According to the results of the Global Innovation 1000 Study held by Strategy& in 2018, corporate spending on research and technological development (R&D) advanced by 11% to $782 billion in annual investment.

Most investments were made by China, Europe, and the US. These countries increased their spending by 34%, 14%, and 9% respectively. In our photo gallery, you can find out how much money is spent on research and development.

The 14th edition of PwC’s Strategy& Global Innovation 1000 Study shows the largest investments in R&D made by global public companies. Such investments are important for the development of both companies and countries’ economies.
Moreover, in some countries, including the US, the R&D spending is free from income tax. That is why it is not included in the tax return, which gives companies more freedom to conduct various research and develop new technologies. Thus, their core business performance does not fall.

Amazon.com, Inc. – $22.6 bln
Industry: Internet and retail business
Amazon retains top spot as the world’s largest corporate spender on research and development. In 2017, the company spent 41% more than in the previous year.
Most money was invested in AWS (Cloud Computing Services), Alexa, and technologies.

Alphabet Inc. – $16.20 bln
Industry: Software and services
Alphabet/Google, one of the US technological giants, is the second in the list. In 2017, it increased the R&D spending to $16.20 bln from $13.95 bln.

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft – $15.80 bln
Industry: Car industry
Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said that the company would become “a world-leading provider of sustainable mobility” by 2025. In 2017, the carmaker allocated $2 bln more than in the previous year. That is why it took the third place.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. – $15.30 bln
Industry: Hardware technologies and equipment
In 2017, Samsung Electronics made a total investment of more than 16.8 trillion won ($15.3 bln). The sum grew by $1 bln compared to 2016.

Intel Corp. – $13.10 bln
Industry: Semiconductor industry
The fifth place is occupied by Intel, the US chipmaker. In 2017, Intel invested $13.1 bln in research and development that significantly exceeded investments made by other leaders in the semiconductor industry.
The company’s specialists mentioned that higher R&D spending should match the development of new technologies and the implementation of ready-made technical processes. Otherwise, the company’s income can be significantly lower compared to its rivals’ earnings.

Microsoft Corp. – $12.30 bln
Industry: Software and services
Microsoft is the sixth among leaders of the R&D spending. The company continues opening research and development centers all over the world. Besides, it is attracting more and more IT specialists and scientists thus boosting the global innovation ecosystem.
At the same time, in 2017, the company reduced its R&D spending to $12.3 bln from $13 bln in 2016.

Apple Inc. – $11.60 bln
Industry: Hardware technologies and equipment
Apple’s investment in research and development did not exceed 5% for a long period of time. However, recent reports showed that the spending grew for the first time since the first iPhone was developed. Thus, in 2016, investment in research and development totaled $10 bln whereas, in 2017, the company spent $11.6 bln. That is why the seventh place goes to Apple.
Moreover, Apple has invited new employers who specialize in research and development. In the near future, the company is planning to focus on entirely new projects, including autonomous driving systems and augmented reality devices.

Roche Holding AG – $10.80 bln
Industry: Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnologies
Roche, a Swiss holding, is a good example showing that by 2020, more and more companies will invest in research and development of the healthcare industry. The company’s income dropped by $1 bln. However, it allocated money for research and development and took the eighth place in the list.

Johnson&Johnson – $10.60 bln
Industry: Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnologies
Johnson&Johnson is one of the largest producers of medications, body care products, and medical equipment. In 2017, the US company expanded its spending on research and development to $10.36 bln from $9.1 bln. Johnson&Johnson moved into the ninth place of the rating.

Merck & Co., Inc. – $10.20 bln
Industry: Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnologies
Merck&Co. finishes the list of the top 10 spenders on research and development. It is one of the largest companies in the pharmaceutical industry. It has been conducting its own pharmaceutical researches for almost 90 years. Being one of the leaders in the healthcare industry, Merck&Co. spent $10.2 bln on research and development in 2017. In the previous year, the company allocated $10.10 bln.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2059386.html

Not so long ago, some critics said that Tesla Inc. was on the brink of failure due to low demand and high competition. However, recently, Tesla’s value on the stock market has climbed above $100 billion for the first time. Despite some skeptical forecasts, Elon Musk’s company stayed afloat and even managed to extend its gains. The electric-car maker’s shares have soared over the past few months and are still holding steadily high. In terms of market capitalization, Tesla has already outrun such giants as General Motors and Ford altogether. Right before the beginning of 2020, Elon Musk announced that he expected the shares to reach $450. Surprisingly, the company’s stocks exceeded the target having climbed to $555.1 per share. It is worth noting that Elon Musk’s income directly depends on Tesla’s success. The CEO currently does not receive any salary or cash bonuses, instead, his profit arises from stock options which depend on the volume of market capitalization. If the company’s market value stays above the threshold of $100 billion for several months, this will bring Elon Musk a $346 pay award which is the first tranche out of the $2.6 billion compensation package. Once again, the outstanding genius of our time made a breakthrough and was able to turn Tesla from a niche electric car manufacturer into the world’s leading producer of electric vehicles with factories in the US and China.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/46059

