Net profit of Dell in the first half of 2006-2007 was reduced to 35% - up to 1.26 billion dollars.

August 18th, 2006

Net profit of one of leaders in the USA manufacturers of computers - Dell - in the first half of 2006-2007 which has come to the end on August, 4th, reduced to 35% and has made 1.26 billion dollars against 1.95 billion dollars received for first six months of 2005-2006. Such data are resulted in the financial report of the company published today.
The proceeds have grown on 6% - up to 28.3 billion dollars whereas year earlier this parameter made 26.8 billion dollars. Net profit of Dell in 2nd quarter of 2006-2007 was reduced for 51% - up to 502 million dollars against 1.02 billion dollars fixed on year earlier. Proceeds of Dell for 2nd quarter of current fiscal year have increased for 5% - up to 14.1 billion dollars in comparison to 13.4 billion dollars received for the similar period on year earlier.

Net profit of Zurich Financial Services in 1st half of 2006 has grown on 8% - up to 2 billion dollars.

August 17th, 2006

Net profit of the largest Swiss insurance company Zurich Financial Services Group AG in the first half of 2006 has grown on 8% - up to 2 billion dollars in comparison to 1.86 billion dollars for the similar period of the last year.
The proceeds for the accounting period have decreased on 8.5% - from 31.86 billion dollars up to 29.15 billion dollars. Such data contain in the report of the company published today. Results of financial activity of the company have appeared above forecasts of analysts.

Net profit of Australian Stock Exchange in 2005-2006 financial year has grown on 24.5% - up to 137 million dollars.

August 17th, 2006

The Net profit of Australian share platform Australian Stock Exchange Ltd. (ASE) in 2005-2006 financial year has grown on 24.5% - up to 137 million dollars in comparison to 110.03 million dollars in previous year. Proceeds of ASE for the accounting period have grown on 9.3% - from 279.54 million dollars up to 305.63 million dollars. Such data contain in the report of the company published today.
Net profit of share platform Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) (which management also carries out ASE), after in July 2006 the decision on merge of two companies has come into force, in 1st half of 2006 has grown on 26.3% - up to 42 million dollars. Proceeds of SFE for the accounting period have grown on 17% - up to 76.4 million dollars.
We shall remind that the message on merge of two leaders Australian share platforms has been made in March of 2006. The decision on merge has come into force on July, 25th current year after for merge shareholders of the companies have expressed and have been received all necessary approval from adjusting bodies. The sum of the transaction has made 2.4 billion Australian dollars (1.8 billion dollars). As a result of merge the largest financial stock exchange in Asian-Pacific region, by cost 5.3 billion Australian dollars (3.94 billion dollars) which becomes the ninth on size a share platform in the world has been created.

Net profit of Hewlett-Packard for 9 months 2005-2006 has grown in 2.3 times - up to 4.5 billion dollars.

August 17th, 2006

The Net profit of the world’s largest manufacturer of printers Hewlett-Packard for 9 months 2005-2006 (since November 2005 till July 2006) has grown in 2.3 times - up to 4.5 billion dollars against 1.98 billion dollars for the similar period year earlier. Such data contain in the published report of the company. Thus the proceeds have increased on 5% and the Operational profit for first three quarters of 2005-2006 also has made 67.1 billion dollars has increased - on 44% in annual calculation, having reached a mark 4.66 billion dollars.
On results of 3rd quarter of the current fiscal year which has come to the end on July, 31st 2006, net profit of HP has increased in 19 times - from 73 million dollars year earlier up to 1.38 billion dollars for May-July of 2006. The proceeds have grown on 5%, having made 21.9 billion dollars the Operational profit has increased on 65% and has made 1.51 billion dollars (in May-July 2005 - 913 million dollars).
The company management has expressed satisfaction the received quarter results and has made the confident forecast for 4th quarter of current fiscal year. So, in opinion of HP proceeds of the company in August-October of 2006 should make nearby 24.1 billion dollars

Economic reforms in Russia: revival of stock exchanges.

