Finance
Recession ahead for Brazil?
With fiscal adjustment in progress, Brazil’s new Finance Minister announces a trimester of negative growth. However, adverse conditions in the international economy and a severe energy crisis raise concerns over
Weakening currencies put developing countries’ debt at risk
Debts issued in foreign currencies, some of which are not counted in official statistics, are a rising risk to developing economies as the UK and US get closer to raising
Will Draghi’s QE work?
The ECB finally launched a larger-than-expected QE programme last week, despite German opposition and Greek elections. President Mario Draghi hopes that it will revive the eurozone and rebut deflation. Several
EU court and Greek elections may block QE from the ECB
As the Eurozone battles low inflation and a weak economy, consensus around quantitative easing (QE) has grown. The question is whether the ECB’s meeting on January 22nd will offer more than just
Risk management should span the company
Experience shows risk management can be pushed down from top levels to involve front-line staff. Because risk and uncertainty are often too complex for centralized systems to manage, it should
China’s Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect fails to deliver
At the start of 2015, the landmark Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect is entering an important phase. Still, investors have to temper their expectations when it comes to gaining more access
Greece elections draw the Eurozone closer to political conflict
As Lithuania celebrates its entrance into the Eurozone, Greece contemplates its own exit for the second time. With the upcoming elections and the rise of the Syriza Party marking uncertainty
China’s interest rate cut not as reformist as it seems
China’s recent interest rate cut could ease corporate debt financing pressure. But at the same time, by expanding the floating range of interest rates on bank deposits, China could move towards more financial
‘Black Tuesday’ in Russia as rouble slide sparks currency crisis
Sharp rouble depreciation revives fears of 1998 crisis, forcing the Central Bank of Russia to take tough decisions with limited results so far. Investors should prepare for further restrictions and economic recession. On
Draghi risks becoming the Boy Who Cried Wolf over QE
Recent remarks by ECB President Mario Draghi have promised to tackle the near-recession level of activity plaguing the Eurozone. But while words have come often, there has been far less
