The 500 Most Influential CEOs in the World?

Ziad Abdelnour #142 out of the 500 Most Influential CEOs in the World!

Description: As Founder and Chairman of the Financial Policy Council and Wall Street investor, Financier, Author,

Philanthropist, Activist, Lobbyist, Oil & Gas Trader & President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc.

New York, NY, December 30, 2015, http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/FPC_AboutUs.aspx?id=NEWS

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Ziad Abdelnour- #142 out of the 500 Most Influential CEOs in the World

Find out who’s who in the 500 Most Influential CEOs in the world. Discover the social media influencers among us.

Each week The 500 Most Influential CEOs in the world Power 500 recognises the most inspiring social media accounts so you can follow them, join the community and learn more.

Wall Street Investor & Financier, Wharton Grad, Pres.& CEO Blackhawk Partners, Chmn Financial Policy Council, Author Economic Warfare

For More: https://www.rise.global/500-ceos

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Entrepreneurship: The Way To the Future?

A decade ago, nearly all of the smartest business school graduates flocked to Wall Street traditional corporate jobs in finance and management.

Today, I see a growing number of newly minted Ivy League graduates decide to start their own businesses or go to work for Silicon Valley startups.

In one study of over 30,000 Wharton graduates, conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that more than 7% of 2013 grads started their own companies right away — five times as many as in 2007.

They also discovered that, since 1990, nearly a quarter of Wharton grads have been entrepreneurs at some point, even if it wasn't straight out of school.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/blogdetails.aspx?id=93/Entrepreneurship:-The-Way-To-the-Future

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Do You Network Properly for Business Relationship Building

I used to love attending networking events and crowded conferences. I’m a bit of an extrovert and it always felt great networking with people of all walks of life and sizing up in a heartbeat who was real and who was a total waste of time.

I realized later on that those networking events are a total waste of time… So I decided not to attend any one of them unless I was invited as a panel or keynote speaker. Since then, all started to work like a charm.

Given my experience in the domain, I thought about sharing some of my thoughts with you so you can get the most out of your time spent.

1.Stop Obsessive Networking

The more people you know–really know–the more likely you are to make that important connection you need to take your career, company, or venture to the next level. All the rest is a waste of time.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/network-properly/

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Iron Ore Trading for Industrial & Financial consumers

For those who haven’t done business with us in the past, Blackhawk Partners is a reliable trader and supplier of a wide range of commodities to industrial and financial consumers globally.

The Firm’s customers around the world rely upon us as a source of Metals and Minerals and Crude Oil and Oil Products.

One of the major commodities we have been extensively trading for some time now – in the physical market – is Iron Ore.

For the rookies in the business who want to enter this highly lucrative market, Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, deep purple, to rusty red.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/iron-ore-trading-review-state-art/

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Co-Sponsored by Financial Policy Council – Global Financial Summit 2016

The Global Financial Summit is an exclusive investment conference that brings together an all-star cast of financial gurus, economic forecasters and geo-political analysts. They will offer an experienced perspective on wealth-building, offshore investing opportunities, financial privacy, investment strategies, the best investments to beat the market, and techniques to avoid treacherous bear markets. Featuring some of the biggest names and most insightful advisers in the investment world, the Global Financial Summit offers personalized and exclusive recommendations and opportunities for the most discerning investors who value market principles as a basis for their investing decisions.

For More: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/142990

Ziad Abdelnour | Global terrorism changing world markets, national security and human rights

The mission of the Financial Policy Council Inc. (FPC), a research think tank and educational institution, is to formulate and promote sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise and wealth creation as envisioned by the ideals of the American Founding Fathers.

Impact of Lower Oil Prices - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, Canada

It is a fact that the US has increased its production of oil quite dramatically over the last two to three years. It has actually increased it by the size of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members or about two and a half to three million barrels per day.

So we are sitting today on around nine million barrels per day, which is third only to Saudi Arabia and Russia.

I believe that growth is still going to be happening, even if the oil price stays in the $80 to $90 dollar range it is right now.

There is indeed still a lot of production that is still going to be quite profitable in the United States and there is still going to be drilling. We have actually seen the rig rates in the United States kind of stay the same and that is really going to keep continuing to drive, maybe even adding another million barrels per day by the end of next year, which I believe will continue to add pressure on oil prices.

Saudi Arabias

Given the current situation in the good old USA, what is Saudi Arabia thinking?

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/geopolitical-impact-lower-oil-prices-personal-assessment/

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The Sony Breach: the Evidence vs Politics

Blaming North Korea for the Sony breach may be like blaming Benghazi on a video. The Sony breach may be much larger than is being admitted and It may affect your household.

Everyone is agog at the recent breach at Sony Pictures in Hollywood.  Movies that have yet to be distributed were downloaded and put on peer to peer sharing sites called torrents. Emails were leaked that showed far left Democrats insulting Obama and making some pretty nasty racist jokes about him. Angelina Jolie was called a no talent bitch and other actors, like Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith’s children, were also insulted. The FBI quickly blamed North Korea with absolutely no evidence and later doubled down after saying they had investigated the case.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/sony-breach-evidence-vs-politics/

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About Empowering People - Ziad Abdelnour

I believe success is all about empowering people. The more people you empower, the more money and power one acquires in addition to having an ever increasing impact on his/her constituency. Empowering people is in fact and in my opinion better than education and management hierarchy combined.

