Russia to host summit of BRIC countries

[South-South Cooperation]

Russia will host the first summit of leaders from the BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China - the largest four emerging economies of the developing world.

The meeting represents a important milestone for the BRIC countries which have been at the forefront of global growth and foreign direct investment in emerging market in recent years.

As developed nations work to repair the crumbling global financial system, the BRIC countries will be financing their deficits, this is especially the case for the United States. Naturally, the BRIC countries are demanding a bigger role in the process of rebuilding the global financial system.

''This trip will expand mutual trust, work toward solutions on how to tackle the financial crisis, and solidify economic ties among the BRIC nations,'' Li said, using the common term that is an acronym of the first letters of the four countries' names.

"Goooooooo Team!" -- BRIC Leaders

Other highlights in the realm of South-South Cooperation which will come to pass in Russia next week during this little get together of the BRIC countries include:

- The 60th Anniversary of China-Russia Cooperation

- China and Russia will sign a variety of economic, trade and cultural cooperation deals during the visit

- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a China and Russia led organization of Central Asian States. The group includes the nations of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Western observers, as reported by AP in this article, assert the group has served as a vehicle for Moscow and Beijing to limit Western influence in energy-rich Central Asia.

Personally, I don't think Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan or any of those other countries mentioned above in Central Asia where at the top of the U.S. "to-do" list to woo until the war in Afghanistan. The comment no less holds true considering that times have changed.

- Leaders from Afghanistan, Mongolia, Pakistan and India have been invited and will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as "observers"

That pretty much sums it up. Check back next week for more updates on this topic as the meet and greets begin in Russia. ChinaSouthAmerica will be keeping up to date and bring you all the drama as it unfolds.

Newswire: Commodities with a added bit of South-South Energy Cooperation

[Uranium] -- India Bids for Stakes in Russian, Kazakh Uranium Mines to Fuel Reactors
Nuclear Power Corp. of India is bidding for stakes in uranium mines in Russia and Kazakhstan, and offered to build reactors in central Asia, Chief Executive Officer S.K. Jain said.

“We’re trying to achieve stakes in mines,” Jain said today in an interview at a Moscow nuclear forum organized by Rosatom Corp., the country’s nuclear holding company. The company is discussing buying into sites including the untapped Elkon deposit in Russia’s Far East, he added.

India, which suffers peak power shortages of as much as 17 percent, needs uranium to fuel 28 planned reactors and meet a target of adding 40,000 megawatts of nuclear generation by 2020. The second most-populous nation will seek an annual 1,500 metric tons of uranium for 60 years to fuel new reactors, Jain said.

“We’re exploring the possibility of a long-term partnership and not only for uranium supplies,” he said. India proposed building 220- to 500-megawatt reactors in Kazakhstan, which doesn’t yet have any nuclear power plants, he added.


[Crude Oil] -- Crude Oil Advances as U.S. Consumer Confidence Increases, Equities Climb
Crude oil rose to a six-month high after a report showed that U.S. consumer confidence jumped to the highest level since September, signaling demand may rebound.


[Copper] -- Copper Climbs in N.Y. as U.S. Consumer Sentiment Jumps Most in Six Years
Copper prices rose in New York and London after a report showed U.S. consumer sentiment jumped this month to the most positive since September.



[Gold] -- Gold May Climb to Record $1,250, Standard Bank Says: Technical Analysis
Gold may target a record $1,250 an ounce as a continuation head-and-shoulders pattern may be forming within a longer-term trend, Standard Bank Group Ltd. said, citing trading patterns.


[Platinum, Palladium] -- Platinum, Palladium Fall in New York on Weak Auto-Industry Demand Outlook
Platinum fell the most in two weeks in New York on concern that auto-industry demand for the metal will take longer to recover than other parts of the economy. Palladium futures also declined.


[Corn] -- Corn Falls as Dry Spell Allows U.S. Farmers to Accelerate Delayed Planting
Corn fell, erasing an earlier gain, on speculation that Midwest farmers accelerated plantings delayed by rain, improving prospects for output in the U.S., the world’s largest exporter.

Brazil, India - Bilateral trade to reach $10 bil by 2010

[South-South Cooperation] -- Brazil, India -- ChennaiVision


Mumbai, The bilateral trade between India and Brazil is targeted to reach USD 10 billion by 2010 in view of the new dynamics of South-South cooperation, accelerated by recession hitting the West, CII International Trade Panel Chairperson Harshbeena Zaveri said today.

