Saudi’s Tadawul: a better prospect than Micex for foreign investors? July 23, 2014 They are both emerging market, oil-rich equity markets, but while Russia's Micex index has been open to foreign investors for a number of years, Saudi's Tadawul index will be opening up for the first time in 2015. The Tadawul is the Middle East's biggest equities market, and foreign investors have been eagerly awaiting the [...]
China and BP sign £11.8bn gas trade deal June 17, 2014 BP yesterday confirmed a £11.78bn deal to supply the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) with 20 years’ worth of liquified natural gas (LNG). BP chief executive Bob Dudley said it was “a fair price for them and a fair price for us” in a deal that coincides with the state visit to the UK [...]
DailyFX Tips & Picks: Analyst’s pick June 16, 2014 CURRENCY STRATEGIST CHRIS VECCHIO My pick: Waiting for euro-dollar, euro-yen range breaks Expertise: Fundamental and technical analysis with risk management Average time frame of trades: A few days to a few weeks Despite a cascade of geopolitical headlines over the weekend – civil war sweeping across Iraq and Russian company Gazprom shutting off gas supplies [...]
Are tougher sanctions the best way to tackle Putin’s Russia? July 21, 2014 Timothy Ash, head of emerging market research (ex Africa) at Standard Bank, says Yes. Sanctions have already had an effect, by preventing a broader Russian incursion into Ukraine. Russia did not expect them, and the measures made it bide time to assess their impact. Crucially, this gave the new Ukrainian government time to regroup, and [...]
The West’s latest sanctions might deal a heavier blow than we think April 29, 2014 Despite being criticised for their mildness, the newest sanctions imposed on Russian companies and indviduals by the US and EU send out a clear message on elements of Russia's way of doing business. Russian officials have warned the country’s hi-tech sector could be affected and Gazprom, Russia’s massive gas company, has said the sanctions have the [...]
Ukraine to get Slovakia’s gas April 28, 2014 UKRAINE is set to sign a gas deal with Slovakia today, as it looks to secure alternative supplies amid ongoing tensions with Russia. Russia’s Gazprom provides Ukraine with gas, but it has almost doubled its prices after Moscow claimed sovereignty over Crimea last month. Slovak gas company Eustream said that a reverse-flow agreement to ship [...]
Energy crunch: Oil prices rise over Iraq fears as cost of gas jumps after Ukraine cut-off June 16, 2014 Fears of a disruptive energy price spike grew yesterday as conflict escalated in Iraq and Ukraine’s gas supplies from Russia were abruptly cut off. Experts warned that growing geopolitical risk could send oil and gas prices sharply upwards, prompting a more severe market reaction and even a slowdown in the global economic recovery. The US [...]
Letters to the Editor – 01/07 – Not a new normal, Best of Twitter June 30, 2014 Not a new normal [Re: Is Mark Carney right that the “new normal” for interest rates will be 2.5 per cent?, yesterday] Mark Carney has pointed to financial market expectations to support his assertion that the “new normal” for rates will be around 2.5 per cent. He is wrong. Financial markets do not forecast the [...]
Russia gas deal with China could drive up energy costs in Europe May 21, 2014 THE CHINESE and Russian government signed a $400bn (£237.1bn) gas deal yesterday, which some analysts believe could drive up gas prices in Europe when it comes into force. The agreement means that Gazprom will pipe gas into China for 30 years, beginning in 2018. At its peak, it will supply 38bn cubic metres of natural [...]
What you need to know before the US open May 23, 2014 A subdued start’s expected for US markets, ahead of home sales numbers, and after European counterparts headed lower on the back of a slip in German business confidence. Stock futures inched higher this morning. All eyes will be on the new house sales numbers, due out at 3pm. The numbers are of heightened importance, given [...]