Everyone Plays Venezuela's Hunger Games

It's not hard to find an investor who owns Venezuelan bonds.

Anyone who has allocated money to a broad emerging-markets debt fund probably has exposure to this nation, which is mired in a civil crisis that's left much of the population without enough food to eat.

That's important because Goldman Sachs has become the focal point of anger about investing in the distressed nation's debt. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Goldman Sachs Asset Management purchased $865 million of bonds from the Venezuela state oil producer Petroleos de Venezuela, igniting a firestorm of protest. Venezuela's opposition to President Nicolas Maduro threatened to not repay the debt. Demonstrations were held at Goldman Sachs's headquarters.

But Goldman has some good company if protesters and critics are looking for what they see as profiteers from misery.