International Business Council

November Currency Outlook

Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, evaluated the current state of currency in their November Currency Outlook. Overall, the USD is poised to strengthen with a December rate hike. The market has now factored in a 92% likelihood of a rate hike. The Tempus traders completed their November Currency report just prior to the election, but the view is, regardless…

IHA Members Meet with Key Australian & New Zealand Buyers

Six IHA member companies participated in the IHA Trade Mission to Sydney and Auckland, October 30 – November 4 to develop sales opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. The participating IHA members, Astage, Candle Warmers, Honey-Can-Do, Hutzler Mfg., Nordic Ware and Whitmor, met with key home and housewares retailers and toured retail stores to learn more about how…

Export 101: Understanding Exchange Rates

When conducting international business, it is important to take historical, current and forecasted exchange rates into account. It’s also very important to determine the specific currency in which a transaction will be priced. This decision will determine potential risks and rewards as exchange rates fluctuate. As an example, US Company A sells their Product for US$1,…

Global Retail Intelligence – November 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: November 1 - Australian Dollar Growth Bloomberg says that the performance of the Australian dollar may be a positive indicator for the global economy. The currency is the top performer in developed markets since mid-year, and Australia’s ties to China and commodities makes it an economic barometer. The…

Global Retail Intelligence – October 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: October 1 – D Mart, India The Business Standard (Mumbai) reports that India supermarket operator, D Mart “is looking to add over 60 per cent more space in the next three years. The chain, the third largest retailer after Future Group and Reliance Retail, has 3.4 million square feet of retail space now and is…

Forecasting Currency Fluctuations in Uncertain Times

In their October 2016 Currency Outlook report, Tempus, an exchange rate and global payments company, indicates that the globe is going through a period of readjustment as markets find direction in the midst of downside risks to overall economic growth and limits to the scope of intervention by central banks. The two-page report reviews recent currency changes and previews…

Global Retail Intelligence – September 2016

To follow is a brief review of retail news from around the world: August 26 – Walmart & ASDA, UK Bloomberg offered a review of the state of supermarket retailing in the UK including a suggestion that “Walmart should cut Asda loose. The U.S. retail giant has struggled with the U.K. supermarket it bought for 6.7 billion pounds ($8.9 billion) in 1999. A sale to a private…

British Retail Sales Rose Strongly in July

The Wall Street Journal reported today that, post Brexit, “(UK) households largely shrugged off the referendum result and kept spending” with retail sales gaining 5.6% in July compared to a year earlier. For more information, please click here. …

Industry Update from the Japan DIY Industry Association

Information provided by the Japan DIY Industry Association shows remarkable development in the sales and number of DIY stores/home centers in Japan since the first DIY store was opened in the country over 40 years ago. There are now over 4,500 DIY stores/home centers in Japan with the annual general proceeds reaching 3.95 trillion yen. According to the annual report by the…