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2059124.html

Not so long ago, some critics said that Tesla Inc. was on the brink of failure due to low demand and high competition. However, recently, Tesla’s value on the stock market has climbed above $100 billion for the first time. Despite some skeptical forecasts, Elon Musk’s company stayed afloat and even managed to extend its gains. The electric-car maker’s shares have soared over the past few months and are still holding steadily high. In terms of market capitalization, Tesla has already outrun such giants as General Motors and Ford altogether. Right before the beginning of 2020, Elon Musk announced that he expected the shares to reach $450. Surprisingly, the company’s stocks exceeded the target having climbed to $555.1 per share. It is worth noting that Elon Musk’s income directly depends on Tesla’s success. The CEO currently does not receive any salary or cash bonuses, instead, his profit arises from stock options which depend on the volume of market capitalization. If the company’s market value stays above the threshold of $100 billion for several months, this will bring Elon Musk a $346 pay award which is the first tranche out of the $2.6 billion compensation package. Once again, the outstanding genius of our time made a breakthrough and was able to turn Tesla from a niche electric car manufacturer into the world’s leading producer of electric vehicles with factories in the US and China.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/46059

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2059124.html

Not so long ago, some critics said that Tesla Inc. was on the brink of failure due to low demand and high competition. However, recently, Tesla’s value on the stock market has climbed above $100 billion for the first time. Despite some skeptical forecasts, Elon Musk’s company stayed afloat and even managed to extend its gains. The electric-car maker’s shares have soared over the past few months and are still holding steadily high. In terms of market capitalization, Tesla has already outrun such giants as General Motors and Ford altogether. Right before the beginning of 2020, Elon Musk announced that he expected the shares to reach $450. Surprisingly, the company’s stocks exceeded the target having climbed to $555.1 per share. It is worth noting that Elon Musk’s income directly depends on Tesla’s success. The CEO currently does not receive any salary or cash bonuses, instead, his profit arises from stock options which depend on the volume of market capitalization. If the company’s market value stays above the threshold of $100 billion for several months, this will bring Elon Musk a $346 pay award which is the first tranche out of the $2.6 billion compensation package. Once again, the outstanding genius of our time made a breakthrough and was able to turn Tesla from a niche electric car manufacturer into the world’s leading producer of electric vehicles with factories in the US and China.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/46059

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2059124.html

Scientists all over the world are on the same page when it comes to inventions from Ancient Greece. These discoveries drastically changed further course of history. If it were not for the important domestic items, our civilization could have developed in a completely different way. Read about eight important contributions of Ancient Greek civilization which changed the world's history in our article

Olympics
The Olympic Games is a phenomenal discovery of Ancient Greece that survived to our days. This tradition appeared as part of a religious cult. Olympics took place from 776 B.C. till 393 BC. During the Games, it was forbidden to wage wars as the Olympic truce was proclaimed. However, Greeks never suspended their wars. The Games were considered to be a pagan tradition after Christianity emerged.

Astrolabe
An astrolabe is another significant discovery of the Ancient Greeks. The instrument was based on the principle of stereographic projection that transformed circles from a sphere to a plane. The astrolabe was invented by Apollonius of Perga. One of the components of this instrument was a drum which depicted the sky with a zodiac circle. The astrolabe got its final form in the 4th century AD.

Theatre
Despite technological progress, it is impossible to imagine contemporary world and culture without a theatre. The theatre of ancient Greece emerged from festivals that honoured the gods of agriculture, particularly Dionysus. According to experts, the origin of the theatre goes back to 534 BC. The theatre expanded in the 5th century BC when tragedy appeared. As a result, the satyr play, the core of theatrical performance, was transformed into drama.

Greek fire
Greek fire was used by the Greeks for protection during the wars of the medieval period. Greek fire was a flaming liquid that served Byzantine citizens as a weapon in naval battles and the siege of fortresses. Allegedly, it consisted of crude oil, sulfur, and various oils. Barrels and clay jars were filled with the liquid and thrown by catapults. Greek fire was extremely difficult to stop even with the help of water.

Cranes
The works of Archimedes of Syracuse played a key role in the development of Ancient Greek science. Humanity uses Archimedes’ inventions to this day. This genius scientist developed a theory of levers, blocks, and screws for lifting heavy weights. Archimedes’ innovation boosted the advancement of construction engineering. The crane is one of the most important machines that survived to this day. Ancient Greeks used cranes to protect the town walls.

Archimedes' screw
The Archimedes' screw was another machine which contributed to the development of civilization. The device dates back to 250 BC. The mechanism was used to deliver water from small ponds to conveyance canals. The water screw has the following working principle. The mechanism is rotated by means of a wind wheel or manual labor. The device consists of a hollow pipe with a screw inside it. The screw is tilted at an angle to the horizon. When the lower end of the pipe rotates it gathers some amount of water. This water is lifted up the tube during the rotation of the shaft and then it pours out from the top of the tube.

Watermill
For many centuries, the watermill that came to us from Ancient Greece was indispensable in the manufacture of many goods, including flour, lumber, paper, textile and metal products. It consists of two major components - a water wheel and gear transmission. The first wheel dates back to the 3rd century BC. It was created by the Greek scientist Perachor. The water wheel was used for grain milling, grinding, tanning, cutting, and forging.

Catapult
The term ‘catapult’ came from ancient Greece. It means a throwing machine of any type. Presumably, this invention appeared in 399 BC in Syracuse, Sicily. The catapult was first used in 397 BC in the battle against Carthage.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058887.html

Scientists all over the world are on the same page when it comes to inventions from Ancient Greece. These discoveries drastically changed further course of history. If it were not for the important domestic items, our civilization could have developed in a completely different way. Read about eight important contributions of Ancient Greek civilization which changed the world's history in our article

Olympics
The Olympic Games is a phenomenal discovery of Ancient Greece that survived to our days. This tradition appeared as part of a religious cult. Olympics took place from 776 B.C. till 393 BC. During the Games, it was forbidden to wage wars as the Olympic truce was proclaimed. However, Greeks never suspended their wars. The Games were considered to be a pagan tradition after Christianity emerged.

