Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Seeking cheap stocks, chaos no problem? Try Libya
Chicago Tribune ^ | 7:06 p.m. CST, February 22, 2014 | Ulf Laessing - Reuters

Posted on 02/23/2014 6:04:49 AM PST by Pan_Yan

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Investing in Libyan stocks may sound like an absurd idea at a time when the North African country is descending into chaos and armed militias seize oil ports or ministries at will.

...

A recent sell-off has made Libyan stocks cheaper than other regional bourses. Major banks were once worth as much as 25 Libyan dinars ($20) a share, but now cost less than 10.

Still, even bourse officials admit that it will be hard to sell a country making headlines with political infighting, shootings and hardline Islamists roaming the streets.

...

The Libyan bourse is tiny even by regional standards with a market value of around $3 billion, compared with its Cairo counterpart's $70 billion and Casablanca's $50 billion.

In the Arab world, only the Khartoum and Damascus stock exchanges are smaller. Libya has only 11 stocks, two fewer than in the Gaddafi era, mostly banks and insurance companies.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: libya; stockmarket
My immediate reaction is I'm not going to invest money in some place that's going to descend into civil war and be taken over by Islamists any day now.

But on the other hand is keeping my money in a 401k that owns GM, GE, and Bank of America stocks that much better? Is the Libyan government really that much more likely to seize my savings that the US government?

1 posted on 02/23/2014 6:04:49 AM PST by Pan_Yan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Pan_Yan

11 stocks?? What is the volume of its busiest day — 20?


2 posted on 02/23/2014 10:02:13 AM PST by ExCTCitizen (2014: The Year of DEAD RINOS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson