Wednesday-Night

Wednesday Night Goes Global - or at least partially!
On Wednesday April 2, a select group of Wednesday Nighters will gather in Athens on the first day of the New School of Athens (NSOA) Conference Athens-3 organized by Kimon Valaskakis OWN. Jaime Webbe and Cleo Paskal are participating in the Panel on Globalisation and Security: […]

As Diana’s computer has a serious malaise, this message is subject to a brief window of opportunity. Thus, it is short and with none of the usual links to major stories (you will have to do your own homework - but we’ll make it up to you).
With the horrendous weather forecast in view, we will […]

February 28, 2008
(NYT) Cash-Rich, Publicity-Shy, Abu Dhabi Fund Draws Scrutiny
By LANDON THOMAS Jr.
Abu Dhabi has about 9 percent of the world’s oil and 0.02 percent of its population. The result is a surfeit of petrodollars, much of which is funneled into a secretive, government-controlled investment fund that is helping to shift the balance of power […]

February 27, 2008
(Globe & Mail) Corporate Canada easy prey for foreign buyers
JANET MCFARLAND
Canada’s takeover-friendly securities laws have helped make the country the easiest in the world for foreign acquirers, according to a groundbreaking new study that shows Canadians are the world’s biggest net sellers of corporate assets in terms of the nation’s market size.
An 86-page […]

Margaret Lefebvre will introduce her colleague and good friend, George Kesteven, president of the Canadian Association of Income Funds (CAIF) - an organization with dwindling membership in the face of the Conservatives’ taxation policy with regard to income trusts.
Director of Investor Relations for PrimeWest Energy Trust since 2001, George is in a unique position […]

29 January 2008
Finance Minister backs injections of overseas cash; plans national security test for foreign takeovers
TARA PERKINS, Globe& Mail
State-owned investment vehicles are good for the economies of countries they invest in, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says, having recently met with officials from what’s believed to be the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund.
“There is no […]

9 January 2008

Welcome back to all who have enjoyed protracted holidays in exotic, or not-so-exotic habitats! We have missed you and once again extend warmest greetings and good wishes for the coming year, as we look forward to many more enlightening evenings of quiet discussion and/or passionate debate.
There’s little doubt that the Iowa and […]

The Laurel Comment
It was ordained at the very beginning that time would be the natural equalizer of all humankind and that it would be at once, both man’s mortal enemy and his greatest savior
If the major economic events of 2007 are to act as a harbinger of those […]

December 23, 2007
National Post
The committee overseeing the restructuring of $33-billion worth of seized asset-backed commercial paper hammered out an agreement in principal Sunday which aims to give investors full repayment if they hold onto the complex investments to maturity and provides for a funding facility of $14-billion through Canadian banks.
“I am confident that this plan […]

Do see last week #1345 - a wonderful evening with Marc Garneau - good conversation and great photos by Robert Galbraith
If two weeks ago our theme was Let it Snow, this week should likely be Winter Wonderland. However, we confess that after digging ourselves out of the house (resisting the temptation to hi-bear-nate), aching […]