NASA Envisions Alien Worlds

Out of the Dust, a Planet is Born
In this artist's conception, a possible newfound planet spins through a clearing, detected around the star CoKu Tau 4 by the Spitzer Space Telescope, in a nearby star's dusty, planet-forming disc. The possible planet is theorized to be at least as massive as Jupiter, and may have a similar appearance to what the giant planets in our own solar system looked like billions of years ago.

NASA/JPL-Caltech

This Planet Smells Funny
Giant planet GJ 436b in the constellation Leo is missing something--and that something is swamp gas. To the surprise of astronomers who have been studying the Neptune-sized planet using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, GJ 436b has very little methane--an ingredient common to many planets in our own solar system. This artist's concept shows the unusual, methane-free world partially eclipsed by its star.Models of planetary atmospheres indicate that any world with the common mix of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, and a temperature up to 1,000 Kelvin (1,340 degrees Fahrenheit) should have a large amount of methane and a small amount of carbon monoxide. But at about 800 Kelvin (or 980 degrees Fahrenheit), GJ 436b it does not. The finding demonstrates the diversity of exoplanets and the need for further study.

ESA/C.Carreau

Steaming Hot Planet
This artist's impression shows a gas-giant exoplanet transiting across the face of its star. Infrared analysis by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope of this type of system provided the breakthrough.The planet, HD 189733b, lies 63 light-years away in the constellation Vulpecula. It was discovered in 2005 as it transited its parent star, dimming the star's light by some three percent.

---

 

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Harvard-Smithsonian CfA

Fantastic Four Galaxies with Planet
This artist's concept shows what the night sky might look like from a hypothetical planet around a star tossed out of an ongoing four-way collision between big galaxies (yellow blobs). NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope spotted this "quadruple merger" of galaxies within a larger cluster of galaxies located nearly 5 billion light-years away.Though the galaxies appear intact, gravitational disturbances have caused them to stretch and twist, flinging billions of stars into space, nearly three times as many stars as are in our Milky Way galaxy. The tossed stars are visible in the large plume emanating from the central, largest galaxy. If any of these stars have planets, their night skies would be filled with the monstrous merger, along with other galaxies in the cluster (smaller, bluish blobs).This cosmic smash-up is the largest known merger between galaxies of a similar size. While three of the galaxies are about the size of our Milky Way galaxy, the fourth (center of image) is three times as big. All four of the galaxies, as well as most other galaxies in the huge cluster, are blob-shaped ellipticals instead of spirals like the Milky Way.Ultimately, in about one hundred million years or so, the four galaxies will unite into one. About half of the stars kicked out during the merger will fall back and join the new galaxy, making it one of the biggest galaxies in the universe.

---

 

NASA/ESA/G.Bacon(STScI)

Exoplanet HR 8799b
This is an artistic illustration of the giant planet HR 8799b.The planet was first discovered in 2007 at the Gemini North observatory. It was identified in the NICMOS archival data in a follow-up search of NICMOS archival data to see if Hubble had also serendipitously imaged it.The planet is young and hot, at a temperature of 1500 degrees Fahrenheit. It is slightly larger than Jupiter and may be at least seven times more massive. Analysis of the NICMOS data suggests the planet has water vapor in its atmosphere and is only partially cloud covered. It is not known if the planet has rings or moons, but circumplanetary debris is common among the outer planets of our solar system.

---

 

NASA/JPL

Chemical Soups Around Cool Stars
This artist's conception shows a young, hypothetical planet around a cool star. A soupy mix of potentially life-forming chemicals can be seen pooling around the base of the jagged rocks. Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope hint that planets around cool stars - the so-called M-dwarfs and brown dwarfs that are widespread throughout our galaxy - might possess a different mix of life-forming, or prebiotic, chemicals than our young Earth.

Cell phone banking could lift Africa's farmers

You might have a few dollars in your wallet, but chances are most of the money you spend is through your credit or debit card. The cashless system we’ve grown accustomed to across North America, offers consumers instant access to products and services – giving us the freedom to buy whatever we want whenever we want it. Much of the developing world still relies solely on cash and barter transactions.

But now entrepreneurs in Africa are pioneering a remote electronic money network for the continent’s “unbanked” rural people, allowing customers to use their cell phones like a debit card. Investing in this social entrepreneurship could bring prosperity to markets that need it most.

Over the past decade, cell phone use has increased fivefold in Africa. Worldwatch Institute’s Nourishing the Planet project traveled across sub-Saharan Africa over the last year, and has found that nearly everyone, from remote villagers in Ethiopia and Uganda to poor farmers in Niger, has a cell phone.

\

Farmers are using their phones to gain access to information and other things they didn’t have before. They can check crop prices before investing time in long trips to city markets, for example, giving them the option to wait until prices increase. Agricultural extension agents and development agencies use cell phones to inform farmers about changes in weather that could affect crops.

The cashless system has several benefits. First, money stored electronically is less likely to be stolen or misused. Second, electronic transactions can be instant – lowering transaction costs – whereas in-person cash transactions often mean investing time and money in transportation. Electronic money can benefit more marginalized people who often have to rely on middlemen to help them access markets.

The investment needed to firmly establish mobile banking in Zambia is large, and even more is needed for it to go international. But the models are there. The technology is there. The expertise is there and growing daily.

