Global Investing

CAPITAL MARKETS FOCUS | MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Mergers and acquisitions in 2014 are being announced at the fastest pace since the financial crisis of 2008–2009, but broken deals are also setting records for the same period.

Norway’s $870 billion sovereign wealth fund has always been at the forefront of ethical investing, and its actions have influenced the decision making of other asset managers, big and small. But starting next year the fund will reveal its voting intentions before shareholder meetings, not only to be more transparent but also to influence the debate and the subsequent voting.

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) said in July that, Inshallah, it will open its $560 billion stock market to foreign financial institutions in the first half of next year.

It is easy to dismiss the Yukos case as a temporary political and legal hurdle. But clearly the reality is more complex.

Our list of the Top 25 Global Public Companies By Cash On Balance Sheet.

COVER STORY | INDIA
As prime minister Narendra Modi begins his term in office, global market watchers are hopeful that it could signal a sea change for India’s governance, economy and friendliness to business. But most are tempering that enthusiasm with a dose of skepticism.

Subcustodians are being pressured by declining margins and low interest rates at the same time they are trying to cope with an onslaught of new regulatory requirements. For those with the skill and the wherewithal to meet the challenges, however, the business of protecting and servicing client assets remains profitable. Global investing is expected to continue to increase in the future.

REGIONAL FOCUS | EMERGING ASIA
The bigger the opportunity, the bigger the risk. This certainly holds true for frontier and emerging economies in Asia. Finding the right balance between the two is a key challenge for multinationals looking to invest there.

SCOTLAND
The outcome of this September’s referendum on Scottish independence remains too close to call.

FINANCE & CAPITAL | CAPITAL MARKETS
The European Central Bank’s adoption of a negative deposit rate for banks’ excess reserves [meaning they charge interest for bank reserves held at the ECB] could have a widespread impact on money markets and corporate cash-management policies.

THAILAND
When Thailand’s general Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a military coup in late May, he didn’t rely on the element of surprise

SIBOS SUPERSECTION 2014 | COLLATERAL  MANAGEMENT
Treasurers are warily eyeing the impact of new regulations on the amount of collateral they must hold against hedged positions—and these new regs will affect their ability to manage and forecast cash.

FINANCE & CAPITAL | TRENDS: Islamic Finance

FINANCE & CAPITAL | TRENDS: SOVEREIGN DEBT: SNAPSHOT: M&A

FRONTIER MARKETS REPORT | SLOVAKIA
Slovakia has moved resolutely to compete with other former Soviet-bloc nations for foreign direct investment. 

Ebenezer Essoka, a native of Cameroon, is vice chair for Africa at Standard Chartered. He sat down with Global Finance to discuss African trade and the need for African policymakers to ensure that foreign investment deals are in the best interest of all stakeholders.

 

RUSSIA/CHINA
The recent raft of Chinese investments into Russia following president Putin’s May visit to Shanghai might look like a rapid response to counter Western sanctions.

COLOMBIA
Juan Manuel Santos’ second term as president of Colombia might prove a bit harder than his first—and not only because he won this election with a lower majority.

COUNTRY REPORT | NIGERIA
Nigeria lacks one key element for stellar growth: a power sector commensurate with its prospects.

MALAWI
A struggling economy and widespread corruption are but a few of the challenges new Malawian president Peter Mutharika will face during his five-year mandate.