Markets

Recent plans to privatise a number of Australian ports have become very messy. In Victoria, both sides of government were committed to privatising the Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC), intending to use the proceeds to remove a number of level...

The landmark Australia–China Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), signed sealed and delivered, completes a trifecta of trade deals since last year with Australia’s three Northeast Asian neighbours — China, Japan, and South Korea. The landmark Australia–China Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), signed...

Not so long ago, China’s A-share index lingered around 2,000. Before last week’s plunge, it closed at 5,200. In the short-term, the market will remain volatile, but just as China’s economy has not emulated typical market fluctuations, its potential should...

Investors have been more focused Japan's aggressive monetary policy and the structural reforms promised under Abenomics than fiscal policy. However, the Abe government is taking a new fiscal initiative. It has taken on a new more ambitious goal, which was...

A visionary new leader, Narendra Modi, has recently come to power in India. He seeks to realise India’s huge growth potential and make it a major global player. This has generated enormous optimism nationally, and internationally, about an Indian resurgence....

EM assets are starting the week off on a firmer footing.  Sentiment has been helped by optimism over a Greek compromise, as well as perceptions of a less hawkish Fed.  Both of these factors could turn negative very quickly.  Besides...

The Egyptian government recently took steps that have led to labeling football fans as terrorists. The arrest and detention of alleged members of the Ultras White Knights (UWK), a highly politicised supporters group associated with Cairo club Al Zamalek SC,...

Japan is coming under increasing scrutiny as the 70th anniversary of World War II approaches and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe moves to reform Japan’s defence policy. Recent concerns over hate speech and the right-wing nationalistic rhetoric of revisionist groups like...

1) The EU sanctions on Russia will be extended for another six months, 2) Lawmakers in Hong Kong voted down a Beijing-backed plan to change the political system, 3) Argentine presidential candidate Scioli of the ruling alliance has picked Zannini...

Talk of the demise of Australian coal production is largely political, not economic. The problem for the countries that presently mine and burn coal is that there are currently few low cost alternatives. Most countries in the world today are...

President Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi) has affirmed giving special attention to the Papua region, comprising the two provinces of Papua and West Papua. The region has endured a low-level guerrilla insurgency from a militant Papuan independence movement since...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan received a rapturous reception in his early days in power, but a series of political errors has sullied his public image and undermined his power. Since his Justice and Development Party (AKP) attained power in...

China’s economy has always played a very unique role in challenging the global markets. China’s approach to establish two of its own banks, namely BRICS led National Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (better known as AIIB) has made...

Zimbabwe dollars will be decommissioned at a rate of 35 quadrillion per US dollar (that is Z$35,000,000,000,000,000 for US$1). Any remaining Zimbabwe dollars in circulation after September 30 2015 will be officially, as opposed to practically, worthless. This is ditching...

Critics of the Greek government repeatedly claim that its radicalism prevents a resolution to the crisis.  Yet the EC has indicated that the difference between the creditors’ proposal and Syriza's plans amounts to 2 bln euro a year in government...