And according to Mr. Quinn, “There is no better place or time to be an entrepreneur in an emerging mobile payments industry.”

Credits -csmonitor

Goldman Sachs Sambas Into Brazilian Investment Banking

Goldman Sachs is looking to boost its workforce in Brazil in an effort to expand its footprint in the emerging markets. [1] The bank is targeting growth in high margin businesses such as convertible debt and the securitization of receivables in the booming investment banking sector in the Latin American nation.

Brazil – An Attractive Investment Destination

Brazil has posted impressive growth in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service sectors to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world. ^[2] Investment banks are increasingly turning toward growing markets to increase their revenues, and Brazil has become one such important destination.

The Brazilian market is currently dominated by local banks such as Banco Itau BBA SA and Banco BTG Pactual SA that are using their strong local presence to maintain a stronghold on the market. ^[1] Other investment banks such as UBS are trying to gain market share by acquiring local firms to increase their penetration in the fixed income and securities markets.

Goldman Sachs is relatively a new-comer to the Brazilian market. It commenced full operations in the country only in 2009 and hence may face tough competition from established players. ^[1] The bank intends to overcome this handicap by targeting high margins segments and may look to leverage its relationships with private equity firms to shore up business. Goldman Sachs is the leading advisor to private equity players, and has been leading this space for over past five years with a 34% share of the total mergers and acquisitions deals involving PE firms. 

Bloomberg reports that total mergers & acquisitions (M&A) transactions in Brazil stands at approximately $53.5 billion in 2011. ^[1]. According to its data, Goldman Sachs is now among the top 10 M&A and equity sales advisors in the country ranking fourth in Q1 2011. Goldman Sachs’ M&A advisory contributes to 8% of our $164 price estimate for its stock – implying a 25% premium over the current market price. We estimate that the firm will increase its market share in global M&A advisory to 25% by the end of our forecast period.

WGM 110702

Videos will be out soon :) :)


WGM 110702

Needless to say, the outcome of the Greek parliament vote on a new austerity package – a scheme including tax increases, spending cuts and government asset sales – is in focus today. As we discussed in detail earlier in the week, last week’s successful confidence vote that allowed Prime Minister George Papandreou and his cabinet to remain in power make today’s proceedings largely ceremonial. Still, market confidence is likely to get a boost from the outcome as a degree of uncertainty about the current environment is removed, pushing crude prices higher along with the spectrum of risky assets. Key resistance has already been overcome at $92.11 – the intersection the 61.8% Fibonacci extension level and a falling channel top – exposing $94.49 from here. Official DOE weekly inventory figures are also on tap.

Gold Begins Recovery Amid US Dollar Weakness

Spot Gold (NY Close): 1501.40 // +3.35 // +0.22%

As we said yesterday, gold appears likely to follow risky assets higher into the Greek budget vote, with a favorable outcome that boosts overall sentiment likely to weigh on the US Dollar as the safe-haven du jour over recent weeks. Needless to say, gold is priced in terms of the greenback on global markets, so a decline in the US currency puts de-facto upward pressure on the yellow metal. A bounce from support at $1495.92 is already underway targeting initial resistance at $1509.49 and $1534.55, the 38.2% Fibonacci extension level and the underside of a previously broken rising channel, respectively.

IMF Executive Board Selects Christine Lagarde as Managing Director

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today selected Christine Lagarde to serve as IMF Managing Director and Madame Chairman of the Executive Board for a five-year term starting on July 5, 2011. Ms. Lagarde, who succeeds Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is the first woman named to the top IMF post since the institution’s inception in 1944. 

The selection of Ms. Lagarde by the 24-member Executive Board representing the IMF’s 187 member countries brings to conclusion the selection process initiated by the Executive Board on May 20, 2011 (see Press Release No. 11/191). According to the agreed procedures, the Board had agreed to meet with Mr. Agustín Carstens and Ms. Lagarde for the post. The candidates met bilaterally with Executive Directors, as well as the Executive Board, during June 20-23, 2011. In these meetings, Mr. Carstens and Ms. Lagarde had the opportunity to present all relevant information concerning their specific candidacies.

The Executive Board agreed that both were well qualified candidates and the objective was to select one by consensus. Based on the candidate profile that had been established, the Executive Board, after considering all relevant information on the candidacies, proceeded to select Ms. Lagarde by consensus. The Executive Board looks forward to Ms. Lagarde effectively leading the International Monetary Fund as its next Managing Director.

The Managing Director is the chief of the IMF’s operating staff and Chairman of the Executive Board. The chief executive is assisted by three Deputy Managing Directors in the operation of the Fund, which serves 187 member countries through about 2,700 staff from more than 140 countries. 

Ms. Lagarde, 55, a national of France, has been the Minister of Finance of France since June 2007. Prior to that, she served as France’s Minister for Foreign Trade for two years. Ms. Lagarde also has had an extensive and noteworthy career as an anti-trust and labor lawyer, serving as a partner with the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie, where the partnership elected her as chairman in October 1999. She held the top post at the firm until June 2005 when she was named to her initial ministerial post in France. Ms. Lagarde has degrees from Institute of Political Studies (IEP) and from the Law School of Paris X University, where she also lectured prior to joining Baker & McKenzie in 1981.

LOVE, DEATH AND DREAMS | UTTERLY ART

Images courtesy of Utterly Art