Opec said in a statement issued over the weekend that it was producing about 29.5m b/d, and said it would ensure that demand was fully met. The interpretation placed on the statement was that the oil cartel would keep quotas unchanged at 27m b/d at the group's meeting in Isfahan, Iran on March 16.
The rising oil price has been accompanied by increased interest among hedge funds in US crude futures. Speculative funds boosted their net long position, a bet on rising prices, in the West Texas Intermediate futures contract to 60,173 contracts, its highest level since June 2004, according to the latest data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The CFTC said gross long interest rose almost 10,000 contracts to 130,797, its highest level since early October.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
aging bull
As of October 2004 the U.S. economy had entered its third year of another bull market. This is the fourth in twenty years. Typically, up cycles occur once in four-and-a-half years. Already indicators are showing a slowdown-the S7P 500 index, for example, posted only a nine percent gain last year, compared to twenty-six percent in 2003. Issues like the war in Iraq, a budget deficit going toward five hundred billion dollars, and a widening trade gap may keep the bull from charging.
2004 curency market report
2004 has been a monumental year in the currency markets. Dollar weakness was the predominant theme as the world's premiere reserve currency slid to a fresh all-time low against the euro, a nine-year low against the Swiss franc and a 12-year low against the British pound. 2004 also marked the beginning of the global tightening cycle, with many central banks raising rates for the first time since reducing them to extremely accommodative levels. The US current account deficit became a primary point of focus. I expect these themes to resonate into 2005, especially the earlier half. However, growth should also become a primary focus as the world monitors the strength of the US economic recovery.
WHO: Seven Vietnamese patients found infected with bird flu after samples retested
The World Health Organization says seven Vietnamese patients who initially tested negative for bird flu have been found to be carrying the virus after their samples were retested _ suggesting that avian influenza may be more widespread than originally believed.
All seven, who were first tested in January, have since recovered, WHO regional spokesman Peter Cordingley said Tuesday.
"There's no doubt. The WHO accepts that we are missing cases. It's quite possible that some people are falling sick and their symptoms are very light and they don't end up in hospital," he said.
"It's also possible that they have a very light viral load and Vietnamese tests may not be sensitive enough to pick it up," he said.
The WHO will wait to receive more details on the seven cases before adding them to the overall tally for Vietnam, Cordingley said.
All seven, who were first tested in January, have since recovered, WHO regional spokesman Peter Cordingley said Tuesday.
"There's no doubt. The WHO accepts that we are missing cases. It's quite possible that some people are falling sick and their symptoms are very light and they don't end up in hospital," he said.
"It's also possible that they have a very light viral load and Vietnamese tests may not be sensitive enough to pick it up," he said.
The WHO will wait to receive more details on the seven cases before adding them to the overall tally for Vietnam, Cordingley said.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Google moves Desktop search out of Beta
Google Inc. is taking its desktop search application out of beta on Monday with a release that supports more file formats and opens access to third-party developers.
Google Desktop Search 1.0 moves beyond the beta version's Microsoft focus by introducing support for applications from the Mozilla Foundation and America Online Inc.'s Netscape Communications.
While the beta only indexed Microsoft Outlook e-mail and Internet Explorer Web browsing history, the latest release also can search e-mail from the Mozilla Thunderbird and Netscape clients and browsing history from the Firefox and Netscape browsers, Google announced.
To make more desktop data searchable, the latest release adds indexing support for the full text of PDFs to existing support for Microsoft Office formats. It also indexes the metadata of video, images and audio, such as titles or artist information.
click on the link to read the entire story
Google Desktop Search 1.0 moves beyond the beta version's Microsoft focus by introducing support for applications from the Mozilla Foundation and America Online Inc.'s Netscape Communications.
While the beta only indexed Microsoft Outlook e-mail and Internet Explorer Web browsing history, the latest release also can search e-mail from the Mozilla Thunderbird and Netscape clients and browsing history from the Firefox and Netscape browsers, Google announced.
To make more desktop data searchable, the latest release adds indexing support for the full text of PDFs to existing support for Microsoft Office formats. It also indexes the metadata of video, images and audio, such as titles or artist information.
click on the link to read the entire story
SafeNet Announces Results of Second Annual Global Password Survey
Tony Caputo, SafeNet Chairman and CEO, said of the results, "This survey reinforces what we hear from customers about their information security concerns - that passwords alone do not provide sufficient security. That's why our USB token, smart card and other authentication products and solutions are in such demand."
