Financial Times (January 29, 2014)
After such great hope, the Arab Spring evaporated. Whether some countries ultimately took steps forward or backwards remains unclear. A few have obviously fallen into anarchy. “Still, amid all the gloom, there is one country – Tunisia – which suddenly appears within striking distance of successfully completing the journey from dictatorship to democracy.” With a new constitution clearing the path for free elections, Tunisia may be able to stand “as a beacon of what can be achieved if Islamists and secularists set aside their differences for the greater good.”After such great hope, the Arab Spring evaporated. Whether some countries ultimately took steps forward or backwards remains unclear. A few have obviously fallen into anarchy. “Still, amid all the gloom, there is one country – Tunisia – which suddenly appears within striking distance of successfully completing the journey from dictatorship to democracy.” With a new constitution clearing the path for free elections, Tunisia may be able to stand “as a beacon of what can be achieved if Islamists and secularists set aside their differences for the greater good.”
Tags: Anarchy, Arab spring, Constitution, Democracy, Dictatorship, Differences, Elections, Greater good, Hope, Islamists, Secularists, Tunisia
New York Times (January 29, 2014)
President Obama delivered his sixth annual State of the Union address to Congress. It “acknowledged the obvious: Congress has become a dead end for most of the big, muscular uses of government to redress income inequality and improve the economy for all, because of implacable Republican opposition.” The President’s determination to bypass Congress and do whatever he can to get things done without legislation is realistic: “Mr. Obama should employ every tool in his box to bypass those barriers.”
Tags: Barriers, Bypass, Congress, Determination, Economy, Government, Inequality, Legislation, Obama, Opposition, President, Republicans, State of the Union
The Washington Post (January 27, 2014)
“The major powers of East Asia are increasingly angry with each other. That could bring trouble to the region and, while we’re not paying much attention, to the United States, too.” With a flashpoint centered on the Senkakus or Diaoyus, the “Rocky waters between China and Japan could buffet America.”
Tags: Angry, China, Diaoyus, East Asia, Flashpoint, Japan, Major powers, Senkakus, Trouble, U.S.
The Los Angeles Times (January 26, 2014)
After three years of severe drought, Californians are being asked to cut water usage by 20%. The drought, billed as the worst in over a century, “serves as a reminder of the urgent need for action—to plan, to conserve, to store, to reuse, to transport and to share the state’s most precious resource.”
Tags: Action, California, Conserve, Drought, Plan, Reminder, Reuse, Severe, Share Resources, Store, Transport, Urgent need, Usage, Water
Wall Street Journal (January 26, 2014)
As the Federal Reserve begins tapering, we’ll see which emerging markets have “been swimming naked.” During the days of easy money, nearly anybody could enjoy the party. Now we’ll see which countries squandered the opportunity and left themselves exposed. “The end of Ben Bernanke’s Fed tide will have its uses if it spurs the kind of tax, trade and investment reforms that have been put off in too many places. The question is how much damage will be done as this global adjustment takes place.”
Tags: Ben Bernanke, Damage, Easy money, Emerging markets, Exposed, Federal Reserve, Global adjustment, Investment, Opportunity, Reforms, Squandered, Tapering, Tax, Trade, U.S.
The Economist (January 25, 2014)
“In some ways, China’s market is still the world’s most enticing. Although it accounts for only around 8% of private consumption in the world, it contributed more than any other country to the growth of consumption in 2011-13.” But China is proving vexing to foreign firms as they find themselves subject to government whims, strong local competition, a tighter labor market and slowing growth. Some are scaling down. Others stumbling or even pulling out. “China is still a rich prize. Firms that can boost productivity, improve governance and respond to local tastes can still prosper. But the golden years are over.”
Tags: China, Competition, Consumption, Enticing, Foreign firms, Golden years, Governance, Government, Growth, Labor market, Productivity, Slowing
Washington Post (January 24, 2014)
“France’s counterterrorism operations in Africa deserve U.S. support.” Though the U.S. is now largely disengaged from the area, West Africa continues to be a hot bed of al-Quaeda activity. Fortunately, France has moved to fill the vacuum and will likely have 3,000 troops stationed in the region by year end. “For the government of François Hollande, this is a costly and risky initiative, and it deserves strong support from the United States.”
Tags: Africa, Al-Quaeda, Costly, Counterterrorism, Disengagement, France, Initiative, Risky, Support, Troops François Hollande, U.S., Vacuum, West Africa
New York Times (January 23, 2014)
“It is hard to imagine a country more miserable than the Central African Republic.” Though potentially rich, the country has been repeatedly looted by previous leaders. Ongoing conflict has displaced a quarter of the population and claimed 1,000 lives since December. “So, to the degree to which they can offer any hope for this broken-down state, the announcement of a new interim president, a decision by the European Union to send a peacekeeping force and a pledge of half-a-billion dollars in humanitarian aid are all good news.”
Tags: Central African Republic, Conflict, EU, Humanitarian aid, Leaders, Looted, Peacekeeping force, Population, President, Rich
Investment Week (January 22, 2014)
“Investors are better off looking away from the US for their developed market equity exposure,” according to Cazenove Capital multi-manager Marcus Brookes who argues that U.S. stocks have gotten pricey and, contrary to popular belief, many U.S. companies have increased their leverage. “In the face of the cheap markets of Europe and Japan, I would much rather put my clients’ capital there because if it does go wrong it is a cheaper market.”
Tags: Capital, Cazenove Capital, Companies, Developed countries, Equity, Europe, Exposure, Investors, Japan, Leverage, Marcus Brookes, Markets, Pricey, Stocks, U.S.
Bloomberg (January 22, 2014)
Bloomberg released its annual rankings of the best countries for business in 2013 and these were 1. Hong Kong, 2. Canada, 3. U.S., 4. Singapore, 5. Australia, 6. Germany, 7. United Kingdom, 8. Netherlands, 9. Spain and 10. Sweden. Japan slid from #3 in 2012 to #12, but still finished ahead of South Korea (#13) and China (#28).
Tags: Australia, Business, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Ranking, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, U.S., UK