With increasing economic prowess in BRIC countries and most of world’s contract apparel manufacturing is out of asia mainly India and China. There is a huge opportunity of some of the leading exporters to brand clothing lines for Fitness and Sports. Yoga and Tai-ichi is catching up globally and there is a huge demand for appropriate clothing for them. Similarly the emerging market countries are  taking to sports and jogging and for cultural reasons they may need their own form of fitness clothings.

PRweb reports

Driven by lifestyle changes, increase in sports participation, and the rapidly aging-but-active population, the world sports and fitness clothing market is projected to reach US$126.8 billion by the year 2010. With consumer priorities inclining towards leading active, and healthy lifestyles, there is expected to be a marked rise in the interest in sports and other fitness activities like yoga, and jogging. This, thereby, offers a strong business case for sports and fitness apparel, and is expected to play an instrumental role in driving future growth.

Intersection of sportswear, leisurewear, and fitness clothing is steadily obscuring the difference between sports apparel, fitness clothing, and casual, active wear, thereby leading to changes in target audiences. Changing lifestyles, and attitude towards fitness outerwear, are dictating fashion trends with women exhibiting a proclivity towards fashionable workout wear. Growing emphasis on versatility, convenience, fashion, comfort, style, and performance is creating a strong demand for sports and fitness apparel, which offer both functional performance, and style appeal. Upscale product innovations presently in vogue are low-rise yoga pants, bright colors, and embellished T-shirts. Given the tendency to associate sports and fitness apparel with health, and well being, the spotlight is presently on the type of fabric used in sports and fitness wear. Backed by growing awareness and astute consumer attention to the fabric used, performance fabrics such as, lightweight, breathable micro fibers, and micro fleece fibers, are rising in popularity and demand. New generation fibers with moisture management features are expected to drive demand for contemporary sports and active outdoor wear.

PetroChina which went ipo in October, supposedly the largest ipo of 2007, got listed today and in its first day of trading the stock shot up to nearly 3 times the original ipo price. It also surged past Exxon Mobil to be the world’s first company with 1 trillion dollars in market capitalization.

As reported in China View

PetroChina, China’s largest oil and gas producer, replaced Exxon Mobil as the world’s largest listed company by market value on Monday as its share price surged 163 percent to close at 43.96 yuan on its first day of trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

The company’s share price opened at 48.6 yuan on Monday, almost tripling its IPO price of 16.7 yuan, and ended the morning session at 43.65 yuan.By offering shares on the mainland, the company is trying to increase its crude oil production to match its refining capacity, said Zheng Yi, an analyst with Guangfa Securities.

The company’s market value on the Shanghai bourse swelled to above the one-trillion-dollar mark, surging past Exxon Mobil, valued at 487.7 billion U.S. dollars. It is the first time a company has been valued at one trillion dollars.

The share offering would reduce the weight of bank and financial institution stocks to 30 percent from 39 percent and help increase that of industrial sectors such as power, coal and refining, said Wang Jing, an analyst with Orient Securities Co. Ltd.

Market at BSE 20,000, Indian’s play their 20x and is world champs of 20xTwenty.

At such a historic milestone, we need not dream where it eventually end.
It would be easy to enlist 20x to remain bullish.

1. x GDP growth of 8 per cent plus for the next 5 years i.e. 8×5 = 20xTwos.
2. x The RBI from behind the wicket is managing the economic growth and reduces the impact of blowouts.
3. x No reason to believe why our economic growth story will be wide off the pitch.
4. x Very aggressive and super fast delivery from all India Inc which would continue upward 20 basis point. Earnings resulting compounded growth through the next 5years.
5. x Brilliant innings from some of the talented entrepreneurs are delight to watch and there would be definitely be an action replay.
6. x Six off Six Sessions, easy capital availability, Indian companies embarking on large capex expansion to ensure future growth
7. x Emerging new sectors like real estate and retail, expanding overall market cap and investment options.
8. x Politics ceases to be a major threat, all central political “Dhoni” think tank more or less alike on economic roadmap. Emergency declared to reach the mount Everest.
9. x Interest rates at their plateau, with dollar investments pouring in.
10. x Global emerging markets ready to take Indian products and services. Read the rest of this entry »

With the subprime issue taking its toll , Charles Prince at Citigroup decides to resign. He has been at helm of affairs at Citigroup for the last 4 years after he took over from Sandy Weil.

