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US Orange Juice imports fell 3% in Y 2011

US imports of OJ fell by 3% in Y 2011, with top grower Brazil supplying more than 50%, the Florida Department of Citrus said Tuesday.

But the value of the OJ was + 23% on the year, according to a report by the state agency. It is a factor that may drive already weak demand even lower and weigh on futures prices.

Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Citrus, citing Nielsen data, said US retail sales volume of OJ in the 2011-12 season that started in October through 21 January dropped 9.1%, while prices climbed 7.6% to $6.13 gal over a similar period a year ago.

Frozen Orange Juice concentrate for March delivery on ICE Futures US were recently trading $1.8380 lb, down 0.2% on the day.

Futures have dropped 19% since hitting a record peak in January after the Food and Drug Administration announced it would test OJ imports after a fungicide whose use is not approved for US oranges was detected in imported Brazilian juice.

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Speaking of Universal Life Insurance…

What are the disadvantages of this type of insurance?

Universal life insurance is generally much more expensive in comparison to term life insurance options. While some of these added costs are going to be going into your account in the form of a cash value component, the rates that you are going to be earning on that money may not necessarily be netting you the best possible rates of interest. This is the reason why so many financial professionals end up recommending that you buy term life insurance and simply invest whatever difference there is. What this is going to do is to allow you to purchase the death benefit insurance that you need while still having an added layer of flexibility that you can use in order to invest the difference in any way, shape or form that you choose.

Variable Universal Life Insurance

This particular type of life insurance is actually quite similar in nature to universal life insurance but there is one serious difference that you are going to need to consider. W

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The Southern Hemisphere is not a bad place to be in the wintertime. That is, when it is wintertime in the Northern Hemisphere. By the time the chilly winds from Baltimore reach the southern tip of Africa they have been warmed by the South Atlantic. Flowers bloom. The sun shines. Gentle breezes glide over the fields and parking lots.

As near as we can tell, South Africa is booming. Driving along the freeways, you’d scarcely know you weren’t in Southern Californiaor Texas. Except that it seems newer and more modern in Johannesburg than it does in LA. Most of the roadsshopsand offices you see in Jo’burg were put up only in the last couple of years. Those in LA date back decades.

But there are a lot of poor people in Africa, more than in California. And some of them are not very good neighbors. At intersections that are particularly favored by hijackers, for example, signs warn motorists to watch out. Razor wire, stretched generously and lazily on the top of walls, reminds the visitor that this is no paradise.

Melbourne, Australia, is equally sun-washed this time of year. But i

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While we might like to think that everyone can pursue the dream of being their own boss, setting their own hours, and doing whatever they want- it just doesn’t work for most people. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Chances are you probably aren’t cut out for it – and there’s nothing wrong with this. Not everyone is cut out to be a gymnast, or a rock star, or an accountant either.

Passion doesn’t necessarily make things that much easier either. Let’s say you love baking cookies so much you quit your 9-to-5 so you could do that for a living. You might make the tastiest, most mind-blowing cookies out there – but how passionate are you about accounting, marketing, management, supplies acquisition, and all of the thousands of other tasks associated with a business? There might even be days you won’t be making cookies at all because you need to work on so many other things. If you think you’

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This week’s Asia outlook

China’s economy and its relations with the US may be the focus in Asia during this week, as the markets begin to rev up after the Holiday season and into Earnings season.

Investors in Asia await policy-easing moves from Beijing, Chinese inflation numbers may prove Key, as they will offer clues as to how much the central bank can loosen policy without risking a large run-up in prices.

Although the People’s Bank of China has already made some “fine-tuning” adjustments to ease liquidity, the markets will also want to see a further cooling to consumer prices, freeing the central bank’s hand further.

The consumer price index, along with the producer-price index, are scheduled for release Monday, with a China Securities Journal report Thursday citing analysts’ forecast for a Y-Y rise of about 4%-4.1% for the CPI.

If that is the case, it would mark the latest step in a significant climbdown from the 6.5% consumer inflation marked in July, and just below the 4.2% recorded in November.

A day after the inflation data, Us Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is due to arrive in Beijing, and is set to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao Wednesday.

