Global equity markets have been relatively immune to past epidemics according to an article by Jeffrey Kleintop at Shcwab. The chart below shows the performance of the MSCI World Index mapped with all the epidemics since 1970 including Zika, Ebola, SARS from the recent past. Click to enlarge Source: Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Lead to a Market Breakdown?, …

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The following chart shows how the coronavirus(COVID-19) compares to other viruses from the past such as Ebola, SARS and MERS: Click to enlarge Source: RFE/FL

Investing in emerging markets involves more risk than investing in the developed world. In addition to foreign currency, economic and transparency issues in these markets, investors need to be aware of political risks. Unlike in developed markets such as in Europe and North America, political risks can appear almost overnight in emerging countries. Let’s take …

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2019 turned out to be another great year for Chemistry. Nobel prize in Chemistry went to the development of Lithium batteries which seem to be the future of powering everything from automobiles to cell phones. In addition, a vaccine for the deadly Ebola virus that plagued Africa a few years ago was approved in Europe …

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Thousands of American soldiers are stationed in the Middle Eastern countries to support continuing wars in places like Afghanistan, Syria, etc. and support work in countries like Iraq. Long after the first Gulf War, Kuwait has become an important base for US forces.  Currently some 13,000 soldiers are stationed there. Other countries such as Qatar …

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