Middle East

[winston]

Very long article on the ME so I'll just post the link here.

I guess they have to write long articles to make you feel as if you have your money's worth .

( BTW, I read a 50 page report on the Chinese Property Developers yesterday, by a brand name American Investment Bank and after 50 pages, it has not given me any good ideas. ).


Eyeing Opportunities in the Global Financial Crisis by John Mauldin

http://www.investorsinsight.com/blogs/j ... risis.aspx

[kennynah]

( BTW, I read a 50 page report on the Chinese Property Developers yesterday, by a brand name American Investment Bank and after 50 pages, it has not given me any good ideas. ).

[LenaHuat]

I have been waiting for the Saudis to open their wallets during this crisis.
Now they are, to the tune of US$400 billion
http://www.cnbc.com/id/29865877

[LenaHuat]

And now the Qataris are opening up their wallets wider. The Emir of Qatar told a German daily this:

SPIEGEL: The Gulf countries have accumulated enormous wealth over the past years. How do you plan to invest it?

Hamad: Up until now, we have spent most of this money domestically, on infrastructure, on factories, hospitals and universities. But two years ago we started to invest outside the country. With the current crisis, many countries prefer to keep their money instead of investing it abroad. For us, though, this is an opportunity that will not be repeated in the next 20 years. We have, for example, acquired 16 percent of shares in Barclays bank (in Britain) and 10 percent of Credit Suisse. We are going ahead.

For more, read thishttp://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,616130,00.html

[winston]

Middle East Progress? 5 Ways to Invest

After decades of strife, struggle and instability, could the Middle East be the next high-risk/high-reward arena for global investors? Consider President Obama's historic speech in Cairo in early June calling for a “new beginning between the United States and Muslims”; or the ongoing drama in Iran, where massive voter turnout just might succeed in bringing a reform candidate to power.

The times, are they a-changin'?

http://www.smartmoney.com/investing/sho ... ddle-east/

[millionairemind]

There is a 14-page report in this week's Economist on the ME which I tot worth the read.

http://www.economist.com/specialreports ... d=14027698
http://www.economist.com/specialreports ... d=14027688
http://www.economist.com/specialreports ... d=14027642
http://www.economist.com/specialreports ... d=14027660
http://www.economist.com/specialreports ... d=14027674

[winston]

Saudi Arabia shrugs off WikiLeaks memos

Saudi Arabia has shrugged off newly leaked U.S. diplomatic memos that say King Abdullah urged a U.S. attack against Iran.

Saudi Foreign Ministry spokesman says the memos "do not concern us."

The spokesman, Osama al-Naqli, says the kingdom has no insight into the authenticity of the documents and "we cannot comment on them."

His statement was carried by Saudi media on Tuesday.

A leaked document described a Saudi official reminding U.S. diplomats of advice given by Abdullah that the Americans attack Iran to "cut off the head of the snake" and cripple its nuclear program.

Although the Sunni kingdom is weary of Shiite Iran's growing influence and nuclear potential, Saudi officials rarely speak publicly about such concerns.

Source: AP News

[kennynah]

by now, you must have heard of the anti-government protests happening in egypt and yemen spiralling out of control... many people have paid with their lives in these protests...

[kennynah]

egypt not part of africa meh ?

[winston]

Maybe the lemmings dont know where's Egypt and where's Saudi Arabia ...

Saudi bourse plunges 6.43% on Egypt tensions

The Saudi stock market, the largest Arab bourse, plunged 6.43 percent to 6,267.22 points on Saturday as tensions soared in Egypt, where deadly anti-government protests continued for a fifth day.

The market has been gripped by severe anxiety because of the events in Egypt, traders told AFP, expressing fears that other Gulf markets, due to open on Sunday, will be similarly affected.

The Saudi Tadawul Index lost 430.58 points to close at 6,267.22 points. Turnover was $1.68 billion.

Shares in the leading petrochemical sector fell 8.37 percent, while the banking and financial sector was down by four percent. The real estate sector fell by 6.64 percent.

Insurances fell by 9.12 percent, telecoms by 6.7 percent, investment companies by 8.62 percent and building and constructions 7.8 percent.

The drop affected the shares of all the 145 companies trading on Saturday, according to the stock market website.

The Saudi bourse has a market value of about $350 billion.

The remaining six Gulf markets -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, Muscat and Manama -- will begin their new trading week on Sunday.

Source: AFP Global Edition