Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Breakfast Links

1. CPI rose 6.5% in China from rising food prices. Consumer inflation is highest in 11 years.

2. Ukraine to launch a money market index.

3. Slovakia was fastest growing economy in the EU for the third quarter.

4. The Ivory Coast will cut electricity exports to neighboring counties. Rise of demand at home.

5. Looks like the EU’s highest benchmark interest rate country will keep its title.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Breakfast Links

1. Sinotruk, China’s largest heavy truck company, is going to raise 1.3bn in IPO.

2. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is the first private buyer of an A380 superjumbo, the world's largest passenger airliner.

3. Vedanta Resources to spin off Indian energy unit in a $2bn IPO.

4. Goldman Sachs is still bullish on emerging markets but is cutting back its exposure due to continual turmoil in global credit.

5. Chinese stocks take a hit after regulators announced on the 9th increase in bank reserve requirement so far this year to 13.5%.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Breakfast Links

1. China's monthly trade surplus probably topped $30 billion for the first time.

2. Petrobras finds an estimated 8bn bbl reserve.

3. The World Bank will commit $2bn to develop broadband access in Africa.

4. ArcelorMittal and Toyota sign a joint venture to process steel in S. Africa.

5. While Citi, Merril and everyone else is getting spanked, a Polish Bank shines.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Lynching and inching towards something good

Over a week after firing E. Stan and writing down ridiculous amounts, looks like they'd like to be a trusted source for aEmerging Market currency index
I guess it couldn't hurt. A little Emerging Markets exposure never hurt anyone (not yet anyway)
US subprime is the devil

EM bonds fall

Bloomberg piece on LatAm debt falling in these trying times.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Breakfast Links

1. S. Africa's foreign reserves are up on dollar's weakness.

2. Mozambique opens first reinsurance firm.

3. High oil profits covers a multitude of presidential incompetence.

4. Eco-friendly chopstick bra.

5. Despite oil prices hitting $100/bbl in the next few days, the IMF does not believe that it will have a dent in global growth.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Pakistan

Pakistan has been taking a beating by Moody’s and S&P since emergency rule has been established. Bond holders tend not to like when single military ruler decides he needs to fight the “terrorists” and suspends democratic elections when things don’t go his way. The major issue in this case isn’t even a question of whether or not he government will renegade on it’s bonds, it’s unlikely since they will need to borrow money again sooner or later, but whether or not the economy will be sustainable. Equity investors are not pouring money into projects in the country reducing taxes to the State.

Here is where the debt investors can get play for their dollars. Pakistan, while unstable, is a partner to the United States in their war on terror. The US might not like the current powers that be, but they have to work with him. Being that the country possesses nuclear power, it is hard to imagine the US not intervening before the case gets out of hand.

Pakistan sovereigns might be worth a look right now. Why there is clearly a high political risk embedded in them now, it seems that they are largely oversold. As Bloomberg notes the yields on June 2017 have risen over 250 bps. There is no clear indication that this is indeed the bottom but it seems unlikely that the current government would allow for continual decline in social unrest. General social unrest provides difficulty for the country since they are multi-faceted entities whereas the risk being undertaken by a singular government gone rogue is quantifiable and more easily fixed.

Breakfast Links

1. See didn’t we tell you to get on the magic carpet? Alibaba’s up 193% on first day’s trading.

2. Obviously Pakistan has now gone to shit. Buying opportunity?

3. S. Africa’s growing and growing fast but someone forgot to include the need for more electricity?

4. Angola’s has a cement shortage. Opportunity?

5. At this is was one division Chuck Prince couldn’t muck up – Citi’s Poland division actually made money!

Monday, November 5, 2007

more Breakfast Links (eat up, no dieting here)

6. More comments on the BRIC bubble in Bloomberg.

7. Portfolio Managers discuss to how to manage risk globally and what specific funds they are currently using.

8. Kirby Daley says go into Asian stocks.

Breakfast Links

1. Are you kidding me??!! PetroChina is now worth over one TRILLION dollars!!!

2. Sinotrans Shipping Ltd may raise up to $1.5bn in its IPO.

3. China to prevent its citizens from buying Hong Kong stocks. WTF????

4. Beijing to build the world’s largest Ferris Wheel.

5. US credit issues continue to take a toil on Asia.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Breakfast Links

1. Indonesia to offer $2bn Bond.

2. Leading banks in Kazakhstan downgraded.

3. At least seven Chinese shipbuilders are planning IPOs.

4. Russian Soccer team had to train in their socks because the Romanians stole their boots.

5. The IDB releases its 2008 report.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Ranting on Bubbles

There a huge line between being a bear and being Chicken Little. Chicken Little, as the story goes, is constantly crying out that the sky is falling. A bear is one who believes the market is going to crash and is waiting patiently to start feasting on cadavers.

Over the last few weeks we have been bombarded with alerts that there is a bubble going on in China. No shit Sherlock. I mean, is there some idiot out there buying in that believes we're only at the beginning of the market cycle? A quick search on Google for 'China + bubble' gave us 7 million hits!

Rather than constant writing about the obvious these people get need to get involved. Just think about the recent credit crunch, people have been "predicting" a housing crash for the past 4 years. Would you have shorted the ABX 2 years ago? Your portfolio would look like bloody Iraq right now.

The point is that we are always in one bubble or another, that's just the nature of business or credit cycles. But say you do have a timeframe for the eventual Chinese meltdown. You know that Shanghai is going to have its ass kung pao-ed. As this Forbes article believes it will after the 2008. Don't write articles about it, put your money where your mouth is.

Do you really have what it takes to be a bear on this market? Are you willing to buy puts or short the index? With Ipos coming out that rise 50-60% on the first day you are either loony or brilliant. To tackle this bull you have to ask yourself, do you have the moral fortitude and the balls the size of mangos to put on a short position in front of the charging train?

You're a brave one Chicken Little. We who are about to die, salute you.

Breakfast Links

1. China to soon offer futures contracts on their stock index.

2. Hyundai’s bottom line is hurt because of rising Korean currency.

3. China not only has to fight against fake drug makers but fake drug watchdog website!

4. As we mentioned before, China’s price caps are hurting it’s oil companies so their raising fuel prices 6%. Thanks guys!

5. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., the world's third-largest gold producer posts $310m loss for third quarter.