Frontier Funds
March 11th, 2008
As recently reported by The Financial Times, the subprime-driven credit crisis is causing some people to look at frontier markets for unconventional, uncorrelated returns. As the article notes: “…Godvig Capital Management’s Babylon Fund, which aims to profit from the rehabilitation of Iraq, is one of a growing band of ‘frontier funds’ which seek returns in […]
Read more »Calling Dear Leader: Orascom’s North Korean Mobile Licence
February 3rd, 2008
As reported in Arabian Business, Orascom Telecom – the fourth-biggest Arab mobile phone operator by market value – announced that its subsidiary, CHEO Technology (in which the North Korean government also owns 25%), won the first mobile phone licence in North Korea. Orascom stated that it plans to invest $400 million on infrastructure and licence […]
Read more »North Korea’s Future Exports?
December 15th, 2007
As noted in Portfolio, North Korea is increasing its production of exportable goods in advance of what some feel will be a more relaxed trade environment in future months. Last year, North Korea sold $1.75 billion worth of products abroad, to such buyers as China and the European Union. As the article speculates, future North […]
Read more »Getting a Unified Economy on Track…
December 11th, 2007
As reported by The International Herald Tribune, North and South Korea began regular cargo train service across their heavily armed border Tuesday for the first time in more than a half century. While I do not think that the 12-car train or the construction materials, shoes, underwear and other items will make a marked difference […]
Read more »Sun shining on the DMZ?
November 28th, 2007
Via Newsweek, an interesting look at the current state of North Korea’s economy and the possibilities for growth should continued progress towards peace be achieved. As the article notes, in the first 10 months of this year trade between the Koreas rose 23 percent to $1.44 billion, and recent agreements may open additional new areas […]
Read more »North Korea: Following Vietnam’s Model?
November 2nd, 2007
Stratfor offered an interesting look at North Korea’s economic strategies recently (subscription required), noting that Kim Jong Il himself has suggested that North Korea might use Vietnam as a benchmark model for reviving its decrepit economy. “…North Korea is aligned with the goals of the Vietnamese growth model, but it plans to embark on its […]
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.