Year: 2017

Financial Markets
Chris MacIntosh

Revisiting Saudi Arabia

In May of last year I was attempting to figure out if there was an asymmetric play to be had in the land of sand and black gloop. There were a lot of moving pieces to deal with. I think it’s worth revisiting but first it’s worth reviewing what I

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Financial Markets
Chris MacIntosh

Here’s How To “Go Long” Africa

About a month ago, the South African government raised the minimum threshold for black ownership of mining companies from 26% to 30%. It’s called “black empowerment” or “affirmative action” and is intended to provide black people with greater access to wealth, education, and to correct the inequality created by the

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Insider
Chris MacIntosh

Insider Weekly: Global Bond Markets Are Cracking

In this week’s issue of Insider Weekly, we look at European bond markets. While it’s too early to tell if European bond yields have indeed bottomed, one thing is clear: there isn’t much of an upside left in European bonds. At the same time, this also presents us with big

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World Out Of Whack
Chris MacIntosh

THIS Is How China Is Increasing Global Power

In the movie “The International” Clive Owen plays the part of Louis Salinger, an Interpol agent trying to bring down the world’s largest bank. In this clip a banker explains things to him: Umberto Calvini: [In explaining the “true” nature of banking in the world] “The IBBC is a bank.

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Insider
Chris MacIntosh

Insider Weekly: Wind Of Change In Europe

In this week’s Insider Weekly, we shift our focus to Europe. Specifically, we look at how rising interest rates affect European stocks and how investor sentiment in the Eurozone is slowly but steadily changing. We also can’t help but marvel at recent developments in commodities. General musings this week: Rising

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Global Trends
Chris MacIntosh

How To Solve Liquidity Problems

Earlier this week I discussed Zimbabwe – the country that took and continues to take ineptitude to a whole new level. Specifically, we discussed how the liquidity of assets gets impacted when things go really pear shaped. I think it’s worth understanding this process. There are certain dynamics that are very

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World Out Of Whack
Chris MacIntosh

Make It Liquid, Please

Most of you know the story of Africa’s great jewel. Zimbabwe, presided over by the charming, charismatic, democratically elected leader Robert Mugabe. So great is the country that under his leadership it has reached dizzying heights. The highest inflation in Africa, the highest unemployment in Africa, and, of course, the

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