Astrolabe
An astrolabe is another significant discovery of the Ancient Greeks. The instrument was based on the principle of stereographic projection that transformed circles from a sphere to a plane. The astrolabe was invented by Apollonius of Perga. One of the components of this instrument was a drum which depicted the sky with a zodiac circle. The astrolabe got its final form in the 4th century AD.

Theatre
Despite technological progress, it is impossible to imagine contemporary world and culture without a theatre. The theatre of ancient Greece emerged from festivals that honoured the gods of agriculture, particularly Dionysus. According to experts, the origin of the theatre goes back to 534 BC. The theatre expanded in the 5th century BC when tragedy appeared. As a result, the satyr play, the core of theatrical performance, was transformed into drama.

Greek fire
Greek fire was used by the Greeks for protection during the wars of the medieval period. Greek fire was a flaming liquid that served Byzantine citizens as a weapon in naval battles and the siege of fortresses. Allegedly, it consisted of crude oil, sulfur, and various oils. Barrels and clay jars were filled with the liquid and thrown by catapults. Greek fire was extremely difficult to stop even with the help of water.

Cranes
The works of Archimedes of Syracuse played a key role in the development of Ancient Greek science. Humanity uses Archimedes’ inventions to this day. This genius scientist developed a theory of levers, blocks, and screws for lifting heavy weights. Archimedes’ innovation boosted the advancement of construction engineering. The crane is one of the most important machines that survived to this day. Ancient Greeks used cranes to protect the town walls.

Archimedes' screw
The Archimedes' screw was another machine which contributed to the development of civilization. The device dates back to 250 BC. The mechanism was used to deliver water from small ponds to conveyance canals. The water screw has the following working principle. The mechanism is rotated by means of a wind wheel or manual labor. The device consists of a hollow pipe with a screw inside it. The screw is tilted at an angle to the horizon. When the lower end of the pipe rotates it gathers some amount of water. This water is lifted up the tube during the rotation of the shaft and then it pours out from the top of the tube.

Watermill
For many centuries, the watermill that came to us from Ancient Greece was indispensable in the manufacture of many goods, including flour, lumber, paper, textile and metal products. It consists of two major components - a water wheel and gear transmission. The first wheel dates back to the 3rd century BC. It was created by the Greek scientist Perachor. The water wheel was used for grain milling, grinding, tanning, cutting, and forging.

Catapult
The term ‘catapult’ came from ancient Greece. It means a throwing machine of any type. Presumably, this invention appeared in 399 BC in Syracuse, Sicily. The catapult was first used in 397 BC in the battle against Carthage.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058887.html

Scientists all over the world are on the same page when it comes to inventions from Ancient Greece. These discoveries drastically changed further course of history. If it were not for the important domestic items, our civilization could have developed in a completely different way. Read about eight important contributions of Ancient Greek civilization which changed the world's history in our article

Olympics
The Olympic Games is a phenomenal discovery of Ancient Greece that survived to our days. This tradition appeared as part of a religious cult. Olympics took place from 776 B.C. till 393 BC. During the Games, it was forbidden to wage wars as the Olympic truce was proclaimed. However, Greeks never suspended their wars. The Games were considered to be a pagan tradition after Christianity emerged.

Astrolabe
An astrolabe is another significant discovery of the Ancient Greeks. The instrument was based on the principle of stereographic projection that transformed circles from a sphere to a plane. The astrolabe was invented by Apollonius of Perga. One of the components of this instrument was a drum which depicted the sky with a zodiac circle. The astrolabe got its final form in the 4th century AD.

Theatre
Despite technological progress, it is impossible to imagine contemporary world and culture without a theatre. The theatre of ancient Greece emerged from festivals that honoured the gods of agriculture, particularly Dionysus. According to experts, the origin of the theatre goes back to 534 BC. The theatre expanded in the 5th century BC when tragedy appeared. As a result, the satyr play, the core of theatrical performance, was transformed into drama.

Greek fire
Greek fire was used by the Greeks for protection during the wars of the medieval period. Greek fire was a flaming liquid that served Byzantine citizens as a weapon in naval battles and the siege of fortresses. Allegedly, it consisted of crude oil, sulfur, and various oils. Barrels and clay jars were filled with the liquid and thrown by catapults. Greek fire was extremely difficult to stop even with the help of water.

Cranes
The works of Archimedes of Syracuse played a key role in the development of Ancient Greek science. Humanity uses Archimedes’ inventions to this day. This genius scientist developed a theory of levers, blocks, and screws for lifting heavy weights. Archimedes’ innovation boosted the advancement of construction engineering. The crane is one of the most important machines that survived to this day. Ancient Greeks used cranes to protect the town walls.

Archimedes' screw
The Archimedes' screw was another machine which contributed to the development of civilization. The device dates back to 250 BC. The mechanism was used to deliver water from small ponds to conveyance canals. The water screw has the following working principle. The mechanism is rotated by means of a wind wheel or manual labor. The device consists of a hollow pipe with a screw inside it. The screw is tilted at an angle to the horizon. When the lower end of the pipe rotates it gathers some amount of water. This water is lifted up the tube during the rotation of the shaft and then it pours out from the top of the tube.

