1999 Archives
A Fire Hazard No More
January 1999
Dr. Charles Gati
No one can claim to know for sure how the euro will be doing in the months and years ahead. It is clear, however, that the historic ideal of European integration — economic, military, and political — has not lost its appeal. While the struggle between forces of nationalism and integration continues unabated, supporters of integration — as proposed after World War II by its modernday fathers in France, Germany, and the United States — seem to have the upper hand.
Report from Davos
February 1999Dr. Hans Black
Why have Helmut Kohl and so many other politicians been found to have accepted illegal contributions? Is politics really dirty business?
Techno Crime
March 1999 Dr. Hans Black
What matters more: hacker attacks on web sites or the indiscriminate promotion of new technology issues of dubious value?
Free for All?
April 1999 Dr. Hans Black
The revolutionary nature of the Internet is callenging the authority of governments in the realms of taxation and intellectual property rights. What should be done?
Fallen Legends
May 1999Dr. Hans Black
Julian Robertson's Tiger Funds have closed down and now George Soros' Quantum Funds are undergoing a metamorphosis. What do these changes in two of the best known hedge funds mean for the investment community?
Single Digit Midgets
June 1999Dr. Hans Black
With the precipitous drop to single-digit prices of several respected technology names, an important top for most stocks is now behind us.
Election Fever
July 1999Dr. Hans Black
Two recent elections — in Japan and Mexico — will no doubt have major implications not only for their respective regional economies but for the global markets.
The End of "Rheinische Kapitalism"?
August 1999Rolf Spielmann
Not since the common currency was introduced has a reform so revitalized the Eurozone's competitive spirit as Germany's new tax policy.
A Fresh Look at Hong Kong
September 1999Hans Arthur Black
Hong Kong may have changed hands, but it hasn't changed heart. The conflicts arising from the changeover remain close to the surface.
Topsy Turvy
October 1999Dr. Hans Black
Despite the recent decimation of many equities (see table), there seems to be an absence of corresponding pessimism among investors. Evidently, this is still to come.
Returning to Value
November 1999Dr. Hans Black
With the once-in-a-lifetime mania apparently coming to an end, we are at last seeing some very real bargains in the stock markets.
Climbing Mt. Fuji in Neutral
December 1999Dr. Hans Black
Dazzling technological advances belie the fact that ten years after the stock market fall in Japan, the underlying economy is still not doing well. Political infighting, fiscal turmoil and a falling savings rate are part of the landscape.
Electile Dysfunction
December 1999Dr. Charles Gati
The U.S. presidential election has no winners. Arguably, the new president lacks not only a mandate to implement some of what he promised to do; he lacks legitimate authority as well.