It was a tough week for investors outside the US mainly because of currency factors. A combination of low Euro-land interest rates, fear of Scottish secession, and political uncertainty aborad led to a boost in the US dollar which made all non-dollar investments sag.

Abengoa reported flat revenues and net income for H1 vs 2013 H1, with sales at euros 3.4 bn and net income of euros 69 mn, up all of 2%.

While not invested in Ukraine, I find the haggling over its natural gas bills from OAO Gazprom fascinating. Gazprom, OGZPY, is ostensibly a private for-profit company, but it isn't really.