”The bilateral trade between the two countries has grown from a mere 500 million US dollars in 2000 to 3.12 billion US dollars in 2007 and is targeted to reach USD 10 billion by 2010”, Ms Zaveri, who is also president of NRB Bearings Pvt Ltd said during a conference with the Brazilian industry delegation, that is visiting the to give an impetus to trade and investment.

Click here to access the complete article from ChennaiVision

Indian stocks surge; Sensex advances 17% on Congress win

The bulls were right. Financial markets cheered and celebrated after Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi's Congress Party won nation wide elections.


India's Sensex index surged 17% Monday, forcing a halt trading for the first time ever after the daily limits where breached.

The Indian rupee appreciated 3% against the dollar and the benchmark bond yield fell 12 basis points, the most in weeks according to this Bloomberg article.

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Here is what some of the "financial experts" had to offer Bloomberg and the Financial Times (click links to access each respective article).

“Markets are euphoric,” said Rahul Chadha, the Hong Kong- based head of Indian equities at Mirae Asset Global Investment, with $46 billion in global equities. “The focus by federal and state governments on development will lead to a structural re- rating of India.”

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“The election result is extremely positive and very, very bullish,” Madhusudan Kela, head of equities at Mumbai-based Reliance Capital Asset Management, the nation’s largest money manager overseeing $18 billion of assets, said in an interview. “This will provide a government which is stable and has powers to take decisions.”

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“India is potentially looking at a decade of good reforms and growth,” said Glenn Maguire, chief Asia Pacific economist at Societe Generale in Hong Kong. “This is a pretty big outcome.

Weekend Newswire: South-South Cooperation

[Brazil - Saudi Arabia] -- Saudi Arabia and Brazil are natural allies

By Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva

This week I will have the honor to be the first Brazilian President to officially travel to Saudi Arabia. I retain fond memories of the visit in 2000 of the then Crown Prince to Brazil. Since then, numerous high level visits have further strengthened the ties between our two countries and peoples.

Brazil prides itself on having roots in the rich cultural heritage of Arab civilization. Successive waves of immigrants from the Middle East have made their way to Brazil in search of a new horizons and a better life. Over the years they have contributed to forging present-day Brazil and to its diverse human landscape. Arab values, tastes and sensibilities are today an integral part of what it means to be Brazilian.

My trip to Saudi Arabia aims to explore and enhance these many-faceted affinities and the opportunities for cooperation that they offer. Much has been achieved over recent years, but much remains to be done if we are to fully realize the potential of two thriving economies that are making their mark on the global scene.


[China - Bahrain] -- Bahrain reviews construction ties with China
Co-operation between Bahrain and China in the construction sector was discussed at a key meeting.

Minster of State for Foreign Affairs and Tamkeen chairman Dr Nazar Al Baharna met a Chinese business delegation and discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Development of programmes that can reduce the dependency of construction companies on unskilled labour by introducing machinery and technological solutions was also highlighted.


[India - Kenya] -- Kenya, India to beef up ties in small industry sector
In yet another indication of India's growing interest in the East African region, the country's National Small Industries Corp (NSIC) has signed an agreement with Kenya Industrial Estates (KIE) to strengthen cooperation in the small scale industry sector.

KIE is a state-run agency of Kenya to promote indigenous entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SME).

According to media reports here, the partnership involves technology transfer, and marks a major step towards improving Kenya's quality standards in manufacturing, production and human resources.

"The government is keen to forge a viable partnership with friendly countries, particularly in the spirit of south-south cooperation," Kenyan Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey was quoted as saying.


[Asia - Africa] -- Asian Foreign Direct Investment in Africa
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa by developing Asian economies is growing and has the potential to reach much higher levels. The present report notes that Africa-bound FDI is still a small percentage of the rapidly climbing foreign investments being made by Asian transnational corporations.

The rapid economic growth in Asia can be expected to lead to increased Asian investments in Africa, in both natural resources and manufacturing. In particular, the rapid industrial upgrading taking place in Asia provides ample opportunities for Africa to attract efficiency-seeking and export-oriented FDI from Asian economies.

