Very good video about H5H1 Avian Flu.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Swine flu virus "explodes" on Swiss Train
Well isn't this nice. I am glad the "government" folks are so careful. :)
Print Story
A container of flu virus samples packed in dry ice exploded on a Swiss train, injuring one person but posing no other risks to humans, police said on Tuesday. Skip related content
The box held vials of swine flu virus, although a different strain than the H1N1 variety that has caused about 150 deaths in Mexico and infected people in the United States, Canada, Spain and Britain.
A technician was transporting the container on Monday night to the Swiss national flu centre in Geneva, where scientists are developing a flu test for humans, police said.
One woman was hurt when the box exploded in reaction to the dry ice used to keep the samples cold.
After consulting virus specialists, the police decided to stop the St. Gallen to Geneva train before it entered the station in Lausanne.
The virus specialists confirmed that the samples being transported posed no risks to humans, police said.
(Reporting by Sven Egenter; Editing by Laura MacInnis)
Print Story
A container of flu virus samples packed in dry ice exploded on a Swiss train, injuring one person but posing no other risks to humans, police said on Tuesday. Skip related content
The box held vials of swine flu virus, although a different strain than the H1N1 variety that has caused about 150 deaths in Mexico and infected people in the United States, Canada, Spain and Britain.
A technician was transporting the container on Monday night to the Swiss national flu centre in Geneva, where scientists are developing a flu test for humans, police said.
One woman was hurt when the box exploded in reaction to the dry ice used to keep the samples cold.
After consulting virus specialists, the police decided to stop the St. Gallen to Geneva train before it entered the station in Lausanne.
The virus specialists confirmed that the samples being transported posed no risks to humans, police said.
(Reporting by Sven Egenter; Editing by Laura MacInnis)
Internet hitting a wall?
Experts Warn Internet Is Running Out of Bandwidth
Thursday, April 30, 2009
PrintShareThis
Internet users face regular "brownouts" that will freeze their computers as capacity runs out in cyberspace, according to research to be published later this year.
Experts predict that consumer demand, already growing at 60 percent a year, will start to exceed supply as early as 2010 because of more people working online and the soaring popularity of bandwidth-hungry Web sites such as YouTube and services such as the BBC's iPlayer.
It will initially lead to computers being disrupted and going offline for several minutes at a time. Beginning in 2012, however, PCs and laptops are likely to operate at a much reduced speed, rendering the Internet an "unreliable toy."
When Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist, wrote the code that transformed a private computer network into the World Wide Web in 1991, the Internet appeared to be a limitless resource.
However, a report being compiled by Nemertes Research, a respected American think-tank, will warn that the Web has reached a critical point and that even the recession has failed to stave off impending problems.
• Click here to read the rest of this story in the Sunday Times of London.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
PrintShareThis
Internet users face regular "brownouts" that will freeze their computers as capacity runs out in cyberspace, according to research to be published later this year.
Experts predict that consumer demand, already growing at 60 percent a year, will start to exceed supply as early as 2010 because of more people working online and the soaring popularity of bandwidth-hungry Web sites such as YouTube and services such as the BBC's iPlayer.
It will initially lead to computers being disrupted and going offline for several minutes at a time. Beginning in 2012, however, PCs and laptops are likely to operate at a much reduced speed, rendering the Internet an "unreliable toy."
When Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British scientist, wrote the code that transformed a private computer network into the World Wide Web in 1991, the Internet appeared to be a limitless resource.
However, a report being compiled by Nemertes Research, a respected American think-tank, will warn that the Web has reached a critical point and that even the recession has failed to stave off impending problems.
• Click here to read the rest of this story in the Sunday Times of London.
Welcome to the Swine Flu in WA
SWINE FLU: Six probable cases identified in Washington
By Herald staff
The state Department of Health says Washington now has six probable cases of swine flu. Three probable cases are from King County, two from Snohomish County and one from Spokane County.
After testing multiple flu samples since Monday, the department is now sending six samples it could not positively sub-type to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for further testing. Currently the CDC is the only public health lab in the country that can positively identify this virus.
