Archive for October, 2008
Kazakhstan Daily News Roundup - October 31, 2008
ENERGY:
Russia may have bought CPC stake
(The Moscow Times) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday that the two states should jointly buy Oman’s share in a major pipeline, only to hear that Russia might have already bought it alone.
KazMunaiGas EP interested in TNK-BP’s assets
(SRI) - KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (KMG EP), the London-listed subsidiary of the Kazakh national oil company, is in talks with TNK-BP to acquire its assets in the Orenburg and Tyumen regions of Russia.
Alhambra appeal leads to a November 17, 2008 court adjournment (CNW)
MINERAL RESOURCES:
Kazakhmys says may cut 2009 copper output slightly
(Reuters) - Kazakh copper producer Kazakhmys may cut copper output next year due to lower projected spending arising from global financial instability.
Kazakhmys boosts stake in ENRC to 26 percent (Dow Jones - Trading Markets)
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:
Collapse narrowly averted after clampdown on borrowing
(Financial Times) - Last year’s dire forecasts of a banking sector collapse in Kazakhstan were never realised. Concerns about the quality of banks’ asset remain but the government has been quick to mobilise the country’s oil wealth to support the sector.
Banking M&A: A little less border crossing
(Financial Times) - Kazakhstan boasts arguably the most sophisticated banking sector in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and, after several years of triple digit growth, are running out of room.
After the boom
(The Economist) - For almost a decade, oil-rich Kazakhstan has been the economic engine of Central Asia but now the global financial crisis is taking its toll and the Kazakhstani motor is spluttering.
Kazakh leader expects surge in investment with Russia (RIA Novosti)
Putin says Russia, Kazakhstan to emerge from crisis unaffected (Itar-Tass)
India offers to set up fertiliser plant in Kazakhstan (IANS - The Hindu)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates October 31, 2008 (Kazinform)
Indicators - October 30, 2008 (Reuters)
POLITICS:
Russia views Kazakhstan as one of closest allies – Putin (Interfax)
Kazakhstan, Pakistan discuss issues of economic and military-technical coop (Kazinform)
Russia and India face Kazakhstan’s space ambitions (CACI Analyst)
REGIONAL:
Central Asia: Oil-rich, remote and difficult
(Financial Times) - As rich countries poured billions of dollars into bank bailouts, China quietly announced plans last month to invest $100bn building roads and railways to open up remote central Asia to the rest of the world.
Central Asian oil & gas prospects: Energy suppliers of the future
(Financial Times) - After living in Russia’s shadow since the 19th century, the countries of central Asia have in the past decade been increasingly able to assert themselves in their own right, thanks to their energy resources.
Turkmenistan gas: A big surge in international interest (Financial Times)
Leadership in Central Asia: A deep reluctance to shake off old habits (Financial Times)
Central Asia: The view from Moscow: Banking on historical and cultural ties (Financial Times)
Central Asia: US and China have shared interests (Financial Times)
Central Asia: The importance of engagement with the neighbours (Financial Times)
Is Russia winning in Central Asia? (CACI Analyst)
Kazakhstan Politics Roundup - October 31, 2008
Russia views Kazakhstan as one of closest allies – Putin (Interfax)
Kazakhstan, Pakistan discuss issues of economic and military-technical coop (Kazinform)
Russia and India face Kazakhstan’s space ambitions (CACI Analyst)
Kazakhstan Business and Economy Roundup - October 31, 2008
Collapse narrowly averted after clampdown on borrowing
(Financial Times) - Last year’s dire forecasts of a banking sector collapse in Kazakhstan were never realised. Concerns about the quality of banks’ asset remain but the government has been quick to mobilise the country’s oil wealth to support the sector.
Banking M&A: A little less border crossing
(Financial Times) - Kazakhstan boasts arguably the most sophisticated banking sector in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and, after several years of triple digit growth, are running out of room.
After the boom
(The Economist) - For almost a decade, oil-rich Kazakhstan has been the economic engine of Central Asia but now the global financial crisis is taking its toll and the Kazakhstani motor is spluttering.
Kazakh leader expects surge in investment with Russia (RIA Novosti)
Putin says Russia, Kazakhstan to emerge from crisis unaffected (Itar-Tass)
India offers to set up fertiliser plant in Kazakhstan (IANS - The Hindu)
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates October 31, 2008 (Kazinform)
Indicators - October 30, 2008 (Reuters)
Kazakhstan Mineral Resources Roundup - October 31, 2008
Kazakhmys says may cut 2009 copper output slightly
(Reuters) - Kazakh copper producer Kazakhmys may cut copper output next year due to lower projected spending arising from global financial instability.
