Global news and insight for corporate financial professionals
Paying For The Green Revolution Huge investments will be required to enable the world to make the transition to renewable energy sources to cut greenhouse gas emissions and stave off an environmental disaster. By Gordon Platt There ...
JAPAN SCRAMBLES FOR A FRESH START Japan’s new government is working hard to find ways to rouse the country’s economy from its persistent malaise. By Thomas Clouse Japan is a country of economic contrasts. It is a nation ...
Settling Up Europe’s exchanges are working hard to reduce the complexity of clearing and settlement across the region. By Anita Hawser Any custodian doing business inEurope is used to dealing with “spaghetti”—not the variety of Italian ...
In From The Cold Global businesses and investors are taking more interest in sub-Saharan Africa, home to some of the world’s most neglected emerging markets. By Antonio Guerrero Sub-Saharan Africa has long been considered to be on ...
Chinese Cash Management Comes of Age As inbound investment into China and outbound investment by Chinese companies into regional and global markets have increased, so too have the cash management needs and wants of domestic companies and foreign multinationals in ...
BACK FROM THE BRINK The revival of interest in equity derivatives reflects a broader return of risk appetite among corporations and investors. By Laurence Neville The recovery in sentiment in most markets during 2009 was dramatic, and ...
BANKERS GET READY FOR REBOUND IN WORLD TRADE Trade finance and risk management services are in growing demand as world trade recovers and credit issues remain a concern. By Gordon Platt The outlook for global trade is ...
Roundup By Antonio Guerrero Under threat: Wildlife in Uganda’s Kabwoya reserve African Union (AU) heads of state attending a February summit will review plans to create a $4 billion Libya-based African investment bank. South Africa, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria ...
Roundup By Antonio Guerrero Nacional, part of Wal-Mart’s rapidly expanding Brazilian arm With Brazil’s strong economic recovery fueling consumer demand, local and international retailers are increasing their market presence. Retail sales are expected to grow by 12% in ...
Roundup BY Thomas Clouse A strong services sector saw China’s GDP revised upward China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) created the world’s third-largest free-trade zone, measured by trade volume, on January 1, eliminating tariffs on ...
Roundup By Aaron Chaze Steeling the show: India enhances its steelmaking capacity As part of its drive to raise over $3 billion from power privatizations, the Indian government is poised to offer global institutional investors a 5% stake ...
Roundup By Gordon Platt Bahrain’s Salman Industrial City is now open for business Gas-rich Qatar and ExxonMobil signed an agreement in January to build the world’s largest polyethylene plant as part of a $6 billion petrochemical complex in ...
Dongfeng Is Plugged Into China’s Electric Car Market By Gordon Platt Dongfeng Motor, one of China’s largest automobile manufacturers, has been a leader in designing hybrid electric vehicles, including a city bus that delivers 30% better fuel ...
Companies Based In India Increase DR Offerings By Gordon Platt Equity issues by India-based companies using depositary receipts rose from $100 million in 2008 to $3.4 billion last year. The rush of DR issues is likely to ...
Risk Gets Rewarded, But Not Too Much Risk By Gordon Platt Emerging market investors were rewarded last year with a record 73% return, as measured by the MSCI EM Index, versus a 45% rise in the Nasdaq ...
Dominican Republic By Antonio Guerrero About turn: Dominican Republic signs up to IMF program With investors hunting for yield, the stage is set for more “exotic” issuers to tap global markets for financing, including some previous defaulters. ...
United States/United Kingdom By Gordon Platt A sweet deal: Kraft swallows Cadbury after a long battle US-based Kraft Foods’ $19.7 billion takeover of British chocolate maker Cadbury last month will create the world’s largest candy company. The deal ...
Vietnam By Thomas Clouse Off to the races: Vietnam’s stimulus efforts trigger renewed inflation fears Vietnam is redirecting its efforts from stimulating the economy to controlling inflation after the country’s consumer prices rose by 1.38% month on ...
Cross-Border M&A; Ready For Takeoff, With Emerging Markets As Main Target By Gordon Platt The stars are aligned for a substantial rise in cross-border mergers and acquisitions this year, as the global economy recovers and financing becomes more ...
High-Yield Market To Come Down To Earth By Gordon Platt The high-yield bond market had its best year ever in 2009, with an overall return of 55% that beat most other major asset classes. However, analysts expect the ...
Dollar’s Recovery Unlikely To Last Past First Quarter By Gordon Platt The dollar could extend its recovery through the first quarter of 2010, as the Federal Reserve terminates some of its special lending facilities, analysts say, but the greenback’s long-term ...
Shanghai To Pass Hong Kong In 2010 IPOs By Gordon Platt China and Hong Kong are leading the global recovery in initial public offerings, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange expected to overtake the Hong Kong exchange as the ...
Argentina By Antonio Guerrero Redrado: Rejected presidential order to resign Argentina’s central bank presidents have long received low grades for their lack of independence. The situation has been exacerbated under Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who has ...
United States By Gordon Platt Whodunnit? Mystery buyer mops up US treasuries The last thing the global financial markets need right now is a failed US treasury bond auction. Thankfully, recent auctions have gone smoothly, with the swelling ...
United States By Gordon Platt Obama: Banks should call off their lawyers and lobbyists As a Congressional commission opened hearings last month on the cause of the financial crisis, United States president Barack Obama proposed a tax ...
Global By Anita Hawser Johns: Compliance is key to avoiding another crash Senior banking and compliance officers surveyed by compliance solutions provider Complinet are already talking about the next financial crisis, which they believe will happen within ...