India - Election results from the world's largest democracy

Newswire: India's Election Results

It is a beautiful process when a democratic country experiences a peaceful transition of leadership.

India's voters have spoken. On one side, celebrations swept India as supporters of the Congress Party celebrated their victory.

On the other, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, conceded defeat.

"The party accepts the verdict of the voters will full respect."

The Congress Party won as many as 260 seats. This puts Congress just short of a independent majority, but close enough to be able to form a stable coalition.

Good news for financial markets, which will welcome a stronger government with more capacity to push through market reforms. Expect Bombay's stock exchange to rally on Monday.

Newswire: South-South Cooperation

[China - Venezuela] -- CNPC, Venezuela Plan to Build Two Oil Refineries in China
China National Petroleum Corp. and Venezuela plan to build two oil refineries in China, Jiang Jiemin, the president of the Chinese company, told reporters in Beijing today.


[China - Trinadad & Tobago] -- Alutrint: Chinese labor needed due to lack of local expertise
China's EXIM bank placed as a condition on its consent to provide a US$400mn loan to the Trinidad & Tobago government to build the Alutrint aluminum smelter - in the La Brea region of Trinidad island - that the project hire Chinese contractor CMEC to provide labor and technology for the plant, Alutrint manager of communications and community relations Josieann Richards told BNamericas.


[China - Russia] -- Chinese Envoy to Russia: Oil Pipeline Serves Strategic Goals of Both Sides
The construction of the China-Russia oil pipeline conforms with the strategic goals of China and Russia to diversify the former's energy imports and latter's energy exports, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang has said.


[South Korea - Peru] -- Peru hopes to complete 70% of FTA talks with Korea this week
Peru hopes to complete 70 percent of free trade negotiations with South Korea this week because of the similarities found between the two negotiating teams, allowing them to progress quickly, Peruvian chief negotiator Nathan Nadramija said Monday.

During the first round of FTA Negotiations in Seoul on March 16, both countries successfully concluded four chapters relating to electronic commerce, border services, as well as two other chapters related to institutional issues.


[India - Argentina - Bolivia] -- Jindal Begins Producing Gas in Bolivia for Export to Argentina
India’s Jindal Steel & Power has started producing natural gas in Bolivia that will be exported to Argentina, a company executive told Efe on Monday.

Luis Carlos Kinn, manager of Jindal subsidiary Gas to Liquids Internacional S.A., confirmed the successful completion of the first production test at the well drilled in the El Palmar field, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Santa Cruz, the capital of the likenamed eastern province.


[Chile - Bolivia] -- Chile Open to Tunnel Proposal Giving Bolivia Access to Sea
The Chilean government is willing to study the proposal by a group of architects that would provide landlocked Bolivia with access to the sea through a tunnel to an artificial island in the Pacific Ocean.


[Venezuela - Angola] -- Venezuelan Government Bank BANDES To Open Branch in Angola
Jesus Alberto Garcia, Venezuelan ambassador to Angola, stated in an interview with Radio Nacional de Angola that Banco de Desarrollo Económico y Social de Venezuela (BANDES), the state development bank of Venezuela, will open a branch in Angola. He added, “This is one of the main things President Chavez wants to do with Africa.” Branches of BANDES outside of Latin America and the Caribbean include Syria and the Republic of Mali.


[Latin America - Spain] -- Spain Wants Closer Ties with Latin America
Spain’s King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Monday that the upcoming bicentennials of Latin American independence should be used to promote Spanish and European Union ties to the region.

Weekend Newswire: Asia, Oceania

[China-Kuwait] -- Sinopec, Kuwait to Build $9 Billion Plant in China
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Kuwait Petroleum Corp. and an overseas oil producer plan to build a $9 billion refining and petrochemical plant in southern China’s Guangdong province, according to the head of China’s energy authority.


[China-Brazil] -- Vale ships record iron ore to China in Q1
Brazil's Vale, the world's largest iron ore producer, shipped 34.63 million tons of iron ore to China in the first quarter of 2009, which marks a quarterly record, the company announced on May 6.




[China] -- China’s Investment Growth May Quicken as Export Slump Eases
China’s investment growth probably accelerated as a decline in exports moderated, strengthening a fledgling recovery in the world’s third-biggest economy.


