DIVERSIFICATION IS THE WAY (EL ECONOMISTA 1-8-9) América Móvil, Alsea, Cemex, Genomma Lab and Gruma are just a few examples of companies that reported better quarterly sales overseas than in Mexico. The analysts consulted on the subject matter say there are several reasons for this situation, noting the economic slowdown in Mexico, consumer caution and severe weather conditions in September.

INVESTMENTS (MILENIO DIARIO 22) Next week the Fire of Life Award given by The Entrepreneur’s Hall of Fame, a program sponsored by nonprofit organization Impulsa, will be given to four major national investors including Miguel Alemán Velasco, President of Interjet, and Ambra Fayad, of Farmacias Especializadas with post-mortem awards for Moses Kalach of Kaltex, andRoberto González Barrera,former president ofGrumaand Banorte. These awards are given to people who make it possible to implement a project, create job and create wealth with social content..

2009-2012 (QUIÉN 110) Quien 50 was created as creating an inspiring edition to recognize those who accomplish extraordinary feats and walk the second mile to transcend limits in everyday living. The last Quién 50 edition featured Roberto González Barrera and Guillermo Ortiz, among others.

HALFHEARTED RESULTS (EXPANSION 110) One year before NAFTA, Mexico exported US $63 million more in agricultural products that it imported. Trade liberalization increased the food supply available in Mexico, says Luis de la Calle, a member of the team involved in the NAFTA negotiations and co-author of the Clasemediero [Middle Classism] book. “Large companies flush with capital go to foreign markets or integrate consolidation processes, probably through of expanding even before then,” said Banorte analyst Marisol Huerta. “But NAFTA helped them achieve their goals as they joined the globalization discourse.” The Bimbo baking company and tortilla maker Gruma expanded to the United States and are now considered true multinationals.

GRUMA SHARES REPORT HIGHER EARNINGS (EL NORTE)Gruma’s share price has skyrocketed in one year with a reported 148% growth, going from 36.3 to 89.95 pesos in that period. Its value had reached a record low back in 2009 for a 3.67 pesos level. Yesterday (Monday), its share price closed at 89.95 pesos, 22% higher than just one month ago

FIBRAS, THE QUARTERLY WINNERS (EL UNIVERSAL 4)  (LA CRÓNICA DE HOY 23) (24 HORAS 24) The FIBRAS Investment Real Estate Trusts reported the issuing company winners in the third quarter, beating market expectations, said Banco Ve por Más (BX+). Stock Market Analysis Deputy Director at BX +, Rodrigo Heredia, said that some of the best issuing companies include Fibra INN and Fibra Uno, plus Alsea, Lenova, Bimbo, Santander Mexico,Gruma, Inbursa, Grupo Carso and OHL Mexico.

CAPITAL MARKETS  (EL ECONOMISTA 7) GRUMA. The Venezuelan government reached an agreement to create a joint venture, after the Mexican company filed a claim against that country with the International Court for expropriating its production plant.

THE ENTREPRENUER’S HALL OF HAS FOUR NEW INDUCTEES (MILENIO DIARIO 34) Since 1993, Impulsa, a non-profit organization has recognized people who have managed to implement a project, create jobs and wealth with social content through the Entrepreneur’s Hall of Fame. This year's Fuego de Vida (Fire of Life) award went to Miguel Alemán Velasco, Chairman of the Board of the Interjet Airlines and Ambra Fayad Said, who founded Farmacias Especializadas 35 years ago, with post-mortem awards for the lateRoberto González Barrera, who founded Molinos Azteca in the forties, the powerful forerunner of the company now known asGrupo Maseca(Gruma) and who in 1992, along with other investors, bought Grupo Financiero Banorte, and for Moisés Kalach Alfie, who started the Kaltex textile consortium with his siblings. It has been said that Tortilla KingRoberto González Barrera not only built a great company, but exported Mexico’s culture to the world, to then also become the strong Mexico banker. His eldest daughterMayra González Moreno received the award for the family.

