TODAY: Medvedev's state of the nation address warns opposition against using democracy to rock the boat; talks up modernization. Media unconvinced President can match word with deed. Topol-M problem for START replacement talks;  Litvinenko suspect Lugovoi willing to speak to London prosecutors?; is Russia really cracking down on nationalists; Putin world's third most powerful according to ForbesIn President Medvedev's second state-of-the-nation address, highlights of which can be found here, he warned opposition politicians not to use democracy as a way to 'destabilize the state and split society'. The fact that the speech emphasized long-term goals, related to cutting time zones, technology and industrial modernization, heralds a call for re-election argues one analyst, quoted in the Moscow ...

China Technology Development Group Corp. is an integrated clean energy group focused on solar energy products and solutions in China. The company today announced a Stock Purchase Agreement with China Technology Solar Power Holdings Ltd. (CTSPHL Group) in which CTDC will become the majority shareholder of CTSPHL Group by acquiring a 51 percent equity interest in the company.

Operating through its subsidiary, CTSPHL Group is developing a 100MW grid-connected solar power plant project in Delingha City of Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province, Northwestern China.

Per today’s announced agreement, CTDC and CTSPHL Group will work together to develop the Delingha 100MW Solar Project, a collaboration that CTDC says it believes will help it reach its goal of becoming an integrated solar company engaged in the design, building and operation of solar power plants.

“We are very pleased to become a controlling shareholder of CTSPHL Group. This marks a significant step that CTDC has

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The “Tiregate” Scandal Can’t Derail This Growth Story…

by Robert Williams, Publisher, Investment U

The 35% tariff that President Obama just slapped on Chinese tire imports is not sitting well with the nation’s top brass, notably President Hu Jintao.

Chinese officials say that the tire decision represents a dangerous precedent toward protectionism and against the notion of free trade. They’re even threatening to “re-evaluate” their position on U.S. imports, like automobiles and poultry.

But Tiregate is more about the United Steelworkers union – the dominant force in U.S. tire plants – than anything else. The union is a pivotal ally in Obama’s fight on healthcare reform.

As such, I expect the spat to resolve itself at the upcoming G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. So don’t let this tit-for-tat derail your long-term investment outlook on China.

The rise of the middle

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[Editor's Note: Fifteen trades. All profitable. Since launching his Geiger Indextrading service late last year, Money Morning Investment Director Keith Fitz-Gerald is a perfect 15 for 15, meaning he's closed every single one of his trades at a profit. And he did this during one of the most volatile periods for the U.S. stock market since the Great Depression. Fitz-Gerald says the ongoing financial crisis has changed the investing game forever, and has created a completely new set of rules that investors must understand to survive and profit in this new era. Check out our latest insights on these new rules, this new market environment, and this new service, the Geiger Index.]

For U.S.-centric investors who question whether it’s really necessary to invest in “risky” overseas markets, here’s an important fact to consider: It’s China – not the United States – that’s leading us …

This post is a guest contribution by Dr Mark Mobius, executive chairman of Templeton Asset Management.

Emerging markets surged in the second quarter of 2009 with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returning 34.8% in US$ terms. Part of this return was due to weakness in the US dollar. A return of confidence in emerging markets, the desire for higher returns and the search for undervalued companies support the markets’ uptrend.

Latin American and Eastern European markets were among the strongest performers during the quarter, while most Asian markets also recorded strong double-digit returns. A rebound in commodity prices and stronger domestic currencies supported markets in Latin America. Asian markets continued to attract significant portfolio inflows allowing markets such as China, India and Thailand to outperform their regional counterparts. In Eastern Europe, Hungary returned 69.7% in US$ terms in part due to a strong forint. Poland returned 37.0% in

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US stocks plunged Tuesday on lingering concerns about the prospects of an economic rebound and worries second-quarter earnings would fail to lift sentiments on the Street.  Although the second quarter began on a high note with stocks surging to multi-month highs, the rally lost steam in mid-June as a slew of bleak economic data failed to provide a direction.  Last week’s shaky unemployment report added to mounting worries and investors pressed the sell button.  Crude prices fell to their lowest in seven weeks.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed at its lowest level since April 28, plunging 161 points, or 1.9%, to close at 8,163.60.  Among DJIA components, only four managed to register gains yesterday.  The S&P 500 index dropped below its 200-day moving average, losing 18 points or 2%, to close at its lowest point since May 1.  The Nasdaq declined 41 points, or 2.3%, to close at

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From Yulia Latynina's column in the Moscow Times:On June 17, President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed an agreement in which Russia will sell 300 million tons of oil to China over 20 years for $100 billion. That breaks down to $57 per barrel.In order for Russia to deliver that oil, a new pipeline must be built to China. This is something that Yukos had originally planned to build by the mid-2000s at a cost of $4 billion. By March 2008, however, the price for the project had risen to $29 billion. At that cost, oil deliveries through the pipeline would only recoup expenses given oil prices of at least $80 per barrel. But Russia has agreed to a price of just $57 per barrel for its exports to China. (...) It is ...

Dmitry Medvedev and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in natural gas, which may lead to Gazprom taking out a loan from China to deliver LNG.  Russia has delayed plans to build pipelines to China because it cannot agree on a price with Bejing.  MOL has received a €200 million loan from the EBRD to finance a gas storage facility and the bank may be willing to put 'substantial' financial backing into Nabucco.  Gazprom has hinted that it may postpone the opening of another major field because of the downturn.  The company says that Russia will not impose a fine on Ukraine for importing less gas than agreed, but Putin hopes that the country will 'continue to observe discipline'.  The legal specialist of Gazprom Neft has become the ...

TODAY: Wide-ranging talks with China conclude;  opinion suggests Russia the weak link in BRIC; milk war with Belarus over, but gas battle to begin?; NGO law reforms presented; extradition of Chichvarkin demandedThe 'friendly, constructive and confidential' talks between Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao have confirmed their 'strategic relationship', says the Russian President, who believes the example of cooperation set by the two nations is 'exemplary'.  The countries have pledged to increase the use of their national currencies in bilateral trade.  They have expressed serious concern about North Korea and agreed that diplomatic efforts should be made to ease tensions over its nuclear program as well as that of Iran.  According to RFE/RL, Medvedev ...

Gazprom has announced it will delay the launch of the Bovanenkovo field on Siberia's Yamal peninsula until the third quarter of 2012.  Ukraine is looking for $4 billion in credit from Europe to buy Russian gas for its subterranean storage facilities.  Vladimir Putin has decried regulators who make 'bureaucratic obstacles' to accessing Russia's oil and gas fields.  Sinopec is drilling a seventh exploration well in Saudi Arabia in the hope of finding a significant amount of natural gas.  Iraq's oil ministry has asserted that it will have auctioned contracts to foreign companies by the end of June, despite the Oil Minister being called to ask questions regarding the deals.  China and Russia's increasing crude oil trade is an 'important breakthrough' in their relationship, according to Chinese President Hu Jintao.  Korea National Oil Company and China's Sinopec ...