Economics

The billionaire’s strategy of appealing to angry white men by stigmatising minorities is exerting lasting damage on the Republican Party’s image. Demographic shifts could make the party unelectable for a generation, or more. The billionaire’s strategy of appealing to angry...

By 2030, the world will invest an estimated $57 trillion in infrastructure improvements. Many of these improvements will be made by way of what is known as a public-private partnership (PPP), in which governments will partner with private sector interests....

With equities sliding and oil pushing back below $30, it may feel like the resumption of moves in the first two and half weeks of the year, but it is different.  It is considerably more orderly.  The contagion from the...

Last year in the Asia Pacific will be remembered for shambolic shifts towards a more multipolar economic and political order. The United States alone can no longer shape global destiny but will have to share power with allies and rivals,...

As the world deals with the “new normal” of a slowing China, regional financial and economic integration is more important than ever, and South Asia is strategically poised to play an influential part. There are several reasons why it is...

Asia followed suit, extending the recovery seen in the last couple of sessions to end last week.  Equities rose as did oil prices.  The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index rose 1.2%, and the Nikkei posted its first back-to-back gains this year.  Brent...

Whatever force had gripped the global capital markets since the start of the year has been broken.  This simple characterization is rich.  It is not clear if, or what, macroeconomic considerations were driving the markets. The markets had taken the...

ECB President Draghi made clear at yesterday's press conference that new risks have materialized and the central bank's job to reaching its mandate is far from over. Current efforts may not suffice to achieve its legal prescribed mandate. Monetary policy...

China served as a major topic of discussion and a primary source of concern at the World Economic Forum.  However, several speakers went to great lengths to defend Asia’s largest economy and to point out that it is still moving...

For years, the European Union (EU) has imposed tariffs on Chinese-made screws, nuts, and bolts made of either iron or steel. However, on Monday, China won an appeal in a seven-year legal battle before the World Trade Organization, which found...

Like a car ignition that finally catches after several attempts, the global markets are building on the recovery seen in North America yesterday.  Asian stocks rallied, with the Nikkei leading the way with a 5.9% rally.  More modest 1.25% gains...

The World Economic Forum (WEF) published its annual Global Risks Report in the run up to its annual meeting in Davos. Food and water crises, energy price shocks, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, extreme weather events and failure of climate...

There have been two important reforms announced, one in the EU and other in the IMF.  Many investors may have missed due to the carnage in the markets. While the economic challenges that Europe faces remain potent, the refugee problem...

ECB President Draghi has sent the euro back down into the lower end of the recent range as he gave a strong signal that additional action could come as early as March, the next meeting.  The euro had approached the...

The Asian equity markets failed to retain the early gains that had at least partially been fueled by the US equities recouping half of their losses.  The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index lost about 1.7% and finished at new 3.5 year lows.  ...