The North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO) was founded in 1949 and evolved to protect the West from the USSR. The USSR established its own organization called The Warsaw Pact to protect its allies in Europe. The Warsaw Pact collapsed when the USSR collapsed in 1989-91. Though the enemy split into countries the NATO survived and continues to …
Continue reading ‘History of NATO Expansion: Infographics’ »
The S&P 500 Index is not as diversified as many investors think. In fact, the IT sector alone accounts for just over 25% of the index and the weightage of the defensive sector has fallen continuously since the 1990s. S&P 500 sector breakdown: Click to enlarge Source: S&P The defensive sector used to account for …
Continue reading ‘Defensive Sectors’ Weightage in the S&P 500 Has Declined Since The 1990s’ »
Many multi-national firms based in the developed world have substantial exposure to overseas markets than their domestic markets. In fact, some derive a big portion of their revenue and earnings in foreign countries than their home countries. For instance, BHP Billiton Ltd is a FTSE 100 firm in the UK. However the mining giant earns …
Continue reading ‘On the Revenue Exposure of Top 10 Companies in the MSCI Europe Index’ »
High Speed Rail Network in China is the largest in the world even beating developed Europe. The following fact the astonishing growth in high-speed rail transportation in China. High-speed rail network before 2007 = 0 kilometers High-speed rail network now = 25,000 kilometers Source: Seeing is believing – China’s amazing growth over 40 years, China Daily In just …
Continue reading ‘Fact of the Day: China Hi-Speed Rail Network’ »
Tax revenues as a percentage of GDP vary widely across countries. The chart below from OECD shows the figures for the latest year available: Click to enlarge Source: Seven surprising facts about tax revenues around the world, Schroders Though Greece and Italy have often been criticized they generate more taxes as a percentage of GDP …
Continue reading ‘Tax Revenues as a Percentage of GDP: Chart’ »