The Key question then becomes: How do you truly empower people?

I believe there are several ways to do it. Empowering is really like fueling them with the guns they need to shoot. Here are some ways

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/about-empowering-people/

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Happy Holidays Greetings by Ziad K Abdelnour CEO of blackhawkpartners

Happy Holidays Greetings by Ziad K Abdelnour CEO of blackhawkpartners.com

Religious fervor and the future of Lebanon

A blessing because the liberal Lebanese value the diversity of sects and appreciate the cultural flavors it adds to the society. They see it as an opportunity to influence and be influenced by others on an intellectual, social, cultural and even educational level. They cherish this engagement and try to promote it whenever they talk about Lebanon. They accept it as a fundamental aspect of Lebanese society and very rarely (if ever) this diversity, negatively influences our choices of friends, life partners, lovers and other aspects of our daily lives.

The liberals consist of a small portion of the Lebanese, most of them are very well educated, some living abroad, others fighting hard to abolish sectarianism, to legalize civil marriage (as opposed to religious marriages), to promote and defend human rights etc… (among many other social and humanitarian causes).

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.org/religious-fervor-and-the-future-of-lebanon/

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Becoming the Successful Entrepreneur You Aspire to be

You can tell a lot about a person by the company that they keep. There’s a saying that goes something like: You become the average of the six people that you spend the most time with.

So many people I know keep asking me again and again if I could be their mentor.

For entrepreneurs, the concept of mentorship is one that can be both powerful and elusive. Mentors can help you perform better, point out shortcomings in your business model and make introductions to help further your career.

However, many of us spend a good deal of time without ever finding that one perfectly wise, helpful, been-there-done-that successful individual to take us under his or her wings and navigate the bumpy road to success.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.net/becoming-the-successful-entrepreneur-you-aspire-to-be

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My 10 Business Quotes Ever | Ziad Abdelnour

“Every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty.”
John D. Rockefeller, Founder, Standard Oil Corp.

“If you know exactly how much money you have…then you don’t have  enough.”
Carlos Slim, World’s wealthiest person (2007, 2010-2013).

“It is far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”
Warren Buffett, Chairman & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

“If you do something, and it turns out pretty good, You should go out and do something else wonderful. Don’t dwell on it for too long, just figure out what’s next”
Steve Jobs, Co-Founder Apple, Inc.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourauthor.com/my-10-business-quotes-ever/

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Best Advice for a Rookie Start-Up CEO

I have backed over 125 companies over my Wall Street career and can humbly say reviewed over 5,000 business plans… From startups to very established companies seeking financing.

These are my golden nuggets I thought I’d share with every bright-eyed rookie CEO starting his entrepreneurial career. Hope you will make the most out of it.

1. Contrary to the stereotype, startups are a marathon, not a sprint.
The truth is, you are not going to be a billion dollar company or be acquired in the next 18 months. The process always takes longer than you think.

2. Determination is the biggest predictor of long-term success: Nobody had an easy road. You can succeed, but often it is a matter of how badly you want to.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/best-advice-rookie-start-ceo/

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Elate Partners and Sister Company, Announce New Partner

We're very excited to have someone of Mr. Abdelnour's caliber on board as we continue our mission of globalizing China's tremendous potential." Pei Zou, Managing Partner at Elate, stated, "China is undergoing a massive transition to a productivity-driven economy focused on a huge domestic market. With excess capital and first-class manufacturing capabilities, China needs western technologies. As its economy slows, Chinese investors are seeking a more global allocation of their assets by investing in better-performing economies such as the US, but also by monetizing their China-based assets. Elate Partners is the only organization that builds its business exclusively around this need. Partnership with someone of Mr. Abdelnour's stature, will help us take our effort to the next level."

Elate Partners is an investment group backed by large institutional, strategic and wealthy individuals focused on connecting capital, assets, technologies, and talents between China and the western world.

For More: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elate-partners-and-sister-company-pa-asset-advisors-announce-new-partner-300187196.html

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Ziad Abdelnour - Elate Partners and Sister Company, PA Asset Advisors, Announce New Partner

Elate Partners, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; in conjunction with its sister company, PA Asset Advisors in Dallas, Texas; is pleased to announce that Ziad Abdelnour, President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, New York, NY, has agreed to serve as a board member at Elate Partners. Mr. Ziad Abdelnour is very connected in Wall Street financial circles, has a wide network in American politics, and will help guide Elate's Asset Monetization business. The partnership will focus on the interests of Blackhawk's clients, from oil, gas, mines and specialty real-estate, to technology-based alternative energy, high-end equipment manufacturing, medical and biotechnology, modern agriculture, and aerospace.

Mr. Ziad Abdelnour stated, "I am very pleased about the opportunity this partnership will create for both of our companies. Such a collaboration will help western companies expand into the vast Chinese market, allow western financiers access to China's huge untapped asset base, and match needs of Chinese companies with western solutions."

For More: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elate-partners-and-sister-company-pa-asset-advisors-announce-new-partner-300187196.html

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What is your purpose in life?

I used to ask myself this question every day. I think I have finally figured it out after many years of soul searching…. Here are my thoughts. Would equally appreciate yours.

As we all know today, it is a cardinal sin to reason without sufficient data – In today’s world, if you are young, you have had hardly any time to explore anything very much apart from school work.

The little time you have before puberty hits with its own distractions, gets ground down in the relentless cycle of school and continuous adult supervision/micromanagement.