TORTILLAS, BREAD AND REFRESHMENTS GO GLOBAL (REFORMA pp)  (EL NORTE 0) Within a decade, three Mexican companies went out to conquer the world, and they did. With different strategies, the Mexican industrial groups,Bimbo, Maseca(Gruma) and Coca-Cola Femsa (Kof) saw its overseas sales take off to the point that it became a world leader in its line of business. In fact, its income abroad has already surpassed its domestic revenues. Through acquisitions or construction of new units, these companies now have most of their plants overseas. In the same period of 10 years, Bimbo increased its total sales to 173.1 billion pesos, that is to say, 319%, of which 39.8% correspond to Mexico and 60.2% represent sales abroad; however,Grumawas not far behind, as its sales grew 235% going from 19.1 64.3 billion pesos, of which only 35.2% came from Mexico, and the remaining 64.8% from other countries.

BUSINESS RECOGNITION (EL UNIVERSAL 1-40-42) Impulsa, Member of JA Worldwide, since 1993, awarded the prize “Fire of Life” to Mexican entrepreneurs who create jobs and support projects with social responsibility. The institution gathered in the hotel Camino Real Polanco the most important business sector of the country to honor and deliver the awards during a gala dinner to Miguel Alemán Velasco of Interjet, Ambra Fayad Said of Farmacias Especializadas, Roberto González Barrera (RIP) of Gruma and Moisés Kalach Alfie (RIP) of Kaltex, four outstanding businessmen who contribute to Mexico’s social development.

ISSUING COMPANIES WIN OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY(EXCÉLSIOR 1-3 PRIMERA DINERO). América Móvil, FEMSA, Alfa, Cemex, Bimbo, Genomma Lab, Grupo Mexico, Chedraui, Gruma and Alsea are companies that decided they should earn most of their income from other markets instead of relying only on the Mexican market. These are the Mexican companies that receive more resources from their operations in other countries, with an average of 57% sales from abroad. Also the world’s most important manufacturer of tortillas, Gruma has a strong position abroad. It is sufficient to note that in countries like the United Kingdom, it holds 40% of the wraps market.

DOES THE MEXICAN STOCK EXCHANGE (BMV) OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY? (MEXICO FORBES 160) The Mexico Moment was experienced by the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV): an instant. As soon as the year began, on January 28^th, the CPI hit a record high of 45,912.51 points and they began to fall and never regained that level. Its performance in October was negative at around 6% in U.S. Dollars. The Mexico Moment of the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) was as ephemeral as most emerging stock markets, especially in Latin America. Cemex, which in the year has advanced 18%, still looks like an attractive option while Gruma, the world’s largest corn tortilla producer came in with the best CPI share this year with a 116% rally.

MONTERREY INVESTMENTS LEAD IN THE USA  (NORTE 0 In the past 10 years, Monterrey business persons have opened the checkbook to invest in the U.S., so much so that in that period 40% of Mexican investment in this country comes from Nuevo León. Gruma opened its plant number 30 in the United States in the State of Florida at the end of 2012, where it invested US $26 million, while Katcon built an automotive components plant in Michigan last year, as well.

MEXICO AND UNITED KINGDOM WILL DOUBLE THEIR TRADE (EL FINANCIERO 13)  (EL NORTE 0)  (MILENIO DIARIO 12)  (CAPITAL DE MÉXICO 5) British investors are not concerned about Mexico’s new tax regime, on the contrary, they are still interested in investing in this county, such as in the energy sector, said the British ambassador to Mexico, Duncan John Rushworth Taylor after listening to Juan Pardinas Carpizo, director of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) speak on the State Budget Information Index. He noted that there are also Mexican investors interested in investing in that European country, such as Gruma and Cemex.

RAFAEL URQUÍA / FAMILY ADVICE (EL ECONOMISTA 17) This has not been the year of the emerging markets, including the Latin American region. Until the end of October, the MSCI Latam Index was down 9.0% against the 16.6% growth recorded in global markets and the even higher 23.1% rate reported by the S&P 500 (all profits mentioned in this article are in U.S. dollars with figures through October, unless stated otherwise). Growth forecasts for the region were revised downward throughout the year as a result of a variety of factors, including certain missteps in government actions. People who view the region through indexes lose sight of the fact that some shares have reported extraordinary gain and actually surpassed many companies listed on the S&P 500. Some examples include Gruma, the leading corn flour producer in North America with its 126.5% yield; Panama’s low cost carrier Copa, with 51.2%, and Brazil company Kroton with 33.0%.