The Economic Pages - Global Economic News

[Catonia Majora]

Columnist
Name: Millicent Ozurssdottir
Age: 52
Home Nation: Grand Duchy of Catonia Majora
Experience in Business and Economics: Former CEO of Ozursson's Retail, Founder of BookLynx.ctm, Former Dean of Loharsson College of Business, Duchess' College, Current CEO and Editor of Catonia MarketDay.

Past Columnist Jobs: Guest Columnist Caton City Times~Union, Columnist for the B2B Magazine The Business Week, Editor of Catonia MarketDay, Author of Good Business, Harvesting the Winds of the Storm, Good Business, Selling the Unsellable,and Good Business, the Business of Good. the Guide to Ethical Business

Additional Info: Ms. Ozurssdottir is highly respected in the GDCM business community as both an expert at not only making money, but making it ethically. Her books are considered required reading for any Catonian businessperson. She is a sought after speaker and a personal advisor to the Grand Duchess.

[ViZion]

Millicent Ozurssdottir has been accepted as an intern columnist. After two stories, we will announce rather Millicent Ozurssdottir will become a permanent part of our staff or not.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

Singhun Communications Shuts Down as ViZionarian Economy Scuttles

3/11/13
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - The ViZionarian economy continues to choke, as Singhun Communications is the latest domestic company to announce its doors will be closed forever. The Amaria-based company saw its headquarters and 1/4 of its entire staff lost after the nuclear attack on the city. The third-largest communications company in ViZion, Singhun Communications was well known domestically for fantastic prices and a diverse offering to its customers.

Several other companies in ViZion are struggling, with Armstrong Construction unable to accept any new orders, its focus turning to try to rebuild the city. ViZionarian travel companies, including ViZionair and countless others, are seeing their profits evaporate as travel inside, to, and from ViZion has come to a stop.

As the ViZionarian economy struggles, one can only hope that it will soon start to gain traction again. But with a long road to recovery ahead, and travel still at a stand-still, it could be a long ride for the ViZionarian economy.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

ViZion World Corporation CEO Killed in Blast

3/11/13
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - Another day, another tragedy in ViZion. Chief Executive Officer of ViZion World Corporation, Jack Smith, has been reported killed by a blast while on his way home. Terrorists, believed to be from The Christian Warriors, used a bomb in their car while traveling next to the CEO in a successful attempt to kill the man. This has thrown the company into shock, as the Board of Directors is holding an emergency meeting to discuss how to respond.

While no statement has been released by the company or the family, sources say that Jack's will specifies that the company be handed to his son, Eric, in the event of his death. This leads to speculation of the son's own safety, as well as what the future hold's for a company who is now potentially under the control of a fifteen year old boy who has barely entered high school.

All this comes as the ViZionarian economy is fractured and fragile, the economic superpower struggling to keep from entering a complete collapse. Already, it is clear that the economic struggles of this major power have had impact on the global economy - including billions of dollars worth of orders being lost by foreign companies as ViZionarian companies cancel their orders. Likewise, billions upon billions of revenue by foreign travel and hospitality companies is potentially lost with the near complete shutdown of ViZionarian travel.

Many questions remain unanswered, however we do expect a statement from both the family and the corporation soon.

View Incident

[Catonia Majora]

The Economic Pages

Evolve or Die, the NorthSea (r)Evolution

March 11, 2013
By: Millicent Ozurssdottir

Caton City, Catonia Majora

There is an often overused mantra in modern business: "evolve or die."  In the end, however, change is a dangerous and scary prospect for many businesses. None less so than the centuries old business of fish production, where the  industry is little changed since the first fisherman rowed his small wooden boat into the middle of a lake and started trying to hook fish to take back to his family's cave for dinner.

NorthSea Fisheries, operating essentially unchanged since 1811, faced the old mantra head-on recently, when hit by the perfect storm of high fuel prices,  decreasing natural stocks, and government imposed fishing limits.  "It was a dangerous time," said NorthSea's COO Hafthor Marcusson, "we saw revenue potential falling fast, while operational costs were simply exploding.  We were left with  the choice of either closing up shop, or significantly changing how we do business.  We chose the latter."

The move was a serious gamble for the age old company, and the bets are still on the table.  NorthSea took most of their remaining cash reserves to develop an aquacultural system that  could guarantee  that they would be able to fill their orders without relying  on dwindling natural fish stock.  The gamble did not come without additional cost, however. "We were fortunate to find an international partner in Entourage Investments, who took a 20% stake in the company in exchange for their capital investment, which provided us with an infusion at just the right time to complete development of our new system," added Marcusson.

