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While neighboring regimes crashed and burned, the Algerian government remained largely unmoved and continues its firm grip on the country. CONTINUE READING

L.C.Nøttaasen / Foter

While the overwhelming general consensus is that oil prices could head north of USD140 per barrel before the end of the summer, a small group of analysts are suggesting that the market may pause for breadth and climb down. READ MORE HERE

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As the world faces its biggest oil crisis since the 1970s, politicians are blaming every one - President Obama, Iran, QE and Saudi King - for high oil prices. How about putting some blame on Israel for pushing the world into another unwanted war. READ MORE HERE

• 25 Rapid Growth Markets (RGMs) to grow by an average of 6.2% this year and by 5.9% in 2012, compared with 1.6% growth for the Eurozone this year falling to 0.6% next year.

• Qatar had the highest nominal GDP (US$) per capita at PPP in 2010 among the 25 RGMs and has also been the fastest growing economy over the last decade, with an average growth of 13%.

The dynamics of the global economy have changed with a new set of fast-growing markets challenging the position of the established advanced economies. The rapid growth markets (RGMs) are expected to grow collectively by 6.2% this year, almost four times more than the anemic growth expected in the Eurozone according to Ernst & Young’s new quarterly Rapid Growth Markets Forecast (RGMF).
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An Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities could choke off the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices spiralling out of control in a worst-case scenario, according to a new survey. READ MORE HERE

Even as hopes arise of a quick resumption of Libyan oil, a whole host of new supply-side worries will ensure that crude production remains tight. The resumption of Libyan oil will not dent oil prices as supply constraints continue to add up. READ MORE HERE

Oil fell nearly $10 in a day, bringing out oil bears with their charts to show how crude will remain weak. But is oil merely catching its breath before it scales new heights? Goldman Sachs thinks so.

Ali Al-Naimi must be feeling vindicated. The Saudi oil minister had noted a few weeks back that there was not much global demand for oil and blamed market speculation for the black stuff’s rally. Read More Here

Donald Trump’s recent hysterical comments on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are set to put more pressure on President Obama. Expect more pressures on Mideast states as the race for the White House heats up. Read More Here

Ratings agencies have an uncanny knack of turning up at morgues and pronouncing the death of the deceased, so it should have been no surprise that Standard & Poor’s did the ‘unthinkable’ and downgraded the United States’ long-term outlook to negative from stable. Read More Here

There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia has extended itself with its latest domestic spending programme. So much so that sustained dips in oil price could turn its budget surplus for the year into a deficit. Read More Here

Ratings agencies have an uncanny knack of turning up at morgues and pronouncing the death of the deceased, so it should have been no surprise that Standard & Poor’s did the ‘unthinkable’ and downgraded the United States’ long-term outlook to negative from stable. Read More Here

Oil prices will rise 36% in 2011, denting global economic recovery, warns the IMF. But that also means Saudi’s GDP will rise 7.5% - one of the highest among G20 nations. Read More Here

While oil inflation fears in emerging markets are warranted, these risks are being mitigated as Gulf oil-exporting states buy emerging market products and services as part of their fiscal spending spree.

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