It’s never too late to choose your essence, or yourself, although if you are older, you will have to be much more patient in order to progress.

I recommend making a spreadsheet… When in doubt, make a spreadsheet, assess everything in columns – it’s a wonderful aid to analysis.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/what-is-your-purpose-in-life/

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Ziad K Abdelnour Quotes

Great Motivational, Popular, famous, Life quotes can be the fuel to your fire when things are getting tough. We believe that everybody needs a motivational, Popular, famous, living life reminder during challenging times, even if you are well accomplished.

The following collection of motivational quotes will inspire you and remind you that we all have the power inside of us to achieve amazing and wonderful things.

For More:

http://www.ziadkabdelnour.com/ziad-k-abdelnour-quotes/

Success and Ego - Two sides of the same coin?

When you start identifying yourself with your academic achievements/failures, a successful/failed career or even with the image that you are a benevolent/kind person or bad or perverted, that is ego. People generally think that success leads to ego. But on the contrary, ego leads to both superiority and inferiority complex.

It is not the ego which is bad, but the impact which it has on our personality that makes it disastrous. When you start seeing the world through these spectacles, you are full of yourself and this makes you a very proud person or you feel worthless when you are in the company of successful" people.

Many of them are successful in the eyes of society but they are not happy. If that’s the scenario, what’s the use of such success? No doubt, money is important but earning money and running after it are completely two different things. And I am glad that I now understand the difference.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/blogdetails.aspx?id=1107/Success-and-Ego---Two-sides-of-the-same-coin

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Ziad K Abdelnour - Rebel with a Cause

Ziad K. Abdelnour is a Wall Street Financier, Author, Philanthropist, Activist, Lobbyist, Oil & Gas Trader & President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc., Blackhawk Partners, Inc., is a private “family office” that has two major lines of business. Blackhawk Partners, Inc., is also a firm that serves as both an advisor to and an investor in its clients.

Importance of Money, Power, Respect?

We all know that man comes in the world alone and goes from the world alone. He is only remembered by his acts. Some do good for others while some spend their lives running after money.

One cannot deny the fact that Money is power. Money is though erratic, when in low positions, respect acts an important support. By the same token, money can’t buy respect but respect can help earn money. Besides, you can have all the money you want, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into power or respect. Money can buy power at times, but respect is hard to demand.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.net/money-power-respect-which-trumps-all

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The Activist Investor: A True Ally of Corporate Governance

Activist investors: Publicly listed companies fear them. Corporate governance pundits generally do not trust them. Retail investors quietly applaud them, and most laymen do not understand them. However, it is clear that in today’s complex corporate world, we need them. Activist investors may be the only players in the game that can effectively “Occupy Wall Street”.

We have entered the twilight zone when it comes to corporate governance. The zone where many Boards bury their head in the sand when it comes to breaches in compliance, as in the case of HSBC and the tax evasion scandal of February 2015. Certain Boards passively bow to the dictates of executive management, throwing all accountability on the corporation-as-entity, with no individual responsibility. All other stakeholders, from shareholders, to suppliers, to workers, to humble taxpayers are left to peck at what is left of net worth after the share price dives, and are left to fork out money for regulation and reconstruction.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/articledetails.aspx?id=52/The-Activist-Investor:-A-True-Ally-of-Corporate-Governance

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When Will We Stop Blindly Pissing Away Money Down the R&D Rat Hole?

Let me start by saying that I am a physicist and have been involved with many of the leading U.S. research facilities over the years -- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia Laboratories, just to name two.  I also directed the Socrates Project under the Reagan administration.  So the quick knee-jerk reaction to the title that "I don't understand research and development or the value of technology" holds no water at all.  Please don't even try to argue this point.

Research and development (R&D) does not equate to a competitive advantage in the marketplace or on the military battlefield.  Knowledge for knowledge’s sake is a worthwhile pursuit.  Totally agree.  But it is conceptually flawed and detrimental to the objective -- being competitive -- when companies and governments use the need to increase economic and military might as justification for higher expenditures on R&D.  But yet this is the rapidly rising battle cry among the leading thinkers in Congress, the Pentagon, academia, think tanks, and the press -- "Raise R&D funding levels, and America's future will be secured."  How so far from the truth.


For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/blogdetails.aspx?id=1106/When-Will-We-Stop-Blindly-Pissing-Away-Money-Down-the-R&D-Rat-Hole

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Closing Oil Derivatives Related Transactions by Blackhawk Partners

We at Blackhawk are approached by at least 500 supposed providers and sellers of oil derivative and other crude oil products a year and yet maybe only 2% of such providers have access to real product. Surprised? You shouldn’t be at all.

As you may or may not know, the reality today is that oil buyers are a dime a dozen, real fuel is the issue. The secondary market is for the most part composed of “fake offers” around the world doing a circle jerk on the Internet as people who have the real oil already know where to sell it.

In fact, you can just imagine the number of people who have “allocation contracts” that never get a drop of oil because they don’t pay the people they have to pay to get oil. Allocation holders are not title holders no matter how loudly they protest.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/about-closing-oil-derivatives-relatedtransactions/

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Are We Facing An Economic Disaster?

Bottom Line: I strongly believe that central bankers’ actions have put the global economy today in a very dangerous position.

Interest rates are too low. As a result, we’re seeing a replay of the mid-2000s – when interest rates were too low given economic growth, and as a result, the bubble in US subprime property was inflated. And when it blew up, it triggered the global financial crisis.