NorthSea has yet to see the result from their attempt to evolve, but many Catonian business pundits are skeptical about NorthSea's move, which surrendered two seats on their Board of Directors to Entourage's appointees. "Frankly, I think this may be money wasted.  Their system could be an utter failure, and they will be in the same position as before, except with nearly no reserves to save themselves," commented Warwick Ceawlin,  of Orion Investments, "additionally, even if their gamble pays off, they've surrendered 20 percent  of their company."

In the end, NorthSea  will prove if the old adage is truth; either way.

[Gallup]

The Economic Pages

Economic News Roundup!

3/12/2013
By: Rep. Dave Schlock

ViZion World Corp. CEO Jack Smith Dies
In Gallup VWC stock dropped a record 16.4% in wake of the recent news. Most of the panic started when Wendell Fisher, Dow Jones spokesman said in a press release that "I am skeptical of Eric Smith leading the VWC". Wendell Fisher later apologized.

Worldwide Magazine sales up!
In a more positive note Worldwide Magazine (Storefront: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=228879 ) sales are up 27% after the announcement that the Worldwide Magazine Person Of The Year award would be given out sooner than expected. WM chairman Rudy Carney is confident, predicting another 34% rise in sales in the next month.

Reino do Brazil tops ViZion is Confidence poll!
The nation Reino do Brazil has been very active. More and more Reino do Brazil storefronts have been popping up, like Cargo Shipments, Steakhouses, and Precious Stones. And in a recent Pew Poll 77% of consumers are confident with products from Reino do Brazil, topping former leader ViZion at 72%. I have reached out but gotten no comment from Reino do Brazil.

That raps up this edition of The Economic News Roundup

[Catonia Majora]

[box]

The Economic Pages

ChemCorp debacle mercifully enters final chapter

March 13, 2013
By:Millicent Ozursdottir

Caton City, Catonia Majora

Before February 19, 2007, ChemCorp was Catonia's largest producer of industrial and agricultural products, but one accident, six years, a series of trials, and long awaited end has changed that fact.  In the early morning hours of February 19th, a small fire broke out in the chlorine processing facility in Erdengaard.  It quickly grew out of control, and a cloud of noxious chlorine gas flowed from the factory and blanketed the village.  In the end, 37 people were killed and nearly a thousand were injured.  Investigators determined that the accident and uncontrolled reaction was a result of long deferred maintenance.

The Catonian Ministry of Industry passed down its findings to the Ministry of Justice, which issued indictments for the factory manager Jack Alamondi, CFO Heral Danielsson, and CEO Mattieus Marcusson.  The individual trials lasted nearly five years, and ended in three convictions, with each man convicted of gross negligence, as it was uncovered that maintenance had been deferred as a cost cutting measure and a means to raise ChemCorp's profits and dividends.  Alamondi, Danielsson, and Marcusson became known as the Erdengaard Three were each sentenced to 90 years in the  Duchal Prision System, without opportunity for parole. 

The final chapter was written today by Minister of Justice Arscho Hafthorsdottir.  "It is time that the blackness that is ChemCorps, and all it stands  for is erased from our national consciousness.  To that end, the Ministry of Justice has levied the most harsh  punishment possible to ChemCorps.  As of  today, all of ChemCorp's assets have been seized by the Catonian government.  They will be sold at auction to support those harmed by the actions of the  company.  In addition, all accounts held by ChemCorp, or its subsidiaries have been seized, and all trading  of ChemCorps stock has been suspended and all shares are deemed null and void, and  valueless.   The reasoning behind this decision is that ChemCorps share holders received increased dividends from the illegal actions of the company and its leadership."   ChemCorps assets are valued at 50-120 billion dollars.

In the end, it  seems that the government has come very close to overstepping its bounds on this issue, for the seizure of ChemCorp's assets seems like the actions of a dictatorship or a totalitarian  communist state, and not the actions of an  enlightened democratic monarchy.  It is a fine line, and the government's next action will speak volumes about where the government stands.  If this is a one-time punishment for a company proven to be especially negligent towards public health, it is warranted;however, if this is a simple money grab using ChemCorps as an excuse, then the government has entered a very slippery slope.

