Middle East

[millionairemind]

Or maybe with a very youthful population which has high unemployment, this Jasmine revolution will spread far and wide in the middle east...

[winston]

Saudi bourse plunges 6.43% on Egypt tensions

Saudi's bleeding has stopped but the rest of the region is still bleeding ....

1) Saudi market now up +2.5% .
2) Dubai down 4.3%
3) Oman down 3%
4) Abu Dhabi down 3.7%
5) Kuwait down 1.8%
6) Qatar down 3%

http://www.btflive.net/

[Aspellian]

Saudi mkt up could be becos of the Royal Family's Plunge Protection Team... Saudi mkt will be looked closely by all as it is just beside Egypt.

Egypt - Suez Canal, stability to oil producing countries, Egypt president has always been pro-US, if he is overthrown, who will take over?

what happens to the world's 10th largest army? US not keen on another Iraq in 10 years time with a dictator. Egypt has been with peace with Isarel for last 20 years (genarally). if another person take over with radical ideas - like a pharoh king, then it is a potential dynamite waiting to explode.

Like all black-swan contagions... it is the most unexpected that is dangerous. to stretch creativity abit further... youth movement using internet communications is unprecedented. there are quite a number of long-serving leaders...

youth energy without food and suppressions, no proper job, no opportunities despite education

educated youth with raw energy but no food input and no outlet to occupy their minds and time.... hmmm... we have all been young, we all know how powerful this combination is... if one strive hard, study hard, job/money opportunities that match one's efforts, then good enough... but if there's no outlet... it will be a herds of youth rampaging through the city/country/regions.

[Aspellian]

actually the protests now reminded me of the various protests against higher food prices in the 2007. thereafter, commodities go up more, and oil prices up more .. . as the hot money pushed it higher. will not be surprised if the oil price is higher than 2007 as there's even more liquidity now. same stories, events, just different actors and people.

[winston]

Algeria & Yemen are the next dominoes to fall ?

[winston]

Middle East / African Contagion

The weekend brought renewed evidence of increased tension in a number of regional countries, with protests reported in Jordan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Nonetheless, for a number of Gulf countries—UAE, Qatar and Kuwait in particular—the small populations, and high per capita GDP ratios would argue against the potential for any meaningful (or successful) protest movement.

But in countries where protests have previously broken out and where per capita GDP is lower—such as the above-mentioned countries, as well as Bahrain and even Iran—security (and market) concerns may begin to mount.

Moreover, market apprehensions over uncertain prospects for a more general geopolitical realignment could continue to weigh.

Source: Nomura

[winston]

King of Jordan appoints Maarouf Al Bakhit as country's new prime minister after protests demanding political reform.

Source: CNN International

[winston]

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he will not run again when his current term ends in 2013.

Source: CNN International

[winston]

Over 20,000 take to streets in Yemen "Day of Rage"

SANAA (Reuters) - More than 20,000 Yemenis filled the streets of Sanaa on Thursday for a "Day of Rage" rally, demanding a change in government and saying President Ali Abdullah Saleh's offer to step down in 2013 was not enough.

Further anti-government protests were expected across Yemen, which Saleh has ruled for over three decades, and supporters of the president were driving around the capital urging Yemenis over loudspeakers to join pro-government counter demonstrations.

But by early morning, anti-government protesters had already gathered the largest crowd since a wave of protests hit the Arabian Peninsula state two weeks ago, inspired by protests that toppled Tunisia's ruler and threaten Egypt's president.

"The people want regime change," protesters shouted as they gathered outside Sanaa University. "No to corruption, no to dictatorship."

Saleh, eyeing the unrest spreading in the Arab world, indicated on Wednesday he would leave office when his term ends in 2013, and promised his son would not take over the reins of government, among a host of other political concessions.

It was his boldest gambit yet to stave off turmoil in Yemen, a key ally of the United States against al Qaeda, as he sought to avert a showdown with the opposition that might risk sparking an Egypt-style uprising in the deeply impoverished state.

Wael Mansour, an organizer of the Thursday rally, said Yemenis were not satisfied with Saleh's concessions.

"Today will bring more, fresh pressure on President Saleh, who will have to present further concessions to the opposition," he said, without specifying what those concessions might be.

The risks are high for Yemen, on the brink of becoming a failed state, as it tries to fight a resurgent al Qaeda wing, quell southern separatism, and cement peace with Shi'ite rebels in the north, all in the face of crushing poverty. One third of Yemenis face chronic hunger.

The United States relies heavily on Saleh to help combat al Qaeda's regional Yemen-based arm which also targets neighboring Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter. Instability in Yemen would present serious political and security risks for Gulf states.

U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned Saleh to express support for his initiative, the state news agency Saba said. "You have handled the situation well, and I look forward to working with you in a good partnership between the two countries," it quoted Obama as saying.

Source: Reuters US Online Report World News

[winston]

Investing in the Middle East: Qatar

Let's start with Qatar, one of the more stable governments in the region.

Qatar is one of the other nations bordering on the Persian Gulf with petroleum wealth. It is to natural gas what Saudi Arabia is to oil.

(At least one company, the Qatar Fertilizer Company, was founded principally to make use of at least some of that natural gas.)

The surprising thing, though, is that Qatar is also an emerging scientific research powerhouse -- perhaps the only one in the region which might rival Israel. It's not there yet, however, and the lack of diverse types of investment opportunities is but one consequence.

Not to fear, though, there's every indication Qatar will emerge as one of the region's financial heavyweights: Singapore in 1970 with natural gas wealth. With GDP growth in 2010 of about 14 percent and estimates of 2011 growth north of 17 percent, Qatar holds much potential for the investor ready to do her homework.


http://www.thestreet.com/story/11004918 ... qatar.html