August 16th, 2006

Two generations of the Soviet citizens did not know a word “stock exchange”. But all falls back into place. By 90-th years of XX century centralized national economy has deadlocked: commodity deficiency has swept away all from counters of shops, the hidden inflation and surplus of monetary weight have led to appearance of barter in the economy, to disorder of economic communications, recession of industrial production. It is the incomplete list of those problems that were preconditions for a new economic reform in Russia when in the beginning of 1990th years transition to market economy has begun. Then after sixty years’ of calm in Russia again there were stock exchanges which always were one of the major elements of the market. The stock exchange again became necessary.
These years in Russia the exchange boom begins. In the beginning of 1990 in Moscow there are first commodity exchanges - Russian commodity-raw (RCRE) and the Moscow commodity exchange (MCE) - the centers of marketing of those years on which then it was necessary up to half of all wholesale exchange turn of Russia. President of RCRE Konstantin Borovoj in the book “the Price of freedom” recollects, how then nobody trusted, that in Russia stock exchanges can revive. “One of my friends, - he writes, - which I torture most of all in occasion of an opportunity of opening of a stock exchange, has suggested to pay to me of ten thousand dollars that I have stopped these conversations and vanity…”. Really, all began with naked enthusiasm. Some person have simply gathered, risked to enclose in new business the of 30 thousand rubles.
In the beginning of 1990th years stock exchanges have arisen on all territory of the country. In a course there was a wood, sugar, electronics, a paper, building materials, bread, cars, computers and set of other goods. Soon Russia was beat out in world leaders by quantity of stock exchanges - them was totaled more than 1000. Certainly, the majority of them were not classical exchange structures. Many of stock exchanges as a matter of fact were simply fairs where traded in the real goods. But the role of a stimulator of trade and they have played wholly. People began to forget about so hated deficiency of the food and industrial goods.
These for the present not all clear quasi-exchange organizations – harbingers of something new - found to themselves a haven in any premises which could be rented for a while. To many budgetary organizations which are often not received the salary in time, it was necessary “to sin” with letting of rent of its space. Where only did not lodge new sprouts of market economy! Their neighbors were workers of research institutes, publishing houses, the ministries, factories; they removed premises on All-Union Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh), private apartments.

A building at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre in which there is a Moscow commodity exchange. The photo of 90th years of XX century

The first term transactions began to be made. On the Moscow commodity exchange (MCE) for the first time in the country transactions for the term with grain and a clap began to be spent. Hardly later to it the Moscow chamber of commerce (MCC) where the future for US dollar bargained joins.
Gradually this trade starts to get the organized character. Classical exchange platforms on which trade basically in financial actives (currency, securities, credits) crystallize. In due course in exchange movement all starts to sound a theme of the share market more clearly. By the end of 1992, according to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the quantity of exchange share platforms has reached 22. On the largest commodity exchanges there are share departments. In 1992 the Moscow interbank currency stock exchange (MICSE) which all over again became the center of the organized trade in currency, and then was established by the main stock exchange of the country. 

A trading hall of the Russian stock exchange. A photo of 1998

With the beginning of process of privatization in 1993 in Moscow has opened Moscow international share (MISE) and Moscow central share stock exchanges (MCSSE). The Leningrad stock exchange is established. Trade in securities was started by the Siberian, Baltic and Nizhniy Novgorod stock exchanges. First time stock exchanges were often open for everything, with the right of paid participation of the visitors, not being members of a stock exchange. Usual auction sometimes practiced.
The classical share market that time yet was not. Stock exchanges should struggle for a survival. The majority of commodity exchanges began to trade in 1993 in nationally known vouchers (certificates on privatization), credits and monetary resources, broker places, securities for bearers, and also substitutes of securities. To such notorious tickets MMM, for example, concerned.
After more than semicentennial investment hibernation people again have become interested in securities. There was a hope to earn additionally: many have rushed to put the savings thawing from inflation in securities. It was necessary to something to prove nobody, all as though waited, when, at last, there will be such opportunity. But the market was young. It ill equipped participants was waited with “reefs” of share games: unscrupulous businessmen with financial “pyramids”, sharp loss of savings, it is frequent the last. As a result has come disappointment, and more likely, mistrust of the population to any securities.

