PROFESSIONAL LUNCHEON
Andrew Smithers,
Chairman and Founder, Smithers & Co., Ltd.

The speech and Q & A will be in English.

The murmur turned to a roar last year when many of the world's biggest investors learned that Andrew Smithers had changed his opinion about equities. A legendary bear, he saw the economic crisis as a moment when share prices were finally descending to sensible levels -- and urged his clients to invest. Those that did made a fortune, as the markets have soared.

Yet how did the financial world get into such a mess in the first place? What was the role of central bankers in ushering the onslaught? How can the world repair the damage? And how can institutions and individuals responsibly invest their savings in order to capitalize on the uncertainty?

For nearly half a century, Smithers has scrutinized financial markets; his words are prized among major investors. Join us for an illuminating discussion on what happened and the way the world is headed.

Andrew Smithers is one of the world's foremost authorities on stock, bond and currency markets, as well as a specialist on the Japanese economy. From 1962 to 1989 he worked at S.G. Warburg, running the investment management business (subsequently floated as a separate company, Mercury Asset Management). In 1989 he founded Smithers & Co, which provides advice on international asset allocation.

Smithers has authored numerous books, most recently "Wall Street Revalued: Imperfect Markets and Inept Central Bankers" (John Wiley & Sons, 2009), and earlier, the report "Japan's Key Challenges for the 21st Century: Debt, Deflation, Default, Demography and Deregulation" with David Asher (Johns Hopkins University, SAIS Policy Forum, 1998).

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Sandwich Plate: Shrimp caesar wrap with romaine lettuce, bacon, parmesan, caesar mayonnaise, anchovy, salad & pickles.
Hot Plate: Grilled hamburger steak with lyonnaise potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, carrots and red wine sauce, seasonal salad.

Andrew Smithers, Chairman and Founder, Smithers & Co., Ltd.