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BMI View: Saudi Arabia continued its role as the world's leading swing producer, maintaining historically high production of near 10mn b/d in support of the global oil market over much of 2012. However, a dramatic cutback towards the end of the year, send global prices higher just as sentiment turned bullish with regard to demand over 2013 from key crude importers in Asia. More than any other producer Saudi Arabia's production both reflects and is reflective of global supply and demand fundamentals, we therefore expect to see a slight decline from 2012 estimate 11.7mn b/d to 11.6mn b/d in 2013. We also anticipate strong growth in gas production, with a number of new projects in the pipeline brought forward in recognition of the threat growing domestic consumption poses to more lucrative oil exports.

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In theory, Kuwait should be home to one of the Middle East's leading insurance sectors. Thanks to energy exports, the economy has consistently performed well and local insurance companies are well established. Kuwait is also the base for very substantial and innovative shari'a-compliant financial institutions. The Kuwait Investment Authority is one of the major shareholders in Arig, one of the leading regional reinsurance companies.

Brazil's mining sector is poised for continued, though slower, growth as weaker foreign demand weighs on Brazilian exports. The country's large untapped reserves and relatively small mining sector relative to regional peers make it a compelling sector growth story and should continue to attract investment. Iron ore production will continue to be the main driver of mining sector investment, but we expect growth in several base metals, as well as gold, providing opportunities for mining companies and investors. Investments into infrastructure in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics will not only help support demand for raw materials, but also enable more efficient transport of mineral resources through infrastructure investments.

The port of Riga is set to hold the top position in Latvia's maritime sector in terms of both total tonnage and container throughput in 2013, after another year of healthy growth in 2012.

The Jeddah Islamic Port is set to hold the top position in Saudi Arabia's maritime sector in terms of both total tonnage and container throughput in 2013 after demonstrating strong growth in 2012.

An increase in government spending, elevated oil prices and financial support from Saudi Arabia will very likely help to bolster growth in Bahrain over the course of 2013. However, a return to precrisis rates of real GDP growth above 7% remains off the cards in the near term. We have revised up our forecasts for real GDP growth, and now project the economy expanding by 3.5% and 3.9% in 2013 and 2014 respectively. We are, however, projecting a slight slowdown in household consumption in 2013, and have pencilled in growth of 4.5%, from an estimated 5.0% in 2012.

While China is increasingly dependent on energy imports - particularly gas - owing to rapid growth in energy demand, there is considerable upside potential from its unconventional gas resources. A more open environment to foreign investment is needed in order to meet the ambitious production targets set by the state, especially if its vast unconventional gas resources are to be maximised. In the meantime, oil and gas demand could surprise to the downside if economic expansion comes under pressure.

It is difficult to stay abreast of everything that is happening financially in the United States today. Dennis Tubbergen, a financial advisor, author, radio show host and CEO of PLP Advisors, LLC can be counted on to give a hand when it comes to understanding the latest events in U.S. and world economics.

For those people who are too busy to stay on top of recent events in the world's economy, financial advisor Dennis Tubbergen lends a hand.

The sharp drop in public pharmaceutical expenditure in Spain during the second half of 2012 warns of a continuing fall in spending on medicines in 2013. BMI notes that this does not bode well for drugmakers selling their products in Spain. The success of the implemented policies may encourage the enforcement of further cost-containment measures, which, with the ongoing public hospital debt situation, seriously hampers the country's attractiveness as a location in which to sell drugs, despite its favourable demographic characteristics.

Private consumption in Spain contracted by 4.0% y-o-y in Q312, against the backdrop of weak consumer and investment spending. This trend will continue in 2013 and 2014, as consumer confidence is damaged by the bleak economic headlines and ongoing political instability. With unemployment reaching 26% in January (55% for those aged 16-25) and a lack of a well-articulated plan for resolving the European sovereign debt crisis increasing fears of future job security, Spanish consumers are becoming increasing wary of spending. This economic environment has created ideal conditions for private labels to thrive and has also provided a sales boost at discount stores. In fact, one company that has managed to do well in 2012 has been the discount food retailer Dia - a Carrefour spin-off. We believe that Dia is one of a select few Western Europe-based food retailers with good near-term growth prospects in the region itself.