Watermill
For many centuries, the watermill that came to us from Ancient Greece was indispensable in the manufacture of many goods, including flour, lumber, paper, textile and metal products. It consists of two major components - a water wheel and gear transmission. The first wheel dates back to the 3rd century BC. It was created by the Greek scientist Perachor. The water wheel was used for grain milling, grinding, tanning, cutting, and forging.

Catapult
The term ‘catapult’ came from ancient Greece. It means a throwing machine of any type. Presumably, this invention appeared in 399 BC in Syracuse, Sicily. The catapult was first used in 397 BC in the battle against Carthage.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058887.html

US President Donald Trump strictly adheres to his “America first” foreign policy and is actively promoting his country’s interests on a global scale. The US seems to continue its winning streak of successful international agreements. For instance, in the trade war with China, Donald Trump came off with flying colours as most of the phase one trade agreement has been signed largely on the terms of the American side. Besides, a trade pact with Japan was signed last year. Even the Nord Stream 2 project has been currently put on hold due to American sanctions. And now Trump managed to negotiate with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron about postponing the planned digital tax on American tech giants in France. Earlier last year, France announced that it would impose a digital tax on the US hi-tech firms’ revenue by the end of 2020 as a tit-for-tat measure for US sanctions against French exports. Last summer, the French government decided to impose a 3% additional tax on major US digital companies, including Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Obviously, the American president did not appreciate this move and did his best to protect the US tech giants. As a result, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the two leaders agreed to put their tariff plans on hold until 2021. It is reported that the two parties are getting ready to elaborate on a large-scale trade agreement which, if successful, can become another Trump’s victory.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/46016

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058751.html

US President Donald Trump strictly adheres to his “America first” foreign policy and is actively promoting his country’s interests on a global scale. The US seems to continue its winning streak of successful international agreements. For instance, in the trade war with China, Donald Trump came off with flying colours as most of the phase one trade agreement has been signed largely on the terms of the American side. Besides, a trade pact with Japan was signed last year. Even the Nord Stream 2 project has been currently put on hold due to American sanctions. And now Trump managed to negotiate with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron about postponing the planned digital tax on American tech giants in France. Earlier last year, France announced that it would impose a digital tax on the US hi-tech firms’ revenue by the end of 2020 as a tit-for-tat measure for US sanctions against French exports. Last summer, the French government decided to impose a 3% additional tax on major US digital companies, including Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Obviously, the American president did not appreciate this move and did his best to protect the US tech giants. As a result, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the two leaders agreed to put their tariff plans on hold until 2021. It is reported that the two parties are getting ready to elaborate on a large-scale trade agreement which, if successful, can become another Trump’s victory.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/46016

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058751.html

Many of the most important scientific documents are of great interest not only for scientists but also for antiquarians. The latter does not spare money when it comes to buying the most valuable ones. Sometimes their desire to become the owner of a historical object outweighs the common sense. They pay astronomical sums of money for such artifacts. In this article, you will find 7 scientific documents that cost a fortune.

Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci
The document, consisting of 18 sheets of paper and forming a 72-page notebook, is a set of scientific notes made from 1506 to 1510. The notes of the legendary scientist were devoted to various natural phenomena. The pages of the manuscript were written in Leonardo’s distinctive mirror writing. The notebook comprises a large number of mathematical calculations, diagrams, and drawings. It was named after the Earl of Leicester who bought the manuscript in 1717. After being exhibited in all museums around the world, since 2003, the document is located in the Seattle Art Museum. Its price is $30, 802, 500.

Birds of America, John James Audubon
The American naturalist's book, printed from 1827 to 1838, is replete with life-size illustrations of rare species of birds in the United States. Six species are now extinct. The first edition is considered a masterpiece of bookmaking and bibliographic rarity. In 1807, the text of the Ornithological biography was published in five volumes. This book is unique thanks to the highest quality and accuracy of illustrations. Engravings half the size of a man were hand-painted. So, it is no wonder that the price of this book is $11, 570, 496.

Theory of relativity, Albert Einstein
One of the most important discoveries in physics, the theory of relativity, was introduced by Albert Einstein at the beginning of the 20th century. This breakthrough enabled the physicists to address many scientific issues. The theory of relativity radically changed the way the scientists comprehended the space-time concept. Later, Einstein's theory was confirmed by numerous experiments and studies. The cost of the document written in 1905 and completed in 1943 is estimated at $6, 500, 000.

Francis Crick's letter deciphering structure of DNA
British physicist Francis Crick (1916-2004) gave up his work at the age of 31 and devoted himself to studying biology. Six years later, his hard work was rewarded: the scientist made a breakthrough in genetics. Teamed up with other scientists, he deciphered the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In March 1953, Francis Crick wrote a letter to his twelve-year-old son, Michael, where he outlined the essence of the greatest discovery of our time. Now, this letter costs $6, 059, 750.

Cosmography, Claudius Ptolemy
The atlas of Claudius Ptolemy (circa 100-170 AD), a Greek-Egyptian writer, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and poet, was highly praised by his contemporaries. The atlas, created around 150 AD, was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and into Latin in 1406. It is considered the world's first printed atlas available to the public since 1477. There are only 31 copies of this book in the world. This copy, as part of the library of Lord Wardington, was sold at Sotheby's auction in 2006. Its price totaled $3, 966, 804.

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Isaac Newton
The manuscript of the work of the famous scientist was published in 1687. Some reputable scientists believe that Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was the apogee of the scientific revolution. Later Newton’s work became a turning point in modern physics as it provided a lot of mathematical explanations of gravity and motion. The book was evaluated at $3, 719, 500.

