I put $50,000 into Indian ETFs in January 2026 — here's what happened
After months of watching India's GDP numbers climb, I dumped fifty grand into a basket of Indian ETFs. Six months later I'm sorting through gains, losses, and a hard lesson about emerging market exuberance.
Brazil's real crash and my currency trading lesson
I thought trading the Brazilian real against the dollar was a clever hedge. By March 2026 the currency had cratered 19% and I was staring at a margin call I couldn't ignore.
Vietnam semiconductor play: the factory I visited in Ho Chi Minh City
A semiconductor analyst friend dragged me to an Amkor packaging plant outside Saigon in March 2026. What I saw changed how I think about Vietnam's role in the chip supply chain.
How Nigeria's fintech boom almost made me rich
I invested in a Nigerian fintech startup in 2024, watched it 8x on paper, and then the central bank pulled the rug. This is the full, ugly story.
Mexico nearshoring: I bought a small warehouse in Monterrey
In February 2026 I purchased a 4,200-square-foot warehouse in Monterrey's industrial corridor for $310,000. The nearshoring thesis felt ironclad. The reality has been messier.
Indonesia's GoTo stock and why I held through the dip
I bought GoTo at 72 rupiah in late 2025 and watched it crash to 48 rupiah by March 2026. I held. Here's the reasoning, the panic, and where things stand now.
Turkey's lira depreciation ate my rental income alive
I bought a rental apartment in Istanbul's Beyoglu district in 2023 for $145,000. Three years later the lira has lost 62% of its value and my rental yield in dollar terms is a joke.
Saudi Aramco dividends funded my entire 2025 — but 2026 is different
I held 2,400 shares of Saudi Aramco through the 2024 and 2025 dividend cycle, collecting over $41,000. The 2026 payout picture has shifted dramatically.
Argentina under Milei: I wire-transferred $8,000 to a Buenos Aires bank
President Milei's shock therapy made Argentine dollar deposits look attractive in early 2026. I sent eight grand. The banking system, the blue dollar spread, and my own naivety all collided.
The African sovereign debt crisis nobody is talking about
Five African nations are in active sovereign debt restructuring in 2026. I've been tracking Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan from my desk in São Paulo, and the silence from Western media is deafening.