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ABSTRACT This study evaluates the effects of two types of asphalt emulsion, anionic and cationic emulsions, on the properties of two types of cement emulsified asphalt mortar (CEAM), low-modulus CEAM [...]

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the mechanical properties of cement emulsified asphalt mortar (CEAM) as a damping material for ballastless high-speed rail track bed. CEAM has unique properties that differ [...]

The three fathers of the North America Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) have become promiscuous, with all three signing free trade agreements with other parties and with more on the way. [...]

With two-fifths of global trade Falling under preferential trade agreements and numerous trade disputes hampering export flows in various parts of the world, plotting a secure route through the storms [...]

With the controversy created by the inclusion of locational marginal pricing (LMP) and a two-settlement system as part of FERC's standard market design (SMD), many questions have been raised about [...]

Issues concerning Canada's export finance sector are discussed. Exporters obtaining financing from a number of sources, including banks, the Export Development Corp and credit unions.

Small-business lending has become a highly contentious and politicized issue in Canada. However, critics who claim that banks are not providing enough financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are getting most of the media attention, while many satisfied SME borrowers and bankers who are highly supportive of SME lending are staying in the background. However, the focus of the public debate over small-business lending seems to be misdirected since the real problem is the high taxation that restricts access to equity financing., Those who blame the banks for not extending enough credit to SMEs are missing the real problem: high taxes that restrict access to equity financing. The business of small-business lending [...]

Canadian bankers are anticipating the potentially positive results of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development Ministerial Conference on Electronic Commerce, to be held in Oct 1998 in Ottawa. With such topics as data and privacy protection, consumer protection and the Year 2000 Problem, the conference is expected to iron out the confusion and controversy attendant to the operationalization of e-commerce. Considered as pioneers of e-commerce, Canadian banks are particularly hopeful that the conference will be able to write the rules of conduct on online finance., Boldly going where few have gone before, Canadian banks are pioneers of electronic commerce. So they have a special interest in an upcoming OECD conference in Ottawa whose aim, no [...]

The trade missions of Team Canada are helpful to the country's business community. Designed to impress foreign countries and seek foreign investments, the missions also aim to put the name of Canada in the list of the most attractive places to do business. The team's mission to Latin America in Jan 1998 alone resulted in a record 306 deals valued at $1.78 billion. Signed by 140 companies, the deal includes 117 various contracts., They may seem somewhat stagy but the prime minister's trade missions work. With government heavyweights along to help open foreign doors, Canadian companies do some serious selling abroad. That means [...]

In the wake of Asia's currency crisis and October's market turmoil, APEC leaders meeting in Vancouver must confront the urgent need to harmonize and liberalize financial services across the Pacific [...]

Intermodal transportation is considered to be a cost-effective influence on highway safety, since no state-funding is needed. Intermodal transportation had reduced fatal highway accidents of heavy trucks in 1993 between 6.0% and 12.9%. A shift in the trip mileage from highway to rail decreases the truck vehicle-miles of travel (VMT). However, truck traffic has increased in urban roads due to cross-town drayage in interchanging intermodal traffic between railroads. Accurate estimation of the impact of intermodalism on highway safety needs reliable truck accident rates.

A recent survey co-sponsored by the Assn. of Government Accountants and Coopers & Lybrand LLP reveals the widespread support of financial managers and inspectors generals (IGs) for the Financial Officers Act of 1990 and associated legislation, the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and the Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (GMRA). These laws are all intended to improve financial management in the federal government. The results of the survey show that financial executives and IGs are in favor of financial statements similar to those used in the private sector. Two thirds of the respondents expect that their organizations will be able to meet the GMRA deadline of Mar. 1, 1997 for all federal agencies to develop auditable financial statements.

The creation of the World Trade Organization has brought the dream of free trade in financial services closer to reality. The path towards a truly borderless banking is proving to be a difficult one, especially since the US refuses to participate in a multilateral deal for fear that countries would gain greater access to the American market without making similar concessions. Fortunately, the willingness of the European Union to participate in the initiative has helped put the liberalization process back on track., Despite U.S. recalcitrance, the world is moving gradually towards freer trade in financial services under the new WTO. That dark cloud on the horizon is China. In the years leading [...]

Canada's major banks continue to maintain a presence in South America despite the risks involved in operating in such a volatile market. However, Canadian banks are closely watching their investments in the region. Bankers recently had a scare when the Mexican peso was devalued in Dec. 1994, triggering a temporary collapse in the money market. Canadian banks operating in Latin America include the Bank of Nova Scotia, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, Toronto Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada and CIBC., Despite the disasters of the 1980s and January's Mexican meltdown scare, Canadian banks are still attracted to 'the other' America. It's all part of having a global outlook. June will [...]

The government of Ottawa, Ontario in the 1990s began consulting with the banking sector on the important issue of export financing. While the government took sole responsibility for export financing earlier, much to the displeasure of banks which considered the policy as constituting unfair competition, there has been a willingness to open up the area to institutions that could help shoulder the risks involved. A cooperative venture is foreseen., Recent moves by Ottawa to help small businesses grow through exports are opening up opportunities for the banks and signalling a change in their relationship with the EDC. The business [...]

