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☆ Here are the 7 investments the top-ranked inflation fund on Morningstar used to hedge against higher prices this year — and how the portfolio will change as inflation peaks in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The AXS Astoria Inflation Sensitive ETF is the top-ranked inflation fund of 2022. Greg Bassuk of AXS Investments shared how his firm invests with inflation high. It's hard to imagine a better first year than the one the AXS Astoria Inflation Sensitive ETF (PPI) just had. But Greg Bassuk, CEO of AXS Investments, is confident that his firm's fund can continue to provide solid returns as inflation stays higher than normal — even if the rate starts to slide. That means that the AXS Astoria Inflation Sensitive ETF will stick with its seven-part portfolio of TIPS, precious metals, agricultural products, and stocks in the energy, financials, industrials, and materials as inflation stays higher than normal in 2023.

REUTERS/Amanda PerobelliSAO PAULO/MONTREAL, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado savanna rose to a seven-year high, government data showed on Wednesday, destroying a vital habitat for threatened species and releasing huge amounts of greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Destruction of native vegetation rose 25% to 10,689 square kilometers (4,127 square miles) – an area larger than Lebanon. Brazil's official deforestation statistics run from August to July to minimize clouds obscuring the destruction. The Cerrado, the world's most species-rich savanna, has given way to Brazil's expanding agricultural frontier for decades. "We need COP15 negotiators to prioritise ending deforestation and conversion in areas where the yearly rate of ecosystem losses prove alarming, like the Cerrado."

Brazil has yet to publish its official annual figures for Cerrado deforestation, based on satellite analysis by the government's space research agency Inpe. The Cerrado neighbors the Amazon, occupying more than 2 million square kilometers in central Brazil – larger than Mexico. FARM-DRIVEN DEFORESTATIONThe Brazilian savanna is now a major concern for top grains traders, who have broadly pledged to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains by 2025. The sources discussed Cerrado deforestation data from Brazil's PRODES program, which produces annual data that is far more accurate than rapid alert data published on a weekly and monthly basis. An Inpe official said earlier this year that Brazil would soon stop publishing PRODES Cerrado data due to lack of funding.

☆ Erdogan, Putin discuss grain corridor, gas hub in phone call
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ISTANBUL, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Presidents Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia discussed grain supplies and a potential regional gas hub in Turkey on Sunday, both countries said. "President Erdogan expressed his sincere wish for the termination of the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible," the Turkish presidency said on Sunday. In the call, Erdogan said Ankara and Moscow could start work on exporting other food products and commodities through the Black Sea grain corridor, Erdogan's office said. The Kremlin said the two also discussed an initiative to create a base in Turkey for exports of Russian natural gas. Gazprom (GAZP.MM) chief Alexei Miller held talks with Erdogan in Istanbul in the past week.

☆ Heaviest Ukraine fighting rages in the east, NATO seeks to sustain support against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

This brutalization of Ukraine’s people is barbaric,” Blinken told a news conference in Bucharest following a two-day NATO meeting. At the NATO foreign ministers meeting, allies Wednesday pledged to help Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as they face pressure from Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ministers said. Russia invaded Ukraine in February in what it calls a “special military operation” to rid Ukraine of nationalists it considers dangerous. “We are analyzing the intentions of the occupiers and preparing countermeasures — tougher countermeasures than is now the case,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address Wednesday evening. “We haven’t seen these Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles for about two weeks ... the first batch has probably already run out,” he told Ukraine’s main television network.

☆ Heaviest Ukraine fighting rages in east, West seeks to sustain support against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Ukrainian servicemen fire with a Bureviy multiple launch rocket system at a position in Donetsk region, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Ukraine November 29, 2022. In Washington, a $1.2 billion contract for six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine was awarded to Raytheon, the Pentagon said. At the NATO foreign ministers meeting, allies on Wednesday pledged to help Moldova, Georgia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as they face pressure from Russia, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and ministers said. Russia invaded Ukraine nine months ago in what it calls a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of nationalists it considers dangerous. "We haven't seen these Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles for about two weeks ... the first batch has probably already run out," he told Ukraine's main television network.