The Moscow share center. The photo of 1998

 
The same years develops the exchange market for wholesale trade in currency. The center of interbank trade in a foreign currency became the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange, founded by Bank of Russia and leading commercial banks. In 1992-1993 regional currency stock exchanges in the key economic centers of the country are created. Their network was stretched from St.-Petersburg up to Vladivostok. A creation of the national market on trade in currency and securities on a united technological basis was possible after their unification around of the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange.
Having received the license of Bank of Russia for the organization of operations of sale and purchase of a foreign currency, these stock exchanges gradually became universal exchange structures which, leaning on local banks, carried out trading and settlement operations, and also carried out functions of storage and the account of the rights to securities for participants of currency, share and term segments of the financial market.
Trade in the state short-term bonds, the state currency and municipal bonds, has begun. In the market the corporate securities emitted by the first private enterprises have started to address.
Revival of exchange trade in Russia has coincided on time with mass introduction in the financial world of information technologies, distribution of the Internet. Though the largest stock exchanges of the West continued to trade in classical way - “by vote on pit”, on a number of the Russian stock exchanges the integrated electronic systems for the organization of the trades began to take root. For the Russia which have stretched on nine time zones, it also was complex, as well as it is necessary. The first large project in this area became creation in 1993 on the basis of the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange electronic trading-depositary systems which served the market of the state securities (state credit obligations-federal loan bonds).
In May, 1993 the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange has opened the exchange market state short-term zero-coupon bonds (state credit obligations). In the end of this year it has started the project of united electronic financial market “ETHER” - the inter-regional exchange trades in system of currency stock exchanges have begun. Since 1994 the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange has entered new technical and trading-depository complex, and with July 1994 has begun distribution of the removed terminals connected to trading-depository system of the Moscow Interbank Stock Exchange.
Its beginning was such. As a result in Russia there was the exchange platform possessing modern electronic trading system, serious potential of development and supporting an increasing securities market - state credit obligations, federal loan bond, then corporate securities and term tools. Then the trades by currency also are translated in system of the electronic trades (SELT). Introduction of the removed terminals enabled to create a universal computer stock exchange where in a mode of real time worked not only the Moscow investors, but also participants from other regions of the country.
In 1994 the Central republican universal stock exchange (CRSE) in Moscow starts to work. It has been opened for fulfillment of transactions by general public, including private persons. On it traded approximately in 50 kinds of demand securities and substitutes which most part then has completely disappeared from the reference. The share market then experienced illness of growth - the reference of pseudo-actives - substitutes of securities. The most popular were tickets MMM by means of which notorious adventurer-mathematician Sergey Mavrodi has constructed a huge pyramid. During its promotion mass advertising promised incomes up to 1000% annual, to resist what the most proof investors could not even. In annual report CRSE for 1994 it is possible to read through the interesting lines describing tickets МММ: “Behind tickets МММ definition “polytrophic production МММ” has strongly affirmed. However during long time they were the most popular paper. Occurrence of tickets of different face values, constant change by management of МММ of appearance of tickets, frequent refusals to accept for payment own releases of tickets, feverish throws of a rate of their buying up-sale in items МММ - all this has resulted work in the market of tickets in the category of the most brave, but also… the most profitable operations. Tickets МММ were the largest component in turn CRSE and gave those years approximately 40-50% of a turn of all stock exchanges of Russia. But unjustified incomes and poor papers have a short life: in 1994 the pyramid has failed, having left millions investors without means and for a long time having scared away investors from the share market.
In 1995 there has begun the activity the Russian trading system (RTS) on which stocks of the first privatized Russian enterprises bargained. On a plan of its founders, it was anything other, as computer over-the-counter system. Similar RTS can be named American computer market NASDAQ. The basic participants of RTS became brokers - members of National association of participants of the share market (NAPSM). Activity of RTS which has been constructed in view of the international standards, has allowed returning trust to the organized securities market. However its weak places were absence of guarantees of execution of transactions, and also orientation to service of the large broker companies with foreign participation. Nevertheless till 1998 on RTS consist more than half of transactions with the Russian stocks.
One of the last in 1990th years had been created the Moscow stock exchange (MSE). In the beginning of 1997 several tens of banks and the broker-dealer companies, and also four stock exchanges have created MSE. However its activity was limited to trade in stocks of the gas giant - Russian Open Society “Gazprom” and the Moscow municipal loans. Attempts to expand a spectrum of operations due to introduction in a turn of other share values and currency have not gone right.
Thus, rough process of formation of exchange structure of the financial market in Russia, predictably, crystallized in several classical stock exchanges. The interesting certificate of the middle of 1993 the newspaper has left to us “Exchange sheets” in which president of MCSE V. Pankin wrote: “The main thing during the last period consists in that in any measure to adjust the destroyed intereconomic communications. There was a process of transformation of many stock exchanges in associations, trading houses, the investment companies and so forth Commodity and raw stock exchanges send to future contracts on that goods which all over the world are considered exchange. As to stock exchanges now there was ten and a half. In the long term them will be even less - two-rub Moscow besides it is probable, in St.-Petersburg, in Ural, the Siberian, Far East regions “.
Rough exchange decade has yielded the fruits. There was a precise exchange system across all Russia, in central and industrial regions of the state, helping to work to the domestic financial market.

