MSCI Publications Archive

MSCI, in its efforts to support North American manufacturing, continues to pursue legislation that would define currency manipulation as a prohibited export subsidy.

One piece of that effort is S. 295, the China currency legislation sponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This bill is expected to be debated and voted on soon, perhaps even as early as today (Thursday). Under the legislation, imports from China would be subject to a tariff of 27.5% so long as China continues to manipulate the value of its currency.

We urge you to call your senators and ask them to support S. 295. Approval of S. 295 or, better, H.R. 1498 and a Senate companion bill would serve notice that it's time for action on the value of China's currency.

When you call you can say 'Please support the Schumer-Graham 'China currency' bill, S.295, when it comes up for a vote on the Senate floor. It is vital that this bill pass by a large majority to help convince the Chinese government to implement a substantial revaluation of the Chinese currency. Manipulation of the renminbi by the Chinese government places U.S. companies like ours at an unfair competitive disadvantage against Chinese products.'

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RESEARCH

August Metals Activity Report Issued to MSCI Members

The MSCI Metals Activity Report, issued to members this week, shows that the growth of U.S. service center shipments of steel products slowed substantially on a year-over-year basis, but a two-month decline in aluminum product shipments was reversed.

In Canada, aluminum product shipments declined on a year-over-year basis for the first time in 2006, while steel shipments also declined.

Members may see the MAR on the MSCI web site at. A version of the report for news media and others will be posted on the site on Friday.

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EDUCATION

New, Much-Improved MetalLearn Available Once Again

A new, technically and visually enhanced version of MSCI's proprietary metals training system, MetalLearn™ is now available to MSCI members.

MetalLearn has been off the market for the last several months while MSCI's learning-management system vendor upgraded its modules to make them consistent with recent changes put in place by Microsoft to its Windows operating system. MetalLearn continued to operate normally for members who had not installed the Microsoft changes on their IT systems.

In addition to the technical changes, the look, feel and functionality of the MetalLearn software have been updated. It will be much easier to add new information to the training program, and it runs much faster than it did in the past.

MetalLearn is a self-paced, computer-and-internet based basic training system on the 10 types of metal most sold by metals service centers. The system is authoritative, detailed and proven to raise the MQ - metals quotient - of students significantly.

For more information about MetalLearn or to license it for use by your company, please speak with Ann Zastrow, MSCI vice president, education, at 847-485-3012 (azastrow@msci.org)

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CONFERENCES

Thielfoldt to Discuss Intergenerational Issues at P3 Conference

Workplace learning strategist Diane Thielfoldt, co-founder of The Learning Café, will discuss ways to engage younger employees in the multi-generation workplace at the 2006 MSCI People, Productivity and Profitability Conference. The conference, for metals industry human resources executives, runs October 23-24 at the Wojcik Conference Center of Harper College in Chicago suburban Palatine, Illinois.

For the first time in modern history, a workforce today may include four generations working together, creating the need for a positive working environment even as each age group responds to different motivations, communications styles and work values.

Thielfoldt will be the first speaker on the morning of Tuesday, October 24. For a full schedule, registration links and additional conference information, click here.

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CONFERENCES

There's Still Time to Register for Financial Execs' Conference

The 2006 MSCI Financial Executives' Conference opens on Monday at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. It will feature the latest information on the economy, the new pension legislation, inventory valuation methods, managing employee benefit costs, and much more.

There's still time to register. See the conference brochure and registration link here.

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CONFERENCES

Act Quickly to Secure a Room for Aluminum Products Conference

MSCI's experience for the last year or more has been that all available hotel rooms for its conferences have been taken, with some MSCI members forced to find accommodations elsewhere because they delayed.

That's why members who plan to attend the 2006 Aluminum Products Division Conference (November 8-10 at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, GrandeLakes, Orlando, Florida) are encouraged to make their room reservations now. The hotel is taking room reservations until the MSCI room block is filled or October 10, whichever happens first.

The deadline to sign up for a tour at the conference is October 16. Tours that don't attract the required minimum number of participants by that date will be cancelled on October 17.

The Aluminum Products Division Conference is among the highlights of the year. See the conference brochure and registration link here.

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CONFERENCES

Tubular Conference Schedule now Being Finalized

Speaking of conferences, final details are being set for the 2007 MSCI Tubular Products Division Conference January 18-19 at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort & Spa at Ponte Vendra Beach, Florida, near Jacksonville.

Expect to see information about the conference on the MSCI web site in a week or so. The conference brochure will be in the mail before the middle of October.

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CHAPTERS

Mid-America Chapter Golf Outing will be October 2

MSCI's Mid-America Chapter will hold its annual golf outing on Monday, October 2, at Tiffany Greens Gold Club in Kansas City, Missouri.

The outing is a fund-raiser for two, $2,000 scholarships that the chapter will award to students with a parent who works for an MSCI chapter and national member company.

The last day to register for this event is tomorrow, Friday. To do so, click here.

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BRIEFINGS

YUAN'S VALUE MOVES: News takes note of an interesting fact. Each time Congress gets ready to vote on Chinese currency manipulation, something happens with the yuan to blunt U.S. criticism of Chinese policy. For example, just as Sens. Schumer and Graham prepare for a vote on their China currency legislation (see Advocacy above), the official Chinese news agency announces that the value of the yuan 'hit a new high on Thursday for the sixth consecutive day of trading.' That new high was 7.9264 yuan to the dollar. The yuan's trading range is 0.3% daily, and Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, says there is no timetable for widening the trading range.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The China Securities Journal, an official publication, is among the business publications there that provides editorial opinions for its readers. In a recent editorial about how the main goal of the Chinese people is social harmony was this gem: ' Common sense tells us that economic growth is not everything; but without it, there is nothing.' News is reminded of many comments attributed to that great philosopher, Yogi Berra.

UPDATE YOUR MSCI DATABASE LISTING! All members are encouraged to update their listing in the MSCI database.

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The Metals Service Center Institute, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, provides 'News from MSCI' as a service to its members. Please see the MSCI web site at www.msci.org for more information about the Institute, its programs and its members. Comments, suggestions, and contributions are welcome. Please submit them to news@msci.org, or fax them to 503-646-9108, Attn: Steve Weiner.