The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

SYT forecasts record 2013:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/syngenta-results-idUSL5N0B60RA20130206

Swiss group Syngenta forecast another year of record sales as high crop prices and erratic weather spur farmers to use more of its pesticides, fertilisers and advanced seeds to boost yields.

The world's biggest farm chemicals maker said on Wednesday it would raise its dividend by 19 percent after full-year net profit beat expectations. But its shares fell, with several analysts saying profits were flattered by a lower tax rate.

SYT is not a direct competitor of MON insofar as SYT derives most of its income from chemicals while MON derives almost all of its income from seeds and traits. Still, a bullish outlook for SYT is modestly bullish for MON and other ag companies.