Aftershocks: The impact of events in Japan, the Middle East, and North Africa on Global Markets and Economies

The catastrophic earthquakes/tsunamis in Japan, and the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) understandably dominate today’s news. Japan is clearly an enormous human tragedy, as well as one with economic consequences. The events in both of these regions have created significant global uncertainty affecting everything from gasoline prices and food supply, to automobile production and power generation. These events serve to remind us that our growing global economy is heavily dependent on evermore expensive and vulnerable sources of fuel and power. The following explores what these events may portend for global economies and the investment landscape.