North Korea: A “Formidable Player” Once It Opens Up
January 27th, 2015
Via the Jim Rogers (unofficial) blog, an interesting commentary on North Korea via a reprint from “Street Smarts” Copyright © 2013 by Jim Rogers: In 2007, my wife Paige and I received permission to visit North Korea. I wanted to go there because I sensed that changes were coming. Now I am not a tour […]
Read more »North Korea: Dabbling With Reform?
January 22nd, 2015
Via The New York Times, an Op-Ed examining North Korea’s modest moves towards economic liberalization: While North Korea draws world attention with spectacular and seemingly bizarre actions like the hacking of Sony’s computers or outbursts of bellicose rhetoric, Pyongyang has quietly initiated a round of reforms aimed at liberalizing the economy. It’s unlikely that Kim Jong-un, […]
Read more »Lavish Malls Sprout Up To Attract Iranian Elite
January 20th, 2015
Courtesy of The New York Times, a look at Iran’s numerous shopping mall developments: The low rumble of powerful engines reverberated against the high-rises of Zaferanieh, an upmarket neighborhood, as Porsches and Mercedeses lined up to enter the multistory parking lot of a fancy new shopping mall, the Palladium, the latest addition to Tehran’s shopping […]
Read more »Africa’s Electrifying Future
January 18th, 2015
Via Mark Mobius’ blog, an interesting look at Africa: Emerging and frontier markets are a focal point of this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which takes place during the week of January 19. One of the sessions, “Achieving Africa’s Growth Agenda,” is of particular interest to me. Our team still believes Africa overall […]
Read more »KFC In A War Zone
January 15th, 2015
Via Ozy, an interesting look at companies that operate in conflict-ridden markets: South Sudan is not exactly renowned for its business-friendly climate. Neither are Afghanistan or, for that matter, Iraq. But Hugh Morris, a former British army officer, sees plenty of ventures diving in, for better and for worse. From oil and gas corporations to […]
Read more »The ISIS Economy
January 9th, 2015
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an interesting look at the ISIS “economy” where signs of discontent are evident across the ‘caliphate’ as people tire of its taxes, price caps and shoddy services: A militant holds up a knife as he rides through Tabqa, Raqqa province, after a nearby air base was seized last year. Isis […]
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.