Global Leaders Gather in L.A. at 11th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference A sold-out crowd of more than 3,000, representing more than 60 countries, gathered at the 2008 Global Conference. Once again, it was the premier opportunity to mix with a wide range of financiers, experts, activists and decision-makers in education, health care, energy and philanthropy. A record 130 sessions and more than 470 speakers offered the latest insights, trends and developments on the turbulent global economy, alternative energy, medical research, education reform, regional outlooks and much more. To read more about this year’s event, go to the Global Conference site. Summaries of each panel, along with audio recordings and photographs will be available soon. Slides created for each session will be posted soon, but are accessible only by conference attendees. Next year’s Global Conference is scheduled for April 27 – 29.

2008 Opacity Index

Financial Innovations for Catastrophe Risk: Cat Bonds and Beyond

The Economic Outlook for the U.S. and for California: Slow Growth or Recession?

Milken Institute Releases Economic Outlook for the United States and California
The combination of a housing market correction, soaring oil prices, a weak labor market, overextended consumers and credit markets spell recession, according to this report from the Milken Institute’s California Center.

The report also looks at what the national recession means for California. The impact on California will be more pronounced than in other states and these economic issues will have a direct impact on the budget. Read more.

2008 Opacity Index Ranks Countries in Global Risk
pacity works like a hidden tax on business, costing countries growth, companies profits and investors higher returns. Adoption of IFRS, improvements in corporate governance and compliance with voluntary codes of conduct have helped raise the scores of most of the 48 countries ranked by risk in the index. The United States, however, has seen some deterioration in its standing due in part to delayed effects of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Read more.

New Financial Innovations Lab Report on Cat Bonds and Beyond
Capital market innovations could assistinsurance companies cover increasing catastrophe risk and ensure that homeowners, businesses and communities are covered in case of a disaster. The key, the report states, is decreasing barriers in the emerging market of insurance-linked securities. Read more.

New China Economic Indicators Examine M&A and Privatization
Xinhua Finance Ltd. and the Milken Institute release the Chinese Privatization Indicator (PVI) and the Chinese Mergers and Acquisitions Indicator(MAI), the latest in an eight-part series of Xinhua Finance/Milken Institute China Economic Indicators.

The new indicators show that the premiums paid in Chinese M&A deals increased slightly in the first three quarters of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006; however, they remained far below highs reached in 2000. Privatization increased in the first half of 2007, but was also below the high in 2002.Read More.