USA Today (May 2)
“You know something is wrong when major U.S. companies are fleeing to Europe to pay less in taxes.” If Pfizer succeeds with plans to move its tax domicile, its effective tax rate will drop from 27.5% to 20%. “The U.S. corporate rate of 35%, with an average of 4.1% added by states, is the highest in the world.”
Washington Post (April 4)
Prime Minister Abe is not the only one worried about empowering women. Companies should be just as worried. Equal Pay Day falls on Tuesday, April 8, symbolizing how far into 2014 women must work to earn what men earned in 2013. “Lip service isn’t enough. Corporate policy matters, too. As long as firms are resistant to changes that will help attract and retain female talent—like more flexible work arrangements, which can actually boost worker productivity—they will be limiting their own potential as well as that of female workers.
Tags: Abe, Attract, Change, Companies, Corporate policy, Equal Pay Day, Flexible work arrangements, Lip service, Potential, Retain, Talent, Women, Worker productivity
Investment Week (January 22, 2014)
“Investors are better off looking away from the US for their developed market equity exposure,” according to Cazenove Capital multi-manager Marcus Brookes who argues that U.S. stocks have gotten pricey and, contrary to popular belief, many U.S. companies have increased their leverage. “In the face of the cheap markets of Europe and Japan, I would much rather put my clients’ capital there because if it does go wrong it is a cheaper market.”
Tags: Capital, Cazenove Capital, Companies, Developed countries, Equity, Europe, Exposure, Investors, Japan, Leverage, Marcus Brookes, Markets, Pricey, Stocks, U.S.
Institutional Investor (August Issue)
“Facing an image problem,” many Chinese companies are retreating from U.S. exchanges. “Frustrated by low valuations and investor skepticism, Chinese companies are increasingly considering delisting from U.S. stock exchanges.” Since 2009, 24 Chinese companies have delisted, often going private, from the NYSE and Nasdaq. Much investor skepticism is directed at companies that utilized reverse mergers to attain their listing, thereby avoiding the scrutiny that would accompany a normal IPO, but the skepticism has tainted even Chinese companies with solid financials.
Tags: China, Companies, Delisting, Image, Investors, IPO, Listing, Nasdaq, NYSE, Private, Reverse mergers, Scrutiny, Skepticism, Stock exchanges, U.S., Valuations
Fortune (March 21)
Fortune released its list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies 2011.” Among the Top 50 are 8 overseas firms, including Toyota (#33), Honda (#42), and Sony (#46). Of the overseas firms, Singapore Airlines (#18) scored highest. Other automakers included BMW (#19) and Volkswagen (#35). Fast moving consumer goods were represented by Nestle, while Samsung was the sole electronics manufacturer.
Fortune released its list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies 2011.” Among the Top 50 are 8 overseas firms, including Toyota (#33), Honda (#42), and Sony (#46). Of the overseas firms, Singapore Airlines (#18) scored highest. Other automakers included BMW (#19) and Volkswagen (#35). Fast moving consumer goods were represented by Nestle, while Samsung was the sole electronics manufacturer.