Portolan atlas of the world, Battista Agnese
Scientists highly appreciate the work of the leading cartographer of the 16th century from the Republic of Genoa who lived in the Republic of Venice. Battista Agnese was the first cartographer who graphically embodied the discoveries of travelers Marcos de Niza and Francisco de Ulloa. This document is one of the 72 surviving manuscript Portolan atlases created in the workshop of Battista Agnes in 1546. The cost of atlases amounts to $2, 770, 500.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058308.html

Many of the most important scientific documents are of great interest not only for scientists but also for antiquarians. The latter does not spare money when it comes to buying the most valuable ones. Sometimes their desire to become the owner of a historical object outweighs the common sense. They pay astronomical sums of money for such artifacts. In this article, you will find 7 scientific documents that cost a fortune.

Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci
The document, consisting of 18 sheets of paper and forming a 72-page notebook, is a set of scientific notes made from 1506 to 1510. The notes of the legendary scientist were devoted to various natural phenomena. The pages of the manuscript were written in Leonardo’s distinctive mirror writing. The notebook comprises a large number of mathematical calculations, diagrams, and drawings. It was named after the Earl of Leicester who bought the manuscript in 1717. After being exhibited in all museums around the world, since 2003, the document is located in the Seattle Art Museum. Its price is $30, 802, 500.

Birds of America, John James Audubon
The American naturalist's book, printed from 1827 to 1838, is replete with life-size illustrations of rare species of birds in the United States. Six species are now extinct. The first edition is considered a masterpiece of bookmaking and bibliographic rarity. In 1807, the text of the Ornithological biography was published in five volumes. This book is unique thanks to the highest quality and accuracy of illustrations. Engravings half the size of a man were hand-painted. So, it is no wonder that the price of this book is $11, 570, 496.

Theory of relativity, Albert Einstein
One of the most important discoveries in physics, the theory of relativity, was introduced by Albert Einstein at the beginning of the 20th century. This breakthrough enabled the physicists to address many scientific issues. The theory of relativity radically changed the way the scientists comprehended the space-time concept. Later, Einstein's theory was confirmed by numerous experiments and studies. The cost of the document written in 1905 and completed in 1943 is estimated at $6, 500, 000.

Francis Crick's letter deciphering structure of DNA
British physicist Francis Crick (1916-2004) gave up his work at the age of 31 and devoted himself to studying biology. Six years later, his hard work was rewarded: the scientist made a breakthrough in genetics. Teamed up with other scientists, he deciphered the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In March 1953, Francis Crick wrote a letter to his twelve-year-old son, Michael, where he outlined the essence of the greatest discovery of our time. Now, this letter costs $6, 059, 750.

Cosmography, Claudius Ptolemy
The atlas of Claudius Ptolemy (circa 100-170 AD), a Greek-Egyptian writer, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and poet, was highly praised by his contemporaries. The atlas, created around 150 AD, was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and into Latin in 1406. It is considered the world's first printed atlas available to the public since 1477. There are only 31 copies of this book in the world. This copy, as part of the library of Lord Wardington, was sold at Sotheby's auction in 2006. Its price totaled $3, 966, 804.

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Isaac Newton
The manuscript of the work of the famous scientist was published in 1687. Some reputable scientists believe that Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was the apogee of the scientific revolution. Later Newton’s work became a turning point in modern physics as it provided a lot of mathematical explanations of gravity and motion. The book was evaluated at $3, 719, 500.

Portolan atlas of the world, Battista Agnese
Scientists highly appreciate the work of the leading cartographer of the 16th century from the Republic of Genoa who lived in the Republic of Venice. Battista Agnese was the first cartographer who graphically embodied the discoveries of travelers Marcos de Niza and Francisco de Ulloa. This document is one of the 72 surviving manuscript Portolan atlases created in the workshop of Battista Agnes in 1546. The cost of atlases amounts to $2, 770, 500.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058308.html

The EU is affected the most by the trade conflict between the US and China. This usually happens when the two world’s largest economies argue over trade matters. The recent trade deal signed by the representatives of China and the US can be considered as a time bomb for the EU. China is set to increase imports of American goods by $200 billion during a two-year period covering 2020 and 2021. This is a serious commitment even for China which suggests that the country’s authorities will have to review the list of current supply channels. There are concerns that China is going to buy more from the US and less from the EU. This is primarily due to the fact that the EU is China’s second-biggest trading partner. Moreover, in some sectors the EU surpasses the United States in terms of the overall volume of Chinese imports. Morgan Stanley experts named industries that would suffer the most from the trade agreement. They include agriculture (11% of China's total imports), chemical products (25%), high-precision tools (19%), transportation equipment (50%), machinery and electrical equipment (11%). As a result, the US-China trade negotiations will have a serious impact on the EU. Meanwhile, both world’s largest economies will benefit from the deal at the expense of trade with the European Union.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/45966

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2058189.html

Washington and Beijing signed a phase one trade deal last week. Analysts estimated that the agreement was mutually beneficial. However, some experts are sure that the US will gain more from the trade deal than China. According to experts, there are five economic sectors in the US which will take a distinct advantage of the agreement

Credit card manufacturers
According to analysts, Visa and MasterCard, the world’s leaders in the market of credit cards, will benefit from the trade deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the Chinese authorities must give access to the domestic markets to the e-payment systems. As a result, the revenue of the US credit card manufacturers will significantly increase. Nowadays, China is recognized as the world’s largest online payment market with the volume of $27 trillion. Moreover, analysts project the market to extend in the future.

