Economics

There are many investors and observers who do not think the Fed ought to raise interest rates today.  The Fed's targeted inflation measure, the core PCE deflator, stood at 1.3%, well below the 2% target. They see the fresh sell-off...

According to the World Bank, about 1.5 billion people currently live in conflict zones, 19.5 million people live as refugees from these areas, and 38 million people have been displaced within their own countries because of these disputes. Unfortunately, going...

The much-awaited Fed meeting is here.  A 25 bp increase in the Fed funds range to 25-50 bp is widely expected.  The near certainty of this contrasts to the high uncertainty of the immediate impact stocks, bonds, and the dollar. ...

With the US Federal Reserve seemingly set on raising interest rates, it is time to take stock of what low rates have done for the world. In addition, what the prospects are when this era of low interest rates ends....

The Paris climate talks have been heralded as a historic deal. However, while they have been praised for the very feat of reaching an agreement and for setting an ambitious aim to keep warming below 2℃ and endeavouring to limit...

The focus of most investors is the rate decision by the Federal Reserve tomorrow.  Since the central bank completed its asset purchase program at the end of last year, a rate hike has been understood as a matter of time. ...

The euro made marginal news highs near $1.1060 while sterling and the yen have been confined to yesterday's ranges.  European equities are bouncing off ten-week lows.   The dollar-bloc is firm; the upbeat RBA meetings provided only a short-lived fillip higher. ...

The World Trade Organization contains 162 member states and has existed for 20 years. While it is certainly not the oldest trade organization in existence, many have begun to question its viability in the modern age.  The most recent doubts...

The US dollar is firmer against the euro, sterling and yen, but within the ranges seen before the weekend. The greenback is softer against the dollar-bloc currencies after early gains were unwound. The US dollar is firmer against the euro,...

After much hemming and hawing since mid-year, the Federal Reserve is finally poised to raise rates for the first time in nearly a decade. Indeed, given the speeches by the leadership and the economic data, especially the labor market readings,...

hans engbers / Shutterstock.com hans engbers / Shutterstock.com Strong trade growth has traditionally driven strong growth in the Pacific Rim region, but trade growth has disappointed over the last few years. At the same time, the region is coming to...

While the brutal expansion of the Islamic State of Levant (ISIL) has triggered great fears in popular imagination, Dr. Steinbock says that the ISIL’s — and its potential successors’ — claim to a territorial caliphate is likely to pose enduring economic, political and strategic challenges to...

Investors, fellow central bankers, and the media continue to try to make sense of last week's ECB surprise.  We had argued that given the market positioning, especially the dramatic accumulation of speculative short euro positions since the middle of October...

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) flexed its considerable economic muscle this week to force a resolution in ongoing disputes between the Ukraine and Russia simply by changing its lending policies. Per the IMF, Ukraine will have to negotiate in "good...

In 2015, China outbid Japan for the first high-speed rail project in Indonesia, reflecting Beijing’s eagerness to realise its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. So what does this signify for the Asia Pacific region? Indonesia made a big and...