It is too early to call the peak in Latin American equities, especially when there is so much liquidity floating around. However, recent price action combined with macro concerns imply that another significant downleg may not be far off. Since the start of the year LatAm stocks have been the EM outperformers, but while Risk… [Read more]
After a rough 2009, Mexico’s economic fundamentals look set for a breather over the next couple of months, as exports, manufacturing and unemployment levels continue to benefit from unprecedented fiscal stimulus north of the border. If the US Federal Reserve opts to keep the monetary floodgates open for a while longer, this could translate into… [Read more]
“If you have a lot of what people want and can’t get, then you can supply the demand and shovel in the dough”. – Lucky Luciano It’s a simple enough concept, and one that helped make the father of modern organised crime in the United States cited above ‘one of the most influential builders and… [Read more]
Please consider ‘Mexico eases drug possession law’: The Mexican government has enacted a law decriminalising the possession of small amounts of drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Mexican prosecutors say the move does not amount to legalisation. They say it is designed to prevent corrupt police from seeking bribes from small-time drug users, and to encourage… [Read more]
With the spectre of US military bases in Colombia causing another bout of breast-thumping by some regional heads of state, I’ve decided to take a closer look at the age-old debate about whether foreign interest in Latin America is a good or bad thing for the region. First things first, while US bases appear to… [Read more]
Modesty is a virtue that Risk Watchdog admires as much as the next investor, but the decision to relax capital controls on equities in Colombia could have come straight out of his own Les Propheties. As predicted, Bogotá has finally seen sense and removed requirements that foreign investors deposit 50% of their stock investments in… [Read more]