US airlines
Boeing, an American air company and the largest long-time exporter to China, is going to take advantage of the trade agreement most of all. The airline’s shares increased by $2.40 on the first trading day after the deal was signed. Even Donald Trump's demand to renew Boeing 737 did not stop the stock’s rally. According to the president, Boeing takes the lion’s share of the country’s GDP. Moreover, the company can improve the GDP by another 0.5%. Boeing is the number one exporter to China since the country has always cooperated with the airline.

US technology companies
The new US-China deal will also be beneficial to Qualcomm и Micron Technology corporations. The companies have a significantly high yield from the trade with China - 69% for Qualcomm and 55% for Micron. The agreement regulates intellectual property issues mostly in favour of the US and involves comprehensive access to the Chinese technology market. Qualcomm’s shares surged by 1.95% and Micron’s securities jumped by 2.32% to $57.50 per share as soon as the two biggest economies announced the deal.

US energy companies
A number of energy corporations, primarily Continental Resources, will take advantage of the Sino-US deal. Analysts expect a sharp rise in exports of the American energy companies. The lion's share of energy commodities will be exported to China. This is an impressive outlook for the energy sector that has been striving to enter the Chinese markets for over a decade. Nowadays, China is the world's largest importer of oil and gas. Thanks to the agreement, the revenue of the US energy companies will significantly increase over the next two years.

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According to experts, the current stance of monetary policy in Japan completely satisfies the country’s authorities. Analysts believe that this is the main reason why the government does not want to change the policy. As widely expected, the BoJ kept the interest rate at -0.1 percent on current accounts that commercial banks hold at the central bank. Moreover, the bank maintained its yield target for 10-year Japanese government bonds at around zero percent, within 0.02 percentage points. The regulator also expects the monetary base to increase at an annual pace by around JPY 80 trillion.The Bank of Japan kept settings of monetary policy steady but slightly upgraded its growth outlook for the fiscal 2020 which ends in March. The economy is expected to grow by 0.8 percent in the fiscal 2020 up from the prior estimate 0.2 percent. According to the revised forecast, the projection for fiscal 2020-2021 is lifted to 0.9 percent from 0.7 percent. The BoJ said that inflation in the current fiscal year would not exceed 0.4 percent compared to the previously forecasted 0.5 percent. Moreover, the regulator intends to keep loose monetary policy so that inflation can reach its 2 percent target.The central bank lowered its economic estimates for three of nine regions in the country last week as a result of exports and production activity reduction. Apart from that, the Japanese monetary authorities plan to increase domestic demand which will offset negative consequences of foreign economic problems. According to experts, the BoJ’s optimism over the country's economic conditions helps to retain the current monetary policy steady. The regulator expects the economy to recover. As a result, the monetary policy will not change. The Bank of Japan reckons that) the situation in the country is far from being critical which allows the regulator to improve its growth outlook for the current fiscal year.

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Washington and Beijing signed a phase one trade deal last week. Analysts estimated that the agreement was mutually beneficial. However, some experts are sure that the US will gain more from the trade deal than China. According to experts, there are five economic sectors in the US which will take a distinct advantage of the agreement

Credit card manufacturers
According to analysts, Visa and MasterCard, the world’s leaders in the market of credit cards, will benefit from the trade deal. Under the terms of the agreement, the Chinese authorities must give access to the domestic markets to the e-payment systems. As a result, the revenue of the US credit card manufacturers will significantly increase. Nowadays, China is recognized as the world’s largest online payment market with the volume of $27 trillion. Moreover, analysts project the market to extend in the future.

US airlines
Boeing, an American air company and the largest long-time exporter to China, is going to take advantage of the trade agreement most of all. The airline’s shares increased by $2.40 on the first trading day after the deal was signed. Even Donald Trump's demand to renew Boeing 737 did not stop the stock’s rally. According to the president, Boeing takes the lion’s share of the country’s GDP. Moreover, the company can improve the GDP by another 0.5%. Boeing is the number one exporter to China since the country has always cooperated with the airline.

US technology companies
The new US-China deal will also be beneficial to Qualcomm и Micron Technology corporations. The companies have a significantly high yield from the trade with China - 69% for Qualcomm and 55% for Micron. The agreement regulates intellectual property issues mostly in favour of the US and involves comprehensive access to the Chinese technology market. Qualcomm’s shares surged by 1.95% and Micron’s securities jumped by 2.32% to $57.50 per share as soon as the two biggest economies announced the deal.

US energy companies
A number of energy corporations, primarily Continental Resources, will take advantage of the Sino-US deal. Analysts expect a sharp rise in exports of the American energy companies. The lion's share of energy commodities will be exported to China. This is an impressive outlook for the energy sector that has been striving to enter the Chinese markets for over a decade. Nowadays, China is the world's largest importer of oil and gas. Thanks to the agreement, the revenue of the US energy companies will significantly increase over the next two years.

US agricultural sector
The US agricultural sector will also profit from the deal. According to the agreement, China will buy US agricultural goods during the next two years. Experts believe that this will increase the demand for US products. The Chinese authorities will also update the national agricultural policy softening license regulations, inspection, and registration. Experts expect that markets in China will be open for all types of US agricultural goods in the course of further negotiations.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2057222.html

The digital currency market remains unpredictable, exhibiting signs of either explosive growth or stagnation. Currently, it is relatively stable.

The oldest Swedish cryptocurrency exchange, BTCX, intends to take advantage of the current situation. It is planning to launch an initial public offering (IPO) by the end of the third quarter of 2020.

