Objectivity

Global Investing, BRIC by BRIC

I got a bit lucky ElCid... I sold a pretty good chunk of Gazprom holding company Vostok Gas at the peak of $97 a share over a month ago, first time I took profits in Vostok since first buying at about $12 - $14 a share (and cashed in a spinoff that got my basis to $0) a few years ago... still haven't bought those shares back yet ($65 today) but I will. That's not too bad, is it? Basis $0, sale $97?

Don't let the western Media fool you. Medvedev is no puppet, and Putin is no puppeteer. As to Abramavich, I have a pretty good idea why he hasn't been prosecuted, and it isn't why you think... and he's not exactly friends with Putin, that's a myth.

Russia for most Westerners is a fog... and the would be Rulers of Russia (not Putin, his enemies) want it that way.

Global Investing, BRIC by BRIC

I was waiting for the first oligarch-hired stooge or dimwit western bozo to mention "Yukos"... so here you go, Yu-ko-bo-zo

Go do your homework... Yugansk Oil company (Key piece that Yukos was formed around) was stolen in rigged bids from the Russian people, by criminals, that have since been convicted, and imprisoned. Yukos management cheated on their taxes HUGE, and was caught... you want more detail go do your DD, dodo.

Intelligent persons, like myself, did DD in advance and invested in reputable tax-paying firms like Lukoil and Gazprom... LONG AGO. Did NOT buy even a share of Yukos, because it was plain that the "owners" were obviously not to be trusted. It's actually amazing that the authorities took as long as they did to deal with those bandits.

As to the clown that states everyone is better off after 100 (91+) years, obviously you think strictly arithmatically and not in any relative sense, and then try to use that as an argument out of sync with context. And you actually are so stupid that you think I am defending oligarchs? Go away and learn to think Objectively.

Global Investing, BRIC by BRIC

"...if you still find Russia alluring" ???

What an overall Absurd Analysis... but why should we be surprised?

Russia haters spout forever their nonsense, and we get such a healthy dose of it in the MSM... but it's no excuse for a book-talking stock tout to recycle it and dress it up as financial advice.

Try these facts on for size, from someone who knows better:

1. The Russian people are better off now than at any time in 91 years plus. Doubt it? Buy a plane ticket to Domodedevo and ask the first 100 people you run into...

2. Foreign and Domestic investors in Russian companies are better protected from criminal activity by managements and governments than anywhere else in the world... and if you think I'm kidding I've got just a few words for you... Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, Enron, Worldcom, Global Crossing, Royal Dutch Shell, GM, Bear Stearns, and the whole bunch of stinking banksters that sold CDO's throughout the world and stole trillions from lied-to buyers.

3. Russia government has less in common today with the USSR than the USA today does to the old USSR, and that is an insult to the old USSR.

4. Russia's currency and financial and fiscal structure is sound... the dollar and the unfunded US debt and liabilities? Give me a break...

Go back to school Mr. Hutchinson.