Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The increasing number of profit warnings expected over the next year is set to become a major focus of scrutiny by Britain’s financial regulator.

Japan's largest car manufacturer, Toyota, which is also the parent company of the Lexus brand, has forecast its first operating losses in 71 years as a drop in sales across the US, EU and Japan hits margins. Honda also forecasts heavy drops in revenue.

The financial markets crisis has brought renewed focus to Material Adverse Change (MAC), or Material Adverse Effect (MAE), clauses. MAC or MAE clauses are present in virtually all merger and stock purchase agreements and are often a central feature in negotiations between the parties.

Stock market forecasts tend to be sunny, and 2009 is no exception. Wall Street gurus are again predicting gains. But this year's bullish market call comes with an asterisk. Wary stock strategists, unsure how the financial crisis will play out, are hedging their bets.

HONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will probably see only a small uptick in IPOs this year, with some 35 listings raising about $9 billion, as the global financial crisis continues to freeze markets, forecasts consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers.

HONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will probably see only a small uptick in IPOs this year, with some 35 listings raising about $9 billion, as the global financial crisis continues to freeze markets, forecasts consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers. The prediction is a far cry from the equity raising frenzy in 2007, when just over $38 billion worth of initial public offerings were sold on the ...

Tanzania expects to miss its 2008 and 2009 growth forecasts as the global economic slowdown hurts exports in east Africa`s second biggest economy, the country`s president said.

The prospect of new tax cuts in the United States and Germany injected a measure of New Year cheer on Monday, and a euro zone investor survey indicated new hope that the worst of the financial crisis had passed.

FRANKFORT The state government group charged with predicting Kentucky's annual tax revenue is a gathering of apolitical economic experts. It's known as the Consensus Forecasting Group, and it gives the projections needed to begin the state's budgeting process. The group of five men and two women say they enjoy the job even though it doesn't pay and involves the risk associated with ...

This Intelligence Set includes the latest edition of automotive electric motors, plus supplier profiles for Arvin Meritor, Bosch, Continental, Denso, Johnson Electric, Siemends VDO and Valeo.