The World

Russia’s Strategy

April 25, 2012 (Vietnamica) — The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 reversed a process that had been under way since the Russian Empire’s emergence in the 17th century. It was ultimately to incorporate four general elements: Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Siberia. The St. Petersburg-Moscow axis was its core, and Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine were its center of gravity. The borders were always dynamic, mostly expanding but periodically contracting as the international situation warranted. At its farthest extent, from 1945 to 1989, it reached central Germany, dominating the lands it seized in World War II....

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Dutch Debt “On Edge of Downgrade”, Central Banks Add to Gold Reserves

April 25, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Spot market gold prices climbed to $1643 an ounce Tuesday lunchtime in London – a 1.2% gain from yesterday’s low, but still below Friday’s close – as Eurozone concerns focused on the Netherlands after yesterday’s government collapse.

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Superheroes of Central Banking

April 24, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Eccentric yes, but central bankers are a long way from playboy billionaire geniuses with hidden superpowers… So central bankers still can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound then.

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CFR: Hollande Beats Sarkozy in First Round of French Election

April 23, 2012 (Vietnamica) — French Socialist challenger François Hollande beat President Nicolas Sarkozy in the first round of France’s presidential election yesterday by 28 percent to 27 percent, even as far-right candidate Marine Le Pen captured an unprecedented 18 percent of the vote. Hollande and Sarkozy will face off in the final runoff vote on May 6 (Guardian), in an election that is expected to have significant implications for European integration and the eurozone’s response to its ongoing sovereign debt crisis.

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Gold, Stocks and Euro All Down after China Manufacturing News, Bullion Refiners “Stocking Up” for Europe but Concerns Over Liquidity “Cap Upside” for Gold

April 23, 2012 (Vietnamica) — Prices to buy gold bullion on the wholesale market dropped to $1630 an ounce during Monday morning’s London session – a 2.3% drop from where they started the month – while stock markets and industrial commodities also traded lower following the release of preliminary Chinese manufacturing data.

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India’s Gold Demand “Lacklustre” Ahead of Key Festival as Precious Metals “Fall Victim” to Rising Dollar

April 19, 2012 (Vietnamica) — U.S. dollar prices to buy gold slipped to two-week lows in London’s wholesale trade on Thursday, “falling victim to a strengthening Dollar” as one analyst put it while stock markets and commodities also gave back earlier gains.

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