[China] -- China launches campaign to counter disasters
China needs stronger steps to promote public preparedness and early warning systems for natural disasters, experts said ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.


[South Korea] -- Korean lenders hit by 75% drop in profit
South Korean banks are grappling with deteriorating asset quality amid the economic downturn, which according to the country’s financial regulator led to a 75 per cent drop in combined profits in the first quarter.


[South Korea] -- SKorea to set up US$802m resources development fund
SEOUL: South Korea Sunday unveiled plans to establish an 802 million dollar fund for investment in overseas mineral mines, oil fields and gas wells.


[India] -- State Bank of India Profit Exceeds Analyst Estimates
State Bank of India reported fourth- quarter profit rose 46 percent to a record, exceeding analysts’ estimates, as lower lending rates lured borrowers and gains from trading grew more than fivefold.

Net income rose to 27.4 billion rupees ($556 million), from 18.8 billion rupees a year earlier, the nation’s largest bank said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange today. That beat the 21.7 billion rupee median estimate of five analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.


[Australia] -- Australia May Face Debt Crisis From Grants to Young Home Buyers
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s bid to ensure his housing market avoids the global property slump may push a generation of buyers into a debt crisis.

Grants of as much as A$21,000 ($16,142) to first-time buyers and the lowest interest rates in 49 years have emboldened more than 40,000 young Australians to take out home loans since October, stoking demand for properties that cost less than A$500,000.


[New Zealand] -- NZ Crown Minerals Boosts Funding for Oil, Gas Exploration
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced a renewed seismic survey program to encourage New Zealand oil and gas exploration.

As part of Budget 2009 a total of $20 million over three years will be allocated to the seismic data acquisition program run by Crown Minerals, which is responsible for the administration and promotion of New Zealand's oil and gas.

Newswire -- Testing out mobile posting (Go blackberry)

"Argentina’s 2008/09 crop exports forecasted to drop 56%"

Argentina’s cereals and oil seeds exports are forecasted to drop to 13.8 billion US dollars in this 2008/09 crop which means 56% less compared to the 31.9 billion of the 2007/08 crop according to a paper from the Argentine Agrarian Federation, FAA.

Mercopress


"China and India post manufacturing gains"

Surveys of industry executives registered positive results for the first time in months in April, offering evidence the global economy may be through the worst of its sharpest slump in six decades.

FT - Asia Pacific


"China becomes main destination of Brazilian exports ahead of US"

China has become the main purchaser of Brazilian exports during the first quarter of this year displacing United States which held the position undisputed for decades, according to reports in the Sao Paulo press based on the latest statistics.

MercoPress


"China denies anti-Mexican discrimination"

Foreign ministry insists confinement of scores of Mexican nationals over fears of the H1N1 flu are correct procedure, not bigotry.

FT - Americas


"Japan in $100bn aid offer to neighbours"

Japan offered $100bn yesterday in financial help to Asian states hit by the financial crisis in a move aimed at shoring up its regional economic leadership, despite...

FT - Asia Pacific

India suffers worst in Asian export decline -- FT Asia

India, Indonesia and South Korea reported significant year-on-year declines in exports on Friday.

However, a growing gap in trade performance was underlined by India’s latest figures, with exports tumbling 33 per cent in March to $11.5bn (€8.7bn, £7.7bn) from a year earlier – the biggest drop on record.

India’s exports to the US have fallen more sharply than those of China, South Korea and Brazil, according to a study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Gems, pharmaceuticals, textiles, vehicles and auto parts were all hit in an overall 12 per cent drop in US exports between October and February.

“The sharp decline in our exports to the US, which accounts for 13 per cent of our global exports, is a matter of deep concern,” said Harsh Pati Singhania, the president of FICCI.

Click here to access this FT Asia article

Asia News Wire

India's central bank cuts key rates by 25 basis points -- ChannelNewsAsia

MUMBAI: India's central bank on Tuesday lowered two key short-term interest rates by 25 basis points each, in an effort to arrest a slowdown in Asia's third largest economy.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered the repo – the rate at which it lends to commercial banks – to a record low of 4.75 per cent, from a peak of 9.0 per cent seen last year.

It also announced a cut in the reverse repo – the rate at which it borrows from banks – to 3.25 per cent.

