Don’t want to make you guys sleeping, here is some short notes wanna write about the S. America:

Cuba:

First, you know there is an Anti US Castro in Cuba, he is very old but also influencing the whole S. America

Venezuela:

Hugo Chavez won his presidency again in Jan. The new figure of the anti US ‘Axis of Good’. As being the leading oil exporters in S. America, Mr. Chavez has the continent. He helped not only Venezuela, but all other countries who want to escape from being the backyard country for US. He even has met Iran president~! Same trick as in Bolivia, Mr. Chavez has announced to nationalized country’s telecom, electricity and oil. However, having the oil price at peak in the last year, his country is wealthy enough to support his economic revolution.

ø       important points are it will hurt directly to those companies having business there.

Bolivia:

Evo Morales is at my S. American reading, the Latin American president has really opened my eyes. Last year, his nationalism on natural gas business, which Bolivia is number one in S. America, has brought some harsh negotiation days with the giant Brazil Oil Company, Petroleo Brasileiro. Of course as I was reading the news, and it was a chance. To be honest, the country would die if eventually no business deal with foreign companies, however, the degree of nationalism is growing in there. Today, it has announced will kick out Telecom Italia to nationalized Entel, the telecom company.

Ecuador:

Rafael Correa, as friend of Chavez, is the noisiest president in South America with full of oil as well. His country is being ranked is as risky as Iraq in terms of investment because of his volatile policy. The main trouble for it should be the negotiation of US army camp. As I read, it is also running some sort of nationalism campaign. However, cannot see which company is directly being hurt.

More on Axis of Good:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_good

There are also some interesting Latin American countries, but to keep it simple, write later.

However, the impact for them:

1, one reasons why US is trying to keep oil price low

2, impact of non-alliance companies, like those in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico (America Movil is one biggest mobile operator in S. America based in Mexico)

After you know this, you may go to ask your financial advisor, where the money is put on Latin America market!

Eric