"Health experts in our state are monitoring the situation and have a well-practiced plan in place," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "I encourage all Washingtonians to follow the precautionary guidance of health officials and stay informed of the situation through county and state health resources."
Public health agencies have been looking for cases in Washington to confirm whether the virus is in our state. It’s important for people who are sick with flu-like symptoms to stay home or go to a health care provider if they become seriously ill. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, muscle aches, cough and sometimes trouble breathing.
"Tracking and responding to diseases is what public health agencies do best," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We need the people of our state to help prevent the spread of germs by covering their coughs and staying home if they’re sick. We’ll get through this together."
Since requesting all positive type A flu samples from clinical labs in the state, about 70 have been shipped to the Shoreline laboratory for further testing. Lab workers continue to test samples as they arrive. The CDC plans to send testing materials, known as "reagents" to the state laboratory in the next several days. These materials will allow workers to test for the new swine flu strain.
Almost 100 cases of this new flu strain have been confirmed in 10 U.S. states —Texas, California, Ohio, New York, Kansas, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Indiana. One death has been reported in Texas. Cases have also been reported in several countries.
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. This new strain is being spread by person-to-person contact. There’s no risk from eating properly cooked pork or pork products.
There’s currently no vaccine to prevent swine flu, but antiviral medications can treat it. These are generally used to prevent serious flu complications and work best if started soon after getting sick. Health care providers determine whether a person with influenza needs to take antivirals.
Within the next several days, the state expects to get a supply of antiviral medication from the federal government as a precaution. The medication will be enough to treat about 230,000 people, if needed. The stockpile also includes gloves and other medical supplies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Herald staff
The state Department of Health says Washington now has six probable cases of swine flu. Three probable cases are from King County, two from Snohomish County and one from Spokane County.
After testing multiple flu samples since Monday, the department is now sending six samples it could not positively sub-type to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for further testing. Currently the CDC is the only public health lab in the country that can positively identify this virus.
"Health experts in our state are monitoring the situation and have a well-practiced plan in place," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "I encourage all Washingtonians to follow the precautionary guidance of health officials and stay informed of the situation through county and state health resources."
Public health agencies have been looking for cases in Washington to confirm whether the virus is in our state. It’s important for people who are sick with flu-like symptoms to stay home or go to a health care provider if they become seriously ill. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, muscle aches, cough and sometimes trouble breathing.
"Tracking and responding to diseases is what public health agencies do best," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "We need the people of our state to help prevent the spread of germs by covering their coughs and staying home if they’re sick. We’ll get through this together."
Since requesting all positive type A flu samples from clinical labs in the state, about 70 have been shipped to the Shoreline laboratory for further testing. Lab workers continue to test samples as they arrive. The CDC plans to send testing materials, known as "reagents" to the state laboratory in the next several days. These materials will allow workers to test for the new swine flu strain.
Almost 100 cases of this new flu strain have been confirmed in 10 U.S. states —Texas, California, Ohio, New York, Kansas, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Indiana. One death has been reported in Texas. Cases have also been reported in several countries.
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus. This new strain is being spread by person-to-person contact. There’s no risk from eating properly cooked pork or pork products.
There’s currently no vaccine to prevent swine flu, but antiviral medications can treat it. These are generally used to prevent serious flu complications and work best if started soon after getting sick. Health care providers determine whether a person with influenza needs to take antivirals.
Within the next several days, the state expects to get a supply of antiviral medication from the federal government as a precaution. The medication will be enough to treat about 230,000 people, if needed. The stockpile also includes gloves and other medical supplies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Scrapie, BSE, Proteins and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Great article about Scrapie in sheep.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM829X9.pdf
Proteins and virus's
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v7/n12/full/nm1201-1286.html
Is there a protein that is more common in Mexico than the US?
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM829X9.pdf
Proteins and virus's
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v7/n12/full/nm1201-1286.html
Is there a protein that is more common in Mexico than the US?
Time to buy some masks?
N95. May need to stop by and pick some up today.
Outbreak seems to be spreading. Possibly 2 deaths in LA.
Outbreak seems to be spreading. Possibly 2 deaths in LA.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
very cool google map of locations of swine flu
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=us&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950
DHS is incompetant.
