Nature Note:March Snow

Residents of the Mid-Atlantic region are taking a good look at any snow left on the ground.It may well be the last significant snow of the winter.Unseasonable warmth is on the way for the weekend.Although it can snow into April here,late snow usually doesn't amount to anything.It may stick to the ground for a few hours before it melts away.In the early light,the snow sparkled.It was powder snow.Shoveling it was close to effortless,so it was easy to regret that it will soon pass.

Please Note

Because of an appointment,I may not be publishing next Wednesday.In that event,I will try to publish next Friday.

Russia-China Oil Deal

Russia and China have greed a 25 billion dollar arrangement in which Beijing will make loans to two state-owned Russian firms in exchange for oil.The China Developement Bank will loan 10 billion dollars to Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft,and 15 billion to Rosneft,the Russian oil titan.For its part,Russia will provide 15 million tons of oil to China over 20 years.China has been aggressively seeking international oil reserves for its rapidly growing economy and rising standard of living,while Russia has been hobbled by the recent crash of oil prices from vaporizing demand.China's advances have not always been welcome,as in its failed bid for U.S. oil firm Unocal.

Nature Note:Signs of Change

Before dawn,the constellation Scorpio rises in the southern sky.This is a sure sign of the approaching meteorological spring,which begins March 1.The silver maple buds are another sign.They have begun to swell and,if you wounded the trees,sap would flow out.Each day,the sun is stronger and higher than it was the day before.Red-winged blackbirds have returned to the pond,staking out their territories for the warm months ahead.The minds of growers are turning to planting when the ground thaws and winter will be forgotten.

Indian Ambassador Concerned

India's Ambassador to the World Trade Organization,Ujay Sing Bhatia,has noted the effect of financial rescue packages on free trade.Mr.Bhatia observed that such measures could add up to three billion dollars' worth since Q4 of 2008.These plans are regarded as ultimately distortive of free trade,with their components of industrial support,bank rescues and tariff increases.Mr.Bhatia called for clarifications in order to assess how this government aid is altering competitiveness.Indeed,many of the steps could be seen as violations of European Union free trade rules.WTO officials complained that they are not getting enough official information to make accurate assessments of possible distortions.With their export-driven economies,developing nations such as India are especially vulnerable to protectionist leanings.

Nature Note:Penobscot Restoration

The Nature Conservancy,together with other environmental groups and state,federal and tribal governments,is working to restore Maine's Penobscot River to its natural condition.Three dams on the river are to be bought.Two of them will be removed,and a fish bypass will be installed by the other.This will reopen much of the Penobscot drainage to migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon.The Nature Conservancy has helped with similar projects on China's Yangtze River and the Zambezi River in East Africa.

Looking Ahead From Qatar

We are looking at various banks in the U.S.,Europe and Asia,Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani revealed.Within two or three years,such an investment will get you in the right shape.We are looking at three or four blue chip companies.We are looking at the right time for entry.Dividend is one of the subjects;balance sheets are very important for us.In Qatar,I think we will be O.K. and there will be substantial growth,Sheikh Hamad believes.