For over 21 years, Doug Barnett has been investing in Thailand, achieving a 3111% gain in value (IRR = 18.1%), while, as a comparison, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway was up only 1860% (IRR 15.3%) and BANPU, the best performing listed Thai stock, was up only 1090%. Over the same period, Thailand’s SET Index was down 1%. Thailand – as all emerging countries – is volatile. Therefore, Barnett prefers investors who understand the opportunity set...
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Emerging FDI appears to be increasing. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and now India are seeing increasing investments from the United States as investors take advantage of low interest rates to raise capital for investment. In India local investors are selling off stocks in favor of property and gold, but a flood of money from the United States is helping to stave off a major decline in local stock markets. What does this mean for Asia?...
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The following stock markets have a good chance of being the best and worst performing markets (with a twist) in 2013. The 16th Credit Suisse (CS) Asian Investor Conference (AIC) was held in Hong Kong last week. This year CS also had what they believe was their “largest and arguably most impressive repertoire of keynote speakers, who shared their wisdom from stock markets, politics and e-commerce to the origins of the cosmos”. Link to the...
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Over the last several years Thailand has become a favoured destination for Foreign Investments, out pacing many of its regional neighbors and helping to spur dramatic GDP growth in the vibrant South East Nation. Make no mistake, however, while Thailand does offer plenty of opportunity for growth only smart and well-thought out investments is going to result in substantial profits. So why are so many companies and investors investing in Thailand? Thailand’s FDI numbers have been...
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Hard lined Muslim radicals are drawing headlines around the world. From surging conflicts in Mali and Nigeria to the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, radical Islamists are sowing chaos across the globe. While these extremists represent only the radical fringes of the Muslim world they still possess the capabilities to inflict massive damage, especially on civilian or “soft” targets. One of the least reported conflicts, the battle against Muslim insurgents in Thailand,...
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Winters seem to be growing gradually warmer in the United States but on the other side of the world China is struggling amidst the coldest winter in nearly 30 years. Prolonged and extreme colds are now threatening to disrupt food supplies which will add to inflation and could cause a national emergency. The prolonged cold spell is already increasing pressures on the Consumer Price Index and may slow China’s economy in the months to...
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The Internet, social media in particular, has become one of the most powerful tools for expressing opinions around the world. The ability to reach millions of readers and organize activist campaigns has made the Internet a favorite medium for protesters. The Arab Spring was greatly empowered by social media and online activism. The result was a series of powerful revolutions, civil wars, and protests movements that swept several governments out of power, and challenged...
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As recession-battered consumers in the West cut back on spending over the past two years, export-based economies in Asia suffered. China, Japan, and Korea, traditional bellwethers of global trade flows, experienced increased volatility and below-average growth as exports precipitously decreased. As the economic outlook remains subdued for 2013, investors’ eyes will continue to turn to south East Asia in order to acquire higher yield over the near-term. Robust economic growth in the region is...
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When trade sanctions were lifted on Myanmar (Burma), The Coca-Cola Company was one of the first companies to enter the newly opened market. Back in September Coca Cola began shipments of its fizzy soft-drink to the long isolated nation. Now, Pepsi Co. is looking to one up Coca Cola by being the first to establish a bottling plant in the country. Most people living outside of isolated nations will take drinking a Coca Cola...
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The latest issue of Chris Woods’ GREED & Fear is out today. He has some interesting comments on the Chinese-Japan territorial dispute. He starts with talking about politics and upcoming elections: Shinzo Abe is perceived as a nationalist who recently visited the Yasukuni Shrine and this week reportedly criticised China over its human rights record in Tibet. What does this mean for the ongoing territorial dispute between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands, a dispute which has...
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