New supersonic aircraft plan
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and several Japanese firms will launch a joint project with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) and Boeing of the US to develop a next-generation supersonic passenger aircraft.
The project, due to start this summer, aims to develop a supersonic jet by around 2020 that could travel at Mach 2, or twice the speed of sound, carrying 200-300 passengers. The Japanese firms involved include Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy Industries, a report said.
Chip demand to grow
Samsung Electronics Company Limited, one of the world’s top makers of memory chips, expects stronger demand for computer memory chips in the second half of this year and sees Nand flash memory chip prices strengthening.
Samsung, the number-two maker of large liquid crystal display (LCD) panels worldwide, also expects increased demand and better pricing for IT panels in the second half of this year.
UK economy up
UK economic growth will accelerate in the second half of 2006, according to a survey of business confidence.
Economic growth will rise to 3.4 per cent in both the third and four quarters of 2006, compared with 2.4 per cent last year, said accountants BDO Stoy Hayward in a BBC report. Its latest Business Trends Report also showed that firms expect inflation to come in at 2.2 per cent in the second half of 2006, above the Treasury’s two per cent target. As a result, it predicts interest rates will not be lowered this year. UK rates are currently at 4.5 per cent.
Chemical sales to slow
The Dutch chemical industry is likely to see sales and price increases slow this year in line with more moderate rises in energy costs, while companies expand production capacity, an industry group said.
Dutch chemical industry association VNCI said it expected chemical industry sales to increase by at least 6 per cent to 42.4 billion euros ($54.2 billion) in 2006, compared with a 9 per cent rise last year.
