In the USA, attention is focusing on a tax loophole that is costing the US and other governments billions of dollars each year.
Category archives: Problems
Emerging Market Countries
While emerging nations fear that global trade is slowing, they recognise that if they allow their currencies to fall, then by promoting exports and reducing imports they can “ride-out the recession.” That, at least, is what worked for Poland in the 2008-09 recession. Countries that have large foreign currency borrowings will find it more difficult …
Increasing regulation of financial trading
After the 2008 crash, regulators from the G20 and from Brussels have been looking for ways to reduce risk of derivatives trading. One new piece of legislation requires more ‘over the counter’ or off-exchange derivative trades to be handled by a ‘Clearing House’, which manages the trade and guarantees the transaction is completed if one …
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Eurozone crisis inches closer to resolution
The IMF meeting in Washington on Sunday failed to reach agreement on how to resolve Greece’s bailout problem. Various options are on the table, which (indicatively) would involve a write-down of the net present value of creditors’ holdings by around 20%, five percent, or even “none at all.”
French Senate now controlled by Left
France’s left wing opposition has won a majority in the upper house, the Senate, for the first time in over 50 years. The political shift comes as the government battles with a “sluggish economy” and “the eurozone crisis”. Presidential elections take place in April. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/99ebe4d0-e782-11e0-9da3-00144feab49a.html Additional story: “It was hardly a sweeping popular victory…. But …
Arab Spring continues
The Yemeni president has called for early elections that would bring stability to the Yemen, transferring power from himself to an elected government. Increasingly, the struggle of pro-democracy activists against the regime is turning into struggle between members of the country’s “political elite” as they jockey for position. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0b10d9e0-e7a6-11e0-9da3-00144feab49a.html King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia says …
Increased desperation in debate to escape downturn
The increasing levels of tension being felt around the need to bring the economy back into growth are shown by a new proposal from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). “As debate rages”, the BCC has suggested that if the economy does not improve within six months then the budgets for health and overseas aid should …
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Squeezed middle feels the pinch
The phenomenon of the squeezed middle has emerged in most advanced economies, as earnings at the top of the income distribution continue to rise but middling incomes have stagnated and the need for jobs demanding mid-range skills drops. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/89e5a388-d4a3-11e0-a42b-00144feab49a.html
Tiered pricing as “emerging market” equals “growth market”
Pharma companies are becoming more adept at selling drugs for different prices in different countries. “Since 2001 the situation has evolved massively. When we first started, investors didn’t think emerging markets were important. Now there’s an enormous amount of thinking and experimentation by companies, largely as a result of emerging markets being seen as growth …
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‘Operation Twist’
The US Federal Reserve launched its $400bn ‘Operation Twist’ as expected, selling short term bonds (under three years) and using the cash raised to buy long-dated treasuries.