"Whether employees are writing their passwords down, or frequently calling the internal help desk because they can't remember them, the organization can be at risk while experiencing loss of productivity. Technology today has solutions that are appropriate and affordable for every situation."
High Level Results:
-- Fifty percent of employees still write their passwords down
-- Over one-third of the respondents share their passwords
-- More than 80 percent have three or more passwords
-- Respondents use these passwords to access an increased number of applications: 67 percent access 5 or more; and another 31 percent access 9 or more
-- Forty-seven percent require their passwords reset at least once a year
The following is an analysis of 2004 results over 2003, with further breakout by geography.
Organizations' Security Policy
Of all surveyed, sixty-eight percent of organizations have enhanced their security policies by either requiring longer or more complicated passwords over a year ago. Companies requiring password changes three to four times a year increased by one percent, from 22 percent to 23 percent; from five to six times a year also increased by one percent, from 14 percent to 15 percent; while password changes seven or more times a year grew by three percent, from 27 percent to 30 percent. This indicates that a majority of organizations are more sensitive to security issues surrounding passwords.
Data specific to Europe reflects the same trends. France shows a four percent increase of employees required to change passwords five to six times a year, and a three percent decrease in employees who say they never have to change passwords. Germany has the largest change where five percent of employees must change passwords seven or more times, and also have three percent fewer employees never having to change a password. In the UK, there is a three percent increase changing passwords three to four times, a two percent increase with changes seven times or more, and a four- percent decrease of employees never having to change a password.
The survey also indicates a growing trend toward more complicated passwords. This is measured in two ways - either passwords with more characters, or passwords containing alphanumeric composition. Interestingly, there was a decrease of four percent where employees are required to create passwords with six or more characters, but a three percent increase in passwords of eight characters or more, from 19 percent to 22 percent. There was also a two percent increase, 27 percent to 29 percent, of companies requiring alphanumeric passwords.
France and Germany show a one percent increase in the need for alphanumeric passwords; and a higher increase in France, Germany and the UK all requiring passwords of eight or more characters, with France leading the way with a five percent increase, up to 26 percent.
Employee Password Behavior
Considering that 47 percent of the total respondents have between five and ten passwords to access business applications, the likelihood of employees either writing down or forgetting a password because of its length or complexity, or the fact the passwords change so frequently, sharply increases. In Germany, there is a five percent increase in the number of employees using nine or more passwords, up to 18 percent. In the worst case scenario using the results above, an employee might have 10 passwords, of eight or more characters, that change at least seven times a year. Roberta Witty, a vice president of research at Gartner, was quoted as stating the average user has 15 ID's and passwords, all expiring at different times.
When asked directly if they had ever shared a password, all respondents reflected an overall dramatic swing of the pendulum, with six percent more saying they have never shared a password, up to 65 percent; and six percent fewer saying they have, down to 35 percent. There was a two percent increase, moving from eight percent to 10 percent, in the number of people claiming to always write their password down because it is too complicated to remember.
There are some dramatic shifts in Europe. It would seem that German employees are most sensitive to password security. Employees showed improvement in all categories. In 2003, 16 percent of employees wrote passwords down two to three times, where in 2004 that percent dropped to nine percent. Two percent fewer wrote passwords down once, and the same percent decrease who wrote their password down more than five times. At the same time, seven percent more employees said they never write their passwords down, moving from 62 percent to 69 percent.
France and the UK are moving in the opposite direction. In France, there is a two percent increase in employees who write their password down two to three times, a three percent increase in four to five times, and a three percent decrease who say they never write their password down. British employees have increased by three percent the for the number who write their password down two to three times, a one percent increase in four to five times, a three percent increase who always write their password down, and a three percent decrease in those who say they never write their password down. Security is further at risk in the U.K considering employees there showed the greatest increase in the number of applications they access with these passwords - a six percent increase, up to 32 percent of employees, access nine or more applications.
While respondents in the U.S. showed a three percent increase in the number who never share a password, France has a nine percent increase, Germany an eight percent increase, and the UK a 12 percent increase.