"The major challenge at this stage is to support drivers for demand, to enable the economy to return to a high growth path," RBI governor D. Subbarao said in the annual policy statement for the year to March 2010.

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Hong Kong's composite interest rate falls to 0.29% -- China Securities Journal (CSJ)

Hong Kong's composite interest rate fell to 0.29 percent at the end of March from 0.33 percent at the end of February, the Monetary Authority of Hong Kong said on Tuesday.

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China to launch more stimulus investment in Q2 -- China Securities Journal (CSJ)

The Chinese central government is expected to launch its third batch of stimulus investments in large domestic projects in the second quarter to further boost its economy, according to the China Securities Journal Tuesday, citing an unidentified source.

The central government has so far cashed in a combined 230 billion yuan (33.8 billion U.S. dollars) for its 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package announced last November to bolster the slowing economy, 100 billion yuan in the fourth quarter and 130 billion yuan in the first quarter.

The newspaper said the new money would continue to be poured in projects that could benefit people's livelihood, such as health and education sectors, big infrastructure projects, and housing for low-income earners. Previous investments were dedicated to similar purposes.

An official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) confirmed the new investment, but said the exact amount was not decided yet. He spoke to Xinhua Tuesday morning on condition of anonymity.

Tata Nano hits the streets of India

The long awaited Tata Nano hit the streets of India on Thursday with the company and dealers around India confident of strong demand in light of the global economic crisis which has hit the auto industry especially hard.


With a sticker price of 100,000 rupee's ($2000) the Nano is by far the cheapest car in the world. Despite this tempting price, a major concern in many investors minds must have been how India's consumers would be able to secure loans or if they would even be willing to take out a loans for a car in such volatile economic times.

Thankfully the Tata Motors Finance (TMF), the financing arm of Tata Motors, today announced the launch of an attractive loan program which include no upper limit on the number of cars to be booked through TMF, once the customers have submitted the forms a booking amount would be made to Tata Motors on behalf of the customers, applicants who have been allotted the car do not loose any amount except cost of the booking form and initial payments.

To facilitate the booking process, multiple touch-points have been created all over the country. As part of the arrangement, TMF will be assisted by Tata Capital Limited, E-nxt Limited, Tata Motor dealers, Tata Securities outlets and all channel partners – DSAs & Vendors to ensure wider distribution. The booking scheme offered by TMF will enable a customer to book the Nano by paying an amount starting Rs 3,199/- only for the base model.

All in all, there's high hopes for the Nanao which Tata Motors chairman Ratan Tata has said will "create a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for Indian families. Families of four -- and more -- are regularly seen balancing precariously on motorcycles weaving through the country's notoriously lethal congested traffic."


Here are some articles about the Nano launch

World's cheapest car goes on sale in India - AFP
Tata Nano Goes on Sale - Wall Street Journal
Tata Motors' special scheme for Nano - The Business Standard
Q+A: Bookings open for Tata's Nano, world's cheapest car - Reuters UK

Opinion - Crisis an opportunity to rebalance Asian growth

Interesting... but the author of this interesting op-ed from CS.com is not actually listed. Rather CS.com reports the author of the editorial has been written by the "Acting Chief Economist of the Asian Development Bank in Manila."

Here's an excerpt to grab your attention or click here to access the article in its entirety from CS.com

Today's global economic crisis is the worst since the Great Depression. And developing-Asia is being hit much harder than initially thought. It is now time-in fact it is an opportunity-to re-balance our recent rapid economic growth to help protect us from future external shocks and to strengthen our internal sources of growth.

Average growth in the region declined about three percentage points last year - to 6.3 percent. Our 2009 Asian Development Outlook now forecasts that growth will slow this year again by close to 3 percentage points - to 3.4 percent.

Many emerging Asian economies will suffer severe recession.

The region's two giants - China and India - are also seeing their rapid economic expansions curtailed. What does this mean to the people of our region? ADB estimates that more than 60 million will remain trapped in absolute poverty - surviving on less than $1.25 a day - people who in 2008/09 would have otherwise broken through the poverty threshold had 2007 growth rates continued.

Click here to access the full article from CS.com

South-South Cooperation: Chile supports India as permanent member of UN Security Council - MercoPress

India and Chile reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations including expansion of the Security Council to make the world body more representative, legitimate and effective.

