All

Seems The NSA Spied On Me When I Lived In Belgium

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Seems The NSA Spied On Me When I Lived In Belgium

Another Edward Snowden revelation indicates that I, a humble, incoherent, harmless, and (mostly) law-abiding American, may have gotten tangled up in the NSA’s vast spying dragnet for inexplicable reasons of national security. It’s getting personal.

Rising Costs A Silent Killer In US Oil Exploration And Production (But Where Are The Opportunities?)

by Contributor •  • Comments Off on Rising Costs A Silent Killer In US Oil Exploration And Production (But Where Are The Opportunities?)

By Dave Forest, Oil & Energy Insider: Critical news for the Exploration & Production sector came this month. Not a new discovery. Not a drilling technique. It didn’t come from geologists or engineers. It came from accountants: ballooning costs as silent E&P killer.

Japan Is Used To Natural Disasters, But This One Is Man-Made

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Japan Is Used To Natural Disasters, But This One Is Man-Made

The dogfight over Japan’s biggest problem, its gargantuan government deficit, entered its annual ritual of leaks and pressure tactics that usually lead to a pre-Christmas draft budget with an even bigger deficit. But this time, it’s different. Very different.

The Makings of a Petro-State in North Dakota

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on The Makings of a Petro-State in North Dakota

By Nick Cunningham, OilPrice.com: The Energy Information Administration predicts the Bakken formation in North Dakota will surpass 1 million barrels per day of oil production in December. Since 2010, production has skyrocketed. So has the money.

The Most Despised Tax-And-Retreat French President Sinks Deeper Into Economic Quagmire

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on The Most Despised Tax-And-Retreat French President Sinks Deeper Into Economic Quagmire

“Insurrection” is showing up in the French media, though it’s still more an exaggeration than a description. “Fiscal discontent” is better, but not broad enough. Now François Hollande, the most despised French President in the history of polls, is going to turn this mess around.

Prince Alwaleed Warns, US Shale Revolution Threatens Saudi Economic Stability

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on Prince Alwaleed Warns, US Shale Revolution Threatens Saudi Economic Stability

By Joao Peixe of Oilprice.com: While Saudi Arabia continues to state that it is not at all worried by the increasing production driven by the US shale revolution, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, the billionaire CEO and owner of the Kingdom Holding Company, frets about it.

Gagging Doubt: French Crackdown On French And American Bloggers Who Question Megabank Balance Sheets

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Gagging Doubt: French Crackdown On French And American Bloggers Who Question Megabank Balance Sheets

France’s Financial Markets Authority slapped fines on two bloggers, Frenchman Jean-Pierre Chevallier and American Mike “Mish” Shedlock, “for having spread inexact information about the level of indebtedness” of megabank Société Générale. Instead of going after banks, bank regulators are going after bloggers! It’s more convenient.

Argentine Stocks React to President Kirchner’s Latest Handiwork

by Bianca Fernet •  • Comments Off on Argentine Stocks React to President Kirchner’s Latest Handiwork

By Bianca Fernet, Argentina, The Bubble: President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner returned to her post this week, shuffling her cabinet and shaking up financial markets. Balding men marked the occasion by holding their heads in their hands in front of computer screens.

Mexico: the Final Piece in North America’s Energy Renaissance

by Oilprice.com •  • Comments Off on Mexico: the Final Piece in North America’s Energy Renaissance

By Rory Johnston, OilPrice.com: While American and Canadian crude production has jumped over 30% in the last decade, Mexican production has fallen by over a quarter. Now the Mexican government might finally act.

Use Bitcoin As A Currency, Get Wiped Out (The Government Likes It That Way)

by Wolf Richter •  • Comments Off on Use Bitcoin As A Currency, Get Wiped Out (The Government Likes It That Way)

Four years after its creation, folks are still arguing over what bitcoin is: “investment opportunity of the millennium,” “part of a societal revolution,” a security, a currency, a casino token? Whatever. But US regulators now have a strategy for killing it as a currency.