Economics

The foreign exchange market is quiet.  The euro remains confined to the narrow range seen on Monday between $1.1325 and $1.1395.  We continue to look for higher levels near-term as the drop from May 3 (~$1.1615) to May 30 (just...

The future of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and European Union seems bleak. Beset by doubts and stumbling alongside the UK’s referendum on EU membership, the TTIP is starting to look like an awful lot of...

The Japanese yen is the only major currency not to be gaining against the US dollar.  Emerging market currencies, save the Chinese yuan, are also advancing against the greenback today.  The yen rose 3.5% against the dollar last week, and...

Virtually every Asian academic, business leader, policymaker or taxi driver I have encountered in the last six months has, within minutes, pummelled me for answers to the Trump question. Virtually every Asian academic, business leader, policymaker or taxi driver I...

In March, the ECB decided to increase its asset purchases from 60 to 80 bln euros a month and to include corporate bonds.  The corporate bond-buying program begins this week.  We use an FAQ format to discuss the key issues....

After the shellacking it took after the shockingly poor jobs data, the US dollar has only managed a shallow recovery against the euro and yen.  The euro peaked near $1.1375 before the weekend.  The mild pullback to almost $1.1335 drew...

Through the first part of the year, the swinging pendulum of expectations for the trajectory of Fed policy has been a major driver in the foreign exchange market.  This is true even though the ECB and BOJ continue to ease...

The US dollar reversed higher on May 3 and trended higher.  It peaked on May 30, but it was not clear until the poor US jobs report sent the greenback reeling on June 3.  The fact that May 3-May 30...

The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) came into being in December 2009. It has played a tremendous role in enhancing regional and national capacities for disaster response in the region. The recent ‘ASEAN Vision 2025 on...

A gloomy outlook is enveloping the world’s economies. There are concerns too that countries are failing to sufficiently focus on long term policy responses to reverse the decline in global growth. Some argue that the global growth slowdown may be...

No inclusive growth is conceivable without success in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. Today, that struggle is increasingly global.  In mid-May, the world’s first anti-corruption summit took place in London. During the event, the chair, UK Prime Minister David Cameron was caught...

A microscopic gain in jobs and a steady unemployment rate indicate gradual improvements in America’s job market.  Two separate reports on the labor market indicate improvements for workers, with both the Department of Labor and ADP, a private payrolls firm,...

"Every thinking person in America is going to vote for you Governor Stevenson," said an enthusiastic voter.  "I am afraid that won't do.  I need a majority," reportedly quipped Stevenson (1952 or 1956).  "Every thinking person in America is going...

Activity in the global capital markets is subdued. Yesterday's moves are being consolidated, and the dollar has been confined to narrow ranges.  The euro is in a quarter cent range, while sterling is in a 50 cent range and the...

Hardly anyone paid attention when Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley visited Ghana early in May 2016. The lack of interest was probably because of economic realities. Major markets like the US and China are looking less towards West African...