I am afraid a similar thing is happening today. Even though the US economy is growing, interest rates are lower than they’ve ever been. It’s hard to argue that current conditions justify that level of emergency intervention.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourauthor.com/are-we-facing-an-economic-disaster/

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Is the intellectual elite out of touch with reality?

It has been a central conceit of the progressive movement since the early 1900's that simply getting enough smart people together will cure all our problems.

This is the approach of technocracy -- rule by experts.  We tried it.  Wilson and his ilk "solved" the problem of world peace after WWI, Kennedy and his brain trust "solved" the Bay of Pigs crisis with Cuba, Reagan and his A-Team of savvy business people "broke down" the Soviet Union, George W. Bush and his close circle of neo-cons "prevailed" over evil in the Middle East.

All of them with their elite "Ivy leaguers" thought they were going to redraw the maps of the globe.  All what they did was create a bigger mess than ever in every single corner of the globe.... We're still cleaning up the mess in the Middle East caused by acts of hubris and years of "rookie" foreign policy. We now have practically every country in the world on our back resenting our actions after having lost all trust in us to say  the least.... and this is just the beginning.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/blogdetails.aspx?id=1105/Is-the-Intellectual-Elite-Out-of-Touch-with-Reality

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Becoming Part of the Super Rich Club Running the World

Having been on Wall Street for over 30 years now, and having survived the 1987 crash, the Drexel Burnham bankruptcy, the 1990 credit crunch, the 2000 Internet crash, the real estate meltdown of 2006 and the 2008 Wall Street financial crisis, I think I have learned a thing or two about how to make money, how to survive crises and most importantly how to really thrive and become part of the exclusive Club of 1% when most went buckling.

So what specific characteristics do you need to have to be part of that Club?

Well… you really have three options:

Option 1: You need to love money. You want to say, everybody loves money. Wrong!!! “Everybody” loves spending money – house, cars, food, services, you name it. That can only get you out of the 1%. You need to be sincerely interested to the level of excitement in how money is made, how markets or real estate work, how money grows. You need to get your kick out of making money. Short of that, you won’t get there.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.net/becoming-part-of-the-super-rich-club-running-the-world

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Financial Collapse or Recovery Ahead?

I believe the American economy’s fate near term will be mainly determined by the Saudi-Russian power play in the making. If Saudi Arabia drifts out of America’s orbit, our ability to avoid financial collapse will be difficult if not impossible.

Low oil prices have indeed kept inflation today down, allowing the Fed to continue stalling on a normalization of U.S. interest rates. A rise in oil prices likely would result in increased inflation. This would remove a crucial public excuse, enabling the Fed to justify zero interest rates.

I have been arguing for many years now that the Fed will not normalize interest rates, other than a possible token 0.25 percent, until forced to do so by market forces. I think those market forces are already in play and will be more so with a Russian – Saudi close collaboration on oil prices.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/financial-collapse-or-recovery-ahead-watch-out-closely-the-saudi-russian-power-play/

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HOW LIKELY WORLD WAR III?

The US used to be able to fight multiple parallel wars, but has demonstrated it can fight at best 1.5 wars — delay/hold on one while fighting the other. It’s possible that in an all out situation, the US could focus more on winning vs. casualties (civilian or own-forces), and maybe fight 1-2 simultaneous conflicts while holding down a few others, but that would be a stretch politically and logistically.

Almost no other countries maintain force projection capabilities (strategic airlift like C-17s and tankers, global sealift and sea control), so it’s highly likely the US would be the only combatant in each sphere of operation, augmented by regional or local allies (e.g. Australia for SEA conflicts; Japan in East Asia; France in North Africa). The UK, maybe Canada would make some effort to contribute in some randomly selected conflicts, but fundamentally the US would be doing the majority.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourauthor.com/how-likely-world-war-iii/

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How effective has US foreign policy in Middle East | Ziad Abdelnour

My short answer – with the sole exception of the Camp David accords – is somewhere between “completely ineffective” and “making a bad situation worse”.

Unfortunately, it seems that all of the US’s current problems in the Middle East are of our own making… and the cynically minded would even say that this is by design.

So the U.S. Foreign policy in the Middle East has done nothing but totally destabilize the world. Thanks to our foreign policy luminaries from our supposedly “elite” ivory towers a la Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc…. hundreds of thousands of refugees are invading Europe. Soon, Europeans will be second class citizens in our own continent thanks to America.

It was the same in Somalia… Yes it was horrific seeing them all starve, but now it’s happening on the streets of Europe thanks to our incompetent “Ivy Leaguers” trying to play Gods by advising naive Presidents of how to remove pathetic dictators … It should’ve been up to the people of Somalia to remove their leader themselves.  We never learned anything.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.org/how-effective-has-us-foreign-policy-in-the-middle-east-been-over-the-last-50-years/

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Event Driven Investing - A Review of the State of the Art

One investment strategy we at Blackhawk Partners have been particularly been involved in over the last few years is “Event Driven Investing”.

Event-driven investing is an investing strategy that seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies that may occur before or after a corporate event, such as a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition or spinoff.

To illustrate, consider what happens in the case of a potential acquisition. When a company signals its intent to buy another company, the stock price of the company to be acquired typically rises. However, it usually remains somewhere below the acquisition price—a discount that reflects the market’s uncertainty about whether the acquisition will truly occur.

