Russia and Venezuela: Closer Cooperation in Oil & Gas Markets
July 23rd, 2008
As reported in The International Herald Tribune, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia recently declared that their countries would more closely coordinate their actions on global oil and gas markets. As the article notes: “…Medvedev said it was still possible that Russia could join with Venezuela and other gas-producing nations […]
Read more »Gazprom and Russia’s Energy Imperialism
July 23rd, 2008
Via World Politics Review, an excellent article on Gazprom and Russia’s energy imperialism. As the article notes: “…An ogre of a giant looms to the east of Europe, occasionally in the shape of a country, other times in the shape of a company, the two often indistinguishable. Russia and Gazprom are poised to devour the […]
Read more »African Investment: Driven by Terrain?
July 21st, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an excellent analysis of how the rugged terrain of Sub-Saharan Africa prevents industrialization and modern infrastructure from taking hold and engenders chronic political instability. As a result, the article notes, most foreign investment goes to resource extraction, especially offshore projects protected from the disruptions that are rife on land: “…Foreign direct […]
Read more »Investing In Pakistan a Riot?
July 21st, 2008
 As this recent Bloomberg article reminds us, investing in emerging “Black Sheep” markets offers a myriad of challenges: “…Pakistan investors stormed out of the Karachi Stock Exchange, smashed windows and cursed regulators after the benchmark index fell for a 15th day, the worst losing streak in at least 18 years. …Police surrounded the exchange after […]
Read more »Venezuelan Issues
July 21st, 2008
Courtesy of NPR, a review of the state of affairs in Venezuela’s oilpatch. As the article – an interview with Michael Shifter with the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington – notes:  …Hugo Chavez has introduced a new form of governance. And there was a strike at the oil company at the end of 2002, early 2003. […]
Read more »Cuba Reaches out to Brazil
July 20th, 2008
Courtesy of Project Syndicate, an excellent analysis of Cuba’s gradual process of changing Cuba’s economy and international relations and – most specifically – efforts to ensure Cuba is not held captive by its one international supporter at present: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. “…Castro believes in giving farm workers greater incentives. He has authorized the sale […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.