☆ Ukraine sees less than 3 mln tonnes of grain leaving in November - minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Amindeh Blaise Atabong | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Exports of Ukraine's grain will not reach 3 million tonnes in November as Russia tries to limit ship inspections at ports, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said late on Sunday. In October, some 4.2 million tonnes of grain left Ukrainian ports, Kubrakov said on his Facebook page. read moreUkraine and Russia are major global grain exporters. They agreed that teams would check the vessels to ensure no barred people or goods were arriving at or departing from Ukrainian ports. Russia's President Vladimir Putin said in September that Russia and the developing world had been "cheated" by the UN-brokered Ukrainian grain export deal, delivering the grain to its own states.

However the talks aim to remove remaining obstacles in the initiative extended last week and ease global food shortages by unblocking Ukrainian and Russian exports, they added. Putin said on Wednesday that Russian officials would work to unblock Russian fertilisers stuck in European ports and to resume ammonia exports. The export of Russian ammonia would be via an existing pipeline to the Black Sea. Neither Russia nor Ukraine have released official figures on how many prisoners of war they have taken since Russia invaded in February. On Oct. 29, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy said that since March, Russia had freed a total of 1,031 prisoners.

☆ Russia Agrees to Renew Ukraine Grain Deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jared Malsin | William Mauldin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Moscow agreed to renew an arrangement with Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations that allows for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products through the war-torn Black Sea region. The extension avoids for now another shutdown of the agreement by Moscow, after Russia briefly dropped out of the deal late last month. Russian officials had been demanding more international access for its food and fertilizer exports ahead of a weekend deadline for the current deal to be renewed.

☆ Russia Agrees to Renew Ukraine Grain Deal, U.N. Says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( William Mauldin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The agreement allowed Ukraine to resume shipping grain through three Black Sea ports after a monthslong blockade. Moscow agreed to renew an arrangement with Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations that allows for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products through the war-torn Black Sea region, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said. “I welcome the agreement by all parties to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” Mr. Guterres said in a statement.

☆ How Silicon Valley could be impacted by a Republican-controlled House
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Democrats have hammered away at online platforms’ handling of hate speech and white nationalism, while promoting legislation that could drastically affect the business models of big tech companies. The return of heated tech CEO hearingsIn general, tech companies may face more political noise with a Republican House but potentially less policy risk. With Republicans likely to take control of the House, tech companies could face more hearings, but not necessarily more legislation. Privacy legislationMultiple Congress-watchers told CNN that support for federal privacy legislation is still bipartisan and the area remains one of a handful where lawmakers could make progress in the next Congress. It was approved by a key House committee this year and policy analysts say it could see more opportunities to advance next year.

☆ A fund manager who oversees $14 billion in equities breaks down why emerging markets offer attractive growth opportunities even during a worldwide economic slowdown — and shares his top 7 foreign stoc
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Vontobel's Ramiz Chelat says that certain emerging markets can weather a global economic slowdown. Chelat is particularly bullish on the economies of India, Indonesia, and Brazil. While domestic investors have their hands full with potential recession, portfolio manager Ramiz Chelat believes that the best investment opportunities may be slipping away. Chelat — who manages $5 billion in emerging market equities and $9 billion in global equities at Vontobel Asset Management — is particularly bullish on the emerging economies of Brazil, India, and Indonesia. Chelat believes that all three nations are strong enough to weather any future fallouts from the Russia-Ukraine war, and may even be net beneficiaries in some cases.