When asked whether employees had to have their password re-set because they forgot or misplaced it, nine percent of employees said they had passwords re-set three to four times, and three percent said five to six times. In 2003, 56 percent responded that they never have had a password reset, and in 2004, 53 percent said they had not.
Employees in the UK increasingly forget their passwords or have their passwords reset. Six percent more employees in 2004 have passwords reset between one to six times a year, and six percent fewer say they never need to have their passwords reset.
The result to organizational information security
This survey indicates that organizations still face some serious security issues. Based on the statistics, in an organization of 1000 people, 500 people would write their passwords down and 350 people would share their passwords. Forty-seven percent, or 470 employees, would have passwords reset at least once a year. At an estimated cost of US$30-$50 per password reset, the company could minimally spend US$15,000.
SafeNet conducted this seven question e-mail survey in December 2004, polling the same 67,000 individuals in the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom as in its initial survey. The company had a four percent response rate. For copies of the full survey results, please go to http://www.safenet-inc.com/pwsurvey04
About SafeNet, Inc.
SafeNet is a global leader in information security. Founded more than 20 years ago, the company provides complete security utilizing its encryption technologies to protect communications, intellectual property and digital identities, and offers a full spectrum of products including hardware, software, and chips. ARM, Bank of America, NetGear, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, Adobe, Samsung, Texas Instruments, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and scores of other customers entrust their security needs to SafeNet. For more information, visit www.safenet-inc.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are subject to uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are included but are not limited to those listed in SafeNet's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update information concerning its expectations.
"Whether employees are writing their passwords down, or frequently calling the internal help desk because they can't remember them, the organization can be at risk while experiencing loss of productivity. Technology today has solutions that are appropriate and affordable for every situation."
High Level Results:
-- Fifty percent of employees still write their passwords down
-- Over one-third of the respondents share their passwords
-- More than 80 percent have three or more passwords
-- Respondents use these passwords to access an increased number of applications: 67 percent access 5 or more; and another 31 percent access 9 or more
-- Forty-seven percent require their passwords reset at least once a year
The following is an analysis of 2004 results over 2003, with further breakout by geography.
Organizations' Security Policy
Of all surveyed, sixty-eight percent of organizations have enhanced their security policies by either requiring longer or more complicated passwords over a year ago. Companies requiring password changes three to four times a year increased by one percent, from 22 percent to 23 percent; from five to six times a year also increased by one percent, from 14 percent to 15 percent; while password changes seven or more times a year grew by three percent, from 27 percent to 30 percent. This indicates that a majority of organizations are more sensitive to security issues surrounding passwords.
Data specific to Europe reflects the same trends. France shows a four percent increase of employees required to change passwords five to six times a year, and a three percent decrease in employees who say they never have to change passwords. Germany has the largest change where five percent of employees must change passwords seven or more times, and also have three percent fewer employees never having to change a password. In the UK, there is a three percent increase changing passwords three to four times, a two percent increase with changes seven times or more, and a four- percent decrease of employees never having to change a password.
The survey also indicates a growing trend toward more complicated passwords. This is measured in two ways - either passwords with more characters, or passwords containing alphanumeric composition. Interestingly, there was a decrease of four percent where employees are required to create passwords with six or more characters, but a three percent increase in passwords of eight characters or more, from 19 percent to 22 percent. There was also a two percent increase, 27 percent to 29 percent, of companies requiring alphanumeric passwords.
France and Germany show a one percent increase in the need for alphanumeric passwords; and a higher increase in France, Germany and the UK all requiring passwords of eight or more characters, with France leading the way with a five percent increase, up to 26 percent.
Employee Password Behavior
Considering that 47 percent of the total respondents have between five and ten passwords to access business applications, the likelihood of employees either writing down or forgetting a password because of its length or complexity, or the fact the passwords change so frequently, sharply increases. In Germany, there is a five percent increase in the number of employees using nine or more passwords, up to 18 percent. In the worst case scenario using the results above, an employee might have 10 passwords, of eight or more characters, that change at least seven times a year. Roberta Witty, a vice president of research at Gartner, was quoted as stating the average user has 15 ID's and passwords, all expiring at different times.
