As promised… China steps up overseas investments in commodities

Aug 14, 2009 — State-owned Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. buys Australia’s Felix Resources Ltd. for about A$3.5 billion ($2.9 billion), reports Bloomberg

Aug 13, 2009 — Sinochem Corp., China’s biggest chemicals trader, makes an offer to buy to buy Emerald Energy Plc for 532 million pounds ($881 million). Giving Sinochem Corp., access to oil fields in Syria and Colombia, reports Bloomberg

“The Chinese don’t have enough nickel, don’t have enough oil, and they don’t have enough copper. There’s a crisis coming. They are going around the world buying up what they can. They’re preparing for a rainy day.” Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings and the author of books including “Investment Biker” and “Adventure Capitalist”, said in a telephone interview yesterday.

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Argentina and Spanish oil giant Repsol still thinking…

[China – Argentina – Spain]

Pretty good Wall Street Journal articles hit the presses in NYC today relating to the topic of Repsol selling their assets in Argentina to China

CNOOC Says Interested In Cooperation, Not Takeovers – EFE

Argentina Still Weighs on Repsol

Repsol is playing down speculation about unloading some of its 85% stake in Argentinian oil business YPF. But shareholders must hope a deal materializes, and soon. Apart from its exposure to Argentina’s political and economic risks, YPF ties up capital that Repsol could use to develop large recent Brazilian oil discoveries.

Unfortunately, what makes it wise for Repsol to sell YPF may deter potential buyers. YPF’s reserves are declining. Buenos Aires has to approve any share sale, while Repsol has committed to keep at least a 50.1% stake until 2012.

YPF also has to satisfy domestic oil demand — where prices are capped — before it can export, paying a punitive export tax. Chinese suitors, in particular, will likely bridle at such restrictions.

Click here, or the links above to view the complete articles from the WSJ

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