A tuning fork is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the tines formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal (usually steel). It resonates at a specific constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it against a surface or with an object… Wikipedia

If what Richard Solomon is saying over at [...]

New Federal Reserve initiatives aimed at short-term funding markets should help ease the liquidity shock now being faced by financial markets, and improve that sector’s prospects, a central bank official said Thursday.
“Our hope is that the new liquidity facilities will make it easier for commercial paper to serve its important purposes and for financing to [...]

I believe modern mom-and-pop franchising has largely morphed into a Big Con.
Illusion of Legitimacy: The methods of the confidence game have evolved into a much more difficult fraud to deal with because there is very little difference in the look of a blatant scam and a legitimate business format franchise.
Anyone who says you can tell [...]

The President of China Investment Corp, Gao Xiqing, has made his way to the U.S. with Wei Christianson, CEO and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley China, sparking rumours that the Chinese sovereign wealth fund may buy up to 49% of the beleaguered investment bank. Gao has been scheduled to meet Morgan Stanley executives in San [...]

In what we’re sure is a total coincidence, NBA entities had two big China-related announcements right around the time Team USA finished its gold medal romp in Wukesong Arena in Beijing.
NBA China signed a sponsorship deal with Tsingtao, China’s most popular beer and its only beverage brand with an international presence. According to this Bloomberg [...]

The economic slowdown in the U.S. is extending to the country’s southern border.

Family Remittances to Mexico. Blue line is seasonally adjusted number. Source: Bank of Mexico

The Bank of Mexico reduced its forecast for economic growth due in part to a bleaker employment picture both at home and in the U.S.
Family remittances to Mexico in the [...]

Can companies actually grow stronger during a recession? What can they do to capitalize on the problems that their rivals encounter during tough economic times? Suppose you have a sturdy balance sheet, low debt, and plentiful amounts of cash. How can you employ these strengths to take on rivals who have been weakened considerably?
I’m reminded [...]

The signs of an imminent recession are all around us. The spillover from the subprime mortgage crisis is weakening both consumer confidence and the consumer spending–much of it on credit–that has been buoying the US economy.
Companies should bear eight factors in mind when making their marketing plans for 2008 and 2009:
1. Research the customer. [...]

Coming soon from John Quelch: Greater Good: How Good Marketing Makes for Better Democracy (Hardcover)

Many business-to-business (B2B) CEOs view marketing as the domain of consumer goods brands. They are wrong. Among Interbrand’s 10 most valuable global brands, we find Microsoft, Intel, IBM and GE. All generate far more B2B revenues than sales to end consumers.
An [...]