San Francisco, July 9, 2001 (paperloop.com) - "Focus on the Financial Future" is the theme of the ninth Paper/Forest Products Global Outlook Conference, scheduled for November 4-6, 2001, at the Crowne Plaza Manhattan, New York City. This annual event is recognized as a leading year-end source of industry forecasts, insight and business contacts. In addition to such regular topics as regional and grade overviews, and year-end market reviews, the 2001 Outlook Conference will address the current soft economy and offer expert advice and coping strategies for dealing with the situation. "Most companies in the paper and forest products industries are facing serious economic challenges right now, and we want the Global Outlook Conference to offer them the answers and advice they need to cope until the market rebounds," said Drew Miller, Conference Chairman. "Every aspect of the industry will be addressed at the event." Conference sessions will cover topics such as: Global Economic Trends Buffeting the Paper and Forest Products Industry; How FX Swings are Shifting Global Cost Curves; Is a Falling Cost of Adding New Capacity Accelerating Obsolescence?; Does Hedging Work and Will Players Use It?; and Paper in the New Economy: Has the Paperless Age Finally Arrived? Presentations within each session include: * "Paper Economics" - how the paper industry is influenced by global economic activity * "Regional Cost Curve Analysis" - how has the shift in currencies impacted world markets? (a regional cost analysis) * "Managing the Cost of Capital" - an analysis of the costs of new capacity and the production of tonnage * "Risk Management/Hedging" - can this help reduce the severity of the cycles? * "Role of Paper in the New Economy" - discussion of tech-driven initiatives, plus substitution effect along gradelines * "Consolidation and Return on Capital" - why have some gradelines been consolidated more than others?