Monday Newsline:China,Japan,Syria

China's exports dropped 18.5% in February-the most since 2009.A 7.5% increase had been anticipated.The Asian New Year may have been partly to blame.Still,the MSCI Asia Pacific index fell 0.96% on that news,plus the fact that Japanese growth was only up 0.7%,which was less than expected.Japan will raise the sales tax next month as well.*
New York copper prices dropped for the second day on concern that China demand will fall with the decline in exports.Goldman Sachs nonetheless sees Chinese stocks as desirable,since they could rise 24% from their decades low valuation.*
In the next six months,most emerging markets will be involved in political or economic problems,said Victor Shvets,a managing director at Macquarie Securities.You never have revolutions when people are happy.You start with marginal areas like Ukraine or Argentina.There is a lack of reformm and liquidity.The only way out is to enact reform.
Below a certain level of GDP growth,social problems emerge.Reform can keep the wolves at bay,Mr.Shvets told Bloomberg TV.*
Thirteen Greek Orthodox nuns from Ma'aloula,Syria have been released by the Syrian government in a deal arranged by a Lebanese general,in which about 150 women and children prisoners were freed by the Syrian authorities.The nuns had spent more than two months in captivity after being abducted from their convent.