[Ceni]

Columnist
Your Name: Eric Thumar
Your Age: 32
Your Home Nation: Ceni
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: worked as broker for 10 years
Past Columnist Jobs: business columnist, royal times
Additional Information:

OOC: I'm on an ipad and can't provide much info now- ill do the rest later

[Vuzghulia]

Columnist
Your Name: Ibrahim Azhalagian
Your Age: 50
Your Home Nation: Vuzghulia
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: modernized His Imperial Majesty's coal mines, introduced mechanization into the opium poppy industry, created successful corportations in fertilizer and cement manufacturing, and many other useful contributions to the Vuzghul economy
Past Columnist Jobs: none
Additional Information: Ibrahim Azhalagian is one of the highest ranking nobles in Vuzghulia and is in His Imperial Majesty's inner circle; realizing the importance of international public opinion, he wishes to write articles to spread news of the Vuzghul efforts to introduce modern methods and technology

[Gallup]

OOC: Why am I not on the columnist list?

[Neu Engollon]

Columnist
Your Name: Wynn Follette
Your Age: 34
Your Home Nation: Confederacy of Neu Engollon
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: Yes, some. Also covered Travel and Political desks
Past Columnist Jobs: Telleursville Times, Burgunden University Press
Additional Information: I would like to be a free lance journalist for your paper to write articles on an occasional basis (less than a regular columnist but more than a one-time guest writer). My first article will be about the PMC industry and how it affects NS Global war and politics.

[Gallup]

The Economic Pages

Reino do Brazil; Yohannes top ViZion in Confidence poll!

3/12/2013
By: Rep. Dave Schlock

Investors were biting their fingernails today at the Gallup Stock Exchange waiting for “The Pew Consumer Confidence Poll”. The TPCCP is an official government sponsored poll by the Pew Organization to try and gauge consumer’s confidence in products. I have the results here and their ranking last year. They are, in order:
1. Yohannes: 82% confident (Last Year: 67%)
2. Reino do Brazil: 77% (No data)
3. United Gordonopia: 76% (73%)
4. ViZion: 72% (85%)
5. Van Luxemburg: 71% (80%)
6. Sankji: 71% (69%)
7. Eslovakia: 70% (No data)
8. Eeri: 68% (64%)
9. Aurora Confederacy: 68% (81%)
10. Fedriya: 63% (No data)

[Aquitayne]

Columnist
Your Name: Duder Duderich
Your Age: 31
Your Home Nation: Aquitane
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: Yes
Past Columnist Jobs: Aquitaynian Times; Aquitaynian News Network
Additional Information: I rock so hire me

[ViZion]

All are approved. Please note that I won't get names up on OP right now, but you are approved.

[Empire of Symphonia]

Columnist
Your Name: Hyun Moo Kim
Your Age: 33
Your Home Nation: Cheonsa, Asian Federation of Nations
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: Yes
Past Columnist Jobs: AFN Ministry of the Treasury, Public Affairs Department;
Additional Information: Worked on government economic analysis and held press conferences on quarterly reports.

[ViZion]

Approved.

[Empire of Symphonia]

The Economic Pages

UK Economic Data: The Gates are Down

January 28, 2014
By: Hyun Moo Kim

Symphony, Metropolitan Symphonia, AFN-UK

Following a harrowing year in the Astyrian regional economy, recent reports from the Ministry of Trade and Economics may suggest that the economy of the UK may be up and getting ready for take-off. Several Aquitaynian businesses have made it onto the world stage, helping supply the growing amount of confidence that Aquitaynian consumers have in their economy. Similarly, the City of Symphony has recently unveiled its latest project in the travel industry, opening the state-of-the-art Li Yuanhong International Airport just recently in the past few days. Already, companies from both UK constituent nations have received a considerable amount of attention from the World Market, drawing plans from their respective boards of governors and directors for possible expansion.

While it its too early to point out or to make any final definitive conclusions, several key factors may indicate a possible expansion. First off, inflation in the City of Symphony bumped up from a stagnant 0.2% to about 0.9%, perhaps indicating that Symphonia's current economic immobility may soon be coming to an end. While in itself a weak indicator, the inflation report from the City's Office of Trade and Economics is supplemented by an increase of 1.3% in the nominal GDP of the entire AFN, with the Symphony and West Genevira metropolitan areas leading by 3.4% increase from last month. The real GDP and GDP per capita have yet to be announced, as AFN government reports will come out next weekend.