The hunt for the successor is on at Citigroup. A name which is getting popped is Vikram Pandit, an Indian origin banker who currently heads its investment banking division. He would be the second Indian to lead a global bank after Rana Talwar at Standard Chartered.

PTI news in economic times reports

Vikram Pandit, an Indian origin banker, is understood to be in the reckoning to head the world’s largest banking institution Citigroup, whose current CEO is reportedly planning to resign later today.

US-headquartered Citigroup, which has presence across the world including India, is holding a board meeting here today where its Chairman and CEO Charles Prince is expected to tender his resignation, media reports have said.

Charles, who has been heading the institution for about four years, is reportedly taking the responsibility for huge losses that the bank suffered during the subprime crisis earlier this year.

According to industry sources, one of the main contenders for the post of CEO, at least on interim basis, could be Vikram Pandit, who joined Citigroup just about six months back and heads its investment banking operations.

Vikram Pandit to be Citigroup’s CEO ?

We have seen many M&A s dont work as best as they are expected to do and some go really bad.

Some work beautifully especially if a emerging country company buys a western brand company. A case in point is Tata Tea buying Tetley of UK, Lenovo buying IBM PC, …Similar benefit is expected out of Tata steel aquisition of Corus. What do these emerging country company brings on to the table for success ?

They have definitely built a successful business out of not so easy business environment in the past. Now they have perfected the model and with easy access to capital, they are able to go for global brand and markets.

China View reports

Lenovo Group Ltd reported Thursday a better-than-expected jump of 177 percent in net profit year on year in the third quarter due to the booming laptop computer business and robust global demand.

Lenovo, which acquired IBM’s personal computer business for 1.25 billion U.S. dollars, said it will switch completely from IBM to the Lenovo brand, two years ahead of schedule, Lenovo’s chief executive William Amelio revealed.

China’s top computer maker, which ranks No. 3 globally, posted a net profit of 105.26 million dollars in its fiscal second quarter ended on September 30, against 37.89 million dollars a year earlier. The result beat analysts’ average forecast of 88 million dollars.

Revenue totaled 4.4 billion dollars, a 20-percent growth from a year ago.

Read the rest of this entry »

Finally the speculation has ended and Brazil has been chosen the venue for FIFA world cup soccer 2014. The game has come definitely to the nation where soul and spirit connects bigtime with all its citizens. Brazil has won 5 times this cup and has produced great stars like Pele, Zico, Socrates, Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Cafu,..The samba soccer style is brilliant to watch and greatly entertaining.

The question in everyone’s mind is ‘Does Brazil have the infrastructure to host the tournament’ ? It is going to cost them about 6B USD. The issue is not of raising capital , but it is about allocation and public monitoring of it.

For sure this is a great opportunity for Brazil to clean up their image and show the world that they are not only good in Soccer but also they are in the right path to economic progress.

Another big story from India. Reliance Power is going to the capital market for its expansion plans. As we know there is a huge shortage of Power and it only furthers the gap as the economy grows. Huge investment is required to meet the demand of consumers and industries. This IPO is definitely in the right direction as far as raising capital for infrastructure development in India.

Reliance Power IPO

Reliance Power Limited has recently filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI.

Reliance Power Limited IPO which would be one of the biggest IPO in Indian stock markets which will issue 130 crore equity shares of Rs 2 each at a price to be decided later.

The net issue to the public would be 114 crore equity shares after the promotors contribution of 16 crore equity shares.Reliance Power IPO will constitute 11.5% of the post issue paid-up capital of the company and the net issue will constitute 10.1% of the post issue paid-up capital of the company.


The company plans to raise close to USD 3.5 B from this offering.