PM Manmohan Singh and visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet stressed and acknowledged the need for continued efforts by member states to ensure "meaningful and result-oriented intergovernmental negotiations".

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet with PM Manmohan Singh

The joint statement issued after the meeting said that Chile reiterated its support for India's permanent membership on an expanded UN Security Council. It also confirmed their reciprocal support for each other's candidature for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2011-12 (India) and 2014-15 (Chile).

Click here to access the complete article from MercoPress

Analysis: Tata Motors Launches the Tata Nano -- $2000 car

Tata Motors, one of my favorite emerging market companies for a variety of reasons, released it's long awaited Tata Nano today. The car is priced at a very affordable $2000 usd or 100,000 rupees.

Already being deemed "The People's Car," Tata Motors has high hopes for it's Nano. Tata Motors recently financed the purchase of Land Rover and Jaguar with debt and has bonds coming due this summer. Tata Motors also recently lost a great deal of money after having to abandon it's original factory it built for assembling Nano's because of local protests.

These two problems highlight the Tata's dire need to generate some cash. The Nano will hopefully help. The Indian government has also recently pledged to help certain state banks in some regions by offering subsidized loans to them if they make car loans to people looking to purchase a Tata vehicle.

Despite seeing it's stock plummet in value over the past 8 months, Tata Motors still offers a very attractive dividend of 7.8%. Yes the company is straddled with debt after its recent acquisition, but it does have a solid cash flow coming into from a relatively still well preforming market... a.k.a, India (at least when compared with other areas in the global economy).

Furthermore, there is a great deal of back logged demand for transportation in India. As the central government attempts to stimulate growth by expandinginfrastructure, Tata Motors will be a clear winner.

At the moment avg travel speeds on Indian roads are horrendous. Tata Motors can also take advantage of this because even though the specs of the Nano (see this Reuters article) are a bit lacking, there is no need to travel with a V-8 engine in India when you can rarely, if ever take your car above 30 miles per hour.

Increases in infrastructure spending will spur demand for cars and thanks to such the incredible growth of India and the increasing number of vehicles hitting the market every year will make the Nano very appealing in the years to come for new drivers hoping to get their hands on their first car in India.

On a side note, Tata Motors aquisiton of Land Rover and Jaguar may have come at a very bad time in the auto industry, but they no less did adquire two luxury car brands. This will give them the ability to one day penatrate western markets with greater ease and higher quality products.

There's already news Tata Motors plans to bring the Nano to the United States in 3 years time. If you don't believe me, check out this Reuters article from Today.

"I believe within the next three or so years we could develop a version of the Nano with options the U.S. market might want to have," said Ratan Tata, Tata Motors chairman."

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Time to Buy??? Yes maybe you missed the Nano launch bump, but long term this is looking rather tempting... (Tata Motors: TTM)

The Tata Nano

India -- Tata Motors a cool emerging company

New Delhi/Mumbai: The social networking era has become a great aid for the Tata Motors' Nano sale buzz to flourish in the online world. The Nano campaign, prior to its release, has been intensified through its extension to networking sites like Facebook and Orkutmaking the 'world's cheapest car' known to a larger mass.

The company targeted the online audience through its own portal, www.tatanano.com, but the networking sites triggered a gushy response with people from all over the world asking for a similar car in their land too, reports Mint. Darlene in Facebook said, "Please bring this car to Toronto, Canada!!!" while Luis recommends the manufacturer to make the car in Columbia. "You guys should make the Nano in Colombia since it would be a good place to produce them; we are in the middle of the American continent so it can be easily transported anywhere from Canada to Argentina at a lower cost," Luis said.

Click here to read more about this cool story.

Also... if you happen to be interested in Tata Motors (TTM), a company which happens to making a car which will cost between $2500-$3000 here's a bit from Yahoo Finance and how the ADR listed in the states has been performing.




TATA MOTORS LIMITED manufactures commercial and passenger vehicles primarily in India. It offers passenger cars; multi-utility vehicles; and light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles, including mini-truck, light two-tonne truck, heavy dumpers, ... click here for more from Yahoo Finance

Might be a decent buying time for a company with a very attractive Div & Yield of 0.35 (8.90%).

Jim Rogers: The Case For Commodities - CNBC

"When I said to become a farmer I was serious. The world is changing, it is going from the money shufflers to the people who produce real things."

