engineering challenges due to complexities of the geology in the region and the fast-track construction schedule. The motorway includes a 3.4-mile (5.5-km) twin bore tunnel and 29 bridges built in a rocky, mountainous region.

During construction, the project was the largest employer in the area, with Albanians accounting for two thirds of the workforce.

Fisher Capital Equipment Management News Updates - Bechtel (BEK tl) is the world's No. 1 choice for engineering, construction, and project management. Construction Project Management and Civil Engineering Careers scams. Keep posted and don’t be a victim. 

Our diverse portfolio encompasses energy, transportation, communications, mining, oil and gas, and government services. We currently have projects in dozens of locations worldwide, from Alaska to Australia. No matter how challenging a project or how remote its location, chances are Bechtel can handle it. That's because we bring an unmatched combination of knowledge, skill, experience, and customer commitment to every job.

We have had record revenues for the past five years, and Engineering News-Record (ENR) has named Bechtel the top U.S. construction contractor for 12 straight years.

While we work for governments and commercial customers, our projects have helped grow local economies and improve the quality of life for communities and people around the world. Time and again our work has demonstrated that the only limits on human achievement are those that we place on ourselves. 

Privately owned with headquarters in San Francisco, we have offices around the world and 49,000 employees. In 2009, we had revenues of $30.8 billion and booked new work valued at $20.3 billion.

Ethics 

Bechtel's culture is grounded in integrity and respect. This means adhering to the highest standards of ethics. Our reputation as an ethical company is one of our most valuable assets. We stand by everything we do.  

Quality

At Bechtel, quality means doing the job right the first time.  We've always delivered quality work, and we are continually striving to improve our performance through Six Sigma and other initiatives.

Safety 

Bechtel has a world-class safety program, and it pays off. Nearly 90 percent of our projects complete each year without a lost-time accident. Our philosophy is simple—every accident, and therefore every injury, is preventable. 

Fisher Capital Management - Japan Elects a New Premier Part 1

Fisher Capital Management Eight and a half months after riding the Democratic Party of Japan’s (DPJ) historic lower house victory into office, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced his resignation, having haphazardly frittered away a chest brimming with political capital.

Major newspapers said that Hatoyama was resigning mainly for two reasons: his failure to keep his promise to relocate the functions of US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, out of Okinawa Prefecture, and a political funding scandal that included his mother’s provision of some ¥1.26 billion to him over years.

Following Hatoyama’s resignation, Minister of Finance Naoto Kan was elected as the new Prime Minister, the fifth in four years. At his inaugural press conference Kan proposed a comprehensive reconstruction of the economy, public finance, and social security as his priority, in addition to reforming public administration, and conducting responsible diplomatic and defence policy.

Fisher Capital Management Report- Japan Elects a New Premier Part 1: The biggest question surrounding the once-popular new government is whether Kan can really turn over a new leaf for the DPJ. In his first policy speech to the Diet as prime minister, Kan sought to set his administration apart from the previous one by vowing to build “a strong economy, strong finances and strong social welfare”.

Kan stressed the need to jolt Japan out of its currently weak state, which he attributed to “anaemic economic growth, ballooning public debt and dwindling public trust in the viability of Japan's social security system”.

Observers and practitioners believe that the government is unlikely to announce any significant new policy initiatives, as Kan was already one of the main architects behind the previous administration’s economic policy, although some changes have just been announced in the DPJ election manifesto for the Upper House

election. For instance it drops the promise of doubling monthly child allowances to ¥26000 next year.

“I hope to carry over the torch of rebuilding Japan passed on to me by Hatoyama”, he observed at a press conference after his election. Alan Feldman, chief economist at Morgan Stanley in Japan, says that “although Kan’s initial speech did include some new elements, the main message was continuity with Hatoyama’s economic policies. Investors are likely to welcome the innovations, but to remain sceptical of the overall philosophy”.

However, economists believe Kan will face a mountain of challenges both at home and abroad in the near future. First, he needs to rebuild that political capital ahead of the upper house elections. Public support for the DPJ has recovered sharply after his appointment suggesting that voters have, for now, forgiven the ruling Democrats for the previous leaders’ policy mistakes. But it remains to be seen whether the initial popularity of the Kan administration will translate into a strong performance, and whether Kan will ultimately be given a strong enough mandate to push through difficult policy decisions.

Major newspaper polls give Prime Minister approval ratings of between 60 and 70 percent; but such ratings can be very fickle. The election will be an uphill battle for the DPJ. The DPJ is without one of its coalition partners, the Social Democratic Party who left the ruling camp over Hatoyama’s failure to remove the US base from Okinawa, as demanded by its leader, Mizuho Fukushima. The two parties that remain, the DPJ and the People’s New Party, hold 122 of the upper house’s 242 seats, the slimmest majority possible. Should the coalition lose that majority in the coming election, it would mean a split Diet — its majority would only remain in the lower house. And that would make passing bills extremely difficult.

Fisher Capital Management Report- Japan Elects a New Premier Part 1: Kan will have plenty on the economic front too. In terms of fiscal policy, as a former Finance minister he has turned into a fiscal conservative, having been a champion of funnelling revenue from higher taxes toward government spending in order to achieve economic growth. “Economic growth, fiscal reconstruction and social welfare reform will be achieved together”, he told reporters.