New CEO at GSK

To me, the case of breaking-up GSK is pretty strong. The CEO selection controversy shows that it has grown into a conglomerate that is too complex to be run by a single management team. There should not be much synergies among the pharma and consumer products divisions. Clearly, they also appeal to very different investor clientele - pharma is inherently a risky business compared to the steady cash flow from the consumer division.

Given that an insider being named as the new CEO, it shows that a break-up is unlikely to happen soon. With the recent share price run-up, probably it is time to take profit. 

https://www.ft.com/content/91d967dc-7ef8-11e6-8e50-8ec15fb462f4

GSK taps consumer goods veteran Emma Walmsley as new chief

Andrew Witty to step down in March 2017 at helm of Britain’s biggest pharmaceuticals group

Cowboy leader in Philippines

This is highly dangerous for the Philippines' economy. More so than the risks posed by Donald Trump. Given the country's relative lack of institutional control. If I had any investments in the country I would cash out now. Valuations are high and there are definitely better opportunities elsewhere.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-12/duterte-s-bad-boy-act-changing-views-of-the-philippines-in-asia

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stepped onto the world stage last week with the swagger of a bad-boy rock star. Despite a patchy debut, including a rebuff from the U.S. president, Duterte has shown no loss of appetite for confrontation.

Returning from his first international trip as president -- to Laos for a global summit and then to Indonesia -- Duterte called the head of the United Nations a “fool” and repeated his vow for his nation to chart an independent foreign policy. He also denounced U.S. military killings when the Philippines was an American colony and thanked China for “being generous to us." On Monday, he called for U.S. troops to leave the southern island of Mindanao.

US to lift Myanmar trade sanctions

This is fantastic news for Myanmar and US businesses.

For exposure to this fast-growing country, I am holding the SGX-listed Yoma Strategic.

Some other pure play Myanmar vehicles: LSE AIM-listed Myanmar Investment Limited and SGX-listed Sin-Myanmar Investco

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-37365835

US lifts decades-long trade sanctions against Myanmar

Long-standing trade sanctions against Myanmar are to be lifted, US President Barack Obama has said.

The news came as Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, arrived in Washington on her first official visit.