Author: Jonathan Yates

Why Warren Buffett believes in Kraft

posted on February 22, 2012 at 3:45 pm by Jonathan Yates

Warren Buffett is famous for telling Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, quote) acquisitions, “keep doing what you have been doing.” Good management is critical to his evaluation of companies, which is why his long tenure as Kraft’s (KFT, quote) largest shareholder speaks well of it.

Consumer Developed Multinationals Food Investing

Emerging African middle class stirring Nestle

posted on February 22, 2012 at 1:45 pm by Jonathan Yates

Nestle (NSRGY, quote) cut the ribbon on a new coffee creamer factory in South Africa this month, and it’s not the only company increasing its investment in Africa. Kraft Foods (KFT, quote), Samsung Electronics and other consumer giants are expanding to meet the growing consumption of the African middle class.

Africa Commodities Consumer

Jim Rogers ‘talking his book’, but his ETF no chart topper

posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:15 am by Jonathan Yates

Legendary investor Jim Rogers is legendarily short on equities and long on commodities, and the Rogers International Commodity Index is the embodiment of his ideas. Unfortunately, the Rogers International Agriculture Commodity ETF (RJA, quote) doesn’t quite live up to its billing.

Commodities ETFs Food Investing

Run with the bulls and the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund

posted on February 22, 2012 at 8:15 am by Jonathan Yates

One of every six beings on the planet is Indian, which makes the WisdomTree India Earnings Fund (EPI, quote) an essential holding for the individual investor. EPI offers efficient and effective exposure to blue chip companies like Tata Motors (TTM, quote) and Sterlite Industries (SLT, quote).

BRICs ETFs India Investing

Cellphones aren’t just blue chip stocks now

posted on February 21, 2012 at 1:30 pm by Jonathan Yates

As the holdings list of the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (FXI, quote) shows, cell phone companies like China Mobile (CHL, quote), SK Telecom (SKM, quote) and CellCom Israel (CEL, quote) are now blue chip stocks that can anchor a portfolio. These new “widows and orphans” stocks are becoming superior to utility stocks as a stable holding for investors — but they’re also engines for global growth.

Africa Consumer Telecom

Unilever and Procter & Gamble expanding in Vietnam

posted on February 21, 2012 at 9:15 am by Jonathan Yates

Investors looking to profit from the 7% annual growth that Vietnam has averaged over the last decade should consider Unilever (UL, quote), the Procter & Gamble Company (PG, quote) and the Market Vectors Vietnam ETF (VNM, quote).

Asia Commodities Consumer Food Investing

Profit from the expanding Chinese economy with FXI

posted on February 21, 2012 at 8:30 am by Jonathan Yates

Exchange traded funds such as the iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (FXI, quote) are among the most effective tools for investing in emerging markets. They provide diversity, low transaction costs, mitigated foreign exchange risks and exposure to a wide variety of individual stocks.

China Energy ETFs Investing Strategy Telecom

Will East Africa fuel China’s growth?

posted on February 20, 2012 at 4:00 pm by Jonathan Yates

Economic growth in China and other countries in Asia could soon be fueled by oil and natural gas from East Africa, as recent activities from Eni SPA (E, quote) and Anadarko Petroleum (APC, quote) portend.

Africa China Energy Natural Gas

Teetering Dutch economy may get pushed

posted on February 20, 2012 at 1:45 pm by Jonathan Yates

There is no more destructive economic force than excessive debt, as the once-lofty share prices of Alcatel-Lucent (ALU, quote), LDK Solar (LDK, quote) and Lloyds Banking Group (LYG, quote) can attest. We’ve all seen what debt has done to the Greeks, but how did the Dutch get into so much trouble?

Developed Multinationals Europe Real Estate

South Korea has FREE BEER — free trade beer, that is.

posted on February 20, 2012 at 11:40 am by Jonathan Yates

South Korean retailers are reporting huge jumps in imported beer sales thanks to last year’s free trade agreement between Korea and Europe. That’s great for Korean beer lovers, but what will U.S. agriculture companies bring to the party?

Asia Commodities Consumer Food South Korea Strategy