Währungsflexibilität könnte Hightech-Wirtschaft schaden

Im Silicon Valley fürchtet man negative Auswirkungen durch die größere Währungsflexibilität in China. Die Preise für billige Halbleiter und Chips aus dem Zweistromland könnten nämlich steigen (und noch für einiges mehr):

China's decision to revalue its currency may play well in Washington, but it could raise hackles among Silicon Valley executives and their customers. ... Few expect the U.S. and European trade deficits with China to change appreciably because of the revaluation, but the surprise currency-strengthening move could be a double-edged sword for the high-tech industry. On one hand, it's likely to mute calls in Washington for punitive tariffs on Chinese goods, said John Norris, chief economist and senior fund manager at Morgan Asset Management. That would have unquestionably raised consumer prices and dinged corporate earnings. ... if the yuan continues to strengthen beyond what is arguably a token measure, the cost of manufacturing products such as semiconductors, computers and consumer electronics in China will rise, leading to--once again--higher prices for consumers and smaller profits for computer companies. "If finished products become more expensive and sales decline, then what have you gained?" said John Greenagel, a spokesman for the Semiconductor Industry Association, a U.S. trade group. "There is no such thing as an unmixed blessing. We did not take a stand urging China to do this, and as a result we'll be watching cautiously to watch the impact." ... Computer companies should also have plans to identify alternative suppliers if the yuan really does spiral upward, said David I. Levine, an economics professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. "Those contingencies should be part of every high-tech company's plans," Levine said. "This relatively minor currency revaluation shouldn’t be putting those contingency plans in motion." Still, industry watchers are finding reasons to fret about the Middle Kingdom. They fear China could drive up energy prices by using its stronger currency to outbid other nations for limited oil supplies. That, in turn, could dampen the global economy and consumer spending, the SIA's Greenagel said.