If you have a sweet spot for Godiva chocolates, you’ll love the delicious investment in Africa that Frank Holmes has discovered… Read more...
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Where to Uncover a Sweet Investment in Africa
China Continues Its Run on African Commodities With $23 Billion Nigeria Oil Deal
China signed a $23 billion oil deal with Nigeria Thursday, reducing Nigeria's fuel imports and positioning China within reach of high quality African oil reserves.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) signed the deal to build three oil refineries with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which said this could be the biggest deal China has ever made with Africa.
Nigeria, Africa's leading oil producer, imports about 85% of its fuel because of the poor condition of its refineries. Shehu Ladan, head of NNPC, said at the signing ceremony that the added refineries would reduce the $10 billion spent annually on imported refined products.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) signed the deal to build three oil refineries with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which said this could be the biggest deal China has ever made with Africa.
Nigeria, Africa's leading oil producer, imports about 85% of its fuel because of the poor condition of its refineries. Shehu Ladan, head of NNPC, said at the signing ceremony that the added refineries would reduce the $10 billion spent annually on imported refined products.
The Winners and Losers in the 'Commodities New World Order'
In the "commodities new world order," commodity producers will be king.
Investors who need proof need only consider recent events. Iron ore prices are at record levels, and the annual-price-setting arrangement has broken down. Venezuela President Hugo Chávez has signed "dark side" agreements with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for Russian companies to develop Venezuela's oil-and-mineral resources. China may have invested $1 trillion or so in U.S. Treasuries, but the Asian giant's only truly successful investment so far has been the 17% stake it took in Canadian-resources player Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE: TCK).
Welcome to the commodities new world order. These events serve notice that - as we put the global financial crisis behind us - the commodity "haves" will set the agenda ... while the commodity "have nots" will fall farther and farther behind.
Investors who need proof need only consider recent events. Iron ore prices are at record levels, and the annual-price-setting arrangement has broken down. Venezuela President Hugo Chávez has signed "dark side" agreements with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for Russian companies to develop Venezuela's oil-and-mineral resources. China may have invested $1 trillion or so in U.S. Treasuries, but the Asian giant's only truly successful investment so far has been the 17% stake it took in Canadian-resources player Teck Resources Ltd. (NYSE: TCK).
Welcome to the commodities new world order. These events serve notice that - as we put the global financial crisis behind us - the commodity "haves" will set the agenda ... while the commodity "have nots" will fall farther and farther behind.
To discover the identities of the new-world-order winners – and losers – please read on...
China Deepens Ties with Iran and Venezuela In Spite of U.S. Consternation
Just as the United States makes an impassioned push for tougher economic sanctions on Iran, China is reportedly increasing its gas exports to the volatile Middle East nation.
Chinaoil- the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp's (CNPC) trading unit- shipped two cargoes totaling 600,000 barrels of gasoline to Iran in exchange for $55 million, according to Reuters. The cargoes were Chinaoil's first direct sales to Iran since at least January 2009, according to Reuters data.
Additionally, Unipec- the trading arm of the China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) (NYSE ADR: SNP)- agreed to sell 250,000 barrels of gasoline to Iran.
The sales couldn't come at a worse time for the United States. Washington has spent months lobbying the international community to tighten sanctions on Iran, which is openly expanding its uranium enrichment capacity.
Chinaoil- the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp's (CNPC) trading unit- shipped two cargoes totaling 600,000 barrels of gasoline to Iran in exchange for $55 million, according to Reuters. The cargoes were Chinaoil's first direct sales to Iran since at least January 2009, according to Reuters data.
Additionally, Unipec- the trading arm of the China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) (NYSE ADR: SNP)- agreed to sell 250,000 barrels of gasoline to Iran.
The sales couldn't come at a worse time for the United States. Washington has spent months lobbying the international community to tighten sanctions on Iran, which is openly expanding its uranium enrichment capacity.
The Scramble for Africa: Profiting From World's Largest Cache of Commodities
In the quarter century stretching from the late-1880s to the First World War, there was a mad rush by the world's leading powers to occupy and annex African territory. Now, 100 years later, the world's elite again are scrambling to make their respective marks on the continent.
The methods of extraction have changed, but the end goal remains the same - to gain access to Africa's coveted bounty of commodities.
Most notably, Chinese interests have swarmed Africa, constructing roads, rail lines, municipal buildings, schools, ports, and pipelines in exchange for access to natural resources.
The methods of extraction have changed, but the end goal remains the same - to gain access to Africa's coveted bounty of commodities.
Most notably, Chinese interests have swarmed Africa, constructing roads, rail lines, municipal buildings, schools, ports, and pipelines in exchange for access to natural resources.
G20 Fizzles as China-Africa Summit Leads to a $10 Billion Loan
While U.S. and European officials this weekend squabbled over the specifics of an economic recovery plan, China took another step to ensure long-term economic growth by inking another multibillion-dollar deal with Africa.
Finance ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) met over the weekend to discuss the ongoing healing process taking place in the world's financial system. Officials agreed that stimulus measures should remain in place, as the global economic recovery is still vulnerable. They also acknowledged that while the dollar is weakening, its downside risk is outweighed by the need to "continue to provide support for the economy until the recovery is assured."
Analysts say that the dollar's decline will take a back seat to the economic recovery so long as it remains orderly.
Finance ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) met over the weekend to discuss the ongoing healing process taking place in the world's financial system. Officials agreed that stimulus measures should remain in place, as the global economic recovery is still vulnerable. They also acknowledged that while the dollar is weakening, its downside risk is outweighed by the need to "continue to provide support for the economy until the recovery is assured."
Analysts say that the dollar's decline will take a back seat to the economic recovery so long as it remains orderly.
China Blazing Its Own Trail in Africa
China's trade with Africa has increased ten-fold over the past decade, as the rising Asian power has rapidly matured into a political and economic powerhouse. And with China still in the thralls of an epic growth spurt, its designs on Africa's resources are beginning to conflict with those of the West. Indeed, Africa – with […]