The AFN Ministry of Trade and Economics also reported an uptick in hiring, with the entire AFN adding 350,000 new jobs, mostly in the financial and tourism sectors. As usual, Symphony led the way, creating about half of the new jobs as both the Imperial Bank of Symphonia and Li Yuanhong airport are preparing to entire final renovations and revamping periods. The UK International Stock Exchange (UKAX), a minor regional exchange, registered a jump of about 200 point gains by closing bell around 4:30 this afternoon, after a good jobs report and economic analysis report.

This good news, unfortunately, continues to be overshadowed by investor and consumer fears about the poor state of the ViZionarian economy. As the largest economy in the region, a collapse or recession in ViZion would severely impact the economy of the AFN and the UK as a whole. The economy of the AFN is heavily dependent on foreign trade, and economic vagaries in ViZion are the main reason why the City of Symphony has yet to unveil the shipping project based around the major domestic carrier, Hamasaka International.

As stated before, the AFN 2013 Year End Economic Report will be unveiled Saturday, February 1, 2014. It will contain a completed list of economic analysis and government responses, as well as graphs an charts.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

Kingston Wireless Telecom Purchases Viper Communications

3/29/13
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - Kingston Wireless Telecom & Broadband, ViZion's leading domestic wireless provider, has announced the purchase of struggling wireless carrier Viper Communications. Viper Communications (VaIX: VPRC) has struggled mightily in recent years, seeing its standing shrink from 5th to 8th largest carrier in the nation. In 2013, the company had a net loss of $1.2 billion, while also shrinking from from 283 million subscribers to 249 million subscribers. The purchase, heralds Kingston, will help the company provide even greater service to customers across the nation.

While the subscriber base has been shrinking dramatically, and the company has been gushing billions for years, Viper Communications offers something much more valuable for Kingston: spectrum. The finite 'resource' has become increasingly more important as the currently allotted wireless spectrum in ViZion is bursting at its seams. While the federal government will be auctioning off more spectrum later this year, the shot in the arm that this offers Kingston helps to alleviate the strain on the massive network. In ViZion, Kingston Wireless Telecom is first in the wireless industry, second globally to World Cellular.

The GSM and LTE network deployed by Viper Communication is high-band spectrum heavy - including large chunks of PCS and 2.5 MHz spectrum. However, it also has the all-important sub 1.0 GHz spectrum, including 600 MHz. The GSM network, which offers a tremendous amount of 2G and HSPA 3G will be upgraded by years end to HSPA+42 4G, while the 5x5 MHz and 10x10 MHz slivers of LTE will be integrated and upgraded to 40x40 Widenet spectrum, Kingston representatives stated. This is expected to be completed by mid 2015.

While this buyout is hardly earth-shattering, it gives the nation's largest domestic carrier a healthy shot in the arm, and with the upcoming major auction, we can expect Kingston to further distance itself from other carriers, including World Cellular, in the nation's network capability, reliability, and speed. Your move, Kingston competitors.

[Nyucia]

Columnist
Your Name: Onika Boniface
Your Age: 35
Your Home Nation: Nyucia
Any Experience in Business & Economic Fields: Yes, she has a master's degree in economics.
Past Columnist Jobs: Economic Columnist for local newspaper, Glorinda Press
Additional Information: n/a

[ViZion]

Onika Boniface has been accepted into a probationary position for the next week.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

Kingston Wireless Telecom Microcell Build Out

4/18/14
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - Kingston Wireless Telecom & Broadband has been on a major expansion of its high-band spectrum, most notably in the 2300-2500 MHz range. The high-band spectrum has tremendous data speed and bandwidth capability, but can be severely hampered for mobile use by its limited range and struggles with penetration into buildings. In order to combat these key restraints and maximize upon the companies large holdings of high-band spectrum and its capability, Kingston is rapidly building out microcell sites throughout urban and suburban locations across the nation.

In addition, Kingston Wireless Telecom & Broadband is partnering with world-renowned CleverBulb Inc in order to improve in-building signal strength. While details currently are quite limited to the public, what we do know is that the two companies are in talks on a new piece of technology "expected to revolutionize in-building experience" of mobile devices connected to the cellular network.

Time will tell just how much impact these two moves will have, but so far things look bright - in areas, such as Vitalita, where these microcell sites are already beginning to be activated, reception indoors and out, as well as data speed, has rapidly improved. Just how much this will help Kingston expand globally, we have yet to find out.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

ViZionair Shakes Up Airline Industry

5/06/14
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - The airline industry has long been a booming one, one of the most cut throat competitive industries globally. So many companies, so many options. And for the longest time, ViZionair was the single mega airline in the industry. But combined with nearly stalled growth of ViZionair and the rise of companies such as Air Liberte, Royal Kingtonian Airways, Destiny Airlines, and Skyway Airlines, the mega airline numbers inflated dramatically as the void was filled.