~ Jim Rogers

Good readings

Opinion: India, China, and Obama's Oil Policy
by William Nobrega
Business Week Online 1/22/2009


If China's Growth Goes South What Happens to Oil?
by G. Allen Brooks
Parks Paton Hoepel & Brown 1/22/2009


The China factor and what it means for the price of copper
by Simon Hunt
Weybridge, UK (SHSS) 1/14/2009

News reel: Economic Meltdown p2 – China / Asia

Click on article titles to access the full copy from parent websites


Asian stocks tumble – The Straits Times – Jan 15, 2009

HONG KONG - ASIAN stock markets tumbled on Thursday, with Japan's benchmark sliding almost 5 per cent, on gloomy US holiday sales and renewed concerns about the banking industry.

Every market across Asian suffered steep declines, with broad-based selling hitting industries from energy to financials to exporters. A sharp drop in Japanese machinery pointed to a deepening recession in the world's No. 2 economy, while oil prices continued to fall on worries that the global economic slump will further weaken demand for crude.


China may bailout more – The Straits Times – Jan 15, 2009

BEIJING - CHINA is planning more help for its steel, textile, shipbuilding and other key industries, analysts said on Thursday, a day after the government unveiled a stimulus package for its ailing auto sector.


Chinese slowdown, serious risk for the global economy MercoPress – Jan 15, 2009

A severe economic slowdown in China is one of the biggest risks faced by the world this year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned. The WEF report said a hard landing for China's economy could create domestic social tensions and put stress on the global financial system.


Foreign Direct Investment in China Falls 5.7 Percent (Update3) – Bloomberg - Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) – Foreign Direct Investment in China declined for a third month, adding to the toll that recessions in the U.S. and Europe are taking on the world’s third-biggest economy.

Investment fell 5.7 percent to $5.98 billion in December from a year earlier, the commerce ministry said at a briefing in Beijing today. November’s decline was 36.5 percent.


China Home Prices to Continue Falling Until 2011, DTZ Says – Bloomberg - Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Home prices and sales in China, which fell last year for the first time in a decade, will continue dropping until they reach a “reasonable” level and will rebound in 2011, property agency DTZ said.


Hong Kong Stocks Fall to Two-Month Low; Yue Yuen, HSBC Decline – Bloomberg - Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) – Hong Kong's benchmark stock index fell to the lowest in almost two months on concern slowing demand is deepening the global economic slump.


China-U.S. Ties to Get Stronger, Departing American Envoy Says – Bloomberg - Jan 15, 2009 Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The economies of the U.S. and China, together generating 30 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, will become increasingly interdependent in the next 30 years, said America’s longest-serving envoy to China.


China unveils support package to auto, steel industries – Xinhua – Jan 14, 2009

· China's State Council unveiled a support package for the auto and steel sectors Wednesday.
· The gov't will lower purchase tax on cars under 1.6 liters from 10% to 5% from Jan. 20 to Dec. 31.
· The plan also urges improvements in the credit system for car purchase loans.


SKorea to miss growth forecast - The Straits Times – Jan 15, 2009

SEOUL - SOUTH Korea's economic growth this year could fall below the central bank's forecast of 2 per cent as the global recession deepens, the country's second vice finance minister said in a prepared speech on Thursday.


India’s Sensex Falls to One-Month Low; Infosys Leads Declines – Bloomberg – Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- India’s benchmark stock index fell to the lowest in more than a month. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. and Infosys Technologies Ltd. led declines after a Canadian customer for their software services collapsed.


Satyam May Take 3 Months to Restate Accounts, Delaying Bailout – Bloomberg – Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) – Satyam Computer Services Ltd.'s new auditors may take three months to clear up an alleged $1 billion fraud at India's fourth-largest software exporter, delaying access to government funds.

Satyam fell 32 percent today after the government said it has no plans for a bailout until the board seeks aid. Satyam won't know how much it needs until auditors confirm assets and assess how much clients owe, director Deepak Parekh said. ``The government doesn't bail out every sick company,'' he said.


India’s Inflation Rate Falls, Paving Way for Stimulus (Update2) – Bloomberg – Jan 15, 2009

Jan. 15 (Bloomberg) -- India’s inflation slowed to an 11- month low, paving the way for further stimulus measures to bolster an economy expanding at the weakest pace in six years.