US says not testing travelers from Mexico for flu
26 Apr 2009 17:19:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - The United States is not testing airplane travelers from Mexico for the swine flu virus that has heightened fears of a possible pandemic, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Sunday.
"Right now we don't think the facts warrant more active testing or screening of passengers coming in from Mexico," she said at a White House briefing.
If the death rate is rising to an under reported 103 in Mexico. Do we have to wait till someone dies in the USA for Napolitano to check air travelers arriving from Mexico? Other countries are screening people. I think it is a good idea. All the cases of Swine Flu in the USA and around the world have a connection with travel to Mexico. I guess if we stick our heads in the sand everything is better.
I say.
1 - Screen travelers arriving from Mexico.
2 - Suspend all imports of products from Mexico till we know it is safe.
3 - Tighten the border!
This "outbreak" may be the straw that broke the camels back. This is coming at a time when our economy is week and failing. If other countries, like Russia is doing, start to ban USA and Mexican products that will cause a further slowdown.
I wouldn't be surprised if the markets are taking a hit tomorrow. More to watch.
US says not testing travelers from Mexico for flu
26 Apr 2009 17:19:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - The United States is not testing airplane travelers from Mexico for the swine flu virus that has heightened fears of a possible pandemic, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Sunday.
"Right now we don't think the facts warrant more active testing or screening of passengers coming in from Mexico," she said at a White House briefing.
If the death rate is rising to an under reported 103 in Mexico. Do we have to wait till someone dies in the USA for Napolitano to check air travelers arriving from Mexico? Other countries are screening people. I think it is a good idea. All the cases of Swine Flu in the USA and around the world have a connection with travel to Mexico. I guess if we stick our heads in the sand everything is better.
I say.
1 - Screen travelers arriving from Mexico.
2 - Suspend all imports of products from Mexico till we know it is safe.
3 - Tighten the border!
This "outbreak" may be the straw that broke the camels back. This is coming at a time when our economy is week and failing. If other countries, like Russia is doing, start to ban USA and Mexican products that will cause a further slowdown.
I wouldn't be surprised if the markets are taking a hit tomorrow. More to watch.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Swine flu arrives in England
A Health Protection Agency (HPA) spokesman added: “We are aware of a patient admitted to a London hospital with reported travel history to Mexico. As a precautionary measure the patient is being tested for a range of respiratory and other illnesses in line with UK health guidance. At present there have been no confirmed cases of human swine flu in the UK or anywhere in Europe.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5222211/Mexican-killer-swine-flu-UK-on-alert.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5222211/Mexican-killer-swine-flu-UK-on-alert.html
Swine flu anyone?
Okay this could be very bad. Once they put travel advisories in place our economy will take another hit. Panic, Celente predicted food riots to follow? Will we find ourselves quarantined and wearing masks like in Mexico. Not good. Not good.
Will we now the primary vector? Was it man made? I will be watching this very closely.
It's on the headlines of the news sites now. Drudge has the most linked.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
Dix
Will we now the primary vector? Was it man made? I will be watching this very closely.
It's on the headlines of the news sites now. Drudge has the most linked.
Keep us posted.
Thanks,
Dix
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thank Heaven's for food storage!!!!!
Here is a quick part of an article I'll link at the bottom.
Regarding the Mexico Outbreak and travel and FOOD restrictions.
Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to "shut down movement," said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations.
"So far, we haven't heard anything, but if that call is made we'll make sure to do our part," he said.
Katherine Andrus, general counsel for the Air Transport Association (ATA), said the airline trade group is taking its cues from the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but that so far there had been no decision to restrict travel between the United States and Mexico.
Article link: http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2443181920090424
Regarding the Mexico Outbreak and travel and FOOD restrictions.
Any decision to restrict food shipments due to flu would come from the U.S. Agriculture Department, which has the power to "shut down movement," said Russell Laird, an executive director representing agricultural and food carriers at the American Trucking Associations.
"So far, we haven't heard anything, but if that call is made we'll make sure to do our part," he said.
Katherine Andrus, general counsel for the Air Transport Association (ATA), said the airline trade group is taking its cues from the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but that so far there had been no decision to restrict travel between the United States and Mexico.