Siberian stock exchange.

August 15th, 2006

Joint-Stock Company “Siberian stock exchange” was founded on February, 22nd, 1991. The first name of a stock exchange was Joint-Stock Company “Siberian stock exchange” (SSE). Till July, 1997 of Joint-Stock Company “SSE” carried out functions of the organizer of the trades in the share market. Since 1994 the stock exchange actively was engaged in the organization in Siberia the future market on the currency, the average price of state credit obligations and for the Index of RTS. In 1997 in connection with change of the legislation of Joint-Stock Company “SSE” has stopped activity of stock exchange. In 2002 shareholders have changed the name to Joint-Stock Company “Siberian exchange”. On July, 16th, 2002 the stock exchange has received the license of a commodity exchange №128 and since April, 16th 2003 has started the trades by standard (future) contracts on soft food wheat 3 classes with fibrin not below 23%.
Since September, 26th 2005 at an exchange the trades on future contracts on gold.
The Basis of the future market of a stock exchange have begun is the Settlement union - association of the Settlement firms which have concluded the multilateral Contract about the organization of the future market among themselves and a stock exchange. Settlement firms are shareholders (members) of a stock exchange and have the right to serve the clients trading in the future market. Among them are large manufacturers and converters of grains, the trading and financial organizations.
The Siberian exchange in the development aspires to construction of a classical commodity-future exchange - unique financial institutions by the opportunities which provides fair pricing, insurance and regulation of financial risks for the basic participants of the grain market of Siberia. The stock exchange will promote also to improvement of an investment climate and increase of efficiency of agricultural branch of South-Siberian region - one of leaders of agrarian Russia.

British Internet-book-maker BetOnSports closes business in the USA.

August 15th, 2006

British Internet-book-maker BetOnSports Plc. has declared today, that stops reception of rates from the American clients. As they say in the message of the company widespread today, representations in Costa Rica and on Antigua Iceland in Caribbean Sea, worked on the American market, will be closed in the near future.
The company could not register business in territory of the USA as the American laws forbid the Internet-totes. In opinion of analysts, closing of the American business actually means the end of the company as three quarters of its proceeds and 95% of profit fall to the USA, and expansion of operations in Asia and the Europe hardly compensates huge losses.
The decision was accepted after on July, 17th of 2006 in Texas on charges in swindle executive director of the company David Karruters has been arrested. According to consequence, illegal reception of rates has allowed BetOnSports to avoid taxes to a total sum more than 3 billion dollars. Next day stocks of BetOnSports have been removed from the trades at the London stock exchange, and thousand clients of the company have demanded immediately to pay money due by it. BetOnSports declares that they are ready to pay, but time is required to the company to convince banks to defreeze actives.
The general turn of the industry of gambling on the Internet is estimated in 12 billion dollars a year. The leader of the market is British PartyGaming Plc., rendering services of the Internet-poker.

