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January 2nd, 2013

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Exports looking up
After suffering through a tough autumn and winter, exporters are cautiously optimistic about 2013, according to a Rambøll/Jyllands-Posten survey of 413 exporting companies. The poll suggested that most industries expect more growth during the first half of 2013 than was the case in the first half of 2012, and exports are expected to increase by 5.4 percent over the next 12 months. But, even though things seem to be looking up for exporters, the trade and investment minister, Pia Olsen Dyhr (Socialistisk Folkeparti), indicated that 2013 will still be a tough year for exports, particularly for companies that sell to other EU countries. – Erhverv & Økonomi

Executives see growth outside EU
Danish companies should look beyond Europe if they hope to survive the financial crisis, according to a survey of the nation’s executives. They indicated that business success was far less likely in low-growth countries in the EU. Instead, many of them argued that a successful 2013 hinged on companies establishing themselves in Brazil, Russia, India and China. – Børsen

Flashpoint Europe
The financial crisis has meant that millions of Europeans are having a tough time putting food on the table according to the Red Cross, and as a result the continent must be prepared for a public uprising as was the case in North Africa. The Red Cross says it is preparing a strategy that will help deal with conflict and aid, particularly in southern Europe. As examples, the Red Cross highlighted the fact that the Greek Red Cross is on the brink of bankruptcy and the annual collections in Spain were used on the country’s own residents. New statistics indicate that 120 million EU residents live under the European poverty line. The European Commission also sees the situation as serious and has proposed a new poverty fund that will contribute about 19 billion kroner to the most vulnerable. – Politiken

Watchdogs uncovering excesses
Investigators looking into the roots of the financial crisis in Denmark have made some interesting finds in the various shuttered banks. In one instance, a real estate developer, Vagn Andersen, took a 500 million kroner loan in the folded Eik Ban in order to finance a building project in Copenhagen’s Sydhavn district. But much of the money was funnelled into the account of Andersen’s step-daughter, Jill Andersen, who at the time lived in a home worth an estimated 55 million kroner. Financial watchdogs have also found forged artwork that was used as collateral for the loans. Andersen, who was sentenced to four and half years in prison for cannabis smuggling in the 1980s, said the money had inadvertently wound up in his step-daughter’s account. – Berlingske

Weather
A mix of rain and clouds. Highs reaching 5 C. Temperatures falling to 4 C overnight. – DMI