Article link: http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2443181920090424
Bring in the Swine...flu. Pandemic brewing?
Well if we have to deal with a pandemic outbreak of a mixed up H1N1 virus then it might as well be during economic collapse, countries redefining themselves and a massive power grab by governments. Well maybe if the outbreak does occur we may finally know if the FEMA camps are real and come in handy as quarantine sites.
I hope there are no ovens there.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.424c5b4c93103272a5d7bbabb402fdea.c1&show_article=1
I hope there are no ovens there.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.424c5b4c93103272a5d7bbabb402fdea.c1&show_article=1
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Credit Card Defaults on the rise
http://uk.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUKTRE53E78D20090415
Here is a tasty treat!
Here is a tasty treat!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
No wonder he got tazed
After watching this schmucks other videos on Youtube I wanted to tazer him myself. What a pretentious little prick. You don't have to offend all the police doing their job.
So much for being a Pastor. I thought a Pastor was to set a good example. What a douche bag.
So much for being a Pastor. I thought a Pastor was to set a good example. What a douche bag.
Oh what next?
Well I visited the mall today in Olympia WA. There must have been 10-12 empty spaces. Some of the kiosks in the center were empty as well. There were some people there shopping on Wed night but it felt more deserted than a hive of shopping activity.
My recent trip into down town Tacoma and down town Seattle are showing some hits from the economy. For lease signs within two city blocks covered about 8 vacant retail spots.
It seems that the Seattle area has been spared the brunt of the slow down. We were about 18 months behind the curve and I wonder if we are not yet feeling the full weight of the recession here. Many people in my industry are talking like things are looking up. But I have my doubts. It will be an interesting year. I am not quite ready to move to the family farm but that is always an option.
Whirled Peas!
My recent trip into down town Tacoma and down town Seattle are showing some hits from the economy. For lease signs within two city blocks covered about 8 vacant retail spots.
It seems that the Seattle area has been spared the brunt of the slow down. We were about 18 months behind the curve and I wonder if we are not yet feeling the full weight of the recession here. Many people in my industry are talking like things are looking up. But I have my doubts. It will be an interesting year. I am not quite ready to move to the family farm but that is always an option.
Whirled Peas!
Great video.. Please visit feveriam.blogspot.com
Here is a link posted on Mike's Feveriam.blogspot.com
Spread the news.
Spread the news.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Now this was funny. I am a Gemini
What is funny is how close she gets to much of what I have been thinking. Weird. ;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NbmCu49_I0
Friday, April 3, 2009
Not in my house!!!
With all the people that are unemployed (about 8.5% now) and being that the GIVE act will expand Americor to 250,000, is it interesting that those that will be working for Americor my not have any other options for employment? Sound like a great recruitment poster. "Unemployed? Come work for Americor".
Creepy
Avian Flu and Vaccine Mix up. Ooops.
Accident? We are so screwed. I wonder at what point does someone "volunteer" to be a carrier. It would be easy to inject someone with Avian Flu, Small Pox or something worse and then get on a plane for a nice ride with lots of people. Or ride a crowded subway, go to a sports game. (SO)
Vaccines infected with deadly avian flu virus
12 March 2009
A large consignment of seasonal flu vaccine, which was due to be circulated to 18 European countries, has been infected with deadly live avian flu virus. Had the contamination not been detected, the vaccines may have started an avian flu pandemic, killing hundreds of thousands of people.
The World Health Organization is carrying out investigations at the Austrian research facility of Baxter International, the pharmaceutical company, where the contamination happened. Baxter has confirmed that the consignment contained live H5N1 virus, which causes avian flu.
A researcher in the Czech Republic discovered the lethal contamination when laboratory ferrets that he had injected with the H3N2 flu vaccine suddenly died. The H5N1 virus becomes lethal as an injection only when it is mixed with H3N2, a process known as reassortment.
The WHO investigation team says it doesn’t have evidence to suggest that Baxter had deliberately reassorted the two viruses, but “what remains unanswered are the circumstances surrounding the incident in the Baxter facility,” a WHO official said.
