World's Biggest Companies

2015-06-30
Source: Thomson Reuters Datastream
In CHF billion.
Market Capitalization
No	CCY	Name	CHF Bln.	Fiscal Year
1	USD	APPLE	666.75	14-09-27
2	USD	GOOGLE 'A'	339.12	14-12-31
3	USD	MICROSOFT	333.58	14-06-30
4	USD	EXXON MOBIL	321.82	14-12-31
5	USD	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY 'A'	312.85	14-12-31
6	HKD	PETROCHINA 'H'	287.33	14-12-31
7	USD	WELLS FARGO & CO	268.28	14-12-31
8	HKD	INDL.& COML.BK.OF CHINA 'H'	268.06	14-12-31
9	USD	JOHNSON & JOHNSON	251.74	14-12-28
10	USD	GENERAL ELECTRIC	249.46	14-12-31
Sales
No	CCY	Name	CHF Bln.	Fiscal Year
1	USD	WAL MART STORES	451.35	15-01-31
2	HKD	CHINA PTL.& CHM. 'H'	402.92	14-12-31
3	GBP	ROYAL DUTCH SHELL A	362.10	14-12-31
4	HKD	PETROCHINA 'H'	342.05	14-12-31
5	USD	EXXON MOBIL	339.00	14-12-31
6	GBP	BP	314.29	14-12-31
7	EUR	VOLKSWAGEN PREF.	209.78	14-12-31
8	GBP	GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL	196.51	14-12-31
9	JPY	TOYOTA MOTOR	194.64	14-03-31
10	USD	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY 'A'	180.92	14-12-31
Net Income
No	CCY	Name	CHF Bln.	Fiscal Year
1	HKD	INDL.& COML.BK.OF CHINA 'H'	41.32	14-12-31
2	USD	APPLE	36.72	14-09-27
3	HKD	CHINA CON.BANK 'H'	34.14	14-12-31
4	USD	EXXON MOBIL	30.22	14-12-31
5	HKD	BANK OF CHINA 'H'	25.41	14-12-31
6	USD	MICROSOFT	20.51	14-06-30
7	USD	WELLS FARGO & CO	20.28	14-12-31
8	USD	JP MORGAN CHASE & CO.	18.67	14-12-31
9	USD	BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY 'A'	18.47	14-12-31
10	USD	CHEVRON	17.88	14-12-31

A few observations:

1. The top three companies by market cap now are all (kind of) software companies.

2. The next two companies by market cap are the only two companies that are in all three top 10 lists, market cap, sales, and net income. For Berkshire Hathaway, that is a little amazing, as it is not only a business conglomerate that is heavy in finance, which traditionally has comparatively lower revenues, but also is a holding company. E.g. it is a big shareholder of Wells Fargo, another top ten company by market cap _and_ net income (the later ones don't get attributed in proportion to Berkshire).

3. By sales, five top 10 companies are oil companies. All in the top six, only "topped" by Wal Mart. Glencore is another commodities company, that makes them six. Two car companies with traditionally very high sales. So Berkshire is quiet outstanding here. But who knows, Apple is not so far away..

4. By net income, three of the top five companies are Chinese banks. Now, I don't know if you can trust the official Chinese accounting, or if there is any transparent accounting of a bank's books at all, let alone both (I remember when Citi had a 20 billion USD profit year before Lehman), but it seems, China is definitely back on the scene. There are two more banks in the list, makes it 5 out of 10! JP Morgan seems to be untethered from the crisis (strange, isn't it)? Oh, and if you didn't know, Bank of China is not the biggest Chinese bank. ICBC is the one to remember. In case..

5. General Electric, once the champion itself, still made the top ten by market cap, but barely on rank ten. Still better than the likes of Wal-Mart, Cisco, or the total bankruptcy of General Motor. Still high on the list are Microsoft and Exxon however. Not sure Petrochina was on the top spot not so long ago as well.

