Finance
Opinion: It’s High Time to Break the Bailout Doom Loop
Monetary easing and bailout expectations are embedded in post-2008 central banking, often justified on the grounds of systemic stability or public expectations. The truth is that on top of nurturing moral hazard, the Fed put impedes innovation and productive investment.
Towards a Digital Euro: What Does It Mean for the Safety of Europe?
The digitalization of the economy and the rapid spread of virtual currencies have created unprecedented opportunities for cross-border illicit activities. The most recent proposal of the European Central Bank for the development of a central bank digital currency is no exception. Known as a digital euro, the project is envisioned to differ from crypto-assets and stable coins in its centralized oversight and control of digital transactions. Hence, by allowing a central banking authority to monitor and verify online transactions, a digital euro could facilitate the fight against organized crime in the EU. Yet, the currently proposed design possibilities of a digital euro reveal vulnerabilities to compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations, as well as pose a significant threat to the safety of children in the digital space.
The EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investments (CAI): a piece of the puzzle.
On 30 December 2020, the EU and China announced that they had reached an Agreement in Principle on investments. The text is the result of lengthy negotiations, which started in January 2014. The EU-China CAI was met with fierce criticism from political commentators, who believe the treaty is a “strategic victory” for China and may potentially damage transatlantic relations. However, as usual with international affairs, matters are not always as simple as portrayed and deserve thorough consideration.
The US’s schizophrenic recovery: Banks’ earnings on the rise as the government bails out families
Talks of a “K-shaped” recovery after the pandemic crisis started in 2020, predicting that some sectors of the economy will benefit disproportionately by the pandemic, while everyone else bears the costs for it. Big banks and the world of finance are surely to be on the benefiting end. However, policy-makers, shareholders and executives seem to be missing a key lesson of the Great Recession -the risk of an enriching bank system that loses touch of reality may aggravate the schizophrenia of the post-pandemic economies.
Finance in 2021: The Challenges and Opportunities 2020 Left Behind
Even though the new year has been around for a while, new trends keep emerging in the world of finance. The greatest challenges and opportunities of 2021 all rest on phenomena and policies initiated in previous years. Sure, what lies ahead is much less certain than some analysts seem to believe. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile for investors look at what they can expect in the next months and brace for it – or reap.
Documents Leaked to Reuters Raise Concerns about COVAX
COVAX Launched in April 2020, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator partnership was convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance and The Coalition for
What bubbles, eventually bursts: are 2020’s tech IPOs the path to the first post-pandemic crisis?
2020 was a “bust-and-boom pandemic year” for financial markets. In fact, December was the hottest month when it came to what big investors are really putting money into: tech IPOs. With buyers pouring their money into ever-riskier bets, is the IPO bubble set to burst?
Killing the Dollar: A Side-Effect of COVID and its Cures?
Since the end of World War II, the US dollar has consistently functioned as a safe harbour for investors caught by any sort of turbulence. Thus, no one was surprised by its appreciation at the height of the current pandemic, which began in April 2020. And no one will be surprised if vaccine makers’ promises to end the pandemic null all those gains. Yet, the currency’s status and reputation have been weakening since the demise of the Bretton Woods Accord in 1974 to the point that, as a side-effect, COVID and its cures may be lethal for the dollar’s international dominance.
EU treaty instrument may mitigate risk of money laundering in the single market
The European Commission is planning to use Article 116 of TFEU in order to clamp down on multinational companies using favourable tax schemes in some EU member states to their advantage. The treaty instrument is designed to mitigate the risks associated with foreign subsidies that distort competition in the single market.
Saudi Aramco: Risks to Potential Investors
Saudi Aramco is now the world’s largest and most profitable company – valued at $2 trillion company. 1.5% of its stakes went public and are considered an attractive investment. However, multiple risk factors remain.
