Markets

On 29 April, Indonesia executed seven foreigners and one Indonesian for drug offences. The refusal of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to offer clemency despite pleas from foreign leaders has been analysed in a number of ways. Most have interpreted Jokowi’s...

I have been touting a major top in stocks, especially in the Dow and the largest small-cap index, the Russell 2000.  With each new bubble, we reach higher highs, and then crash to lower lows. It is such an obvious...

EM assets are again being pulled in two directions.  EM equities are getting a boost from the PBOC rate cut over the weekend, while EM currencies are starting soft this week as the strong US jobs report puts Fed lift-off...

In the lead-up to the federal budget the government has made it clear, it sees the long-term task of fiscal management in terms of cutting expenditure rather than raising revenue. We have been repeatedly told the Rudd-Gillard government let spending...

Digital disruption is a phrase increasingly bandied about when it comes to the Australian economy, but how deeply do digital technologies really penetrate our industry. Digital disruption is a phrase increasingly bandied about when it comes to the Australian economy,...

1) The Brazilian central bank indicated less FX swaps and additional monetary tightening, 2) After a delay, Israel has a new government, 3) Saudi Arabia will open up its stock market to foreign investment, 4) The Argentine political outlook has...

There are certain dates that hold special significance to particular communities of people. For the Vietnamese population, and the many men and women who served in the Vietnam War, 30 April is an unforgettable date. Vietnam celebrates the day as...

Australian politicians often say ‘Australia-China relations are crucial to Australia’s development and prosperity’. Many hope the China–Australia FTA, due to be signed later this year, will be the shot in the arm Australia’s economy needs. Australian politicians often say ‘Australia-China...

Thailand’s current development model may not be able to sustain growth in the long term. Thailand needs to make the shift to a knowledge-based, innovative economy — and this means that policy settings will need to change. Thailand’s economic development...

In his 29 April speech to US Congress, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proudly referred to his administration’s ‘sweeping reforms to our agricultural cooperatives that have not changed in 60 long years’. But the draft bill presented to the Diet...

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...