China is slowly moving strategically to widen the use of Yuan. It is more or less creating it as a trade currency with trade partners such as  Pakistan, African countries. While this may take some time, but slowly it is moving in this direction to loosen the hold of US Dollar and Euro.

RIO DE JANERIO – Brazilian health officials have kicked off an AIDS awareness campaign and will hand out 55 million condoms during the annual Carnival festival that begins next week.

A new television ad features a talking condom that loudly reminds young people to take him along when they go out to party.

Health Minister Jose Temporao said Saturday that this year’s campaign is focusing on educating young women and young gay men to use protection.

The inevitable has happened. Dr Eric Schmidt has resigned from the Apple Board. This was expected as more and more Apple and Google were getting into business which is in direct conflict such as Mobile Phone, Browser, etc,..

Read the story http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/08/03bod.html

Adani IPO got over subscribed,..7 times.

With the Chinese and Indian stock market picking up and showing optimism in the GDP growth,..the North American market is almost at a bottom and is all set to recover by this quarter. This week as US and China engages in more strategic discussion on their economic co-operation,..the markets would be looking at the outcome and be reading the statements of the Obama Administration and the Chinese team.

Hillary Clinton had a fantastic visit to India and Thailand and has stated that US is working with India in all areas and the Obama administration is keen to engage India in a way to build on Clinton and Bush policies with India.

Shoprite a popular Super Market in the North East, atleast in NY, NJ, PA, CT .

Imagine a Shoprite, with same layout and sections, displaying RICE in huge open containers, Vegetables in containers for Indian Cooking, Cafeteria counter serving Bhelpuri, Samosa, Kachori, Sandwiches, Dosas,…etc along with all indian non veg dishes. Displaying processed meat in the cold storage section and a separate counter for Veg Cold storage products like Malai Paneer, Taaza Milk, Lassi, Butter Milk etc.. Add to this an exclusive Indian sweets counter, a la Brijwasi sweets shop type.

Yes this Shoprite exists in Mumbai at Nirmal Lifestyle and I am not sure if the owners are the same but the layout and products displayed are absolutely the same. It surely gives a NJ Shoprite feeling with all Indian flavours.

I wonder why Shoprite can’t have same format in NJ with a Indian flavour. I am sure this will give Patel Bazaar a run for money.

Some report from Barclays Bank says that inflation will reach 17% in India. A former economist says one of the big bank is in big time trouble and is expected to declare bankruptcy in next 3 months or so.

Taking cues from the global markets, the sensex is more tanking and if you ask the traders there is no activity at all as everyone is squaring too quickly.

Real Estate activity has cooled off, small builders are facing the interest burden and are not able to offload their inventory. Banks have started financing new products,..like the iphone in India.

It is a recession card played everywhere. Real test of the inflationary pressure will be seen during Diwali festival time and thats a checkpoint for real estate prices too.

The whole world needs a break from Oil based energy and more for BRIC countries. In this context everyone is watching Dr Manmohan Singh’s Government to conclude the Indo-US nuclear deal. Eventhough the percentage of power generated through nuclear reactors will be a mere 10% of the total power generated in its peak production, the deal brings an immense opportunity to co-operate big time in trade between the developed nations and India. The deal is symbolic in that respect and will bring in huge investments and consumption in India.

The Congress led coalition in New Delhi is dancing with a fragile majority support in Parliament especially with the Communist parties clearly intending to pull out support. This delicate balance is a test for India and the whole world will watch the Indian democracy in action. Can Congress do it ? Will Manmohan Singh have his way ? This is will be a historic agreement with the US and rest of the world and clearly lay a foundation of the economic power shift in to BRIC nations. The agenda is open for BRIC to set it.

Senator Barak Obama has claimed the democratic party nomination for running as President. He crossed the required number of delegates to win the nomination. Senator Hillary Clinton ran a strong campaign and earned almost even delegates but was overshadowed by Obama wave in convincing the Super delegates.

Who is good for BRIC nations ?

Both India and China will agree that George Bush (though not popular from the War point of view) has done good things for both the nations. George Bush’s policies has literally clamped the terrorist activities from Pakistan into India. Bush declared Dawood Ibrahim as a Global Terrorist, thus restricting his movements. All the money chains of various Jihadi organisations were sealed and monitored on a global basis. Similarly Bush has expressed that Taiwan will not demand Independence and will consider it as an integral part of China. Also the trade continued to flourish between China and US.

John McCain definitely carries the George Bush legacy and he has to minimize spending in War and address domestic economy of US. He is a War hero and a knowledgeable man from legislative perspective.

Obama has rhetoric with him. If he can sustain this and engage an effective foreign policy, as he proposes, he could win back US popularity among Europeans, Asians, and rest of the world.

Irrespective of who wins, BRIC Nations are in a growth phase. All they need to focus is on their reforms and set an agenda for global trade and political issues.

The Worlds top 25 innovative companies lists the best of the best. This year the Tata’s and Reliance have managed to be in the this elite list. Tata’s are only behind Apple, Google, Toyota, GE and Microsoft.

Timesofindia reports 

India’s two leading conglomerates, Tatas and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Group, have made it to the league of the world’s 25 most innovative companies, riding on the cheapest commercial car Nano and an aggressive growth path, respectively.

In the list of world’s 25 most innovative companies released here on Friday, Tata group is ranked at the sixth position, while Reliance Industries is at 19th spot.

The list, published in the April 28 edition of BusinessWeek magazine that hit the newsstands on Friday, has been compiled by the US financial publication in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group.

Both Tata and RIL have made it for the first time to the annual list which is topped by Apple Computer, the maker of iPod music players and Mac personal computers.

Apple is followed by Internet search giant Google, Japanese auto major Toyota, industrial conglomerate General Electric (GE) and software behemoth Microsoft in the top five.

About Tata group , BusinessWeek said that “Mumbai-based conglomerate jumps onto our list for the first time, fuelled by its paradigm-busting 2,500 dollar ‘Nano’ car for the masses”.

“The car, from its Tata Motors unit, is the world’s cheapest, thanks partly to a distribution model that sells the auto in kits to entrepreneurs who assemble them for buyers.”

About RIL, it noted that “the Indian petrochemicals giant made it onto our list this year thanks to fans of its aggressive growth.

“But its ambitious plans to reach into grocery retailing, which is dominated in India by small shopkeepers who have rebelled against corporate entrants, have faltered,” it added.