After nearly a week of doubt, it became clear that long time leader Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan had finally died. Since independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union, he ruled the predominately secular country with an iron hand. Karimov had maintained sway over this Central Asian nation, since his appointment to power by the communist leadership in 1989. President Karimov has dominated the political arena in Uzbekistan for 27 years. Despite a two term constitutional limit, he was returned to office […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills September Week 1
The big news in the market this week is the downward movement in the major United States (U.S.) exchanges. Thursday saw the end of a 6 month winning streak in the Dow Jones Industrial Averages (Dow) and a 5 month streak for the Standard and Poor (S&P 500). Still, the 3 major U.S. exchanges remain in positive territory for 2016. The Dow is up +5.6%,the S&P 500 +6.2% and the technology heavy NASDAQ +4.1%. Investors continue to wait on the U.S. Federal […]
Croatia In Economic And Political Stalemate
Croatia a country of 4.8 million inhabitants, has been in a political stalemate since June and it is a reflection of the present division among the electorate. The main parties consist of the Social Democrats (SDP) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The leadership continues to focus on connections and rivalries of the past, which does little to solve issues that face the country in the present. The previous election was last November, but the HDZ dominated coalition government collapsed two months […]
Colombia: The Civil War At An End?
After 52 years, the civil war that has enveloped Colombia may be at an end. The decades long conflict has led to the deaths of some 220,000 inhabitants and resulted in the displacement of close to seven million citizens. At one time, insurgents controlled nearly one third of the country. Outside the individual losses, the cost to the country at large, has been enormous both economically and politically. The 48.5 million inhabitants of Colombia have tired of war. There is growing support […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills August Week 4
The big news in the market this week is the lack of movement in the major United States (U.S.) exchanges. Today will be the 35th trading session, where the Standard and Poor has moved less then 1% in either direction. This condition in equities, has not occurred in decades. The week began with the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) watchers speculating on whether at long last interest rates would begin to move up again. Although there are some indicators like an improving […]
Tajikistan: Still Struggling To Break Free From Russia
Among the former Soviet republics Tajikistan has struggled almost since its founding. When independence arrived in 1991, the country was almost immediately plunged into a civil war. The five years struggle devastated the domestic economy, and has kept Tajikistan the poorest nation in Central Asia. The over dependence on Russia, has hampered internal development in the ensuing decades. Although Tajikistan has been politically stable since the ending of hostilities in 1997, the country has never really recovered economically. Poverty remains widespread and […]
Mongolia: An Economy In Crisis
What a difference five years can make. In 2011, Mongolia had an economy that was growing at more than 17% annually. The bonanza that had been created by mining, was supposed to enrich a nation of former nomadic herders enough, to permit a boom in mega construction. The building of a modern system of infrastructure, would bring the country hurdling into the 21st century. Sukhbaatar Batbold the former leader of Mongolia made a prediction in 2012, that the exceptional rate of economic […]
Weekly Market Review & Target Fills August Week 3
The big economic news for the week, is the surge in the price for crude oil this week. American West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased from $44.38 USD (United States Dollar) last Friday to $48.27 this morning. This is a gain of 8.77%. International Brent during the same period went from $46.71 USD to $50.74 USD. This indicates a 8.63% increase in the price for the week. Prices are now at 7 week highs. The surge in valuation in the United States equity markets, […]
Nicaragua: The End Of Democracy And Private Marketplace
Nicaragua will hold general elections in November of this year, with the political outcome already predetermined. The incumbent President Daniel Ortega, will run virtually unopposed in an unprecedented consecutive third term. Since 2000, the country’s constitution has been changed or construed three different times, to the benefit of Ortega. The democratic institutions of Nicaragua have mostly been subordinated, to the interests of the President and his wife. The trappings of a dictatorship have already begun. Nicaragua with a population of just 6.15 […]
India: Turning The Corner On Investment And Economic Reform?
Two years after the election of Narendra Modi, India is slowly moving forward in overhauling an outdated and inefficient bureaucracy, that has hampered investment and economic growth for decades. The assorted rule and regulations that vary state by state, have failed to provide the country with an internal market that allows goods and services to move freely. This is a prerequisite for the creation of a modern economy. India is a nation of 1.3 billion people, the second most populous in the […]