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US Builder Confidence : October 2013
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing-market index fell to 55 in October, from 57 in September, the NAHB reported Wednesday. A prior September estimate pegged the level at 58, which matched the highest reading since 2005. Results above 50 signal that builders, generally, are optimistic about sales trends. “Interest rates remain near historic…
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Oregon’s Forestry Employment
A recent report of labour trends on Oregon’s South Coast showed a rise in payroll employment across several industries, but one industry that’s seen a great rebound since the recession is the wood product manufacturing industry, said KCBY October 11. An Oregon Employment Department Report shows wood manufacturing jobs in Coos County have grown by…
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Large Timberland Sale
Molpus Woodlands Group, out of Jackson, MS, has agreed on behalf of a unidentified client to buy about 73,000 acres of timberland located around Birmingham, AL. The close of the purchase is set to occur in installments starting this month. Terms were not disclosed. Dick Molpus, president of the timberland investment management firm, says the…
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North American Trade
Just as large parts of the US government structure have gone into shutdown due to a stalemate in Congress over budget and health care legislation, officials from the US, Canada, and several Asian countries are embarking on delicate trade discussions. The Conservative government of Canada said this summer “trade is the new stimulus” and is…
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Politics and Lumber Exports
This extended US government shutdown has begun to affect that country’s exports, while Bank of Canada economists warn that Canadian export volumes will likely drop in 4Q 2013. According to the Wall Street Journal Wednesday, “The US government’s partial shutdown is beginning to gum up trade, with companies unable to gain approval to import or export computer…
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Timber and Wood Fibre Sectors
Last week Madison’s summarized speeches on macroeconomic and forest products market conditions given at the ninth annual Who Will Own the Forest? timberland investment summit in Portland, OR. Some extremely interesting presentations and thoughts came at the following session, a panel discussion, “Manufacturing Perspectives on the Timber and Wood Fibre Sectors“. Moderated by Joe Patton, Vice President of Lumber…
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Timber and the Economy
This week was held the ninth annual Who Will Own the Forests? timberland investment summit at the World Forestry Center in Portland, OR. Host to a sold-out crowd of 425 attendees, the event was buzzing with the latest news, information, and asset class analyses by participants from around the world. Players from the US, Europe, Asia, Oceania,…