That’s when we enter the picture. We will analyze the potential acquisition—looking at the reason for the acquisition, the terms of the acquisition and any regulatory issues (such as antitrust laws)—and determine the likelihood of the acquisition actually occurring. If it seems likely that the deal will close, we will purchase the stock of the company to be acquired, and sell it after the acquisition, when its price has risen to the acquisition price (or greater).

For More: http://ziadabdelnourblackhawk.com/event-driven-investing-a-review-of-the-state-of-the-art/

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The 10 Most Valuable Lessons I Have Learned Over My Career

I thought of sharing these nuggets of wisdom with all of our fans at Blackhawk out there hoping that one day it will make a difference in the lives of many.

I can only imagine how going up the corporate latter or building one’s own company is challenging these days – and this to say the least.

Every time you hit a wall, it seems that you can do nothing right. But I just want you to understand that top performers don’t think like this. They take everything they go through (good and bad times) as a learning experience. From rejection and failures, you’ll only get better, the moment you choose to move on.


For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/getting-ahead-business-10-valuable-lessons-learned-career/

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When Will the Doomsayers Be Right and Can They Make Us Any Money?

Mark Skousen, Ph. D., Editor of Forecasts & Strategies, is a nationally known investment expert, economist, university professor, and author of more than 25 books. Currently Skousen is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He recently was named one of the 20 most influential living economists. He earned his Ph. D. in monetary economics at George Washington University in 1977. He has taught economics and finance at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, Grantham University, Barnard College, Mercy College, Rollins College and Chapman University. He also has been a consultant to IBM, Hutchinson Technology and other Fortune 500 companies.

Ziad K. Abdelnour is a Wall Street Financier, Author, Philanthropist, Activist, Lobbyist, Oil & Gas Trader & President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc., a New York based private equity “family office” that focuses on originating, structuring, advising and acting as equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations, buildups, and growth capital financing in companies and projects based both in the US and emerging markets.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/EventDetails.aspx?id=41/When-Will-the-Doomsayers-Be-Right-and-Can-They-Make-Us-Any-Money

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Harvard Business Review: Candid Arrogance or Just Plain Stupidity?

A few years back, I was in Hsinchu, Taiwan, (aka "Science City") lecturing on technology strategies to 35 vice presidents and senior executives of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious Taiwanese high tech corporations. As we began to dig deeper into the true definition of “strategy,” a member of the audience asked for my view of the Harvard Business Review.  He asked the question because we were discussing the difference between true strategy and what the business world usually passes off as strategy.

I immediately responded to the question by calling the Harvard Business Review a Trick-of-the-Month club.  I explained that one month, HBR will say that the key to a company's success is for it to totally focus on the customer.  Two months later, the HBR will say that the key to success is to totally ignore the customer to avoid always being stuck in the present.  In neither case does the HBR explain why the approach is sound, nor does the writer connect to any of HBR's other previous "nuggets of wisdom."   I shared that I’ve noticed that in most cases, these “nuggets” are nothing more than isolated and superficial observations that HBR’s contributors and writers base upon fragmented, anecdotal information.  HBR treats readers as nothing more than fat, dumb frogs willing to blindly jump from lily pad to lily pad, not caring that they have no ability to know which pad will be strong enough to support their hefty weight.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/FPCNEW/blogdetails.aspx?id=1104/Harvard-Business-Review:--Candid-Arrogance-or-Just-Plain-Stupidity

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Bringing Main Street to Wall Street - Financial Policy Council

The mission of the Financial Policy Council Inc. (FPC), a research think tank and educational institution, is to formulate and promote sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise and wealth creation as envisioned by the ideals of the American Founding Fathers.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/MMedia.aspx

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Increasing Marketshare and Profitability through the Crowd

When crowdfunding and marketplace lending came onto the scene there was little interest from Wall Street in these platforms that were mainly working with undesirable startups and sub-prime borrowers.

Georgia P. Quinn is a securities attorney specializing in crowdfunding at the firm of Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole.  Quinn was recognized in 2014 as a Top Female Attorney in New York City by Thomson-Reuters.

Chris Tyrrell, CEO of OfferBoard has more than 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, financial law, technology and capital markets, having managed and founded two private technology companies and been involved in over $20 billion of financing transactions.

Joy Schoffler, founder and principal of Leverage PR, is a nationally recognized author and speaker in the field of innovative financial services marketing and communications.

D.J. Paul is the founder of DJP&Co., a financial services consulting firm specializing in investment crowdfunding regulation, implementation and business development.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/MMedia.aspx?vname=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRX16oF-AI8

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The Economic Plans of International - Ziad Abdelnour

The FASB would be directed to make all banks and financial corporations value their assets at their true market value. This would reveal the mega Wall Street banks and corporations like GE and the likes to be insolvent. An orderly bankruptcy of all insolvent financial firms involving the sell-off of their legitimate assets to well-run risk adverse banks that didn’t screw up would ensue. Bondholders and stockholders would realize their losses for awful investment decisions. The economic system would be purged of its bad debt.

The currency of the US would be backed by hard assets. A basket of gold, silver, platinum, uranium, and some other limited hard commodities would back the USD. If politicians attempted to spend too much, the price of this basket would reflect their inflationary schemes immediately.

For More: http://www.streetarticles.com/economics/an-economic-plan-worth-considering

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When Will the Doomsayers Be Right and Can They Make Us Money?