BTCX management believes that this measure will help attract large investors to the market of virtual assets. In addition, this route might bring additional transparency to cryptocurrency transactions and prop up the digital industry as a whole. According to the exchange, this is essential to both the public and global regulators.

Established in 2012, BTCX supports the express exchange of digital and fiat currencies as one of the ways to trade.

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Many of the most important scientific documents are of great interest not only for scientists but also for antiquarians. The latter does not spare money when it comes to buying the most valuable ones. Sometimes their desire to become the owner of a historical object outweighs the common sense. They pay astronomical sums of money for such artifacts. In this article, you will find 7 scientific documents that cost a fortune.

Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci
The document, consisting of 18 sheets of paper and forming a 72-page notebook, is a set of scientific notes made from 1506 to 1510. The notes of the legendary scientist were devoted to various natural phenomena. The pages of the manuscript were written in Leonardo’s distinctive mirror writing. The notebook comprises a large number of mathematical calculations, diagrams, and drawings. It was named after the Earl of Leicester who bought the manuscript in 1717. After being exhibited in all museums around the world, since 2003, the document is located in the Seattle Art Museum. Its price is $30, 802, 500.

Birds of America, John James Audubon
The American naturalist's book, printed from 1827 to 1838, is replete with life-size illustrations of rare species of birds in the United States. Six species are now extinct. The first edition is considered a masterpiece of bookmaking and bibliographic rarity. In 1807, the text of the Ornithological biography was published in five volumes. This book is unique thanks to the highest quality and accuracy of illustrations. Engravings half the size of a man were hand-painted. So, it is no wonder that the price of this book is $11, 570, 496.

Theory of relativity, Albert Einstein
One of the most important discoveries in physics, the theory of relativity, was introduced by Albert Einstein at the beginning of the 20th century. This breakthrough enabled the physicists to address many scientific issues. The theory of relativity radically changed the way the scientists comprehended the space-time concept. Later, Einstein's theory was confirmed by numerous experiments and studies. The cost of the document written in 1905 and completed in 1943 is estimated at $6, 500, 000.

Francis Crick's letter deciphering structure of DNA
British physicist Francis Crick (1916-2004) gave up his work at the age of 31 and devoted himself to studying biology. Six years later, his hard work was rewarded: the scientist made a breakthrough in genetics. Teamed up with other scientists, he deciphered the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In March 1953, Francis Crick wrote a letter to his twelve-year-old son, Michael, where he outlined the essence of the greatest discovery of our time. Now, this letter costs $6, 059, 750.

Cosmography, Claudius Ptolemy
The atlas of Claudius Ptolemy (circa 100-170 AD), a Greek-Egyptian writer, mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and poet, was highly praised by his contemporaries. The atlas, created around 150 AD, was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and into Latin in 1406. It is considered the world's first printed atlas available to the public since 1477. There are only 31 copies of this book in the world. This copy, as part of the library of Lord Wardington, was sold

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Isaac Newton
The manuscript of the work of the famous scientist was published in 1687. Some reputable scientists believe that Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica was the apogee of the scientific revolution. Later Newton’s work became a turning point in modern physics as it provided a lot of mathematical explanations of gravity and motion. The book was evaluated at $3, 719, 500.

Portolan atlas of the world, Battista Agnese
Scientists highly appreciate the work of the leading cartographer of the 16th century from the Republic of Genoa who lived in the Republic of Venice. Battista Agnese was the first cartographer who graphically embodied the discoveries of travelers Marcos de Niza and Francisco de Ulloa. This document is one of the 72 surviving manuscript Portolan atlases created in the workshop of Battista Agnes in 1546. The cost of atlases amounts to $2, 770, 500.

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2056786.html

The pro-Kremlin mass media in Russia reports proudly on the successful implementation of the plan to trim the share of the US dollar in international settlements in favor of the ruble. At the same time, Russia’s Finance Ministry has been pumping its reserves with foreign currencies. From January 15 until February 6, the ministry aims to spend 18.2 billion rubles per day to buy foreign currencies. Moscow is going to allocate 244.5 billion rubles in total for forex interventions. This is 25% more than 195.5 billion rubles spent in December. “The amount of extra oil and gas revenue in the federal budget is projected to be +309.9 billion rubles in January 2020 that will come as a result of higher oil prices than it was priced in. The overall deviation of the actual oil and gas revenue from the projected figure for the previous month as well as the deviation of the flash estimate of oil and gas revenue for the month from the actual oil and gas revenue as of December 2019 equals +65.3. billion rubles. Therefore, the overall funds allocated for purchasing foreign currencies total +244.5 billion rubes. Forex interventions are scheduled to run from January 15, 2020 until February 6, 2020. It means that 18.2 billion rubles are earmarked to intervene on a daily basis,” the Finance Ministry says in the statement.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/45813

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The pro-Kremlin mass media in Russia reports proudly on the successful implementation of the plan to trim the share of the US dollar in international settlements in favor of the ruble. At the same time, Russia’s Finance Ministry has been pumping its reserves with foreign currencies. From January 15 until February 6, the ministry aims to spend 18.2 billion rubles per day to buy foreign currencies. Moscow is going to allocate 244.5 billion rubles in total for forex interventions. This is 25% more than 195.5 billion rubles spent in December. “The amount of extra oil and gas revenue in the federal budget is projected to be +309.9 billion rubles in January 2020 that will come as a result of higher oil prices than it was priced in. The overall deviation of the actual oil and gas revenue from the projected figure for the previous month as well as the deviation of the flash estimate of oil and gas revenue for the month from the actual oil and gas revenue as of December 2019 equals +65.3. billion rubles. Therefore, the overall funds allocated for purchasing foreign currencies total +244.5 billion rubes. Forex interventions are scheduled to run from January 15, 2020 until February 6, 2020. It means that 18.2 billion rubles are earmarked to intervene on a daily basis,” the Finance Ministry says in the statement.