Kazakhmys boosts stake in ENRC to 26 percent (Dow Jones - Trading Markets)
Kazakhstan Energy Roundup - October 31, 2008
Russia may have bought CPC stake
(The Moscow Times) - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday that the two states should jointly buy Oman’s share in a major pipeline, only to hear that Russia might have already bought it alone.
KazMunaiGas EP interested in TNK-BP’s assets
(SRI) - KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (KMG EP), the London-listed subsidiary of the Kazakh national oil company, is in talks with TNK-BP to acquire its assets in the Orenburg and Tyumen regions of Russia.
Alhambra appeal leads to a November 17, 2008 court adjournment (CNW)
BTA Bank to get USD 2.3 billion capital injection from state
(SRI) - Two days after the Kazakh government announced its intention to take stakes in the country’s most important banks, BTA Bank, the country’s largest bank said that it will receive a cash injection of up to USD 2.3 billion from the government.
KazMunaiGas EP interested in TNK-BP’s assets
(SRI) - KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (KMG EP), the London-listed subsidiary of the Kazakh national oil company, is in talks with TNK-BP to acquire its assets in the Orenburg and Tyumen regions of Russia, according to Dastan Adbulgafarov, KMG EP’s head of business development.
Kazakhstan Regional News Roundup - October 31, 2008
Central Asia: Oil-rich, remote and difficult
(Financial Times) - As rich countries poured billions of dollars into bank bailouts, China quietly announced plans last month to invest $100bn building roads and railways to open up remote central Asia to the rest of the world.
Central Asian oil & gas prospects: Energy suppliers of the future
(Financial Times) - After living in Russia’s shadow since the 19th century, the countries of central Asia have in the past decade been increasingly able to assert themselves in their own right, thanks to their energy resources.
Turkmenistan gas: A big surge in international interest (Financial Times)
Leadership in Central Asia: A deep reluctance to shake off old habits (Financial Times)
Central Asia: The view from Moscow: Banking on historical and cultural ties (Financial Times)
Central Asia: US and China have shared interests (Financial Times)
Central Asia: The importance of engagement with the neighbours (Financial Times)
Is Russia winning in Central Asia? (CACI Analyst)
Kazakhstan Daily News Roundup - October 30, 2008
ENERGY:
Lukoil and KMG may acquire BP’s assets in Kazakhstan
(SRI) - Russian Lukoil could snap up BP’s stakes in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan, provided it has the money to complete the deals.
Tengiz crude starts flowing in BTC pipeline
(Reuters) - The Chevron-led Tengiz project in Kazakhstan has started supplying crude oil to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.
Kazakh-Tajik energy cooperation discussed (Kazinform)
Kazakh Prime Minister meets with Indian Minister of Power (Kazinform)
Transmeridian Exploration extends exchange offer deadline for senior debt due 2010 (MarketWatch)
MINERAL RESOURCES:
ShalkiyaZinc’s first half results disappoint
(SRI) - ShalkiyaZinc NV, a London-listed mining company reported a net loss of USD 8.439 million in the first six months of 2008, compared to a net profit of $2.762 million in the same period last year.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:
Three largest banks agree to sell stakes to the government
(SRI) - Three of Kazakhstan’s four largest banks have agreed to sell minority stakes to the government, as the country attempts to fight off the global credit crunch and prevent a systemic collapse of its banking sector.
Kazakh banks’ combined profits down 61.5 percent in first nine months of 2008
(SRI) - The combined net profit of all 36 banks operating in Kazakhstan for the first nine months decreased by 61.5 percent to KZT 71.0 billion (USD 592 million) compared to the same period last year.
Kazakhstan does its own bailing
(Asia Times) - Kazakhstan is discovering the benefits of salting away wealth in the good times as it seeks to survive the global downturn without recourse to foreign aid.
Ansher frontier funds up in October
(HedgeCo.net) - Alternative investor Ansher Holding Limited, which is focused on investments in Central Asia and the Caucasus, has reported their equity long/short hedge fund is up 13% YTD.
National Bank of Kazakhstan: Exchange rates October 30, 2008 (Kazinform)
Indicators - October 29, 2008 (Reuters)
POLITICS:
Kazakh Premier meets with Iranian First Vice President (Kazinform)
Chinese Premier arrives in Kazakhstan (Kazinform)
Lukoil and KMG may acquire BP’s assets in Kazakhstan
(SRI) - Russian Lukoil could snap up BP’s stakes in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan, provided it has the money to complete the deals, according to Energy Intelligence.
