Markets

Japan and the yen seem sidelined.  Japanese markets were closed for the first half of the week during for the Golden Week holidays.  The weakness of the US economy and the concurrent doubts about Fed tightening this year, coupled with...

Just months since taking power in January, Greek’s Syriza coalition faces obstacles at every turn, from an intransigent European Central Bank to an unyielding European Council.  The ECB in particular has rejected Greek proposals for short-term bridge financing to allow...

“We would be substantially better off not being in the EU because the opportunity cost of us not being able to make our own trade deals with the emerging economies of the world is holding back British business. In terms...

Islamic finance has been growing rapidly across the world in recent years. Today, the operation of Islamic banks and their associated financial institutions has created a trillion-dollar industry and is becoming a crucial mechanism for countries looking to increase their...

Italy's third successive unelected Prime Minister is pushing through electoral reforms that make for stronger government's going forward.  There are two elements of the reform.  Previously, Italy was proud of its "perfect bicameralism", where Chamber of Deputies and the Senate...

EM assets remain on the defensive now that the dollar has regained some traction on the back of some firmer US data last week.  This Friday’s US jobs report will be key to determine whether the dollar’s current bounce is...

The week begins with a narrowly mixed US dollar.  Both Tokyo and London markets are closed today making for somewhat lighter turnover.  The dollar has been trading a quarter of a yen above JPY120.00.  The euro stands out.  It has...

The ageing of Japan’s population is globally unprecedented in both its level and its speed. The ageing of Japan’s population is globally unprecedented in both its level and its speed. The proportion of people aged 65 years old and over...

1) Unconventional policy measure in China could be on the table; 2) Poland sold sells its first international bond with a negative yield; 3) Indonesia executed eight people over drug charges, seven of which were foreigners; 4) Russia’s central Bank...

North and South Korea are widely regarded to be ethnically homogenous societies. But with minority populations having grown in numbers and importance in both Koreas, demographic homogeneity has become a myth. Yet the importance of ethnic nationalism as an underlying...

For more than two decades, Japan has been caught up in a slow-burning crisis. Rapid aging population and low productivity have added to the declining financial health of the country. Japan’s public debt is twice the size of its annual...

The euro pullback spurred by the Federal Reserve statement that continued to regard the slowdown as having to been partly caused by transitory factors, was seized upon in Europe as a new buying opportunity.  Support is seen near previous resistance...

Press reports suggest that the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) is considering unconventional monetary policies, including direct purchases of local government bonds and/or some sort of long-term refinancing operation (LTRO) using local government bonds as collateral.  While there is no...

The Abe administration’s policy of separating the organisational interests of JA-Zenchu, the peak body of agricultural cooperatives (JA), from the interests of the prefectural central unions (chÅ«Åkai) and local cooperatives and farmers generally paid off in April’s local government elections....

  Norway is often held aloft as an example that the UK could follow in discussions about a potential British exit from the EU (the so-called Brexit). The Norwegian experience with the EU is unique. It shows it is possible for a...