When asked directly if they had ever shared a password, all respondents reflected an overall dramatic swing of the pendulum, with six percent more saying they have never shared a password, up to 65 percent; and six percent fewer saying they have, down to 35 percent. There was a two percent increase, moving from eight percent to 10 percent, in the number of people claiming to always write their password down because it is too complicated to remember.
There are some dramatic shifts in Europe. It would seem that German employees are most sensitive to password security. Employees showed improvement in all categories. In 2003, 16 percent of employees wrote passwords down two to three times, where in 2004 that percent dropped to nine percent. Two percent fewer wrote passwords down once, and the same percent decrease who wrote their password down more than five times. At the same time, seven percent more employees said they never write their passwords down, moving from 62 percent to 69 percent.
France and the UK are moving in the opposite direction. In France, there is a two percent increase in employees who write their password down two to three times, a three percent increase in four to five times, and a three percent decrease who say they never write their password down. British employees have increased by three percent the for the number who write their password down two to three times, a one percent increase in four to five times, a three percent increase who always write their password down, and a three percent decrease in those who say they never write their password down. Security is further at risk in the U.K considering employees there showed the greatest increase in the number of applications they access with these passwords - a six percent increase, up to 32 percent of employees, access nine or more applications.
While respondents in the U.S. showed a three percent increase in the number who never share a password, France has a nine percent increase, Germany an eight percent increase, and the UK a 12 percent increase.
When asked whether employees had to have their password re-set because they forgot or misplaced it, nine percent of employees said they had passwords re-set three to four times, and three percent said five to six times. In 2003, 56 percent responded that they never have had a password reset, and in 2004, 53 percent said they had not.
Employees in the UK increasingly forget their passwords or have their passwords reset. Six percent more employees in 2004 have passwords reset between one to six times a year, and six percent fewer say they never need to have their passwords reset.
The result to organizational information security
This survey indicates that organizations still face some serious security issues. Based on the statistics, in an organization of 1000 people, 500 people would write their passwords down and 350 people would share their passwords. Forty-seven percent, or 470 employees, would have passwords reset at least once a year. At an estimated cost of US$30-$50 per password reset, the company could minimally spend US$15,000.
SafeNet conducted this seven question e-mail survey in December 2004, polling the same 67,000 individuals in the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom as in its initial survey. The company had a four percent response rate. For copies of the full survey results, please go to http://www.safenet-inc.com/pwsurvey04
About SafeNet, Inc.
SafeNet is a global leader in information security. Founded more than 20 years ago, the company provides complete security utilizing its encryption technologies to protect communications, intellectual property and digital identities, and offers a full spectrum of products including hardware, software, and chips. ARM, Bank of America, NetGear, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, Adobe, Samsung, Texas Instruments, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and scores of other customers entrust their security needs to SafeNet. For more information, visit www.safenet-inc.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are subject to uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are included but are not limited to those listed in SafeNet's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update information concerning its expectations.
commodity popularity
Commodities are being talked about. After all...it's cool to trade commodities! All the hype is in commodities now because of expanding economies worldwide. Nations like China, the U.S., and Australia are clamoring for more commodities. See what this has done for prices. Mostly raw material prices have gone up. Many economists on the talking head shows are saying that this demand is to go for another two years. Then what? Think about this....could commodities become the next internet stock bubble? You folks look at the charts just like I do: short-term, mid-term, short-term. Ask yourself if you see a bubble expanding. Then ask yourself if you see the bubble popping. The "overboughts" (i.e. the traders who say this bull has to stop sometime soon) will most likely be overruled by the popularity of trading commodities. Brokers and analysts will ride the bull for entire "eight seconds"... and then what? The cowboy has to get off somehow and when he does....look out. Think of this...because you folks know as well as I, "somebodys" are going to get burned. The price starts going down and somebody says "it's only a correction".... and it looks like it is, but all of a sudden the bottom drops out. The big question to ask is when this could happen.
Sunday, March 06, 2005
They've got it taped
In the booming surveillance industry they spy on whom they wish, when they wish, protected by barriers of secrecy, fortified by billions of pounds worth of high, high-tech technology. Duncan Campbell reports from the United States on the secret Anglo-American plan for a global electronic spy system for the 21st century capable of listening in to most of us most of the time.
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