Word: afloat
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...while, it seemed China night be different. Maybe the unique factors that have allowed its economy to grow at an unprecedented rate for nearly 30 years would keep it afloat when the rest of the world was succumbing to the impact of the growing global financial crisis. But that hope has now been crushed under an increasing tide of grimmer and grimmer statistics that seem to portray an economy in free fall. China will have its hard landing in 2009, and even the most optimistic economists now concede that GDP growth will be far below the 8% annual pace that...
...there's not much chance that Bosnia, short of war, will get the attention from the West to change its intractable status quo. As for the local politicians, they have learned long ago that selling bigotry at home (with its nuisance value abroad) is the best way to stay afloat. Until the Bosnians decide to elect better leaders, they will just have to bear the weight of an uneasy peace...
Some industry watchers, however, say the slowdown may help existing hotels to stay afloat by delaying commissioning of newer competitors. "Projects that have only just got underway, which are aimed at opening in 2010-11, will be put off," says Jain of JLLM, "They will face constraints in terms of financing and ability to complete projects, as well as downbeat forecast for the sector. This will reduce the pressure on [room rates] by keeping competition down." That may be a relief to some players, but will be small consolation for the industry as a whole...
...Japan learned a similar lesson during the economy's Lost Decade after a stocks-and-real-estate bubble burst in the early 1990s. In a pathetic attempt to avoid losses, Japanese banks kept pumping fresh funds into debt-ridden, unprofitable firms to keep them afloat. These companies came to be known as zombie firms - they appeared to be living but were actually dead, too burdened by debt to do much more than live off further handouts. One economist called Japan a "loser's paradise." The classic zombie was retail chain Daiei, which limped along for years, crushed by debt...
Harvard Square shops and restaurants are staying afloat despite grim prospects for the holiday shopping season nationally. Still, the Square is pushing for ways to bolster business—especially for locally owned, independent shops. “We are always in campaign mode, encouraging people to come to Harvard Square,” said Denise A. Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Businesses Association. “It is our mission to promote commerce in Harvard Square.” HSBA coordinates several events throughout the year to encourage more people to come to the Square, including...