Export Orders in Asia Bodewell for Growth

Early signs of a rebound in trade in Asia are brightening prospects for the region’s export-dependent economies and are evidence that stronger U.S. demand is filtering through to help global growth.

The latest evidence came Tuesday when bellwether technology producer Taiwan reported export orders, which anticipate actual exports by a month or two, rose nearly 18% in February compared with the year- earlier period.

Combined with January’s figures to average out the effects of the Lunar New Year, orders rose a more modest 3.3%, still better than the contraction in orders seen at the end of 2011.

Economists see Taiwan as an early indicator and a proxy for global trade because of its integral role in supplying electronic components to computers, mobile phones and automobiles. A pickup in Taiwan’s trade activity means exports elsewhere in emerging markets in Asia, including China, should increase in the months ahead.

Other indicators also point to a rebound. Exports from trading hub Singapore rose 13% in the first two months of the year, and container shipments from China’s biggest port, Shanghai, have shown signs of life.

Trade activity globally slowed in the second half of 2011 as companies dealt with sluggish demand in the U. S., worries about the European debt crisis, and disruptions in supply chains due to natural disasters in Japan and Thailand, both key makers of automotive and technology components.

Stronger consumer sentiment and high levels of business investment in the U.S. are translating into demand for goods from Asia, at least partially making up for the troubles manufacturers are seeing from European clients.

In Japan, a weakening currency is lifting expectations for its exporters. The yen has fallen around 10% against the euro and the dollar so far this year.

The Wall Street Journal March 2012

Translate the text into Russian: № 9

Unilever sees slow recovery

Unilever PLC Chief Executive Paul Polman said the company was planning for a sluggish economic recovery that could stretch out for two years as the consumer-goods giant posted a 27% drop in fourth-quarter earnings compared with year-earlier results that benefited from asset sales.

Mr. Polman said Unilever would continue to pursue the strategy he adopted a year ago, which calls for pursuing high volume sales with lower prices. That approach helped drive revenue growth during the quarter, he said, and should enable Unilever to notch volume growth and margin gains in 2010.

A drop in commodity prices allowed the company to invest more in advertising and promotions. The company posted a one percentage point rise in operating margin.

Since taking the helm of Unilever a little over a year ago, Mr. Polman, a former Nestle SA and Procter & Gamble Co. executive, has reversed a strategy that called for increasing prices aggressively while allowing volumes to slip. He has set about streamlining the company by bringing in new executives from outside and change assignments for existing employees

So far, the market has responded well, with shares for the company rising about 30% since Mr. Polman took over as chief executive. But he realizes his task at Unilever is far from done. Going forward, he said the company will face increased competition from rivals like P&G and local start-ups in emerging markets, one of the company’s most crucial areas.

The Wall Street Journal February 2010

Translate the text into Russian: № 10