Net profit of Swiss bank UBS in 2nd quarter of 2006 has grown on 42% - up to 2.06 billion euro.

August 15th, 2006

Net profit of Swiss bank UBS AG, the sixth on size of bank of the world, in 2nd quarter of 2006 has grown on 42% - up to 3.25 billion Swiss francs (2.06 billion euro) in comparison about 2.29 billion Swiss francs (1.45 billion euro) for the similar period of the last year.
The operational profit of the company for the specified period has grown on 30% - about 9.55 billion Swiss francs (6.05 billion euro) up to 12.41 billion Swiss francs (7.86 billion euro).
The cumulative size of actives in accounting quarter has grown on 5.7% - up to 2.18 trillion the Swiss francs (1.38 trillion euro) in comparison with 2.06 trillion the Swiss francs (1.3 trillion euro) in 2nd quarter of 2005.
Such data contain in the report of the company published today. Results of financial activity of the company have appeared above forecasts of analysts.

American corporation Mills sells the shares in three shopping centers for 981 million dollars.

August 15th, 2006

The American corporation Mills Corp., engaged construction and management of large shopping centers in the USA, Canada and the Europe, sells the shares in three shopping centers for 981 million dollars, it is spoken in the press release of the company published today.
As the buyer acts Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc. According to the signed contract, Ivanhoe Cambridge will receive shares of Mills in three shopping centers - Vaughan Mills in Ontario (Canada), St. Enoch Centre in Glasgow (Great Britain) and Madrid Xanadu in Madrid (Spain).
Mills expects to receive net profit from the transaction at a rate of 500 million dollars. The received financial assets will go on payment of a duty of the company.

History of the Prague stock exchange.

August 14th, 2006

Despite of short enough history, the Czech share market developed rather dynamically and it was generated with all necessary attributes in the end of 19 centuries. Necessities of an internal exchange and its growth have served development of fairs. At first they had just local and speculative character.
Grain, cattle, horses marketed mainly on them. First time trade occurred at “Horse fair” (Konsky trh), and since 1882 on Senov square. The first commodity exchange has appeared in Prague in 1861 (”Produktenhalle”), but because of a small amount of participants the stock exchange has stopped the existence in a year.
Following attempt of formation of a stock exchange in 1871 has led to long-term success. Motivation has served the application made by influential people of the Prague economic elite led by Alois Oliva he was the wholesale dealer of sugar. Owing to its application financial resources for creation and functioning of a stock exchange have been received. At this stock exchange circulated both securities, and the goods (grain and other agricultural products). At a stock exchange trade of sugar was successfully enough spent. Prague during this period, perhaps, was the basic shopping center within the borders of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nevertheless, after the First World War the goods have stopped to circulate at a stock exchange.
The Second World War has stroked the hardest blow on a financial condition both the country, and a stock exchange as a whole. The stock exchange has stopped the existence up to 1990. In May, 1990 the Preliminary committee on the organization of the Prague stock exchange has been created. 24 august of 1993 the company consisting of 8 chambers of commerce, has been transformed to association. In connection with the acceptance of the certificate “About stock exchanges” the association has been reorganized in the Prague stock exchange.
For short enough term the stock exchange has been automated, on April, 6th, 1993 the beginnings to function. With transitive economy the model of independent agency for the control over the share market is peculiar to all countries. In April, 1998 in Czech supervising functions send from the Ministry of Finance to the independent commission under securities. On June, 14th, 2001 the Prague stock exchange became a member of Federation of the European stock exchanges.