While fears of a Chinese slowdown have punished equity prices, it is very difficult for U.S. investors to participate in the Shanghai markets.  Accounting problems have also been a huge issue, particularly for Chinese companies that have listed themselves on U.S. exchanges.  Also due to the controlled nature of Chinese businesses, it is very difficult...Read More

Today was a bad day for oil as prices dropped 4.1%. This isn’t much of a surprise considering the slowing Chinese economy, that likely has seen a substantial over-build in fixed assets. If it weren’t for multiple currencies printing money at very high rates, I’d be much less bullish on oil, and I believe on...Read More

Further evidence of the strength of Citigroup’s brand on a global scale is exhibited by the company being the first Western bank to issue credit cards in China without co-branding from a local financial institution.  China without a doubt offers the largest opportunity for credit card growth, and Citigroup’s participation in that growth is a...Read More

China’s state-owned oil companies have been perking up their aggressiveness in acquiring oil assets with recent deals to buy Canada’s Nexen (NXY) and 49% of the U.K. business of Talisman Energy.  By buying at a time of overall market distress and uncertainty these assets were purchased at a significant discount to what the prices would...Read More

We have talked about the vulnerability of the Australian economy due to its exposure to heavy mining materials before, as we expect Chinese demand to slow down.  There are significant issues with the Australian economy due to over-inflated housing prices, and an extremely strong currency which crimps exports.  The decade long mining boom has propelled...Read More

The U.S. economy is slowing quickly and nowhere is it more apparent than the ISM’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index plunging to 49.7% in June.  A reading below 50% shows contraction and this is the first time the number has been below 50% since July 2009.  Problems in Europe and a slowdown in the United States...Read More

This article is bad news for coal companies hoping that India and China would be the key to raising prices.  While I do believe that coal will remain a key cog in a comprehensive energy plan, I do think that cheaper natural gas, and improving renewable alternatives are decreasing long term demand for coal.  The...Read More

This is an excellent article outlining the political climate in China after the fall of Bo Xiliai. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-02/the-great-fall-of-china#p1 INVESTING IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS INVOLVES RISKS. OPTIONS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS.Read More

It seems like energy producers are finally taking the steps needed to create a bottom in natural gas.  I’d suspect we are close but maybe not quite there yet as demand still needs to pick up a bit more.  The fact that oil prices are so high and natural gas prices are so low seems...Read More

This was a great interview with Jim Chanos where he outlines his short investment theses on China, the PC market, and Petrobras (PBR).  He describes his firms strategy as being long the market, and then his performance fee is based on the performance of his shorts beating the market.  I really agree with his sentiments...Read More