By Ian Copsey

And now the seasonal exchange slowdown begins.

The past few months have seen the Forex trading profile raised as the US dollar shot higher by between 20 and 40 percent against all currencies except the yen, where it made equally dramatic losses of around 18 percent. This forced the yen to appreciate by between 35 percent and 45 percent against currencies with high interest rates.

Timo VarhamaThe chances are that somewhere in your office, the paper you are using came from UPM-Kymmene Japan KK, the Tokyo-based unit of the global forest products group with core businesses in printing papers, specialty papers, label materials and wood products. Headquartered in Finland, UPM has key mills located in Finland, Germany, France, the UK, Austria, the United States, Canada and China.

Itsuo IsoOne of the biggest players in the global IP industry is Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications. With 321 offices in 75 countries and a global footprint that provides more than 2,700 cities with secure network connectivity, Verizon operates the world’s most connected public IP network for multinational and government clients worldwide.

By Michael Condon

The credit crunch has put the brakes on Toyota’s golden run in Northern America.

Now, with the American Big Three carmakers teetering on collapse and the Japanese automakers pulling back their North American operations, the global financial crisis threatens to take some of its most symbolically significant scalps yet.

By Hugh Ashton

As China’s secretive investment fund makes waves around the world, how much longer can it keep quiet?

Are China's once-silent investment funds moving into Japan?

By Michael Condon

Finding even ground in the intellectual property battle.

The creative industries get ready for an offensive to take back what was historically theirs.

By Michael O.B. Krähe and Florian Kohlbacher

Respecting customers’ quality requirements.

Strict quality standards and the pitfalls of doing business in Japan.

Tatsuo NakamuraBy Hugh Ashton

Some innovative software is helping companies take the guesswork out of patent research.

Maps point the way with new technology in patent research.

By Sarah Noorbakhsh

An interview with Dalel Singh, resident director of the India Trade Promotion Organization.

By Wilhelmina Wahlin

A new, lucrative market is emerging in world trading, and it’s not high-end technologies or virgin natural resources. It’s rubbish.

Trash becomes treasure for manufacturers in China.