Today, however, there is bit one single top dog again. And yet again, it is ViZionair. With the purchase of Royal Kingtonian Airways and Destiny Airlines, ViZionair is the first airline to breach 400, 500, and 1,000 destinations. And growing rapidly once again.

It has long been known that ViZionair has been interested in acquiring the massive and growing Royal Kington Airways, having courted the company for years. The deal finally came together in April of 2014, just days after the purchase of mega airline Destiny Airlines. The combination of the three airlines destinations netted ViZionair over 1,000 destinations world-wide. And days after that, the purchase of three smaller Astyrian airlines further grew the destination and route network.

And now it is being rumored that ViZionites Airline, one of ViZionair's subsidiaries, is being sold to another company. Details are not yet available, and the buyer has not been identified, but sources close to negotiations say it is likely another Astyrian airline.

Just as the industry had become arguably the most competitive in its history, with more carriers at the largest end of the spectrum, a large swath of that high end was enveloped by ViZionair. This opens up the doors for possibly more of the many smaller airlines to grow larger, but it will be years before we see anyone begin to make ground on the ViZionair once again. With the second largest airline being just over 300 destinations, the gap is nearly incomprehensibly large.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

Vivaj Mobile On The Rise

5/12/14
By: Amy Roth

His City, ViZion - The mobile cellular industry has been a fairly hotly contested industry. With World Cellular, Kingston Wireless Telecom, and Universal Telecom making all the recent noise in the news and marketing with their network upgrades and fancy advertising, it is the little guy - spunky, young, new to the market Vivaj Mobile - that is grabbing all the market. Small, nimble, and feisty, their simple plans and to-the-point advertising mixed with reliable and quick service is what is winning the war against the bigger competitors.

The company is skyrocketing, expanding and growing at a seemingly unheard of rate, vastly outperforming the bigger competitors. It has already passed Universal Telecom and is rapidly catching up to third-place Global Wireless of Miraco. It is a shocking display of business success, one that is turning heads across this industry and others. And many ask, how could this small business possibly compete? It was laughed at by its competitors on the global marketplace, especially the largest - Kingston and World Cellular. Yet, it has put its competitors on notice.

And while would take an act of God to catch up to World Cellular anytime soon, it is positioning itself to overtake Kingston as second largest in the not-so-distance future if it can continue rocking this industry.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

ViZion, Brazil Sign Agreement, Open Trade

5/14/14
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - Two major international economic powers have come to agreements ranging from tourism to trade in what is being hailed as one of the most important global agreements made in recent history. Among other things, this includes Pullman Natural Resources taking a 20% ownership stake in Imperial Oil, one of the world's leading oil companies, and ViZionair taking 20% stake in Royal Brazilian Ltd, a large international airline. In addition, ViZion will be selling gold, titanium, platinum and silver to Brazil at competitive prices, while importing a large amount of beef from Brazil. In the future, more is expected to be added to both lists.

All tariffs from and to both nations will be waived, ensuring a prosperous and free trade agreement between both nations, their economics, businesses, and people all benefiting from this. And travelers between both nations will only need to have their ID - no visa or passport required when travelings to and from these nations, if the person is a citizen of either.

This has a chance of heavily reshaping part of the global economic market, and provides major boosts to firms in both nations.

[ViZion]

The Economic Pages

ViZionair Setting Airline Industry Pace Again

12/23/17
By: Amy Roth

Vitalita, ViZion - Since its massive growth push back in 2014, its been a very quiet stretch for ViZionair. At the time, ViZionair was the unquestionable mammoth in the room - it had over 1,000 destinations, compared to just 300 for its nearest competitor. And it seems the airline was unstoppable.

Then - radio silence. The airline that gobbled up five airlines - including its two largest competitors - and seemed poised to continue to run away with the industry, settled down and seemed to go into hibernation. Yet, here we are in 2017, and it's putting the industry on notice once again. ViZionair just purchased New Doltanian airline, Ale Valiane, for a total of $4.5 billion, adding ten destinations and 240 global and domestic routes. And it's not done yet. They have broadcasted that they are interested in buying more airlines from across the globe.

It seems we are once again seeing the awakening of the airline giant - and it appears hungry after its three and a half year hibernation. The airline industry has once again been put on notice.