11. A wider budget gap means the government will have to step up its Treasury debt sales, decreasing the value of outstanding bonds. 12. A weak dollar hurts exporters because it makes their goods more expensive in the U.S. and decreases the value of their dollar-denominated earnings. 13. A weak dollar makes German goods more expensive in the U.S. and decreases the value of dollar-denominated sales. 14. A weaker dollar lowers corporate profits in Japan by making Japanese exports less competitive overseas and decreasing the value of profits earned abroad in terms of yen. 15. Given that Bourque would likely not have the same dominant role with a loaded team would decrease his value. 16. Higher Japanese rates also could strengthen the yen, making exporters less competitive overseas and decreasing the value of profits earned abroad in terms of yen. 17. Insurance companies own loads of Treasury bonds, so a yield rise of that magnitude decreases the value of their bond portfolio. 18. Insurance companies and banks suffered the most through the week as markets declined, decreasing the value of their large bond and equity holdings. 19. Rising yields decrease the value of bonds, which insurance companies like General Re buy with the premiums they receive. 20. Rising yields decrease the value of bond holdings, which insurance companies like General Re build up with the premiums they receive. |