On the agenda will be the trade tensions between the World’s Top 2 economies, including China’s continuing trade surplus with the US, as well as co-operation in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

A US Treasury Department statement released ahead of the trip said Mr. Geithner will “disc

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Unless you’ve taken some courses on handling finances, there is a chance that you may not be aware of a few of the key points about budgeting, managing your money and planning for the future. While a lot rests on common sense, there are a few techniques that everyone can use to correctly manage their finances and stay on top of their bills. Let’s look at some of the best tips that you can put to use right now.

1. You need to pay yourself a salary.

Sounds a little odd, doesn’t it? However, setting aside a portion of your income every month that will go into savings is one of the first steps on the road to financial security. The best amount to put aside is 10% of your gross earnings each month, but this may not always be possible. Try to get as close to that number as possible and watch your savings grow!

2. Always have money in case of an emergency.

The problem with emergencies is that you never know when they will happen. From

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More on our new theory of government.

You’ll recall that this series began by pointing out how worthless most “theories of government” really are. They’re not theories at all. They don’t explain anything. Instead, they are just wishful thinkingflatteryand apologia for the elite who use government for their own ends.

The “social contract,” for example, is a fraud. You can’t have a contract unless you have two willing and able parties. They must come together in a meeting of the minds — a real agreement about what they are going to do together.

But what is the ‘social contract’ with government? There was never a meeting of the minds. The deal was forced on the public. And now, imagine that you want out. Can you simply “break the contract?” You refuse to pay your taxes and refuse to be bossed around by TSA agents and other government employees. How long would it be before you got put in jail?

What kind of contract is it that you don’t agree to and can’t get out of? They can dress it upprint out

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In the age of social media, online shopping and mobile commerce, it’s no surprise some people feel that brick-and-mortar retailers may soon become obsolete. However, these new technologies have recently been utilized to encourage shoppers to head back into stores.

WSL/Strategic Retail explains that a number of new mobile technologies, social media campaigns and shopping apps are hoping to use consumers’ behaviors and communication preferences to get them to shop at physical store locations. Retailers have figured out how to make shopping in stores as interactive and fun as commerce done over the internet.

“For the first time in many years, retailers are getting ahead of the trend, and the shopper, by introducing new mobile apps that create fun, entertaining and promotion-driven experiences at the malls and in the stores,” explained Wendy Liebmann, CEO of WSL/Strategic Retail. “By usi

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ECB stands ready to act

The head of the European Central Bank (ECB) signaled Thursday it stands ready to act more aggressively to fight Europe’s debt crisis if political leaders agree next week on much tighter budget controls in the 17-nation EuroZone. In France, President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a new treaty incorporating tougher budget discipline, a European Monetary Fund to support countries in difficulty and decisions in the EuroZone taken by majority vote instead of unanimity.

Addressing supporters in the port city of Toulon, Sarkozy said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel would meet next Monday to outline joint proposals to put to a December 9th EU summit, seen as make-or-break for the 12-yr-old single currency.

“Let us not hide it, Europe may be swept away by the crisis if it doesn’t get a grip, if it doesn’t change,” Mr. Sarkozy said, warning that a collapse of the Euro would make France’s debt unmanageable and wipe out people’s savings. “We do not ha

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When you’re in debt, you struggle hard to find out ways to pay off your debts. In spite of managing your personal finances and sticking to your budget, at times you may find that there are certain circumstances that hinder you from making your payments properly. In such situations, it is advisable, that if you have made any investments in the stock market, then you can sell it off and use the money to pay off your debts. However, before you do so, you need to opt for a suitable debt solutions method that will pave you proper ways to make it easier for you to repay your obligations (unsecured).

2 Types of debt solution programs

Read on to know which debt relief program can be suitable for you to erase your debts.

1. Debt settlement program:

If you’re able to make your minimum payments but are quite unsure about continuing it in your near future, then you can opt for a debt settlement program. Here, the representative of the company will assess your financial situation and negotiate with your creditors to lower the outstanding balance of your bills/cards up to (40- 60) %. Aft Read more…