Given that President Hugo Chávez’s Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) lost its two-thirds majority in the September 26 legislative elections, it is pretty likely that the ruling party is going to face a tougher time in passing some of the more radical elements of its socialist reforms. In addition, the 2012 presidential vote is… [Read more]
Shale gas is the topic du jour right now in the energy industry. In the US, soaring production from shale, thanks to advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technology, has turned the gas market on its head. While just a few years ago, the US was planning for rising gas imports, now LNG (liquefied… [Read more]
North Korea’s succession drama has officially kicked off, with ailing leader Kim Jong Il, 68, appointing his 26- or 27-year old third son, Kim Jong Un, to the rank of General. Bizarrely, also promoted to General was Kim Jong Il’s 64-year old sister Kim Kyong Hui. Neither of them have any military experience, so the… [Read more]
The M&A market is continuing to roar. And with Q3 2010 M&A preliminary figures now out, the evidence is more than anecdotal: according to Thomson Reuters data, global dealmaking is up 21%, which constitutes the strongest quarter for M&A since Q3 2008. Indeed, Q3 2010 activity totalled US$599bn, the third consecutive quarter of growth, up… [Read more]
If you think your mobile phone and PC represent the acme of your out-of-office connectivity, then think again. In the not-so-distant future, our homes and all the gadgets in them will be as interconnected with each other and the outside world as you are at your desk. Perhaps more so, if some of the industry’s… [Read more]
The base metals complex has continued to rally in recent weeks in line with the trend in broad risk appetite. However, base metals have also been supported by factors such as a weaker US dollar, as well as a stronger Yuan, which has appreciated by almost 2% since mid-June . This suggests that there are… [Read more]
After falling by some 600bp across the curve over the last 12 months, it looks like yields on Kenyan local debt have bottomed out and will head higher over the course of 2011. I believe this for two reasons: (1)Inflation is going to head higher from current levels and this will erode real yields. (2)Commercial… [Read more]