Markets

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...

In a familiar refrain, EM starts this week on a soft note.  Most EM currencies are softer against the dollar.  MSCI EM is having trouble gaining traction, and appears headed for the March lows.  EM bond yields are rising in...

When the dollar starts to gain ground, it comes as a double-edged sword for economies in the emerging markets. Generally a strong dollar means more expensive imports for the emerging markets especially from the US. On the other hand, this...

Once you start picking away at something, it can be hard to stop. Australia’s foreign investment regime is a case in point: successive free trade negotiations have seen welcome liberalisation, but only for selected countries. And without a clear guiding...

The US dollar began the new week bid in Asia, but surrendered most of those initial gains before the start of the European session.  The lack of fresh news has seen the greenback drift higher in Europe, perhaps waiting for...

With the huge structural adjustment that the Australian economy has to effect as the commodities’ boom fades into the distant past, the ability of Australia to attract high levels of foreign investment has never been more critically important to driving...