Pharmaceutical companies are striking mega deals, diversifying and cutting costs to gird for the storm of patent expirations. There are signs that the industry is becoming more productive in its research labs after an extended dry patch. But investors are not convinced they are on the path to sustained profits: pharmaceutical stocks overall have underperformed the broader market in 2009, and trade in general at low premiums. 
 
Indeed, Wall Street skepticism persists in many corners of healthcare. The uncertainty over the outcome of U.S. health reform efforts has brought a cloud over the sector, none more so than for health insurers, which are at rock-bottom valuations. The weak economy weighs on medical technology companies, as hospital keep tight reins on budgets and people avoid elective procedures.
 
Some of the world’s most prominent CEOs and top executives from leading health care companies and organizations will discuss these and related issues at the Reuters Health Summit, which will generate exclusive interviews and key insights from our team of reporters as well as online video and blog postings, which will be immediately available only to Thomson Reuters clients during the Summit.

The first week of November may provide more clues about the health of the U.S. auto industry.

On Monday, Ford reports third quarter results. On Tuesday, automakers release October sales figures. And, on Wednesday Chrysler’s new CEO Sergio Marchionne is expected to unveil his 5-year turnaround plan for the company. Auto industry veteran Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst at Edmunds.com, joins us to preview the week ahead. Speaker: Michelle Krebs Sr. Analyst, Edmunds.com Presenter: Ruben Ramirez Dearborn, Michigan

Gulf Arab states have awed the West with six years of breakneck growth fueled by record oil prices and a real estate boom.

But what does the future hold? Will it be just a mirage of prosperity in the desert? Or, will the region, rich in oil, adapt to the future? Speaker: Timothy Fox Chief Economist, Emirates NBD Presenter: Martina Fuchs Dubai.

The U.S. recession and global credit crisis pulled a stunning array of corporate giants into bankruptcy court this year. Automakers General Motors and Chrysler, real estate company General Growth, and chemicals maker Lyondell all sought protection from their creditors after being brought down by rapidly changing economics and customer demands. 

While the sudden shift in fortunes for some of the world’s biggest companies wiped out the savings of some equity investors, the changes have paved the way for new and interesting investment or takeover opportunities for other investors. 
    

The restructuring professionals who help rebuild failed businesses are also learning on the fly–designing dramatically new ways of reorganizing companies and taking note of groundbreaking bankruptcy cases like Chrysler. 
   

Some of the most influential people in the restructuring sector will discuss these and related issues at the Reuters Restructuring Summit on Sept. 28-Oct 1 in New York and London. The Summit will generate exclusive interviews and investable insights from our team of expert reporters, as well as online videos and blog postings. 

China Investment Summit, August 31-September 2, 2009

China holds the undisputed position as workshop to the world, but it’s also fast becoming one of the world’s top consumers in its own right. As the global financial crisis approaches its second anniversary, China’s role in pulling the world out of recession is gaining growing attention as cash-rich Chinese consumers spend billions of dollars under their government’s $585 billion economic stimulus plan.

The huge spending spree has helped the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock markets rise more than 70% and 40% this year, respectively, as investors from both home and abroad look to get a piece of an economy set to overtake the United States to become the world’s largest by 2030. Even as the rest of the world suffers in recession, China’s GDP is expected to grow 9.4% this year and 11.9% in 2010, according to Goldman Sachs, which recently upgraded its forecasts for the country. Underscoring the growing clout of its domestic market, China’s retail sales surged 15% in the year to July and urban investment rose 33%, even as July exports tumbled 23% year-on-year.

Reuters China Investment Summit, held in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei from August 31 to September 2, will shine the spotlight on a wide range of foreign and domestic Chinese players as they jockey for position in one of the world’s fastest growing markets with 1.3 billion consumers. The interviews will generate exclusive stories and investable insights, as well as other multimedia offerings which will be immediately available only to Thomson Reuters clients during the summit.

The luxury goods industry has been hit hard by the downturn as consumers, worried about job security and the health of their economy, shied away from indulging in upmarket shopping.

Most-seriously hit products have been big-ticket items such as Swiss watches, followed by jewelery and fashion apparel. Leather goods such as handbags and shoes have proven more resilient.

Many analysts forecast global luxury sales to drop as much as 10 percent in 2009. In light of the recent green shoots of recovery, some believe the rate of decline could slow down in the coming months and the market could stabilise.

One of biggest questions for luxury investors today is whether demand from emerging markets such as China and Latin America will be sufficient to compensate for weak sales in more mature and saturated regions such as Western Europe, Japan and the United States.

Many also wonder if the industry will ever return to its historical growth levels or if it will remain at lower levels for the years to come. Perhaps we have entered an era of austerity and self-restraint which will hold back consumers from spending on luxury items.

Reuters’ first Luxury Goods Summit, which is being held in Paris, London, Tokyo, Dubai and New York on June 8-10, will ask these questions to some of the industry’s leading executives.  It will also ask them what they think is the best recipe for the crisis, which projects they are putting on hold and how they see the future.

Unlike other economic downturns luxury retailers are also taking a hit along with the trest of the industry.

Luxury retail consultant and president of Unity Marketing, Pam Danziger, says retailers have to be willing to make tough choices and clearly align themselves with the needs of the customer without just paying lip service.

Speaker: Pam Danziger President Unity Marketing Presenter: Jeanne Yurman New York

A shroud of uncertainty hangs over world energy markets and industry due to the effects of the global downturn and an aggressive U.S. environmental agenda, making investment decisions in the space more difficult than they’ve been in decades.

Oil prices, which have whipsawed between $150 and $30 a barrel in a matter of months, are in the midst of a rebound tied to hopes that the recession will end sooner rather than later, reviving world energy demand that has been shrinking for the first time in a quarter century.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has been pushing forward aggressively with climate, alternative energy and efficiency proposals that could change the economic equation considerably for the world’s oil producers, refiners, utilities, and of course alternative energy producers.

What is the outlook for world energy demand and prices? How will OPEC adjust its output policy to navigate the uncertainty? What big energy projects will go ahead and which ones will wither? How will the landscape impact mergers and acquisitions activity? What are the best opportunities in the green energy space, and what are the biggest risks?

The upcoming Reuters Global Energy Summit will bring you exclusive answers to these questions from some of the sector’s biggest names. The Summit will generate exclusive stories, online videos, blogs and investable insights which will be immediately available only to Thomson Reuters clients during each summit. 

Higher gas prices will likely be a thorn in the side of consumers who are starting to feel more optimistic about the U.S. economic recovery.

Soundbite: Platt’s Oilgram Price Report Editor in Chief Jeff Mower.

Ruben Ramirez reports.