Economics
The Week in Review: Spending Falls, Mixed Employment Signals in U.S.
The average U.S. consumer is pulling back on spending as mixed signals warn of a volatile job market. One government report indicated that Americans are earning more than they used to, but those income gains are not translating into...
The Extraordinary Economic Potential of Asia’s Sub-Regions
South Asian and Southeast Asian economies have all embraced an outward-oriented development strategy, albeit to different degrees. The result has been an impressive increase in international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and significant productivity improvements, which in turn have...
Business Preparedness and the New Normal of Climate Change
The world is changing. The weather is becoming more volatile, with the number of extreme weather events on the rise. Climate change represents the new normal: the Earth is already showing the impacts of our actions, which will continue to...
The Rise in Power of Vietnam’s CPV
In recent years the power of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has increased dramatically. If this trend continues, it may bear important implications for Vietnam’s political outlook. In recent years the power of the Central...
U.S. Indicators Show Sudden Positive Reversal
Two separate economic indicators show a sudden reversal, hinting that recent weakness in the U.S. might have been temporary.Independent payroll services firm ADP announced on Wednesday morning that private employment rose by 212,000 jobs in February, with goods-producing jobs rising...
Warren Buffet Criticizes Obama on Keystone XL Veto
Billionaire investor Warren Buffet does not approve of President Obama's recent veto of the Keystone XL pipeline. Buffet believes Obama is thumbing his nose at Canada.Buffet said another reason he would have passed Keystone XL is because the United States...
Are More Sanctions Against Russia in Store?
The third cease fire in Ukraine had a rocky start, but today the German foreign minister noted that tensions have calmed. The top NATO military commander, US Air Force General Breedlove agreed earlier today that there has been a "definite...
As Expected, the ECB’s Draghi Provided Little Insight
ECB's Draghi failed to provide much fresh insight into implementation of its asset purchase program. The details will be posted on the ECB's web site later. The more important information comes from the ECB's new forecasts. CPI this year is...
New Japanese Ag Minister Hayashi Brings New Life to the TPP Negotiations
Japan’s new Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Yoshimasa Hayashi, who previously served in the position in 2012–14, was a logical choice to take over from his disgraced predecessor Koya Nishikawa. He arrived at the Prime Minister’s Office (Kantei)...
Lower Your Expectations about Policy Changing Statements from the ECB
The ECB meets tomorrow. We do not attribute any significance to its location in Cyprus. A couple times a year, the ECB meets outside of Frankfurt. The ECB meets tomorrow. We do not attribute any significance to its location in...
The Bank of Canada Meets and Disappointing PMI Data comes from Japan, UK, and the Eurozone
The US dollar is broadly firmer though the antipodean currencies continue to enjoy residual strength. The Canadian dollar is not moving higher with them because of Bank of Canada meeting today. The US dollar is broadly firmer though the...
Canada, Switzerland See Stronger Growth
Economic growth in Canada and Switzerland beat expectations, but currency issues are causing analysts to urge caution for the future.In the fourth quarter of 2014, Canada saw GDP rise by 2.4% annualized, according to a statement by Statistics Canada issued...
Greek and German Like-mindedness
Politics makes for strange bedfellows. The German critics on the right of Chancellor Merkel think that Greece should leave the monetary union. The economic advisers to Merkel have argued that the Greece's exit would not necessarily be disruptive. Politics...
A Surprise from Australia and Generally Better News From Europe Hold Investors’ Attention
The Reserve Bank of Australia defied expectations and left rates on hold earlier today. This has lifted the Australian dollar back to yesterday's highs near $0.7845 were it stalled. The derivatives market had discounted nearly a 2/3 chance of a...
Should the TTIP Hype Be Believed?
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is being vaunted as the world’s largest free trade agreement that promises to liberalise one-third of global trade. But TTIP is not without its detractors; critics of many stripes have raised concerns about...