Silver Mine Production (Update)

World Silver Mine Production

Update: 2015-03-23

year   mio oz       t       %
1989    527.3   16400    0.00
1990    533.7   16600    1.22
1991    501.6   15600   -6.02
1992    479.0   14900   -4.49
1993    453.3   14100   -5.37
1994    450.1   14000   -0.71
1995    479.0   14900    6.43
1996    485.5   15100    1.34
1997    530.5   16500    9.27
1998    553.0   17200    4.24
1999    549.8   17100   -0.58
2000    581.9   18100    5.85
2001    601.2   18700    3.31
2002    604.4   18800    0.53
2003    604.4   18800    0.00
2004    643.0   20000    6.38
2005    668.7   20800    4.00
2006    652.7   20300   -2.40
2007    675.2   21000    3.45
2008    684.8   21300    1.43
2009    700.9   21800    2.35
2010    742.7   23100    5.96
2011    749.1   23300    0.87
2012    819.8   25500    9.44

Source: USGS

High End Mass Camera Market

A look at the high end mass camera market: Full-Frame Camera Mind Share

Gold in CHF: Major Highs and Lows

The above chart (click to enlarge) has the Swiss Franc's gold price's major lows and highs of the last ten years (almost) since the low of CHF 471.85 on 2003-08-05.

I made the chart recently for the standard gold price in USD, so this is a check how much the look differs in CHF.

So below are the longest lasting periods to get a next major high in CHF.

In comparison to USD, in CHF we are only in the seventh longest draught in this ten year big uptrend and with -12.52 % draw down this time not out of line compared to previous periods. However, the last two recent periods combined do look a bit flat and do add up to soon 400 business days.

BTW, the number of periods with higher highs and higher lows in CHF is almost double the ones than if looked at in USD.

But whatever, time will tell:).

Major Highs

High No. 1
Date range:                   2006-05-11 - 2008-02-21
Length in business days:      465
High:                         874.98
Low:                          695.05
Draw down during this period: -20.56 %

High No. 2
Date range:                   2004-04-02 - 2005-06-23
Length in business days:      319
High:                         544.83
Low:                          482.57
Draw down during this period: -11.43 %

High No. 3
Date range:                   2010-06-08 - 2011-08-23
Length in business days:      315
High:                         1'435.80
Low:                          1'211.12
Draw down during this period: -15.65 %

High No. 4
Date range:                   2011-09-09 - 2012-10-04
Length in business days:      266
High:                         1'640.32
Low:                          1'442.72
Draw down during this period: -12.05 %

High No. 5
Date range:                   2008-02-21 - 2009-02-20
Length in business days:      261
High:                         1'041.00
Low:                          818.89
Draw down during this period: -21.34 %

High No. 6
Date range:                   2009-02-20 - 2009-12-04
Length in business days:      205
High:                         1'172.34
Low:                          989.26
Draw down during this period: -15.62 %

High No. 7
Date range:                   2012-10-04 - today
Length in business days:      113
High:                         1'669.74
Low:                          1'460.74
Draw down during this period: -12.52 %

High No. 8
Date range:                   2006-01-09 - 2006-05-11
Length in business days:      88
High:                         693.69
Low:                          693.15
Draw down during this period: -0.08 %

High No. 9
Date range:                   2009-12-04 - 2010-03-05
Length in business days:      65
High:                         1'223.16
Low:                          1'124.61
Draw down during this period: -8.06 %

Gold Major Highs and Lows

The above chart (click to enlarge) has the gold price's major lows and highs (London fix) of the last decade since the very low of USD 252.80 on 1999-07-20.

Nevertheless, it has also been some time since the last all time high of USD 1'895.00 on 2011-09-05, and right now the gold price is closer to the last major low of USD 1'531.00 than making a new all time high. However there have been three other instances during this time frame in which it took even longer to make a next higher high (but that might go down to only two in another three weeks), and also where the draw down has been also bigger in the area of -20 to -30 %. See the details below.

Anyway, just some reading in the tea leaves, or in other words - the trend is your friend, until the bend at the end.