In line with our view that France will miss its fiscal deficit target of 3.0% of GDP in 2013 (and we maintain our forecast of 3.5%) we expect the government to engage in more concerted fiscal consolidation over the coming quarters - with a heavy focus on the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector.

The accompanying tables present the latest economic data and five-year forecast scenario for the country's banking system. Also included is SWOT analysis of the commercial banking system as a whole.

With nuclear sources of energy no longer forming part of Italy's energy plan, and with the government ruling out shale gas due to the controversial extraction process, the authorities are turning to coal, gas and renewables in the national energy plan. With some of the highest electricity prices in Europe, Italy's government is aware that it will remain uncompetitive unless it drops tariffs, and one of the ways it aims to do this is by cutting spending on energy imports. A global rush for gas - encouraged by shale gas production in key markets - has also seen the price of coal fall, with Enel tapping into this opportunity for its domestic coal-fired power plants. The utility claims bills are falling as a result of this shift. However, despite these positive developments, the absence of details has generated concern. The government aims to boost renewables' share of the electricity mix, but offers little information about how it will do this.

Hate seeing the same band, album or song listed multiple times in iTunes music library? The freshest news on Leawo Software, the world-renowned multimedia solution provider exclusively premiering the best iTunes cleaner ever on CNET on June 6, 2013, surely makes worldwide iTunes music library owners heart-boiled. What makes people even more excited is that Leawo now gives away the all-new Leawo Tunes Cleaner from June 6 to June 7, 2013. People could snatch this totally free iTunes cleaner to keep the messy iTunes music library neat and tidy in no time.

GRP Rainer Lawyers Tax Advisors, Cologne, Berlin, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover, Bremen, Nuremberg, Essen and London www.grprainer.com/en explain: Such additional costs can, for example, relate to assembly and removal costs. In its judgment of 17 October 2012 (Az. VIII ZR 226/11), the 8th Civil Chamber of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) held that a previous judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of 16 November 2011 (Az. C-65/09, C-87/09) is not applicable to cases in which businessmen conclude purchase agreements among themselves.

West Midland Electrics, an electrical distributor based in Handsworth, Birmingham, has just added a wide variety of lighting products to its website, wmestore.co.uk. In addition to being high quality, the newly added items are extremely affordable.

It’s no secret that unprotected exposure to the sun causes damage to the skin. Probably the most common manifestations of sun damage are premature aging, wrinkling and sagging along the neck, jawline, cheeks and eyes and general skin discoloration. There are many surgical techniques that can restore the condition of the skin, but most are expensive and require lengthy recovery periods. A new minimally invasive method of Fraxel laser Philadelphia-based Jefferson Facial Plastics performs regularly addresses these problems and lets people get back to normal life in a matter of days.

Parties N Fun announces party rental locations in Palm Beach, Miami, and Boward areas as well as new party packages and entertainment deals.

In today’s digital age, companies have realized that a good website is a key component that determines the success of their enterprise. A good website is a sure shot way to attract the right kind of clients for the company as well increasing the profits. A good website makes sure that a company gets the right amount of exposure and is able to reach out towards potential clients and achieve great success. The creation of a good website requires expertise and high level of experience and this where World Web Guys hold a distinct advantage

BMI expects the Philippines IT market will grow by around 7% in 2013. Despite an uncertain economic outlook, consumer electronics spending is likely to remain fairly strong in the coming quarters, with government spending providing a stimulus. The Philippines was one of the strongest regional TV markets in 2012 and the country's move to digital broadcasting should receive a boost from the government's selection of the Japanese ISDB-T standard. Given the Philippines' low PC penetration, many provincial markets are relatively untapped territories, while rural populations contain the largest number of potential first-time mobile handset purchasers. Vendors will seek profit from product innovation such as smartphones based on the Android operating system, and 3D and LED TV sets.