When Will the Doomsayers Be Right and Can They Make Us Any Money? - Financial Policy Council   Monday, 16 November 2015 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Topic: When Will the Doomsayers Be Right and Can They Make Us Money? 

 

Date: Monday November 16, 2015  

Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm  

Location: The Graduate Center / CUNY at 365 Fifth Avenue at The Elebash Recital Hall – On the main floor of the building and on the left as you enter into the main lobby 

Moderator:

Mark Skousen, Ph. D., Editor of Forecasts & Strategies, is a nationally known investment expert, economist, university professor, and author of more than 25 books. Currently Skousen is a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He recently was named one of the 20 most influential living economists.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/EventDetails.aspx?id=41/When-Will-the-Doomsayers-Be-Right-and-Can-They-Make-Us-Any-Money

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Dollars Versus Syrian Humanitarianism - Is There a Return on Investment?

I strongly believe that allowing more refugees to move to the United States - a solution that would certainly work, would carry little in the way of short-term financial costs, and would likely provide a powerful boost to the US economy and drastically increase the living standards of Syrians who are able to relocate.

If we're actually serious about helping Syrian people - both people who've stayed and refugees - it's not enough to identify an intervention that seems like it could make things better and then declare that it's the only viable solution. You have to compare it with alternative plans, and see which produces the most good at the least cost. And it's very, very hard to argue that the kind of intervention that could have plausibly prevented the bloodshed of the past four years would have done more good, at lower cost, than simply issuing green cards to every Syrian who wants one - or even issuing them to just 1 million, or 500,000 - and providing airlifts to bring people here.

For More: Dollars Versus Syrian Humanitarianism

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For Russia oil equals money, what if the money dries up before the oil does?

For most countries, the economic slowdown in China and the accompanying slump in commodity prices represent something between nuisance and pothole.  For Russia, they are a catastrophe.

Russia’s currency and economy, already squeezed by Western sanctions, have been sent into virtual free fall by slumping oil prices. The IMF now puts Russia’s long-term potential growth at 1.5%. I personally think it’s just 1%, astonishing for a country whose standard of living is barely 40% that of the U.S.

Russia is indeed skating on thin ice: Cheap oil, Western sanctions and years of mismanagement have sent its economy into a deep freeze. Now everyone is wondering when the ice will crack.
                                                         
Inflation has soared to 15%, the ruble is trading near record lows, consumer and business sentiment is on the slide, and its companies are shut out of financial markets in the US and Europe.

For More: http://us.wowcity.com/newjersey/pottersville/page_article/?id=7137

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CREATING THE RIGHT NON PROFIT BOARD

It happened to me last month….. An executive director of a non-profit approached me after my keynote address at a very big event in Washington DC and mentioned how ineffective his board of directors is.

He was very impressed in what I have created at the Financial Policy Council http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/ and wanted to explore ways I could assist him creating a similar type board at his non-profit.

I said why not and we went doing a series of things that helped his board better understand its role and get excited and engaged in the work of expanding its reach, increasing its accountability, and driving its growth strategy.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/creating-the-right-non-profit-board/

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WHY DO PEOPLE VIEW MAKING MONEY AS EVIL?

I believe there was a time before capitalism took hold when everybody didn’t have too many opportunities to make vast amounts of money without resorting to illegal or evil ways. It was a time when government (or before that the monarchy) controlled everything. Actual freedom to run with your ideas and build companies is a recent development. It happened in the US first. In other countries it’s even more recent. So even when capitalism took hold, initially it wasn’t fair.

There was a lot of what is now referred to as crony capitalism. In the US this was the time of the “robber barons”. In India, Russia, China, etc….people are still living in this “robber baron’s” age. This has enforced the idea in the common man’s mind that making money is evil. It will take some time before enough people will be able to earn significant amounts of money through honest means before this idea changes.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.org/what-to-do-with-lebanon/

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What To Do With Lebanon?

It is a fact to everybody today that Lebanon’s situation been teetering close to the breaking point. Unless Assad is dealt with once and for all, Lebanon’s political and security institutions, its economy and its social fabric will without a doubt disintegrate into oblivion.

While the country’s main parties have joined a national unity government, the latter has still declared an official policy of neutrality and disengagement toward the Syrian conflict, which frankly doesn’t change a thing. Hezbollah is today more than ever fully engaged in the fight alongside the Assad regime and this has created space for the rise of more radical groups that want to challenge Hezbollah directly such as the movement of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, the Abdullah Azzam brigades, Jubhat al Nusra and other al-Qaeda linked groups.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.org/what-to-do-with-lebanon/

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GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT “STRATEGIC INFLUENCE”

What is Strategic Influence?

Strategic influence is quickly becoming a critical skill because the nature of work is changing: success now depends on the ability to collaborate with all parts of the organization and to manage a web of connections that spans the broader business community. Your personal ability is a given these days. The fact is that you can no longer get anything done without other people.

It’s a concept that originated in the military, to describe one country’s ability to shape another country’s actions and policies. In that sphere, influence largely equates to power. As the term has migrated into the business world, however, its definition has altered. Today, an executive’s strategic influence is not nearly as dependent on authority as it is on integrity and also on the strong ties forged with people inside and outside the organization who respect that executive’s knowledge and point-of-view and respond positively to them.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.net/getting-serious-about-strategic-influence/

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It’s All About Big Oil'S Interests Stupid

Wake up folks…. It is high time to realize that the whole Syrian shenanigan was nothing but Assad getting in the crosshairs between his ally Putin and his Arab foes’ interests (Qatar and Saudi Arabia).

