Outside the Box

STRATFOR’s 2011 Second Quarter Forecast

John Mauldin

April 15, 2011

I always look forward the beginning of a new quarter, because it gives me a chance to read STRATFOR's update of their annual forecast, which I shared with you in January. Their quarterly forecast explores developing geopolitical trends in each region of the world.  In recent months and quarters I've noticed a much wider recognition in published discussions of "geopolitical risk" as it relates to investments.  Of course geopolitical risk is nothing new to my long-time readers who've been plugged into STRATFOR for years.

This Q2 forecast is a long read, but it addresses everything from China's battle with inflation, to Russia's economic opportunity, to the stalemate in Libya's civil war. They do a fantastic, and usually spot-on, job of telling you what to look out for.  (And when they aren't spot-on, they're up-front about what they missed and why).

I hope you enjoy the forecast below, and take advantage of STRATFOR's current special offer – a free copy of my book, Endgame, to any of my readers who <<subscribe to their intelligence service here>> at a steeply discounted price. I suggest you check it out.

<<Click here to view their special offer.>>

John Mauldin, Editor
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STRATFOR's 2011 Second Quarter Forecast

In our 2011 annual forecast, we highlighted three predominant issues for the year: complications with Iran surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, the struggle of the Chinese leadership to maintain stability amid economic troubles, and a shift in Russian behavior to appear more conciliatory, or to match assertiveness with conciliation. While we see these trends remaining significant and in play, we did not anticipate the unrest that spread…

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