Read more: https://www.mt5.com/forex_humor/image/45813

https://instaforex.livejournal.com/2056643.html

The largest natural gas fields are located in hard-to-reach places. Therefore, with the help of pipelines, gas transportation is carried out far quicker.

In our article, you will find out about pipelines which are over several thousand kilometers in length

Natural gas is used as a source of energy for cooking, heating, electricity generation as well as producing various oils and synthetic chemicals. In addition, it reduces dependence on heavily polluting coal and plays an important role in the development of gas-consuming regions.

Nord Stream Pipeline – 1,224 km
It is the longest subsea gas pipeline in the world which connects Russia to the countries of Western Europe, running across the Baltic Sea to Germany (from Vyborg to Greifswald).
The annual capacity of two strings is 55 billion cubic meters of gas. The first string of Nord Stream was put into service in 2011, while the second one – in 2012. Nord Stream 2, a new gas export pipeline, similar in the route, length, and projected capacity to the one in operation is expected to enter service in the near future.

Yamal-Europe Pineline - over 2,000 km
Yamal-Europe pipeline is one of two Russian gas pipelines included in the top ten. It runs across four countries: Russia (402 km), Belarus (575 km), Poland (683 km), and Germany. The gas pipeline constructed in 1999 ensures an expanded uninterrupted supply of Russian gas to Europe, reaching an annual design capacity of 32.9 billion cubic meters in 2006.
The trunkline includes 14 compressor stations. The pipeline runs from the Torzhok gas transmission hub in the Tver Oblast. The westernmost point is the Mallnow compressor station near Frankfurt an der Oder.

Transmed – 2,475 km
Thanks to the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline, natural gas delivery stretches from Algeria and other regions of North Africa via Tunisia to Sicily and thence to northern Italy. An extension of the pipeline delivers gas to Slovenia. A 96-kilometer trunkline from Sicily to Tunisia runs across the Mediterranean Sea at a water depth of 1,500 meters.
The first phase of the pipeline was constructed in 1978-1983, while the second phase - in 1994. The current capacity of the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline exceeds 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.

Iran-Turkey Pipeline – 2,577 km
The pipeline running from Tabriz via Erzurum to Ankara was initially supposed to be part of the Pars pipeline and connect Iran's South Pars gas field to European consumers. However, sanctions impeded the implementation of its construction.
Its current capacity is 14 billion cubic meters per year. So, Iran has an opportunity to enter the European market by 2020, exporting up to 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year (with a total export capacity of 35 billion cubic meters per year).

Rockies Express (REX) - 2,702 km
The giant Rockies Express high-pressure natural gas pipeline launched in 2009 consists of three sections running parallel to one another. It passes through eight states from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to Ohio.
REX constructed in 2009 is the second largest gas export pipeline in North America (after Tennessee Gas Pipeline). Its capacity is 37 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

Bolivia-Brazil Pipeline - 3,150 km
Bolivia-Brazil is the longest natural gas pipeline in South America. It consists of two stretches with a length of 1,418 km and 1,165 km put into service in 1999–2000.
Annually, about 11 billion cubic meter of natural gas is transported from Bolivia to the south-east regions of Brazil.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline - 3,300 km
The Tennessee pipeline was the first main natural gas pipeline in the United States.
This pipeline constructed in 1944 consists of five stretches delivering natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico via Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and New England. Its annual capacity is up to 22-25 billion cubic meters of gas.

Urengoy-Uzhhorod Pipeline – 4,451 km
This main export gas pipeline was constructed in 1983 to supply natural gas from the northern part of Western Siberia to the countries of Central and Western Europe.
The gas pipeline split into three branches crosses the Ural Mountains and more than 600 rivers including the Ob, Volga, Don, and Dnieper. It has 42 compressor stations. Nine of them are located in Ukraine which accounts for 1,160 km of the trunkline. The actual capacity of the pipeline is 28 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.

Central Asia-Center Gas Pipeline System (CAC) – 5,000 km
The Central Asia-Center gas pipeline is used to transit natural gas from Turkmenistan via Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia to non-CIS countries.
The cooperation of these states increased the capacity (up to 80 billion cubic meters of gas per year) and enhanced the reliability of the CAC.
The first section of the pipeline was launched back in 1967. By 1985, the CAC was a multi-line system pipeline system running across the largest rivers of the region (Amu-Darya, Volga, Ural, Oka).

Turkmenistan-China Gas Pipeline - over 7 thousand km
The giant Turkmenistan-China pipeline system makes it possible to transport natural gas from Central Asia via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to China.
This trunkline was put into service in 2009. Its current capacity is about 65 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year. The pipeline supplies gas extracted in the fields of Southern Yoloten-Osman and Dovletabad in Turkmenistan.

East-West Gas Pipeline– 8,704 km
China's East-West pipeline runs across almost the entire country connecting the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Turkmenistan with the regions around the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.
This is the biggest construction project in China's gas industry: it includes one trunkline and eight branch lines passing through various natural areas. Four lines of the pipeline makes it possible to transport about 30 million cubic meters of natural gas per year.

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