All the rest is for the birds… no matter what the US media leads you to believe.

No one gives a rat’s ass about 120,000 people dying or Assad playing with his toys…. It’s all about money, oil and power….. Very unfortunate state of affairs but true.

The fact of the matter is that Assad refused to sign a proposed agreement with Qatar that would run a pipeline from the latter’s North field, contiguous with Iran’s South Pars field, through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and on to Turkey, with a view to supply European markets – albeit crucially bypassing Russia.

For More: http://ziadabdelnour.net/its-all-about-big-oils-interests-stupid/

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About Venture Philanthropy

I also believe a philanthropist should think like an entrepreneur and think of social challenges as an opportunity to create large enterprises. It’s really easy to create a $1 billion company–you just have to solve a $10 billion problem. Most of these large $10 to $100 billion problems happen to be social problems. That’s why I think that some of the largest opportunity exist for an entrepreneur in solving humanity’s grand challenges.

True philanthropy requires a disruptive mindset, innovative thinking and a philosophy driven by entrepreneurial insights and creative opportunities. To disrupt the status quo, drive philanthropy at tremendous scale, and develop long-term economic vitality through giving, we must apply the same models for success in our philanthropic endeavors as we do in business.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/about-venture-philanthropy/

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Reinventing Capitalism?

It is argued that Capitalism is the single most effective engine for change we’ve ever invented but it’s also been instrumental in creating the very challenges that threaten our continued survival: climate change, the impending energy crisis, even over-population.

Does capitalism’s focus need to be changed – from short-term stock prices, valuing profits over people, and costs deferred to future generations – to some more alluring system if this system exists.

I personally believe that anything we will do to reign on Capitalism will stifle the wonders that it produces. I also believe that the so-called “problems of capitalism” are not from capitalism itself, but from attempts to “improve” on the free market in an attempt to better some particular interest group by redistribution from some other lesser interest group, at the point of a gun.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/reinventing-capitalism/

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The mission of the Financial Policy Council

The mission of the Financial Policy Council Inc. (FPC), a research think tank and educational institution, is to formulate and promote sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise and wealth creation as envisioned by the ideals of the American Founding Fathers.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/default.aspx

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Branding Your Non - Profit

It is clear to anyone in the nonprofit sector today that fundraising is maybe the most important activity out there if you want your organization not just to survive but also to thrive.

Most charitable nonprofits rely today upon the generosity of donors for some or all of their funding and many fundraising focused businesses and consultants help nonprofits identify and cultivate individual donor prospects.

All good.. but what about branding? Do nonprofits at large pay enough attention to it?

I believe not.

For us though at the Financial Policy Council, branding is more than just a logo; it is the image and impression that sits in our donors mind when our organization’s name is mentioned.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/branding-your-non-profit/

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Can Our Tax Code be Transformed from a Tool for Redistribution

The mission of the Financial Policy Council Inc. (FPC), a research think tank and educational institution, is to formulate and promote sound public policy based on the principles of free enterprise and wealth creation as envisioned by the ideals of the American Founding Fathers.

For More: http://www.financialpolicycouncil.org/fpcnew/default.aspx

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Ziad K Abdelnour on Fox News

                 

Ziad Abdelnour says if we really want to go after these terrorists, we have to go after their pockets

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Economic Plan Worth Considering

The FASB would be directed to make all banks and financial corporations value their assets at their true market value. This would reveal the mega Wall Street banks and corporations like GE and the likes to be insolvent. An orderly bankruptcy of all insolvent financial firms involving the sell-off of their legitimate assets to well-run risk adverse banks that didn’t screw up would ensue. Bondholders and stockholders would realize their losses for awful investment decisions. The economic system would be purged of its bad debt.

The currency of the US would be backed by hard assets. A basket of gold, silver, platinum, uranium, and some other limited hard commodities would back the USD. If politicians attempted to spend too much, the price of this basket would reflect their inflationary schemes immediately.

For More: http://www.streetarticles.com/economics/an-economic-plan-worth-considering

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Monetizing your skills and network

First off, thank you for being part of my social media “inner circle”…. You are in here because we have much in common and I always appreciate your insight.

As we’re entering the latter part of the year, I thought I’d share and explore with you ways I can best help you “monetize” your skills and network and see where we go from there.

Basically,

1. I am one of the Founding Partners, President & CEO of Blackhawk Partners, Inc. a private “family office” that is in the business of originating, structuring and acting as equity investor in management-led buyouts, strategic minority equity investments, equity private placements, consolidations and buildups, and growth capital financings, and trading key physical commodities

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/can-best-help-monetize-skills-network/

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Preparing for the Coming Cyber-Economic Attack

Preparing for the Coming Cyber-Economic Attack - By Kevin Freeman The mission of the Financial Policy Council Inc. (FPC), a research think tank and education...

Things About Being Wealthy

I am often asked what is it to be wealthy that most people don’t know much about.

Well here are some facts that may surprise you and that you may or may not have imagined along with some tips as to how to best deal with it.