As they step up their presence in the People's Republic of China, Canadian banks join a multinational crowd of financial institutions jockeying for position in the world's largest emerging market. [...]

The completion of the Uruguay Round of GATT trade negotiations and the creation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) will open new opportunities for the Canadian banking industry. The GATS establishes guidelines for greater market-access in the international market. Canadian vendors of electronic banking services can penetrate newer markets through the adoption of the GATS., New global opportunities for Canadian banks have been opened up by the completion of the Uruguay Round of the GATT and the creation of a new General Agreement on Trade [...]

The Museum of Scotland Project seeks to chronicle the country's history from 2900 million years ago up to the present using advanced computer information systems. The museum, which is dictated by the country's need for a suitable building to house its vast historical collections, will be provided with the Museum of Scotland Advanced Information Computer Systems (MOSAIC) that will provide further levels of information about the museum's collection beyond those offered by the information systems within the core displays. MOSAIC will also be responsible for guiding visitors in exploring the evidence for Scotland's past that lies outside of the museum.

Companies will soon be compelled to shift to market-value accounting. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has already released Rule No 107 entitled 'Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,' and is currently working on guidelines on full market-value disclosure in financial statements. Many bankers have reservations about market-value accounting, claiming that it lacks objectivity and will yield fluctuating profits. These bankers are overlooking the potential benefits of the new accounting method. Market-value analysis can generate information that can be used in improving the performance of the bank, including changes in net market value and volatility in earnings and financial positions. Knowledge of the market value of their assets and liabilities can also help banks win the confidence of investors. Fair-value disclosure should will not have a significant affect on bank stocks.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is UK-based Limited Liability Partnership between international industrial companies with a strong focus on energy, and the UK government. The aim of the ETI, which [...]

Like a couple of Banquo's ghosts, governance and security issues have crashed the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) party. It has been quite a party. An exclusive one, that [...]

Inevitably, economic turmoil in one country is often seen as a doom and gloom sign for others. But this is not necessarily the case. Structured trade financiers can look to [...]

Byline: David Clarke OTTAWA - A new proposal for Canadian securities regulation was put on the table last month, but don't look for any change soon. On Dec. 7, the [...]

Byline: David Clarke NIAGARA FALLS, Ontario - Business is good for the Canadian hedge fund industry. Assets in Canadian-based hedge funds grew to US$11.4 billion last year, a 39% increase [...]

As many as 17% of 70 Canadian pension funds with assets of more than C$1 billion are less than 90% funded, and 9% of these large funds are less than [...]

A political season is looming. South of the border, www.whitehouse.gov and such are up for grabs in the November elections - and from all accounts, the Government of Canada portal, [...]

The Canada geese (www.cws-scf.ec. gc.ca/canbird/ goose/goosmap.htm) hadn't yet begun V-ing their way back north when the dot.com stock market veered south, sending feathers flying as investors and entrepreneurs suddenly suspected [...]

Arguably there were some great moments in the millennium just passed, although one grows reluctant to admit even that in the face of all the overwrought claims being made about [...]

Name that domain Things are hopping down at CIRA, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (http://junco. cira.ca/) which is relaunching the .ca domain names and at the same time initiating a [...]

Quick reviews of a few of the sites to see for those with an interest in financial services.Pity the poor banker who can't find how to get around in cyberspace. [...]

HIGHLY experienced directors are expected to have a good grasp of the law and rules surrounding conflicts of interest. New directors should have the subject covered in their induction on [...]

E.ON UK has invested millions of pounds in R&D that is focused on delivering low carbon advantages throughout the energy chain from generation to consumption. The focus is maximising the [...]

Most of the organizations that outsource some or all of their IT services ignore the termination arrangement at their own peril. The best way to avoid this risk is to keep provisions in the contract for rebidding, to train internal staffers in managing outsourcing arrangements and latest technologies and to assert leadership over the outsourcing relationship.

The structured solution to trade financing problems may not be what Latin America wants. But it is by and large what it is going to get, along with whatever other [...]

Sirs, Critics may say our standards are 'no more than basic legal minimum' (see 'Animal welfare groups blast Red Tractor', www.thegrocer.co.uk) but a study published by Defra last year shows [...]

Sir; Your article on AB Sustain's call for a single welfare label for meat products ('Shoppers demand a single welfare label', 22 October, P35) might lead uninformed readers to assume [...]

Alan Gowans's latest architectural survey is synthetic and undogmatic - appropriate scholarship, says David Clarke, for the architecture we live in. Imagine, if you will, a continuum of architectural historians. [...]

In general, this is a book of essays where people bang their heads against the wall. Most of the writers are latter-day left-wingers. One can understand their frustration, but you [...]

SIR; Does The Grocer know its labels? Yes? No? Not really? Well the answer is: 'All of these.' Sorry, guys, but your quiz of the week on food labels was [...]

SIR; I was interested by your reader panel survey on the Red Tractor Logo (The Grocer, January 17, p11). Consumer research by IGD last year found that about 38% of [...]

Sir; It's good to see that The Grocer (November 10, Page 4), unlike other media, recognised that the FSA review of assurance marks will be wide ranging and cover much [...]