Despite dire warnings from health officials, no avian flu pandemic has occurred as human-to-human infection hasn’t happened. So far, several hundred people have died after catching the virus from poultry, although governments have warned that millions would die if people could infect each other.
Baxter is currently working on a new type of avian flu vaccine, called Celvapan, which is based on cell culture technology.
The technology, which is being developed at Baxter’s research facility in the Czech Republic, by-passes the conventional process where a virus is incubated in chicken eggs. Instead, Baxter is working with the ‘native’ virus that does not need to be modified.
Last year the vaccine passed the first two phases of safety trials, and Baxter announced that “Celvapan combines innovative science and breakthrough production technology with the aim of protecting people against an H5N1 pandemic flu infection.”
(Sources: Toronto Sun, February 27, 2009; New England Journal of Medicine, 2008; 358: 2573-84).
Gerald Celente is Right
Costco closes it's Costco Home centers in Tempe AZ and in Kirkland WA.
There are two more giant buildings that are going to add to the Home Depot Expos that closed as well.
Maybe we can turn them into homeless shelters? Just an idea.
WSJ article link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090402-702092.html
There are two more giant buildings that are going to add to the Home Depot Expos that closed as well.
Maybe we can turn them into homeless shelters? Just an idea.
WSJ article link: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090402-702092.html
Ouch Toyota and Honda now
I was just sent this article. HHHmmmm.
This is from Bloomberg.com
Toyota Borrows From Japan-Owned Bank to Finance U.S. Car Sales
Share | Email | Print | A A A
By Doron Levin and Naoko Fujimura
April 3 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. borrowed from a Japan-owned bank in the first quarter to finance U.S. car sales as private investors demanded up to 50 percent more interest for the company’s debt.
“Our higher cost of funds shocked us,” following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September, George Borst, chief executive officer of Toyota Financial Services- America in Torrance, California, said yesterday. “We’ve been turning over rocks everywhere” to find capital to lend to buyers of Toyota, Scion and Lexus automobiles in the U.S.
Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, is offering near- record incentives to lure consumers as demand plunges. The company posted better-than-expected sales in the U.S. last month in part because it increased incentives per vehicle by 88 percent from a year ago, according to Edmunds.com.
“Toyota needed the loan as it’s not making money in the U.S.,” said Koichi Ogawa, chief portfolio manager at Daiwa SB Investments Ltd. in Tokyo, which manages $28 billion. “This will make it easier for other carmakers to ask for government aid.”
The carmaker’s finance arm borrowed an undisclosed amount from the bank, Borst said. Honda Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. have said they also plan to apply for loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a government-controlled bank. Both carmakers forecast losses for the quarter ended March 31.
Toyota’s Loss
Toyota jumped 7.3 percent to 3,700 yen at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo, after the Japanese currency weakened to 100 against the dollar for the first time in five months. Honda added 1.7 percent, and Mazda rose 3.8 percent.
Toyota has forecast a loss of 350 billion yen ($3.5 billion) for the year ended March 31 and it may post a loss of 224 billion yen in the current fiscal year, according to the median of 20 analyst estimates, compiled by Bloomberg.
The carmaker lost the top credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services in February. Moody’s cut Toyota to Aa1 from Aaa and S&P lowered the carmaker to AA+ from AAA.
Denso Corp. the world’s largest listed carparts maker and an affiliate of Toyota, had its credit rating cut to Aa2 from Aa1 by Moody’s today. The partsmaker said it will have a loss for the year ended March 31 as Toyota slashed production.
The carmaker’s sales in the U.S. plunged 39 percent last month. Still, that was less than the 41 percent drop forecast by analysts as the company offered an average of $1,600 in incentives on each model. In Japan, Toyota’s sales dropped 32 percent in March.
Bond Yields
Toyota sold 80 billion yen in 10-year bonds priced to yield 2.012 percent in February. That compares with 150 billion yen of 10-year bonds sold in August 2002, priced to yield 1.337 percent. The extra yield over government bonds of similar maturity that investors demand to own the company’s 50 billion yen bond due in March 2012 surged to 213 basis points yesterday, up from 54 basis points on Oct. 31, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
On March 3 Japanese media reported that Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, was negotiating a five-year loan of about $2 billion from JBIC. Toyota executives denied that the loan constituted a government “bailout.”
