April 2023

Shareholder activism is rising, even outside the US. Given recent market-shaking failures, more such assertiveness is welcome.

Plenty of mandates cropped up across Africa and the Middle East, whereas other regions trailed behind.

The war in Ukraine was a major inflection point for global capital markets, adding pressure to already strained energy and food markets.

High rates and looming recession continue to put a damper on activity, yet there are still deals to be made.

Despite a tough year, the market remained somewhat resilient, with exciting deals keeping the global economy running.

Inflation is exacerbating an already depressed underwriting environment, but these standouts persevere.

Global Finance gathered finance-sector leaders from around the world at Glazier’s Hall in London for a ceremony honoring excellence in banking services for the small and mid-sized enterprise segment and in corporate foreign exchange. 

Richard Cook, co-founder of Cook & Bynum, a value and long-term investor with $300 million AUM, talks about searching for undervalued assets and the “on-the-ground research” approach.

Sri Lanka’s perfect storm of economic disaster started with the Covid-19 pandemic and years of government nepotism, corruption, and economic mismanagement ultimately led to a $50 billion default on foreign loans.

The treaty does not overrule provisions set by numerous and often conflicting authorities that currently regulate fishing, shipping and deep-sea mining on the high seas. 

The surprise deal was made possible by an unexpected actor from outside the region: China.

While China's population is starting to shrink, Vietnam's is growing in tandem with the economy.

With rising interest rates, out-of-control inflation and declining government support, 2023 marks the return of bankruptcies.

Swiss National Bank chair orchestrated the swift takeover of Credit Suisse by competitor UBS but not without ruffling some feathers.

The Biden administration pleased progressives by cancelling drilling projects on federal territory shortly after taking office but recently approved Conoco Phillips’s $8 billion Willow Project in Alaska.

Li Qiang's lack of governing experience might be the very reason China's President Xi Jinping elevated him to such a powerful position.

Nigeria's new president faces a legal challenge to his victory and the arduous task of rebuilding an economy in tatters. 

FedNow will permit individuals and institutions to make payments around the clock daily, challenging private sector incumbents such as PayPal, Venmo and Square Cash.

Already active, the bank will launch its proprietary Atlas Pay platform in the region, a virtual wallet with built-in services.

Silicon Valley Bank and other recently collapsed banks all received clean bills of health from outside auditors raising the question of whether accounting standards themselves need to be reformed.

Indian companies continue to do business with Russian banks using non-dollar currencies and channels outside of the Western financial system.

While the US effort to cut China out of the global semiconductor industry is driven by national security concerns, the effort has consequences for semiconductor companies that produce civilian products.

Saudia and Riyadh Air join forces to order 121 Boeing 787s, the company's fifth largest commercial order by value ever.

The African bond market is heating up again after years of sovereign defaults and Covid-related headwinds.

Foxconn’s shift toward US production is also in line with the US government’s broader efforts to develop a supply chain that is more resilient and less reliant on other markets. 

Aramco’s impressive performance underscores Saudi Arabia’s continued overwhelming reliance on oil and gas revenue to fund its carbon-neutral ambitions.

PhonePe is fast becoming a distribution engine, leveraging the large base of 450 million registered users to cross-sell products such as insurance, lending and other services.

Senegal is becoming a magnet for foreign direct investment.