International Finance - the Growth of China and India as World Financial Powers

International Finance

Presentation notes for years 2005-Present:

Year 2005:

• The Growth of China and India as World Financial Powers.

The rise of China and India as world financial powers is nothing short of amazing. Economists estimate that both nations can grow at the rate of 7-8% for decades to come. China, alone, has grow at about 9.6% for the past two decades. Together, the two countries account for one-third of the world's population.

Countries like the United States initially started outsourcing work to China and India because of cheap labor. This is no longer the case. They kept their work in the two countries because they found talent. Talent for innovation in high-tech fields. A million scientists and engineers are trained in India and China each year compared to a much lower number in the U.S. The balance of power in technologies is likely to move West to East.

Year 2005:

• Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

On August 25, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the U.S. as a strong Category 3 or low Category 4 storm. It quickly became the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history, almost destroying New Orleans due to severe flooding.

Hurricane Rita quickly followed Katrina only to make matters worse. Between the two, more than $200 billion in damage was done. 400,000 jobs were lost and 275,000 homes were destroyed. Many of the jobs and homes were never to be recovered. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and over 1,000 were killed and more are missing. The effect on oil and gasoline prices was long-lasting.

Years 2007 and 2008:

Sub-prime Housing Crisis and the Housing Bubble

In the early part of the 21st century, the U.S. housing market was booming. Housing values were high. Just about anyone who wanted to buy a home could buy a home. A phenomenon called sub-prime lending arose. Individuals and families who, in the past, could not have qualified for a mortgage were able to qualify for adjustable-rate mortgages with low or no down payments and low initial interest rates.

Banks made mortgage loans to these individuals for houses with inflated values. As the interest rates rose and their adjustable rate loans got more expensive, they couldn't make their mortgage payments. Soon, large financial institutions were holding portfolios of loans that were worthless. The "credit crunch" ensued.

Year 2008:

Bernard Madoff and the Biggest Ponzi Scheme in History

Bernard Madoff, who owned his own investment advisory firm, was a former chairman of the NASDAQ. In