Last year the carmaker borrowed from 330 financial institutions worldwide in 18 currencies, Toyota’s Borst said.
The U.S. arm of Toyota Financial Services Corp. borrowed the equivalent of $25 billion in 2008 for financing of cars and trucks, Borst said. He declined to say how much Toyota plans to borrow this year.
This is from Bloomberg.com
Toyota Borrows From Japan-Owned Bank to Finance U.S. Car Sales
Share | Email | Print | A A A
By Doron Levin and Naoko Fujimura
April 3 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. borrowed from a Japan-owned bank in the first quarter to finance U.S. car sales as private investors demanded up to 50 percent more interest for the company’s debt.
“Our higher cost of funds shocked us,” following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September, George Borst, chief executive officer of Toyota Financial Services- America in Torrance, California, said yesterday. “We’ve been turning over rocks everywhere” to find capital to lend to buyers of Toyota, Scion and Lexus automobiles in the U.S.
Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, is offering near- record incentives to lure consumers as demand plunges. The company posted better-than-expected sales in the U.S. last month in part because it increased incentives per vehicle by 88 percent from a year ago, according to Edmunds.com.
“Toyota needed the loan as it’s not making money in the U.S.,” said Koichi Ogawa, chief portfolio manager at Daiwa SB Investments Ltd. in Tokyo, which manages $28 billion. “This will make it easier for other carmakers to ask for government aid.”
The carmaker’s finance arm borrowed an undisclosed amount from the bank, Borst said. Honda Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. have said they also plan to apply for loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a government-controlled bank. Both carmakers forecast losses for the quarter ended March 31.
Toyota’s Loss
Toyota jumped 7.3 percent to 3,700 yen at the 3 p.m. close in Tokyo, after the Japanese currency weakened to 100 against the dollar for the first time in five months. Honda added 1.7 percent, and Mazda rose 3.8 percent.
Toyota has forecast a loss of 350 billion yen ($3.5 billion) for the year ended March 31 and it may post a loss of 224 billion yen in the current fiscal year, according to the median of 20 analyst estimates, compiled by Bloomberg.
The carmaker lost the top credit rating from both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services in February. Moody’s cut Toyota to Aa1 from Aaa and S&P lowered the carmaker to AA+ from AAA.
Denso Corp. the world’s largest listed carparts maker and an affiliate of Toyota, had its credit rating cut to Aa2 from Aa1 by Moody’s today. The partsmaker said it will have a loss for the year ended March 31 as Toyota slashed production.
The carmaker’s sales in the U.S. plunged 39 percent last month. Still, that was less than the 41 percent drop forecast by analysts as the company offered an average of $1,600 in incentives on each model. In Japan, Toyota’s sales dropped 32 percent in March.
Bond Yields
Toyota sold 80 billion yen in 10-year bonds priced to yield 2.012 percent in February. That compares with 150 billion yen of 10-year bonds sold in August 2002, priced to yield 1.337 percent. The extra yield over government bonds of similar maturity that investors demand to own the company’s 50 billion yen bond due in March 2012 surged to 213 basis points yesterday, up from 54 basis points on Oct. 31, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
On March 3 Japanese media reported that Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, was negotiating a five-year loan of about $2 billion from JBIC. Toyota executives denied that the loan constituted a government “bailout.”
Last year the carmaker borrowed from 330 financial institutions worldwide in 18 currencies, Toyota’s Borst said.
The U.S. arm of Toyota Financial Services Corp. borrowed the equivalent of $25 billion in 2008 for financing of cars and trucks, Borst said. He declined to say how much Toyota plans to borrow this year.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Two great blogs to follow.
Mike, Feveriam on Youtube and at www.feveriam.wordpress.com Fantastic commentator.
Todd, www.americansolutionsforum.com a friend of mine. Deep thinker. And he's a great guy too.
SO
Todd, www.americansolutionsforum.com a friend of mine. Deep thinker. And he's a great guy too.
SO
Frodo Baggins spotted in London G20 Protests
You can believe it or not. But pictures don't lie. See for yourself.
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