☆ Biden says U.S.-ASEAN pact to address 'biggest issues of our time'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Nandita Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/8] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the 2022 ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 12, 2022. In his first visit to Southeast Asia as president, Biden said the region was at the heart of his administration's Indo-Pacific strategy and Washington was committing resources, not just rhetoric, under a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. ASEAN is engaging a host of leaders, including Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. At the gatherings, Biden will focus on the Indo-Pacific region and talk about U.S. commitment to a rules-based order in the South China Sea, a senior administration official said earlier this week. Biden on Saturday said the meetings would discuss Russia's "brutal" war against Ukraine and U.S. efforts to address the war's global impact.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative eased Russia's naval blockade and saw the reopening of three key Ukrainian ports. The agreement to create the sea corridor was negotiated by representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the U.N. and Turkey in July. Since then, more than 400 ships carrying 10 million metric tons of agricultural products have departed from war-weary Ukraine's ports. Last week, Moscow suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, citing retaliation for what it called Kyiv's "act of terrorism" against Russian warships. And we must all be determined to do whatever is necessary in order to make sure that we have the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative," Guterres told reporters at the United Nations in New York.

☆ Russia abandoned its plan to block food exports leaving Ukraine after ships ignored Putin and kept sailing anyway
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia pulled out of its grain export deal with Ukraine over the weekend. The grain export deal, brokered by Turkey and the UN, is vital to the global food supply. But despite the country's withdrawal, a UN official said Tuesday that they would press ahead with their plans to let authorized ships leave Ukraine. The World Food Programme warned earlier this year that Russia's invasion could result in a "hunger catastrophe" if such a food export deal was not struck. The head of the European Council in June also accused Russia's troops of burning Ukrainian fields and stealing wheat, compounding food shortages.

☆ Russia's statement on resuming participation in Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Russia will resume its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, its defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. "The Russian Federation suspended the implementation of the agreement on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports (the "Black Sea Initiative") after Ukraine committed a terrorist act on October 29 this year against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the "grain corridor." "Russia's position was brought to the attention of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the U.N. Security Council. "In particular, the Ukrainian side officially pledged that 'the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor will be used only in accordance with the provisions of the Black Sea Initiative and the related JCC regulation.' "The Russian Federation believes that the guarantees received at the moment appear sufficient, and resumes implementation of the agreement – the Initiative for the Safe Transportation of Grain and Food from Ukrainian ports (the 'Black Sea Initiative') - which was suspended after the terrorist attack in Sevastopol."

Feb 24, on Saturday halted its role in the Black Sea deal for an "indefinite term", cutting shipments from one of the world's top grain exporters, because it said it could not "guarantee safety of civilian ships" travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet. During Sunday's session among the grain deal delegations, Russian officials said Moscow will continue the dialogue with the United Nations and the Turkish delegation on pressing issues, the U.N. said in its statement. FALSE PRETEXT'The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol with 16 drones early and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate what it called a terrorist attack. Russia said it repelled the attack but that the ships targeted were involved in ensuring the grain corridor out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. SHIPS BLOCKEDThe grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month.

☆ Wave of missile strikes hit Ukrainian cities with Kyiv left struggling for power and water; wheat prices rise after grain deal stumbles
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Ukrainian forces had repelled a "brutal" offensive by Russian troops in the eastern Donetsk region. In recent weeks, however, intense fighting has centered around Avdiivka and the strategically-important town of Bakhmut. Ukraine's National Police said multiple buildings had been destroyed and people killed and wounded after intense shelling in the region. Meanwhile, global wheat prices have started to rise following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain export deal last weekend. Russia announced Saturday that it was suspending its involvement in the Black Sea Grain Initiative that was brokered in July and which allowed vital agricultural products to be exported from several Ukrainian ports.

☆ Russia says movement of ships in Black Sea corridor is 'unacceptable'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday it was "unacceptable" for shipping to pass through a Black Sea security corridor after it suspended its participation in a Turkish- and U.N.-brokered deal that had allowed Ukraine to resume grain exports. "The movement of ships along the security corridor is unacceptable, since the Ukrainian leadership and the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine use it to conduct military operations against the Russian Federation," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. The ministry did not say what Russia would do if ships continued to sail the route. On Monday a record volume of 354,500 tonnes of agricultural products left Ukrainian ports under the grain deal, despite Moscow's weekend announcement, a spokesperson for Odesa's military administration said. The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that without Russian security commitments, the grain deal was "hardly feasible, and it takes on a different character - much more risky, dangerous and unguaranteed".