Being wealthy is an incredibly isolating experience. What I mean by that is you can’t really complain about your problems except within your small circle of rich friends. Otherwise, you will sound like an asshole. Even if you do, non-rich people can’t really empathize with you. There are a few other problems associated with being rich such as family/friends asking for money, unexpected jealous reaction from friends/family, pressure to deal with more complex tax, estate planning and investment planning, etc…

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/things-about-being-wealthy/

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So You Wanna Get And Stay Rich?

I get a lot of questions about how to get rich, and my answer is very simple.

Don’t spend too much. Mostly save. Always invest.

Yet so many people do the exact opposite—invest poorly, spend way too much, save almost nothing, and remain willfully ignorant about their finances.

Why? Because they don’t understand their relationship to money.

So how do you develop the good habit of turning you situation around, get out of your hole, get on the right track and stay on it?

The first step in changing money habits is taking a cold hard look at your financial input and output by adding up all your earnings and subtracting all your expenditures over three months. If your number is positive you’re one of the few people taking in more money than you spend. If your number is negative, and like the majority of men and women, you spend more than you make.

For More: http://ziadabdelnourfinance.com/so-you-wanna-get-and-stay-rich/

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Financial Policy Council, Event New York City

About How the Coming GOP-Tea Party Civil War Over the National Debt Will Imperil the Economic Recovery by John LeBoutillier - Financial Policy Council

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How's ISIS able to make Millions each day from Oil Sales?

Ziad Abdelnour says if we really want to go after these terrorists, we have to go after their pockets

Thinking about the Future by Herb London

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FPC in the News - Financial Policy Council

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Economic Warfare | Ziad Abdelnour - Author

Economic Warfare provides new insights for investors and business people looking to create wealth in the turbulent post-crisis world In a no holds barred expose of the 2008 financial meltdown from the inside, Ziad K. Abdelnour argues that the political and financial elites have done nothing to fix the structural problems and instead have worsened the situation. By creating more market bubbles, they are actually waging a war on the most productive members of society.

For investors, business people, and entrepreneurs that need to navigate the troubled geopolitical waters of the post-crisis world, Abdelnour offers several solutions, including looking at the world anew and understanding that the federal government’s primary objective is to promote the creation of an environment conducive to the creation of wealth not job creation, not bailouts, not subsidies, not expansion of the federal bureaucracy, and not providing lifetime support to those who choose not to take advantage of the innumerable opportunities that exist in this nation for them to create a better, more productive life for themselves.

For More: Economic Warfare

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Secret Formula for Making the Future World a Better Place

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Ziad K Abdelnour: The Secret Formula for Making the Future World a Better Place

Managing Risk -We believe Risk Management is a Corporate Culture Issue

At its most fundamental level, we at Blackhawk believe that risk management is a corporate culture issue. To manage risks effectively over time, employees must put the firm’s welfare and the preservation of important client relationships ahead of everything else. Risk is risk, and you can’t be perfect at managing it.

Consequently, we believe that the three absolutely indispensable ingredients of our success in managing risk are: Escalation, Accountability and Culture.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/managing-risk/

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Client Testimonials about Blackhawk Partners and Ziad K. Abdelnour

""Blackhawk Partners is the quintessential emerging physical commodities trading/private equity house in the market. Gets the job done no matter what and keeps you happy. Just make sure you are as straight with them as an arrow. Highly recommended."...

""Ziad Abdelnour and Blackhawk Partners are focused investors, who treat stakeholders with respect. They are also straight forward and do not waste people's time. They also always provide reasons for saying no to an investment and provide excellent guidance, which is rare in that industry. Excellent...

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/firm/testimonials/

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Oil Geopolitics and Iran

There has been much fuss lately as to the huge impact a deal with Iran will have on oil prices globally. I personally see the near-term impact on oil markets likely to be far less significant than most oil analysts predict, despite Iran’s large natural gas and oil reserves. The bottom line is that a deal with Iran would likely add only about 500,000 barrels/day to the 90-million-barrel daily oil market over the next 12 months. This would be a non-trivial amount, but clearly not a “game changer”. The baseline is for prices to return to about $70 for a barrel of Brent Crude in 2016. Oil Geopolitics and Iran

Additional supply from Iran would knock roughly $5/barrel off expectations – or less than one quarter of a standard deviation. Said another way, additional Iranian output could move prices lower, but many other factors, such as changes in global GDP or the return of Libyan oil, could prove more meaningful over the next year. What’s more, recent trading suggests the market has already priced in much of this risk. Over the longer term, I believe an increase in Iranian output could be for sure significant.

For More: Oil Geopolitics and Iran

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Insights by Ziad K Abdelnour on Business, Trading, Private Equity Investment

As we at Blackhawk Partners see it today, one of the biggest advantages emerging markets have offered investors is a strong growth story

Over the past decade, growth in emerging markets has in fact outpaced growth in developed markets by more than double. Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) looks like it will continue to outperform that of developed markets for at least the next five years, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/blog/

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About Blackhawk Partners: Strategic and Private Equity Investments

Blackhawk Partners, Inc., is a reliable trader and supplier of a wide range of commodities to industrial and financial consumers globally.

The Firm’s role is to be a trustworthy and competitive partner to businesses in the segments of the market which it serves and to support those businesses as they expand and develop.

The Firm’s customers around the world rely upon Blackhawk as a source of Metals and Minerals and Crude Oil and Oil Derivative Products.

These products originate either from Blackhawk directly or indirectly owned assets, or are secured by Blackhawk from third parties.

For More: http://www.blackhawkpartners.com/firm/about-us/

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