Major Highs

High No. 1
Date range:                   1999-10-05 - 2002-05-29
Length in business days:      669
High:                         325.50
Low:                          255.95
Draw down during this period: -21.37 %

High No. 2
Date range:                   2006-05-12 - 2008-03-17
Length in business days:      462
High:                         725.00
Low:                          560.75
Draw down during this period: -22.66 %

High No. 3
Date range:                   2008-03-17 - 2009-09-17
Length in business days:      378
High:                         1'011.25
Low:                          712.50
Draw down during this period: -29.54 %

High No. 4
Date range:                   2011-09-05 - today
Length in business days:      364
High:                         1'895.00
Low:                          1'531.00
Draw down during this period: -19.21 %

High No. 5
Date range:                   2004-12-02 - 2005-10-11
Length in business days:      214
High:                         454.20
Low:                          411.10
Draw down during this period: -9.49 %

High No. 6
Date range:                   2002-05-29 - 2003-02-05
Length in business days:      173
High:                         327.05
Low:                          302.25
Draw down during this period: -7.58 %

High No. 7
Date range:                   2004-04-01 - 2004-12-02
Length in business days:      170
High:                         427.25
Low:                          375.00
Draw down during this period: -12.23 %

High No. 8
Date range:                   2003-02-05 - 2003-10-03
Length in business days:      145
High:                         382.10
Low:                          319.90
Draw down during this period: -16.28 %

High No. 9
Date range:                   2009-12-02 - 2010-06-28
Length in business days:      139
High:                         1'212.50
Low:                          1'058.00
Draw down during this period: -12.74 %

High No. 10
Date range:                   2003-10-03 - 2004-04-01
Length in business days:      126
High:                         384.25
Low:                          370.25
Draw down during this period: -3.64 %

Biggest Brokest Banks

Biggest banks by assets for the business year of 2010 in CHF billion:



Broken banks according to the market as of the close of 2011-09-15 by percentage of market capitalization in relation to their assets (aeh, basically liabilities;-):



Data source: Thomson Reuters Datastream

Busting Banks

Bank price sales multiples for 2011-08-31, market cap and sales in CHF billion.

Data source: Thomson Reuters Datastream

Platinum Gold Ratio

On 2011-08-09 the Platinum Gold ratio hit 1 to 1. As you can see in the chart below, this is happening the third time in the last 10+ years. And it hasn't gone much lower historically nor did it stay there for very long. And it makes sense. Platinum is the rarer, finer, heavier, more precious "White Gold"! Since then actually Gold has retreated a bit and Platinum moved slightly up again. We will see...

Tire Tycoons

Tire companies and their market caps in CHF billion, source Thomson DataStream, 2011-06-12:

Car Companies

Car companies and their market caps in CHF billion, source Thomson DataStream, 2011-06-05:

Silver Mine Production

World Silver Mine Production

year   mio oz       t
1989    527.3   16400
1990    533.7   16600
1991    501.6   15600
1992    479.0   14900
1993    453.3   14100
1994    450.1   14000
1995    479.0   14900
1996    485.5   15100
1997    530.5   16500
1998    553.0   17200
1999    549.8   17100
2000    581.9   18100
2001    601.2   18700
2002    604.4   18800
2003    604.4   18800
2004    643.0   20000
2005    668.7   20800
2006    652.7   20300
2007    675.2   21000
2008    684.8   21300
2009    700.9   21800

Source: USGS

Kleingeld

Pocket change currently in use:

No	Fractional Currency	Countries
1.	Cent	28
2.	Centavo	16
3.	Cents	10
4.	Centime	9
5.	Fils	6
6.	Centimes	4
7.	Sen	4
8.	Centesimo	3
9.	Centimos	3
10.	Bani	2
11.	Centavos	2
12.	Centimo	2
13.	Chon	2
14.	Dirham	2
15.	New Pence / Pence	2
16.	Ore	2
17.	Paisa	2
18.	Piastres	2
19.	Agorot	1
20.	Att	1
21.	Aurar (inactive)	1
22.	Avos	1
23.	Baizas	1
24.	Bututs	1
25.	Cantimo	1
26.	Centas	1
27.	Centesimos	1
28.	Chetrum	1
29.	Deni	1
30.	Dinar	1
31.	Diram	1
32.	Fen	1
33.	Fening	1
34.	Filler	1
35.	Ghana Pesewas	1
36.	Groszy	1
37.	Haleru	1
38.	Hallalas	1
39.	Hellers	1
40.	Iraimbilanja	1
41.	Khoums	1
42.	Kobo	1
43.	Kopek	1
44.	Kopeken	1
45.	Kurus	1
46.	Laari	1
47.	Lipa	1
48.	Lisente	1
49.	Lumma	1
50.	Millimes	1
51.	Mongo	1
52.	New Pence	1
53.	Ngwee	1
54.	Oere	1
55.	Paise	1
56.	Para	1
57.	Pence	1
58.	Piaster	1
59.	Piastre	1
60.	Poisha	1
61.	Pyas	1
62.	Qapik	1
63.	Qindarka	1
64.	Rappen	1
65.	Santims	1
66.	Satang	1
67.	Sene	1
68.	Seniti	1
69.	Senti	1
70.	Stotinki	1
71.	Tambala	1
72.	Tenge	1
73.	Tetri	1
74.	Thebe	1
75.	Tiin	1
76.	Tijin	1
77.	Toea	1
78.	Tyin	1
79.	XU	1

Source: SIX Telekurs

AuM

Assets under Management (in German)

UBS bleibt zweitgrösster Vermögensverwalter

1 Bank of America: 1,740.51 Milliarden Dollar

2 UBS: 1,593.74 Milliarden Dollar

3 Morgan Stanley: 1,508.00 Milliarden Dollar

4 Wells Fargo: 1,218.00 Milliarden Dollar

5 Credit Suisse: 775.43 Milliarden Dollar

6 JP Morgan: 636.00 Milliarden Dollar

7 Royal Bank of Canada: 379.00 Milliarden Dollar

8 HSBC: 367.00 Milliarden Dollar

9 Deutsche Bank: 272.38 Milliarden Dollar

10 Pictet: 243.21 Milliarden Dollar

Quelle: Scorpio Partnership 2010 Global Private Banking

World Vehicle Productions

World cars and commercial vehicle production statistics according to OICA:

Swiss Private Assets

Private Household Assets in Switzerland 2008

Source: SN, 2009 (via B2B magazine)

43.4%  1315 Mia CHF  Immobilien
24.7%   748 Mia CHF  Versicherungen/
                     Pensionskassen
15.9%   481 Mia CHF  Bargeld/Einlagen
 5.6%   169 Mia CHF  Aktien
 5.3%   161 Mia CHF  Anteile an
                     Kollektivanlagen
 4.3%   130 Mia CHF  Schuldtitel
 0.9%    28 Mia CHF  Strukturierte
                     Produkte
       ============
       3032 Mia CHF

Swiss Statistic

This attention-grabbing article (Unterhalt des SBB-Schienennetzes massiv teurer - OMG: CHF 850 mio!) about the cost of the Swiss railway tracks in the Swiss "Tagi" calls for looking up of the latest Swiss population statistic:

Bundesamt für Statistik: Bevölkerung - Die wichtigsten Zahlen

Wichtigste Kennzahlen

		2008
Ständige Wohnbevölkerung am Jahresende (in 1000)		7701.9
	65 Jahre und älter	16.6
Ausländische Staatsangehörige (in %)		21.7
Bevölkerungswachstum (in %)		1.4
Anzahl Kinder je Frau		1.48
Lebenserwartung bei der Geburt (Jahre)
	Männer	79.7
	Frauen	84.4
Scheidungen je 100 Heiraten		47
Haushalte
	Einpersonenhaushalte (in 1000)	1246.7
	Familienhaushalte mit Kindern (in 1000)	1086.3
	Durchschnittliche Anzahl Personen je Privathaushalt	2.20

Turns out CHF 110 for each Swissi (per year)! Seems to be a good deal and cheap for top notch infrastructure.

P.S. according to the BAV, the CHF 850 mio are additional costs! If the Tagi is right and this is 60% of the initially planned cost, that amounts to maintenance cost of CHF 2.3 bia for the track system. This comes down to a total annual amount of CHF 294 per Swiss resident.