☆ Grain deal: Wheat and corn prices rise as Russia withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine and Russia together account for nearly a third of global wheat exports, according to Gro Intelligence, an agricultural data firm. Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal indefinitely on Saturday, after what it claimed was a drone attack by Ukrainian armed forces on its Black Sea fleet in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. After reaching a record high in March, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s global food price index has declined for seven months in a row. Russia’s decision to suspend its participation “is adding immense volatility to global grain prices,” said Tracey Allen, an agricultural commodities strategist at JPMorgan Chase. Twelve vessels left Ukraine’s Black Sea ports on Monday, Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter.

☆ Wheat prices jump by nearly 6% after Russia withdraws from vital Ukrainian export deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesGlobal wheat prices rose sharply Monday following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain export deal over the weekend. The increases come after Russia announced Saturday that it was suspending its involvement in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed vital agricultural products to be exported from several Ukrainian ports. Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of starting to sabotage the grain deal in September. Antonov told Russian media on Saturday that Kyiv's "reckless actions" had caused Moscow to suspend implementation of the grain deal. Many of the grain ships that left Ukraine in recent months, under the grain deal, were bound for both European and African ports.

Other participants were pressing ahead with the deal despite Russia's withdrawal while France said it was working to boost Ukraine grain exports via land routes in conjunction with other European Union states. A record volume of 354,500 tonnes of agricultural products was carried on vessels leaving Ukrainian ports on Monday as part of the Black Sea grain deal, a spokesperson for Odesa's military administration said. WHEAT PRICES CLIMBWheat prices rose on Monday, climbing around 6% to $8.78 a bushel in Chicago, but remained far below a peak of $13.63-1/2 set in early March shortly after the conflict began. The strong pace of wheat exports from Russia, which harvested a record crop this summer, has helped to bolster supplies on the world market. "Typically, it takes about two months for higher grain prices to filter through the supply chain and impact consumers at the retail level," said a Sydney-based analyst.

☆ Russia Blames Ukraine, U.K. for Collapse of Grain Deal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Alan Cullison | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Russia blamed the U.K. and Ukraine for the collapse of the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports Sunday, as Russia said it recovered wreckage from a drone strike on the occupied Black Sea port of Sevastopol. Moscow said the wreckage proves the Saturday attack was mounted with British assistance, a claim the U.K. denies.

☆ Factbox: What is known about the drone attack on Crimea?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia said 16 air and maritime drones attacked civilian and Black Sea Fleet vessels in the Bay of Sevastopol in Crimea at 0420 Kyiv time on Saturday. Unverified footage on social media showed what appeared to be maritime drones speeding across the water towards a Russian battleship while bullets were fired at the drone. Ukraine has neither denied nor confirmed that it carried out the drone attack on Sevastopol and has instead suggested that Russia carried out the attack on itself so that it could suspend participation in the grain deal. Russia says it has recovered the wreckage of some of the maritime drones. The defence ministry said one of the maritime drones appeared to have started from within the security zone of the grain corridor itself.

☆ Russia says it recovers drones used in Black Sea fleet attack in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in UkraineMOSCOW, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry on Sunday said it had recovered and analysed the wreckage of drones used to attack ships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea the day before, finding that the drones were equipped with Canadian-made navigation. The ministry has said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol with 16 drones early on Saturday, and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate what it called a terrorist attack, a claim Britain has denied. Russia said it had repelled the attack but that the ships targeted were involved in ensuring the grain corridor out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. It said the drones had moved along the "grain corridor" security zone, before changing course to head for Russia's naval base in Sevastopol, the largest city on the Crimean peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The ministry said one of the maritime drones appeared to have started from within the security zone of grain corridor itself.

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