IBT News Blog

This article discusses US pressure on the IMF to engage in internal reforms in order to remain functional and legitimate. See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8ba0ddbe-e3ed-11dc-8799-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,dwp_uuid=abb716b0-2f7a-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,print=no,_i_email=y.html

During the recent conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, minerals - especially diamonds - played a negative role in funding rebel and government forces charged with human rights violations. Interestingly, the DRC is now turning to minerals and mining licenses to provide revenue for the country and its recovery from the war. See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7e103396-e3d6-11dc-8799-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,dwp_uuid=a99ba554-4d15-11da-ba44-0000779e2340,print=no,_i_email=y.html

The Saudi government has announced that it will stop producing wheat in 2016 because of water supply issues in the kingdom generally. What are the implications of this type of decisions in a global marketplace where the commidity in question is steadily increasing in value? Should this be a governmental decision or a purely market-based decision? See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f02c1e94-e4d6-11dc-a495-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,print=no,dwp_uuid=fc3334c0-2f7a-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,_i_email=y.html

This article discusses the recent spike in inflation rates in Vietnam. See http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c14a62b4-e505-11dc-9334-0000779fd2ac,noOfParas=2,emailFormat=plainText,storyType=ultralight,dwp_uuid=7f5f6b12-2f66-11da-8b51-00000e2511c8,print=no,_i_email=y.html

This article discusses the rise in foreign investment in Russia and the relationship of the government to it. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7265036.stm

The EU has just assessed over a billion dollars in fines against Microsoft from anti-competition actions taken by Microsoft in the EU area. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/business/7266629.stm

The Russian Government seems to be making plans that indicate a desire to sell their own in rubles instead of the dollar. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/25/business/place.php

submitted by: KA

While in Jeddah at an investment conference with the Gulf states, Alan Greenspan advised the leaders that Arab inflation would fall "significantly" were the oil producers to drop their dollar pegs, in contradiction to Saudi policy. http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Dropping-dollar-peg-would-ease-Gulf-inflation-Greenspan/277099/

submitted by: KA