Crude oil prices are on a roller-coaster ride this year.Brent Crude was down 1.76% and closed at $45.77 on Friday for November 2016 delivery. A year or two years it seemed prices would never fall under $100 per barrel and forecasters were even predicting prices may reach $200. Now oil companies are desperately hoping prices …
Continue reading ‘On The Real Oil Prices Over The Past 150 Years’ »
Emerging markets have outperformed developed markets this year. As of Sept 9, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index is up 14.5% while the MSCI World Index is up 2.7% according to an article by investment guru Mark Mobius. The MSCI World index is a proxy for developed markets. The following chart shows the total return of Emerging vs. Developed …
Continue reading ‘Emerging vs. Developed Market Total Returns Since 1987’ »
Obesity is a major health epidemic in the US. Billions of dollars are wasted per year in treating all the health issues caused by obesity. However drug firms, hospitals and others profit from treating obesity and related illnesses. The following chart shows obesity rates by state: Click to enlarge †Obese is defined as body mass index …
What were investors thinking? Interest rates must rise: Don Pittis (CBC) Are emerging market equities re-emerging? (Schroder’s) Mark Mobius: Emerging-Market Resilience (Franklin Templeton) September business cycle: improved cyclical trends (Fidelity) Emerging Markets: Don’t You Forget About Me (T.Rowe Price) Schwab Sector Views: What’s Ailing Health Care? (Schwab) Three Common Pitfalls for Targeting Emerging Market Consumers …
Continue reading ‘Knowledge is Power: Emerging Markets, Boat Lift, Public Speech Industry Edition’ »
Meat consumption is related to income. People in high income countries tend to eat more more than those in low-income or poor countries. Production of all types of meat costs more than producing agricultural products. The chart below shows meat consumption across select countries: Click to enlarge Source: OECD Since the US ranks second and health …
Continue reading ‘Meat Consumption Across Select Countries: Chart’ »